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

[TeamKidd]

He seems like a perfect fit for AZ… $5M cap hit on $3.5M actual dollars. It’s not like they even care anymore about their actual on ice product. At least while they’re in that tiny building…

Yeah AZI seems like they're in a death spiral. I can't see Bails wanting to go there. He'd just go on LTIR imo if that was the other option

 

[CupHolders]

I would try trade him at us eating 50% of his caphit. Bailey at 2.5M all of a sudden is tradable

Actually, not necessarily. It all depends on the other team. Again, Bailey has a salary of 3.5M but a 5M cap hit. A cap floor team might prefer him at the higher cap hit with lower salary.

EDIT: Oops, repeated what was already said above.

 

[mouser]

Correct me if I am wrong. The TDL is for playoffs rosters, right? If the Isles fall out could Lou trade for Lawson Crouse or something from a team that is also out of the playoffs?

The trade deadline is for playoff eligibility.

However any player traded after the deadline is ineligible to play for the rest of the season, including playoffs.

 

[xECK29x]

I think it will be difficult to find a taker for Bailey. If nobody wanted James van Riemsdyk expiring contract, I can't see Bailey's cheaper expiring contract being any more of a selling point for him this summer.

The best we can hope for is Josh Bailey decides to retire after this season.

That $2m difference is big for one. Also Fletcher completely boggled it this deadline if you listened to his press conference, he waited for teams to go to him, we know Lou (or hopefully whoever takes over) would be more aggressively trying to offload that contract a la Leddy and Ladd. Philly just expected offers to fell into his lap, and then he said he had an "app to help him determine trade value" I am not kidding he actually said this!

 

[seafoam]

Higher than Holmstrom and Fasching?

Wahlstrom has more offensive potential but in a third line role I think Holmstrom gives him a run for his money.

Fasching is a fourth liner and can fill in a top nine role and be responsible. Wahlstrom hasn’t shown that he’s a better bottom six option than those two yet…and with Barzal playing with Horvat and Palmieri solidifying himself as a 2RW Wahlstrom’s roster position is in question.

 

[The Real JT]

If someone were willing to take Bailey at 50% retained it would’ve happened already. Assets even at that ask would need to be attached.

At next year’s TDL he’s far more attractive. The problem the Isles have in the interim is the cap crunch they’ll have until then.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Wahlstrom has more offensive potential but in a third line role I think Holmstrom gives him a run for his money.

Fasching is a fourth liner and can fill in a top nine role and be responsible. Wahlstrom hasn’t shown that he’s a better bottom six option than those two yet…and with Barzal playing with Horvat and Palmieri solidifying himself as a 2RW Wahlstrom’s roster position is in question.

So... Wahlstrom is a better option than Holmstrom and Fasching.

 

[seafoam]

So... Wahlstrom is a better option than Holmstrom and Fasching.

No, he has the potential to be better than both. But he’s currently not a better option.

 

[SI]

I think it will be difficult to find a taker for Bailey. If nobody wanted James van Riemsdyk expiring contract, I can't see Bailey's cheaper expiring contract being any more of a selling point for him this summer.

The best we can hope for is Josh Bailey decides to retire after this season.

It did that extra $ prevented a deadline deal.

There were teams interested, VGK, but they needed a third team - Marek mentioned Detroit was the potential 3rd team.

Bailey would be a pure cap dump - there is a potential to get creative with someone like Mrazek or Nemeth but in the end they will have to pay a 2nd to get it done

 

[isles55]

Holmstrom has 11 less points in 2 more games than Wahlstrom this season. He belongs in the AHL.

 

[Mike C]

No, he has the potential to be better than both. But he’s currently not a better option.

Only because he's on crutches right?

 

[MJF]

That $2m difference is big for one. Also Fletcher completely boggled it this deadline if you listened to his press conference, he waited for teams to go to him, we know Lou (or hopefully whoever takes over) would be more aggressively trying to offload that contract a la Leddy and Ladd. Philly just expected offers to fell into his lap, and then he said he had an "app to help him determine trade value" I am not kidding he actually said this!

JVR has a better recent body of work than Bailey, is on an expiring contract, and no one wanted him. Do you really think anybody will realistically want Bailey after another non-productive year this year even for $2M less than JVR?

I’m not sure how aggressively Lou has been trying to move Bailey recently but we know Seattle wasn’t interested in him for free at the expansion draft. I think it’s safe to say Bailey has been there for the asking since then and nobody’s been calling for him.

 

[WangMustGo]

Holmstrom has 11 less points in 2 more games than Wahlstrom this season. He belongs in the AHL.

Wahlstrom is awful defensively and takes alot of boneheaded penalties. Id take Holmstrom over him. Use Wahlstrom as trade bait.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Thinking about player movement in the offseason...

If Lou finds a way/ways to make Bailey and Clutterbuck non-factors for the line-up and cap, who should, or even could, be added via free agency?

The market looks to be a fairly lively one: 2023 NHL Free Agents Tracker

Do the coming months show us that we're just a, say, Gavrikov and Barbashev away from contending?

Will we still need a bonafide sniper on the wing á la Tarasenko?

Will making the playoffs and let's say bowing out to a Boston or Carolina 4-2 in the first round mean we'll see any additions of note made? After the past two quiet summers, will it simply have to be time for this team to be active on the market?

 

[Chardo]

If you're of the belief that draft picks are better than veterans, then you need Wahlstrom to develop. If you believe Wahlstrom sucks and should be gone, then what makes you think future 1st rounders will be any better?

 

[Mike C]

If you're of the belief that draft picks are better than veterans, then you need Wahlstrom to develop. If you believe Wahlstrom sucks and should be gone, then what makes you think future 1st rounders will be any better?

At 23 years old with 160 NHL games is that considered a veteran these days?

 

[Chardo]

So if I understand this right, we need to unload veterans for draft picks, then unload those drafted players if they don't produce right away.

 

[crashthenet]

Cooper losing the team in Tampa? Pretty awful stretch.

 

[The Real JT]

If you're of the belief that draft picks are better than veterans, then you need Wahlstrom to develop. If you believe Wahlstrom sucks and should be gone, then what makes you think future 1st rounders will be any better?

The other alternative is obvious as we all know. Draft better when you have the chance.

Coming off an injury and rather uninspiring play I think it would be foolish to trade Wahlstrom. Unfortunately he’s gone from a prime asset to more of a lottery ticket. Still has that dreaded word “potential “. Keeping my fingers crossed on him but not expecting the first line sniper we hoped for.

 

[periferal]

Wouldn't it be funny if we caught the Rags?

Hysterical.


Actually the Lightning are falling apart so we might end up catching them (not that it would matter).

 

[Zeeker]

Hysterical.


Actually the Lightning are falling apart so we might end up catching them (not that it would matter).

Yes it would matter. In this hypothetical scenario, the Lightning falling below us means the Sabres/Senators took that third spot, so one less team in WC competition.

 

[periferal]

isles didn’t have a Brock Faber to add to that deal- Bolduc was the closest but his stock was pretty low last off season.

Not really the point is it? The #13 overall + something decent from the Isles could've landed Fiala. Again I didn't want him, but I would've rather traded for him than Romanov. We could use his Kings-leading 66 points right now (which would lead the Isles), and then I'll bet that the 23rd 1st, Beauvillier, and Raty could've landed a much better D-man than Romanov later.

As a fan you can be upset about things- but what control do you have. You can choose to be upset about it and not be okay and litter this board with your disappointment or you can choose to be OK with it and trust the GM and give him the benefit of the doubt and see how it shakes out.

If it doesn’t work out, then call for the GM’s head at home rink. But emotional rants not grounded in the reality of the moment with this coach is not the answer. he has this team humming and finishing games strong again - 13-0 in third period.

Funny thing is...Go check out my posts the day snow was fired and Lou replacing him. I promise you there wasn't a happier poster on these boards. I literally think I liked every single post on the "snow gets fired" thread.

Now I've seen Lou's (and Trotz's work) up close and I'm about done with Lou. If you/anyone else would like to keep riding it out that's your prerogative. Go right ahead.

Me - I'd like to see Lou replaced as I ultimately don't think we're reaching the semi-finals again with him as GM (unless he manages to hire another great coach and Sorokin stands on his head in the playoffs). With that said...Doesn't mean I won't love the players on this team to death and cheer for them each game no matter how far they get. I can do that and also like a new GM. Not that hard to do.

But what I won't do is stick my head in the sand and say I've liked Lou's moves over the past few years. I think he's leading this team straight to "averageland" (an aging, vet-laden squad, with many untradable contracts and no farm system). That recipe is basically the worst place to be when you're trying to build a Cup contender - Much less a multi-year contender.

Big game against Sabres and Pens - Go Isles

Amen brother. 100% on board with this.

 

[periferal]

Now, I am still in the boat that Lou should leverage Nelson’s strong play and dangle him at the Draft to land a pick and a top prospect, then use that cap space in free agency to replace Nelson’s production. I know it is not a popular opinion since he has been our best forward but at 32 I think they try to shake things up and get younger.
I’ll throw a hypothetical out there - would folks turn down Minnesota’s 1st, Liam Ohgren, and a 3rd in 2024 for Brock. Then using the capspace for Bertuzzi?

Thank you. Now this is the way to think if you want to retool on the fly so you can get younger and maybe even open up some cap space.

Because if Lou doesn't start dealing some of these 30+ year olds for younger players soon, one of these years this team is going to fall off a cliff...And if that happens I just hope Lou hasn't traded any future 1sts because we would desperately need them.

 

[Tahoeblue]

The trade deadline is for playoff eligibility.

However any player traded after the deadline is ineligible to play for the rest of the season, including playoffs.

Thanks for the clarification, especially about the regular season.

 

[doublechili]

if Lou doesn't start dealing some of these 30+ year olds for younger players soon, one of these years this team is going to fall off a cliff

Isn't that what you want? Crash and burn, and draft top 5 a few years?

Cooper losing the team in Tampa? Pretty awful stretch.

If Cooper were to get fired and we were in the market for a new coach, I'd take the Hofstra boy in a heartbeat. He'd probably love to be here too.