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At 7/28/09 03:06 AM, Buddhist wrote: I'm not betting on Rick playing much at all this year. I'm speaking on Rollie/Biron as a tandem. If Rick comes and plays well, even for a short period of time, I consider that to be a bonus.

Hang on a second... did I miss something, or did the Islanders get RickRolled?

That aside, I think that the Islanders have the depth to play around RDP spending indefinite time away from the club to recover. I'm sure that having a good goalie like him tied down to a 10 year contract means that they want him to be productive when he comes back, rather than a perennial crock.

At 7/28/09 04:20 AM, Coop83 wrote:

Hang on a second... did I miss something, or did the Islanders get RickRolled?

That aside, I think that the Islanders have the depth to play around RDP spending indefinite time away from the club to recover. I'm sure that having a good goalie like him tied down to a 10 year contract means that they want him to be productive when he comes back, rather than a perennial crock.

Like that last guy they gave a long, long contract deal. What was his name? Alexei Yashin?

At 7/28/09 04:43 AM, Tluck-Person wrote: Like that last guy they gave a long, long contract deal. What was his name? Alexei Yashin?

There's a big difference between DiPietro and Yashin.

RDP actually wants to play for the Islanders and can put up some quality numbers to back it up. Yashin... well, he comes along and has one mediocre year and when the fans and media start turning up the pressure for him to perform "after all, that's what they pay him for!", he turns on them and decides that he doesn't want to play for them again.

At 7/28/09 05:39 AM, Coop83 wrote:

At 7/28/09 04:43 AM, Tluck-Person wrote: Like that last guy they gave a long, long contract deal. What was his name? Alexei Yashin?

There's a big difference between DiPietro and Yashin.

RDP actually wants to play for the Islanders and can put up some quality numbers to back it up. Yashin... well, he comes along and has one mediocre year and when the fans and media start turning up the pressure for him to perform "after all, that's what they pay him for!", he turns on them and decides that he doesn't want to play for them again.

Right, right. Once again, just pointing out how the Islanders always seem to have horrible luck with the "lifetime contracts". RDP has his injury troubles, and Yashin has his loyalty troubles.

At 7/28/09 01:25 PM, Tluck-Person wrote: Right, right. Once again, just pointing out how the Islanders always seem to have horrible luck with the "lifetime contracts". RDP has his injury troubles, and Yashin has his loyalty troubles.

Horrible luck? More like the Islanders seem to have trouble with horrible, potentially borderline-retarded management.

Also, I think Dipietro is terribly overrated. He's not a bad goaltender, but at the same time I don't think he is extraordinary. Particularly considering that he is a former 1st overall pick, with an enormously lucrative contract; I just don't see him as the super franchise making goalie he was touted to be.

At 7/29/09 06:44 PM, EternitySpent wrote:

At 7/28/09 01:25 PM, Tluck-Person wrote: Right, right. Once again, just pointing out how the Islanders always seem to have horrible luck with the "lifetime contracts". RDP has his injury troubles, and Yashin has his loyalty troubles.

Horrible luck? More like the Islanders seem to have trouble with horrible, potentially borderline-retarded management.

Also, I think Dipietro is terribly overrated. He's not a bad goaltender, but at the same time I don't think he is extraordinary. Particularly considering that he is a former 1st overall pick, with an enormously lucrative contract; I just don't see him as the super franchise making goalie he was touted to be.

My main ploy with that contract is that he played about 2-3 mediocre seasons when he got that contract. He had a few good games here and there, but for the Isles, he was never anything special. Now he's just taking up space on a roster that desperately needs more experience and talent. Yashin utterly screwed them, and lets face it. Tavares is a start, but he won't be everything to that franchise.

Sorry for double posting, but...

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At 7/29/09 06:44 PM, EternitySpent wrote: Also, I think Dipietro is terribly overrated. He's not a bad goaltender, but at the same time I don't think he is extraordinary. Particularly considering that he is a former 1st overall pick, with an enormously lucrative contract; I just don't see him as the super franchise making goalie he was touted to be.

I think he's solid foundation block - come one you could have had Patrick Roy or Marty Brodeur playing for the Isles in net and they still wouldn't have gotten much further. With goaltending taken care of (hopefully with the size of the band aid players that they brought in, so as not to rush RDP back), the Isles can concentrate on rebuilding the franchise around players like RDP and Tavares

At 7/31/09 02:48 PM, Tluck-Person wrote: My main ploy with that contract is that he played about 2-3 mediocre seasons when he got that contract. He had a few good games here and there, but for the Isles, he was never anything special.

Well, you're not going to play the best hockey of your life with a team that isn't up to the task themselves. They let too many shots on goal through, he's bound to let in a few soft goals, he's just a kid.

Now he's just taking up space on a roster that desperately needs more experience and talent

So, you're saying that they should release him? That would go down in New York like the incident at 3 mile island.

At 8/1/09 08:20 AM, Coop83 wrote:

So, you're saying that they should release him? That would go down in New York like the incident at 3 mile island.

Most definitely. I wouldn't release him, because he may be able to provide something for a couple of years while the Islanders get some young talent on that roster. Maybe if he's still not working out after that time, just try and trade him and see what you can get out of him. You'd probably be able to shell another prospect goalie in a trade for him, or just try and pick up one on the free agent market.

To release him though just wouldn't make much sense right now. I do agree that he's a bit overrated, but at least he's somewhat of a working cog in the New York Islanders' system.

At 8/2/09 04:33 AM, Gooch wrote:

At 8/1/09 08:20 AM, Coop83 wrote:

So, you're saying that they should release him? That would go down in New York like the incident at 3 mile island.

Most definitely. I wouldn't release him, because he may be able to provide something for a couple of years while the Islanders get some young talent on that roster. Maybe if he's still not working out after that time, just try and trade him and see what you can get out of him. You'd probably be able to shell another prospect goalie in a trade for him, or just try and pick up one on the free agent market.

To release him though just wouldn't make much sense right now. I do agree that he's a bit overrated, but at least he's somewhat of a working cog in the New York Islanders' system.

I never said he should be released, I'm saying that at any viewpoint, no matter what the circumstance, a 15-year contract is absolutely retarded unless you know that this guy already has the skills to live up to a lifetime deal, like Henrik Zetterburg, for instance. He played for years in Detroit before they finally decided that they wanted him for the rest of his career. Vinny Lecavelier also played for a while before new management came into Tampa Bay and realized he should be there for the rest of his career. Rick DiPietro barely got out of the starting gate when NYI decided that he would shoulder the load for the next 15 years.

Certainly, there are some cases where it's unavoidable. Thomas Vanek, for example, was slapped with a nice 7-year $50 million offer sheet that he couldn't refuse by that idiot Kevin Lowe. The Sabres got stuck with matching that offer sheet due to the front office being absolutely God awful, letting go of Briere and Drury (yes, I'm still a bit bitter that we lost both of them) because of a stupid FO policy that there was to be no contract negotiating mid-season. For a player that had only gotten 2 NHL seasons under his belt, that contract was absurd, but since the Blades had already lost 2 key pieces, they couldn't afford to lose another one, no matter what the price. Luckily for the Sabres, he's panning out OK.

What I'm saying is that the RDP was a totally avoidable situation that did not have to result in 15 years of what could be serious skill, mediocrity, or failure. There was way too much uncertainty with that deal.

At 8/2/09 04:33 AM, Gooch wrote: Most definitely. I wouldn't release him, because he may be able to provide something for a couple of years while the Islanders get some young talent on that roster. Maybe if he's still not working out after that time, just try and trade him and see what you can get out of him. You'd probably be able to shell another prospect goalie in a trade for him, or just try and pick up one on the free agent market.

Well, with that 15-year yoke around his neck, no-one is going to want to touch him. Maybe the 1990s Rangers would have, but now they've got Lundqvist, they won't need him, so won't thow cash at the problem.

If only the Avs could get him...

At 8/3/09 03:35 AM, Tluck-Person wrote: Certainly, there are some cases where it's unavoidable. Thomas Vanek, for example, was slapped with a nice 7-year $50 million offer sheet that he couldn't refuse by that idiot Kevin Lowe. The Sabres got stuck with matching that offer sheet due to the front office being absolutely God awful, letting go of Briere and Drury (yes, I'm still a bit bitter that we lost both of them) because of a stupid FO policy that there was to be no contract negotiating mid-season. For a player that had only gotten 2 NHL seasons under his belt, that contract was absurd, but since the Blades had already lost 2 key pieces, they couldn't afford to lose another one, no matter what the price. Luckily for the Sabres, he's panning out OK.

Yeah, that's the issue with the small market team - you can't afford to make all of the stars stay in the market for you, so you will lose some of them. I still think that Drury is one of the best players to come out of the Avs farm system in recent years. Better than Tanguay and certainly on a par with Hejduk.

At 8/3/09 09:19 AM, Coop83 wrote:

At 8/3/09 03:35 AM, Tluck-Person wrote: Certainly, there are some cases where it's unavoidable. Thomas Vanek, for example, was slapped with a nice 7-year $50 million offer sheet that he couldn't refuse by that idiot Kevin Lowe. The Sabres got stuck with matching that offer sheet due to the front office being absolutely God awful, letting go of Briere and Drury (yes, I'm still a bit bitter that we lost both of them) because of a stupid FO policy that there was to be no contract negotiating mid-season. For a player that had only gotten 2 NHL seasons under his belt, that contract was absurd, but since the Blades had already lost 2 key pieces, they couldn't afford to lose another one, no matter what the price. Luckily for the Sabres, he's panning out OK.

Yeah, that's the issue with the small market team - you can't afford to make all of the stars stay in the market for you, so you will lose some of them. I still think that Drury is one of the best players to come out of the Avs farm system in recent years. Better than Tanguay and certainly on a par with Hejduk.

Small market wasn't even the problem for keeping those two. Going in to the offseason, everybody knew that we were definitely going to try to keep one of the. Personally, I would have just kept Briere over Drury. He was the PPG guy, and had great chemistry with guys like Hecht and Pominville. However, we knew that they were going to keep Drury. We pretty much told Briere to his face that we were not going to inquire for his services any longer.

So then Drury comes around, screws us because his beloved Rangers offer him so much money. Of course, we try to match the offer, but it's pretty much off the table. We go back to Briere, saying that we want him now, and he laughs in our faces.

That's not the impact of a small market. That's the impact of just a poorly run front office by the Sabres.

And then Darcy wonders why he can never lure free agents.

At 8/3/09 09:19 AM, Coop83 wrote:

shell another prospect goalie in a trade for him, or just try and pick up one on the free agent market.

Well, with that 15-year yoke around his neck, no-one is going to want to touch him. Maybe the 1990s Rangers would have, but now they've got Lundqvist, they won't need him, so won't thow cash at the problem.

Agreed. Dipietro's probably going to be stuck there for a while unless he decides to want to retire for some god awful reason, or he demands a trade. I just have a feeling that if he ends up demanding a trade, the Islanders probably won't be able to get as much as they want out of trading him just because of his hefty contract.

If only the Avs could get him...

I'm glad San Jose won't have to consider him. I know Nabokov's starting to creep up into his mid-30s now, but I'm pretty sure he'll have some solid years left to go before he hangs the pads up. Hopefully Thomas Greiss continues the long line of successful farm system goalies.

The hockey world turns in awe, as one of the better American born players, Jeremy Roenick, is about to retire.

Roenick was one of my favorite players growing up, and would be a recurring figure as I would announce his name in floor hockey and street hockey alike.

Belonging to five different team, I hate him most when he was with the Flyers, but I loved him best when he played for the Sharks, not because those were his greatest years, but because he proved he could still be a great vet after disappointing showings in Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Roenick will surely be missed by many hockey fans across the country and teammates around the NHL. Roenick finished with 1,215 points in his career, collecting 513 goals and 703 assists. He was the 3rd American born player to reach 500 goals, and the 6th to reach 700 assists.

It is likely Roenick will announce his retirement on Thursday.

At 8/4/09 08:18 PM, Tluck-Person wrote:

It is likely Roenick will announce his retirement on Thursday.

Thank you for your contributions to hockey throughout your career, J.R. I'm especially grateful that you were a key part of San Jose's roster these past couple of seasons. When nobody thought you had anything left, you proved them wrong with the Sharks.

It sucks to see him go, but it becomes an inevitable part of the game. Good luck with retirement, Mr. Roenick.

At 8/3/09 03:35 AM, Tluck-Person wrote: I never said he should be released, I'm saying that at any viewpoint, no matter what the circumstance, a 15-year contract is absolutely retarded unless you know that this guy already has the skills to live up to a lifetime deal, like Henrik Zetterburg, for instance.

Funny that you would mention another player with a fairly lengthy history of the injury gimp.

Either way, what's done is done. It's tiring to listen to people poke at Rick as our main flaw. His contract is an albatross, yes, but it also is really not all that expensive. Lengthy, but as the deal progresses he'll be making less and less in comparison to other goalies. $4.5 mil yearly, meh.

Shit, we're paying Yashin a little more than half that per year until 2014-15 anyway.

But it's cool now. We have some nice building blocks from which to begin our climb back on top. Tavares, Okposo, Bergenheim, Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen, maybe Nate Thompson, maybe Jesse Joensuu...we just need to work on D prospects now, imho.

also, pat kane.

At 8/12/09 01:08 AM, Buddhist wrote:

also, pat kane.

Haha, what an odd situation. I would have liked to be there when that incident went down.

At 8/12/09 03:54 AM, Gooch wrote: Haha, what an odd situation. I would have liked to be there when that incident went down.

I watched a TSN video interview with Kane's lawyer and apparently there was a lot more to it than just Patty K beating the shit out of a taxicab driver over twenty cents or however much it was.

Apparently the guy didn't even have a valid license and he locked them in the cab when they asked to get out so his friend could reach in his back pocket and get his wallet. Weird shit.

At 8/13/09 07:50 PM, Buddhist wrote:

Apparently the guy didn't even have a valid license and he locked them in the cab when they asked to get out so his friend could reach in his back pocket and get his wallet. Weird shit.

That's a scary situation then. What if this cab driver pulls a gun out on them and goes completely batshit insane? Kane had every right to do what he did then if that's the case.

It just makes me feel like I should never enter a cab if I travel around in a big city.

DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I'M PATRICK KANE BITCH.

But yeah, pretty weird shit. "The cab driver who is the alleged victim of a beating by NHL star Patrick Kane and his cousin on Sunday didn't have a valid driver's license at the time of the incident, the Buffalo News reported Tuesday... Jan Radecki, 62, also has two drunk driving convictions."

Dude looks like a pretty greasy prick but "The Kanes paid $15 for a $13.80 fare, and got $1 change. The alleged beating and robbery took place when the cabbie said he did not have a further 20 cents for the two."; beating anyone down for twenty cents is pretty fucked.

Basically the cabbie picked them up at 4 in the morning at the club, thought they were drunk college kids and locked them in so they didn't take off without paying and the wrangle ensued. Both sides seem in the wrong, but at least Kane was probably plastered, the cabbie is just a shit disturber.

I'm more excited to see what comes of Theo Fleury's comeback attempt.

At 8/14/09 01:50 AM, EternitySpent wrote: DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I'M PATRICK KANE BITCH.

But yeah, pretty weird shit. "The cab driver who is the alleged victim of a beating by NHL star Patrick Kane and his cousin on Sunday didn't have a valid driver's license at the time of the incident, the Buffalo News reported Tuesday... Jan Radecki, 62, also has two drunk driving convictions."

Dude looks like a pretty greasy prick but "The Kanes paid $15 for a $13.80 fare, and got $1 change. The alleged beating and robbery took place when the cabbie said he did not have a further 20 cents for the two." beating anyone down for twenty cents is pretty fucked.

Especially if you're an NHL star, who's earning plenty enough to afford a small tip on a cab ride.

Basically the cabbie picked them up at 4 in the morning at the club, thought they were drunk college kids and locked them in so they didn't take off without paying and the wrangle ensued. Both sides seem in the wrong, but at least Kane was probably plastered, the cabbie is just a shit disturber.

It sounds like six on one side, half a dozen on the other. The cabbie sounds like a prick, but equally so are the Kanes for issuing the beating over 20 cents.

I'm more excited to see what comes of Theo Fleury's comeback attempt.

Definitely - this little man is one angry piece. Not quite like Pat "The Little Ball of Hate" Verbeek, but certainly an interesting character on the ice.

I played that game on my NTSC SNES and it sucked!

At 8/14/09 01:50 AM, EternitySpent wrote:

I'm more excited to see what comes of Theo Fleury's comeback attempt.

Theo's making a comeback, eh? Awesome. I wonder how much of that was inspired by last year's comeback story, Claude Lemieux. Maybe it's the fact that Chris Chelios is fourty-seven and still playing. I'm not sure.

Whatever the case, twenty bucks says San Jose signs him. :P

At 8/12/09 01:08 AM, Buddhist wrote:

also, pat kane.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha .

Oh wait, for serious?

But back to reality, yea. Johnny Tavares is gonna tear it up in the NHL. Just look what his uncle, John Tavares (yep, named after him), did in the National Lacrosse League with the Buffalo Bandits. He holds pretty much every single record, offensively, in that league. Granted, he's been around since the league started, but still, to be the "Wayne Gretzky" of any sport speaks volumes about an athlete. The Isles John Tavares has it in his blood to succeed.

Also, this. I'm so sorry.

At 8/14/09 02:42 PM, Tluck-Person wrote: But back to reality, yea. Johnny Tavares is gonna tear it up in the NHL. Just look what his uncle, John Tavares (yep, named after him), did in the National Lacrosse League with the Buffalo Bandits. He holds pretty much every single record, offensively, in that league. Granted, he's been around since the league started, but still, to be the "Wayne Gretzky" of any sport speaks volumes about an athlete. The Isles John Tavares has it in his blood to succeed.

The NHL is not the NLL, and athleticism does not always translate into success. I will temper my expectations for him, especially as a rookie. If he can outdo what Stamkos did this year, I will be more than pleased, and will go from there.

Also, this. I'm so sorry.

Hey, I wouldn't mind him back, as long as it's at a very low, cut-rate salary. a potential 20-30 goal guy on a low pay is not a troubling issue to me, especially given he would skate likely on the 3rd line. If we end up with him, no biggie.

Fantasy Hockey is up, who is all interested in playing this year? :)

At 9/2/09 03:32 AM, Dobio wrote: Fantasy Hockey is up, who is all interested in playing this year? :)

Sure, why the hell not?

I've got to start paying attention to the whole fantasy Hockey thing again. Lesson 1, don't draft Avs players...

At 9/2/09 03:32 AM, Dobio wrote: Fantasy Hockey is up, who is all interested in playing this year? :)

No doubt.

I think the fantasy question of the year is; how early does one gamble on Tavares?

Yeah, I'll probably make the league in the next few days...invite most of the usual suspects, although I think Bryce has vanished off the face of the earth after conceding his title to me.

At 9/2/09 04:51 PM, EternitySpent wrote: I think the fantasy question of the year is; how early does one gamble on Tavares?

PUT IT ALL ON BLACK!

At 9/3/09 02:33 AM, Dobio wrote: Yeah, I'll probably make the league in the next few days...invite most of the usual suspects, although I think Bryce has vanished off the face of the earth after conceding his title to me.

He'll be about. I'll just bet that he's sulking somewhere.