Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California
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Mike C
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SI
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- Feb 16, 2013
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Would love to pick up Valimaki - always liked him in his draft year. He has a high cap hit, so it’s possible he falls or even clears.
I also like Haydn Fleury, former top 10 pick, he can be a solid partner for Mayfield on the bottom pair.
If Isles picked up Fleury and signed Milano - that could be the 2014 redraft - Milano and Fleury instead of Dal Colle and Ho Sang.
I also like Haydn Fleury, former top 10 pick, he can be a solid partner for Mayfield on the bottom pair.
If Isles picked up Fleury and signed Milano - that could be the 2014 redraft - Milano and Fleury instead of Dal Colle and Ho Sang.
doublechili
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SI
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How about a Bellows for Valimaki trade.
isles sign Milano to fill out the F roster.
SI
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I like Reilly too. I don’t see him being waived. I think it is more likely Zboril gets waived or they go with 8 D.
Mike C
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SI
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SI
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I think I read that Subban is only looking to sign a regular contract and will wait.
He has a future in the NHL media.
I feel like Stralman is also looking for only a NHL contract. I cannot believe he is still unsigned.
Canucks need a quality RHD and really blew it here... Isles too could use him as the 6th D man. He can move the puck and play his off hand with Mayfield. He also protects from any injuries on RH side.
Not a believer of Grant Hutton - good story, but not a NHL d man.
Milano is confusing to me. Blackhawks, Jets, and Coyotes all need F's.
Milano> Bellows and that this point they could sign him for less and I believe Milano would be an RFA next season too. Move Bellows for a similar D man or waive him - he will pass thru with the $ he is making.
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doublechili
For all intensive purposes, your nuts
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BelovedIsles
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LeapOnOver
Mackenzie is a hack!
Not that I've seen. Seems like wishful thinking. Kurtz' at the Athletics latest article makes it seem like camp is set and there's just a few players battling for spots (Bellows, Parise, Aho, Martin, Johnston, Salo and that former high round pick...'the kid who didn't win the Norris' forget his name).
Also mentioned Bailey might be fighting for a spot in the top 6 depending whether a rookie like Aaty or Holmstrom blow management's socks off.
LeapOnOver
Mackenzie is a hack!
I don't think so. He said it was unlikely, but he alluded to it in other articles where there's concern on whether Bailey can continue to produce in a top 6 role. I mean, why would it be tongue in cheek when Bailey is just the kind of guy you hope the youngsters can push out of a top 6 role? Honestly, we've got Barzal, Nelson and Lee as our top 3 talent and then a pretty decent drop off to the rest.
It should have been toungue 'n cheek.
I mean, let's be honest, the team already has the 14 forwards it's allowed to have on the Island at any one time. The roster is set. There's no more space. The contracts have stipulated that.
The guys really battling for their spot in the line-up are Wahlstrom and Bellows, not other prospects. None of Holmstrom or Raty, and especially not a new pro like Dufour are anywhere close to being on this team out of camp.
And if they get called up in the course of the season is a matter that all depends on who'd be hurt. If it's lower line guys, then the team will be calling up guys like Koivula and Andreoff, not our prospects who need the precious ice time in all situations. Heck, even Fasching may get a look on the wing here before a Raty or Holmstrom are on the Island.
That's just the way we're built.
What we can expect is that when Parise's contract runs out and then Bailey's a year after that, that these guys will be replaced internally.
There's no good reason that there shouldn't be competition for Zach Parise's spot in the lineup. If Raty or Holmstrom have an outstanding camp, why shouldn't they push a veteran for the last spot?
That's probably a general question you're asking, but I think you know it would be no less than naive for anyone to think that there's any true "competition" for a forward spot in this camp.
The 14 forwards - save for injuries - are set. They're who the team will be going with to kick things off.
Lambert's got more than enough on his hands figuring out where and how Wahlstrom and Bellows are going to fit in.
Put another way, if any decision was made to go with Holmstrom or Raty right out of camp, who is the guy on a one-way contract who is being put on waivers to go down to BPort?
You can only have 14 forwards up in the show at any one time. I don't think any youngster's progress or enthusiasm is going to override the contractual concerns when the decisions land on Lou's desk.
Aside from that, the WJC showed that Raty ain't near ready and Holmstrom hasn't been called up once in three seasons, having yet to break the 50-point mark. I can't imagine what he'd have to do in a two-week period to wiggle into this line-up.
PARISE:
He was not only about the hardest worker on the whole team from start to finish last season, he was then one of the best producers over the 2nd half of the season. And managed to play pretty doggone well with Barzal, which really can't be taken for granted judging by how demanding it is to play with our dipsy-doodler.
Why would anyone think he's one of the guys whose job would be in jeopardy?
CAMP JOBS:
As far as I'm concerned, the only question unanswered as far as a job is considered is who of Aho, Cholowski, Hutton or Salo will be starting off the season as the #3 LD.
Hard worker is admirable. Results are better. If the Islanders are getting anywhere this year someone is going to have to score points.
I’m not saying that Zach Parise wasn’t a nice story last year, and a bit snakebit early on, but he is 37 years old and on a 1 year minimal pay contract. I’m well aware of Lou and his penchant for vets, but on a team that missed the playoffs last year, why should anyone be secure in thinking they won’t be in the press box on opening night?
As for Raty, he is a little more along on the learning curve than others in camp. He’s already been through Isles camp last September, had AHL playoff experience. And frankly, I don’t see how you can be so dismissive about a kid woth some size, who doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, and has a quality shot.
What would Raty have to do in 2 weeks to wiggle his way into a lineup? Dominate his time on the ice while he’s out there.
And looking at it from the other side of the fence, why should Zach Parise have a guaranteed spot in the opening night lineup? He didn’t score for the first 40-ofd games last season and there’s no long term plan for him. And if Matt Martin is again noticeably lugging in games, it might be time to make a tough decision on his career. There is your roster spot.
If Lou is committed to the exact same 14 forwards and we get off to another slow start in the first 5-6 games, woe is Lou.
Again, camp competition is good. If Lou favors a 37 year old over young talent, then he’s really no different than the coach he just fired, and we’re gonna be in deep doo-doo this year.
Edit: the same should go also for Holmstrom, Dufour, Hutton, Koivula. Anyone who has an eye-opening camp should have a chance to compete for a spot.
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Mike C
Registered User
not only woe is Lou if that scenario plays out, woe is freaking all of us too!
dipsy-doodler, sounds way more poetic than ice capades!
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