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

[DerekKingSnipes]

I was mulling parise playing that left side on line #1. Forechecks like crazy and get to pucks and has some juice left in the mitts.

We could see that, we could see Lee there I guess also. With way lines are Bailey is only guy right now. I’m rooting for him to have success there, just get assists. I’m guessing this is spot isles are looking for someone.

 

[Mike C]

I was mulling parise playing that left side on line #1. Forechecks like crazy and get to pucks and has some juice left in the mitts.

Plus he can be a net front presence and let Horvat drift as he sees fit and play a little off Matty B. Gives that line some interchangeable flexibility within itself

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

Certainly I'd feel better if Barry was here for this 30 game spurt. I don't hate Bailey, don't love him. At this stage of his career and with the task at hand, I'm dubious that he's a top line guy. I'll be the first (ok 2nd maybe) guy cheering if he plays well and helps us snag a win tomorrow night

1st two out of box will tell us a lot. Good teams but beatable with we want to be considered playoff worthy

For me jury is out on Lambert to be honest, popular and well regarded assistant. I don’t know that hes done a good or bad job thus far. These 30 games will determine something towards his future as this teams coach. It could be Lou steps away and new GM decides the coach.

 

[Mike C]

For me jury is out on Lambert to be honest, popular and well regarded assistant. I don’t know that hes done a good or bad job thus far. These 30 games will determine something towards his future as this teams coach. It could be Lou steps away and new GM decides the coach.

I just think some of his strategies are questionable. I take YearlyLottery's point to heart about him making some rookie mistakes but at the same time, this team isn't a rookie team and the expectation is at least a playoff spot

I'm also not keen on the 2 assistants. The PP garbage alone is reason to tell Johnny Mac to figure something out or hit the highway

I'm glad we got a very good addition in Bo and at least the games will have some renewed juice for watching and goal contest purposes

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

I just think some of his strategies are questionable. I take YearlyLottery's point to heart about him making some rookie mistakes but at the same time, this team isn't a rookie team and the expectation is at least a playoff spot

I'm also not keen on the 2 assistants. The PP garbage alone is reason to tell Johnny Mac to figure something out or hit the highway

I'm glad we got a very good addition in Bo and at least the games will have some renewed juice for watching and goal contest purposes

Power play has been no good even under trotz, it’s player issue I think more so than coaching. I think Horvat helps that, he is type of player especially on power play that they needed. I also think palmieri being back will help 2nd unit as well.

 

[danteipp]

I assume Bailey gets the first shot on the top line and the Isles hope they catch lightning in a bottle.

If he fails, then maybe Parise or Holmstrom get the next shot.

There probably isn't a perfect fit right now, but they have options and they should be able to figure something out to be able to run four solid lines.

 

[SI]

I don’t think Wahlstrom is coming back.

I hope you are right - I would like to see Lou dangle Wahlstrom for an upgrade. Even with a QO or league minimum player to replace Wahlstrom - Isles still need to get Bailey off the books fully to be under the cap.

On what planet is Wahkstrom getting 2.25M? This past offseason saw teams not qualify ‘prospects’ that haven’t done jack to get off the hamster wheel of paying ‘just because’ and to get cap space.

Wahkstrom is a QO, absent 15G through the end of the season.

If he didn’t get injured he’d be b line for something like 2.25.

You are probably right that plays hardball and offers QO - he doesn’t have arbitration rights yet, so probably book it .875k on a 1 year.

Nice catch.

 

[SI]

I was mulling parise playing that left side on line #1. Forechecks like crazy and get to pucks and has some juice left in the mitts.

I agree with this and Maty liked playing with Zach and putting Bailey with Pageau and Holmstrom can work.

 

[Seph]

We could see that, we could see Lee there I guess also. With way lines are Bailey is only guy right now. I’m rooting for him to have success there, just get assists. I’m guessing this is spot isles are looking for someone.

Not a fan of playing Lee on a line with Horvat, personally. At 5v5 I think they like the same areas of the ice too much to make sense on the same line, though I do also think they will work well together on the PP. But for lines I'd keep Lee with Nelson.

 

[JJ18Sniper]

On what planet is Wahkstrom getting 2.25M? This past offseason saw teams not qualify ‘prospects’ that haven’t done jack to get off the hamster wheel of paying ‘just because’ and to get cap space.

Wahkstrom is a QO, absent 15G through the end of the season.

Good call!

Wahlstrom's QO is $874,125. That would be a nice prove it year number while the cap is close to flat.

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

 

[Glory Days]

I don’t think Wahlstrom is coming back.

I doubt he gets traded coming off a major injury. Likely he needs to prove a full recovery first. So I think he takes the QO from the Isles.

 

[Linds]

Avs fan coming in just wanted to ask would JP be available now with the addition of Horvat? Or is Barzal moving to his wing?

 

[Mike C]

Avs fan coming in just wanted to ask would JP be available now with the addition of Horvat? Or is Barzal moving to his wing?

wing

 

[MJF]

I assume Bailey gets the first shot on the top line and the Isles hope they catch lightning in a bottle.

If he fails, then maybe Parise or Holmstrom get the next shot.

There probably isn't a perfect fit right now, but they have options and they should be able to figure something out to be able to run four solid lines.

I'm hoping the All Star break gave Parise a chance to rest and rejuvenate. I didn't like his game the week leading up to the break. He seemed sluggish to me.

 

[LeapOnOver]

If Lou resigns Mayfield for 4.25, Varlamov for 2.25 and Wahlstrom for 2.25 and buyout Bailey they will 2 m over the cap.

If Varlamov is retained - Bailey’s cap needs to be fully gone

Even with Clutterbuck retired or LTIR?

 

[Throttle]

I hope you are right - I would like to see Lou dangle Wahlstrom for an upgrade. Even with a QO or league minimum player to replace Wahlstrom - Isles still need to get Bailey off the books fully to be under the cap.


If he didn’t get injured he’d be b line for something like 2.25.

You are probably right that plays hardball and offers QO - he doesn’t have arbitration rights yet, so probably book it .875k on a 1 year.

Nice catch.

It’s not even hardball. He has zero bargaining position. The only factor there is if Lou wants to Snow him and give him a bunch of term for cheap to help with the cap.

Wally gets a commitment from the team and money, but he may (may…) under earn if he pops of 20G a season under that deal.

Isles are in a strong position with him from a cap perspective.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Avs fan coming in just wanted to ask would JP be available now with the addition of Horvat? Or is Barzal moving to his wing?

Lou is big on center depth and I think everyone here agrees, this doesn't make anyone expendable.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

It’s not even hardball. He has zero bargaining position. The only factor there is if Lou wants to Snow him and give him a bunch of term for cheap to help with the cap.

Wally gets a commitment from the team and money, but he may (may…) under earn if he pops of 20G a season under that deal.

Isles are in a strong position with him from a cap perspective.

In a league where 27 out of 32 teams are up against the cap, we need to recognize that going into the offseason with cap implications is part of the process, not 'cap hell'. There are future 'set ups' as well like Bailey's deal expiring when Sorokins is up, Varly clearly this upcoming offseason with Horvat and Barzy needing raises, in the future Palmieri is up when Dobson needs to get paid.

I'd also like to add that whn Sorokin's deal is up the cap should rise to 87 million and the year after that it should be 92 million. And all of our top players should be signed with that I,E Barzal, Sorokin, Dobson and now Horvat.

 

[TeamKidd]

Yeah the cap is rising 10M in the next 3 years..these deals will look like steals by then

 

[ekill08x]

with 30 games remaining what do you guys think we realistically need to win to actually get in? 18 wins at least? maybe 20?

 

[SRBisles]

with 30 games remaining what do you guys think we realistically need to win to actually get in? 18 wins at least? maybe 20?

20-10 gets us to 95 points which should be enough to get in.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

with 30 games remaining what do you guys think we realistically need to win to actually get in? 18 wins at least? maybe 20?

18-8-4 or 19-9-2 should do it.

 

[PK Cronin]

with 30 games remaining what do you guys think we realistically need to win to actually get in? 18 wins at least? maybe 20?

It took 100 points last year to get in. They have 55 points right now, so the maximum they could get is 115. Figure the team needs at least 20 wins (or some combination of wins and loser points) in order to have a chance. They're going to need to win 2 or 3 in a row, then lose one for the remainder of the year.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

It took 100 points last year to get in. They have 55 points right now, so the maximum they could get is 115. Figure the team needs at least 20 wins (or some combination of wins and loser points) in order to have a chance. They're going to need to win 2 or 3 in a row, then lose one for the remainder of the year.

Last year was an aberration. Typically something in the low 90's gets you in. WAS right now is on pace to finish with 92 points as the 8th seed. So figure the Isles need approximately 38 more points to get in. So actually, even 18-10-2 would do it...

 

[ekill08x]

It took 100 points last year to get in. They have 55 points right now, so the maximum they could get is 115. Figure the team needs at least 20 wins (or some combination of wins and loser points) in order to have a chance. They're going to need to win 2 or 3 in a row, then lose one for the remainder of the year.

As much as I do love the Horvat sign and trade I am not sure I see it with this group even with his addition. We've regressed so much defensively too. Goaltending has been masking the mistakes. If we are still being more than 5 points from a playoff spot with the WC teams having games in hand by the deadline, not recouping assets for Mayfield and Varlamov will prove to be huge mistakes. We needed another scorer here no matter what moving forward, but I don't necessarily think this is a group that is making the type of run we saw under Barry.