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

[DerekKingSnipes]

No shit. Thanks for the update.

How are we doing it without shedding salary? How were we clearing $56M for Fiala.

Don’t get your hopes up for Gaudreau or Forsberg.

Lou’s hockey trade will leave you guys underwhelmed while it clears off cap space.

I really believe spending cap on defense is way to go, maybe trade for a guy like Girard and bring back Leddy. Move Bailey in a cap dump and sign a middle six UFA to replace him. I believe in this situation with our goaltending at very least this is playoff team and you address roster weakness at trade deadline to see if you can push this group into real contention.

 

[MarsTBOW]

I’m not sure what we will do or whatever but Fiala to me wasn’t a guy I was overly excited about it. He seems like a guy that isn’t going to deliver on that contract he received.

You could be right. I liked his age and think he could have meshed with our squad nicely.

 

[LeapOnOver]

NYI probably didn’t make an offer because once they learned what it would take to extend Fiala they folded their hand.

Why would they make an offer on someone they had no interest in extending?

So the bigger concern is why they don't think Fiala at that money would be good for the team, lol. That's a great contract on a young stud. Guess we need the money for more blue collar grinders.

 

[seafoam]

So the bigger concern is why they don't think Fiala at that money would be good for the team, lol. That's a great contract on a young stud. Guess we need the money for more blue collar grinders.

My guess is they weren't willing to commit 8M this early in the offseason with one of the best UFA classes in years just a week away.

 

[LeapOnOver]

The Islanders couldn't have made that trade now. It would force their hand for the rest of the offseason and having to deal from a position of weakness all along.

As opposed to waiting until everyone is gone, and then making moves from a position of desperation, and not announcing them all until September

My guess is they weren't willing to commit 8M this early in the offseason with one of the best UFA classes in years just a week away.

Well, guess I'll go back to crossing my fingers that UFAs actually want to play here.

 

[Mike C]

First trade of the off season and we already have guys complaining lol I love it here.

good one!

it's like non stop talk radio!

 

[LeapOnOver]

It's June 29th, stop the drama

It's exactly the right time for the drama to start. I know you aren't new here....

 

[Top Corner]

Agree, but I think he will be very active at the draft. He needs to be active before free agency starts. By then he needs the cap space to go out and sign a few players without having to trade away assets later to get cap compliant.

He needs to try and lighten his cap before the draft leaving him options at the draft and then set himself up into free agency if he needs to add

 

[periferal]

If true, I'd be happy. Fiala runs hot and cold and that's a massive gamble by LA that he gets it right on a consistent basis. If he doesn't then they've set their build back and waster 8M in cap space doing so.

Fiala wasn't a good fit nor worth it for us...Especially given what we would've had to give up and that he would've been an 8M cap hit. This I am confident of.

 

[YearlyLottery]

If true, I'd be happy. Fiala runs hot and cold and that's a massive gamble by LA that he gets it right on a consistent basis. If he doesn't then they've set their build back and waster 8M in cap space doing so.

Fiala wasn't a good fit nor worth it for us...Especially given what we would've had to give up and that he would've been an 8M cap hit. This I am confident of.

Mods-

Would really appreciate you handing infractions to anyone who complains about the Isles not doing anything before July 14th.* On that date the whiny flood gates can open.




*Of course if Lou makes a trade before then and it sucks you can complain all you want.

Usually I just give out infractions to anyone who disagrees with me.

 

[periferal]

I posted something previously about salary structure implications of signing or trading for players. The example was Patrick Kane vs. Fiala. Either one would become the highest paid player on the team. If Lou traded for Fiala and made him the highest paid player, how would that sit with a guy like Pelech (for example) who signed a very reasonable deal and has been a playoff stalwart for us (whereas Fiala hasn't exactly lit the playoff world on fire). Ditto negotiating with Mayfield, Dobson, etc. on new deals.

Kane on the other hand is a veteran superstar and Cup winner. No one could complain about his salary.

Or, if we traded for Chychrun we'd have a legit top 4 LHD who makes less than Pelech and Pulock.

Yes, yes, and yes again. Love this post. Thinking way beyond just "aDdinG a pLayEr," and more about team building.

If you trade for a player who would be the highest paid player on your team he better either lead in terms of being the highest scorer or lead in terms of being actual captain material.

Fiala is too inconsistent to be either and our assets and cap space should be saved for true difference-makers.

 

[Glory Days]

So the bigger concern is why they don't think Fiala at that money would be good for the team, lol. That's a great contract on a young stud. Guess we need the money for more blue collar grinders.

I’m hoping Lou wants to spend on defense. We need 2 left D and Dobson is due for a raise. Might not be enough money left over for a forward.

 

[lafellaesobar]

I’m hoping Lou wants to spend on defense. We need 2 left D and Dobson is due for a raise. Might not be enough money left over for a forward.

1 really if we're confident in Salo. I really wanna see more of Salo because he didnt look too shabby last year.


give me more of Salo: he clearly can skate at least and could rip it compared to Greene and Chara

 

[WangMustGo]

1 really if we're confident in Salo. I really wanna see more of Salo because he didnt look too shabby last year.


give me more of Salo: he clearly can skate at least and could rip it compared to Greene and Chara

I wouls be very happy if Lou could land a very solid 2nd pairing LD and than sign a 6/7 to compete with Salo for a starting spot.

Salo and Mayfield would be a very good 3rd pairing

 

[doublechili]

I doubt they're looking to move him and it will probably seem like "more of the same" to many here, but I'd be interested in Mathieu Joseph of OTT. He was buried on TBL for years but then scored at a PPG clip for OTT after the TDL last year. He's a fast skater and PKs and probably has offensive upside. But again, I'm sure they'll keep him.

However, another RW, Connor Brown of OTT may be available. His cap hit is $3.5M but he's owed $4M on the last year of his contract. Bailey's cap hit is $5M but he's owed less than Brown - $3.5M. I'd make that swap in a vacuum, although we'd probably want to make bigger use of Bailey's cap space. However, Brown might actually work on RW with Barzal.

 

[Mike C]

Yes, yes, and yes again. Love this post. Thinking way beyond just "aDdinG a pLayEr," and more about team building.

If you trade for a player who would be the highest paid player on your team he better either lead in terms of being the highest scorer or lead in terms of being actual captain material.

Fiala is too inconsistent to be either and our assets and cap space should be saved for true difference-makers.

I know you like guys who can bring the playoff flair. Fiala hasn't lit the post season on fire in his career and I felt he played very soft in the series vs Blues this year from the games I saw

 

[periferal]

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Fiala to get 7.875 MM per with LAK?!?

 

[BelovedIsles]

A little disappointed in the Fiala news, but it's prudent to create the space first before acquiring an 8 mil. player. We've got time.

 

[Throttle]

In the prior thread , Throttle said this
"Dissenting opinion is not hate. I'd be more than happy that Barzal learned to play a north/south game, use his wingers, shoot the puck, produce on the PP, OT, and in the SHO and be a #1 C, but he's not. Maybe he gets there, but it's going to be on HIM to do so. What makes him 'unique' also makes him very hard to play with. While the game appears to be changing to a faster pace, one still has to play in that dynamic. Certainly, in situations when there are LESS players on the ice, this would be more favorable to him (PP, OT, SHO), but so far, it has not."

Barzal had an off year in OT in 21-22, but prior to that, he was one of the best in the NHL at 3 on 3 OT. See the following from an article in The Athletic in 2021:

One of the fundamental differences between overtimes now and that first game between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia is that players aren’t shy about holding on to the puck. Rather than dart up and down the ice, players are weaving through with patience, looking for breakdowns while attempting to wear down the opposition.

One of the best at doing that is Mathew Barzal, who you’ll often see dominating shifts in 3-on-3. His 67.7 percent expected goals rate leads the league among players who’ve played over 50 minutes of 3-on-3 since its inception.

Cool, more elaborate writings on $7M ‘potential’ #1 center. Please enlighten what other 5 players have a $7M cap hit with similar production?

Fiala to get 7.875 MM per with LAK?!?

I mean the Isles pay Barzal $7M…

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

"The league is changing so we need to get younger and faster" for like 15 years now.

 

[LeapOnOver]

I’m hoping Lou wants to spend on defense. We need 2 left D and Dobson is due for a raise. Might not be enough money left over for a forward.

I'm fine if LL hunts and prioritizes a D over O, just not sure there's as many that will make a significant impact as there are on the forward side.

 

[saintunspecified]

I really believe spending cap on defense is way to go, maybe trade for a guy like Girard and bring back Leddy. Move Bailey in a cap dump and sign a middle six UFA to replace him. I believe in this situation with our goaltending at very least this is playoff team and you address roster weakness at trade deadline to see if you can push this group into real contention.

It's probably going to involve a trade, I agree, and those trades have to happen first. Leddy won't be an option fo Nyi unless they strike out in trades. If he signs for a "reasonable" amount imo it will be in STL, where he was a good fit.

 

[JPIsles21]

I doubt they're looking to move him and it will probably seem like "more of the same" to many here, but I'd be interested in Mathieu Joseph of OTT. He was buried on TBL for years but then scored at a PPG clip for OTT after the TDL last year. He's a fast skater and PKs and probably has offensive upside. But again, I'm sure they'll keep him.

However, another RW, Connor Brown of OTT may be available. His cap hit is $3.5M but he's owed $4M on the last year of his contract. Bailey's cap hit is $5M but he's owed less than Brown - $3.5M. I'd make that swap in a vacuum, although we'd probably want to make bigger use of Bailey's cap space. However, Brown might actually work on RW with Barzal.

Brown is a nice player. Definite upgrade over Bailey as well. However, he would be best on a 3rd line in Bailey's stead. A line of Parise/JGP/Brown would be excellent I think. As far as Barzy winger goes, the Isles really need someone with elite shooting ability. Somebody who can bury Barzy passes with ease and consistency. A Pasternak type would be ideal, even though a pipe dream. Wahlstrom is the best bet to develop into such player on the team, but with the window getting more narrow each year, I'm not sure you can bet on that.

IMO, Lou has been far too loyal with the players on the roster. He has been far too loyal to the 4th line, Bailey, and Chara/Greene. This has cost us dearly. It's imperative he deals Bailey, Varlamov to create the cap space and improve the team's ability to create easy goals. It's been really hard for me to understand what the plan is based on the moves that have been made during his tenure. Most personnel decisions have been lazy without an eye to compete with the speed of the true elite teams in the NHL.

 

[YearlyLottery]

"The league is changing so we need to get younger and faster" for like 15 years now.

I want to touch base on this thought process. Simply because you are being sarcastic about an important point.

You do NOT need to build the Colorado Avalanche to win the Cup. The NHL is a copycat league. When they zig you zag. That is why Dobson fell to be honest. Remember when there was a push for all of these Smurfs on defense? What about when players like Nylander and Ehlers fell because they were "too small?"

Ironically this is around the time when the Kings were winning the Cup with their big, heavy teams.

The Islanders were one game away last season from the NHL deciding to go in the course of "playoff proven performers who are team first with a heavy defensive system" rather than the way the Avs built their team.

Once you start trying to copy what other teams built you end up with drafting Reinhart with the fourth pick.