Except there's no reason to think that Varlamov will come remotely close to doing what Lehner did last year, since he never has before and has if anything been getting worse in the last four years.
If we are on par with last year then Lou has to feel very good with the core of the team and should be inclined to trade a few of the youngsters for an established player, preferably with a few years on his deal. One of those players traded will not be Ho-Sang who has likely pouted his way out of the NHL.
Ho-Sang has requested a trade. Am I missing something? Any team in the league could have had him without giving up a player, what possible reason would there be for a team to now give up a player to get him?
The team would still have to fit his contract whatever it is into their cap,,,,,,I said the same thing with Hickey = how could a team desperate for defense alla the Maple Leafs not claim him = the have to fit guys into their cap
Good game, fellas! Gotta give credit to Ilya Samsonov in is first career start in the net, but the Islanders did not generate too many offensive chances and when they did, nothing happened. Gudas put the puck into his own net. Maybe he thought he was still a Flyer. In good news, another Caps drafted goalie, Varlamov looked pretty good for the Isles. I did not realize he had signed with New York til the game. He is a good goalie.
I’m trying to be patient, it’s early in the season, the Isles will not be taken for granted by anyone starting the season. Capitals are still a great offensive team with a HOF winger. I’m sure Walhstrom will be called up by islanders at some point this season. Islanders forwards are defensively and offensively limited, doesn’t matter who they play.
Well I will believe it when I see it and take this for what it is worth = https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/Jets-and-NYI-talking-early-season-trade-e4/1/101791
I’m sure Lou saw Josh Bailey giving up an opportunity for a shot on goal to make a pass to a teammate covered by a center and defenseman and finally realized he can’t do this again.
This is painful to watch but on the bright side a few of my buddies are actually at this game and I stayed home,,,,,still have the entire 3rd period but can this Islander team really score 4 or 5 goals against anyone ?
28 home games within five minutes of my house and I'm really not particularly enthusiastic about going to any of them at this point. This season has started exactly the way I expected it to, and that makes me very sad.