213 thoughts on “It’s Go Time!”

  4. Wick, Marner is awesome don’t get me wrong, but unless you are projecting he is the next ovechkin (toughness included) i’m not giving up four firsts and signing him to the 6-7yr deal at $12m/yr deal it would require to get Toronto to walk. be better off threatening and then trying to trade for him (but that would hurt a ton too).

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  8. A Sermon On The Passing of the Islanders

    My name is Keep your daughters away from Brad Marchand, and I am one of the pastors at The Barn. On behalf of the family, I would like to welcome you as we have gathered here together today to remember The Islanders.

    Thank you for being here today. I am sure that the family recognizes that you don’t have to be here. Your presence today is an affirmation of your love and support for them. Although they may not remember every word shared today, they will remember your presence here for the rest of their lives.

    Jesus once said, “let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-19 ESV). Your presence today shows your love in deed, but do not it end here today. One week, one month, one decade from now this family is still going to need you.

    So how do we help a family in their time of need?

    When we feel powerless and don’t know what to say, some of the best advice I have ever heard is three simple words that begin with the letter “H.”

    Hush: Don’t feel like that you have to give the family answers for The Islanders death. Don’t feel the pressure. There are some answers we will never receive on this side of eternity. Was it the Ice? The Venue? Even if we did have a full explanation, it wouldn’t bring The Islanders back to us or heal the pain in our hearts.
    Hear: Listen to them. Listen to their stories of The Islanders. Listen to their hurt, their memories, their whines, and to their pain. Calmly, patiently, listen. Do not laugh.
    Hug: Give them a shoulder to cry on. A hug to help them through. There once was an elderly gentleman who lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry a 4-year-old boy who lived next door, climbed onto the man’s lap and just sat there. Later, when his mother asked the boy what he had said to his neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” Sometimes the best we can do is help others cry. Do not laugh.

    Hush. Hear. Hug. That is some of the best advice I have ever heard.

    We have all been touched by The Islanders season, and each of us feels this loss deeply. But we cannot change what happened. The important thing is that we learn from The Islanders passing what we need to know about ourselves, about life, about the Trap, and about God.

    Today, none of us face the pain of losing The Islanders alone. God is here. And, as we read earlier in Psalm 23, He wants to help carry us through this valley of bad ice.

    Let us Pray.

    In Heaven, we will skate on streets of perfect ice. In Heaven, there will be a team reunion. We will be reunited with the Stanley Cups we won long ago from 1979-83. In Heaven, we will experience peace that is beyond comprehension. And most importantly, we will no longer be in Brooklyn. And we will finally see the great love of God in all of its glory.

    No more death. No more good-byes. No more grief. No more sorrow. No more ENGs. And no more pain.

    Ahmen.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Beezle,

    That was a moving eulogy for the passing of our beloved Champions of the April Cup, the New York Islanders.

    I will furthermore take solace in the fact that I have kept my gorgeous daughters away from big bad Brad Marchand.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Gord Miller
    ‏@GMillerTSN

    Offer sheet compensation has been set for 2019/20

    $1,395,053 or below: None

    $1,395,054-$2,113,716: 3rd

    $2,113,717-$4,227,437: 2nd

    $4,227,438-$6,341,152: 1st, 3rd

    $6,341,153-$8,454,871: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

    $8,454,872-$10,568,589:
    2 1sts , 2nd, 3rd

    Over
    $10,568,590+: 4 1sts

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  38. WOW! Just wow. That’s all I need tonight to go to bed with a happy smile…There is no substitute for winning SC, but it is some little gulp of satisfaction to see your major hated enemy suffer and be eliminated. Period.

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Realistically, unless gorton somehow pulls a Burke and ré-acquires his own picks, the rangers can only do the highest or lowest offer sheet and nothing else…I think.

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  43. Wicky its too soon to do 4 firsts (if ever) as we really don’t have a good handle ok the kids we have or will soon have. To me thats something you do in two or three years

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  54. “Islanders after last game we’re fooling themselves, saying ‘we were only one goal away’.”

    JR: “… ha ha, they were only one goal away from one goal!”

    Liked by 2 people

  55. In June 2011, Ron Francis assumed the position of director of hockey operations with the Carolina Hurricanes before later being named general manager of the team in 2014.
    On March 7, 2018, Francis was named president of hockey operations.
    His Hurricanes contract was terminated on April 30, 2018.
    Are you reading your his Mr. Dolan?

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  59. The Islanders could look completely different next year. So many UFA’s and so many UFA’s available. Wonder if Lee, Nelson, Eberle or Lehner test the open market?

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  69. Beezle
    I was just trying to figure out the process of what options were available to the rangers due to obligated draft picks.

    Nothing more nothing less

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  73. We really need Columbus to eliminate Boston now. Can’t have this bastids winning the cup. Canes win and the Rangers cannot pick lower than #20 with the Winnipeg pick. Then we have to pull for Dallas and Colorado to get us to #19.

    Liked by 1 person

  86. I’ve heard somewhere that if the Fishsticks do indeed get swept, they will have the distinction of becoming the only team in NHL (or is it North American sports?) history to be swept after sweeping another team in the same playoff.

    Liked by 2 people

  96. The Isles man! They’re too good man! The Cup is theirs man! Easy path to the CUP man! Here we go! they’re gonna score 4 goals in 2 minutes force OT and come back and win in 7 man!!

    Liked by 1 person

  107. know a girl
    She puts the color inside of my world
    But, she’s just like a maze
    Where all of the walls all continually change
    And I’ve done all I can
    To stand on her steps with my heart in my hand
    Now I’m starting to see
    Maybe It’s got nothing to do with me
    Fathers, be good to your daughters
    Daughters will love like you do
    Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
    So mothers be good to your daughters, too

    Liked by 1 person

  109. And the Islanders have made history!! they are the first team ever swept by the Carolina Hurricanes franchise. Congratulations guys! Enjoy your summer!

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  128. Beezle —

    Agreed. These female commentators so far don’t do much more than point out the obvious; points that any casual hockey fan would make whilst watching a game.

    Jessica Mendoza of ESPN is excellent at baseball color commentating. These NBC females are mediocre and add nothing to the broadcast other than a female voice.

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  131. Do you need announcers for baseball? I mean it’s about as boring as boring can get…I guess they need announcers to snore live during the broadcast

    Liked by 1 person

  132. If you’re a fan of the game, color commentating can be a very interesting aspect to a baseball game. Mendoza does a pretty good job, I think.

    My all time favorite color commentator for baseball is Bill White.

    Liked by 1 person

  141. I hate to be the one that says this, but it’s so transparent that NBC hires these individuals basically because they’re female, and it’s in vogue to be #metoo.

    I’m all for women having a greater role in sports entertainment, but please hire individuals with stronger vocal attributes.

    Geez — I know she may not be for everyone, but I enjoy Suzyn Waldman’s personality on the air. She is fun, she is knowledgeable, she gets information, and she has a passion for baseball. Same for Meredith Marakovits, on YES…

    I’m just not feeling these women hockey announcers on NBC. And that goes for the 2 the Islanders have.

    Deb Placey of the Devils is decent.

    Liked by 1 person

  153. Beezle
    You are correct, I am here now watching the Stars game delayed after watching the azzlanders melt on the ice. Grandson doing a sleep over and finally zonked out!

    Liked by 1 person

  163. We end up with #19 or 20 and #27, that has to allow for an upward move or a deal for a useful player off another roster. Preferably a defenseman. Bet Hartford is a much better and more interesting team next season.

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  171. The women on the NHL Network and TSN are solid, but, they have been through a process of honing their skills. I don’t sense that the new NBC people have that experience. AJ has worked for the Isles this year, but, the other woman seems to have come straight from the skating competition she shined in. Many of the former players take a while but establish themselves. Let’s give it a little time to see how it shakes out.

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  172. I see a lot of discussion about the Stars not wanting to give up a 1st for Zucc if they make the WCF. The two seem to be independent to me. The WCF pick is a sunk cost by the time they decide to resign him. If they view having him in the future as valuable they will persue him. If not they will let him go. It’s a separate decision. If they win the Cup and he is a big contributor it would be hard to pass on him.

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  173. AJ Mlezko was horrible her first game, but she is very good now. Give Kendall Coyne some time and she will be too. As for Dallas……they get to the finals and it will be tough for them to walk away from him. Went to a game in Dallas last month and there are a lot of Zucc jerseys there.

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  176. Does not sound like Rykov is coming over. I can’t decide whether he is being smart, or stupid. There is going to be a lot of competition for maybe one or two spots on the Rangers D this year. Chances are Rykov would end up in Hartford. So why not wait another year or two until the numbers are better for him? Because there are even more D coming after that. Miller, Keene, and Hanks son will be the next waive of D. I think the move for Rykov to make is to get here now, knowing he’s going to be in Hartford, and show that he should be in the plans. Put himself on the coaches minds. Once Hajek, Lindgren, Fox, Miller, Keane, and Hanks kid establish themselves, it’s all over for Rykov.

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  179. Sounds like Rykov may not come over. Shame as he sounds like one of the better defensive d-men in the system.

    So if that’s the top ten I wonder -where does Carp rank Joey Keane?

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  180. I seriously doubt all the d men we accumulated will stay in the organization, I have a feeling there will be a trade or two that might involve one or two of them.

    Liked by 1 person

  185. There is also the Dman from Finland that has some people excited about him. I can’t remember his name, but apparently he played himself into the good prospect range this year.

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  190. Rykov is not being smart, BDL. Unless he has no desire to come to the NHL altogether. The numbers will not get better for him. He is 22, he has to sign a 2 year ELC deal. In two years, when he turns 24, he is eligible for a 1 year deal, but it still has to be an ELC, two-way contract. The restrictions of ELCs are lifted after players turn 25, they can sign a one way deal, with whatever money they negotiate. Except that for European players that restriction is extended until they turn 27. So until he is 27, he has to sign an ELC.

    Liked by 3 people

  200. If the Rangers scouted better they could have on their blueline from last night’s winning teams, Slavin, Falk, Pesce and Klinberg instead of “never played for the Rangers” Tambellini, Calle Anderson, Jason Wilson and Cup of tea McIlrath.

    Liked by 4 people

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