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

[4Cups Want More]

That post makes me sad.

How many years can we go without a first round pick? Apparently more than we all thought.

Pretty risky for the franchise near term though not nearly as bad as the Brooklyn Nets mortgaging the future for James Harden.

The last first round pick that he gave up was for a 22yr old number 4 defenseman. I can deal with that as Romanov is what you would hope a #10-15 draft pick would turn into. We got him without having to wait for him to develop. With more experience he will only get better.

It is the 1st rounders that are traded for ageing veterans that hurts.

I think the only reason Lou gave up the firsts for Pageau and then Palmieri/Zajac was because he thought they could put us over the top for a cup.

Hopefully, if we trade another first rounder it is for another young stud player with some term or becoming an RFA that we have some control over.

 

[CupHolders]

I would argue that Beau is the one who drives that line. He carries the puck into the zone more than Nelson and he is the "dump & chase" guy. Nelson & Lee are the scorers on the line.

I don't know how Beau became the scapegoat du jour this year but so far, he has been producing points on a fairly consistent basis. Sure, he has had a few turnovers but so has everyone else on the ice in this somewhat looser system that Lambert is running.

Similar to how Barzal is perceived by some I suppose. I think the zone exit, carry and entry contributions get somewhat overlooked in place of end results... points and goals. Isles actually have very few players who can do this with great regularity.

And before anyone suggests... I am not diminishing the importance of scoring. I'm recognizing the different processes that lead to scoring.

 

[Islanders4Cups]

He's moving it.

Anything short of a total collapse along the way has him going all in and at the moment, we don't have a legitimate #6 NHL defender or a regular winger for Barzal.

There are holes to fill and that's how he acquires players.

I am starting to wonder about “regular winger for Barzal“ posts over and over again. When is Barzal going to make players around him better at $7M$ per year like JT does? It is time for Barzal to prove he is elite and start living up to his supposed talent level. Barzal needs to step up

 

[Mike C]

I am starting to wonder about “regular winger for Barzal“ posts over and over again. When is Barzal going to make players around him better at $7M$ per year like JT does? It is time for Barzal to prove he is elite and start living up to his supposed talent level. Barzal needs to step up

Never

 

[CupHolders]

I am starting to wonder about “regular winger for Barzal“ posts over and over again. When is Barzal going to make players around him better at $7M$ per year like JT does? It is time for Barzal to prove he is elite and start living up to his supposed talent level. Barzal needs to step up

JT…? JT Miller? John Tavares? The Real JT?

 

[leeroggy]

I am starting to wonder about “regular winger for Barzal“ posts over and over again. When is Barzal going to make players around him better at $7M$ per year like JT does? It is time for Barzal to prove he is elite and start living up to his supposed talent level. Barzal needs to step up

Who has JT really made better in Toronto since he hasn’t won a playoff series there AS CAPTAIN?

Regular season points mean nothing if there’s no playoff success. Barzal has already played in 2 conference finals and JT has never gotten there.

 

[Foppberg]

JT…? JT Miller? John Tavares? The Real JT?

Or JT Compher???

 

[CupHolders]

Who has JT really made better in Toronto since he hasn’t won a playoff series there AS CAPTAIN?

Regular season points mean nothing if there’s no playoff success. Barzal has already played in 2 conference finals and JT has never gotten there.

That team would score about the same without him. Not only does he not make anyone one better, he costs them 11m to be a redundancy.

That team would’ve been better served with keeping Kadri and investing in a real goalie or Dman with the savings.

 

[Mike C]

JT…? JT Miller? John Tavares? The Real JT?

JT Realmuto right?

 

[Throttle]

I am starting to wonder about “regular winger for Barzal“ posts over and over again. When is Barzal going to make players around him better at $7M$ per year like JT does? It is time for Barzal to prove he is elite and start living up to his supposed talent level. Barzal needs to step up

No amount of elite winger is going to make a difference if he wants to force unnecessary passes or hold onto the puck forever or ice capades around the ice.

For all those getting all worked up over that COL PP, they are certainly mum on his crap play last game and his work on the PP that Dobson saved his arse.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Great movie!

 

[LeapOnOver]

I would argue that Beau is the one who drives that line. He carries the puck into the zone more than Nelson and he is the "dump & chase" guy. Nelson & Lee are the scorers on the line.

I don't know how Beau became the scapegoat du jour this year but so far, he has been producing points on a fairly consistent basis. Sure, he has had a few turnovers but so has everyone else on the ice in this somewhat looser system that Lambert is running.

He's always going to be polarizing for the sheer fact that he has all the skills, but not the IQ to be more than he is. @PWJunior mentioned his IQ in our meetup...and he hit the nail on the head. Kids just lacking in general hockey sense. He needs more Bailey in him...

 

[boredmale]

That team would score about the same without him. Not only does he not make anyone one better, he costs them 11m to be a redundancy.

That team would’ve been better served with keeping Kadri and investing in a real goalie or Dman with the savings.

I said this when they signed Tavares but they should have traded either Marner or Nylander for defensive help. If they did a 1-2-3 of Matthews-Tavares-Kadri with a stronger defense and a bunch of 3-5M wingers, it would have been a more balanced team

 

[IslesNorway]

The last first round pick that he gave up was for a 22yr old number 4 defenseman. I can deal with that as Romanov is what you would hope a #10-15 draft pick would turn into. We got him without having to wait for him to develop. With more experience he will only get better.

It is the 1st rounders that are traded for ageing veterans that hurts.

I think the only reason Lou gave up the firsts for Pageau and then Palmieri/Zajac was because he thought they could put us over the top for a cup.

Hopefully, if we trade another first rounder it is for another young stud player with some term or becoming an RFA that we have some control over.

I think we all kinda agree on that. No problem with the Romanov trade and not really the Pageau one either. They filled a need and contribute all the time. The Palmieri trade was pretty awful, and everyone could see it. He was regressing before the trade and has continued steadily since.

If the 2023 draft is as stellar as reports make it out to be, then there is no way the 1st should be traded unless it's for a signed bona fide top line player. No trusting Lou on that, but this team could need a real injection into its prospect pool.

 

[MJF]

I am starting to wonder about “regular winger for Barzal“ posts over and over again. When is Barzal going to make players around him better at $7M$ per year like JT does? It is time for Barzal to prove he is elite and start living up to his supposed talent level. Barzal needs to step up

That would require him to simplify his game a bit. Something Barzy still hasn't figured out.

Who has JT really made better in Toronto since he hasn’t won a playoff series there AS CAPTAIN?

Regular season points mean nothing if there’s no playoff success. Barzal has already played in 2 conference finals and JT has never gotten there.

Playoff success means nothing if you can't make the playoffs.

Ideally your team's "best player" doesn't routinely go 11 games without a goal.

 

[Mike C]

I think we all kinda agree on that. No problem with the Romanov trade and not really the Pageau one either. They filled a need and contribute all the time. The Palmieri trade was pretty awful, and everyone could see it. He was regressing before the trade and has continued steadily since.

If the 2023 draft is as stellar as reports make it out to be, then there is no way the 1st should be traded unless it's for a signed bona fide top line player. No trusting Lou on that, but this team could need a real injection into its prospect pool.

I wasn't upset at the Palmieri trade per se since he did have an excellent playoffs. It was the 4 year signing that got me. In baseball terms, 2 years with a club option would have sufficed

 

[Throttle]

I wasn't upset at the Palmieri trade per se since he did have an excellent playoffs. It was the 4 year signing that got me. In baseball terms, 2 years with a club option would have sufficed

Then he doesn’t resign, Isles lose his goals and Eberle’s, not making that up for under $4M on a 2yr deal. Add in fans lose their stuff that Lou traded a first and Isles didn’t win the Cup, like it’s some predicted outcome trading a first rounder gets guarantees a Cup, if not don’t do it.

 

[SI]

Lou's not gonna move a roster player like Beau for a rental. If any move is made it's for an upgrade on the 3rd pairing, and they have to think about the future cap. There simply isn't that much room so acquiring someone like Miller is probably out of the question.

Unless the swap for Miller is a player with term and $ - say Bailey. And remember Miller has a cap hit of 5.25.

If you are concerned about next season cap will go up considerably.

 

[Throttle]

Ideally your team's "best player" doesn't routinely go 11 games without a goal.

What’s the over/under on him scoring before the Isles wear the fisherman jersey? He thinks it’s cool, so maybe he’ll want a highlight goal in his cool uni.

 

[SI]

I’m ok with that. Would take Isles in a nice spot and STL way out of it.

Are other isles fans ok with making a trade for Tank? Lou has been 100% resign on his trades for UFAs, Tank will be 31 next summer. (Zajac retired as the only unsigned traded for player).

Give them Beau and a 2023 2nd? (STL doesn’t have a second in 2023). Just looking at it, if they go south, they have 4 valuable UFAs to move on.

Blues don’t accept that deal. The team will keep fighting to make the playoffs and Tank helps them do that.

Come the deadline if they are out - they will get a similar package Philly got for Giroux. A ‘23 1st will have to be part of anything and maybe Raty.

 

[Mike C]

Then he doesn’t resign, Isles lose his goals and Eberle’s, not making that up for under $4M on a 2yr deal. Add in fans lose their stuff that Lou traded a first and Isles didn’t win the Cup, like it’s some predicted outcome trading a first rounder gets guarantees a Cup, if not don’t do it.

Calculated gamble. I wouldn't trade that cup run. Lou swung for the fence. I applaud that strategy. If you're close, I say go for it. You never know when you'll have another chance

 

[SI]

Just a reminder, Barzal seemingly had a goal which was bizarrely credited to Lee which he nipped the puck as it was crossing the goal line.

10 games in - he is driving play and playing well - shut your traps!

 

[Mike C]

Just a reminder, Barzal seemingly had a goal which was bizarrely credited to Lee which he nipped the puck as it was crossing the goal line.

10 games in - he is driving play and playing well - shut your traps!

Hope he scores today. I have him in the contest!

Goals notwithstanding, I think he's playing well overall

 

[Throttle]

Blues don’t accept that deal. The team will keep fighting to make the playoffs and Tank helps them do that.

Come the deadline if they are out - they will get a similar package Philly got for Giroux. A ‘23 1st will have to be part of anything and maybe Raty.

That’s fine, however, as the deadline gets closer, STL has 4/5 UFAs. ROR and Tank. You also have Toews and Kane. Add in Klingberg, Shattenkirk, Horvat, Larkin, Pasta etc. It’s looking like a lot of these will NOT resign. For a draft that allegedly is a top draft, how many teams are flipping firsts in this draft?

 

[MJF]

What’s the over/under on him scoring before the Isles wear the fisherman jersey? He thinks it’s cool, so maybe he’ll want a highlight goal in his cool uni.

That would be goalless in 29 games.

But hey as long as Barzal is 0-30-30 at that point most people here will cut him some slack and say "yeah but Josh Bailey is his winger."