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

[duster19]

The bottom of the lineup does not give us offense. Same problem as now, just another older and still unskilled. Unless JG Pageau stops underproducing and finds another 10 goals in his stick.

Horvat will have to score 40-45 goals with the team around him to make up for the lack of offense around him and have the Isles in the 100 point range. I think Horvat is good but I’m not sure if he’s 45 goals good.

This is where I see Wally having value. He can play on the 3rd line and provide some goal scoring. Fasching has played well. Holmstrom looks good. Ultimately they don’t produce and that is the biggest issue on the team.

 

[Top Corner]

Then you trade everyone of value over say 24, including Sorokin. And since the Isles won't be signing UFAs at discounts or getting players cheap via "forced" trades or signings, you can look at contending in maybe 7 or 8 years. But we can occupy ourselves in the meantime reading draft previews and imagining future glory based on our high organizational prospect rankings.

I can’t see them competing in 7-8 years because their gap control is horrible.what I mean by gap control is the gap between the young’s stars and new stars (none right now since we’ve had no 1st round picks) is too far apart to be any sort of contender. Until that changes, can’t see major success

 

[CupHolders]

I’m aware of the difference between a 1-way and a 2-way contract. I don’t think Hudson Fasching is a serious replacement for Cal Clutterbuck. I could easily see Fasching being relegated to the AHL for a long stretch next year. So while he’s down there why pay him an NHL salary? And if Fasching uses a 2-way deal as motivation to be the best player he can be, what’s the harm in that?

In principle, nothing really. But if he plays well the rest of the way... and earns enough interest by getting a one way offer form someone. I wouldn't hesitate matching the one-way deal... as long as the salary stays below something that can be cleanly buried. Big players who are decently mobile are always good to have.

 

[MJF]

In principle, nothing really. But if he plays well the rest of the way... and earns enough interest by getting a one way deal form someone. I wouldn't hesitate matching the one-way deal... as long as the salary stays below something that can be cleanly buried. Big players who are decently mobile are always good to have.

I think guys like Fasching are a dime a dozen. I guess you see him differently than I do.

 

[Mike C]

This is where I see Wally having value. He can play on the 3rd line and provide some goal scoring. Fasching has played well. Holmstrom looks good. Ultimately they don’t produce and that is the biggest issue on the team.

Totally agree. Wally 50 hits in 35 games this year. I think a 3rd/4th line role would suit him well

 

[Duanesutter12]

I think guys like Fasching are a dime a dozen. I guess you see him differently than I do.

You always see that thrown around a lot with grinders but if that were the case our beloved fourth line, which has been around since the stone age, would also be a dime a dozen. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I really like Fasching's game and would take him full time over Clutterbuck these days. Always loved Clutter's game but he's an injury waiting to happen at the is point and should've never been re-signed last year. The thing that made our fourth line so great was not just the grinding but the savvy that came with it. I think Fasching has that in his game and if that's only worth a dime dozen I want him as one of the 12

 

[19 in a row]

wouldn't it be nice to have an updated time table for Barzal, JGP and even Wahlstrom (just assume Wally is out for the year)? I get the UBI and LBI to avoid opponents knowing and targeting injuries (even if the NFL is specific), but don't get that a timetable would hurt. Not like the Leafs are going to be planning weeks ahead for our game with them based on when Barzal is coming back.

I am a Lou fan but don't like that we have zero idea and almost no news (well also due to our lack of coverage and that the guys on our beat are one guy who still thinks he is writing for San Jose, and the other someone who seems to be too bothered to spend much time with updates, and whose twitter still tells us that he was the Devils and Rangers beat writers first).

 

[IslesNorway]

Fasching has shown enough to warrant a one way deal from some team. Heck, Lou gave grant Hutton a 3 year deal on a one way, so he's not afraid to do it. Fasching is an okay player and even if he's not Cal Cluttebuck, at least he's not injured...

 

[SI]

Buffalo, Ottawa, and Washington all lost in regulation tonight.

 

[Mike C]

Buffalo, Ottawa, and Washington all lost in regulation tonight.

Caught the last half of Caps/Kings

If we keep plaging like we've been, I like our chances of getting in!

 

[impaaaaaact]

I’m aware of the difference between a 1-way and a 2-way contract. I don’t think Hudson Fasching is a serious replacement for Cal Clutterbuck. I could easily see Fasching being relegated to the AHL for a long stretch next year. So while he’s down there why pay him an NHL salary? And if Fasching uses a 2-way deal as motivation to be the best player he can be, what’s the harm in that?

Clutterbuck’s primary contribution has been on the PK where we are still top 5 in the league. He’s done. Fasching has been noticeably better than clutterbuck from the moment he’s been up.

As for the 1 way/2 way nonsense, who cares? You paying him yourself? You think he grew up with dreams of playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers? Give me a break. The dude has been solid, reward him.

 

[Seph]

I think guys like Fasching are a dime a dozen. I guess you see him differently than I do.

Salaries of less than 1.1 mil are for dime a dozen players. I don't see how wanting to pay him less than that indicates a person views him differently.

 

[YearlyLottery]

I think guys like Fasching are a dime a dozen. I guess you see him differently than I do.

I think in many ways this shows why you do not need to lock up fourth line players like Lou did with Clutterbuck.

 

[LeapOnOver]

wouldn't it be nice to have an updated time table for Barzal, JGP and even Wahlstrom (just assume Wally is out for the year)? I get the UBI and LBI to avoid opponents knowing and targeting injuries (even if the NFL is specific), but don't get that a timetable would hurt. Not like the Leafs are going to be planning weeks ahead for our game with them based on when Barzal is coming back.

I am a Lou fan but don't like that we have zero idea and almost no news (well also due to our lack of coverage and that the guys on our beat are one guy who still thinks he is writing for San Jose, and the other someone who seems to be too bothered to spend much time with updates, and whose twitter still tells us that he was the Devils and Rangers beat writers first).

Are you saying you want information on the exact injury, or just a timetable? The latter we got, Wahlstrom out for the year (per Kurtz), Barzal week to week, JGP is day to day.

If you want to know the actual injuries, then yeah I agree. I mean, be nice to know what knocked Wahlstrom out for the season other than just 'brace on his knee' rumors.

 

[NC 1972]

wouldn't it be nice to have an updated time table for Barzal, JGP and even Wahlstrom (just assume Wally is out for the year)? I get the UBI and LBI to avoid opponents knowing and targeting injuries (even if the NFL is specific), but don't get that a timetable would hurt. Not like the Leafs are going to be planning weeks ahead for our game with them based on when Barzal is coming back.

I am a Lou fan but don't like that we have zero idea and almost no news (well also due to our lack of coverage and that the guys on our beat are one guy who still thinks he is writing for San Jose, and the other someone who seems to be too bothered to spend much time with updates, and whose twitter still tells us that he was the Devils and Rangers beat writers first).

Given the fact that the NHL has now embraced gambling,you'd think it would be incumbent on teams to be fully transparent with injuries. I'm pretty sure that's why the NFL lays it all out there.

 

[SCMURRAY]

Buffalo, Ottawa, and Washington all lost in regulation tonight.

2 points tonight are an must have.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

You always see that thrown around a lot with grinders but if that were the case our beloved fourth line, which has been around since the stone age, would also be a dime a dozen. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I really like Fasching's game and would take him full time over Clutterbuck these days. Always loved Clutter's game but he's an injury waiting to happen at the is point and should've never been re-signed last year. The thing that made our fourth line so great was not just the grinding but the savvy that came with it. I think Fasching has that in his game and if that's only worth a dime dozen I want him as one of the 12

One thing that I've really enjoyed about Fasching is his ability to set up high scoring chances. He has a knack for passing the puck in high danger zones from behind the red line. Cizikas and Martin don't convert often, but he sets them up consistently.

 

[saintunspecified]

Given the fact that the NHL has now embraced gambling,you'd think it would be incumbent on teams to be fully transparent with injuries. I'm pretty sure that's why the NFL lays it all out there.

The gambling thing has really hurt my enjoyment of the game. One of the best thing about going to live games, as opposed to seeing them on TV, is not having to hear about all those damn ads.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

I guess I don't understand why people care about player's injuries.

 

[JKP]

The gambling thing has really hurt my enjoyment of the game. One of the best thing about going to live games, as opposed to seeing them on TV, is not having to hear about all those damn ads.

There is no question we are moving to a world where the gambling broadcast is the core product and the league is just the window dressing enabling it, at least in terms of what's driving revenues...

Smart phones are already addictive. Gambling is already addictive. The two things together are going to be super addictive, sadly.

I know there are many who can socially gamble and it's not a problem, like anything out there. But as someone who works in the tech world and has sat in many meetings about making products more "sticky", I really fear for the broader society when it comes to online gambling.

And, to the original point, I would also think this will drive some pressure from the league's partners to start publishing more clear and accurate injury reports in order to facilitate odds making, just like in the NFL.

 

[Riseonfire]

Not sure if anybody has brought this up, and I'm not terribly sore about it in case anyone wants to accuse me of being dramatic. I just think there is a bit of unfairness to having the amount of games played being such a large disparity at the time of the trade deadline, and ultimately bad for business. It really left LL with a lot less information than the other bubble teams. I hope they find ways to rectify this in the future.

Technically , didn’t Lou have more information given we had played more games?

 

[19 in a row]

Are you saying you want information on the exact injury, or just a timetable? The latter we got, Wahlstrom out for the year (per Kurtz), Barzal week to week, JGP is day to day.

If you want to know the actual injuries, then yeah I agree. I mean, be nice to know what knocked Wahlstrom out for the season other than just 'brace on his knee' rumors.

I don't see any reports from any reliable sources, just hearsay and an occasional inference in a tweet. For MLB or NFL you can go to many reputable sites and it will give you an idea of when they are expected back barring setbacks. Week to week or day to day , seems to mean very little and doesn't really give much info.

Maybe I am greedy but as vested fans, I feel it is part of the overall experience, to know when players are going to get back into the lineup.. Barzal has been out for two plus weeks now. So does week to week mean he will be back in this weekend or in April? Something I am sure many are curious about.

We heard whispers that JGP wasn't skating, then he was in a Lambert post game comment, then he wasn't at any practices , now he had a full practice yesterday (which I didnt realize yesterday when I wrote my prior comment).

Before yesterday there were zero updates that I saw on any of our guys, other than rumors that Barzal is now off crutches with no limp (so what does that mean about a return?).. In MLB or NFL etc, we have much more of an idea when to expect a player back, barring setbacks and when they are going on conditioning etc. The NHL can be vague but Lou and the Isles take it to another extreme.

Maybe they will be back, maybe they won't. Hey they have every right not to divulge but it is an entertainment business, which they market to fans. It just seems odd that this is information that they don't disclose. I don't see a competitive advantage by withholding timing of returns, I could understand the nature of the injury, but not the timing.

Just one man's opinion.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

I think in many ways this shows why you do not need to lock up fourth line players like Lou did with Clutterbuck.

When we talk about bottom-six, do not pay for past production.

 

[SI]

2 points tonight are an must have.

Should be a playoff feel tonight.

Isles should come out and teach these young bucks what it means.
4 point swing tonight!

Let's GO!

 

[NC 1972]

I guess I don't understand why people care about player's injuries.

I not concerned with divulging injuries but I am confused how you can have legal sports betting on your league and not have true injury reports. And I'm not a gambler.