http://nhlline.ca/blog/?p=213

I know the source for Eklund and NHLLine...

Greg Logan.

Honestly, I have come to think that he and Botta are the only way to get any information out of the organization - which I love.

I would also think that players appreciate knowing that the business side is run with respect and professionalism.

In any event - Vasicek could be interesting. I see him in the same role as Sillinger, though - but that might free Silly to move to the second line and Comrie on the first.

So, would that mean something like:

Fedetenko-Comrie-Guerin
Bergenheim/Tambellini-Sillinger-Satan
Sim-Vasicek-Hunter
Simon/Hilbert-Bates-Park

Obivously, there is still a lot of tinkering to be done - but we do have some extra forwards right now, with or without Vasicek

Sim, Park and Hilbert have played center. Maybe we trade for a scoring Winger?

In reality, I think we need a playmaking center...

If we get Vasicek we are left with 15 NHL ready forwards IMO

Comrie
Guerin
Satan
Sillinger
Hunter
Fedotenko
Vasicek
Sim
Tambellini
Bergenheim
Park
Hilbert
Tambellini
Simon
Bates
Neilsen

Obviously that's too many...so you make changes...Neilsen obviously gets sent to BP but he could be surprising in camp

But that's 13 w/ NHL contracts...Tambs still on a 2-way (but does anyone want to see this kid in the minors for another year)

Who's the odd man out, Bates is obvious, but who would want him

IMO if I was GMG, I deal Miro (as much as i like him he has value) and one of the two younger d-man (Campoli probly holds more value) and a pick/prospect for a #2 D-man - Morris, Kubina, or someone of their caliber.

In the end the forward position is crowded and we need the scoring Miro brings but no one else has much trade value in the forward core so we'd be praying for a stellar year from one or both of the youngsters but D is just as important

This makes the lines look as such

Guerin - Comrie - Tambellini
Hilbert - Sillinger - Hunter
Bergenheim - Vasicek - Fedotenko
Simon - Park - Sim

Witt - Martinek
"New D-Man" - Gervais
Sutton - MAB

Switch off Tambs, Bergie, and Tank on the first line to see has more chemistry, Hunter could even fit there if the SHH line doesn't click right away

Sorry for the long winded post

I don't get why people are breaking up the Gotham line.

Hilbert-Silli-Hunts is a consistant line. I'd leave it alone.

Tank IS NOT a First liner.

You're looking at Guerin-Comrie-Miro there.

Third line?

Sim-Vasicheck-Tank

And 4th
Tambi-Park-Bergi

Carry Simon as an extra foward and send Bates to hades.

We don't have many pure goal scorers like Miro. If we trade him, we are going to spend the rest of the season trying to acquire someone just like him.

I understand this as much as any other Isles fan, but Miro holds the most trade value of anyone on the team, you just have to pray that Tambs, Bergie, and Hilbert can each pot 10 goals to make up for his 30 and wait for Okposo, Nielsen, or Comeau to join next season, or go w/ the FA market w/ huge ammounts of money waiting for 'em

The Defense is more important right now especially considering the offensive firepower we'll be facing for 24 games from Philly, the Pens, and the Rags + another 8 from Ottawa and Buffalo; and Jersey is never a push over

its just a guess and a hope

but i hope satan really shines this year with yashin gone

now he can be the star he's supposed to be....

and he's extra nice to us fans :thumbsup:

Enough with the Miro to ?!? - he has a no trade clause.

The potential lines are really interesting right now. I'm hoping for a trade to clarify it as I agree it would be a shame to see Tamby not get a chance this year.

darn, i forgot about that ntc, oh well......anyone want bates :dontknow:

vasicek? are you kidding me? i'd rather get allison (i'm not too thilled about him either)

oh, and trade bates for 08 picks :thumbsup:

If Hilbert, Vasicek, or unproven players like Tambellini and Bergie are counted on to be top 6 forwards we are in big trouble.

Not to fear....we have Jon Sim. :punk:

"Jon Sim, come get the Stanley Cup" - Gary Bettman 2008

On NHLPA he shows as a center, the Isles website has him as a wing? What gives? :dontknow:

Why are people down on Bates? I have a feeling that he has a solid year for us this season. Hopefully he comes to camp in great shape and we don't have to worry about groin problems again.

He might end up our third line center.... :dontknow:

Well, I'm willing to see what he can do for us in training camp and the first two months. If he stumbles, make sure guys like Bergie and Tamby get their share of minutes.

Why shouldn't we be...other than a PS 5 years ago what has he done for this team?

Hilbert-Sillinger-Hunter need to remain intact to start the season.

They were the only dependable line last year because Hilbert is always where you're supposred to be on the rink, Sillinger would win almost every faceoff and stick his nose in front and Hunter would hit and win board battles.

They had a knack for keeping the puck on the proper end of the rink . . . the opponent's end.

If they go stale over an extended period of time, you can always break them up . . . but I wouldn't.

If it isn't broke . . . don't fix it.

They already broke that line up last year when Smyth skated with Silli and Hunter...and they were even more effective then. Hilbert has no business on the 2nd line.

The only thing that worries me is that the Isles have gone through this b4. We had a line that was dominant and then after the offseason we brought them back to together and the chemistry was gone, of course Mike York was a member of that line

Found this aricle on Yahoo, it kind of repeats what Greg Logan has said.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=gett...v=tsn&type=lgns

Sal

FORSBERG! :applaud: :applaud:

isles5 -

It's time you took a look at some tape (do you record any games?).
Watch three or four Hilbert shifts in a row . . . just Hilbert.

You will see one of the best positioned players in the league, always in the right spot, anticipating where the puck is going to be. You will also see someone, due to his high hockey IQ, that disrupts the offensive flow of the other team (again, due to proper positioning) He'll throw an occasional hit, make a least one good pass, and occasionnaly a decent shot on goal.

There's a lot more to hockey than goals, and when you mix someone like Hilbert on a line with the right partners, good things happen.

Don't get all caught up on first line, second line stuff . . . also . . . don't get caught up on whether or not someone is putting up good numbers.

I wish the entire roster had Hilbert's hockey IQ . . . if possible, watch a number of Hilbert shifts in a row, just him, no one else. It's really a pleasure to see an Islander with a sense of where to go at all times.

I agree with this.
yes I do.

:cheers:

:yes:

Ah yes . . .

it appears stevedepot has a high hockey IQ as well . . .

:thumbsup:


http://tumyeto.com/images/uploaded/beer-goods_opt.jpg
Led drinking beer, then posting...............:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

VASICEK, BULIS HEADED FOR RSL?

HOKEJ.CZ: reports Russian teams are showing interest in several Czech players currently without NHL contract, like Josef Vasicek and Jan Bulis.

Spector's Note: Hat tip to "Alexander". It'll be interesting to see how their respective situations pan out. The NY Islanders are reportedly interested in Vasicek, while Bulis' agent recently claimed he expected his client to sign with an NHL team soon.

You're making it sound like that line was dominant and it really wasn't. They had some good chemistry but Hilbert should not be getting significant ice time this season. The guy plays hard but you're starting to make him sound like Peca in his prime. He is not this shut down type defender, his offensive game is average at best and Bergenheim is a better player. Tambellini has more upside as well. The defensive success of that line had more to do with Hunter and Sillinger than hilbert.

Great post Islebeback. You must hang out with some smart hockey fans.



:applaud: :applaud: :applaud: :applaud: :applaud:

andy hilbert....has a career year...25goals 36 assists. :banana:

DAMN!
Now I'm gonna have to watch, because I didn't think hilbert was anything that special.....

but... I do see things differently than most.

Maybe if he was a little shorter and a bit more blonde... :dontknow: :yea:

I'm Captain of Hilbert's Organized Underground Support Enterprise.


HOUSE. :P

How about you photoshop a Hilbert (Dilbert) cartoon with you as Dogbert?

You can make Garth PHB!

Ozzie307 -

I also recommend that you watch some videotape.

I firmly believe you have not once watched just one person for an entire shift . . . especially Hilbert, who would always anticipate where the puck was going to be and would get himself there before the opposition would.

I love watching video of old games and, when watching a Rags game several years ago, I keyed in on Messier for three or four shifts in a row.

Now I despise Messier as much as the next Islander fan . . . but I will tell you something . . . he was ALWAYS where he was supposed to be on the rink and ALWAYS anticipated where the puck was going to be. As much as I hated him, I learned why he was so effective for so many years.

Hilbert is a kid . . . and he already posseses the insight some players take decades to acquire . . . give him some time. I posted earlier under another subject that once he puts a few goals in the net and gains some confidence, he has the ability to be a really important part of this franchise.

Time will tell . . . will it not?