Let's face it, when you're trying to sign Nabakov to a new contract, and when he's not available to play, you call up a rookie (Poulin) to play while in the middle of a playoff run, that can't bode well for Montoya. IF Poulin plays well against the Senators today, what will that mean to the Isles ? Do they keep him up ? Do they try to trade Montoya immediately ? What do you guys think ?
If they're trading Montoya, this isn't exactly how you showcase a guy who has played one game since December. My guess is if they retain Nabokov, Montoya is let go in free agency. But once Nabby comes back, I think Poulin goes back down.
If he can't sign Nabby I'm sure Montoya will be resigned. It's too risky to lose them both.
I really think snow has convinced Nabby to stay. Everyone needs to realize, let's say they sign him and the team really sucks next year. He can still be moved to a top contender and it would probably be easier because he's under contract.
Nabby teaches Pollun everyday, a win win situation.
I don't think Nabby will sign. Even if he does-he's not a better option than Montoya is. I know Nabby's been great for us so far-but goalies don't go out gracefully. They hit a wall, and fall very quickly from their form (just because of how demanding the position is). Doesn't matter if you're Nabby, Rolly, Turco, etc.
I have to feel bad for Montoya. Beginning of the season, he was putting up great numbers, but Nabby got hot and now Garth refuses to give him starts. Gotta be frustrating for him after thinking he won the starting job out of camp.
i'm not sure when he fell out of favour, he was golden boy on this board last year and most of this year. He's had, MAYBE, a couple of bad starts and now he's expendable? crazy board we have here.
Seems like we overestimate a player's ability in short spurts, especially for those we haven't seen before or those under 22 - and then toss them aside if they aren't the next Jeff Skinner.
Montoya was never Martin Brodeur. I don't know why everyone was so high on the guy NOR do I understand why things would have changed so much.
I suppose the team feels the same way. I mean, didn't he win the starting job this year at camp? I don't think he's done enough to LOSE that job and now be behind Nabokov AND Poulin? (leaving DiPietro aside for this argument only)
This Montoya situation confuses me.....much like a lot of things this team does
wow you guys are as fickle as any fan base I have ever seen. Montoya was playing solid for us before the concussion. He is a little rusty after a few games and now lets dump him for scraps. I could go back 3 months ago and pull up Trade Nabokov posts and sign Montoya to a 3 year deal.
Montoya is rusty from lack of play. Poulin is cold because he gets called up, then sits. I don't blame either of them because anyone who has watched the NHL for any length of time knows this stuff happens. Goaltenders need to play consistently. All three of the ones we have (Nabster, Poulin, Monty) are starter material, not backups. I get the frustration, but the issue here really is management of the assets which has been handled very poorly by Cappy, Snow, and Wang.
And anyone who doesn't think Wang is involved in this hasn't been paying attention.
Montoya is rusty from lack of play. Poulin is cold because he gets called up, then sits. I don't blame either of them because anyone who has watched the NHL for any length of time knows this stuff happens. Goaltenders need to play consistently. All three of the ones we have (Nabster, Poulin, Monty) are starter material, not backups. I get the frustration, but the issue here really is management of the assets which has been handled very poorly by Cappy, Snow, and Wang.
And anyone who doesn't think Wang is involved in this hasn't been paying attention.
This. We've mishandled yet another crop of goalies...I really think we should start next year with Monty and Nabby, with the albatross where he belongs - learning how to do tv/radio for the team.
The injury really destroyed him IMO. He was the best goalie for a bit, outplaying Nabokov for a bit. Then he got hurt and Nabokov really took the reins.
The injury really destroyed him IMO. He was the best goalie for a bit, outplaying Nabokov for a bit. Then he got hurt and Nabokov really took the reins.
Agreed, he was playing great before the concussion.
I was surprised when they didn't send him down to BPT for a few games when he came back from the concussion. He's not a seasoned veteran who can be expected to get back on top of his game with a couple of practices, especially considering the nature of the injury. He hasn't looked good since. Bad management, IMO.
I called for Montoya to be traded several times while he was hot.
I knew, and anyone being realistic knew, that Nabby was the better goalie and deserved the starting job. Now when it's too late to get a decent value for Montoya, we're stuck with him.
Poulin hasn't shown much in his play lately.
I really hope they give Nabby an extension, I've been saying that too.
I don't see Montoya going anywhere. I think if Nabby does sign (which I don't honestly think he will) Montoya will be a 2nd.
I really don't see Poulin making it up here as a regular any time soon. He's had more horrible games than good. Isles would be stupid (in my opinion) to not try and keep it Montoya/Nabokov. But then again this all depends on what Snows good buddy DiPietro does next season. Does he come back? Does he retire? Who knows.
I think Montoya still has a ton of potential. He's had a few bad games. But let us not so quickly forget when he was a beast in goal and everyone loved him. And the defense out there surely isn't backing him up as of late.
Last edited by DerekJR321: 02-20-2012 at 09:32 PM.
Reason: typo
i'm not sure when he fell out of favour, he was golden boy on this board last year and most of this year. He's had, MAYBE, a couple of bad starts and now he's expendable? crazy board we have here.
Seems like we overestimate a player's ability in short spurts, especially for those we haven't seen before or those under 22 - and then toss them aside if they aren't the next Jeff Skinner.
Montoya was never Martin Brodeur. I don't know why everyone was so high on the guy NOR do I understand why things would have changed so much.
I suppose the team feels the same way. I mean, didn't he win the starting job this year at camp? I don't think he's done enough to LOSE that job and now be behind Nabokov AND Poulin? (leaving DiPietro aside for this argument only)
This Montoya situation confuses me.....much like a lot of things this team does
This post pretty much sums up exactly how I feel...... the guy was playing very well when he got hurt. I can understand him not getting the starting job back right away because Nabakhov was so hot, but Poulin jumping ahead of him???? Doesn't make any sense, and now Montoya can't buy a start..... Mind boggling....
This is just one of the situations that make you want to pull your hair out as an Islanders fan....... The handling of Nino is just flat out embarrassing!
And are we ever going to put Bailey in a position to succeed?? Give him at least one lineup with some creative ability.
Let's face it, when you're trying to sign Nabakov to a new contract, and when he's not available to play, you call up a rookie (Poulin) to play while in the middle of a playoff run, that can't bode well for Montoya. IF Poulin plays well against the Senators today, what will that mean to the Isles ? Do they keep him up ? Do they try to trade Montoya immediately ? What do you guys think ?
Montoya has been so horribly bad lately that I'm thinking his days are numbered...From the NHL.
I think Snow gameplan is to hopefully extend Nabokov and look to deal Montoya in a package for a top 4 D. Then go with Nabby/Poulin next season, having a guy like Nabby mentoring Poulin would be very important.
Also, Anders Nilsson is 14-6-1 with a .921 SV % and a 2.41 GAA. This kid is our future in goal though guys. He has the potential to be elite. Let's just have him develop properly and adjust to the North American game
Neither Montoya or Nabokov is the long term solution. I think signing Nabokov makes us better in the long run. I would have no issue with keeping both and letting Poulin get one more season in Bridgeport but we all Snow likes to show how smart he is at the draft table by bringing rookies up a year or two early.
