Proposal: Isles Retool/Rebuild this summer

[Strickland]

1. Isles trade Ryan Pulock, Matthew Maggio and a 2025 4th to Winnipeg for Elias Salomonsson and a 2025 1st.

2. Isles trade JGP (50% retained) to Montreal for Adam Engstrom and a 2026 2nd (the worse, ie closer to 64, of theirs and Columbus')

3. Isles trade Adam Pelech and the rights to Quinn Finley to Chicago for the NYI 2026 2nd.

Isles get a bunch of picks and two solid prospects that can help in the very immediate future. Trading Finley for the second is something Isles fans are gonna get pissy about, but I want that pick back. They're going to stink in 25-26 and it's a valuable piece going forward. And I know Pelech has a 16 team NTC as of 7/1 and might block Chicago, but if you've gotta threaten him with waivers like Trouba, then so be it. I'm assuming Pulock and JGP waive with little issue.

DRAFT:

10th: Jake O'Brien
26th (from WPG): Blake Fiddler
42: Nathan Behm


SYSTEM:

In this scenario, Isles will have added in the last 4 months; Ritchie, Salomonsson, Engstrom, O'Brien, Fiddler and Behm. If it's not a top 10 system then it's awfully close. A dramatic turn around from May of 2024.

You're not a good team for 25-26, but there's no scenario in which the Isles are a good team in 25-26. But you've loaded the farm, freed up significant cap space and have four picks in the first two rounds in the 2026 draft, and that's before you trade Lee at the deadline. Should you wanna move a "core" piece like Dobson/Horvat/Sorokin/Romanov/Barzal, that option is still available.

But you're looking to add quality at the 2026 draft. Maybe get lucky and fall into McKenna.

 

[Nevins]

Mtl says No.Evans and Dvorak are almost identical in terms of quality of play, stats and are younger. Habs just have to sign Dvorak. What they need is a real #2 center.

 

[Scintillating10]

1. Isles trade Ryan Pulock, Matthew Maggio and a 2025 4th to Winnipeg for Elias Salomonsson and a 2025 1st.

2. Isles trade JGP (50% retained) to Montreal for Adam Engstrom and a 2026 2nd (the worse, ie closer to 64, of theirs and Columbus')

3. Isles trade Adam Pelech and the rights to Quinn Finley to Chicago for the NYI 2026 2nd.

Isles get a bunch of picks and two solid prospects that can help in the very immediate future. Trading Finley for the second is something Isles fans are gonna get pissy about, but I want that pick back. They're going to stink in 25-26 and it's a valuable piece going forward. And I know Pelech has a 16 team NTC as of 7/1 and might block Chicago, but if you've gotta threaten him with waivers like Trouba, then so be it. I'm assuming Pulock and JGP waive with little issue.

DRAFT:

10th: Jake O'Brien
26th (from WPG): Blake Fiddler
42: Nathan Behm


SYSTEM:

In this scenario, Isles will have added in the last 4 months; Ritchie, Salomonsson, Engstrom, O'Brien, Fiddler and Behm. If it's not a top 10 system then it's awfully close. A dramatic turn around from May of 2024.

You're not a good team for 25-26, but there's no scenario in which the Isles are a good team in 25-26. But you've loaded the farm, freed up significant cap space and have four picks in the first two rounds in the 2026 draft, and that's before you trade Lee at the deadline. Should you wanna move a "core" piece like Dobson/Horvat/Sorokin/Romanov/Barzal, that option is still available.

But you're looking to add quality at the 2026 draft. Maybe get lucky and fall into McKenna.

Montreal definitely no. We not trading any of our picks in case we want to offer sheet.

 

[DemidovSaveUs]

I counter with Rossi + for Barzal.

 

[Lockin17]

MTL wants Barzal not JGP

 

[Miller Time]

I doubt Hughes would trade Engstrom for JGP + 2nd... So obvious no from Mtl.

 

[miscs75]

MTL wants Barzal not JGP

Not doing this again. Montreal won’t offer up the Isles needs for Barzal and no it’s not a bunch of B tier prospects, cap dumps and late 1sts in a bad draft year.

 

[MNRube]

I counter with Rossi + for Barzal.

Rossi + Ohgren + Brodin for Pelech + Barzal

Brodin could be sold off for more futures


Edit: didn’t realize Pelech is as injury prone as Brodin. Maybe a bit rich for me

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Lou doesnt do rebuilds.

 

[The Don Hughes]

2. Isles trade JGP (50% retained) to Montreal for Adam Engstrom and a 2026 2nd (the worse, ie closer to 64, of theirs and Columbus')

Massive no. JGP is not what we need

 

[miscs75]

Massive no. JGP is not what we need

JGP’s contract expires in 2026 so ideally he’s that short term stop gap for you guys to give Hage another year to develop into the greatest up and coming 2nd line center in history.

 

[StreetHawk]

It would have to be a massive tear down and rebuild as the Isles were lacking prospects for a while after Dobson. Lots of picks moved plus what they kept didn't pan out. So, there's this big gap between from their 2024 draft class up to Dobson from 2018.

Pelech, Pulloch, Mayfield, Lee, Pageau are well into their 30's. Lee/Pageau have a year left. The other trio has term. Barzal is 28 in 2025, whiile Horvat is 30. Sorokin is turns 30 in August.
Dobson/Romanov are 25 in 2025.

It will take time to rebuild the prospect group. By then Horvat/Sorokin are going to be like 34. Barzal would be 32. Dobson/Romanov would still have prime years left at age 29.

Plus Dobson/Romanov did bridge deals which are ending and could prefer to get moved rather than endure 4 years or more of a rebuild.

I don't think the Isles can half it on a rebuild. But, doing a full blown rebuild with what little they have in the pipeline is like chicago was in 2022 when they moved Dach and Debrincat for 1st rounders. That's why Bedard currently has very little to play.

 

[ole ole]

JGP’s contract expires in 2026 so ideally he’s that short term stop gap for you guys to give Hage another year to develop into the greatest up and coming 2nd line center in history.

We have no interest or a spot for him.

 

[Fatass]

Lou Lam is not going to make rebuilding moves, is he?

 

[Mrfenn92]

No thanks from Chicago

 

[Baksfamous112]

Not doing this again. Montreal won’t offer up the Isles needs for Barzal and no it’s not a bunch of B tier prospects, cap dumps and late 1sts in a bad draft year.

Then why are you trying to dump your dead weight to us for draft capital and decent prospects?

 

[miscs75]

Then why are you trying to dump your dead weight to us for draft capital and decent prospects?

Moving out the veterans to create cap space/roster turnover would be ideal. Once again moving Barzal to get back what I said would just be stupid for the Isles. Getting back for example Mailloux, Anderson and a 1st wouldn’t do anything for the Islanders.

 

[Baksfamous112]

Moving out the veterans to create cap space/roster turnover would be ideal. Once again moving Barzal to get back what I said would just be stupid for the Isles. Getting back for example Mailloux, Anderson and a 1st wouldn’t do anything for the Islanders.

Move out your veterans elsewhere. Habs aren’t interested in washed up veterans. Even less interested to pay assets for them. Thanks

 

[hn777]

Pretty sure Salomonsson is untouchable from Winnipeg.
Edit: Also, they already have DeMelo, Schenn, Miller, and possibly a re-signed Pionk for RD next year, so no room for Pulock.

 

[WangMustGo]

Move out your veterans elsewhere. Habs aren’t interested in washed up veterans. Even less interested to pay assets for them. Thanks

Pageau isn’t washed up. I understand not wanting him though. But he is still a good 3rd line center that is good defensively, on the Pk, and face offs. I think the isles should hold onto him until the deadline.

 

[The Don Hughes]

JGP’s contract expires in 2026 so ideally he’s that short term stop gap for you guys to give Hage another year to develop into the greatest up and coming 2nd line center in history.

JGP is not a solution for the 2C spot. Habs will aim and find better than this.

 

[BLNY]

2. Isles trade JGP (50% retained) to Montreal for Adam Engstrom and a 2026 2nd (the worse, ie closer to 64, of theirs and Columbus')

Montreal says no thanks.

 

[Riggins]

MTL wants Barzal not JGP

Horvat is a better fit for Montreal. True center, left shot. Great on draws, perfect 2C.

I doubt NYI ever starts a sell-off unless Lou is gone.

 

[All Mighty]

Ducks could really use JGP. They probably aren’t in a position to pay much for him, but they can easily take his full cap hit if the Isles plan to spend that money elsewhere. If you want a D prospect, Tyson Hinds or possibly Noah Warren could be available. Maybe Isac Lundestrom could be involved if you want a cheap, young JGP replacement.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Ducks could really use JGP. They probably aren’t in a position to pay much for him, but they can easily take his full cap hit if the Isles plan to spend that money elsewhere. If you want a D prospect, Tyson Hinds or possibly Noah Warren could be available. Maybe Isac Lundestrom could be involved if you want a cheap, young JGP replacement.

JPG

For

Lundestrom
Hinds

That's a solid trade IMO.