Speculation: The Central question

[Darth Milbury]

Isles enter this season with an insane amount of depth up the middle. For a moment, not considering the idea that centers can be placed on the wings, we have Nielsen, Nelson, JT, Strome, Grabo, and Czizkas. Its insane depth.


There are some obvious moves here - Strome and Nelson potentially to the wings, for example.


Still, I thought it would be interested to have some discussion about what you all see the Isles doing with this intense level of depth up the middle. There are other NHL teams with more high end talent at the pivot position (although not many) but I can't think of another team that is deeper.

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[dtrain24]

I agree with you, I think Nelson and Strome go on the wings. Nelson LW with JT and KO, and Strome RW with Grabo and Cool Lemon.

JT
Grabo
Frans
CC

down the middle. I'm loving this depth.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

It's solid depth, but aside from Tavares it's not especially elite. But, IMO, it's definitely in the top third of the Eastern Conference. When you look at the Western Conference, there's some really insane depth out there.

 

[Darth Milbury]

There are few teams who have more than one elite center. I'd argue though that our third line center, Nielsen, is better than the 2nd line center on many other teams.

 

[PK Cronin]

Not pumping him up at all here, but Bailey can also slide into that center spot when need be, as he did last season (he's obviously last on the depth chart). It's great to have two guys who can play that position on almost every line, and who can (potentially) win some faceoffs when the center is thrown out.

Lets just hope that the team faceoff numbers improve with this kind of depth, because it's needed.

 

[SI90]

There are few teams who have more than one elite center. I'd argue though that our third line center, Nielsen, is better than the 2nd line center on many other teams.

agreed, that's why Im so against trading him unless its on offer we cant refuse.

we role 3 legit lines and Frans takes the defensive responsibilities leaving Tavares and Grabos lines to feast.

 

[Darth Milbury]

Not pumping him up at all here, but Bailey can also slide into that center spot when need be, as he did last season (he's obviously last on the depth chart). It's great to have two guys who can play that position on almost every line, and who can (potentially) win some faceoffs when the center is thrown out.

Lets just hope that the team faceoff numbers improve with this kind of depth, because it's needed.

totally agree. This is a major concern to me.

I suspect that JT will take his game up a notch in that regard.

 

[Space Herpe]

The central question.

I see what you did there.

 

[bluechipbonzo]

I agree with you, I think Nelson and Strome go on the wings. Nelson LW with JT and KO, and Strome RW with Grabo and Cool Lemon.

JT
Grabo
Frans
CC

down the middle. I'm loving this depth.

yep yep yep

 

[A Pointed Stick]

Cold blanket moment ~ Impressive depth, but only 1 franchise player in the forward pool.

That has to change, somehow.

 

[Darth Milbury]

Cold blanket moment ~ Impressive depth, but only 1 franchise player in the forward pool.

That has to change, somehow.

By "franchise player" - I'll assume you mean star to superstar caliber.


I think Okposo can get to that level by this coming season, and I believe Strome (and possibly) Nelson will be there too.

 

[Al Arbour]

What about Conacher? I believe he's a center as well.

 

[Darth Milbury]

The central question.

I see what you did there.

Glad you go it. I was worried I was being to subtle.

 

[Al Arbour]

totally agree. This is a major concern to me.

I suspect that JT will take his game up a notch in that regard.

Not as much of a 'major' concern to me, but a concern nonetheless. I believe the Islanders were in the bottom five in faceoff percentage last season, likely below 50%. Tavares was probably below 50% as well. I'd say he'd have to get up to around 55-58%, and that would be satisfactory.

It's not about how many face-offs you win, it's when you win the face-offs.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

I think we might see Grabo on JT's wing and Nelson at center. Capuano has been on multiple radio shows saying how hard it is for him to move Nelson from center.

 

[Darth Milbury]

Weren't Grabo and Kulimen promised they could play together?

 

[PK Cronin]

Not as much of a 'major' concern to me, but a concern nonetheless. I believe the Islanders were in the bottom five in faceoff percentage last season, likely below 50%. Tavares was probably below 50% as well. I'd say he'd have to get up to around 55-58%, and that would be satisfactory.

It's not about how many face-offs you win, it's when you win the face-offs.

There's virtually no chance that Tavares goes from below 50% to 58%. That's elite/specialist numbers right there. Bergeron was at 58%, Toews was at 57%, Thorton was at 56%. If he improves from his 49% to 52% that'd be a huge win. I know Tavares is great, but he's just not going to be Bergeron-like in the faceoff department.

Also, it is about how many you win just as much as it is about when you win them.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Weren't Grabo and Kulimen promised they could play together?

Well..same team is pretty close. But Capuano said "we are aware of the numbers they put together.."

Sounds like he wouldn't hesitate to split.

 

[SLAPSHOT723]

I'm okay with trading Frans for a LW or defensive help.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

There are few teams who have more than one elite center. I'd argue though that our third line center, Nielsen, is better than the 2nd line center on many other teams.

I hear ya. I still see Frans as the #2 guy. I just think he's better than Grabovski and the coaching staff trusts him more than any other player on the team. I think the Isles are pretty strong at C in comparison to many teams, but aren't in that top tier like a Boston or Pittsburgh or even Philly.

 

[Quicklime]

I hear ya. I still see Frans as the #2 guy. I just think he's better than Grabovski and the coaching staff trusts him more than any other player on the team. I think the Isles are pretty strong at C in comparison to many teams, but aren't in that top tier like a Boston or Pittsburgh or even Philly.

I'd agree (though Philly is a toss), though I think the Isles, while not in the top tier, are different in a way they can still win. The question is, can they use their TWO 2nd lines - one defensive, the other offensive, to enough of an advantage to compete with other teams.

I'm looking at you, Cappy.

 

[Isles72]

There are few teams who have more than one elite center. I'd argue though that our third line center, Nielsen, is better than the 2nd line center on many other teams.

I'd agree with you if he was a force at winning faceoffs , but he's under 50%

still love the guy though --he's our secret weapon , swiss army knife .

 

[ScaredStreit]

Not as much of a 'major' concern to me, but a concern nonetheless. I believe the Islanders were in the bottom five in faceoff percentage last season, likely below 50%. Tavares was probably below 50% as well. I'd say he'd have to get up to around 55-58%, and that would be satisfactory.

It's not about how many face-offs you win, it's when you win the face-offs.

That's like saying if Okposo scores 50 goals next year that will be satisfactory as far as scoring goals is concerned.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Not as much of a 'major' concern to me, but a concern nonetheless. I believe the Islanders were in the bottom five in faceoff percentage last season, likely below 50%. Tavares was probably below 50% as well. I'd say he'd have to get up to around 55-58%, and that would be satisfactory.

It's not about how many face-offs you win, it's when you win the face-offs.

That's like saying if Okposo scores 50 goals next year that will be satisfactory as far as scoring goals is concerned.

I hear ya. I still see Frans as the #2 guy. I just think he's better than Grabovski and the coaching staff trusts him more than any other player on the team. I think the Isles are pretty strong at C in comparison to many teams, but aren't in that top tier like a Boston or Pittsburgh or even Philly.

I agree. I really think that Nielsen's a #2 C, and that most people don't say so because he's smaller. He puts up ~45 points consistently, very good defensively, is our most consistent player over the course of a season (including JT), and just put up 58 points.

58 point centers who're great in their own zone aren't #2 C's. Quite frankly Nielsen is currently better than Grabovski imo, and I'd move Grabovski to wing at the start of the year.

 

[Al Arbour]

There's virtually no chance that Tavares goes from below 50% to 58%. That's elite/specialist numbers right there. Bergeron was at 58%, Toews was at 57%, Thorton was at 56%. If he improves from his 49% to 52% that'd be a huge win. I know Tavares is great, but he's just not going to be Bergeron-like in the faceoff department.

Also, it is about how many you win just as much as it is about when you win them.

What, I can't have high standards?

My original post was off the top of my head, and I wasn't sure of the exact percentages. Now if, 49% to 52% is doable, then 52% to 55% should be doable. Unreasonable, right? But, Tavares seems to be able to better his game in the offseason, and I'm sure he worked on face-offs. But I just checked his actual numbers, and he has consistently hovered around 50%, and was actually as high as 52.5% in the 2010/11 season.