GAME DAY: Islanders at Flyers, 7pm
The Life Cycle of Indoor Arenas
Once upon a time I interviewed for a job with the Flyers at the CoreStates First Union Wachovia Wells Fargo Center. Nothing came of it but at the time the arena was still fairly new and certainly seemed like Madison Square Garden of Philadelphia. Owned by a large cable company, the Flyers built a huge monument in the city across the street from the Spectrum, which I am too young to really understand the significance of. The insides of the new palace were shiny and corporate, all paid for with cable money with the Flyers recently having moved across the parking lot from the Spectrum.
It was hard to tell where Comcast ended and the Philadelphia Flyers began. That’s no knock, as the Flyers have built themselves quite a brand in the local area and have been successful on their own. But there are the teams that are corporations — if not directly owned by them — in this league and they have a distinctive mark and look about them. There are many teams that market and spend in similar fashion but are not quite in the same echelon. When the Islanders find their way to Brooklyn in October, if only for a day, it’ll be a peek at what this team would look like in a brand new building that’s (not totally) funded by big corporate money and will look like it all the same. Sort of a possible look into the future at the Islanders circa 2017.
One other point that gets lost in the Islanders Arena saga, although I know you’re well aware, is that the Coliseum is virtually worthless without the Islanders. Sure, there are still concerts and family shows. Sure, some of those things will still come to town. But with two state of the art arenas in the local area, not including the brand new Prudential Center, the Coliseum will serve no realistic purpose. It will not bring in nearly enough events to sustain the cost of upkeep not to mention repair. This is the life cycle of old arenas. Once the seasonal tenants are gone, they rot and are eventually put down.
Opened in 1967, the Spectrum is now a parking lot. Opened in 1961, the Igloo was demolished last week. This is now the slow death that the Izod Center, opened 1981, is facing as it fades away. With its seasonal tenants gone and now forced to compete against the Prudential Center and to a lesser extent MSG and Barlcays, there isn’t room in the tri-state for a fifth arena in such close proximity to a brand new competitor. When the Barclays opens, the event bookers at the Coliseum are going to feel the same heat that Izod is feeling. That’s assuming they already haven’t. When or if the Islanders leave Nassau, they’ll put another area arena on life support. And it will only be a matter of time.
TONIGHT’S LINES
Moulson – Tavares – Okposo
Grabner – Nielsen – Parenteau
Rakhshani – Bailey – Martin
Niederreiter – Pandolfo – Wallace
Streit – Staios
Reese – MacDonald
Ness – Eaton
Nabokov
Montoya
About Kevin Schultz
Kevin was formerly an NHL blogger for the now defunct AOL Fanhouse and was the creator of the hockey comedy blog Barry Melrose Rocks. He now covers the Isles for Islanders Point Blank. You can follow him for instant updates on the team and talk hockey with him on Twitter @schultz88. View all posts by Kevin Schultz →80 Responses to GAME DAY: Islanders at Flyers, 7pm
The Life Cycle of Indoor Arenas
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upstateisles says:
ohhh…WHY IS RHETT PLAYING IN FRONT OF NINO!!!
ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING!!!! I cant even type with enough anger right now..
AWFUL!!!!!!grrrrrr!!!!
still not enough anger achieved here…ill take it out on my cat later i guess
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MikeInNYC says:
He’s a better player than Nino right now. The only reason Nino has been up with the big club all season is because he’s too young to send to bridgeport.
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Whaaaaaaaaaaaat says:
I disagree in the last 3 games niño has 6 shots and 8 hits while rahk has 2 shots and 20 hits
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*2 hits
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Joe says:
Are you seriously that mad at that? Relax bro.
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It’s an extra 2 and a half minutes relax
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Pete says:
The only reason why Nino is up with the big club is his cap hit.
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Jon Gimps says:
PA is in and no Rolston again. I really hope the old vet doesn’t play another game this season. He’s had a strong career, but he’s really lost now as the game has evolved and gotten faster. Stick with the kids.
Go Ness!! Good thoughts on the lifecycle of failing arenas, Kevin.
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jeff says:
the flyers are a pissed off group right now and will want blood and revenge tonight. too bad this team is full of prissy tinker bells, besides matt martin. this could get ugly
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Cold Spring Harbor says:
Islanders 6 Fyers 5 (ot), agree with the fights
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Anthony says:
This team is way to small and soft!
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eric says:
I agree this can be real bad tonight and aren’t they after Staios still? Cant they just call up Haley and insert him into tougher games?? WTF is wrong with this teams management??? I have NEVER seen a more softer 4th (so called checking line) in all my years of watching hockey. Wallace-Pandolfo (just thru up in my mouth) & Nino (who should be on at least 3rd line)???????
C’MON MAN!
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Rob hock says:
Serious with HAM out this team needed to send Rhett back and recall some one with more toughness at the same time they could have rewarded niño with more ice time on a different line. #clueless
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Dk says:
Keep Rhett and get rid of Wallace. There is no need for that scrub.
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Granted, it’s been a small window, 3 games plus a cup of coffee last year, but for guy with his lack of size and physicallity, he’s going to need to start lighting it up to stick.
Otherwise, we’re looking at the next Tambellini.
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Sorry, left out the “l” above. At this rate the NVMC will be the next Commack Arena with the Flea Market filling in between Disney on Ice, the Circus and The Blue Man Group.
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Isles stay positive says:
Thoughtful article. I have such great memories of going to Islander games at the Coliseum when I was a kid and a teenager (family season ticket holders). I no longer live in the area, but I make it to 2 or 3 games a year, and the coliseum still manages to feel a little bit like home to me. If the Isles move to a new arena it will feel a little bittersweet, but in the end, I just want the team to be respected, like they were when I was a kid. When/if they move I will continue to go to games. I just watched MSG Vault last night: Birth of the Islanders and it focused a lot on the respect the players and the team needed to earn/gain as a new/underdog team during those first rough years. Very interesting to watch. Go Islanders!
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jonj77 says:
I definitely think it’s time to give Nino a chance on that 3rd line. Rakhashani had a nice first game, but has been quiet ever since. I thought Nino played with a lot of fire against Buffalo… he’s chomping at a chance to play with some talent.
Bailey hasn’t exactly been killing it lately, but he’s been playing better, and having a big skilled winger may lift his game. OK – Nino’s paid his dues on the 4th line, time to give him a chance!
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Like Matt Martin? But I completely agree a Martin-Bailey-niño is a solid 3rd line
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doc says:
How about we let them play the game tonight and if the Islanders win, the toughness issue is a non-issue, and if they lose badly because they were pushed around and they couldn’t push back, then you can blame the “toughness”.
From what I’ve seen the past 6 weeks, this team has stuck together and is playing “tough” hockey.
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agreed. Everyone needs to can it with the “bring up Haley” crap.
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Dan C. says:
PA, JT, KO, Moulson are all playing tough. Toughness isn’t just fighting and bodychecks. It’s going to the net and going to the corners and digging out the puck. The Flyers with no Pronger are not quite the big bad team they are made out to be. They are a finesse team with a couple of bangers like Hartnell. Plus They have given up 11 goals in two games.
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We need Nino on 3rd line. (Heck, try him on the 1st line, that was the plan in camp.) Martin and Nino both hitting everything in sight, might keep puck in def. zone for the entire shift. Rolston still being scratched — while Pandolfo plays center — is a major statement and indictment of his horrible play. Devils weren’t wrong to waive him last year.
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Mike says:
I am sorry to say this but some of your stuff just puts me to sleep. Not saying you are bad and this. But you are no CB.it’s like you say the same stuff over and over but write it in a diffrent way. I like to see what’s new with the islanders and I feel I just cant get it form you.
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drive for five says:
I heard that before
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Al L says:
What do you expect from Kevin,Mike? Credentials or not Wang and Snow remain disingenuous,disenfranchise outsiders and keep you,I and everyone else in the dark in regard to the present and future.
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Piper (in DC) says:
Thanks Kevin. I am on here 3-5 times a day and will take whatever I can get.
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Booten says:
@Mike…I guess you’re entitled to your opinion but at least check for errors before you attempt to crap all over someone-especially the person keeping this site alive. You sound like a young teen or an uneducated bafoon.
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Good read on the life cycle of an Arena. Let’s hope a new Coli will rise…if not..the NVMC will go the way of the Commack and Island Garden Arenas.
If the isles can get an early lead, it will get ugly; early! -
BanGarth says:
I am thinking we are going to get bullied tonight pretty badly. Martin will have to drop them at least once and a guy like Wallace will problably have to take a beating at some point. Great job Garth , keep up the stellar rebuild.
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Kdaddy says:
Interesting note on not knowing where Comcast and the Flyers ended/began. Considering Flyers owner Ed Snider is the CEO of Comcast/Spectacor. He was responsible for merging the two companies which were born out of PRISM. You may recognize the name Spectacor as it’s the first initial in ‘SMG’. The same SMG that tried to strangle the Isles and Penguins out of business. Snider also was the owner of Versus. Funny that living in the Philly area I can’t watch Isles home games against the Flyers as they black me out. You see you have to buy Sniders cable, to watch his cable channel, to see his team play, even if it’s in Los Angeles. Yet that’s not a Monopoly. There’s more reason to hate the Flyers than you think.
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Would like to have seen Snow put in a waiver claim for Stewart to add some much needed size and strength to the line-up. I guess that didn’t happen though….and that would have been a major upgrade over the so-called ‘vets’ and call-ups we have up front.
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Stewart cleared waivers….honestly I’m a bit surprised not one team in need of size up front didn’t grab him. Oh well, I still think he could have helped.
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Game Misconduct says:
Good solid hockey players dont get waived, they get extended and they get paid! Jackass!
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Is that why Rolston, Reasoner, Pandolfo, etc are getting paid? I don’t remember any of them being good solid hockey players this year. Jackass.
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moonshine says:
the islanders aren’t exactly an easy team to write about.
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Sure they are…..We Suck Again! See how easy that was!
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JT-27 says:
@Ice Girl Dad:
The Island Garden has actually been rebuilt. Still small but good for local events.@Kevin:
Great read. Compare however what will be the relatively short lifespans of the Meadowlands Arena and Coliseum with MSG or the original Chicago Stadium, Boston Gardens, Montreal Forum, etc., etc.Location has a lot to do with which buildings survive (even those that don’t like the old Spectrum were replaced with newer arenas on the same land) and which don’t.
In today’s world (unlike in the ’70s when most indoor venues were being built in the suburbs) arenas need to be inside greater urban settings. Because of that I think the best move would be to relocate the Isles to Brooklyn and use the Coliseum land for a Jets stadium.
This is what the Caps and Redskins did about 10 years ago. They moved their arena teams out of the suburbs and closer to downtown, then used that land for an NFL venue.
Uniondale has the land, the parking and with some infrastructure improvements it too could be transfered to a once a week locale. Hopefully one of these days Woody Johnson will realize that he can’t win in the Meadowlands and will grow tired of being an also-ran to the Giants in Jersey.
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4Cups80s says:
Woody and the Jets paid about 800 mil bucks along with the Giants to build Metlife Stadium. I don’t think the Jets are moving anywhere soon!! Btw, I always wished that the Jets had built their stadium years ago at the old Roosevelt Raceway site as LI is where they really belong.
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John says:
fwiw, you have made this site even better than it was before, kevin. don’t know you from a hole-in-wall but the content you’re producing is provocative and goes beyond the game-to-game stuff that we can get everywhere else. thanks for the effort.
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Hi Mr. Schultz!
I kid! I kid! Kevin is doing a fine job keeping Point Blank alive.
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DaGiants says:
What baffled me the most this season was not hiring Boudreau or Maurice when we had the chance. You can clearly see the team lacks fundamentals on the ice and scores in a very fluky manner, often capitalizing on opponent’s mistakes rather than setting up scoring opportunities like the higher level teams. The passing and skating all seems off, and there is no chemistry between the center and wings on the rushes. Just a weak dump into the offensive zone and then chasing it in only for the opposing team to clear right away. Capuano is not a good coach and should be demoted to the minors again.
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I don’t think Maurice would have fared much better….the team needed a Hitchcock-like coach, but St. Louis was smart and snatched him up.
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Islebeback says:
I guess it could go either way. I’m sure Laviolette will want them to concentrate on playing good sound hockey and get back to winning but you never know what will happen with that team. If the Isles come out strong we could see some tempers by the end of the game. I’m really hoping for a mostly non-physical game at this point, just so we don’t get any new injuries. How ironic, ugh. Anyway the Islanders better come to play tonight. Keep the play in the other zone!!!
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4theisles says:
The Arena thing deserves more knowledge and space than I have. Big question Kevin is how do the Isles overcome the small capacity of BKLYN assuming that they would be able to relocate there. Although the capacity is greater than most of there recent shows at NVMC, – would the League sanction permanent play at an arena with 15000 give or take 500?
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JoeZee says:
Sorry to go off topic, but I’m a Queens resident with Time Warner Cable, so needless to say I’m shut out of watching games on TV. Does anyone know of a sports bar in Queens (preferably in the Jackson Heights or Forest Hills areas) that will show Isles games? Thanks.
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Danfromouteast says: Get reinhart in the draft! 6’4″ 19yrs old defense man
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slsangus says: Coliseum closes June 30, 2015. Period. Where the Isles will be at that point remains an open question.
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Kevin Schultz says:
Appreciate the kind words from everyone. Certainly dont expect everyone to like every post. We all have good games and not so good ones.
The main issue at the moment is everyone you read on the site is doing this on a part time basis, so it’s hard for us to be at practices and games on a consistent basis. But when our powers combine… Heh
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Orange&Blue says:
Tonight could get ugly. First, no Hamonic is going to hurt. Second, Ness is small and flyers are big and tough. Next, the Flyers got spanked by the Devs and Rangers this weekend and are probably really pissed off. Finally, we just won in Philly a few weeks ago. Two wins in Philly in one year may be asking too much. Hope I’m wrong.
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starz31 says:
anyone have a streaming link? please? thank you
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“Arthur Staple @StapeNewsday:
#Isles, Frans Nielsen agree to 4-year, $11 million extension, as @TSNBobMcKenzie first reported.”Garth knows how to resign our players…just needs to figure out how to bring players in. Either way, building off this solid core is very important. The teammates seem to love playing for eachother and the young guys have grown together and continue to do so down in AHL. This familiarity will only help in the future. I can’t help but think about the Mets in the early 80s and how their pitching staff and core players (w/ the exception being Carter and Keith) that they grew together through the minors and their relationships made them a stronger team once they were finally competitive.
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terry b says:
rangers devils open up with two heavy weight fights on the face off,,thats hockey this team is a waste move to quebec,brooklyn siberia who cares…snow and wang suck,
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That’s not hockey. That’s boxing. I like a good fight, but I like scoring goals a lot more. You suck.
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Jon in Chicago says: True that the Isles have done a good job locking up their core players, but you can’t win a Cup just drafting and getting players on waivers. At some point an impact free agent is going to have come here (very unlikely) or an impact trade will have to be made – also unlikely cause Snow seems reluctant to make any deals.
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joe bet you never laced em up,internet toughguy
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How am I an internet tough guy? Fighting is not the focal point of hockey. Real hockey fans don’t watch hockey for the fights. If a fight breaks out in the heat of the game, that’s one thing. But right off the opening draw? What does that accomplish? And again, I’d love to know what in my last comment makes me an “internet tough guy” lol why don’t you change the channel from the Islanders game to pay per view boxing?
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Darren says:
Great stuff Kevin, keep up the good work and keep with your own style.
On another note Frans for 4 more yrs at 11 million. Good signing! or not ?
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Don’t get how you can argue it’s not. Got Frans, one of the key cogs of this team, and one of the best defensive centers in the game, for less than $3M per year. Phenomenal deal.
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Jon in Chicago says:
Let’s not forget arguably the best in the league in the shootout.
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saying you sucks to me on a blog makes you an internet tough guy,the fans were into it,the players were into it,it set a tone for the game,its called a rivalry,
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You’re the one saying “Wang and Snow suck” because the Devils and Rangers had two fights to start off their game lol you’re a fool, I’m done with you.
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I agree with you terry b. The Islanders need some toughness on this team. Real fans remember the days when the Islanders had Gillies, Nystrom and Howatt and we won 4 cups with them. Was that boxing?Last yr Boston Stanley Cup winners had a handful of tough guys. When Tavares gets run at and we lose him lets hear these fans cry then.
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jmont says:
Great to see Frans signing on for 4 more years.Great job garth
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Nick M says:
No way really?!?! That’s awesome. What r the terms
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4 years, $11M. $2.75M per year cap hit. Fantastic deal.
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RICH L says:
5 weeks of not being able to watch Islanders hockey, now i don’t know whether that is good or not but I have less agita and the c..ts at MSG,and TWC can suck it.
PS do not post any sites to download my system wont allow it. -
giz says:
Great deal for Neilsen he is well worth the 2.75 cap it now get PA locked up for 2 or 3 years at 3 million a year!
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the devils and rangers have teams with skill and toughness,they field a roster that comes to battle,thats one reason they are where they are,wang and snow put together a team with some young talented players but thats where it ends they are the softest bunch around,for that reason i say they suck,i remember when this team would out skate out check and out fight other teams,
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Danfromouteast says:
Yeah well I hope when the useless vets are gone haley gets a spot. The guy is a pitbull he’s small but fights the heavy weights and wins. Yeah hockey isn’t won by fights but is sure as hell frees up your scorers and when you’re playing a rival a fight off the bat sends a message. Hitting a QB in football after the balls thrown doesn’t count for a sack but it sends a message. So the argument you guys were having I can say you’re both right. You in that fighting is a part of hockey and wang took our toughness away. Joe because yeah scoring wins games. We’re all islander fans save the hate fir the rangers
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Terry b agree 100 percent
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Jim Clark says:
By signing Franz Nielsen, Garth is keeping the core of our 12th place team in place. I suppose under the financial conditions, a $2.75 million cap hit isn’t bad.
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Stephen says:
The Frans resigning tells me Bailey is on his way out, either next yr or yr after. As of now there are too many cooks in the kitchen, JT, Tavares, Frans, Bailey and Strome.
Obviously Strome will be up by 2013-2014 at the latest so with Frans still around where does that leave Bailey???
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Hopefully it leaves him off the Island.
As Parcells used to say, some guys might get it elsewhere but when you know it isn’t happening here you need to move on. -
Mad Mike says:
Signing Nielsen to this contract is a good move. He’s locked up for four years at a reasonable price. He’ll be making third line money, which is exactly the type of player he is, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You build around guys like this. Strong, two way guys. I agree that Bailey could be on his way out, but he can play the wing too. Or could it be Parenteau??? We’ll know for sure in a couple of weeks.
I still say Bailey and a first rounder for Jeff Carter, contract and all. That would give us Tavares, Carter, Nielsen, and Reasoner (he’s signed for another year before people get their shorts in a knot!!). That’s some nice strength down the middle. Then the year after it could look like this:
Moulson – Tavares – Okposo
Nino – Strome – Carter
Grabner – Nielsen – Parenteau
Martin – Cizikas – RahkshaniThat’s a solid forward group. Very solid. Only the defense needs work then. And Parenteau can be dangled for a d-man, since Kabanov will be ready by then.
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Danfromouteast says:
I’m not sure about carter. Some issues there as far as rahskani I would see how he is for a possible trade to make room for haley . Like it or not they need toughness and martin cizikas and haley is tough, defensive, and can score
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Danfromouteast says:
More a concern now is hamonic, jurcina and now Reese are hurt.
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catman says:
Within the next two years: Phoenix moves to new arena in Seattle…ownership feuding forces a sale of the Devils to new owners in Quebec City…Isles move to Newark NJ in 2015.
andddd here are the lines! hahaha loved the article…hoping for the best with whatever direction this arena stuff goes