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

[TeamKidd]

I respectfully disagree.

The Isles have a top tier goalie, above average defensive corps and they’re forwards are below average as a group.

I favor solidifying our strength on the defense as a priority. Get a PMDman, preferably on the left side via trade or UFA. If the D moves the puck better the offense can’t help but improve.

Do we also need to make a move to help the offense? Sure but the priority is to shore up the D.

I guess my post was more about realism, and that we likely won't have the exact opportunity we'd like so we should just find the best offensively gifted player we can swing and go from there

 

[LeapOnOver]

Wrong word "BUST" for Nelson, lets say under achiever or a Floater in his earlier days pre-Trotz

Ahh, okay yeah. There were times i definitely felt like he wasn't engaged in his play. I gotcha now.

 

[Mike C]

Dude - I'm just adding info re the possible status of Sorokin. This tweet was a bit more apprehensive/less positive than her other tweet. I could not care less about your claims of her overall positivity.

Do we surmise from her story that Varly stayed in U.S.?

Read something last week that he was gonna go back

Also read that Kaprisov was wanted for buying a fraudulent military card and might have to serve military duty.

 

[Mike C]

I took it to mean that he obtained a fake military ID, not that he was distributing them. Like, someone is providing players with a way around military service or something (I'm not familiar with the intricacies of their system so I could be completely wrong).

The story I read positioned it that he bought a fake ID with a fraudulent age so he could skirt service. It was unclear if he "fled" back to U.S. or was still in Russia

 

[Not4u]

Do we surmise from her story that Varly stayed in U.S.?

Read something last week that he was gonna go back

Also read that Kaprisov was wanted for buying a fraudulent military card and might have to serve military duty.

Varly spends his offseason in Texas. He has been there for years.

Catching Up with Semyon Varlamov | New York Islanders

The Isles goalie drove two hours each way to find ice as he spent the NHL Pause in Texas

www.nhl.com

 

[The Real JT]

The story I read positioned it that he bought a fake ID with a fraudulent age so he could skirt service. It was unclear if he "fled" back to U.S. or was still in Russia

I heard he got a deferment for bone spurs.

 

[Mike C]

I heard he got a deferment for bone spurs.

Hahahahaha

If I said that I'd probably wind up with points!

 

[periferal]

I was talking about the Blues from a few weeks ago, not 3 years ago. I'm not saying player for player they're the same team, but the Blues have a bunch of 20+ goal scorers and play a team defense style. And they're not a roster of high draft picks. The point is you don't have to be COL to contend. There are other ways.

But to me the Blues aren't contenders. If not for literally the greatest goalie performance of the past 10+ years by Binnington in 2019, they don't win the Cup. And if not for literally that 5 month run they've won FIVE (5) playoff series in the past 20 years.

That's pretty much as bad as any team in the NHL, but it gets glossed over since they always seem to make the playoffs.

Right now the Blues are stuck in that "no man's land" where they're not good enough to win the Cup, but not bad enough to get a high draft pick and really improve their chances of winning.

And scarily I see the Isles following them to the Bermuda Triangle of NHL seasons. The reality is that when it comes to the NHL it's better to either be really good or really bad...But usually you cannot be really good without being really bad first.

I'm assume Lou has decided what direction he wants to take this team, but this is the kind of offseason where you really need to get out of the middle of the road and choose either sidewalk.

 

[periferal]

I find myself agreeing with you more often than not, but not on this. I would most definitely add him for a 3rd round pick just based on the success ratio of said pick in general ever making it to the NHL.

It is obvious we disagree on the player, move on...

!!!!!!!

A 3rd round pick is simply an asset. When I say I'd rather have a 3rd round pick that doesn't mean that we have to use it to draft a player.

And besides that...Since I believe that Puljujarvi is a bust, if I'm right then even the small chance you hit on a any round pick is a better move than just wasting it on a player who won't amount to anything and cost you valuable cap space.

We can do better.

 

[lafellaesobar]

I get why they aren't in on Zadorov since he's
1. a penalty machine
2. doesn't add much in terms of offense
but its a thin defenseman market. curious as to what transpires tomorrow.

 

[periferal]

I really don’t think this is the way to go. Pelech, Pulock, Dobson and Mayfield is a solid top 4. Get the right compliments for Dobson and Mayfield cheaply, like how the Lightning had the right compliments for a strong left side.

We need gamebreakers up front.

I legit don't know how you can think "Pelech, Pulock, Dobson and Mayfield is a solid top 4."

1. We need to do better than "solid."
2. When all 4 played last year they were very far from even being that.
3. Mayfield is a UFA after this season and given what he's going to want it vs how he plays/his age, it might even make sense to trade him as part of a deal for an improvement.
4. This past season we actually tied for the most amount of goals per game under Trotz, but...We easily gave up the most amount of goals per game under him as well. While there's no question having a "gambreaking" winger next to Barzal would be a massive help, the facts suggest we actually need to fix the D first.

Fix the D first and a lot will fall in line.

 

[periferal]

They're asking for way too much. McDonagh was just traded, Krug might be on the block, who knows who else is out there. Doesn't make sense to trade 3-4 A+ assets for a LD when there are other competent options.

Bingo. Excellent way to think.

Just because we know Chychrun is on the trade block doesn't mean we know all the D men available. If a team is asking too much for any player then you move to another option. That should be the case here.

 

[Mike C]

Varly spends his offseason in Texas. He has been there for years.

Catching Up with Semyon Varlamov | New York Islanders

The Isles goalie drove two hours each way to find ice as he spent the NHL Pause in Texas

www.nhl.com

Thanks!

 

[doublechili]

But to me the Blues aren't contenders. If not for literally the greatest goalie performance of the past 10+ years by Binnington in 2019, they don't win the Cup. And if not for literally that 5 month run they've won FIVE (5) playoff series in the past 20 years.

That's pretty much as bad as any team in the NHL, but it gets glossed over since they always seem to make the playoffs.

Right now the Blues are stuck in that "no man's land" where they're not good enough to win the Cup, but not bad enough to get a high draft pick and really improve their chances of winning.

And scarily I see the Isles following them to the Bermuda Triangle of NHL seasons. The reality is that when it comes to the NHL it's better to either be really good or really bad...But usually you cannot be really good without being really bad first.

I'm assume Lou has decided what direction he wants to take this team, but this is the kind of offseason where you really need to get out of the middle of the road and choose either sidewalk.

We're going to have to disagree then. I feel like the Blues could have won the Cup this year if their goalie had been healthy.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

!!!!!!!

A 3rd round pick is simply an asset. When I say I'd rather have a 3rd round pick that doesn't mean that we have to use it to draft a player.

And besides that...Since I believe that Puljujarvi is a bust, if I'm right then even the small chance you hit on a any round pick is a better move than just wasting it on a player who won't amount to anything and cost you valuable cap space.

We can do better.

Sorry, I cant follow the logic that a 3rd rounder (drafted player) or very unlikelihood that it gets used in a trade (I can't even guess on what the odds of that is lol) is better than rolling the dice on the kid.

I am not even sure I can understand the definition of what is a bust in your eyes.

His per 82 the last two seasons is 20-22-42 for someone who didn't even get 16 minutes of ice time...

Here are some Islanders per 82 totals over the same 2 years:

Palmieri: 17-20-37 and over 16 minutes of ice time making 5 million per for 3 more years
Beau: 18-24-42 and over 16 minutes of ice time making 4.2 million per for 2 more years
Pageau: 20-22-42 and over 17:30 minutes of ice time making 5 million per for 4 more years

And you are sweating 1 year and 2.5-3 million????

But ya, let's not roll the dice on a 24-year old and give him half that pay for a single damn year, costing only a third round pick, even though his production has been basically the same or better than half the forwards on our roster...

Now I have already said that he is not my first target or anything remotely to that extent, but rather I said he would definitely be a target of mine (because of the age and perhaps change of scenery) should we not get a difference maker INSTEAD OF getting another overpaid veteran for 5+ million and multi-years.

You think he is a bust (which must mean you think AB is one too, so why wouldn't you trade him for the kid??) and I don't agree. I can't make that exclamation on Anthony or Jesse yet...

I do agree with your last sentence though, which I have already demonstrated...the rest (although I am sure you have to have last word) we should agree to disagree and move on....

 

[Tahoeblue]

I respectfully disagree.

The Isles have a top tier goalie, above average defensive corps and they’re forwards are below average as a group.

I favor solidifying our strength on the defense as a priority. Get a PMDman, preferably on the left side via trade or UFA. If the D moves the puck better the offense can’t help but improve.

Do we also need to make a move to help the offense? Sure but the priority is to shore up the D.

Couldn't agree more. If this team was able to boast 4 quality minute munching, defensively sound, a couple who can run a pp, and able to to swiftly and efficiently skate the puck out and distribute the puck to the forwards- that would be a huge boost to the team and scoring. I know they need scoring, but I would put a priority on finding a LHD. (Kylington, Hague- I even like Ty Smith who seemed to fall out of favor in Jersey and has some warts and potential)

 

[BelovedIsles]

This whole Sorokin situation is frustrating, as I read the unfolding saga. Yeah, he has free will, but to make a decision that jeopardizes his professional employment situation is not a good optic.

 

[Throttle]

Maybe Doug Weight hockey was ahead of it’s time…

 

[IslandersFan17]

This whole Sorokin situation is frustrating, as I read the unfolding saga. Yeah, he has free will, but to make a decision that jeopardizes his professional employment situation is not a good optic.

Huh? So he’s not supposed to go back to his home country he spent a majority of his life in, where he has friends and family, to appease your fanhood?

 

[IslesNorway]

Nothing wrong with taking a shot at Puljujarvi, even if it's kind of thing Garth Snow would be prone to doing. I'm not sure that giving up a pick is the only way to get him though. Isles might try to get rid of a contract or two and Edmonton need a goalie, so how about offering Varly and Martin for Edmontons 1st and Puljuarvi and a low 2024 pick or something??

 

[beach]

Do we surmise from her story that Varly stayed in U.S.?

Read something last week that he was gonna go back

Also read that Kaprisov was wanted for buying a fraudulent military card and might have to serve military duty.

Not sure where Varly is. I've read the Kaprisov story about the fraudulent military card. Guerin says he is still in Russia.

 

[beach]

This whole Sorokin situation is frustrating, as I read the unfolding saga. Yeah, he has free will, but to make a decision that jeopardizes his professional employment situation is not a good optic.

A pretty ominous article in the Athletic about the whole Russian player situation:

Wild's Kirill Kaprizov remains in Russia amid reports of fake military ID, flight to U.S.

Wild GM Bill Guerin told The Athletic that Kaprizov has not returned to the U.S., contrary to reports.

theathletic.com

"One Russian person who works closely with players throughout the NHL echoed that sentiment Wednesday to The Athletic. He said he warned everybody he has ties with not to return to Russia this offseason.

“I strongly recommended nobody go back, and just about nobody listened,” the source said. “They were all laughing because until something will happen, people take it lightly. Now, something has happened and people are no longer taking it lightly. I’m sure these guys are no longer laughing.”

As for Kaprizov, multiple sources said Wednesday that if he does return to the U.S., he should not go back until after his playing days. But that could put his parents and brother, who live in Russia, at risk, as well.

“It’s clear Russia is trying to pressure NHL players right now not to leave Russia,” a league source said. “This is not going to be exclusive to Kirill Kaprizov. I don’t know how any Russian players can feel confident returning to Russia every offseason now. Or, the NHL draft is coming (Thursday and Friday). How do you draft a Russian player now? I don’t know. It’s very complicated.”"

 

[seafoam]

Wouldn’t be surprised to see them bring in Brendan Dillon from WPG (2 years left at 3.9M per), he is a defensive defenseman who can play on the second pairing in a top four role but in a perfect world would be on NYI’s bottom pair. His contract would be a nice fail safe next season if NYI can’t retain Mayfield and they want a PKer on the bottom pair.

 

[crashthenet]

If Bailey were actually traded, what would that look like? A lot of conversation around Wheeler. Tough to move with that contract and at 35 could be a little Laddish. However, prototypical RW, 1.5 to 2 retained on a swap with Bailey (something like that) and more in line with Pavelski than Ladd as far as what he can do in my opinion. I wouldn't mind.

Flame away.

 

[Uncle Lou]

I have mentioned it before but I think if we see Lou move some salary out it will be very telling what he plans to do in UFA. Makes me think they’ll be very active or maybe they make a hockey trade today. Excited for tonight been a long off-season with isles missing playoffs.