GDT: GDT #73 New York Islanders @ Carolina Hurricanes | March 30th | 5 PM | F/L 6-4

[MJF]

Pretty amazing that they managed to score 4. All in all, I've been very surprised at how many goals they've scored since dealing Nelson.

When it was 2-0 though, I thought we were headed towards a 4-0/5-1 style beating.

Was pretty impressive to see Lee score that 4th goal.

***
Impressive seeing how the Canes still have so many players who can be dangerous and generate chances at any given time.

Raise your hand if you were doing a doubletake when Jankowskit scored his 11th goal of the season. Are you kidding me?

And I look at that blueline and wonder what things will look like when Morrow is ready next season and Nikishin (most NHL-ready Dman outside the NHL on the planet) finally comes over from Russia.

Oh well, didn't see any points coming in this one, so no surprises.

***
All in all, as much as the team did tease us a bit with some points there for a while, we all know that the best thing that can happen for this team right now is to be in the draft lottery and get as high a pick as possible.

Still in this thing with 9 games left but the defensive lapses and individual errors compounded by the clear absence of messers Barzal and Nelson says it'd be mighty surprising to get more than 6 points in those final 9.

And the field of top 10-12 prospects in this summer's draft just keeps looking better and better. Heck, even Hagens is dropping incrementally now and his season is over (unless Team USA gets wild again and brings him over for the Men's WC). We all know how a good CHL playoffs or U18 can have guys catapulting others throughout the spring.

It was Nelson who was holding Engvall back

 

[BelovedIsles]

Huh, they lost.

 

[PK Cronin]

It was Nelson who was holding Engvall back

Just laughing and thinking about this, there is some truth to this (not specifically Engvall and Nelson) in that often times lesser players will contribute more if their role is expanded. So when we say Nelson is a 30 goal scorer, now he's gone, how are we replacing those 30 goals? The answer, at least partially, is you don't have to do that necessarily. Engvall won't be a 30 goal scorer but he could be a 15-20. Then you only need to make up 10-15 goals instead. Sometimes "replacing" a player is by committee and not finding a specific player to replace them.

Anyway, here's to hoping there's a Engvall Fan Club some day!

 

[MJF]

Just laughing and thinking about this, there is some truth to this (not specifically Engvall and Nelson) in that often times lesser players will contribute more if their role is expanded. So when we say Nelson is a 30 goal scorer, now he's gone, how are we replacing those 30 goals? The answer, at least partially, is you don't have to do that necessarily. Engvall won't be a 30 goal scorer but he could be a 15-20. Then you only need to make up 10-15 goals instead. Sometimes "replacing" a player is by committee and not finding a specific player to replace them.

Anyway, here's to hoping there's a Engvall Fan Club some day!

I nominate you for club president.

 

[periferal]

21 has not signed his contract and a 2nd round pick in this draft would’ve been preferred

1. There's a good chance he's signed his contract, but the out of touch GM is the only executive in the league that thinks it somehow gives him an advantage to keep contracts secret.
2. Even if 21 resigned....A 2nd round pick would've been preferred.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

1. There's a good chance he's signed his contract, but the out of touch GM is the only executive in the league that thinks it somehow gives him an advantage to keep contracts secret.

1. Even if 21 resigned....A 2nd round pick would've been preferred.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Genuinely confused at some of the complaints about the team being bad down the stretch? This is what most of us wanted when they traded Nelson.

Making the playoffs as the second wildcard spot and losing in 5 games is not doing this organization ANY favors.

But, but, but, we could be the second wildcard and win in the first round. Then lose in 5 games in the second!

Angels in the Hockey Net, "hey, it could happen!"

 

[doublechili]

Just laughing and thinking about this, there is some truth to this (not specifically Engvall and Nelson) in that often times lesser players will contribute more if their role is expanded. So when we say Nelson is a 30 goal scorer, now he's gone, how are we replacing those 30 goals? The answer, at least partially, is you don't have to do that necessarily. Engvall won't be a 30 goal scorer but he could be a 15-20. Then you only need to make up 10-15 goals instead. Sometimes "replacing" a player is by committee and not finding a specific player to replace them.

Anyway, here's to hoping there's a Engvall Fan Club some day!

There's also an element of the old mediocre-player-on-a-bad-team thing. You have to be careful because an average guy's stats are padded because they're getting prime ice time, PP time, playing against backup goalies, etc..

 

[doublechili]

There's a good chance he's signed his contract, but the out of touch GM is the only executive in the league that thinks it somehow gives him an advantage to keep contracts secret.

I've posted before that, although it sounds a bit crazy, I can see a scenario where Palmieri expressed a preference for staying on LI and is willing to wait to see if the Isles have a spot for him. So a hybrid of what you suggest. He's not signed, but maybe there's a rough agreement in principle but TBD depending on how things shake out.

 

[periferal]

I've posted before that, although it sounds a bit crazy, I can see a scenario where Palmieri expressed a preference for staying on LI and is willing to wait to see if the Isles have a spot for him. So a hybrid of what you suggest. He's not signed, but maybe there's a rough agreement in principle but TBD depending on how things shake out.

1. Look at this roster. The idea that Lou could improve this team by July 1st where Palmieri would be the least talented forward (and wouldn't "fit") is insanity at best.
2. And what difference does it make? The Isles ain't getting anywhere near a Cup while Palmeri is still a productive player...So why resign him at all when you could have a draft pick that could be used/flipped for a player that would be younger and still playing years from now when the Isles might be a contender.

 

[Tres Peleches]

Multiple coaches...Same roster....Bad PP.



Maybe it's not the coaches.

True, but you can’t fire the players

With that being said, this team isn’t 31st in the league in terms of talent.

I think they’re very much too passive on both the PP and the PK. Much too static

 

[periferal]

True, but you can’t fire the players

Exactly why the GM needs to be fired.

With that being said, this team isn’t 31st in the league in terms of talent.

Actually if you just look at PP1 units and forget the rest of the roster the Isles definitely aren't above 25th (and might just be worse).

 

[MJF]

True, but you can’t fire the players

With that being said, this team isn’t 31st in the league in terms of talent.

I think they’re very much too passive on both the PP and the PK. Much too static

I think they’re passive because they don’t have the ability to execute good, quick passes tape to tape. Their Puck management skills are poor.

 

[doublechili]

Look at this roster. The idea that Lou could improve this team by July 1st where Palmieri would be the least talented forward (and wouldn't "fit") is insanity at best

I think you know that Palmieri wouldn't need to be the least talented forward - it would be a matter of cap space.

 

[YearlyLottery]

1. Look at this roster. The idea that Lou could improve this team by July 1st where Palmieri would be the least talented forward (and wouldn't "fit") is insanity at best.
2. And what difference does it make? The Isles ain't getting anywhere near a Cup while Palmeri is still a productive player...So why resign him at all when you could have a draft pick that could be used/flipped for a player that would be younger and still playing years from now when the Isles might be a contender.

You have to be careful with getting rid of every single vet though, right? I would have traded Palmieri too but the idea that he won't be a productive player still in 2-3 seasons is not as guaranteed as you are making it seem to me. Palmieri has just had his two best seasons as an Islander and two of the better seasons in his entire career.

You don't just go from retool straight to Stanley Cup Contender. It's not a video game. If you try and do that you easily end up in a situation like Buffalo and Detroit have been in for years.