Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California

[LBloor]

Kurzy is right. I'm not sure why cap space wasn't cleared up, maybe the return wasn't good enough for them. It's just very peculiar if they had intention on signing a Gaudreau or Kadri.

I just don't see much else being done here. I like the Romanov pickup, and we know Dobson and Bellows are signed, but what else? JT Miller should be sought after, but I'm not sure if cap space can be cleared anymore. Not to mention, Vancouver didn't want anyone negotiating an extension with Miller.

Overall a very disappointing offseason so far for this team, especially since Lou stated there was going to be some movement.

I'm so glad Lou did not sign Kadri at that ridiculopus price. He will not repeat the season he just had.

 

[JJ18Sniper]

When the entire hockey universe knows you need to move contract(s) you’re dealing from a position of weakness and desperation. Teams knew it and likely were likely firm in their asset requests from Lou. Lou needs to seriously consider maybe changing some of his strategies but we all know it won’t happen for better or worse.

If Friedman is right, I think it removes the Dobson bridge approach.
My revised guess is that it's a Quinn Hughes type contract.... 6x7.85

 

[Fantom]

Monahan is gonna be a TDL flip for Montreal...

What I think we are gonna do is take a cap dump from another team for an up and coming prospect...something like a forward version of Perunovich (Blues) OR possibly a first rounder for next year.

I think Kadri made a good choice...seriously./.for the AVs AND the Isles, he'd be a solid top 6 centre, BUT for the Flames, he is gonna have at least 2-3 years of top 3 centre play...

if we were trying to clear cap space why would we all of the sudden look to take a cap dump?

 

[periferal]

Matthew Tkachuk was traded for Huberdeau and Weegar - 2 proven NHLers not two 1st round picks. They are both older than Tkachuk and combined have played 1000 games.

Now there was also a 1st rounder attached but that 1st rounder is most likely a late one and not the centrepiece of the deal.

Just a poor example.

Come on SI - You're better than this. You know that experienced vets get traded for draft picks and vice versa, and the overall point is that "3 first rounders" is just about the fact that it would be a lot of high-end assets and not that specific/exact trade return.

Yeah, except 100point players were part of that deal. The isles have only a single ice skating specialist that nets 60 points. Not a comparable, but nice try.

I'd say, "see above," but you've proven to be bitter, negative, and angry with almost every single one of your posts on here, so I'm not holding out any hope that you'd actually come back with an objective/calm/rational reply.

 

[LBloor]

The only reason why Calgary could have moved cap space is that they had 2 1st round picks, one got from the earlier trade with Florida. Without that, it would not be wise to lose a 1st just to dump cap. When you have 2 1st, it hurts less to move one. Isles can't afford to trade another 1st round pick again, especially with a very deep draft coming up with some elite prospects among the top 3 or more. Sometimes you got to look at the bigger picture, then you can see your way out of the maze better. Besides Calgary's window to win is now, with their goalie still in his prime now. Sorokin is much younger and Isle's most talented players are young as well. You need to add young elite cheap talents to this team and it can only be done through drafting most of the time.

Hope to hear some good announcements tomorrow to make this weekend more entertaining for the Isles' fan base.
'

I believe they we will wait and see how Sorokin starts and then if satisfied use Varlamov to get a player they need.

 

[Fantom]

I'm so glad Lou did not sign Kadri at that ridiculopus price. He will not repeat the season he just had.

i bet he goes back to the 50 point player he has been

I believe they we will wait and see how Sorokin starts and then if satisfied use Varlamov to get a player they need.

that could be the case. only time will tell on this one

 

[Throttle]

When the entire hockey universe knows you need to move contract(s) you’re dealing from a position of weakness and desperation. Teams knew it and likely were likely firm in their asset requests from Lou. Lou needs to seriously consider maybe changing some of his strategies but we all know it won’t happen for better or worse.

So, now Isles fans are complaining they didn't overpay for an 'expensive' signing because the GM didn't want to give away assets just to create space. But, but, but he overpaid everyone else so that's why they couldn't fit Kadri, JG, etc. Uh-huh.

Just wait for that $7M 60 point center (even at 80pts) is taking up $9M+ cap hit. Ha!

 

[Duanesutter12]

Being outside the Garden on 33rd and 8th after Knicks and Ranger games was right there too!

That and Penn Station were horrific. We would take the train in from Oyster Bay (or mostly syosset) for Knicks games. Of course, we'd buy blue seats (for half off with a passing report card) and then be sitting courtside by the end of the 1st quarter. We would always miss the most reasonable train back home and be stuck in Penn Station until like 3:00 in the morning. Man, the s**t you would see! And today I wonder---- what the hell were my parents thinking?? I don't let my son fart without asking me but back in the 80's you could be like "I'm going to California mom, I'll be back in a month" and she'd reply "ok honey be careful"!

 

[JKP]

When the entire hockey universe knows you need to move contract(s) you’re dealing from a position of weakness and desperation. Teams knew it and likely were likely firm in their asset requests from Lou. Lou needs to seriously consider maybe changing some of his strategies but we all know it won’t happen for better or worse.

The problem is there are 10+ other teams also trying to do it who are all actually over. I’m guessing it’s just getting too expensive. I’m curious to see how some of them get compliant…

 

[SI90]

The problem is there are 10+ other teams also trying to do it who are all actually over. I’m guessing it’s just getting too expensive. I’m curious to see how some of them get compliant…

I don’t blame Lou for not pulling the trigger on a trade if the ask was too high. That being said, this team needs a tweak up front on offense.

 

[Throttle]

Come on SI - You're better than this. You know that experienced vets get traded for draft picks and vice versa, and the overall point is that "3 first rounders" is just about the fact that it would be a lot of high-end assets and not that specific/exact trade return.




I'd say, "see above," but you've proven to be bitter, negative, and angry with almost every single one of your posts on here, so I'm not holding out any hope that you'd actually come back with an objective/calm/rational reply.

I'm sorry you feel that way when things don't go your way. Oh well.

 

[Throttle]

The problem is there are 10+ other teams also trying to do it who are all actually over. I’m guessing it’s just getting too expensive. I’m curious to see how some of them get compliant…

Yep, plenty of other teams went too far. The door shut early this year. A scramble is coming soon.

 

[MJF]

My concern right now is that Barzal looks like a fish out of water on this team. Kadri would have addressed that imo (others disagree). But I see Parise-Barzal-Palmieri as a 13 minute toi energy line with a center who doesn't fit. Unless some miracle development happens with him, Beau and/Wahlstrom, his production won't be there, and the trade rumblings will become very real. I could easily see him gone at the deadline. I'm not looking forward to another lafontaine situation where our center leaves then scores 150 points soon after.

It's possible this could be Barzal's line on opening night. If so then I would have to bank on Parise and Palmieri not having the same dreadful start to the season. Particularly Palms, as well as J-G Pageau. If their production returns to where it should be we'll be able to roll 4 lines and have our scoring by committee back where it should be.

To me, Lane Lambert is the X factor here. I have no idea what approach he's going to take with the team. A continuation of what worked for us with Trotz behind the bench or not having 4 guys back with sticks out forcing everything to the outside.

 

[Skidrow11]

The problem is there are 10+ other teams also trying to do it who are all actually over. I’m guessing it’s just getting too expensive. I’m curious to see how some of them get compliant…

Lou has a team full of guys that can't be traded. What team would take Any islander for 5th round pick? Sorokin,maybe Barzal, Nelson, and dobson,pelech, and Mayfield because he's underpaid . So 6 guys that are worth their contract that teams would likely make room. I don't know what the love affair is with varlomov the isles didnt even make the playoffs with him last year and the other years never saw the finals. I can only conclude he had to promise sorokin that he would keep varlomov. And why in the world did he give Beu 3 years making millions of dollars. And a 4th line that's about 34 years old...when do they hit their prime at 37?

 

[seafoam]

When the entire hockey universe knows you need to move contract(s) you’re dealing from a position of weakness and desperation. Teams knew it and likely were likely firm in their asset requests from Lou. Lou needs to seriously consider maybe changing some of his strategies but we all know it won’t happen for better or worse.

I literally said on here before last trade deadline that Lou’s work begins now, and what did he do? Nothing.

He needed to be more aggresive in making a deal to move out cap last deadline to set up flexibility this offseason.

Lamoriello is beginning to display a pattern of failing at seemingly every juncture.

 

[Mike C]

That and Penn Station were horrific. We would take the train in from Oyster Bay (or mostly syosset) for Knicks games. Of course, we'd buy blue seats (for half off with a passing report card) and then be sitting courtside by the end of the 1st quarter. We would always miss the most reasonable train back home and be stuck in Penn Station until like 3:00 in the morning. Man, the s**t you would see! And today I wonder---- what the hell were my parents thinking?? I don't let my son fart without asking me but back in the 80's you could be like "I'm going to California mom, I'll be back in a month" and she'd reply "ok honey be careful"!

I'm the same way with my kid and he's 14!

I worked as vendor as MSG in college and after that worked covering games here and there. The employee entrance was around the back on the 8th Ave side where it was pretty much unlit. We always got out after the crowds and there were many a night I was rightfully scared. Part of the reason I put my son in Karate. I didn't want him feeling the way I felt back then.

It started in 1973 when I had the brainstorm to go to Brooklyn Tech while all my friends went to FDR where I could have freaking WALKED. Instead I took the grueling 2 train sojourn into Fort Greene. Why? To this day I don't know. I think it was because I thought Tech would give me a better education. Ha!

 

[MJF]

Good luck to Calgary moving Kadri's contract in the later years if they need to. I do not like the way that contract is structured at all to have to pay him the full $7 million AAV while he's 37,38, & 39 years old.

I would have expected the contract to be front loaded. Now it makes me wonder if that was won Kadri over to the Flames. Perhaps the Islanders weren't willing to backload his deal.

 

[SCMURRAY]

Totally fine with no signing Kadri. Didnt want him even if it was a 3 year deal. Good player but he's not a missing piece up front. We desperately need an elite level 1st line wing. We haven't had one since Ziggy. Our D is solid and I think we still have arguably the best goalie tandem in the league. We need firepower. We need that missing piece.

 

[MJF]

Back loaded deal is a terrible structure for a 32 year old UFA, wow. I figured it was front loaded, but I guess Kadri can Bobby Bonilla it at the end of his career.

And could be the reason he chose the Flames instead of the Islanders.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

Sometimes you have to call it like it is. An absolute failure (so far) by our GM.

I already listed SEVERAL free-agent signings and a couple of trades where players were acquired (sign or trade) whose contracts were WORSE and have similar value production wise to Josh Bailey and certainly didnt have the youth and upside of Anthony Beauvillier.

Bailey is by all case and purposes a 50 point producer who can still help teams in the middle six and on special teams. His 2 years and 10 million AAV is not bad enough that he couldn't have been moved with nothing of value coming back and purely as a cap dump- especially when only 7 million cash is owed to him.

Beauvillier just turned 25 this summer and still has enough upside where his 2/8.2 million contract is also attractive enough where a decent asset should have been able to be retained and that space cleared as well.

For a team in "win now" mode; trading Varlamov also should have been considered earlier in the offseason when the market was heavy on net minders and there were decent backups available that we could have replaced him with; using the cap space (3-4 million) to also upgrade the forward groups. He was CLEARLY our best trade chip, but Lou didn't even consider it, even when the return likely would have been immense.

Now, I for one am glad he didn't clear the space for Kadri, which at 7x7 is something I had no interest in; but it is inexcusable for a team that is supposedly trying to "go for it" with the same core, not to make moves to increase that possibility.

And it isn't just about the offseason, some of these moves could have been done at the last deadline too and yet he did nothing there as well...

No more excuses, he is the GM and has so far failed miserably....period

 

[Tres Peleches]

Throwing stupid money at Kadri would have been stupid

Throwing stupid money at Gaudreau would have been the right move

Considering this team was DOA come the TDL last year, Lou had PLENTY of time to clear space and he objectively failed miserably

In the words of Captain Fatbelly, He can go suck it

 

[MJF]

When the entire hockey universe knows you need to move contract(s) you’re dealing from a position of weakness and desperation. Teams knew it and likely were likely firm in their asset requests from Lou. Lou needs to seriously consider maybe changing some of his strategies but we all know it won’t happen for better or worse.

I think Lou's cone of silence approach is BS since everybody else knows what everybody else has in terms of cap space.

That being said I still believe that Lou's primary way to clear cap space was always to move Josh Bailey. I think he has held him out there since the expansion draft last year, with the rest of the league knowing that we made him available, hoping that a trade would materialize.

Now, everyone here is going to hate what I say (again), but Lou is finding that there is ZERO market for Josh Bailey and his bloated contract. Couple that up with Lou not interested in trading Semyon Varlamov, still looking for a team to take Anthony Beauvillier, and here we are.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

I think Lou's cone of silence approach is BS since everybody else knows what everybody else has in terms of cap space.

That being said I still believe that Lou's primary way to clear cap space was always to move Josh Bailey. I think he has held him out there since the expansion draft last year, with the rest of the league knowing that we made him available, hoping that a trade would materialize.

Now, everyone here is going to hate what I say (again), but Lou is finding that there is ZERO market for Josh Bailey and his bloated contract. Couple that up with Lou not interested in trading Semyon Varlamov, still looking for a team to take Anthony Beauvillier, and here we are.

Peeps need to get off Josh' nuts.

2 years and 10 million left (with only 7 million cash owed) is NOT a bloated contract or one that should be considered especially hard to move.

I repeat, Josh Bailey is about as close as a sure-thing 50-point producer there is in the NHL and can still help in most teams' middle six and special team units....

There have been a dozen or so WORSE signings/traded players who have been acquired than Josh freaking Bailey. Hell it wouldn't be a hard argument to make that signing Kadri to 7x7, 49 MILLION (just yesterday) is a much worse deal than Bailey for 2x5 with only 7 owed to him; especially considering Kadri's similar point production in his career prior to the single 2021-22 season and their ages...

Lou waited too long (hell, there were even reports he wasn't even on the market) and now OF COURSE it is much harder to move him with cap space at a premium across the league...

Another failure by our GM...

 

[seafoam]

I'd be interested in Stastny on a cheap, one year deal.

Barzal creates a ton of offense on the right wing, move Brock to 1C and Stastny as the 2C.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

When the entire hockey universe knows you need to move contract(s) you’re dealing from a position of weakness and desperation. Teams knew it and likely were likely firm in their asset requests from Lou. Lou needs to seriously consider maybe changing some of his strategies but we all know it won’t happen for better or worse.

This is true, I think ultimately it comes down to if we were willing to trade Bailey/Beau with an asset and Lou didn't want to do that. Simple as that. Personally, if it were Gaudreau I would have, Kadri I wouldn't have.