So even with the win against Winnipeg, we're right back where we started at the beginning of the day: picking 4th.
My solution? Claim Montoya has an "upper-body injury" and start Grahame against the Blue Jackets. Columbus will be playing for pride because win or lose, they're still finishing worst. Picking 4th all but guarantees us one of Murray or Dumba.
So even with the win against Winnipeg, we're right back where we started at the beginning of the day: picking 4th.
My solution? Claim Montoya has an "upper-body injury" and start Grahame against the Blue Jackets. Columbus will be playing for pride because win or lose, they're still finishing worst. Picking 4th all but guarantees us one of Murray or Dumba.
No need for special measures, Columbus has been on fire lately and should beat us handily:
Tonight - Columbus beats Colorado 5-2
Previous game - they put 54 shots up but lose 2-0 to Phoenix
Game before that - they win in St Louis 5-2
Game before that - they beat Florida 4-1
Game before that - they beat Detroit 4-2
I think chances are we lose with either Isles goalie.
No need for special measures, Columbus has been on fire lately and should beat us handily:
Tonight - Columbus beats Colorado 5-2
Previous game - they put 54 shots up but lose 2-0 to Phoenix
Game before that - they win in St Louis 5-2
Game before that - they beat Florida 4-1
Game before that - they beat Detroit 4-2
I think chances are we lose with either Isles goalie.
I said this in the other thread Columbus seems to have our number for the past decade
Yeah I definitely want to stay where we are, seems like there would be a difference picking 4 or 7th...i would absolutely start grahame....not even 100% to tank....but Montoya has been pretty bad....no need to injure him PA style on the last game either....
*Isles get 2 points:
*they pass TOR, MIN or ANA if that team gets 0 points;
*they don't pass TOR, MIN or ANA if that team gets 1 point.
BTW, I'm against starting Graham. Aside from the obvious tank, he'd probably have this amazing "Angels in the Outfield" 50 save performance to drop us 3 slots, and then go back to coaching in the ECHL.
Yeah starting Graham wouldn't look too good to the rest of the league. Let nature take its course and just live with whatever happens. I was at the game last night and I am a big supporter of getting the best pick possible, but I just couldn't root against this team.
Best case scenario is we win the game, leap 2 teams in the standings dropping to the 6th pick, and then jump up to the 2nd pick after winning the lottery. Hello, Mr. Murray...
Yeah starting Graham wouldn't look too good to the rest of the league.
Neither did looking into Sumos as goalies, having a "committee", firing Neil Smith after a few days, hiring a backup goalie as GM, etc. I don't think the Islanders care what the rest of the league thinks.
Last time Grahame faced NHL competition it was 2007/2008 where he had a .875 save percentage. I say give him a start and see if we can hold onto that 4th pick.
Neither did looking into Sumos as goalies, having a "committee", firing Neil Smith after a few days, hiring a backup goalie as GM, etc. I don't think the Islanders care what the rest of the league thinks.
Last time Grahame faced NHL competition it was 2007/2008 where he had a .875 save percentage. I say give him a start and see if we can hold onto that 4th pick.
There's a difference between incompetency and purposely tanking. Starting Grahame to guarantee us a better draft pick will throw away whatever respect we have from other teams around the league.
at this point IDC what we come out with in terms of drafting, I just hope its a player who can help........Lets hope the teams before us draft all offense so we can have a pick of one of the Good Dmen....
I still think Garth finds a way to draft Forsberg...
There's a difference between incompetency and purposely tanking. Starting Grahame to guarantee us a better draft pick will throw away whatever respect we have from other teams around the league.
This team is already disrespected at every turn. Starting Grahame in a completely meaningless game isn't going to throw the league into disarray. Considering how many 'WTF?' moves this organization makes, starting him makes complete sense. Hasn't played in how many years, Montoya has been no stalwart between the pipes, last game of the season on the road, etc.
If he does get the doubtful start, he'll probably stand on his head anyway insuring a win.
This team is already disrespected at every turn. Starting Grahame in a completely meaningless game isn't going to throw the league into disarray. Considering how many 'WTF?' moves this organization makes, starting him makes complete sense. Hasn't played in how many years, Montoya has been no stalwart between the pipes, last game of the season on the road, etc.
If he does get the doubtful start, he'll probably stand on his head anyway insuring a win.
We're disrespected because we're a joke, and a move like this would only add to it. Honestly, starting Montoya would probably give us a better chance at losing anyway, so I don't see the need to blatantly tell the rest of the league we are tanking by starting a guy who hasn't played in 4 years or something like that.
Start Montoya. If we lose, great. If not, we still get a great prospect and keep at least a shred of dignity in this league. Who knows, that could be the difference between a UFA signing here and that same UFA going elsewhere. Call me paranoid, but considering how competitive hockey players are I wouldn't be surprised if something like that is taken into account when deciding where to sign.
We're disrespected because we're a joke, and a move like this would only add to it. Honestly, starting Montoya would probably give us a better chance at losing anyway, so I don't see the need to blatantly tell the rest of the league we are tanking by starting a guy who hasn't played in 4 years or something like that.
Start Montoya. If we lose, great. If not, we still get a great prospect and keep at least a shred of dignity in this league. Who knows, that could be the difference between a UFA signing here and that same UFA going elsewhere. Call me paranoid, but considering how competitive hockey players are I wouldn't be surprised if something like that is taken into account when deciding where to sign.
Just claim Montoya has an "illness" and nobody would question it. Maybe the whiny Toronto fans on the hfboards main page, but nobody important. I guarantee with the lack of coverage the Islanders get, the hockey media will be too swept up in the playoffs to worry about the 4th worst team starting one goaltender in their final game instead of another. "We're not tanking, we're just playing our healthiest goalie to give us the best shot at a win in our season finale " delivered of course with a ****-eating grin. Nobody's gonna be sticking a thermometer in Montoya's mouth.
It may matter if the player the team (or you) wants goes one pick ahead of the Islanders.
I don't know how much it matters. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm not at all convinced that the Islanders would have taken Adam Larsson last year, and I'm not convinced that they would have taken Jaromir Jagr in 1990. They didn't take Cam Fowler or Jeff Skinner in '10. They didn't take Joe Sakic in 1987, and they didn't take Claude Giroux in 1986. So unless there's a Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, or John Tavares, it's very hard to get it right.
I will bet, I might lose, but I will bet that the Islanders leave Dumba on the table if he's there.
I don't know how much it matters. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm not at all convinced that the Islanders would have taken Adam Larsson last year, and I'm not convinced that they would have taken Jaromir Jagr in 1990. They didn't take Cam Fowler or Jeff Skinner in '10. They didn't take Joe Sakic in 1987, and they didn't take Claude Giroux in 1986. So unless there's a Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, or John Tavares, it's very hard to get it right.
I will bet, I might lose, but I will bet that the Islanders leave Dumba on the table if he's there.
Can't blame the Isles for that, he wasn't born yet
Montreal can't catch us. We want Toronto to get at least a point and we don't care what Montreal gets. And if we lose, it makes no difference at whether Toronto gets a point or not.
Edit - just saw last two posts - PSYCH!
Yep gentlemen, after I wrote that post, I realized I hadn't seen the most updated standings.
My bad - the Habs are unequivocally the last place team in the conference.
I don't know how much it matters. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm not at all convinced that the Islanders would have taken Adam Larsson last year, and I'm not convinced that they would have taken Jaromir Jagr in 1990. They didn't take Cam Fowler or Jeff Skinner in '10. They didn't take Joe Sakic in 1987, and they didn't take Claude Giroux in 1986. So unless there's a Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, or John Tavares, it's very hard to get it right.
I will bet, I might lose, but I will bet that the Islanders leave Dumba on the table if he's there.
I think you are right about Dumba. I think the team will NOT draft a d-man if his name is not Murray. Unless Murray is there...and he probably will go to EDM second overall...I think they will draft a forward. Admittedly, that is my opinion and it is not worth anymore than anyone else's...but I think the players will go this way (pending the final draft order)...Yak (CLB), Murray (EDM), Grig (MTL). Then, I think we'll draft a forward based upon our past trends...Forsberg or Galchenyuk (I hope), although Faksa screams NINO to me as though he could be a player that Snow reaches for.
Does anyone here think that Murray could some how fall to us at the four spot? Personally, I can't see Edmonton pass up on him with the second pick or Montreal with the third. Anyone think differently?
I definitely think it's possible Murray will slip to us. EDM does need a defenseman, sure, but they also need a future 2nd line center to play behind RNH, and a lot of people value Grigorenko as a special talent. They may not want to pass up an opportunity like this. Remember, for teams that are actually capable of signing UFAs, quality defensemen are a lot easier to find than star centers.
So, while the Oilers drafting Murray is possible, I still think they are going to go with Grigorenko.
That leaves Montreal(assuming the standings remain the same AND nobody leaps the Isles in the lottery), and I just can't see them passing on Galchenyuk if he's on the board. They need a star center to build around in the worst way, and a lot of people(including myself) value Galchenyuk equally, if not more than they do Grigorenko. Plekanec is a quality player, but IMO he's a better fit on the 2nd line. Louis Leblanc is a solid prospect as well, but I don't see him being a 1st-line caliber prospect. Galchenyuk would look really good playing next to Pacioretty on the top line.
This could be Montreal's last opportunity for quite some time to draft a top-5 talent. Considering their roster/prospect pool, I would be shocked if they chose a defenseman.
So again, I'd be more worried about Edmonton going with Murray, but I would be surprised if they ultimately do. Worst case scenario is Murray goes 2nd, Grigorenko 3rd and then Galchenyuk is there for us to take. I would prefer Murray because of the state of our D, but AG is my 2nd choice so I would still be extremely happy with this scenario.
That said, how fitting would it be for Murray to drop to the 4th pick and instead we go with Forsberg? I think I might laugh... then cry.
I definitely think it's possible Murray will slip to us. EDM does need a defenseman, sure, but they also need a future 2nd line center to play behind RNH, and a lot of people value Grigorenko as a special talent. They may not want to pass up an opportunity like this. Remember, for teams that are actually capable of signing UFAs, quality defensemen are a lot easier to find than star centers.
So, while the Oilers drafting Murray is possible, I still think they are going to go with Grigorenko.
That leaves Montreal(assuming the standings remain the same AND nobody leaps the Isles in the lottery), and I just can't see them passing on Galchenyuk if he's on the board. They need a star center to build around in the worst way, and a lot of people(including myself) value Galchenyuk equally, if not more than they do Grigorenko. Plekanec is a quality player, but IMO he's a better fit on the 2nd line. Louis Leblanc is a solid prospect as well, but I don't see him being a 1st-line caliber prospect. Galchenyuk would look really good playing next to Pacioretty on the top line.
This could be Montreal's last opportunity for quite some time to draft a top-5 talent. Considering their roster/prospect pool, I would be shocked if they chose a defenseman.
So again, I'd be more worried about Edmonton going with Murray, but I would be surprised if they ultimately do. Worst case scenario is Murray goes 2nd, Grigorenko 3rd and then Galchenyuk is there for us to take. I would prefer Murray because of the state of our D, but AG is my 2nd choice so I would still be extremely happy with this scenario.
That said, how fitting would it be for Murray to drop to the 4th pick and instead we go with Forsberg? I think I might laugh... then cry.
First, I want to say this was an excellent analysis. I agree with it. Predicting what the Islanders will do is almost as impossible as herding cats. I would love if we get Murray or Galchenyuk, with my personal preference of AG. Murray is a serious talent and he fills a need, but I think Galchenyuk is BPA between the two. If he was not injured, there is no comparison IMHO.
