Topic: Kyle Okposo

Yes, he looked pretty comfortable and didn't seem out of place (ok I know the whole team is AHL just about right now). It seems like there is a bit of jelling going on now too. I am hoping that Ted will be able to play more of "his" type of game next year, knowing he has some speedier guys ready and waiting for the nod.

Just wait until KO gets alot of experience in the next season just like Ovechkin, a little season and this boy will be moving on the ice.  If the kid line continues working hard, they could become the 1st or 2nd line next season.  Tamby will relax and score, just a matter of time.

Also do not forget that KO beat Marty, which is not that simple.

People use the term Power Foward too often but I think KO will be a true PF. He looks a little lost sometimes without the puck but he will come along real fast. I do think Nolan should mix the kids in, not put them together. They are outsmarted by more experienced players too often and would be more effective if they weren't on an all rookie lines.

Interesting points Jack, I have to agree on the parts with KO not having the puck.  I would contribute it too jitters, getting a feel for the Pros, and just plain not wanting to make a mistake. 

I'm sure the AHL is alot more predictable and obviously slower and that's where his adjustment will be. The kid has all the tools and it won't take long for him to reach his potential. I just hope they draft a kid this year that will be NHL ready as early as KO. If we draft a kid 3-4 years out then wait 2-3 years for him to mature, KO and the other kids will have been in the NHL for 5-7 years already. In this salary cap world we need to bunch up as much talent as soon as possible, plus I don't think the fans can remain sane too much longer. Just look at the guys on this forum wig out when the Isles fell apart this year. LOL

I think the Islanders should do whatever it takes to get Stamkos or Beach.  These guys have been noted by many as being NHL ready.  My take is get KO a good play making center, that can form a solid second line unit.  Reach out for another bonifide scorer for the top line to take the off K.O. give him time to adjust a little more.  Then we are talking.

They have a foundation in K.O. now they must build upon that foundation and grow upward.

If we get a big pick it changes alot for the face of this team. Just look at the Blackhawks for example. Alot of guys signed with them as soon as the top draft picks showed up. If I'm a UFA I look at the current Isles roster and see Guerin, Comrie, Tank, Silly, Vas and a couple of little known rookies without great scoring potential and I say no. What can they do for me? I want to play with guys that are coing to help me make money. You can't do it alone. Everyone that came to this team as a UFA has suffered from lower production. When you go to neg. your next contract you probably get a pay cut.

Players just do not come to the team based on the roster, add in the type of organization of the back office which means owner, GM and coach.  The key is to show that the backbone of the office is solid, that a new stadium is a reality and that the team is showing that it is trying to improve with the kids and the roster. 

The cleanup will happen in about 2 weeks and it is time to ship out Gallant, Satan, Johnson. 

What is really good is when guys like Comrie (like him or not) come out and say "I WANT TO STAY HERE COZ I LIKE IT" tells me alot that the club is heading in the right direction.

I would say at the moment showcasing Comeau, KO and Tamby on a line will show that the depth is starting to look promising. 

At the moment, the Isles has Comrie, Guerin, KO, DP, Hunter signed for next season and it is a start. With Campoli, Radek and Witt coming back from injuries will start to solidify the team.

The big questions are what happens with Tank, Joe V and Silly.  Do we keep one of the 3 or all 3.  Sometimes I hate it when Snow doesn't do his PR correctly and not letting the fans know that the team is looking for improvement.

One more thing about Snow, now that Smyth is injured for the rest of the year, thank goodness he did not sign him, otherwise Snow would have been tar'd and feathered on that.

Of course Comrie likes it here, he is single, dating that ditzo, making a salary we would all like to make for playing a game for a living. He needs to now earn that salary or else he is gone, can't play half a season in this league.  As for Comeau, KO and Tambs, none are centerman..which is why Park is there, we need to sign Stamkos, like 13 stated, to center the Comeau-KO line now you have something. Play Tambs with Bergie and say Neilsen when he is healthy and you have 2 fast young lines that hopefully will score...at least on paper. I really don't want Comrie and Guerin together because it just hasn't worked but Hunter, Vas and Tank did when together. So now what do you do....you have Silly, Sim, Bates, Park and Hilbert.  I'd hate to lose Silly's face off percentage and I feel bad for Bates, who knows what Sim can or can't do, and although Park and Hilbert put forth the "effort" as Nolan likes to say, we need goal scorers so bye bye. Bottom line the vets must go because we still need to bring in a gunner. I'd trade away Comrie and the blonde, keep Silly and buy a gunner for he and Guerin. Of course we'll need to add 3 D-men to compliment the core of Camps, Witt and Marty. Perhaps Berard, Spiller or Fata could fill one spot but I think Meyer, Sutton, and Davison should go.  I know this is not popular but Nolan can go as well...and of course Gallant.  Just one fans opinion............

Nolan said it last night, the last batch of games will decide if you get on the roster next season, pretty plain and simple.  We can sit here and second guess a lot of stuff but I agree with 55, we need a play making center, one that can set it up for KO and Comeau as well as liking to get in front of the goalie.

Some of the Isles need to be sent to shooting school, way to many shots not hitting the goalie thus not creating rebounds.  That is one of the many problems.

Many of the players you see now are gone, I still think that they want to keep Silly here but Bates as well as Andy will be released.  They are committed to bringing Sims here because he is a 2 way.

At the moment, no one has a clue whether Tank or Joe V will be back or if they are in the plans, I liked the VHF line, they created alot of traffic and started to jell really well but at this point there is nothing left to the season but playing it out.

Even Dubie as well as MacDonald which one goes back to the AHL or is released?

Look they can let those players walk by not making an offer and save on there salarys and pay the right players to the right deals (whoever they are) and still have our draft picks to start next Season! Get it done Garth!

Its been three games and I was such a skeptic about this kid and his "potential" but I have liked what I've seen. In my opinion he will only get better and that is one very big positive for this organization's future. I am glad thay decided to showcase him!

And how about that Power play last night?????

Yeah, thats what I was gonna say, that hybrid unbrella/overload with lots of movement and great support for the blueline for puck dumping, only I didn't think you non hockey people would have a clue what I was saying hahaha!!! I hope they do it again, too, so you can see what I mean on TV!

Seriously though, it HAD to be someone else who organized that. Whoever it was, glad they spoke up. (And I was wrong, it was Okposo's 4th game, I just missed one of them)