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

[periferal]

The Islanders have around $6 million in space for next season with 3 roster spots to fill. If Lou resigns Mayfield and Varlamov he will he forced into another Toews or Boychuck situation.

There have been rumblings about the cap going up a few million next season, but hard to count on that given the uncertainty there.

Also don't forget that Wahlstrom also needs a new deal that will probably come in around 2M/year. Also Parise if you want to bring him back.

End of day I think that you have to sometimes be prepared to sign vets to minimum deals (like Parise), and many times that actually works out as opposed to signing/resigning more notable players to more lucrative/longer deals.

 

[danteipp]

The saying should really go, "those who live in Florida shouldn't throw stones". I was at the Lightning game last night. Club seats and I had 2 extra seats. Could have given them to you. I was about to put an APB out for any local Islander fans who were interested but I don't remember there being a fellow Tampa resident here on the boards.

Maybe when I am next in town, we can meet up for a game or at least a drink and watch the game at a local establishment?

I was last living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida about a year ago (hated it!) and am now back in Connecticut, probably for the next 3-5 years.

But I have my eye on returning at some point and owe a visit to a good friend living around St Pete Beach in the next several months.

I believe there are a couple other Tampa natives on this board too, right? Drawing a blank right now though.

 

[CupHolders]

Long Island schools have been on a major decline, and have been for 15-20 years. My former district is a shadow of what it was when I graduated. People who want suburbs + good schools will far more likely prefer Westchester, Montclairish places in NJ, and western CT to LI. (Private schools change all that, but there are better private schools in NYC than on LI). Imo that actually favors the Rangers.

I don't think NYI's ability to keep veterans who land there has much to do with LI, and has much more to do with the fact that the organization, odd as this may seem, is getting a reputation for being exceptionally collegial. That's what the players all say - it's a very functional professional environment.

There is really no difference between Long Island and Westchester… except the latter has more hills.

This whole take that Islander fans are somewhat different than Ranger fans is silly all around.

Both fanbases are primarily suburbanite New Yorkers.

Rangers just have more of them, along with a greater corporate entity.

 

[Mike C]

Detroit is in a weird position with Larkin. Do they trade him if he isn't re-signed before the deadline or do they risk him walking for nothing?

Without knowing their cap situation ( not that it matters much since I suck mightily at capology) I have to think this recent run forces them to keep him for now and hope to get a deal done no? He's a good player and a leader and they have a legit shot at post season

 

[MJF]

It does make sense. Just look at our fans. No one wants to play for a team smack dab in the middle of nowhere surrounded by foul mouthed embarrassing suburbanites. The Isles have always built through the draft because they simply had to. The loyal players here who stayed after being drafted learn to call the oblong shaped parking lot for malls and NYC their home. They don’t play for the fans, they play for Long Island itself as in literally the land. They carved out a section of NY put a banner on it like they were on the moon and exclaim this is our home and we protect our home regardless of the orange and blue painted rats that crawl all over it and erect billboards to shit on you.

Why not? Have you ever heard of a player who put the Bruins on their no-trade list?

It does make sense. Just look at our fans. No one wants to play for a team smack dab in the middle of nowhere surrounded by foul mouthed embarrassing suburbanites. The Isles have always built through the draft because they simply had to. The loyal players here who stayed after being drafted learn to call the oblong shaped parking lot for malls and NYC their home. They don’t play for the fans, they play for Long Island itself as in literally the land. They carved out a section of NY put a banner on it like they were on the moon and exclaim this is our home and we protect our home regardless of the orange and blue painted rats that crawl all over it and erect billboards to shit on you.

Aye I think back to the seventies and early eighties. Now those were great fans but we’ve moved on and relocated to other parts of the country still loyal to the crest but want nothing to do with greaseballs that took our place. ( but then again there are those Hofstra students- they seem like a fun bunch)

And this is also why the Panarins, Kanes, heck even Gaudreaus don’t want to come to LI and we have to over pay just to get some above average UFA to come to LI. They and their wives want the class, the theater’s, the restaurants, the museums, well dressed and educated ladies and gentlemen cheering them on, the big lights on Broadway. They don’t want Roosevelt Field, a dilapidated Carvel store, the LIE, and people driving in circles having barbecues in the parking lot. Really?

That all said though I now live in Tampa or as we say here, “Champa” I stayed with my Isles because I remember when LI was the Rome of the hockey world. I have nostalgia for the team and I have great respect for the players who still wear the Islander crest with pride despite what they see around them. At least if they have money they can still find a nice house on the North Shore somewhat isolated from it all and kudos to the players that do charity work.

I don’t know if that explanation helped but I tried. I think Islander fans should be grateful we still have a team on Long Island. It’s a small miracle if you ask me and while some may what I just wrote was rather harsh I would reply with it’s almost laughable if it wasn’t so true.

Are you NYI Fan Central?

 

[PK Cronin]

Without knowing their cap situation ( not that it matters much since I suck mightily at capology) I have to think this recent run forces them to keep him for now and hope to get a deal done no? He's a good player and a leader and they have a legit shot at post season

They have 8 UFAs and 2 RFAs that need to be brought back/replaced with $37M in space. Detroit has the space to re-sign him but they don't want to go over a certain amount of money for him, which seems to be the sticking point. He's a local guy and the team captain, so will he take a discount to stay there or will he see what he can get on the open market and take the money?

 

[MJF]

Sometimes the truth stings but the next time you are the UBS Arena at a game take a moment to have a good long look around you and then report back to me. And yes the Isles do have a spanking new building to play in but there’s that something something about pigs and lipstick.

Tell me when Rangers fans become so well-heeled. I may be older than you and I remember vividly sitting in the blue seats at the Garden watching Rags games starting around 1979. Those nasty bastards, your "greaseballs" made today's Islanders fan seem like choirboys.

 

[CupHolders]

Detroit is in a weird position with Larkin. Do they trade him if he isn't re-signed before the deadline or do they risk him walking for nothing?

Detroit has it in the bag… he had Red Wing Pajamas growing up!

 

[MJF]

I don't think NYI's ability to keep veterans who land there has much to do with LI, and has much more to do with the fact that the organization, odd as this may seem, is getting a reputation for being exceptionally collegial. That's what the players all say - it's a very functional professional environment.

Where have you read this? And why is a functional professional environment a bad thing?

 

[Rehabguy]

Why not? Have you ever heard of a player who put the Bruins on their no-trade list?


Are you NYI Fan Central?

Certainly you've been an Islander long enough to know that the elite UFAs never want to come here. Can you remember any player who put Long Island on there to be traded to list? They come here either because they had no choice in a trade, or in the case of Bo Horvat we were on his "desperate team likely to pay an obscene amount for me" trade list.

Look at Patrick Kane, the latest UFA to snub the Island of Suburbia. Even after Barzal professed his desire to play alongside Kane- his childhood idol, Kane smugly responded, "I have no interest".

In fact, reports are out that Kane was dejected after he heard the Rangers traded for Tarasenko and nearly puked when one of the reporters asked him, "what about Long Island?"

 

[MJF]

Certainly you've been an Islander long enough to know that the elite UFAs never want to come here. Can you remember any player who put Long Island on their to be traded to list? They come here either because they had no choice in a trade, or in the case of Bo Horvat we were on his "likely to pay an obscene amount for me" trade list.

Look at Patrick Kane, the latest UFA to snub the Island of Suburbia. Even after Barzal professed his desire to play alongside Kane- his childhood idol, Kane smugly responded, "I have no interest".

In fact, reports are out that Kane was dejected after he heard the Rangers traded for Tarasenko and nearly puked when one of the reporters asked him, "what about Long Island?"

No but that still doesn't answer my questions to you.

 

[CupHolders]

Where have you read this? And why is a functional professional environment a bad thing?

I think it should read as the Isles newly found functional professional environment is more a reason to sign/stay than LI itself.

 

[saintunspecified]

Where have you read this? And why is a functional professional environment a bad thing?

I don't have any single source, but just from what players + agents have said in interviews/twitter, etc. for some time now. And I meant it as as a VERY GOOD thing - not bad in any way.

 

[saintunspecified]

I think it should read as the Isles newly found functional professional environment is more a reason to sign/stay than LI itself.

Yes, although I've heard from a former NYI associate I've known for a very long time that NYI became a low-drama organization internally started under Wang despite arena uncertainty, and the executive council fiasco.

Also I was comparing the advantages of LI relative to the other NY metro teams not compared to the rest of the league.

 

[Rehabguy]

Tell me when Rangers fans become so well-heeled. I may be older than you and I remember vividly sitting in the blue seats at the Garden watching Rags games starting around 1979. Those nasty bastards, your "greaseballs" made today's Islanders fan seem like choirboys.

Hey don't shoot the messenger. It could be worse. We could be Winnepeg.

99.9% of NHL players put Winnepeg on their no trade list.

In regards to NYI Fan Central I have no idea where that is. I imagine for the locals it must be some rat hole like the White Castle in West Hempstead.

 

[CupHolders]

Yes, although I've heard from a former NYI associate I've known for a very long time that NYI became a low-drama organization internally started under Wang despite arena uncertainty, and the executive council fiasco.

Also I was comparing the advantages of LI relative to the other NY metro teams not compared to the rest of the league.

That Wang bit is interesting. As for the rest, I understood where you were coming from. But I live in the Westchester area and visited family on LI often while growing up.

IMHO, there really is no major difference. It’s all just NYC suburbs. There’s plenty of good places, not so good places, strip mall sprawl, good and bad school choices etc.

I would say Westchester is just smaller in scale to LI.

 

[BMOK33]

NY state is a dumpster fire.

Most players don’t really care about the politics of the city they live in since often they can just live in a suburb or their wealth is big enough bad policies won’t impact their pockets. Also I think NHLers as a whole are more liberal than MLBers. No doubt in MLB it’s become apparent in the last couple years many guys are strongly conservative which in some cases has impacted where they sign. Brandon Nimmo for example despite strong interest from the Giants evidently wouldn’t even talk to them and some say deGrom left NY because his wife wasn’t loving the schools or politics here

 

[BMOK33]

That Wang bit is interesting. As for the rest, I understood where you were coming from. But I live in the Westchester area and visited family on LI often while growing up.

IMHO, there really is no major difference. It’s all just NYC suburbs. There’s plenty of good places, not so good places, strip mall sprawl, good and bad school choices etc.

I would say Westchester is just smaller in scale to LI.

I’m not sure about now but Larry Brooks reported two years ago that only two players and one coach didn’t live in Manhattan. This was a huge difference from 1994 when evidently Graves was the only guy who lived in the city on the entire team. I assume the fact the city was extremely dangerous in the 70s and 80s likely contributed to it but not sure as many guys live in WChester or Jersey as we think might

 

[MJF]

Hey don't shoot the messenger. It could be worse. We could be Winnepeg.

99.9% of NHL players put Winnepeg on their no trade list.

In regards to NYI Fan Central I have no idea where that is. I imagine for the locals it must be some rat hole like the White Castle in West Hempstead.

So this tells me that Marc Methot doesn’t like the Fairmount Hotel in Winnipeg and he believes 99% of NHL players don’t want to play there.

It still doesn’t answer my questions. When did Rags fans become such a bastion of class and refinement? And have you ever been around Bruins fans. Ever walked on Canal St past the bars after a Bruins game? Ever stood in North Station after a game?

There are reasons UFAs have avoided the Islanders. Isles fans and life on Long Island for players is just from your dim view of it/them.

 

[Rehabguy]

So this tells me that Marc Methot doesn’t like the Fairmount Hotel in Winnipeg and he believes 99% of NHL players don’t want to play there.

It still doesn’t answer my questions. When did Rags fans become such a bastion of class and refinement? And have you ever been around Bruins fans. Ever walked on Canal St past the bars after a Bruins game? Ever stood in North Station after a game?

There are reasons UFAs have avoided the Islanders. Isles fans and life on Long Island for players is just from your dim view of it/them.

Long Island versus Manhattan. We're never going to win. That's basically it.

 

[MJF]

Long Island versus NYC. We're never going to win. That's basically it.

Got it. Thanks.

 

[CupHolders]

I’m not sure about now but Larry Brooks reported two years ago that only two players and one coach didn’t live in Manhattan. This was a huge difference from 1994 when evidently Graves was the only guy who lived in the city on the entire team. I assume the fact the city was extremely dangerous in the 70s and 80s likely contributed to it but not sure as many guys live in WChester or Jersey as we think might

Ah ok. That would certainly change perspectives.

Back in the 90’s many Rangers still lived around the Rye Playland practice facility.

Friend of mine (A UPS driver) got a photo with the Stanley Cup while dropping off a package for Sergei Zubov. Really awesome by Zubov to invite him in for that.

 

[BMOK33]

Ah ok. That would certainly change perspectives.

Back in the 90’s many Rangers still lived around the Rye Playland practice facility.

Friend of mine (A UPS driver) got a photo with the Stanley Cup while dropping off a package for Sergei Zubov. Really awesome by Zubov to invite him in for that.

Brooks mentioned they basically all carpool together to practice every day like each day a different guy drives and about 4-5 drivers are needed I think. It seems annoying to me but there is no traffic at 10-11am when they go. Also they always fly out of HPN airport on their Delta charters and almost never out of JFK or LGA. The Mets often go out of JFK too due to fact LGA has a curfew in summer so can’t risk a return at 2am.

 

[CupHolders]

Brooks mentioned they basically all carpool together to practice every day like each day a different guy drives and about 4-5 drivers are needed I think. It seems annoying to me but there is no traffic at 10-11am when they go. Also they always fly out of HPN airport on their Delta charters and almost never out of JFK or LGA. The Mets often go out of JFK too due to fact LGA has a curfew in summer so can’t risk a return at 2am.

Which makes me wonder with the arena certainty, if more Isles will start to move to the city?

When the Isles were playing in Barclays the travel distance and time was identical for: Barclays to/from Isles practice facility, as it was MSG to/from Rangers Practice facility.

As bad as LI traffic is, Westchester isn’t much better during peak times. Do not know about off peak hours.

Another difference would be Rangers NYC residence to MSG. Whereas Islanders living in NYC would still have to hike to Elmont.

 

[12Dog]

I’m not sure about now but Larry Brooks reported two years ago that only two players and one coach didn’t live in Manhattan. This was a huge difference from 1994 when evidently Graves was the only guy who lived in the city on the entire team. I assume the fact the city was extremely dangerous in the 70s and 80s likely contributed to it but not sure as many guys live in WChester or Jersey as we think might

Leetch lived in Manhattan