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

[leeroggy]

This is from yesterday: Weaponizing Cap Space, Two Free Agent Options for Islanders

That's not what I consider Weaponizing.

Find a team desperate to drop $1.5-2 million (which we can bury half of) and get an asset for it.

From Las Vegas . . . Brett Howden and the 2024 2nd and the right to swap 1st round slots in 2023 for our 2024 6th, for example. Howden is a center, 24 years old, $1,500,000 for one year, had 9G/11A in 47 games. Great center depth and can be buried if needed.

 

[doublechili]

Let's be honest.... We have 14 forwards on NHL contracts (not including Panik). That's all you can have in the show at any one time.

So, unless someone is injured, who goes down?

Do they even make it down? All gotta go through waivers.

It's very much within reason to think that a guy like Milano COULD be brought in on a PTO and then the team will simply wait to see if someone gets injured during camp. Then the window would be open to sign that PTO player.

Otherwise, I just don't see an option.

And seriously.... Who the heck here thinks particularly Milano is a "Lou kind of player"?

I know we all make the LI connection and think about the few dazzling plays he's had over the past five years or so, but who sees him being a Lamoriello target?

SIDENOTE:
I did attend a U18 Worlds in Finland when the US won gold. The first line was Milano-Eichel-Tuch. They gave opponents fits. A little bit of everything. Brawn and jive. But Milano really looked like an extremely talented kid who just wasn't gonna make it as a scoring NHLer. Sometimes, you can just tell.

Interestingly, Dylan Larkin centered the second line on that team while the third line was run by two underagers, namely Auston Mathews and Kyle Connor.

I really got to see some "future" at that tourney.

PS) Yes, Barzal played for Canada at that tournament and Braydon Point was on the team, but wasn't in the line-up for the bronze medal game.

Yeah, maybe Milano will come in on a PTO, but with Bellows and Wahlstrom we already have two young forwards who are trying to work into the lineup. I'm not sure where the spot is for Milano, unless as you said it's just insurance in case of injury?

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

It’s good to improve the defense, but it’s going to be very difficult for Sorokin to put up a .925sv% again. Very few goalies are capable of doing that.

He might even best it.

 

[Drive 4 Five]

Lou should look at plucking Mike Hoffman from the Canadiens. Islanders can fit him if they dump a body or two in the minors with say $1m retained on the MTL side. I don't think he would cost a fortune.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Lou should look at plucking Mike Hoffman from the Canadiens. Islanders can fit him if they dump a body or two in the minors with say $1m retained on the MTL side. I don't think he would cost a fortune.

How have you not yet been hired as a capologist by an NHL franchise?

 

[beach]

This is from yesterday: Weaponizing Cap Space, Two Free Agent Options for Islanders

"After conversation with a league source"

Will he be arriving right after Kadri gets here?

Lou should look at plucking Mike Hoffman from the Canadiens. Islanders can fit him if they dump a body or two in the minors with say $1m retained on the MTL side. I don't think he would cost a fortune.

He's a shell of what he was. No thanks.

 

[LBloor]

Vegas is listed on capfriendly with zero goalies. Would love to pluck Marchessault for Varlamov, if Wahlstrom struggles on RW with Barzal. Probably would have to add a pick to make it work. But 30 goal scorers dont come cheap.

 

[periferal]

Vegas is listed on capfriendly with zero goalies. Would love to pluck Marchessault for Varlamov, if Wahlstrom struggles on RW with Barzal. Probably would have to add a pick to make it work. But 30 goal scorers dont come cheap.

This would be the smart thing to do (and Marchessault is one of my favorite players and would be ideal here), but Lou doesn't trade vets unless he's forced to so will never happen.

In fact, Lou never lets any vets walk in FA either, so count on Varly being resigned after this season as well.

 

[seafoam]

No interest in Hoffman or Kessel.

They are soft, 'filler' scorers for bad teams.

This would be the smart thing to do (and Marchessault is one of my favorite players and would be ideal here), but Lou doesn't trade vets unless he's forced to so will never happen.

In fact, Lou never lets any vets walk in FA either, so count on Early being resigned after this season as well.

The problem is I think it's VGK who wouldn't do that trade.

Logan Thompson is a nice young goaltender and Marchessault is a core piece of that team by all accounts.

 

[periferal]

No interest in Hoffman or Kessel.

They are soft, 'filler' scorers for bad teams.

We've reached that point of yet another "Lou offseason" where we're scraping the bottom of the barrel to solve problems that need better than "bottom of the barrel" players to solve.

 

[seafoam]

What are the odds that Wahlstrom gets sent down to the AHL if he has a bad camp?

Personally, I think Holmstrom and Raty could give him a run for his money.

 

[WangMustGo]

What are the odds that Wahlstrom gets sent down to the AHL if he has a bad camp?

Personally, I think Holmstrom and Raty could give him a run for his money.

I would think Wahlstrom is given a spot, if hw struggles the first 15-20 games i could see Holmstrom taking his spot.

At some point i do expect Holmstrom to get some games. Injuries will happen at some point.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Before Holmstrom or anyone else gets a look here, BOTH Wahlstrom and Bellows would have to fail.

 

[SI]

IMO, I am not against adding Milano - it will not be expensive - at this point it looks like a league minimum deal.

I think Milano is a better player than Bellows - faster, more skilled, and a better skater. And it’s not like Bellows’ IQ and play away from the puck is lights out.

It would mean Bellows is the odd man out and most likely the first call up in case of injury. He would have to be waived, but Bellows’ contract might make him a hindrance to some other team to pick up on waivers. We also may see more attractive players hit waivers like JAD of the kings.

 

[The Real JT]

Ahh with Labor Day approaching, Islander fans turn to their usual discussions of potential unsigned fringe UFAs, PTOs and borderline current roster players. Meanwhile NY Jets’ fans have hope in their hearts waiting to get extinguished before the leaves fall.

Good times. It brings a tear to my eye.

 

[seabass45]

Rosner is in the same boat as Nichols. Two guys who claim to have way more insider knowledge than they really have.

 

[xIsle]

Let's be honest.... We have 14 forwards on NHL contracts (not including Panik). That's all you can have in the show at any one time.

So, unless someone is injured, who goes down?

Do they even make it down? All gotta go through waivers.

It's very much within reason to think that a guy like Milano COULD be brought in on a PTO and then the team will simply wait to see if someone gets injured during camp. Then the window would be open to sign that PTO player.

Otherwise, I just don't see an option.

And seriously.... Who the heck here thinks particularly Milano is a "Lou kind of player"?

I know we all make the LI connection and think about the few dazzling plays he's had over the past five years or so, but who sees him being a Lamoriello target?

SIDENOTE:
I did attend a U18 Worlds in Finland when the US won gold. The first line was Milano-Eichel-Tuch. They gave opponents fits. A little bit of everything. Brawn and jive. But Milano really looked like an extremely talented kid who just wasn't gonna make it as a scoring NHLer. Sometimes, you can just tell.

Interestingly, Dylan Larkin centered the second line on that team while the third line was run by two underagers, namely Auston Mathews and Kyle Connor.

I really got to see some "future" at that tourney.

PS) Yes, Barzal played for Canada at that tournament and Braydon Point was on the team, but wasn't in the line-up for the bronze medal game.

2014 or 2015? I think Beauvillier was there too (U18 in 2015) playing on a line with Barzal and Mitchell Stephens. Do you remember him?

 

[Mike C]

Ahh with Labor Day approaching, Islander fans turn to their usual discussions of potential unsigned fringe UFAs, PTOs and borderline current roster players. Meanwhile NY Jets’ fans have hope in their hearts waiting to get extinguished before the leaves fall.

Good times. It brings a tear to my eye.

Same holds true down here for the Baker Mayfield led Carolina Panthes

 

[sabremike]

No interest in Hoffman or Kessel.

They are soft, 'filler' scorers for bad teams.


The problem is I think it's VGK who wouldn't do that trade.

Logan Thompson is a nice young goaltender and Marchessault is a core piece of that team by all accounts.

Sir Phil Kessel is a goddamned American hero whose likeness should be carved onto Mount Rushmore and replace Andrew Jackson's on the $20 bill.

 

[The Real JT]

This just in.

 

[Mike C]

This just in.

Ah to be young again.

I was legally drunk the next day many a time. Swedes must serve some potent punch at those house parties.

 

[islesfan186]

This just in.

.03? Damn that’s like, what, 1 or 2 beers?

 

[The Real JT]

.03? Damn that’s like, what, 1 or 2 beers?

For a guy his size that’s about 2 beers over one hour. You metabolize about one drink an hour. If that’s his BAC the next day then he must’ve been really drunk the night before.

 

[Mike C]

For a guy his size that’s about 2 beers over one hour. You metabolize about one drink an hour. If that’s his BAC the next day then he must’ve been really drunk the night before.

Might explain his play last season. Maybe Barry should have had a breathalyzer at the ready on game day skates.

 

[periferal]

This just in.

Not only is no news released unless Lou approves it, but it almost feels like Lou is now the one tweeting things out.