GDT: Pre-Season Game #2: New York Islanders @ Philadelphia Flyers | Sept. 17th | 7:00 PM - 3-1 L

[The Winter Soldier]

my observations:

Nelson just is not an NHL center. I'm not sure how long the coaching staff will be patient with this experiment. The Isles have a real issue for a 2nd line pivot unfortunately as Nelson makes Bailey and Lee even slower as a line.

Toews can play in the NHL, hopefully sooner than later as Pelech had a real rough game.

I have a feeling Griess is in trouble and Gibson may be the de facto back up soon.

Ho Sang was just shut down and Bellows could very well be passing him on the depth chart..

Nelson is a 3rd line Center ideally. The question for me is do the Isles experiment at #2C. Ideally Kovar surprises and steps in at #2. I don't believe Filpula is the answer either. Or the Isles can do a VGK configuration. #1 line in Barzal, and 3 #3 lines ideally.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Like MDC, I had such high hopes for Chyzowski back in the day. I thought both were going to be slam dunk goal scorers in the NHL. ****.

I think best case scenario now for Dal Colle is to be Mike Rupp 2.0 and probably not with us. Someone will take a chance on him because of draft position.

Said it prior, but if Dal Colle continues to be relatively ineffective as a goal scoring forward at the NHL level, he needs to re-invent his game like former junior scoring studs Eric Fehr and Brett Connolly have into sound bottom six checkers who can chip in once in a while.

Hell, at the very least, he should ask Tom Kuhnhackl how to become an NHL player when the offense dries up at the pro level. Kuhnhackl also was a "sniper" in junior whose offense never materialized, so he turned himself into a 4th line PK specialist in order to make it to the NHL.

 

[mm11]

Nelson is a 3rd line Center ideally. The question for me is do the Isles experiment at #2C. Ideally Kovar surprises and steps in at #2. I don't believe Filpula is the answer either. Or the Isles can do a VGK configuration. #1 line in Barzal, and 3 #3 lines ideally.

maybe Sislio is the guy for the #2 spot. Half joking but atleast he had a pulse. Nelson does not read assignments fast enough to react in defensive and offensive positions when playing the center spot. He to me is a winger that hopes to get his wrister off 5 times a night. Saw him on the PK and I was cringing. The NYI identity all the way back to the 20th century was hard work. Isles teams rarely got outworked. Hopefully Trotts and co get that back as I don't see Nelson sticking around much longer...hope i'm wrong

 

[steveat]

Ho-Sang does have what it takes and the skills. The problem I see is he's not strong enough to overpower....especially when the team has strong forechecking. IF he could pivot and teach himself how to play more like Barzal..we have a winner. Barzal's style is ok to play as a lighter player..Barzal is also stronger on his stick so even if he does get overpowered, he's string enough to take it back.

He has, however, improved his "system" play. He's not trying to be the deviant and breaking rules and playing like a team player and not an individual. I think part of his lack of goal scoring opportunities is that he is getting used to his new style of play.

 

[PK Cronin]

Nelson is a 3rd line Center ideally. The question for me is do the Isles experiment at #2C. Ideally Kovar surprises and steps in at #2. I don't believe Filpula is the answer either. Or the Isles can do a VGK configuration. #1 line in Barzal, and 3 #3 lines ideally.

He's not a center, that's the problem. At best he's a middle six winger. I wouldn't hate him so much if he wasn't playing in the center position.

 

[BarzyClub]

He's not an center, that's the problem. At best he's a middle six winger. I wouldn't hate him so much if he wasn't playing in the center position.

I’m hoping Lou wants to get good production out of Nelson before trading him at the deadline.

We all know he’s more of a shooter than a passer and he’s also usually the trailer on his line. He’s focused more on getting into good scoring position for a shot.

Which is why putting him between 2 slow players probably won’t work. Especially against faster players like they played against last night.Aside from the first few shifts it seemed that first line couldn’t get any into the zone with any sustained pressure let alone get through the neutral zone.

If getting the most value out of Nelson is top priority then put him with Barzal on LW and reap he rewards. I’d then put Beauvillier between 27 and 12 for some speed on that line and someone who can carry the puck through the neutral zone with possession.

Nelson with Filpulla and Hosang would also hypothetically work well but that’s why they play the games.

 

[Ricklongisland]

He was probably their best defenseman on the ice tonight, which isn’t saying much mind you.

He’ll definitely see NHL time this year, even if it may not be straight out of camp.

I'm starting to think our defense will look something like this:

Hickey/Pulock
Leddy/Boychuk
Sbisa/Pelech
Scratches: Toews and Mayfield

 

[seafoam]

I'm starting to think our defense will look something like this:

Hickey/Pulock
Leddy/Boychuk
Sbisa/Pelech
Scratches: Toews and Mayfield

They’re not gonna carry eight D.

 

[Ricklongisland]

They’re not gonna carry eight D.

Those guys are the safest bets to mfake the team even if they do keep seven guys up. If one of those guys doesnt make the team it will probably be one of the younger guys. They will probably keep Sbisa because he has experience. Someone under 25: Mayfield, Pelech or Toews would be the obvious candidates.

I feel like a lot of the bottom six guys we signed will just be a waste. Even if they have to go through waivers. There is no guarantee they even make the team. Especially if a kid like Bellows ends up out performing most of the guys at the end of pre season, it'd be pretty dumb to send him to Bridgeport.

 

[MJF]

Those guys are the safest bets to mfake the team even if they do keep seven guys up. If one of those guys doesnt make the team it will probably be one of the younger guys. They will probably keep Sbisa because he has experience. Someone under 25: Mayfield, Pelech or Toews would be the obvious candidates.

I feel like a lot of the bottom six guys we signed will just be a waste. Even if they have to go through waivers. There is no guarantee they even make the team. Especially if a kid like Bellows ends up out performing most of the guys at the end of pre season, it'd be pretty dumb to send him to Bridgeport.

This is Bellows first pro season. I don’t think it would be dumb to let him start the season in the AHL and get a taste of the pro game down there for 10-15 games before calling him up. But so far Bellows has been a standout for the Isles.

 

[Newsworthy]

Bellows should make the team. We are pretty much a bad NHL team anyways.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Bellows should make the team. We are pretty much a bad NHL team anyways.

Dunno if it works that way...

For Bellows, on his ELC, to play, a whole lot of $$$ will have to sit.

There's still plenty he can learn by getting some time on the farm.