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

[Mike C]

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.

i like him too. can't argue with results, plus i'm an old school mentality like these guys. sadly, although it doesn't play well with today's young rich kids, i'm big on rules, structure and discipline.

along those lines, I love what I read from Sean Payton and his mindset in taking over the Broncos.

I'm sure it's not in the cards, but I'd be OK with Barry coming back in to finish this year with no promises on either end and let both parties decide how to proceed when this season ends

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

kinda like Dufour who got fired mid-shift

 

[impaaaaaact]

Don’t mean to be that guy, but despite the horrid losses we’re still 4-1-1 in the last 6. That 2-1-1 pace that we’re on since the Horvat trade is essentially what needs to be repeated from here on out. The three points lost in the Canadian games can be essentially washed away by the couple of 4 point swing Pittsburgh games we have this week.

The losses were shameful and inexcusable, but if we weren’t buried before we still aren’t now

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Don’t mean to be that guy, but despite the horrid losses we’re still 4-1-1 in the last 6. That 2-1-1 pace that we’re on since the Horvat trade is essentially what needs to be repeated from here on out. The three points lost in the Canadian games can be essentially washed away by the couple of 4 point swing Pittsburgh games we have this week.

The losses were shameful and inexcusable, but if we weren’t buried before we still aren’t now

I'm with you and I like the positivity. I just look at this team and can't for the life of me see them doing any damage in the playoffs.

They've lost all sense in defense. They don't have the right personnel to jump in the rush and then cover for the coverage blown.

The Isles are 31st in expected goals allowed, whereas before, the Isles were near the top five. That is HORRENDOUS. It's Doug Weight-like.

 

[ekill08x]

Don’t mean to be that guy, but despite the horrid losses we’re still 4-1-1 in the last 6. That 2-1-1 pace that we’re on since the Horvat trade is essentially what needs to be repeated from here on out. The three points lost in the Canadian games can be essentially washed away by the couple of 4 point swing Pittsburgh games we have this week.

The losses were shameful and inexcusable, but if we weren’t buried before we still aren’t now

Not buried but those games in hand by Buffalo and Pitt are brutal when we are losing games to even lesser teams. Not buried, still have a chance, should still 1000% look to sell expiring contracts. All can be true.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Not buried but those games in hand by Buffalo and Pitt are brutal when we are losing games to even lesser teams. Not buried, still have a chance, should still 1000% look to sell expiring contracts. All can be true.

My gutt feeling is that regardless of what happens against OTT and BOS, everything with respect to what takes place at the trade deadline is going to be decided by the two games against PIT.

Lose both of them, then any decision to add would have to be given up completely, right?

 

[Crashsunday]

I'm sure it's not in the cards, but I'd be OK with Barry coming back in to finish this year with no promises on either end and let both parties decide how to proceed when this season ends

Can't imagine Barry would do that to Lambert.

 

[Mike C]

Can't imagine Barry would do that to Lambert.

the flip side of it is that if Lambert is going to be gone anyway, maybe Barry takes the shot. He has repeatedly said he and Lou have a great relationship and he understands what happened is part of the business and harbors no ill feeling.....if Lou tells him "listen Bar, it's you or Butch Goring but either way Lane is gone"......


all probably moot.....i don't think Lou will make a move....just a hunch but i caveat that by saying "what the hell do i know anyway?"

 

[duster19]

Certainly feels that way

About time…

 

[Mike C]

My gutt feeling is that regardless of what happens against OTT and BOS, everything with respect to what takes place at the trade deadline is going to be decided by the two games against PIT.

Lose both of them, then any decision to add would have to be given up completely, right?

unless Caps falter and we are close enough in Lou's mind to get there

also, the unknown is what is Lou's affection for keeping Mayfield, Varly and Parise regardless of where the standings sit as I harken back to the 2 year renewal of Calvin

 

[duster19]

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.

Sutter is an AB boy…not convinced he will want to leave for Long Island.

 

[doublechili]

Bolduc being sent down is probably just because he's waiver exempt. Koivula was called up, so Bolduc goes down and maybe gets some playing time.

Re: Mayfield, unless Lou makes some big move on defense, I don't see him wanting to part ways with Mayfield. Lou likes guys who play a heavy game. I've said it before, but I could see Mayfield signing on for a long term deal at a discounted annual amount.

 

[duster19]

unless Caps falter and we are close enough in Lou's mind to get there

also, the unknown is what is Lou's affection for keeping Mayfield, Varly and Parise regardless of where the standings sit as I harken back to the 2 year renewal of Calvin

I think Parise will be back. He won’t get much in terms of assets back (maybe a mid to late pick?). His cheap contract helps next year. Unless he wants to be moved.

Mayfield will be the interesting piece to me at the TDL. Teams will be interested. We need to shed some cap for next year. It is the Bailey/Mayfield conundrum. Who is going. Hopefully Bailey…but if they can’t find a partner good chance it will be Mayfield. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mayfield not dealt but maybe walk in the off-season.

 

[TeamKidd]

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.

I would think some teams might think he is a capable #4 Dman and would pay him as such - I could see him get close to 5x5 on the open market.

would LL give him 4x6? would he take it?

 

[IslesNorway]

If all goes wrong -

Isles can still draft in top 12 2023, still trade Mayfield at TDL for 1st +, Varlamov for a 2nd +, and in the off-season maximize return on Nelson with 2 years for another 1st +.

2024 1st can go to Vancouver and Isles can cash in on 3 1sts + 2nds and take the cap savings and spend on free agency

That would be a burn it to the ground move trading Nelson. Isles need to move a couple of big contracts but preferably not Nelson.

Alternatively you move Mayfield, Varly and Parise and pick up perhaps two 1sts and a 3rd, perhaps even a prospect or two if we're really lucky. Parise will resign in the summer at the league minimum so no risk there.

Now use a pick or two to move the likes of Bailey and/or Palmieri. Although I do not entertain the idea of adding someone like Henrique it may serve as a basis for a bigger deal. Would the Ducks do Bailey, Palmieri, 1st rounder and 3rd (acquired in a trades) for Henrique and a signed Klingberg? Anything similar doable with other teams, ie. Offering Bailey and a 1st for Player X and a 2nd? Or Bailey and a 2nd for Player X?

 

[Tres Peleches]

This team, as constructed, can win if they play a style similar to Trotz’s first two years. Tight defense, counter attack offense with the occasional high-danger chance against that you rely on strong goaltending (which they have in spades).

The current style doesn’t work unless you have overwhelming firepower

 

[LBloor]

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

Having been at a wedding with several flames this summer, you do not want sutter here. Players will not respond. There are more reasons not made public that Guadreau chose to leave as well as Tkzachuk (sp)

 

[impaaaaaact]

Not buried but those games in hand by Buffalo and Pitt are brutal when we are losing games to even lesser teams. Not buried, still have a chance, should still 1000% look to sell expiring contracts. All can be true.

I agree... I think that if the Horvat trade was part of a retool you still go ahead and trade mayfield and varlamov. If Parise is going to sign at league min again you keep him. But I honestly don't see a world in which Lou actually makes these moves

 

[ekill08x]

I agree... I think that if the Horvat trade was part of a retool you still go ahead and trade mayfield and varlamov. If Parise is going to sign at league min again you keep him. But I honestly don't see a world in which Lou actually makes these moves

It would be almost malpractice not to. If we are still several points out and these teams still have multiple games in hand, you have to move expiring contracts. If we dont, it only hurts our ability to improve the roster for next year. Lou isn't an idiot, even though I don't always agree with the moves he makes, I have faith he'll do the right thing. If not and we miss the playoffs...that is the type of mistake that gets you fired at seasons end.

 

[Mike C]

Having been at a wedding with several flames this summer, you do not want sutter here. Players will not respond. There are more reasons not made public that Guadreau chose to leave as well as Tkzachuk (sp)

i love the inner/behind the scenes stuff you allude to

my overriding question (rhetorically) is who would these guys respond to nowadays

 

[JPIsles18]

I would think some teams might think he is a capable #4 Dman and would pay him as such - I could see him get close to 5x5 on the open market.

would LL give him 4x6? would he take it?

I'm sure that's what it would take: 4x6. Yes Lou would do that and yes Mayfield would. Given that we already have Pulock and Dobson on the right side, I wouldn't spend 14 mil on the right side of the defense without having a true #1 superstar DMan. That's bad value for a 3rd pairing defenseman.

We have to think about Sorokin contract too. That's likely going to be a 10 mil type of contract.

 

[doublechili]

would LL give him 4x6? would he take it?

Do you mean 4 years at $6M per year? I don't think Lou would do that.

If you mean 6 years at $4M per year, that's a closer call. My guess is Lou would want to do 6 years at $3.5M or maybe $3.75M.

 

[BelovedIsles]

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

Perhaps he’ll take 3. Yeah, that’s a no on Hutton. Can Bolduc or Wotherspoon play the right side? Or perhaps sign a vet bottom pairing, if Mayfield moves on.

 

[steveat]

I have a theory o why Lambert is not getting these guys to produce under his regime.

1. There doesn't seem to be any accountability
2. I just hear Tocchet say that the Canucks are out of shape....It makes total sense from what I'm seeing...a great 12-15 min at the beginning of the game...a very structured game, then play falls off and gets progressively worse as the game goes on. They are just out of shape.

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

If Dobson keeps playing like he is now...he's not going to get much of a raise.

 

[BelovedIsles]

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

He should be, IMHO, he’s on shaky ground.

 

[Mike C]

I have a theory o why Lambert is not getting these guys to produce under his regime.

1. There doesn't seem to be any accountability
2. I just hear Tocchet say that the Canucks are out of shape....It makes total sense from what I'm seeing...a great 12-15 min at the beginning of the game...a very structured game, then play falls off and gets progressively worse as the game goes on. They are just out of shape.

i'll take it a step further and say that after 2 deep runs with minimal rest in off season and the miles on the legs and bodies, they only have so much gas in the tank on any given night. Matt Martin is the epitome of that but Palmieri, who should have fresh legs, disappears after a gangbuster 1st and a decent but less impactful 1st half of the 2nd

i agree with what MJF said a couple-3 weeks ago....this is the best these guys can do. that's where a master tactician like Barry could mask the weaknesses and play to the strengths of the whole

these guys are too old and slow to play consistant 2023 nhl style hockey over 82