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

[Mike C]

Hopefully he doesn’t serve his purpose for us again this year.

Big Z still lurking out there too!

 

[Top Corner]

It’s hard as a fan to be overly optimistic about an underperforming offense that’s done nothing to upgrade its talent pool in the offseason.

If the game plan is to expect multiplayer bounce back performances and no major injuries while a number of players are at an age where performance regression is a distinct possibility, well then I’m not holding my breath. Did I also mention that our lack of team speed on offense wasn’t addressed?

On a more positive note, the D and goaltending have elite potential so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

I think the lack of offense is tied directly to the system they play, 2017-18 team roster with only
Tavares as a big contributor finished 8th in league scoring. So Tavares's minutes given to others
may leave us 10 to 15 goals short. The 2017-18 team finished a minus 36 in goal differential so it outlines that we can score if we don't play defense or we struggle to score if defense is all we play. Need to find a good median

 

[Mike C]

I think the lack of offense is tied directly to the system they play, 2017-18 team roster with only
Tavares as a big contributor finished 8th in league scoring. So Tavares's minutes given to others
may leave us 10 to 15 goals short. The team finished a minus 36 in goal differential so it outlines
that we can score if we don't play defense or we struggle to score if defense is all we play. Need to find a good median

in fairness, barry pulled the goalie early a reasonable amount of times last season and some of the goal differential may be misleading. also, with chara not taking bad penalties left and right to put us behind the 8 ball, that in and of itself will help

 

[Glory Days]

If that includes our inability to move the puck quickly and shoot without hesitating (and accurately), yes you did. It seems to get disregarded around here though.

Also did you know that a lack of team speed on offense quite often will translate into getting burned going through the neutral zone when the play goes back the other way?

I know you knew that.

I think it is on defense where the lack of team speed is most glaring. Too often a neutral zone turnover is turned into an odd man rush cause the forwards just couldn’t get back into the defensive zone fast enough. Obviously less turnovers will help but this is still an issue.

 

[TeamKidd]

I mean I actually think the team will be pretty good next year, I expect they'll contend for either the last Division spot or the WC - they should be in the hunt and if Lou can pull off a "hockey trade" at the deadline we could make some noise - experience means a lot in the playoffs. I expect our D and Goaltending to be very good and that should keep us in most games.

 

[Mike C]

I think it is on defense where the lack of team speed is most glaring. Too often a neutral zone turnover is turned into an odd man rush cause the forwards just couldn’t get back into the defensive zone fast enough. Obviously less turnovers will help but this is still an issue.

certainly true but i feel too many ill advised/lazy passes from forwards also was a glaring issue that led to the turnovers and odd man rushes to so aptly noted!

 

[The Real JT]

I mean I actually think the team will be pretty good next year, I expect they'll contend for either the last Division spot or the WC - they should be in the hunt and if Lou can pull off a "hockey trade" at the deadline we could make some noise - experience means a lot in the playoffs. I expect our D and Goaltending to be very good and that should keep us in most games.

The only “hockey trade” Lou will make is to give up one of our few valued prospects and/or draft picks at the TDL.

We’ve seen enough of Lou to know that he doesn’t trade NHL regulars unless it’s part of a cap dump and it’s pretty clear that no one wants or has the cap room for our less desirable contracts.

 

[duster19]

Big Z still lurking out there too!

Lambert said today that he doesn’t expect any PTOs. I’m surprised by that. Pretty uncompetitive camp coming up.

 

[Top Corner]

in fairness, barry pulled the goalie early a reasonable amount of times last season and some of the goal differential may be misleading. also, with chara not taking bad penalties left and right to put us behind the 8 ball, that in and of itself will help

Sorry didn't clarify the 2017-18 team had the minus 36 goal differential pointing out that defense was not high on the agenda and with Trotz, offense was taking a back seat in favor of Defense.
Hopefully we can find a middle road that translates to wins

 

[Mike C]

Sorry didn't clarify the 2017-18 team had the minus 36 goal differential pointing out that defense was not high on the agenda and with Trotz, offense was taking a back seat in favor of Defense.
Hopefully we can find a middle road that translates to wins

I'm on board with the thought of building from the Goalie out

I think it's not a stretch to expect Palms, Wally, Pageau, maybe Beau (my jury still out on him) to have decent seasons. I am curious to see what Matty B brings to the salary drive.

My biggest concern is depth in case of the inevitable injury bug. Love the top 5 on D. Not sold on any of our #6 candidates

 

[mm11]

I'm on board with the thought of building from the Goalie out

I think it's not a stretch to expect Palms, Wally, Pageau, maybe Beau (my jury still out on him) to have decent seasons. I am curious to see what Matty B brings to the salary drive.

My biggest concern is depth in case of the inevitable injury bug. Love the top 5 on D. Not sold on any of our #6 candidates

Wait until ice capades is unshackled Mike

 

[Top Corner]

I'm on board with the thought of building from the Goalie out

I think it's not a stretch to expect Palms, Wally, Pageau, maybe Beau (my jury still out on him) to have decent seasons. I am curious to see what Matty B brings to the salary drive.

My biggest concern is depth in case of the inevitable injury bug. Love the top 5 on D. Not sold on any of our #6 candidates

I’m certainly with you on the lack of depth which is why I hate moving firsts for players that are 29 and over . I’m more of a fan of a Romanov type trade if a first is being moved in an average draft

 

[SI]

Lambert said today that he doesn’t expect any PTOs. I’m surprised by that. Pretty uncompetitive camp coming up.

Spot on.

There are many players still out there unsigned, especially on D who can help push for that final spot.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Most coaches still believe offense comes from solid defense. So whilst there has has been no upgrade to the forward personnel, the defense upgrade could potentially result in an uptick in offense. I know Romanov doesn't chip in much offensively, but I've seen the videos and the kid can skate the puck out and dish. That's all we really need on the back end, especially paired with Dobson. What concerns me is low scoring games that go to shootouts where it feels like autolose.

 

[IslesNorway]

Lambert said today that he doesn’t expect any PTOs. I’m surprised by that. Pretty uncompetitive camp coming up.

Might as well skip the whole thing. The roster is already set except for one spot on D.

 

[David71]

isles need another scorer to play alongside barzal. would brock boeser be of interest? should fit alongside the top 6 of the isles.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Spot on.

There are many players still out there unsigned, especially on D who can help push for that final spot.

I'd be surprised if they retained Aho and added Cholowski with Salo so close anyways just to bring in another player for that spot.

Although part of me is thinking they're just waiting to see what the waiver wire will look like when the camps close.

Could very well have their eyes on someone specific.

 

[NC 1972]

I'd be surprised if they retained Aho and added Cholowski with Salo so close anyways just to bring in another player for that spot.

Although part of me is thinking they're just waiting to see what the waiver wire will look like when the camps close.

Could very well have their eyes on someone specific.

Not sure how specific you can get when you have to wait for a player to pass through 12 teams before making a selection, pretty sure it follows the draft order . And then you must expose a player after selecting one I believe.
That being said if a gift falls in your lap yes you take it, as mentioned earlier at least PTO's would generate competition. It's imperative that this camp stress effort they don't have the luxury of winning on skill alone.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Not sure how specific you can get when you have to wait for a player to pass through 12 teams before making a selection, pretty sure it follows the draft order . And then you must expose a player after selecting one I believe.
That being said if a gift falls in your lap yes you take it, as mentioned earlier at least PTO's would generate competition. It's imperative that this camp stress effort they don't have the luxury of winning on skill alone.

I mentioned recently that I'm pretty certain that if there is someone they wish to add, then Aho goes on waivers. That would seem to be a logical plan and if they happen to pick up another LHD, then obviously Aho would be all that much more expendable.

Also, one can get more specific than you think because most teams are filled to the brim with the guys they're already planning with while plenty of teams have players on the bubble who will have to be exposed on waivers in order to send them down.

We are fairly free of that worry when taking into account that our 14 forwards and 2 goalies are fixed while Salo could be sent down without going through waivers.

And there are teams out there who have done a ton of drafting and signing in recent years and don't really know what to do with everybody. So, there should be some solid, solid options on waivers if Lou is looking to go that path, some even being fairly recent 1st round picks.

 

[beach]

My 2nd and 3rd round draft picks on my Fantasy Football team were injured in the first halves today . . . I can only hope.

You have Higgins too huh?

 

[NC 1972]

I mentioned recently that I'm pretty certain that if there is someone they wish to add, then Aho goes on waivers. That would seem to be a logical plan and if they happen to pick up another LHD, then obviously Aho would be all that much more expendable.

Also, one can get more specific than you think because most teams are filled to the brim with the guys they're already planning with while plenty of teams have players on the bubble who will have to be exposed on waivers in order to send them down.

We are fairly free of that worry when taking into account that our 14 forwards and 2 goalies are fixed while Salo could be sent down without going through waivers.

And there are teams out there who have done a ton of drafting and signing in recent years and don't really know what to do with everybody. So, there should be some solid, solid options on waivers if Lou is looking to go that path, some even being fairly recent 1st round picks.

Thank you for providing some clarity.

 

[Glory Days]

certainly true but i feel too many ill advised/lazy passes from forwards also was a glaring issue that led to the turnovers and odd man rushes to so aptly noted!

Very true, the Isles have been a bad passing team for a few years. That leads to turnovers as you stated.

Because of the bad passing the Isles don’t seem to get as many easy goals as the better scoring teams. The kind of goal where the player basically has to tap the puck into an empty net. Isles have to work too hard to score their goals.

 

[periferal]

Bless your heart.

 

[MJF]

And yes, Mitch Korn is still with the Isles

 

[eoin92]

Bless your heart.

MDC 40 goal season incoming. He’s going to be unleashed in Ottawa and it will be quiet something.