I would know about Nedved… being a Ranger fan and what not, and knowing how his work ethic is what holds him down. He’s like Jagr, he’s got that superstar ego and works hard only when he wants to because he knows he has talent. If only Nedved played hard every night, what he could be.

Comrie’s proven that he can be a very servicable #2 center. I agree, he’s nothing defensively, but he’s a good playmaker who can also put up 20 goals and at best can put up 60-70 points.

I agree on Boucher, a lot of people all of a sudden have him up there as an elite goaltender becuase of his shutout streak record. He had a solid rookie year, and after that hasn’t been able to come not even half way close to what he was then. I’ve said it before, the goaltending issue is very iffy. Unless Johnson can prove that he’s NHL starter material, which I don’t think he is, this team’s achilles heel will be exposed when teams start getting shots on net and traffic in front or anywhere near the net.

He WAS, I never said he IS, because he’s not a prospect anymore, played too many games. He’s got potential that with the right coaching can be utilized. Sutter’s not gonna develop this kid offensively, think of what Patrick Marleau could do in a system like Jaques Martin had up in Ottawa, or Joel Quenneville had in St. Louis… Saprykin’s gonna fall to the same fate that Marleau has, immense potency, no room for unlocking it. It has also to do with the direction the game is going in, the defense-first philosophy, obviously, but still Darryl Sutter isn’t a coach that comes to mind with developing kids offensively. He’s also not getting the right playing time due to that fact. I agree with you on his potency.

Rick Bowness = horrible coach… mid-90′s Isles… enough said… ask any Islander fan about Bowness.

I agree on Suchy. Morris plays D, just because he’s not a great great stay at home defender/defensive defender like Adam Foote doesn’t mean he absolutely sucks. I’ve watched him in both Calgary and Colorado, and he’s not bad at all defensively. Tanabe is young, and yes, still has to prove himself. Ference is a nobody, maybe so… but he is a good depth defenseman who’s got size, is decent defensively, and is a good hitter.

Yes, spending money for them hasn’t worked because they haven’t spent it on the right players. I am in no way, shape, or form saying that they’re a cup contender, to think that, especially in the west, is ridiculous with Colorado, Detroit, Vancouver, and San Jose being there. Calgary I think is a one shot deal, and they won’t go that far again for a while, but they’re legit. When Phoenix spent that money, it wasn’t under the Gretzky regime. I think this time around, they’re looking in a better direction, and balancing out the youth and the veterans. They could use a top-notch prospect or two in their system, but they’ve got good youth. Blake Wheeler has a lot of potential, although that pick surprised me as it did many other people. Gretzky has made good moves behind there.

As for the coaching, I think you’re right. The goaltending is iffy, I’m not too sure about Boucher.

For over a year, I’ve seen you do that left and right to people, my tirades are in jest, usually. I only get like that when people like you go off and do what you’re calling out me for doing. Look in the mirror before you do so. Titans was another one who would do that, and I’ve had my share of squabbles with him.

It’s not just me who notices how egotistical you are, I talk to people from NHL chat on here that say the same exact things about you that I’m saying. And I talk to people on other messaging programs who also say the same things.

Instead of reading too far into it… accept the fact I usually do put you in place when I start posting facts and concrete evidence because you never have the arguement after. You ramble on about how I’m wrong because I don’t know this and that, etc… You get all defensive and completely stray away from your arguements due to your lack of knowledge and your ridiculously high ego.

It’s people like me? I talked to cwthrash, and I’ve never had problems with him. Don’t put words in other people’s mouths. Leaf_Expert is another story, but you’re not one to talk when all you’re doing is swaying people away from this site.

I never said I was the most objective out there, and if you’ve seen my posts, I’ve made references to cwthrash as being the most objective I’ve seen on this site or any forum I’ve ever posted on. Once again, do not put words in my mouth.

Look, you can say I’m wrong until you’re blue in the face. Your being “right” is only a matter of your own opinion. If you want to believe you’re right, fine.

I don’t recall you ever “putting me in my place.” To think that you do so only further cements your growing egotist reputation. Saying things like “like I usually do” only throws gasoline on the fire that you say you want to extinguish.

I have never once said I know everything. If I don’t know something about a particular subject, I leave it alone (i.e. the CBA).

I happen to look at things logically and objectively everywhere. If I make a comment, it is my opinion. You are free to disagree with it as you choose, that is the beauty of this website. But don’t go thumping your chest, saying to other people that you’re right and I’m wrong, that you’re the silverback of the Objectivity Crusade.

To do so only makes you look foolish.

It is people like you and Leaf_Expert who drove a bright mind like cwthrash away from here.

I guess if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.

If Saprykin was one of Calgary’s “top prospects,” why give up on him? He had a decent run of it in the playoffs, but that’s about it. By no means am I calling him a stiff, but he just doesn’t seem like the kind of game-breaker that everyone is making him out to be. I would equate Saprykin to Justin Williams – both are young players with promise, but neither seems willing to break the ceiling. Is he worth a shot? Sure, but why bring a kid like this in only to play second fiddle to a 40 year-old?

Yes, their defense is suspect. I like O’Donnell, and Gauthier is OK, but Morris plays no D and is on his third team in as many years (his legacy in the desert will probably be that he’s not Chris Gratton), Tanabe has yet to prove that he belongs in the NHL, Ference is a nobody, and Mara is a cheaper version of Morris. The Suchy trade was absolutely horrible – there’s no way they should have sent him packing.

As for their spending, yes it doesn’t seem like much, but they are increasing their payroll over last years. We have seen in the past what happens when this team spends its money – it doesn’t work.

My point about this team – it’s another revision in a long line of revisions. Phoenix can’t seem to get it right, no matter how much or how little they spend or how much talent they do or don’t have.

This team will not make it to the playoffs without better goaltending and better coaching. That makes all their offensive firepower (if it indeed shows up) moot.

This team will not make it to the post-season with its current defense, goaltending, and coaching staff.

The only Phoenix center I would go to war with is Ricci. I have always loved his play, ever since his rookie year.

Nedved, as I and many others have said before, is a skating riddle. No one denies his talent, but his effort and attitude are what hangs a huge “BUYER BEWARE” sign around his neck. If this team is counting on him to be a number one centerman, they are doomed. I can’t wait to hear what happens when Hull opens his yap about him.

Comrie, on a good team, is a third- or fourth-liner who can’t play defense. He is also bullheaded and less-than-coachable.

I like what the team has on the wings – I wouldn’t cry over having Hull, Doan, and Nagy.

AS for their defense, I still consider it suspect. O’Donnell and Gauthier are now their two best defenders. Hulse is serviceable. Tanabe has yet to prove that he belongs in the NHL. Morris, as I’ve said before, is rapidly approaching journeyman status because of his steadfast refusal to play defense. Mara is essentially the same player as Morris.

But their goaltending situatioN? Come on, it’s far from “solid.”

Boucher was the toast of the NHL for five whole games in January. Great. Grand. Nice effort. Then he promptly went out and stunk up the joint on a nightly basis for the rest of the season, going 4-17-6 after his infamous streak. Why do you think they traded for Brent Johnson, who couldn’t even beat out a past-his-prime-but-never-really-had-a-prime Chris Osgood?

If you think a “2 goalie system” will work for this team with these two goalies you are kidding yourself. They will be digging themselves a deeper grave.

But I must say, the Islanders are up there in fair-weather franchises. Especially after seeing the closet monsters come out after they signed Yashin and Peca.