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

[The Real JT]

I’ll bang the drum again on the notion that we need to keep our draft picks.

I hesitate to bring up the Rags but I’ll do it anyway. They traded away a first to get Tank but there were dealing from a position of strength by having an extra first round pick from the Lunkvist trade. Sure the Rags have sucked with their top 10 picks but they’ve actually done a nice job accumulating talent with their mid and late first round picks. That’s given them the opportunity to make a deal like this to improve their team while still maintaining other draft capital.

Unlike the Isles they also have the advantage of being a destination of choice for UFAs, other team’s trade candidates with modified NTC clauses and college UFAs. The Isles have always had a hard time landing those types of players so keeping our draft picks becomes all the more important.

 

[steveat]

When it comes to the state of this franchise,Lou is leading the sheep to the slaughter house . It could set us back a decade with the lack of low cost talent in the system. When injuries happen is when you call on the your system to bail you out but with this void, we are in peril..Might even be in worse shape than when he left NJ.

I know we blame Lou for making these agressive moves, but this is on ownership. They want a winner now. They do NOT want to rebuild.

 

[xECK29x]

I know we blame Lou for making these agressive moves, but this is on ownership. They want a winner now. They do NOT want to rebuild.

Two years into a brand new building ownership needs butts in seats and playoff revenue. Even if Lou isn’t brought back they will still be a win now team under a different GM.

 

[MJF]

Two years into a brand new building ownership needs butts in seats and playoff revenue. Even if Lou isn’t brought back they will still be a win now team under a different GM.

Considering how easily Isles fans look to vote with their wallets, you’re probably right about the next GM.

 

[ekill08x]

I know we blame Lou for making these agressive moves, but this is on ownership. They want a winner now. They do NOT want to rebuild.

well then they are pretty tone deaf to the discrepancy of talent we have compared to the top teams in our conference and it will only make it harder and longer to actually complete the inevitable rebuild.

 

[MJF]

Too many injuries at this late point of the season.

 

[ekill08x]

I’ll bang the drum again on the notion that we need to keep our draft picks.

I hesitate to bring up the Rags but I’ll do it anyway. They traded away a first to get Tank but there were dealing from a position of strength by having an extra first round pick from the Lunkvist trade. Sure the Rags have sucked with their top 10 picks but they’ve actually done a nice job accumulating talent with their mid and late first round picks. That’s given them the opportunity to make a deal like this to improve their team while still maintaining other draft capital.

Unlike the Isles they also have the advantage of being a destination of choice for UFAs, other team’s trade candidates with modified NTC clauses and college UFAs. The Isles have always had a hard time landing those types of players so keeping our draft picks becomes all the more important.

100% correct. Listen, you want to make good trades, go for it. Trading and drafting is the only way we are going to actually improve this team in the long run. We will never be a destination. Lou just made some pretty horrible trades starting with Pageau. The Rangers literally signed Trocheck for $650K more and hes been better in the faceoff circle and offensively. We gave up a 1, 2 and 3 and signed him long term. We can't keep operating like that and paying a ridiculous tax to get mediocre talent here. Have to start drafting and developing better while also re-cooping some assets for expiring contracts. If these owners actually want asses in the seats you have to make the right business decisions. Get some picks back, shed contracts that have become a crutch and try and see if you can get some bargain free agents that will help. We need more cost controlled players and less over-priced 3rd and 4th liners.

 

[duster19]

Too many injuries at this late point of the season.

Game over. Wasted season. I hope there are some serious changes made. Not sure how as everyone pretty much has a contract next year. Big big problems in islander country.

You would think Lou would throw some fans a bone at this point in the season and tell ya what the injury is. Another beauty quality of Lou - he makes the fan experience painful.

 

[NYI365]

Sell sell sell sell

 

[IslesNorway]

Barzal out ends the season. From here on it's all about selling and retooling.

 

[BMOK33]

He's probably gonna be out for the first 1-2 months of next year as well. I don't know why they don't just admit at this point what the injury was. Maybe after the deadline they will

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

Who do you replace Pageau with?
And what kind of return do you expect?
If you want to shake things up, then Nelson is the one you move… you grab a top prospect and a first and clear 6m from the cap - use that $ to add a new piece to the new core

There is a reality that isles keep Nelson and Pageau - resign Mayfield, sign a cheap back up and if they clear Bailey’s contract - they could fit Chychrun and his 4.65 aav.

Yeah they could move Nelson, he’s harder to replace though but he your right he’d net them more in return. It could also be idea behind Horvat also and Barzal back to center next year also.

 

[duster19]

He's probably gonna be out for the first 1-2 months of next year as well. I don't know why they don't just admit at this point what the injury was. Maybe after the deadline they will

Cause Lou. You can take this stuff when you are winning. When you are losing it just make the experience miserable.

 

[BMOK33]

Barzal out ends the season. From here on it's all about selling and retooling.

Remember we thought the same in 2014 and team went on a tear without Tavares...sometimes these things in the regular season result in a team doing better than you expect...in the postseason usually its the end but when you play a different team every night its sometimes hard for them to key in on who is hot who is not and you can get random contributions

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

He's probably gonna be out for the first 1-2 months of next year as well. I don't know why they don't just admit at this point what the injury was. Maybe after the deadline they will

He went with them to Pittsburgh, he’s in the picture gross tweeted out with isles dads on bench. It’s definitely not ACL or anything, they would not have let him come back and try it after the injury it’s one of the first tests they would have done on him in room.

 

[duster19]

Who do you replace Pageau with?
And what kind of return do you expect?
If you want to shake things up, then Nelson is the one you move… you grab a top prospect and a first and clear 6m from the cap - use that $ to add a new piece to the new core

There is a reality that isles keep Nelson and Pageau - resign Mayfield, sign a cheap back up and if they clear Bailey’s contract - they could fit Chychrun and his 4.65 aav.

I don’t see how you can sign mayfield and get Chychrun, even if you get rid of Bailey. No space. They have to get rid of Bailey to just sign Mayfield.

 

[NYI365]

This might be the worst forward lineup I've seen in 10+ years for a regular season game.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Indefinitely? f***

Wasn’t able to watch the Bruins game (thankfully) did he get rolled up on at some point?

 

[duster19]

Too many injuries at this late point of the season.

Had both Martin and Jonhston in the lineup. There was 0 response. We are way to soft. I honestly have no idea why Ross is in the team. He’s just taking up a wasted roster spot. Soshnikov another beauty move by Lou. Lasted 4 games…

 

[MJF]

This might be the worst forward lineup I've seen in 10+ years for a regular season game.

Two 4th lines.

 

[duster19]

This might be the worst forward lineup I've seen in 10+ years for a regular season game.

Crazy how fast it turned. I felt like a couple weeks ago they finally were putting their best roster forward of the season.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

Barzal out ends the season. From here on it's all about selling and retooling.

I’m not disagreeing but sometimes weird things happen, they control their own destiny a bit with the two games vs Pit, three vs caps, two vs Sabres and one against wings. its time for them to play defense like they did three years ago, not optimistic but that’s the way they need to get this done

 

[MJF]

Indefinitely? f***

Wasn’t able to watch the Bruins game (thankfully) did he get rolled up on at some point?

It was a knee to the side of Barzy’s knee along the boards. Seemed innocent enough. Not a booming check. It certainly didn’t look like a season ender.

 

[mm11]

gives the team the opportunity to play Trotz like and maybe grind out some wins with a good goalie and supposed strong defense. Guess, teams top D fair will focus on Nelson now. Let;s see the response.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Please just trade Varlamov and Mayfield now. I’m begging you to get SOME assets.