Stop us if you’ve heard this story before. The New York Islanders get off to a good start. Fans that were already hopeful that this would be the year that the rebuild starts producing fruit, allow themselves to start believing in the team. The wins mean the dark days may finally be coming to an end. Then, just as quickly as it started, the hope pulled away and the Isles are in last place faster than you can say Alexei Yashin.

The story this year is that the Islanders have lost nine out of 10 games. The story last season was that they lost ten straight. You see, the story this year is really the same story as last. The Islanders went though one of the worst losing streaks in recent memory last season. It was so bad that the promising young head coach, Scott Gordon, was offered up as the sacrificial lamb while the rest of the organization tried to figure out what had gone wrong.

Last year, they completely missed the point.

The losing streak was rough—but it was much more representative of the players that they were putting on the ice on a nightly basis. Take an objective look at last year’s roster and they just didn’t have the guns to compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Looking at their blueline, they didn’t even have the talent to play with the average teams on a nightly basis unless they brought their “A game” to the rink. It is what it is.

It wasn’t Scott Gordon’s fault last season when they lost and it’s not Jack Capuano’s fault that they’re losing this season. Scotty Bowman couldn’t win with this roster this season.

In many ways, this year is an ugly reflection of last season. The Islanders still have some young, promising young pieces. Yet aside from forwards like Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner, and John Tavares, they don’t have players that are ready for the responsibilities demanded on this team.

Mark Streit is an underrated defenseman, but where’s his help? Are Steve Staios and Mark Eaton the kind of players that can log 20 minutes per night for a team that expects to win? Even a guy like Travis Hamonic has shown that he’ll be an NHL defenseman; but asking him to play 20 minutes a night at this point in his development is asking him to fail.

Let’s be honest: Islanders head coach Jack Capuano will find his head on the chopping block if his team doesn’t start winning games in a hurry. Wins. That’s all that will save him at this point. The young forwards could develop into good two-way players, the young defensemen could learn how to play with better awareness, and the entire roster could learn to play with more maturity. All are necessary for the Isles to succeed in the long-run; but if they don’t win, improvements for the long-term won’t save him.

Unfortunately, depth and inexperience aren’t the only problems for the organization—it looks like the team that lacks elite talent lacks heart as well. While Capuano desperately tries to press any button he can to light a fire under the players, he consistently gets subpar efforts from guys he likes to call “passengers.” In fact, he told Newsday exactly how he felt about a faction of his team:

“There are guys who need to find their game and show some will. Once again, we had a few guys take a night off. They may talk a good game to the media, but you’ve got to perform. We can’t have guys continue to feel comfortable they’ll be in our lineup every night.”

It wouldn’t be shocking if this collection of players quit on their coach in the middle of the year. You know how we know? Because they did it to Scott Gordon; and even though people knew the players quit, it was viewed as Scott Gordon’s failure. If it happens a second time, to a second coach in only 12 months—then maybe the real problem lies with the 20 guys in the locker room.

Honestly, Capuano may have been thrown into a situation that he wasn’t ready for quite yet. Last season he was coaching in Bridgeport and it was the right spot for him. Just like players, coaches learn their craft in the AHL as well. And just like players, if a coach is called up to early from the minors, it could be a disaster.

Goalie musical chairs isn't really helping matters...

Yet look at the roster. Does it have pieces to give fans on Long Island hope? Absolutely. Does the team have the DEPTH they’ll need to succeed over an 82-game season? Absolutely not. Do they have the goaltending they’ll need to provide a solid backbone when some of the young players make their obligatory mistakes? That all depends on which one of the three goaltenders they have in the net on a given night. Unfortunately, the only guy succeeding between the pipes is the last guy management wants to be thriving in net.

The team hasn’t lost 9 out of 10 because of poor coaching. The team is losing because the roster isn’t good enough to compete with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and the New York Rangers over the course of a six month season. They just don’t have the weapons. And they certainly don’t have enough weapons to coast through games and expect to compete with other NHL teams.

Depending on who you talk to, the lack of depth (and high-end talent) falls at the feet of one of two men. Is it general manager Garth Snow’s fault because he has put together a very average team? Or is it owner Charles Wang’s fault because the Islanders are consistently one of the cheapest teams in the league?

It’s been the most important question surrounding the team for the last few years.

Just like we can’t completely blame Capuano for the poor performance, we can’t completely blame Snow for the poor roster. Sooner or later he needs the man who is writing the checks to start writing bigger checks. Until then, he’ll be forced to depend on players like Andrew MacDonald and PA Parenteau to get the job done in rolls that they have no business filling.

The Islanders will end up firing Capuano because that’s the easiest thing to do. Firing Snow would admit that their rebuild isn’t working—and the rebuilding project is really only halfway done. Wang stepping down and inserting a Terry Pegula type owner is the answers to every Islanders fans’ prayers, but there are only so many billionaires floating around that want to use an NHL team as a toy. So Capuano is the convenient scapegoat at the beginning of an underwhelming season. Just like Gordon was a season ago.

Again, stop me if any of this sounds familiar.

It’s a viscous cycle that has no end in sight. Either admit that the team is in the middle of a rebuild and take the loses in stride or spend money to put a competitive “win-now” team on the ice. Is there anyone who really expects the latter while Wang is at the helm?

The worst part is that the Islanders could be on the right track. They have good pieces in place. They’re making a conscious effort to patiently develop prospects like Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Strome, and Calvin de Haan. But when you’re being patient with prospects in juniors while other young players find their way at the NHL level, the team is going to lose. That’s reality. It sounds so obvious, but it’s something that either the fans or the organization has lost sight of over the course of the rebuild. If not, the people wouldn’t be calling for Capuano’s head. They’d understand that it’s part of the process.

"I should have listened to Scott..."

Rebuilding is hard work. If it were easy, then everyone would do it. The problem is that it’s hard and it’s time consuming. As the years pass, the pressure to win and rush young players becomes greater and greater as fans starve for any semblance of hope. But if the organization really wants to set the team up to succeed for the long-haul, they’re going to need to realize that they need some stability at the head coaching position.

Young players need a guy they can learn from in practice. They need a guy they’re comfortable with on a daily basis. But more importantly, they need some continuity. Learning how to play in the best league in the world is hard enough; trying to find your way while dealing with a new head coach every 12 months is just an added burden. And an unnecessary one.

You’d think they would have learned that a year ago when Scott Gordon was given his walking papers. Since they didn’t, what’s to make us think that they’ll learn anything from Jack Capuano’s demise?

The Islanders biggest problem is not that they can’t find the solution to all of their problems. No, their biggest problem is that they can’t even figure out what their problems are. They think their problem is coach or his style. It’s his inexperience or that he’s “lost the team.” But those aren’t even the real problems in Long Island.

The real problem is that they say they are rebuilding, but won’t accept the trials and tribulations that go along with the reconstruction of the team.

Every team understands that there are two ways to build a team: either a) bring in veterans, spend to the cap, and try to win now; or b) rebuild with prospects, teach them the right way to play, put them in a position to succeed, and hope they fulfill every bit of their potential. Part of that is learning from a coach that they understand and trust. From a coach that provides a solid foundation in the locker room. A voice that all players can follow.

When the organization is constantly shuffling in coach after coach, how can a player learn his craft from a coach who is as stable as an alcoholic in an earthquake? Yet with news that Jack Capuano is on the hot seat, we’re reminded that the Islanders organization just doesn’t get it.

Forget the solution—they don’t even understand the problem.

This year we’re doing something a little different for the Trade Deadline. Every blogger out there is going to tell you who’s going to be a buyer, who’s going to be a seller, who needs this, and who needs that. And for the record, I reserve the right to do the same thing later—although it might just be more entertaining to make fun of teams and completely overreact after the fact.

But we wanted to do something a little different around here. This year, we wanted to put these same questions in front of fans who cheer passionately for their teams. Its one thing to hear answers from a blogger who follows the team and has an eye towards objectivity; but it’s something else completely when you ask the question to a diehard fan who cheers with their heart on their sleeve. We’re talking about people who watch their team every game, know what their team needs, and have strong opinions on what needs to do to get better. They’re you and me. Hockey fans.

What better place to look for passionate hockey fans all over North America than checking out Twitter? So that’s where we went—and here’s who we found! For the Southeast Division, we have Alan representing the Thrashers, Karla for the Hurricanes, David for the Panthers, Cassie for the Lightning, and Kristy for the Capitals.

Hope you enjoy the project as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. After checking out everyone’s views, we’d love to hear if you agree or disagree with everyone’s answers. We know you have an opinion as well!

1.  Is your team living up to the expectations they had going into the season? Do you think there’s more or less pressure to make moves at the deadline because of those expectations?

Alan (Thrashers): I think the team is living up to expectations. Considering Atlanta’s situation currently, I believe there is more pressure to get something done for a playoff run. Furthermore, the team is still really young. A little more veteran help and guidance could go a long way for these kids.

Karla (Hurricanes): Our young forwards, especially Skinner, have performed well above expectations. Unfortunately we are not getting the performance we expected from our veteran defensemen. The inconsistent and often sub par performance on the blueline is largely to blame for our struggle to get into and hold 8th place in the East.

David (Panthers): It’s hard to think that a team that’s 25th place in the league is exceeding expectations, but that is the case with the Panthers. Coming into the season, they were picked to be one of the 2-3 worst teams in the league. And while 25th doesn’t seem like a big difference, this team has been in just about every game they’ve played so far. Had they held on to even half of the leads they’ve blown this season, they’re in a playoff spot right now. That said, there isn’t much pressure to make moves at the deadline at the expense of future, which is the main focus on this club. I don’t think GM Dale Tallon is interested in giving away draft picks or young assets, even if it means not making the playoffs this season, which I’m fine with.

Cassie (Lightning): The expectations for the Tampa Bay Lightning going into the season were fairly low. After three dismal seasons, pretty much all anybody hoped was that they’d make playoffs. Anything above and beyond that was wishful thinking. Even if they were swept in the first round, that would suffice as being better than they had been.

Now that the Lightning have been exceeding those expectations, there’s a bit more pressure to be better than just a first round exit. But, seriously, not by much. This has really been something of a dream season for the fans after what they’d been through previously.

So is there added pressure to pull the trigger on some trades? Not by the fans. Management has higher expectations, however. GM Steve Yzerman is used to winning, and seeing where the Lightning are in the standings has likely pushed him into making some trades like acquiring Dwayne Roloson from the New York Islanders. He may not be eyeing the Stanley Cup at this point, but he definitely wants to go as deep as he can into playoffs.

Kristy (Capitals): Um, no. And, no. Given that the Washington Capitals were the President’s Trophy winners last year and many hockey insiders picked the Capitals to win the Stanley Cup this year, there were very high expectations for the Capitals going into this season. Unfortunately, with the currently woefully under-performing talent — specifically the inability to play a full 60 minute game on a regular basis, the Capitals are not living up to the expectations of the owner, the fans, and hopefully the players themselves.

The Capitals are facing serious pressure at all levels of the organization if the Caps a) don’t do well on the current western road trip, b) don’t play well once they reach the playoffs, or c) if they don’t make the playoffs at all. If the players don’t reach down and find some way to get some wins convincingly, some of the current Caps players won’t be with the team come February 28th. Ted Leonsis, a very affable owner, must hear it from the fans on a daily basis. GMGM should be wondering if his time with Washington will come to an end. He should be working the phones for a trade like a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. Bruce Boudreau, although a damn fine man, has to believe that his tenure as coach of the Capitals will come to a close if the Caps can’t relieve some of this pressure.

2.  Will your team be a buyer or a seller? What are fans hoping to see the team do at the deadline?

Alan (Thrashers): Atlanta will be a buyer at the deadline.

Karla (Hurricanes): I don’t foresee a lot of trade activity from the Hurricanes. We might see a trade to shake up our defensive corps, but I don’t see a fire sale happening. As a fan I want to see the Hurricanes make moves designed to make a genuine run for the Cup. The last thing I want to see is my team cashing out our UFAs and start thinking about next season.

David (Panthers): I don’t think the Panthers will be buyers. They’ll either stand pat or be sellers. If the Panthers are within 4-5 points of the 8th spot, they may stand pat, ala 2008-09. I think there is a part of every fan here that would love to see the Cats make a move or two and make the playoffs, just because it has been so long since that’s happened. But I think the general understanding is the future is bright, let’s not mortgage it for a first round playoff exit. There have been quite a few scouts in the Bank Atlantic Center press box over the past couple of weeks, so my best guess is that Tallon and asst GM Mike Santos better carry an extra cell phone battery with them, as there seem to be more than a few interested parties calling until the deadline.

Cassie (Lightning): The Lightning are definitely a buyer. Frankly, the fans aren’t hoping for much of anything at the deadline at this point. The team has already exceeded most people’s expectations, and I think many would be happy if Yzerman just left well enough alone. Probably the greatest fear is disrupting team chemistry right now.

Kristy (Capitals): I think that the Caps have to be a buyer. GMGM failed to make any major trades over the summer (sorry, DJ King doesn’t count as major) which wouldn’t have been such a big deal. I think that Marcus Johansson, Matt Hendricks, Mathieu Perreault and the acquisition of Scott Hannan were definite steps in the right direction. And despite multiple rumors to the contrary, the goaltending duo of Varlamov and Neuvirth is a solid one. However, the new Tampa Bay GM (you know, Steve Yzerman?) made a flurry of good/solid moves that have contributed to a current 1st place in the Southeast. And the other GMs within the SE division have also made moves to noticeably improve their teams. As a result, in a division that the Caps have dominated over the past several years, the Caps have struggled this season to beat Atlanta, Florida, Carolina and Tampa Bay.

As a fan, I am hoping to see the Capitals do something about the 2nd line. One could argue that with the departure of Eric Belanger, the Caps lost a potential 2nd line center. I would argue that Belanger would be a 3rd line center not 2nd. The Capitals haven’t had a 2nd line (on the roster, at least) center since Michael Nylander. And Caps fans know how well THAT worked out.

3.  What specifically does your team need if they want to take the next step?  Which players/prospects are on the trading block and could be on the move by Deadline Day?

Alan (Thrashers): Atlanta especially needs scoring prowess, and will be looking to add at least one top-6 forward. Players on their way out could include Niclas Bergfors and Rich Peverley.

Karla (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes need a reliable defense. Pitkanen is a talented player but he is playing like he needs a change of scenery to get his game back on track. The biggest obstacle is finding someone willing to take on his salary. Rumors are still swirling around Ian White being on the block but so far nothing has happened.

David (Panthers): This team needs scoring, and they need to get more physical. In the system, there are an abundance of goalie prospects, and there is a great, young defensive core but there is an absence of good, young forwards. Dale Tallon wants big, skilled,physical forwards (like 2010 draftees Quinton Howden and Nick Bjugstad) which was why Michael Frolik was sent to Chicago for Jack Skille. I think the whole Panthers roster is in play, if you listen to Tallon. You have to think he would love to get back some draft picks for the expiring contracts the a number of Panthers currently have (Stillman, McCabe and Vokoun chief among them). That doesn’t mean he is actively shopping everyone, but he’s said he’ll listen to ANY offer. In years past, teams seemingly picked the Panthers roster apart and didn’t give back a whole lot in return. That won’t be the case anymore. If somebody wants David Booth, or Stephen Weiss, they’re going to have to give up equal value or very close to it.

Cassie (Lightning): The Lightning really have only one serious need right now, and that’s a power forward. With Ryan Malone out until at least the playoffs start with a torn abdominal muscle, they need a replacement for him. But even that isn’t exactly a crucial need since they can get by without. I still wouldn’t be surprised if Yzerman finds someone to fill that hole, however.

As for players/prospects that may be up on the block, G Mike Smith and D’s Mattias Ohlund and Matt Smaby are probably the most likely players to be shopped. Yzerman doesn’t want to give up prospects that work within the current system unless he absolutely has to. And he’s said that he refuses to trade any first and second round draft picks. So unless the deal is really ideal, he won’t make a trade.

Kristy (Capitals): As I mention above, a 2nd line center would be fantastic. My kingdom for a 2nd line center! Or maybe even something radical like revamping the entire 2nd line?! First, move Alex Semin up to the 1st line. Second, make a trade for RJ Umberger and Sam Gagner and put them on a line with Brooks Laich. It would probably mean not re-signing Mike Knuble but I think RJ Umberger would park right in front of a goalie and put some frozen rubber in the net. Additionally, I think RJ Umberger would have no problem speaking up in the locker room. Although, I will admit that Umberger has made some comments publicly that might have to be cleared up with his new Caps teammates. Nothing a little round of pre-game soccer wouldn’t fix, right RJ?

A real role of the dice would be to bring in Alexei Kovalev. It would appear on face value that adding another “Russian enigma” would be a problem. However, many would have argued that Sergei Fedorov didn’t have much tread left on the tires in March of 2008, but it seemed the effect that having that older Russian on the roster invigorated Ovechkin and Semin. Now Kovalev isn’t known for leadership, but he does seem to have a knack to respond when it appears the tank is empty. Adding Kovalev to the Ovechkin-Backstrom line could be amazing or it could be a train wreck. At this point, it could be the risk to take. Even taking on Kovalev’s salary, the Caps would have room for a Gagner level contract for a 2nd line center.

I believe that getting Poti back in time for the playoffs will be considered by the Caps as their Dman pick up for the playoffs. The same goes with Eric Fehr, who has goal scoring skills but just can’t get over the consistency hump.

The farm team down in Hershey has had a great run over the past five years (three titles, four finals appearances), but the number of NHL level prospects are thin at the moment. The Caps are second only to the Oilers in rookie games played this season. These rookies (Carlson, Johannson, etc.) should be the core for time to come. Therefore, the only trade bait I could see being dangled by McPhee would be Mathieu Perreault or Michal Neuvirth. Neuvirth is only 22, has two Calder Cup titles and a very reasonable contract for the next two years (1.15 mil cap hit). He also had a chance to take the number 1 spot with the Caps earlier this season, but did not knock Varly out of the way. Has flashes, but seems to still breakdown, he is young. However, with Varly and Holtby in the system, one goalie can be moved; Neuvirth appears to the one. Mathieu Perrault has had chances to take the 2nd line center role, but has not locked it down. He is a RFA after the season and could still blossom, but appears to be a player that will be on the NHL/AHL shuttle for time to come.

This year we’re doing something a little different for the Trade Deadline. Every blogger out there is going to tell you who’s going to be a buyer, who’s going to be a seller, who needs this, and who needs that. And for the record, I reserve the right to do the same thing later—although it might just be more entertaining to make fun of teams and completely overreact after the fact.

But we wanted to do something a little different around here. This year, we wanted to put these same questions in front of fans who cheer passionately for their teams. Its one thing to hear answers from a blogger who follows the team and has an eye towards objectivity; but it’s something else completely when you ask the question to a diehard fan who cheers with their heart on their sleeve. We’re talking about people who watch their team every game, know what their team needs, and have strong opinions on what needs to do to get better. They’re you and me. Hockey fans.

What better place to look for passionate hockey fans all over North America than checking out Twitter? So that’s where we went—and here’s who we found! For the Northeast Division, we have CJ representing the Bruins, Jason for the Sabres, Kyle for the Canadiens, Michael for the Senators, and Karina for the Leafs.

Hope you enjoy the project as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. After checking out everyone’s views, we’d love to hear if you agree or disagree with everyone’s answers. We know you have an opinion as well!

1.  Is your team living up to the expectations they had going into the season? Do you think there’s more or less pressure to make moves at the deadline because of those expectations?

CJ (Bruins): While the Bruins were certainly improved up front this season (see the fact they actually score goals), it is Tim Thomas who has carried the team on his back for stretches longer than anticipated. There was certainly added pressure on the lack of PP production, with the loss of Savard for the remainder of the season; followed closely by the B’s struggles on the PK of late. The physical element which was missing for long stretches a year ago is alive and well in Boston, which, as a fan meant only one thing, it was time for management to acquire whatever finishing touches were necessary to make a legitimate run for the Cup.

Jason (Sabres): To answer this question let’s first start off in the off-season. The Sabres had another very poor off-season with no notable free agent signings, as well as the loss of Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman in the feeding frenzy of free agency, which left a gapping hole on defense. Despite a lackluster off-season, expectations could still be high at this point, right? After all, the Sabres are the defending Northeast Division Champs. Ryan Miller won a Silver Medal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as well as being named MVP of the tournament, and he later won the Vezina trophy for best goaltender in the 09-10 NHL season. Tyler Myers came from nowhere to win the Calder Trophy for NHL’s best rookie and dazzled the Buffalo faithful with his great play at both ends of the rink. I’d say expectations were pretty high at this point. Then the season started and everything went downhill. Poor play, injuries, bad penalties, and before you knew it the Sabres were outside looking in on the playoff pack. The Buffalo Sabres are currently not living up to expectations. Now, because of their poor start there is more pressure to make a move at the trade deadline.

Kyle (Canadiens): The Habs are certainly living up to their projections. Most had them as a bubble team, and they may yet end up being that, but at the time of writing this, they are 5th in the conference, and only 1 point out of 3rd. Considering some of the devastating injuries they’ve had to their blue line, they have done very well for themselves. That said, they all owe Carey Price a great deal of thanks for the work he’s done in providing them such a comfortable position. As the trade deadline approaches, the Canadiens find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They’re well positioned to make the playoffs, and as such are likely to be buyers at the deadline. The debate is how big of a buyer they ought to be. With Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges done for the year, regardless of how far they go in the post-season, it’s my opinion that they should not go overboard in addressing needs such as size and scoring depth up front and mobility on the blueline. I don’t see it as smart to flush out two assets for short-term rentals. If the Canadiens were healthy right now, I’d be inclined to say that General Manager Pierre Gauthier should do what he has to do to get the final pieces to what could be a long Cup run.

Michael (Senators): Well…..what a fun season this year, eh Sens fans? As I type we sit rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference and it’s the day after the Mike Fisher trade (more on that to come). The consolation we can look to is the 2nd overall draft pick we currently occupy, and the hope that we rebuild well during the next 2-3 years and come back stronger.

You don’t need to me tell you that it has obviously been a below par year for the Ottawa Senators and our fans, and way off our expectations going into the 2010/11 season. A 5th place finish in the East last year, followed by a great effort in the first round of the play offs where we just missed out on taking the Pens to a Game 7, should have given us the scope to build on that for this season.

As a result of our poor year, there are overwhelming pleas, from the fans to the management, for a total rebuild and to begin selling off our most tradable assets in exchange for picks and prospects to help our recovery.

Karina (Leafs): For me, the Leafs are living up to the expectations I had. I wanted them to be fighting for a playoff spot but I thought they’d struggle for most of the year. They’re currently sitting in 11th in the eastern conference which has me satisfied, they are out of the draft lottery and in position to make an oh-so-desperate-and-disappointing push for 8th.

2.  Will your team be a buyer or a seller? What are fans hoping to see the team do at the deadline?

CJ (Bruins): The Bruins were buyers, and I LOVE the fact that GM Peter Chiarelli pulled the trigger early instead of waiting for the desperation of other teams at the deadline to drive up the prices. The Bruins added Tomas Kaberle, a puck moving defenseman, to QB their POWERPLAY, and likely tutor young d-man Steven Kampfer. The Bruins also added seasoned vets Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley, both of whom play a smart two-way style, and while not flashy, add depth to the 3rd and 4th lines. Since the B’s roll 4 lines consistently, adding versatile players who are also very successful on the face-off dot are exactly the kind of players the Bruins add at the deadline (see Mark Recchi added at ’09 deadline).

Jason (Sabres): I believe that the Buffalo Sabres will be buyers this trading deadline. Terry Pegula, the new Sabres owner, will soon get the keys to the Sabres “big boy office” and I believe change is coming (or at least I hope). I think the fans want, or at least I am personally hoping for, a top six forward and maybe an upgrade on defense… and a back up goalie (ok I’m getting greedy – you’re awful Lalime!!).

Kyle (Canadiens): The Canadiens will be some sort of buyer. The order of business in Montreal is to always make the playoffs, and barring a disastrous season that sees them with virtually no chance of making the playoffs, the Canadiens will always be buyers. Pierre Gauthier has gone on record as saying that he doesn’t like trading prospects or draft picks for temporary rentals, and I don’t expect this year to be any different. I expect him to make a small move for a depth defenseman at the cost of a fringe prospect, or a middle-round draft choice. Depending on who you ask though, the Canadiens have no choice but to add massive amounts of size and toughness at any cost. Recent losses to the Bruins and Flyers, in which the Canadiens were exposed as small have been rallying points for fans as the trade deadline looms. Pugilists can be had for very little, but size and toughness that can also play hockey is a different story. Those players don’t grow on trees and the cost of trading for them at this time of year could be astronomical, as that’s what everyone tends to look for.

Michael (Senators): Ottawa will not only be sellers at the trade deadline, but probably the biggest sellers in the NHL this time around. We will be looking at doing deals to remove salary from the books, and to build our prospects pool. This process has already begun with the Fisher trade to the Predators for their 1st round pick in 2011, and a conditional pick in 2012.

Chris Philips is another who I expect to follow Fisher out of the Sens exit door. He’s a free agent in the summer and there are rumours surrounding a trade with the Habs or Bruins. Personally, I see Phillips making the short move to Montreal to add some defensive bite on their 3rd line, probably in exchange for a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

I also think there will be some buyers pondering a move for Kovalev to add some playoff magic to their roster, although a 3rd round pick would be much more realistic in this deal following the Russian’s average 2 years in Ottawa, at best!

Others on the potential trade list, Ruutu and Neil perhaps. Both will add grit and determination to a play-off chasing team’s roster, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were still in the Nation’s Capital after February 28.

Karina (Leafs): Both. The Leafs are getting rid of a few pieces – the most obvious one I expected was the Beauchemin trade, but Versteeg is already gone as well – but the price of selling these pieces includes bringing back something that can contribute now. Kaberle has gone for an impressive package, which probably means that the Leafs are now buyers – they’ve got a large storehouse of prospects and picks, but really need to improve the line-up right now.

3.  What specifically does your team need if they want to take the next step?  Which players/prospects are on the trading block and could be on the move by Deadline Day?

CJ (Bruins): They need to add the players they have acquired into the mix, and practice the dang POWERPLAY! Having Kaberle will only be an asset if players are moving off of the puck and creating traffic in front. I believe the Bruins are poised to make their first credible run at the Cup since 1990, and as a fan I am thrilled that they didn’t make huge sacrifices to get these pieces. I believe that the B’s will miss Mark Stuart’s leadership in the room, and especially as a leader by example with the young players, as his work ethic was tremendous! I am hopeful that with these deals and the players in place that the message has been clearly received by the players that the time is NOW to do whatever is necessary to win the Cup. It is an exciting time to be a fan of the Bruins!!

Jason (Sabres): I think that the Sabres need a Brad Richards type player to compliment the core players like Vanek, Stafford, Roy, and Pominville. A player like Dustin Brown or Ryan Callahan would be nice as well. Watch any Sabres game and you will notice there are instances where they need the physicality of a player like Brown/Callahan who can also tickle the twine. A defensive player like Mike Komisarek would be nice too. They need a little leadership on the blue line.

Here are the players that should be on the block:

Tim Connolly – Ok I love the hometown kids, but with the injuries and running around aimlessly, you have to go.

Michael Grier – I’m a fan but you haven’t done anything this season.

Jochen Hecht – You continue to underachieve year after year. Sure, you can kill penalties but I watch you take lazy penalties just about every game. (Every year I hope you’re traded but you continue to stick around. I am seriously being punished every time you turn the puck over.)

Shaone Morrison – Well that didn’t work.

Rob Niedermayer – Don’t even get me started.

Craig Rivet – I don’t think he completely recovered from his off-season surgery.

I saved the best for last… Wait for it…

Patrick Lalime – Please go, PLEASE GO!! I get it; you’re a great locker room guy. Become a coach or some kind of consultant but please, please, do not step into the crease for the Sabres ever again.

You might see Jason Pominville and Drew Stafford’s names thrown around to see what they can get in return, but I hope they do not trade either, especially as hot as Stafford is right now.

Some prospects you might see on the block are Philip Gogula maybe even Mark Mancari. TJ Brennan’s name may be thrown around as well as Drew Schiestel.

Kyle (Canadiens): For the past two seasons, the Canadiens have been missing their best player, Andrei Markov for the majority of the season and post-season. His absence has really muddied the view as to what the Canadiens need, and what they potentially can be as a fully healthy team. Regardless, the Canadiens do need a forward that can be a threat to put the puck in the net, who can throw his weight around at the same time and have opponents thinking twice about taking liberties on the Canadiens smaller forwards. The name Zenon Konopka has become a popular target among Habs fans in the past couple weeks. The Canadiens are very good at hiding their intentions, as well as masking who is and isn’t available for trade. I would have to imagine that nobody off the current roster is available except for Andrei Kostitsyn, as he is a restricted free agent, and not a favorite of Head Coach Jacques Martin. Obviously a guy like Scott Gomez, with his heavy contract is always available, but it depends on the return if he were to be moved at this time of year. There is talk that young defenseman Yannick Weber is available, but considering how thin the Habs are on defense, moving him would be premature. Other prospects on their AHL affiliate in Hamilton may be up for grabs, but there aren’t any headline grabbers there that would tremble the earth if they were moved.

Michael (Senators): Going forward with the numerous draft picks we will undoubtedly receive from any such trades, I hope we can focus our efforts in acquiring young forwards, as I feel this is the area that requires the most developing. With young, up and coming defencemen like Karlsson, Cowen, Wiercioch, and Rundblad to name but a few, along with great potential in goalie Robin Lehner, it seems up front is where our biggest problem lies, both now and in the future.

Karina (Leafs): I had expected a goalie to get moved – Giguere, Gustavsson or maybe even Reimer – but with the rash of injuries I don’t think there’ll be any movement there. I think that the 1st the Leafs got from Philly will be in play, as well as any other picks teams request. The Leafs have far too many career AHLers playing right now and while part of that is due to injuries, there’s definitely a need for an upgrade in talent. Another depth defenseman is required, if only to prevent Brett Lebda from playing. The big question this week is whether Burke can extend Clarke MacArthur for a reasonable price, and if not, does he trade him? Personally, I’d like to keep MacArthur, and package a first with a prospect or young player (maybe Hanson) for a roster player, someone around 25, 26 years old and with a reasonable deal.

This year we’re doing something a little different for the Trade Deadline. Every blogger out there is going to tell you who’s going to be a buyer, who’s going to be a seller, who needs this, and who needs that. And for the record, we reserve the right to do the same thing later—although it might just be more entertaining to make fun of teams and completely overreact after the fact.

But we wanted to do something a little different around here. This year, we wanted to put these same questions in front of fans who cheer passionately for their teams. It’s one thing to hear answers from a blogger who follows the team and has an eye towards objectivity; but it’s something else completely when you ask the question to a diehard fan who cheers with their heart on their sleeve. We’re talking about people who watch their team every game, know what their team needs, and have strong opinions on what they need to do to get better. They’re you and me. Hockey fans.

What better place to look for passionate hockey fans all over North America than checking out Twitter? So that’s where we went—and here’s who we found! For the Atlantic Division, we have Michael representing the Flyers, Jason for the Penguins, Doug for the Devils, Angelica for the Islanders, and Justin for the Rangers.

Hope you enjoy the project as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. After checking out everyone’s views, we’d love to hear if you agree or disagree with everyone’s answers. We know you have an opinion as well!

**Editor’s note: Some of these contributions were submitted before early trades were executed.**

1. Is your team living up to the expectations they had going into the season? Do you think there’s more or less pressure to make moves at the deadline because of those expectations?

Michael (Flyers): I think the Flyers have had some high expectations placed on them this season after exceeding the expectations last season by going 6 games into the SCF. My own personal feeling is that they are meeting those expectations, rightly or wrongly put on them. You could argue that goaltending, always the Flyers Achilles heel for the last 2 decades, brought about some of the expectations when Leighton and Boucher teamed up to have a pretty great run in the playoffs. Expecting the same from them this season, added with a rookie in Bobrovsky, may have been unrealistic and added some undue pressure but they all have been solid ( Leighton of course lost his job in the process). There is still some talk about adding someone like Vokoun, but I don’t see that happening. I’m happy with the recent move to get Versteeg and glad they didn’t give up anyone on the roster or mess with chemistry. I think that should be it for moves. We are loaded at forward and I like our defense this season. I’m happy with things the way they are right now with back-to-back wins over Lightning and Panthers. Let’s just stay the course now!

Jason (Penguins): I’m not 100% sure what expectations the Penguins had going into the season, but I’m certain a concussed Sidney Crosby and surgery for Mark Letestu and Evgeni Malkin weren’t among them. I’d say most fans thought we’d compete for the Atlantic division and maybe the overall Eastern conference. While the recent rash of injuries has all but erased those thoughts, there are two bright spots: 1) We’re still fourth in the East and 2) Ray Shero has some cap space to work with because of players on injured reserve. I’d say moves are inevitable, but I don’t think there’s a ton of pressure; we’ll be fine in the long run when we’re healthy again and I think most fans understand that.

Doug (Devils): I can honestly say, this is not what I expected of the Devils this season. With the signing of Kovalchuk in the off season I expected the Devils to be a top 4 team in the east, not battling to just get into the playoffs. There is no pressure to make a move. The missing pieces may be on the team already, just unable to play due to injuries.

Angelica (Islanders): Honestly, no. And not through any fault of their own, though I have my doubts about the Roloson and Wisniewski trades – what with the injuries to so many guys at both of these positions. Still though, it’s incredible how bad our luck is. Mike Mottau, Milan Jurcina, Mark Streit, Mark Eaton, Kyle Okposo for much of the season, Doug Weight, Trent Hunter, and recently Rick DiPietro and Kevin Poulin… how many guys is that? I’ve lost count. But you get the idea- obviously little is beyond Jack Capuano’s or Garth Snow’s control. And if I could tell you before the season started that the Islanders would undergo another coaching change before the halfway point of the season, I would be a hero right now.

With all of that said, did I expect them to go into the Finals? No, of course not, but with the lineup at the beginning of training camp- not to mention all of the expectations for John Tavares, Okposo and Josh Bailey, among others- I expected them to at least make a determined push for the #8 spot. I think with everyone healthy, the Islanders could have been a surprise for the Eastern Conference. That, of course, can’t really happen now, but it’s wonderful to dream.

As far as the deadline goes, I think there’s relatively little pressure now that we’re in, what, 28th, 29th place? The EC has always been tight, but what with all of our losses and man-games lost, I don’t think we’ll be in any position to contend for a postseason spot once the trade deadline comes near. There have just been too many games where the Isles have let leads slip away, or fallen behind too early and waited until too late to catch up. The same goes for overtime losses and one-goal games. This is all part of the learning curve for a lot of the younger players in particular, but at some point the guys who have been here the longest have to buckle down and say, “Okay boys, we need to do this, this, and this in order to win.” With Doug Weight pretty much headed to retirement (as it looks), it’s up to guys like Okposo, Streit (once he’s back), and Tavares- not to mention Zenon Konopka, who’s seemed to take a leadership role- to make that happen.

Justin (Rangers): The New York Rangers are definitely meeting expectations considering that this particular team is built for the 6th or 7th seed at best. Knowing the Dolans, they won’t really do anything but add one or two bit role players. The Rangers are too close to the cap to really make any major moves as far as I am concerned.

2. Will your team be a buyer or a seller? What are fans hoping to see the team do at the deadline?

Michael (Flyers): Definitely not going to be a “seller” in the sense that moves need to be made, but the Flyers are loaded with forwards: Carcillo, Zherdev, Shelley, Nodl – someone may be sent packing. Some fans would like another defenseman or even a goaltender like Vokoun just to sure-up that back end. Right now I am of the belief neither is “needed,” certainly not Vokoun. Although I do like him, I have faith in Boucher and Bobrovsky. I don’t want to see a move made just to make a move, though if one of these forwards can be moved for a solid 5/6 defenseman, I’m OK with it though it’s not necessary.

Jason (Penguins): Buyer. We don’t have much to sell except some role players and draft picks. I’m guessing we’ll bring in a rental player or two to make a run in the playoffs. Then again, maybe we just make our best effort with the current young players on our roster. I honestly think I’d prefer the latter. The young guys playing for our team right now could gain some valuable playoff experience. I think fans want to see us make a playoff push, but at the same time understand that we have a solid core of players and don’t need to do anything too drastic at the deadline.

Doug (Devils): If the Devils make any moves, they will be sellers. They already tried to unload salary by waiving Brian Rolston earlier in the season. I personally can’t speak for all Devils fans, but the team has proven with a recent streak that they can win. Any change at the deadline is not guaranteed to give them that push into the playoffs.

Angelica (Islanders): I think my team will be a buyer. I don’t expect Snow to give away any bodies, considering we’ve been way too messed up by the injury bug for that to be feasible without getting someone back; however, he has fooled me before, so who knows. I would like for us to grab someone who could contribute to the team on something other than a microscopic level, whether it be a young guy with promise or a savvy vet who’s still got some miles left in him. To be really honest, I have heard some rumors, but being in Buffalo and not really being able to do anything other than glance at trade rumor sites or Twitter every now and then, I wouldn’t be too sure who’s out there and who isn’t. Then again, if I were to tell you we need a big name, maybe I’d be a little too shallow in my decision; after all, how many people had really heard about Michael Grabner before we picked him up on waivers? I also know Garth Snow is set on this “youth movement” and rebuild phase, but in order to help the building go faster, we DO need guys who have been there before, so it wouldn’t hurt to look at who’s available in that regard.

Justin (Rangers): Considering that they are getting great contributions from players like Matt Zuccerello, I really don’t expect the Rangers to do much of anything to improve. If I were Glen Sather I would at least *try* to add a scorer or a quality defenseman without wrecking the farm system. Doing that is easier said than done given….yeah the cap situation. (Thank you Boogard for making it worse)

3. What specifically does your team need if they want to take the next step? Which players/prospects are on the trading block and could be on the move by Deadline Day?

Michael (Flyers): In my opinion, the only thing the Flyers need in order to get to a game 7 and win the Stanley Cup (last season’s scenario), is to play solid defense which they have done. By the time they got to game 4 against Blackhawks, Pronger was out of gas due to the fact that they only had 3/4 guys who could do the job. Sean O’Donnell has been a great addition and if the goaltending holds up, he could be the difference maker. The addition of Versteeg could be icing on the cake. I think because of the amount of forwards the Flyers have though guys like Carcillo, Shelley, Zherdev, and Nodl should probably have a bag and toothbrush ready to go next week. We are hearing that Nodl may be injured, so that may nix a move with him. As far as moving any prospects, I don’t believe there is much of a demand for any Phantoms (AHL). They have been a last place team past 2 seasons with internal team problems. In summation, I like where the Flyers are at today. No moves “need” to be made, but if it happens hopefully it won’t be a move just to make a move.

Jason (Penguins): We’re obviously missing goal production, but our faceoff wins are down as well. Letestu and Crosby were our two best faceoff guys and their absence really left a void. Again, with both of those guys hopefully returning this year I think we’re fine in the long run. But if either player’s return is questionable then we definitely need someone strong on faceoffs to make a serious run in the playoffs.

There are also some questions on defense, which has often looked less than stellar (or maybe I’m just still excited from watching the Rob Scuderi tribute at Consol Energy Center the other night). Alex Goligoski has found himself in Dan Bylsma’s doghouse on a few occasions and, although he’s signed through next year, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s moved. Our young defenseman Simon Despres should be in his last year of major junior and headed to the big club soon too, making one of our current defensemen expendable. And I think everyone knows that Tyler Kennedy is on the way out. But other than those guys, as well as what exactly Shero expects in return, it seems to be up in the air. Whatever happens, I just hope Alexei Kovalev doesn’t end up here again. Go Pens!

Doug (Devils): The Devils have one major hole: Finding a goaltender who will replace Brodeur when he retires. That is very unlikely to happen at the trade deadline. The only name that has come up on possibly being dealt is Jason Arnott. Arnott waived his no trade clause to come to the Devils prior to this season and is only likely to waive it again to a team that he believes can win the Stanley Cup.

Angelica (Islanders): The Isles just need to look at all areas. Offensively, the team has recently exploded, and we have three 20-goal scorers on the team again- Grabner, Tavares, and Moulson, which is wonderful. However, we also have players who have just stalled in terms of offensive production- Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, and Frans Nielsen, as well as Rob Schremp. Maybe the problem is that a couple of these guys are more playmakers than anything, so we could always look for a finisher. Defensively, we are a mess, as well as in goal, so we could definitely pick up some guys there. And goalie – well, that’s just self-explanatory, isn’t it? As for moves, Matt (@mattclausen) believes Comeau may be on the way out, and he also said a while back that either Tavares or Parenteau could go (though how true that is, I have very little faith in). Bailey would also be plausible- he makes great plays and can score in bunches, but I don’t know where his head is right now and that is a problem for the Isles. Perhaps that could fix itself somewhere else, though I’d hate to see him go. Overall, though, I don’t know if Snow would be willing to make very many moves with his young players unless he wants to stockpile more draft picks for this summer (which he always wants to do, apparently). Let’s just hope that if he does, he’ll make them good ones.

Justin (Rangers): More than anything, a bona-fide goal scorer is needed to raise the team from mediocre 7th seed to possibly contending for the 4th seed. Injuries and another losing streak are going to guarantee that they miss the playoffs…again.

Also, to be really honest, I’m not really up to date what is going on in Hartford (err… Connecticut). Hopefully someone is dumb enough (Brian Burke) to take any of our underachieving, higher salaried players. If that happens, no matter what they win by taking salary….until the NEXT overpaid signing is made this summer!

They have great forwards. They have depth at forward. They have one of the best defensemen in the league and one of the defensive corps as a whole in the league. They’ve been at (or near) the top of the NHL standings all year and they gained valuable experience by going to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. So what is there to worry about in Philadelphia? Well, just like it’s been for 20 years, look no further than goaltending to find the source of angst and nervous energy for Flyers fans.

With this in mind, we thought it would be best to ask those around the Flyers if the goaltending was going to be enough this year. Even more than that, we were wondering if stellar goaltending even matters anymore. With the team the Flyers have assembled, do the Flyers even need a top-notch goaltender to navigate the pressure-packed Stanley Cup Playoff grind? Last year, the Blackhawks were able to succeed with a ton of depth up front, a spectacular defensive corps, and a goaltender that was trusted to bail them out when called upon. You could make the argument the Red Wings have been winning with that recipe for a decade.

There’s no way I can look at the Flyers roster and say they aren’t a Cup contender. Not only do they have high-end superstars, they have a lot of good players to spread the responsibility around. Mix in the experience they had last year, and they may be able to succeed even with average goaltending. If someone could give them spectacular play between the pipes, I’d start investing in the confetti business in the greater Philadelphia area.

Check out what each of our contributors had to say—and let us know in the comments what you think about the Flyers team this season.

Question: There’s no questioning the fact that the Flyers are Stanley Cup contenders this season and expectations are as high as they can be. But with an aging Brian Boucher and rookie Sergei Bobrovsky in net, is the goaltending good enough to carry a team through the Stanley Cup playoffs and to a championship? Does it even matter with the 18 guys they have in front of them?

The Philadelphia Perspective

Travis Hughes (Broad Street Hockey): I’m obviously biased as you can get, but yes, I think the goaltending is good enough to get the Flyers through to a Cup. People love to talk about how Sergei Bobrovsky is a rookie and how Brian Boucher is everything but consistent, but when it comes down to it, has either goalie really played like that this season? If you’ve watched every game this season, you’ll know that sure, Bob’s gone through a few tough stretches. Even in those tough stretches, though, he’s been more than capable.

As for Boucher, yes, over the course of his career he’s played inconsistently — from the AHLer to the rookie who carried the Flyers to the Conference Finals in 2000 to the guy who has the record for consecutive shutouts. But he’s been anything but inconsistent this season. He’s not ever going to be a great goaltender, but there’s no evidence that suggests Boucher’s been anything less than very good this year.

The goalies are each playing well enough that they could each take the team through the playoffs, especially with the defense they have in front of them. Boosh said on Thursday that it’s by far the best defense he’s ever played behind. Not hard to understand why.

The biggest question now surrounding the goaltending is who will be the No. 1 in the playoffs, but really, I don’t think it matters. I think it’ll be Bob, and Laviolette will ease him in to a defined No. 1 role down the stretch of the season. But that’s what I was getting at before: if Bob struggles in the playoffs, Boucher steps in and it’s not a big deal. Not that Bob’s done anything to indicate that he’ll struggle mightily in the postseason.

The goaltending issues in Philadelphia are way, way overblown. Hell, they got within a bouncing puck of Game 7 in the Finals last year with Boucher and Michael Leighton, and I can tell you right now that Bobrovsky is better than Michael Leighton.

Dustin Leed (The Hockey Guys): It seems like the more things change in Philadelphia, the more they stay the same; the million-dollar question; always about goaltending in these parts. Can Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky carry this talented Flyers team to a Cup championship? Yes. I believe there is a chance they can do it. Boucher proved last season what he is capable of doing and thus far, Bobrovsky has shown that he can be counted on to carry the load. But, to be honest – I don’t think the Flyers want to think they can do it; they want to know they can do it – and I’m not sure there is that kind of confidence in Boucher or Bobrovsky. I think ownership realizes this window the Flyers have to win is as close as ever before and goaltending is going to be the weakest part of this team entering the Playoffs. If there is any kind of deal that makes sense for the Flyers around the trade deadline to upgrade in net without making big-time changes to their roster – I think they snoop around. The goaltending position is the only question mark this team has.

Dave Strehle (NHL Hot Stove): The Flyers’ crease position has been their Achilles Heel for the better part of two decades, but seem to have found the right mix with the Bobrovsky-Boucher tandem. While rumors are swirling in Philly that Holmgren is looking to make a deal for a playoff-proven veteran (J.S. Giguere is most-mentioned), look for him to stand pat and for Bobrovsky to get the bulk of the workload down the stretch and postseason. With the offseason upgrade to the team’s defense, the current goaltenders should be fine in the Flyers’ quest to return Lord Stanley to the City Brotherly Love.

The Outsiders’ Perspective

Mike Colligan (The Hockey Writers): Don’t let anyone fool you, defense still wins championships. All that stood between Philadelphia and a Stanley Cup last year was a capable third pair of defensemen. The team shipped Simon Gagne out of town and used the money to bring in Andrej Meszaros, Sean O’Donnell, and Matt Walker to fill the #5 and #6 roles on defense and in the process made themselves the deepest team in the NHL. If Chicago proved anything last year it’s that you can still win despite a very inconsistent goaltender, but I’m still convinced Holmgren has one trick left up his sleeve and Tomas Vokoun will make this team virtually unbeatable.

Declan (Puck Central): I sure hope not! But, in all honesty, I think that the times have changed and teams can go deep and win the Cup with unproven goaltenders if they have an all around solid team and a goaltender that is on a hot streak. Last year the Blackhawks won Lord Stanley with Antti Niemi, a guy that only had played a total of 42 games heading into last year’s playoffs. At the opposite end of the ice during that series was Michael Leighton who had 103 NHL games going into the playoffs. I still wouldn’t rule the Flyers out on making a move for a goalie at the trade deadline, but I think that even if they don’t it won’t determine whether they win the Cup or not.

Derek (The Pens Blog):  Simple answer to the question is no. The more complicated answer is we’ll see.

The Flyers are going to have to basically prove to everyone that they can win a cup with goaltending that is almost an insulting to their stacked defense.

Don’t get me wrong. The Flyers, as it stands right now, are in my opinion the best team in the east.

But how do we know Bobrovsky is ready for the beast that is the NHL playoffs?

The playoffs are just such a different story. Just ask Jim Carey, the former capitals goalie, the next time you order your fries at your local McDonalds. He’ll tell you.

Honestly if the Flyers made it with suspect goalie last year, they could very well do it again. Chris Pronger is a machine in the playoffs. The rest of the defense is stocked with veterans of many a playoff battle.

But until we see Bobrovsky have to play under that enormous playoff pressure, we just don’t know.