Rumor: Lubo on the Move?

[A Pointed Stick]

You can never have too much concussion.

 

[seabass45]

Personally, I'd welcome back Lubo. Love the person, and he still has a little game left in him, but it also wouldn't bother me if he wasn't brought back for whatever reason. This team is going to live and die on their top three (as far as defense anyway).

My guess is that he asked for 3 mil. He knows he'd need to take a pay cut but he doesn't want to come back if it's for league min.

 

[frankieboy]

I don't mind Visnovsky back at a reasonable amount...like most...but I am fine with moving on. We have some serious prospects that should get a shot. I think Pulock could win that spot. He almost made the team last season. Mayfield also opened eyes in the playoffs. Personally, I'd like to see Pulock make the team (assuming he deserves it based upon his training camp performance) and Mayfield makes it as the 7th d-man. Strait gets jettisoned. Then, Mayfield gets inserted periodically unlike Donovan. Mayfield plays 35 game or so to spot guys and get occasional starts, or to fill in if injuries hit.

 

[blitzkriegs]

My guess is that he asked for 3 mil. He knows he'd need to take a pay cut but he doesn't want to come back if it's for league min.

Sounds like he's right up NJd alley...

 

[blitzkriegs]

Isles transition game was prett mediocre w/o Viz. Leddy can't do it alone. Same as when Isles dumped Streit, Viz wasn't enough.

The way this team plays relies on that transition game from the D. Relying on a Rookie for that is disastrous. Snow goes UFA or trade.

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

Snow goes UFA or trade.

Or he goes on unemployment at the end of next season. I would bring Viz back, just because of his skate around the Coliseum after the Washington win.

 

[Strummergas]

I would try to upgrade on Vis via the UFA market. If unsuccessful, I'd try to work something out with Vis. I don't think he's going to be a prime target on 7/1.

 

[Abe Vukota]

I would try to upgrade on Vis via the UFA market. If unsuccessful, I'd try to work something out with Vis. I don't think he's going to be a prime target on 7/1.

He'll get the coveted Martinek courtship, where your phone rings on August 3rd and you're just happy it's ringing at all.

Doesn't look likely that there will be much FA movement on our part per Staple. I can't for the life of me understand why the braintrust has decided the defense is contender-worthy, but they don't give me a vote, so I hope they know something (or many things) I don't.

 

[Le Grec]

He'll get the coveted Martinek courtship, where your phone rings on August 3rd and you're just happy it's ringing at all.

Doesn't look likely that there will be much FA movement on our part per Staple. I can't for the life of me understand why the braintrust has decided the defense is contender-worthy, but they don't give me a vote, so I hope they know something (or many things) I don't.

With JB, NL, TH, CDH, and most likely TH guaranteed spots, and with GR, RP & SM on the farm...why would Garth go out and sign another D?

 

[Abe Vukota]

With JB, NL, TH, CDH, and most likely TH guaranteed spots, and with GR, RP & SM on the farm...why would Garth go out and sign another D?

Because that defense still isn't very good, and defense (and defensive depth) proved to be a glaring weakness as the season wore on.
JB-Leddy - hey, that's pretty good!
CDH-Hamonic - half good
TH-Pulock - ¯\_ツ_/¯

I defer to the guys who pay close attention to prospects re: Pulock, but CDH and Hickey are solid bottom pairing guys (at the moment, anyway), which leaves us without a fourth to round out our top 4. Griff and Mayfield don't look or sound like they're ready to me.

We're one CDH injury away from Strait being an everyday player, and given CDH's fragility, that's not a longshot.

 

[Le Grec]

Because that defense still isn't very good, and defense (and defensive depth) proved to be a glaring weakness as the season wore on.
JB-Leddy - hey, that's pretty good!
CDH-Hamonic - half good
TH-Pulock - ¯\_ツ_/¯

I defer to the guys who pay close attention to prospects re: Pulock, but CDH and Hickey are solid bottom pairing guys (at the moment, anyway), which leaves us without a fourth to round out our top 4. Griff and Mayfield don't look or sound like they're ready to me.

We're one CDH injury away from Strait being an everyday player, and given CDH's fragility, that's not a longshot.

I agree that it still isn't very good, and that's my point...it ain't going to get better until the kids get some ice time...it's time to give someone a chance...

 

[Abe Vukota]

I agree that it still isn't very good, and that's my point...it ain't going to get better until the kids get some ice time...it's time to give someone a chance...

I guess I'm starting to wonder about the window. Tavares is signed for three years, and I feel like maximizing those three years is very important for a) resigning him and b) getting Brooklyn fans interested. If anyone misses time (i.e. CDH), Pulock comes up and stays up. Maybe Hickey rotates with Pulock. Maybe Flintstone plays Strait over Hickey and we all collectively wish we had either a true #1 or a high end #4 defenseman to force him to coach more intelligently. I don't think the defense was very good last year, and I don't see why bringing a rookie into it will make it better (save for the obvious "no Strait" component, to which I would say: you think this dumbass of a coach is going to leave Strait on the bench when the rookie suffers through a rough week?).

I'm sure Tavares loves it here, but if the next three years are a ****show, free agency will certainly test that love. So I'd like to be good now. Lubo can sign, but I'd much rather see a more significant upgrade, even if that means moving something of value. Leave the very good offense alone.

 

[OlTimeHockey]

Don't be surprised if Snow is looking to lose Okposo's salary to bring in a solid defensive defenseman. He's surprised me this past year and I think he sees the teams weakness. It ain't scoring.......

 

[First Blood]

If they are not gonna bring Lubo back around 3M give or take money is clearly still an issue with this club.

 

[IslesRock4]

If they are not gonna bring Lubo back around 3M give or take money is clearly still an issue with this club.

Money is an "issue" for every club. You use it wisely. If the team feels that they have a young player in Pulock who is ready to take the next step and be a contributing everyday player, then it makes sense not to spend $3M on a soon-to-be 39 year old #7 defenseman with a serious concussion history.

Of course, you can twist it whichever way you'd like. I have no proof that we no longer have an internal cap. This is simply a case of being logical with spending - not penny pinching.

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

Don't be surprised if Snow is looking to lose Okposo's salary to bring in a solid defensive defenseman. He's surprised me this past year and I think he sees the teams weakness. It ain't scoring.......

I see KO being a great second liner if we ever get the talent to push him off JT's line. If he gets traded, it better be a stud coming back. Bolts lost the Cup because Tyler Johnson was driving the second line until his injury.

 

[Hip Of Rick*]

I agree that it still isn't very good, and that's my point...it ain't going to get better until the kids get some ice time...it's time to give someone a chance...

The defense is not good enough as is to break in a rookie with sheltered ice time. Snow should definitely look to upgrade the 2nd pair, as CDH is not good enough right now for that role. CDH on the 3rd pair is solid, on the 2nd its ugly.

The kids will get ice time if they are good enough and earn it. Injuries happen especially on defense. A number 7 dman will typically play 40-50 games, even the number 8 dmen probably see 10-20 games a year. A major problem is our coaching staff/ management think Strait is a number 4 ...

 

[LeapOnOver]

Because that defense still isn't very good, and defense (and defensive depth) proved to be a glaring weakness as the season wore on.
JB-Leddy - hey, that's pretty good!
CDH-Hamonic - half good
TH-Pulock - ¯\_ツ_/¯

I defer to the guys who pay close attention to prospects re: Pulock, but CDH and Hickey are solid bottom pairing guys (at the moment, anyway), which leaves us without a fourth to round out our top 4. Griff and Mayfield don't look or sound like they're ready to me.

We're one CDH injury away from Strait being an everyday player, and given CDH's fragility, that's not a longshot.

The nature of defense is that it usually "isn't good". Look around the league. Not many teams are able to secure a ton of good defenseman so that it's never a concern. Look how long it took Garth to fill the holes. Do you really think there is enough out there to get even more?!? There just isn't. You can't get blood from a stone. Put our defense up around teams in our conference and it's really not that bad considering.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Money is an "issue" for every club. You use it wisely. If the team feels that they have a young player in Pulock who is ready to take the next step and be a contributing everyday player, then it makes sense not to spend $3M on a soon-to-be 39 year old #7 defenseman with a serious concussion history.

Of course, you can twist it whichever way you'd like. I have no proof that we no longer have an internal cap. This is simply a case of being logical with spending - not penny pinching.

And i'm sure they are waiting until training camp to find out before they shell out that 3m for someone they end up sticking as a 7th or pp specialist. In all honestly somebody may snatch Vis on July 1st, but do we really feel like there won't be some other middling aging veteran that we can't procure as the season is about to start if it's apparent nobody else is ready? I tend to think there is and probably cheaper too...

 

[isles55]

The nature of defense is that it usually "isn't good". Look around the league. Not many teams are able to secure a ton of good defenseman so that it's never a concern. Look how long it took Garth to fill the holes. Do you really think there is enough out there to get even more?!? There just isn't. You can't get blood from a stone. Put our defense up around teams in our conference and it's really not that bad considering.

Compared to most playoff teams our GA is bad. I agree with you when you say that most fans think their teams defense sucks, but considering this teams defensive numbers last season, I think it has some merit.

 

[JZCislesHockey]

Last year the Grabovski and Kulemin signings came as a surprise, we may see that this year with a defender.

 

[Abe Vukota]

The nature of defense is that it usually "isn't good". Look around the league. Not many teams are able to secure a ton of good defenseman so that it's never a concern. Look how long it took Garth to fill the holes. Do you really think there is enough out there to get even more?!? There just isn't. You can't get blood from a stone. Put our defense up around teams in our conference and it's really not that bad considering.

Check the numbers. Our D is especially not good for an alleged contender.

 

[Tavares2TheRescue]

Check the numbers. Our D is especially not good for an alleged contender.

I'd disagree. While the Islanders certainly gave up a lot of shots and thus a lot of goals, their defense wasn't necessarily bad. They did give up the 10th most shot attempts (Corsi) in the league at even strength, but only at the 14th highest rate (CA60). So that's really about middle of the pack (and actually a few places better than the Rangers, a so-called "good defensive team"). But the Islanders played at a really fast pace; in fact, they were the 2nd fastest pace in the league (Corsi events per 60). They had the most shot attempts for and the 2nd highest CF60. The main reason the Islanders gave up so many shots is that their play style led to a lot of shots going both ways and that's why it's important to consider their defense relative to their offense. They had the 5th best Corsi For% in the league; so even though they gave up a lot of shots, the puck was in the other team's zone way more often than it was in their own.

Now, with that said, I definitely do not advise letting Lubo go and just plugging in Pulock and doing nothing. Lubo was a big part of what made this team good and he can't just be replaced with a rookie. While I'd love for the Isles to go out and make a trade for or sign another top four guy (not because I think they need one, but because you can always improve), I don't see that happening. The best thing I can hope for is that they Strait-proof the lineup, meaning that even if three starting defensemen go down, he doesn't find the ice.

 

[Sorge Georos]

Don't be surprised if Snow is looking to lose Okposo's salary to bring in a solid defensive defenseman. He's surprised me this past year and I think he sees the teams weakness. It ain't scoring.......

Even if scoring isn't a weakness, isn't sacrificing offense for defense a lateral move? We give up less goals we score less goals.

And if I'm trading KO for a defenseman, he better be more than a stay-at-home guy.

 

[dtrain24]

With JB, NL, TH, CDH, and most likely TH guaranteed spots, and with GR, RP & SM on the farm...why would Garth go out and sign another D?

Thank god you didn't bring up BS (fitting acronym for him).

Even if we weren't down Reinhart, I was rooting for Pulock to take the spot, although I obviously feel you give it to the best guy at camp.

I'd still like for the Isles to at least get a guy in FA to play with Pulock on the third pairing if Vis doesn't come back. Hickey got walked over at times last season, we could do better.