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

[LeapOnOver]

Interesting, Aho was set to be an UFA. Without waivers you figure he is now their 7th with a camp opportunity to be their 6th.

I don't understand why Aho signed. If I'm him, i go UFA and hope to find a team where i can be a regular player, because i think he's earned that.

 

[Top Corner]

What's with your fetish about a player for player trade? Is that so Lou can prove his chops to you in a head to head matchup with another GM?

If the team can be improved by swapping picks for players or signing a free agent, hasn't a GM done his job?

It’s called balance and you can continue to deplete your system by constantly bringing on players for picks but eventually you run out of cap space and no closer to a cup which is where we are at now.

 

[Top Corner]

He didn't move Bailey at the draft because he didn't have a deal in place to significantly upgrade him. You don't move Bailey prematurely thinking you'll be able to replace him. Regardless of what islander fans think, Bailey is a big piece of the puzzle. No need to argue the point. The only people who's opinion matter know this.

You are not going to upgrade a player by making a 1 for 1 deal,
Moving Bailey would have been strictly to add cap space for potential scorer

 

[periferal]

Dobson and Romanov contracts soon

#insiderrrr

Even if you're right, we probably won't know about it until training camp.

 

[periferal]

The Barzal talk in here is just completely insane! He hasn't gotten progressively worse under Trotz, he had a bad year. That's it! In fact before last year he's been remarkably consistent. And yeah it's true, his rookie season was a statistical outlier but it was a completely different system tailored to his game. Last year at this time we were all talking about his alpha dog playoffs where he was taking over games at clutch times. Provided we can get some help around him I would bet he's going to have a great season this year.

People get on Barzal's shit because the GMs he's played under have failed to get any talent nearly as good as him - Much less better.

Other than this past year, Barzal has been our top scorer every single season he's been in the NHL (including when Tavares was on the team). But instead of, "Barzal isn't perfect, but he's a great player and part of the solution," we get, "He's got to play better!"

Maybe Barzal is playing pretty much as good as he can. He's about to play in his 7th season with his 4th coach. We've tried him in all sorts of ways, but the one thing we haven't tried yet is...Getting wingers for him to play with that are actually as talented as he is.

Now just because finding that kind of talent is hard to do, doesn't mean that Barzal can just up his game and become a 40 goal scorer that can play on the penalty kill. If you're holding out hope for that then hope you're also holding out hope for Bailey to become a "shoot first" type of player.

If you still think Barzal can play significantly better, without improving his linemates, then I'd say the only way that's going to happen is on another team and you should root for him to be traded. Short of that I'd say we should start appreciating him even 10% as much as Leafs' fans appreciate pajama boy.

 

[The Wahligator]

He's about to play in his 7th season

This made me feel old. Wow, where has the time gone.

 

[Zeeker]

This is going to be Barzal’s sixth full season, no? Not counting his two game stint in 16-17

 

[ScaredStreit]

I don't understand why Aho signed. If I'm him, i go UFA and hope to find a team where i can be a regular player, because i think he's earned that.

I think he makes the team. What other options do they have right now, and I doubt he signs without knowing he has a spot.

 

[Throttle]

The Barzal talk in here is just completely insane! He hasn't gotten progressively worse under Trotz, he had a bad year. That's it! In fact before last year he's been remarkably consistent. And yeah it's true, his rookie season was a statistical outlier but it was a completely different system tailored to his game. Last year at this time we were all talking about his alpha dog playoffs where he was taking over games at clutch times. Provided we can get some help around him I would bet he's going to have a great season this year.

Yeah, he was a real alpha dog in that PIT series…

This is going to be Barzal’s sixth full season, no? Not counting his two game stint in 16-17

Yup, but he has potential…

 

[LeapOnOver]

You are not going to upgrade a player by making a 1 for 1 deal,
Moving Bailey would have been strictly to add cap space for potential scorer

I didn't say it would be 1 for 1. What i said is you don't move Bailey until you have a replacement lined up.

I think he makes the team. What other options do they have right now, and I doubt he signs without knowing he has a spot.

I don't think anybody in his situation can count on making the team. It's obvious by the way he was used here, and even with a new coach, he isn't going to make promises. Aho's either the most patient guy in the universe, or doesn't care what level he plays at as long as he has a steady paycheck.

 

[periferal]

 

[doublechili]

As I think about the forwards I think the issue is that we have Bailey and Beau who are both LH shots who play RW, neither of whom is especially big or physical or dynamic, and both of whom fit with Lee-Nelson but not really with Barzal. And 3 of the Isles' 4 centers are on the smaller size. Plus, we have Parise who is a wing in the top 9. So that's basically half of the wingers on the top 3 lines who are kind of similar. Parise is cheap and had a great year so he stays. I really think if Lou does anything up front one of Bailey or Beau needs to go due to the redundancy factor. And as great as it would be to get a Tarasenko, for example, I really think swapping one of them out for a different kind of player would be helpful even if it's not a player of Tarasenko's level.

 

[Taswell]

I didn't say it would be 1 for 1. What i said is you don't move Bailey until you have a replacement lined up.


I don't think anybody in his situation can count on making the team. It's obvious by the way he was used here, and even with a new coach, he isn't going to make promises. Aho's either the most patient guy in the universe, or doesn't care what level he plays at as long as he has a steady paycheck.

That's being a bit harsh. He could just be comfortable here. Don't think he's lived anywhere else besides his home country and here. Maybe he has a significant other who is rooted here, who knows why some players sign where they do. I'm not going to doubt his determination over it.

 

[lafellaesobar]

Could we also be in on Patty Kane? Chicago looks like an absolute mess now

 

[beach]

I believe they see potential in him. His offensive mindset has a place and possibly under Lambert he will flourish...Hope so..I'm the last Aho fan standing!



I'm thinking Mayfield might be on his way out so they'll need the extra D...possibly in a trade with a winger or something bigger?

In basic terminology, Aho sucks.

 

[xECK29x]

Could we also be in on Patty Kane? Chicago looks like an absolute mess now

At the deadline yes, that's the only time we have a shot. Lou has always wanted him throughout his career.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Looking over the Isles CapFriendly page I saw that going forward we literally have a "clean" draft pick inventory. In other words...For all future drafts we have all our picks, but none of anyone else's.

I think we could still lose our 2023 3rd to Arizona in that Ladd deal.

Forgot the exact condition.

 

[lafellaesobar]

I think we could still lose out 2023 3rd to Arizona in that Ladd deal.

Forgot the exact condition.

if ladd plays a game iirc

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I think he makes the team. What other options do they have right now, and I doubt he signs without knowing he has a spot.

Free agency starts in 2 days.

Here are the Dmen hitting the market:

2024 NHL Free Agents

Tracking the status and signings of all NHL free agents.

www.spotrac.com

In addition, there are teams looking to move Dmen. We have a forward or two to spare.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Shot in the dark here but... any interest in PK Subban for like a 2 year deal as a guy to pair with Mayfield? He doesn't have his offensive flare anymore, but could be a good guy to have.

 

[Tahoeblue]

Both

Shot in the dark here but... any interest in PK Subban for like a 2 year deal as a guy to pair with Mayfield? He doesn't have his offensive flare anymore, but could be a good guy to have.

Both are RHD's I believe. It would be fun to see the interaction with Wally.

 

[IslesNorway]

Per CapFriendly, the Hutton deal is a two-way next season and then two years of one way. Aho and Salo got a one way deal both years and Koivula in his second year. Either these contracts are pure genius or very dumb.

Clearly Lou has faith that Salo, Aho and Hutton can contribute in the NHL from now on so I'd be surprised if they go hard after another Dman in free agency now.

 

[Duanesutter12]

Yeah, he was a real alpha dog in that PIT series…


Yup, but he has potential…

And in the third period of game 6 against Tampa.

 

[BelovedIsles]

So Beauvillier isn't being shopped, Varlamov isn't being shopped, Bailey isn't being shopped, then who the f*** is being shopped to upgrade the forward group?

I think this means they ARE being shopped. Lou gaslights the hockey world.

 

[SI]

I think Bellows is the next player who gets resigned.
Aho and Salo have set a precedence here - I expect a 2 year deal around 850k