Player Discussion: Anders Lee

[DalGoal4Cups]

We need to trade Lee. I'm going to send Lou a DM and recommend we trade Lee. Lou is my secret source. Lou was the guy that texted snow 6am on draft day 2015 "trade reinhart, reinhart is slower than lee and I didn't think that was possible. Trade him now for pick / picks, draft barzal". I have the screen shot.

 

[PWJunior]

We need to trade Lee. I'm going to send Lou a DM and recommend we trade Lee. Lou is my secret source. Lou was the guy that texted snow 6am on draft day 2015 "trade reinhart, reinhart is slower than lee and I didn't think that was possible. Trade him now for pick / picks, draft barzal". I have the screen shot.

Is it Dippin' Dots certified?

 

[aronjudge11]

What is the expectation of the fans with Lee? He needs to be traded for picks or its ok to let him.walk for nothing? If he goes to Toronto in the summer for 6.5 million a year and does his 35 goals with JT, this is not a issue. ?Because Lou doesn't want him...? His numbers seem.are.good enough to me.to sign and I think the GM change will cost Lee hisbislander career because it's LOU's chance to put a stamp on the team.while garth would of likely tried to sign him. I don't think LOU is waiting to.see if he is just a 30 goal scorer and not a 38 goal.scorer. price won't change once he goes within four months of uFa. At that point you have to pay top dollar. The only team.discount is now unless he does a discount for family reasons like Bailey

 

[boredmale]

What is the expectation of the fans with Lee? He needs to be traded for picks or its ok to let him.walk for nothing? If he goes to Toronto in the summer for 6.5 million a year and does his 35 goals with JT, this is not a issue. ?Because Lou doesn't want him...? His numbers seem.are.good enough to me.to sign and I think the GM change will cost Lee hisbislander career because it's LOU's chance to put a stamp on the team.while garth would of likely tried to sign him. I don't think LOU is waiting to.see if he is just a 30 goal scorer and not a 38 goal.scorer. price won't change once he goes within four months of uFa. At that point you have to pay top dollar. The only team.discount is now unless he does a discount for family reasons like Bailey

My 2 cents is if the Islanders aren't in a playoff spot come trade deadline(10th or 11th 2 or 3 points out is the point I consider out of it) they better decide which guys the want to keep(and offer contracts) or trade

Now in a hypothetical but unlikely scenario were say we are 5 points or more above 8th place, I would look to either lock up or trade at least 1 of Eberle or Lee

 

[IODCPiper]

Now that Benedict Tavares is gone, what do we do with Anders? Do we try to lock him up to a long term extension this summer coming off a 40 goal season during which he played mostly with JT? He has shown that he can score without JT in the past, but there is definitely some uncertainty and we would be buying high. Or do we wait and see what he does during the first part of the year? I assume that if he isn't signed by the trade deadline he will be gone, as I hope Lou will not pull a Snow and risk losing him for nothing, especially as it looks like a long-shot at this point that we will be in a playoff position come trade deadline time.

If we do lock him up long term, does he get the "C"?

I hope Lou trades at least 2 of lee, nelson and ebes. set the lines to help those 3 stats and sell by dec/jan regardless of standings. isles could walk away with more 1st and 2nd round picks and prospects. In 2 years will have a very good YOUNG team for years to come.

 

[aronjudge11]

I believe that's the plan but as fans going to games ..spending money on tickets ...is it not tough to invest in a season essentially knowing the team will be giving up on the season when they trade these guys. You can't trade three 25 to 35 goal scorers and not give up on the season.

 

[DalGoal4Cups]

Nelson as lees center = Lee will be mat moulson 2.0 very fast. Trade him asap

 

[ndgolden]

What is the expectation of the fans with Lee? He needs to be traded for picks or its ok to let him.walk for nothing? If he goes to Toronto in the summer for 6.5 million a year and does his 35 goals with JT, this is not a issue. ?Because Lou doesn't want him...? His numbers seem.are.good enough to me.to sign and I think the GM change will cost Lee hisbislander career because it's LOU's chance to put a stamp on the team.while garth would of likely tried to sign him. I don't think LOU is waiting to.see if he is just a 30 goal scorer and not a 38 goal.scorer. price won't change once he goes within four months of uFa. At that point you have to pay top dollar. The only team.discount is now unless he does a discount for family reasons like Bailey

I’ll give you credit by going all in on Lee not being a LOU guy. But my bet says your about to lose all credibility with your reads, and very shortly. LL wants team first guys period.

 

[ndgolden]

I hope Lou trades at least 2 of lee, nelson and ebes. set the lines to help those 3 stats and sell by dec/jan regardless of standings. isles could walk away with more 1st and 2nd round picks and prospects. In 2 years will have a very good YOUNG team for years to come.

Those 1st round picks could easily pan out like Strome, Reinhardt, MDC, or JHS! And how many years do you think they will need after being drafted?

 

[PWJunior]

Those 1st round picks could easily pan out like Strome, Reinhardt, MDC, or JHS! And how many years do you think they will need after being drafted?

On the other side of the coin, those 1sts can turn out to be Barzal (#16), Pulock (#15), Beauvillier (#28), and Bellows (#19). Those 4 along with Dobson and Wahlstrom are the foundation for this new era of the team.

 

[sabremike]

On the other side of the coin, those 1sts can turn out to be Barzal (#16), Pulock (#15), Beauvillier (#28), and Bellows (#19). Those 4 along with Dobson and Wahlstrom are the foundation for this new era of the team.

Lee is a proven goalscorer in this league who hit 40 last year and is the rare guy who makes advanced stats guys and old school guys hold hands and sing kumbaya around a campfire. What are the odds that you get a player that good with the #23 overall pick you will likely get for him. He is a guy you sign (and so is Eberle while we're at it) and you only move if you can't get him to sign a new deal. Getting rid of quality players solely because you view lottery tickets as more valuable is a bad idea.

 

[Lame Lambert]

On the other side of the coin, those 1sts can turn out to be Barzal (#16), Pulock (#15), Beauvillier (#28), and Bellows (#19). Those 4 along with Dobson and Wahlstrom are the foundation for this new era of the team.

People have to just admit that we’re rebuilding again. The Tavares era was a total failure due to horrendous 1st round drafting and inept coaching/management. The past season and this coming season are going to be rebuild seasons, and I think we will be making the playoffs again as early as next season.

 

[PWJunior]

Lee is a proven goalscorer in this league who hit 40 last year and is the rare guy who makes advanced stats guys and old school guys hold hands and sing kumbaya around a campfire. What are the odds that you get a player that good with the #23 overall pick you will likely get for him. He is a guy you sign (and so is Eberle while we're at it) and you only move if you can't get him to sign a new deal. Getting rid of quality players solely because you view lottery tickets as more valuable is a bad idea.

Paying for declining production for any big UFA (home grown or not) usually doesn't work out well. Lee, Eberle, Tray-toor... no one is immune to father time. Just like every player that hits 30, their games degrade and some degrade quite rapidly.

 

[aronjudge11]

Well all our defenseman need till 25 to be NHL ready so that's 3, 4, or 5 years of a player before it's best to walk away?

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

Paying for declining production for any big UFA (home grown or not) usually doesn't work out well. Lee, Eberle, Tray-toor... no one is immune to father time. Just like every player that hits 30, their games degrade and some degrade quite rapidly.

But prospects are great forever? Lee and Eberle are proven scorers, and 30 is not the edge of the cliff for every player. The league has many players over that age that still earn their paychecks, and neither of those guys is a UFA unless we let them go. I am glad you are not our GM, Barzal is getting up in age versus draft eligible players.

 

[PWJunior]

But prospects are great forever? Lee and Eberle are proven scorers, and 30 is not the edge of the cliff for every player. The league has many players over that age that still earn their paychecks, and neither of those guys is a UFA unless we let them go. I am glad you are not our GM, Barzal is getting up in age versus draft eligible players.

We should have kept Moulson, Okposo, Parenteau, Streit, etc. Proven, right? They have the Benjamin Button gene?

 

[ndgolden]

We should have kept Moulson, Okposo, Parenteau, Streit, etc. Proven, right? They have the Benjamin Button gene?

Ouch, that’s tough. Maybe with the current leaders in charge upstairs, we should just give them time to do what’s best for the team and at the right time. For now let’s lets just enjoy the current version of Moulson, Parenteau and Streit.......

 

[N Ireland Nets Fan]

Signing Lee and Eberle does nothing for us long term. It probably keeps us in the 5-10 slot for our 1st round pick instead of bottoming out, maximizing our opportunity for elite talent to pair with Barzal.

Jack Hughes would be a dream but we need to maximize out assets and not just become a treadmill team. Bottom out and accumulate assets to spend in the draft. We aren't signing big free agents so we've got to be all in the draft.

 

[ndgolden]

Signing Lee and Eberle does nothing for us long term. It probably keeps us in the 5-10 slot for our 1st round pick instead of bottoming out, maximizing our opportunity for elite talent to pair with Barzal.

Jack Hughes would be a dream but we need to maximize out assets and not just become a treadmill team. Bottom out and accumulate assets to spend in the draft. We aren't signing big free agents so we've got to be all in the draft.

,
Or keep players who are productive. Trotts and Lou are not doing a full on tank or complete rebuild. Fans are not going to watch or pay to witness a 3 year sh_t show while we hope for the lottery and the draft picks to pan out. The culture of losing is not something either seemed programmed for.

 

[IODCPiper]

Those 1st round picks could easily pan out like Strome, Reinhardt, MDC, or JHS! And how many years do you think they will need after being drafted?

They havnt won with them and these team wont being winning anything with this current team need to build for future. LL and trotz can sculp this team to be a winner in a few seasons

 

[saintunspecified]

How far away is this future supposed to be? Barzal will be in his prime in short order. So will Tito, and Pulock. The team is not years off. They will need some grizzled vets - at least one or two. Lee fits the bill for me. NYI's window to contend needs to be during Barzal's 2nd contract - period. That should be the organizational philosophy. Having Lee locked up for 6-7 years to contend starting in 2020 on fits the window IMO.

Is there downside? Of course. There always is.

 

[Drive 4 Five]

Lou should do his best to retain Lee. Yes, he's 28 but he doesn't have as many NHL miles on him as other players his age. He really only has four full seasons under his belt. IMO his style of play - big body in front of the net with a great scoring touch - is the type that has the most NHL longevity - he doesn't rely on speed and quickness to earn his keep. He is a big, strong, physical goal scorer - with most points coming in and around the net.

I hope they push for a 4-5 year deal. 6 years would be tough to swallow, but manageable with a reasonable AAV hit.

I think they trade Eberle at the deadline - he is likely replaceable with a younger option. Not sure what they'll do with Nelson - depends how he plays under Trotz.

Some people are penciling in future lines with Wahlstrom, Dobson, Bellows etc... last I checked none of them have suited up for an NHL regular season game. I can go back in this forum several years back and find people penciling in Dal Colle, Strome, and Reinhart with the same anticipation.

Nobody has a crystal ball for the future of these prospects - when you have a known, low-risk option in Lee, along with plenty of cap space, you lock him up.

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

We should have kept Moulson, Okposo, Parenteau, Streit, etc. Proven, right? They have the Benjamin Button gene?

Lee and Eberle are not at the edge of a cliff, and are obviously more talented than anyone on your list with the possible exception of KO, who has had injury related problems. To keep pushing the future further away is not a sound approach, some players are worth keeping.
I did not trust Garth to know the difference, I hope Lou and his team are smarter than your simplistic logic.

 

[ScaredStreit]

On the other side of the coin, those 1sts can turn out to be Barzal (#16), Pulock (#15), Beauvillier (#28), and Bellows (#19). Those 4 along with Dobson and Wahlstrom are the foundation for this new era of the team.

Dobson, Wahlstrom, and Bellows haven't proven anything yet. They could easily turn into a MDC. Remember Tambellini, Nilsson, O'Marra, Bergenheim, etc.

With that said if we're clearly out of the race (we almost certainly will be), I'm all on board unloading Nelson.

 

[Disgraced Cosmonaut]

It's a fast league on the ice and in how quickly teams can turn it around... I think with proper asset management (which didn't happen during the Tavares years) we can contend in three years.
A guy like Anders, who is strong as an ox and has been healthy to boot, will be good for at least 5 years at a 25-35 goal clip, 45-60 point player. He's a great bridge player from now to the future. Eberle and, to a lesser extent, Nelson, can return some value this year at the deadline if we're way out. I'd keep Eberle if he and Lee show any chemistry. We really just need a guy who can hold down the second line center position.