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

[Osakahaus]

I should have added the sarcasm emoji. Hoped it would be clear without it...

True, the team has needed a bonafide goal-scoring winger since before we lost Eberle and even after Palmieri was acquired. The hope is that the team would score by committee while particularly Wahlstrom grew into the role of a sniper.

Apropos Wahlstrom, did we ever hear about what exactly his injury is?

Lower body. Again, I wish the NHL told us where their injury was. Eternal reminder that they called Okposo's eye injury an "upper body".

 

[PK Cronin]

So does this team.

Give this a listen. Stay 'til the end. Mike Johnson says a few things and he's not wrong at all.

He's right, and they touch on a lot of what we all have mentioned. The roster has too many forwards who are the same. They're all signed for a year or two too long. There's not much room to make improvements because of the cap and lack of expiring contracts.

I just think that if Lamoriello is going to go for the playoffs he needs to do everything possible (trade anything) to bring in the talent to move guys down the lineup or off the roster. Get Meier, no matter the cost. Bring in Horvat. Go get Chychrun. The team needs them all if they're going to actually go for the cup, if not, start the rebuild. It's nut up or shut up time.

 

[PK Cronin]

Lower body. Again, I wish the NHL told us where their injury was. Eternal reminder that they called Okposo's eye injury an "upper body".

It's none of your business and I'm not sure why anyone cares. Having a pulled groin or a torn ACL doesn't matter if the end result is the same.

 

[IslesNorway]

So does this team.

Give this a listen. Stay 'til the end. Mike Johnson says a few things and he's not wrong at all.

Which is pretty much what a lot of us have been saying for quite some time. The blame is on Lou for this. He signed stupid deals with underperforming and aging players. He refused to part ways when ways should have been parted. He made some puzzling trades.

Now he is floundering, calling up Bridgeport guys left and right and expecting them to make a difference. I condone him for doing that because it proves that there are actually openings on the roster, but at this point it won't improve the team. So then what? In my book, he should ride them till the end of season. Trade away what can be traded and stick with the callups and suck for the rest of the season. Hoard picks and prospects and draft well, then retire.

 

[Osakahaus]

Which is pretty much what a lot of us have been saying for quite some time. The blame is on Lou for this. He signed stupid deals with underperforming and aging players. He refused to part ways when ways should have been parted. He made some puzzling trades.

Now he is floundering, calling up Bridgeport guys left and right and expecting them to make a difference. I condone him for doing that because it proves that there are actually openings on the roster, but at this point it won't improve the team. So then what? In my book, he should ride them till the end of season. Trade away what can be traded and stick with the callups and suck for the rest of the season. Hoard picks and prospects and draft well, then retire.

I feel sorry because it does look nice seeing what Holmstrom, Raty, Bolduc, Wotherspoon, and even Dufour can do. Problem is that our infrastructure is collapsing and they never added anything else to the group. Its not good at all for anyone like the fans, alumni, ownership, management, etc. Deals like the Komarov, Palmieri, Cizikas, and even Beau contracts all congeal and create this really bad mess. They're not going to help you in the long term, especially when Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Washington, and even Philly make deals. You have to make deals in the NHL, and you cannot sit on your ass just trading for Romanov, sign 4 AHL contracts and call it a day. Whoever said that all their forwards are the same is completely spot on, and thats not good. Even Raty and Holmstrom are like the current players, but they can at least play a younger game.

So what exactly does the future hold? Is Lou going to fold his cards and sell, or will he continue to be stubborn? Because if he's gonna act stubborn then 97% of this fanbase will be extremely furious.

 

[MJF]

He's right, and they touch on a lot of what we all have mentioned. The roster has too many forwards who are the same. They're all signed for a year or two too long. There's not much room to make improvements because of the cap and lack of expiring contracts.

I just think that if Lamoriello is going to go for the playoffs he needs to do everything possible (trade anything) to bring in the talent to move guys down the lineup or off the roster. Get Meier, no matter the cost. Bring in Horvat. Go get Chychrun. The team needs them all if they're going to actually go for the cup, if not, start the rebuild. It's nut up or shut up time.

And if those contracts truly are immovable without sweeteners, then Lou had better plead with Bailey, Martin, and Clutterbuck to retire.

It's none of your business and I'm not sure why anyone cares. Having a pulled groin or a torn ACL doesn't matter if the end result is the same.

The entire league reports injuries as LBI, UBI. Why is anyone getting up tight about this?

 

[Mike C]

I should have added the sarcasm emoji. Hoped it would be clear without it...

True, the team has needed a bonafide goal-scoring winger since before we lost Eberle and even after Palmieri was acquired. The hope is that the team would score by committee while particularly Wahlstrom grew into the role of a sniper. The plan didn't look half bad for the first 25 some games.

Apropos Wahlstrom, did we ever hear about what exactly his injury is?

i read earlier in the week that it may well be a severe knee injury but that was from one of the beat writers who doesn't know for sure.

 

[Mike C]

Rebuilding sucks. Have a great day.

simple, pragmatic, vintage double m wisdom!!!

 

[Mike C]

It's none of your business and I'm not sure why anyone cares. Having a pulled groin or a torn ACL doesn't matter if the end result is the same.

someone mentioned out here last season that if fans are paying top dollar to go to games and support the team, they feel they should at least be given some type of info. a pulled groin may keep someone out one length of time and a torn ACL may be a lot longer.


your post reminds me of an interview i saw with bob dylan years ago. he said "just because someone knows something about you, they think they know you"

i guess fans think that in relation to their expectations of what the team gives them vs what they feel he should be getting

 

[periferal]

I expect goose egg

"Goose egg" at the trade deadline would probably be the best possible outcome given that Lou would probably use yet another 1st rounder (in the best draft in years) as duct tape on the Titanic.

 

[PK Cronin]

someone mentioned out here last season that if fans are paying top dollar to go to games and support the team, they feel they should at least be given some type of info. a pulled groin may keep someone out one length of time and a torn ACL may be a lot longer.


your post reminds me of an interview i saw with bob dylan years ago. he said "just because someone knows something about you, they think they know you"

i guess fans think that in relation to their expectations of what the team gives them vs what they feel he should be getting

It's a ridiculous expectation that no other profession really has, outside of politics I guess. Their medical issues are private matters unless they want that information disclosed. If there's any chance it could hurt them later, whether physically or financially, it'd be dumb to disclose it. Just because some leagues or players do doesn't mean it's right for everyone to do that.

I don't see how paying top dollar to go to games gives anyone the right to another person's medical history. They give enough information to fans via the "upper body" and "lower body" statements along with "day to day, week to week, long term, etc." that it should suffice.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

I don't see how paying top dollar to go to games gives anyone the right to another person's medical history.

Really! People think this?

 

[Mike C]

It's a ridiculous expectation that no other profession really has, outside of politics I guess. Their medical issues are private matters unless they want that information disclosed. If there's any chance it could hurt them later, whether physically or financially, it'd be dumb to disclose it. Just because some leagues or players do doesn't mean it's right for everyone to do that.

I don't see how paying top dollar to go to games gives anyone the right to another person's medical history. They give enough information to fans via the "upper body" and "lower body" statements along with "day to day, week to week, long term, etc." that it should suffice.

people are nosy man. especially in today's culture of social media where everyone knows what the next one had for breakfast as they're eating it

i really was struck when dylan said that---it was in relation to fans trying to invade his privacy and i always have found it very profound.

people would sometimes ask me what i value most in my life....today my answer is slightly different but i would always say "my privacy"

Really! People think this?

some. likely the ones who think an athlete or rock star should stand out for hours on end signing autographs and having chit chat

 

[Tahoeblue]

"Goose egg" at the trade deadline would probably be the best possible outcome given that Lou would probably use yet another 1st rounder (in the best draft in years) as duct tape on the Titanic.

So right on! I know others feel like we should spend due to window and Sorokin's prime. I would be wary of that. Our best shot at a Timo Meier is in the draft and we need as many darts to throw at the dart board as possible. Lou needs to very shrewd.

Maybe he can recoup picks from dealing expiring contracts or work with dealing a second round pick and players and find value. We already don't have a third rounder. That video posted from NHL network and Mike Johnson is spot on. Plus, I still scratch my head on the Clutter deal.

Lastly, I don't wish this on any player or organization, but keep an eye on goalies. This is the point in the season when goalies wear down and injuries happen. Lou may be able to do well with a Varly deal.

 

[mm11]

simple, pragmatic, vintage double m wisdom!!!

pass the puck to the point and put it in Mike....LGI! See ya buddy, heading out to Ocala to watch some horses.

 

[PK Cronin]

people are nosy man. especially in today's culture of social media where everyone knows what the next one had for breakfast as they're eating it

i really was struck when dylan said that---it was in relation to fans trying to invade his privacy and i always have found it very profound.

people would sometimes ask me what i value most in my life....today my answer is slightly different but i would always say "my privacy"


some. likely the ones who think an athlete or rock star should stand out for hours on end signing autographs and having chit chat

I'm nosy too, but I'll try to find the answer myself rather than expecting someone demand it.

I'll just sneak into Wahlstrom's place and see what's what.

 

[Lame Lambert]

This alone is reason to sell

 

[The Real JT]

I’m gonna throw my two cents in regarding transparency on injuries.

Every other sport, including the NFL provides fairly detailed information regarding these injuries. I don’t buy the argument that disclosure of these injuries makes a player more subject to targeting. It doesn’t seem to happen in the NFL, so why should it happen in the NHL?

As far as a player’s medical history, we are not talking about whether somebody has diabetes, cancer, substance abuse or a sexually transmitted disease. Things like that should not be in the public domain unless the player chooses to make it known. Orthopedic injuries are a different kettle of fish.

More than a few people may disagree with me, but the lack of transparency annoys me and makes me less interested in the product.

 

[Mike C]

pass the puck to the point and put it in Mike....LGI! See ya buddy, heading out to Ocala to watch some horses.

love it!....they still race the greyhounds there? win big brother!!

 

[Mike C]

I'm nosy too, but I'll try to find the answer myself rather than expecting someone demand it.

I'll just sneak into Wahlstrom's place and see what's what.

and for a young man's perspective on life as an isles fan

me : isles vs red wings tomorrow

son : wow

me: espn game

son: wow

me: if we're really lucky we might get leah hextall

son: (a very deflated resigned to the fact) yeah

 

[Mike C]

I’m gonna throw my two cents in regarding transparency on injuries.

Every other sport, including the NFL provides fairly detailed information regarding these injuries. I don’t buy the argument that disclosure of these injuries makes a player more subject to targeting. It doesn’t seem to happen in the NFL, so why should it happen in the NHL?

As far as a player’s medical history, we are not talking about whether somebody has diabetes, cancer, substance abuse or a sexually transmitted disease. Things like that should not be in the public domain unless the player chooses to make it known. Orthopedic injuries are a different kettle of fish.

More than a few people may disagree with me, but the lack of transparency annoys me and makes me less interested in the product.

it's an interesting debate. i see the day, sooner rather than later, with the NHL embracing gambling sites and sponsorship to the point where the sens had "bet99" on their helmets promoting Canada's online sports betting and casino and TSN showing no less than 10 commercials for bet365, a different online sportsbook/casino last night, that the league will give the public what they want and be more forthcoming. ....not for the fans but for the bettors!

 

[MJF]

This alone is reason to sell

What does it say? Kurz blocked me last year.

I’m gonna throw my two cents in regarding transparency on injuries.

Every other sport, including the NFL provides fairly detailed information regarding these injuries. I don’t buy the argument that disclosure of these injuries makes a player more subject to targeting. It doesn’t seem to happen in the NFL, so why should it happen in the NHL?

As far as a player’s medical history, we are not talking about whether somebody has diabetes, cancer, substance abuse or a sexually transmitted disease. Things like that should not be in the public domain unless the player chooses to make it known. Orthopedic injuries are a different kettle of fish.

More than a few people may disagree with me, but the lack of transparency annoys me and makes me less interested in the product.

When gambling really takes hold of the NHL I expect the league to become more transparent.

 

[Lame Lambert]

What does it say? Kurz blocked me last year.


When gambling really takes hold of the NHL I expect the league to become more transparent.

The PP is 3-58 over this stretch

 

[MJF]

The PP is 3-58 over this stretch

Oh. Pee yuu.

 

[The Real JT]

Here’s another perspective on the 3 for 58 PP stat. Assuming a full 2 minute PP (which is not exactly true) that’s nearly 2 full games of ice time. It averages out to 1.5 goals per game if we were on the PP the entire time!

Historically bad, and we know bad PPs.