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

[Mike C]

Do we know what Mayfield is seeking? I'd imagine he'd take a team-friendly discount.

He probably would be quite reasonable. Read something last month where he said him and his wife love LI, have established roots there and that he puts a value on that

 

[SI]

Agree with Varly and Mayfield


Nelson is tough for me. He’s basically the most consistent guy of all the vets we have. To me I keep him unless I get blown away.

If you trade Nelson then you might as well trade off all the other vets.

To me Bailey can’t be here next year. Then you look at Pageau vs Cizikas

Nelson turns 33 next October - if you move him for futures - you get cap space and prospects.

Essentially, Lou could
Trade Nelson, Mayfield, and Varlamov for futures and picks. And use that $ for top 6 winger in free agency and get younger.

Take the Mayfield $ (Mayfield turns 31 next season) and pay Gavrikov, who turns 28.

Horvat and Barzal play C and take Nelson $ and sign of trade for a F making a similar amount, like Bertuzzi or Boeser. OR Isles can take the assets and flip them for DeBrincat or Meier (if he isn’t moved by the TDL).

Sign a back up goalie who can play 20 games a season, while Sorokin give you 55-60 starts.

 

[BelovedIsles]

He probably would be quite reasonable. Read something last month where he said him and his wife love LI, have established roots there and that he puts a value on that

I'd bring him back, something like 3.5-4 is fair. He's been getting a lot of shit on these boards lately, despite being a good D man (and on some nights, their best).

 

[Mike C]

I'd bring him back, something like 3.5-4 is fair. He's been getting a lot of shit on these boards lately, despite being a good D man (and on some nights, their best).

i'd bring him back also, he often gets paired with the worst D out of six as others have noted and by and large he's pretty consistant

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

You're giving absolutely trash responses and you know it. If you want to throw in sarcastic jokes that's one thing, but if you want to have a genuine conversation about the state of the team let me know.

I don't owe you anything. If you don't like my responses, you're welcome to bug off.

 

[SCMURRAY]

I'd bring him back, something like 3.5-4 is fair. He's been getting a lot of shit on these boards lately, despite being a good D man (and on some nights, their best).

Cant pay Mayfield $4mil a year especially when Dobson's extension comes up in 2025. Could be looking at 18mil just on our right side. Id def bring him back but around $2.5- $3mil a year. I think when the Isles signed Hutton to 3 year deal ( 1 way in yr 2 and 3) the expectation would be for him to fill that bottom pair role but only time will tell

 

[xIsle]

Nelson turns 33 next October - if you move him for futures - you get cap space and prospects.

Essentially, Lou could
Trade Nelson, Mayfield, and Varlamov for futures and picks. And use that $ for top 6 winger in free agency and get younger.

Take the Mayfield $ (Mayfield turns 31 next season) and pay Gavrikov, who turns 28.

Horvat and Barzal play C and take Nelson $ and sign of trade for a F making a similar amount, like Bertuzzi or Boeser. OR Isles can take the assets and flip them for DeBrincat or Meier (if he isn’t moved by the TDL).

Sign a back up goalie who can play 20 games a season, while Sorokin give you 55-60 starts.

32, not 33. Unless there's a great offer in return, I'd rather keep Nelson. He's been our best forward for the past three seasons. Bailey and Palmieri should leave before him.

 

[MJF]

Nelson is tough for me. He’s basically the most consistent guy of all the vets we have. To me I keep him unless I get blown away.

And we should get that kind of offer. A 2023 1st, a lower pick in a future draft, and an NHL ready player under the age of 23 on an ELC.

If you trade Nelson then you might as well trade off all the other vets.

And yes, Bailey and Clutterbuck must retire, then turn our sights to moving on from one of Pageau or Cizikas.

 

[TeamKidd]

Nelson turns 33 next October - if you move him for futures - you get cap space and prospects.

Essentially, Lou could
Trade Nelson, Mayfield, and Varlamov for futures and picks. And use that $ for top 6 winger in free agency and get younger.

Take the Mayfield $ (Mayfield turns 31 next season) and pay Gavrikov, who turns 28.

Horvat and Barzal play C and take Nelson $ and sign of trade for a F making a similar amount, like Bertuzzi or Boeser. OR Isles can take the assets and flip them for DeBrincat or Meier (if he isn’t moved by the TDL).

Sign a back up goalie who can play 20 games a season, while Sorokin give you 55-60 starts.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but are we really going to put any eggs in the - we're going to sign a decent FA - basket? That seems like a fools errand to me.

I was only in the Trade Nelson camp before the Horvat move. I was an advocate of a full rebuild, but given the addition of Horvat and loss of prospects that is unlikely now.

 

[MJF]

Bolduc went from “must dress” to adios in 1 game.

 

[JPIsles18]

He probably would be quite reasonable. Read something last month where he said him and his wife love LI, have established roots there and that he puts a value on that

Gudbransson got 4 mil/year last year. He's really bad. Mayfield is a much better version of him. I'm not sure if that reset the market for 3rd pair defensemen. Fair value for mayfield is around 3 mil. He's a physical, right shot defensive dman who's actually good at defense. Gudbransson is horrible and got 4 mil.

In a cap world, I let him go and try to acquire a dman that can bump Romanov down to the 3rd pair. It's tough with our cap situation. I'm also a strong believer that third pair dmen and bottom 6 forwards should be cheap.

 

[Mike C]

Bolduc went from “must dress” to adios in 1 game.

nothing like stability in the mind of a coach!

 

[ekill08x]

Yeah if we trade Nelson we might as well try and trade lee and JGP as well and now the whole point of having horvat and barzal together is now out the door. that would equate to a legitimate rebuild.

 

[SI90]

Bolduc sent down. I’d play Wotherspoon over Aho.

 

[Mike C]

Bolduc sent down. I’d play Wotherspoon over Aho.

seems like the Handsome One is trying to find his new voice and the lost room

 

[ekill08x]

Lot pf practice updates of Dobson getting crucified for his lack of physicality. Anyone saying he is untouchable is just hysterical.

 

[SI90]

seems like the Handsome One is trying to find his new voice and the lost room

Certainly feels that way

 

[JPIsles18]

Nelson turns 33 next October - if you move him for futures - you get cap space and prospects.

Essentially, Lou could
Trade Nelson, Mayfield, and Varlamov for futures and picks. And use that $ for top 6 winger in free agency and get younger.

Take the Mayfield $ (Mayfield turns 31 next season) and pay Gavrikov, who turns 28.

Horvat and Barzal play C and take Nelson $ and sign of trade for a F making a similar amount, like Bertuzzi or Boeser. OR Isles can take the assets and flip them for DeBrincat or Meier (if he isn’t moved by the TDL).

Sign a back up goalie who can play 20 games a season, while Sorokin give you 55-60 starts.

I don't like this at all.

1) Nelson has arguably been our best forward at a sweetheart deal. 6 mil for him has turned into a bargain. He also has 2 years left on his deal. Imagine getting a 30 goal scoring center, at age 32 for 2 years at 6 mil? I'd sign up in a heartbeat. If you're rebuilding, he'll bring you back a ton. But you don't trade him just to sign a guy for too much money on too much term. Also, aside from Pasta, who would you prefer to allocate the 6 mil for? Besides, Pasta is likely return to Boston at close to the max.

2) Gavrikov is not good and will get overpaid. His best asset is playing a lot of minutes against tough competition, and he doesn't do particularly well in those situations. He's on a bad team, so he's probably better than awful. However, he will get overpaid. I want nothing to do with Gavrikov.

3) I like your idea about Meier and Debrincat. However, they will both cost more than the 6 mil for Nelson, with Debrincat not bringing as much value as Nelson, and at a higher cost. Meier, on the other hand, is an elite power forward. But will cost around 9-10 mil (3-4 mil more than Nelson). Boeser is a huge downgrade from the other players mentioned, including Nelson. So getting Boeser while losing Nelson is a horrible move - at a higher cost, no less.


If Isles choose to start rebuilding, Nelson is a great place to start though.

 

[CupHolders]

After Trotz, my favorite coach of the past 20 years is Sutter. If there is any truth to him being let go by Calgary… I hope he is hired by the Isles at least for next year if not this.

 

[SI90]

Lot pf practice updates of Dobson getting crucified for his lack of physicality. Anyone saying he is untouchable is just hysterical.

No one is untouchable first of all. But you don’t trade a 21/22 year old defenseman with his talents for just anything. Especially in todays NHL where skill reigns supreme. He’s offensive game and instincts are top notch.

He’s going to have to work on and get better defensively. Just like most young defenders have to.

 

[Mike C]

After Trotz, my favorite coach of the past 20 years is Sutter. If there is any truth to him being let go by Calgary… I hope he is hired by the Isles at least for next year if not this.

he's got Barry's disciplinarian style with the demeanor of Tortorella without the sometimes humor in the sarcasm that John delivers. He did get Gaudreau to eventually buy into system hockey and by all accounts out there, helped him step into himself as a team oriented player and leader before he bolted for home in Columbus

 

[MJF]

Yeah if we trade Nelson we might as well try and trade lee and JGP as well and now the whole point of having horvat and barzal together is now out the door. that would equate to a legitimate rebuild.

It's gonna be out the door in a month anyway.

Horvat and Barzal are foundation pieces for the next 8 years. It's time to do a proper rebuild around them.

 

[CupHolders]

he's got Barry's disciplinarian style with the demeanor of Tortorella without the sometimes humor in the sarcasm from John delivers. He did get Gaudreau to eventually buy into system hockey and by all accounts out there, helped him step into himself as a team oriented player and leader before he bolted for home in Columbus

Mostly it’s because of all the recent multiple cup winners I liked the Kings stylistically the most. Similar to Trotz with structure, but less passive.

 

[SI90]

After Trotz, my favorite coach of the past 20 years is Sutter. If there is any truth to him being let go by Calgary… I hope he is hired by the Isles at least for next year if not this.

He’s a son of bitch and I love him. I know it won’t happen but I wish Brother Brent would come back and coach in the NHL.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Bolduc went from “must dress” to adios in 1 game.

That one blunder clearly did not sit well with Lambert. Sheesh.