Trades can happen after the trade deadline, those acquisitions just can't be used for the playoffs.
The employer is telling you that you're more valuable away from the team than with the team at the point of the trade. Another organization is saying you're part of the solution for them. It could get messy pretty quickly, especially if the new team has success.
Of course you put yourself in the "realistic" grouping. Seems like there's some willful ignorance happening here with the "realistic" group.
The East is loaded up right now, but why are the Islanders destined to get Boston in the opening round and not Carolina? Refresh my memory, what happened the last time the Islanders faced Boston in the playoffs? Were the Islanders the favorite in that series? Wasn't there some record setting team in the 2019 playoffs that got bounced in four games in the opening round against a way less talented team? Maybe I'm just making that up.
2022 saw a 1 seed win the cup. Every other 1 seed was bounced in the second round.
2021 saw a 2 seed win the cup. Two 1 seeds were bounced in the first round, another in the second.
2020 saw a 2 seed win the cup. The 1 seed in the East was Philadelphia, they lost to the Islanders if you don't remember.
2019 saw the 3 seed win the cup. All four 1 seeds were bounced in the first round.
The insistence from the "realistic" group that teams can't win unless they're a favorite is so idiotic in the NHL today. The Islanders have one of the best goaltenders on the planet, they can absolutely knock some teams off. They also added a significant piece in Horvat, who has been playing pretty darn well with Barzal out (as the team has).
Who gets to determine what "contending" means? How does a team "contend" if they're never given a chance because "they're not going to win the cup anyway?" We're talking about two expiring contracts. Mayfield and Varlamov. These are both players the team should be looking to keep around, not jettisoning them out the door. Draft picks replenish themselves, there isn't a need to collect them like you're a pokemon trainer.
I don't really see anyone talking about adding rentals or anything wild. I think most people understand that the likelihood of this team winning the cup is slim at the moment. That doesn't mean the team shouldn't try to get to the dance. They should be looking to do exactly what was done with the Horvat deal, grab someone who will be around a long time and helps change the team dynamic. Are you getting upset if they go get another 27 year old and lock them up if they're more talented than guys we already have? You shouldn't be, even if it costs draft picks to do so.
The team does have one of the best goalies on the planet and just throwing that to the side like it doesn't matter is foolish. They shouldn't rely on Sorokin to win the cup by himself, but he can certainly help the team on their way to winning one if they get hot or make another good move or two.
