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

[Top Corner]

We must have something better than Koivula in waiting? Not sure how many years are left on his contract but I think whatever Hope Isles fans had for him must be gone now.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I'm not getting sucked into this vortex with you, agree to disagree just don't spam this place with your opinions and conspiracy theories.

Don't come to a fan forum and share opinions.

Check

 

[Isles72]

wish we knew whats up with Pageau .

simply plugging him back in makes this blue collar playoff push more exciting to ponder .

loving the Durandeau kid , reminds me of when Pageau was a young guy coming into his own with the Sens

 

[PK Cronin]

Why was the GDT closed?

Anyway, use some magick on Barzal's injury, and speed up that recovery. Take these efforts compounded by his skill, this is a playoff contender. Don't think it's sustainable (without him), but I'd love to be proved wrong.

Truly appreciate the blue-collar work; the full collective. I knew Holms was going to finish that. He can finish; if he has the right time and space-- whether that be out by the circles, or net.

Parise has been a warrior. I've loved him since day 1. You can tell he wants a taste of those playoffs. Imagine what he would've done in the ECF's.

Because I hit the wrong button and didn't realize before I went to bed.

We must have something better than Koivula in waiting? Not sure how many years are left on his contract but I think whatever Hope Isles fans had for him must be gone now.

There was a time where he was an untouchable prospect, which goes to show how untouchable those should actually be.

Don't come to a fan forum and share opinions.

Check

You're missing the key word, spam.

 

[Zeeker]

You're missing the key word, spam.

My guess is that the “sunshine and roses” crowd isn’t getting the same warnings for spamming too many optimistic posts.

 

[saintunspecified]

I’d dump the farm for Schiefele…

My first thought was: I wouldn't. My second thought was: what farm?

 

[doublechili]

My guess is that the “sunshine and roses” crowd isn’t getting the same warnings for spamming too many optimistic posts.

Is there a "sunshine and roses" crowd here?

 

[PK Cronin]

My guess is that the “sunshine and roses” crowd isn’t getting the same warnings for spamming too many optimistic posts.

Too bad, so sad.

 

[Zeeker]

Too bad, so sad.

I don’t fall into either camp but would pretty objectively say he’s not spamming and some here just get triggered by negative points of view. Those exist along with overly positive points of view.

Carry on!

 

[Glory Days]

Another game I would consider not tops for Dobson tonight. He's looking like a glorified Paul Boutilier lately

Dobson is young and still developing. He is going to have his ups and downs. He also clearly misses Chara.

 

[Mike C]

Dobson is young and still developing. He is going to have his ups and downs. He also clearly misses Chara.

totally agree. his body language sometimes indicates frustration. i'd like to see him net one and hopefully that will allow him to relax a bit. for the sake of the team, i'm hoping he buttons up the other areas of the game down the stretch. good news is that as of this moment we are in the playoffs. as i say when i'm in 1st place in fantasy baseball

"STOP THE SEASON I WANT TO GET OFF"

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

You're missing the key word, spam.

@periferal is as long and regular a contributor of these boards as any of us.

If his posts are spam, then all of our posts are spam.

 

[xECK29x]

@periferal is as long and regular a contributor of these boards as any of us.

If his posts are spam, then all of our posts are spam.

Chaplin I respect you greatly but you also don’t see what we see and everyone has to respect the forums rules, specially around making this place enjoyable for all posters. If you have any concerns about this you are welcome to use the Contact Us email to message the global mods.

 

[CupHolders]

I don't agree that they went too far in with a top heavy lineup. Aside from Tavares, their top guys are actually on value deals. That's how good they were. The Leafs have done incredibly well finding value in under valued players: Hyman, Bunting, Engvall, Jarnkrok. etc. Now they still don't have the forward depth, mostly because the cap has stagnated since they signed JT. They've been unlucky because the current playoff seeding is dumb and they had to play a deeper team with elite goaltending in the Lightning. They almost beat them last season.

This is what I hoped the Isles would do: have elite players, and backfill by finding under appreciated players like Parise. The issue has been a) overpaying for depth (pageau), and completely ignoring or not understanding the quality of players they have in the bottom 6. For the last two seasons, the Isles were banking on players on the wrong side of 30 to reverse their aging curves (most notably the fourth line). This inability to find value in the bottom 6 takes away the potential cap to make a run at a guy like Meier, or JG last offseason.

It's always better to pay elite talent, because regardless of what you pay them, they will aways outproduce their cap hit. Meanwhile the depth pieces you overpay (Pageau, Palmieri, etc) won't move the needle as much as teams hope.

There is a lot to unpack here and I know that I won't be able to do so well enough. So I'll try to do so on key points. Which means I'll likely miss something or poorly express myself.

To clarify my use of "too far in with a top heavy lineup." It was some what poorly written and I was trying to express two thought into one:

1) I think that their organizational philosophy leans too deeply or "too far" with investing in a limited albeit talented players... yielding a top heavy lineup. IF you sign Tavares, then you should have used one of their three players to balance their defense.

2) It was "far too" reactionary to recent two cup winner in Penguins... Need of two elite centers.

In theory that should all work, and I believe that Tampa and Colorado are example of how it can and has worked. The leafs are not, and thus farther have failed in its implementation.

The same organizational philosophy believes that the remaining spots can be filled by finding value in players that were previously missed though the use of various metrics.

As for your examples of Pageau and Palmieri , their recent playoff experience actually suggests that they have been a better value than the Toronto "elite" talent. Additionally, many of the examples of Leaf value contracts are base on regular season outputs.

I'm sorry I don't buy the Toronto social/media excuses about playoff seedings etc. The playoffs are hard for everyone for different reasons. Failing to win a round over five years is a reflection of oneself more than their circumstances.

With that said, I think this year represents their best chance of advancing. Incidentally, it is from making moves that reflect closer to what Lou Lamoriello and the Tampa Lightning have done.

 

[The Wahligator]

3 games remaining before the TDL, all against playoff teams. What needs to be our record to be buyers/sellers, or does Lou already have his mind made up?

 

[IslesNorway]

3 games remaining before the TDL, all against playoff teams. What needs to be our record to be buyers/sellers, or does Lou already have his mind made up?

He is buying.

 

[CupHolders]

3 games remaining before the TDL, all against playoff teams. What needs to be our record to be buyers/sellers, or does Lou already have his mind made up?

Hard to say. The realistic nature in me, sees the Isles overall organizational standing and thinks it would be best to get in this year's draft lottery while gaining another possible first and/or seconds from selling. Then translate some of that to a further retool in the offseason

But once game time comes around, I'm all about wanting them to win. If Lou does buy, I hope that it is at least with an eye towards further shifting the core. Does not necessarily have to be a player that is signed or extended for next year... but at least have some salary (Bailey, Palmieri etc.) going the other way. This allows for shifting that to someone else this offseason.

EDIT: But to actually answer your question... I think he buys.

 

[CupHolders]

Hey @doublechili, Color me shocked that Arizona would actually look to move a player making more money then cap hit

"

Still leery about his term and health. But again, this is the kind of trade where you can move a Bailey. Also something that has been suggested since last year.

 

[saintunspecified]

He is buying.

With what?

I really don't see NYI making any significant moves at all. As it stands, NYI are 15th in points %. The only team lower than them playing good hockey is the Senators. It seems pretty likely that unless there's a collapse (which we won't know until after the deadline), the #1 pick will transfer to the Canucks.

Doesn't seem smart to me to deal the 2nd round pick, too. And for what? Will it get Henrique? Maybe, but I doubt it. And even if they did acquire Henrique, what are they going to use to shed salary for 2023-24?

The bad scenario we have to be prepared for is not making the playoffs, and losing Mayfield for nothing.

 

[duster19]

He is buying.

He’s only got nickels so I don’t imagine a big piece coming back. I do think they will need some cheap help at forward with all the injuries. They also need a puck moving dman but I dunno if that is in the cards.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

With what?

I really don't see NYI making any significant moves at all. As it stands, NYI are 15th in points %. The only team lower than them playing good hockey is the Senators. It seems pretty likely that unless there's a collapse (which we won't know until after the deadline), the #1 pick will transfer to the Canucks.

Doesn't seem smart to me to deal the 2nd round pick, too. And for what? Will it get Henrique? Maybe, but I doubt it. And even if they did acquire Henrique, what are they going to use to shed salary for 2023-24?

The bad scenario we have to be prepared for is not making the playoffs, and losing Mayfield for nothing.

We will see what prices are on players, could move mayfield for picks and use one of those picks to get a forward and get a defenseman to replace mayfield on cheap as well. Could this be why Koivula is up, does someone like him? It was odd move to bring him back up I thought. I have feeling Varlamov will be traded Also

He’s only got nickels so I don’t imagine a big piece coming back. I do think they will need some cheap help at forward with all the injuries. They also need a puck moving dman but I dunno if that is in the cards.

There are a lot of trades for future considerations, guys moved for 5th round picks and lower etc. isles could get who at very least can add a little more to lineup then they currently have.

 

[The Wahligator]

We will see what prices are on players, could move mayfield for picks and use one of those picks to get a forward and get a defenseman to replace mayfield on cheap as well. Could this be why Koivula is up, does someone like him? It was odd move to bring him back up I thought. I have feeling Varlamov will be traded Also

As long as the team is the playoff mix Lou will not move anyone off of the roster for picks. It's just not his MO, never has been. If they're gonna add it's going to be using whatever non-roster assets we have left.

 

[ekill08x]

He is buying.

with what?

 

[saintunspecified]

He’s only got nickels so I don’t imagine a big piece coming back. I do think they will need some cheap help at forward with all the injuries. They also need a puck moving dman but I dunno if that is in the cards.

With the Capitals falling like abosolute stones, and a completely unsettled roster next year, there could be something avaiable there. Nothing special, but maybe Sheary, or Jensen.

I don't think NYI will deal Mayfield. I also think that it's more likely than not that NYI would prefer to resign Varlamov.

 

[PK Cronin]

3 games remaining before the TDL, all against playoff teams. What needs to be our record to be buyers/sellers, or does Lou already have his mind made up?

I think he'll do whatever he can to buy again. Doubt we see a major deal take shape but it could definitely be veterans for the bottom 6 and the bottom pair on defense. The team has rotated centers on the bottom line quite a bit lately, I expect Lamoriello will try to solidify that with some insurance. Maybe someone who can play wing and center in the bottom 6. Aho can be upgraded on the defensive side of things.