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

[doublechili]

I remember when he had a first and 3 seconds and drafted Not Zach Parise, Dmitr Chernykh, Evegny Tunik and Colliton.

If you look at Milbury's drafting record, it's amazing that he virtually never hit on a later round pick. It's like a monkey could've done better.

 

[eoin92]

Remember when Milbury had 3 top 10 picks plus a later 1st rounder?

He selected Tim Connolly, Branislav Mezei, Taylor Pyatt and Kristian Kudroc. Good times.

To be fair, outside of the Sedin’s, that first round was brutal. Retrospectivally, that draft was not very good at all. Of course it would be the draft where the islanders had four first rounders.

 

[Strummergas]

If you look at Milbury's drafting record, it's amazing that he virtually never hit on a later round pick. It's like a monkey could've done better.

He was always the smartest guy in the room

Amazingly, this team has had two of these types of GMs...

 

[crashthenet]

If you look at Milbury's drafting record, it's amazing that he virtually never hit on a later round pick. It's like a monkey could've done better.

Hard to believe he couldn't get Dumont or Rupp signed. Two wasted first rounders.

 

[The Wahligator]

To be fair, outside of the Sedin’s, that first round was brutal. Retrospectivally, that draft was not very good at all. Of course it would be the draft where the islanders had four first rounders.

I mean, they probably were able to get 4 firsts BECAUSE it was such a brutal draft.

 

[LeapOnOver]

I don't disagree. My biggest issue with Lou isn't any one move he's made - in every specific instance, what he's done is defensible. Its more of the collective approach that I take issue. One 30+ contract, two....even three is ok. But our team is now rife with guys over 30. At some point that's gonna bite us in the ass. Likewise, I've got no major problem with rewarding loyal grinder types to a low cost deal. But when you look at Martin and Clutterbuck and Johnston and (to a lesser extent but still counts) Cizikas, you are limiting your flexibility with respect to roster spots. Each of those guys individually doesn't hamstring us, but having all those guys take up spots prohibits us from filling out our roster with upside guys, like you suggest.

I like(d) Clutter and would always take him on my team. But I'm not sure that move made the most sense for our squad long term. Same with the other guys. Its doubly important when you have relatively little organizational depth. Fasching may not be a full time starter, but we're kinda lucky that we have him and he's doing what he's doing. Cause we don't got much else.

Lou is banking on the crash and burn to happen after the parade, like Chicago did. If the end goal isn't to win a cup, then what could it be? I mean, that's what we want the end goal to be. If this team hadn't sniffed a finals trip twice, doubt LL would be behaving the way he is, but the fact that this team is known for playoff hockey, and we'll have another weapon in Horvat. I'm sure LL wants to see what they can do in the playoffs. It's just getting there that is gonna be a fight.

 

[LeapOnOver]

If you look at Milbury's drafting record, it's amazing that he virtually never hit on a later round pick. It's like a monkey could've done better.

What's your problem with monkeys bro? Come at me!

 

[Mike C]

What's your problem with monkeys bro? Come at me!

Well, do you think it was good when Curious George was mean to the guy in the yellow hat??

 

[doublechili]

To be fair, outside of the Sedin’s, that first round was brutal. Retrospectivally, that draft was not very good at all. Of course it would be the draft where the islanders had four first rounders.

Yeah, you're right. Wasn't that the year the NYR selected the next Mike Bossy, Pavel Brendl?

The good news is, when it comes to Milbury we don't have to be fair.

 

[doublechili]

What's your problem with monkeys bro? Come at me!

I can see how the comparison with Milbury, even implying the monkeys are smarter, could be taken as an insult. My humble apologies.

 

[leeroggy]

I'm BACK! The Prodigal Son returns from his solitary confinement suspension!

And look what happened in my absence!

Let's get on a roll and make a Cup run!

 

[danteipp]

The pieces are coming together, regardless of what happens the rest of the way.

Horvat has helped immensely and they will have him all of next season. Along with Barzal and Lee on the first line, the Isles finally have a topline that opponents will have to account for.

Palms on the second line is where he should be, and i have a feeling it will take pressure off of him and allow him to operate under the radar - health permitting.

I still like Wahlstrom and, assuming he can overcome his injury, he should make for a solid RW3, with the potential for more. He can grow at his own pace.

Not to be discounted, the Isles have seemingly found some cheap, bottom-six forward depth in Fasching, Holmstrom and Durandeau. You can plug any of them in and not have them hurt you.

Finally, I have high hopes for Dufour, in time, and anything you get out of Ish is a bonus. I am still not sure if his game and lack of size will translate to the NHL, but they don't have to count on him.

 

[19 in a row]

Sooooooo.. still savoring the win tonight vs the Pens but already thinking of Saturday.. hoping to have JGP back.

Question, do we take the slight risk and start Varly on Saturday or do we just ride Sorokin? I know we may all want to just ride Sorokin but thinking since we have two good goalies, we may not want to wear out Sorokin (he has already played in 48 games this year, started 46) and also may want to keep Varly active with one start a week. I kind of hope it will be Varly on Saturday.


Next week we have 3 games, would expect Sorokin Tues vs Kngs, Varly on 2nd night of b2b Wed vs Ducks then Sorokin Saturday vs San Jose. Varly one game a week.

 

[Taswell]

Sooooooo.. still savoring the win tonight vs the Pens but already thinking of Saturday.. hoping to have JGP back but my question is, and don't be so quick to shoot it down, do we start Varly on Saturday? My thought is we have two good goalies, and don't want to wear out Sorokin (he has already played in 48 games this year, started 46) and also may want to keep Varly active with one start a week. So do we take the slight risk and start Varly on Saturday for do we just ride Sorokin? I kind of hope it will be Varly on Saturday.


Next week we have 3 games, would expect Sorokin Tues vs Kngs, Varly on 2nd night of b2b Wed vs Ducks then Sorokin Saturday vs San Jose. Varly one game a week.

It wouldn't shock me in the least to have Varly get the net Saturday.

 

[19 in a row]

It wouldn't shock me in the least to have Varly get the net Saturday.

yep, looks like Varly hasn't started since Sunday 2/26. Sorokin has had last 4 starts, so would not surprise me at all even though we have had days off.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

It wouldn't shock me in the least to have Varly get the net Saturday.

You really need to give Sorokin every game against an Eastern team in the WC race. Unless it's a B2B, but Saturday isn't.

Varly can start against one of the Western teams, preferably Anaheim.

 

[BrockLobster]

Sooooooo.. still savoring the win tonight vs the Pens but already thinking of Saturday.. hoping to have JGP back.

Question, do we take the slight risk and start Varly on Saturday or do we just ride Sorokin? I know we may all want to just ride Sorokin but thinking since we have two good goalies, we may not want to wear out Sorokin (he has already played in 48 games this year, started 46) and also may want to keep Varly active with one start a week. I kind of hope it will be Varly on Saturday.


Next week we have 3 games, would expect Sorokin Tues vs Kngs, Varly on 2nd night of b2b Wed vs Ducks then Sorokin Saturday vs San Jose. Varly one game a week.

I go sorokin. Varly can go next week on that back to back in California

 

[Zeeker]

You really need to give Sorokin every game against an Eastern team in the WC race. Unless it's a B2B, but Saturday isn't.

Varly can start against one of the Western teams, preferably Anaheim.

I don’t think the coaching staff thinks like that. They probably trust both goalies and would prefer to evenly space out starts, rather than having Varly sit for two weeks.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

I don’t think the coaching staff thinks like that. They probably trust both goalies and would prefer to evenly space out starts, rather than having Varly sit for two weeks.

It's actually the complete opposite.

They've given Sorokin the first three games against EC WC teams. Varlamov hasn't started in a week-and-a-half now.

It's obvious they want Sorokin in net against the big time opponents. And for good reason.

 

[19 in a row]

I don’t think the coaching staff thinks like that. They probably trust both goalies and would prefer to evenly space out starts, rather than having Varly sit for two weeks.

maybe I am off but I agree with this, was what I was thinking with my post. If Varly doesn't play on Saturday he will have sat for 2 weeks. I know it is an eastern conference opponent but just feels like we will see him and give Sorokin a breather. Of course we still need to make the playoffs but I agree that they seem to trust both .

But who knows , I am curious which was why I asked initially

 

[PK Cronin]

I'd go back to Sorokin for Saturday and I'd start Varlamov in LA, use Sorokin for Anaheim.

 

[SI]

I'd go back to Sorokin for Saturday and I'd start Varlamov in LA, use Sorokin for Anaheim.

Absolutely, go back to Sorokin against Caps.
15 games left need to take every point we can against divisional teams in the hunt.
3 games against the Caps this month.

 

[Mike C]

Absolutely, go back to Sorokin against Caps.
15 games left need to take every point we can against divisional teams in the hunt.
3 games against the Caps this month.

Just caught end of Sens/Kraken...Ottawa pulls it out. Good finish. Fun to watch just as a fan. Every point is critical indeed SI.

 

[Lek]

No real wrong choice for us in goal against the Caps....toss up.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Sooooooo.. still savoring the win tonight vs the Pens but already thinking of Saturday.. hoping to have JGP back.

Question, do we take the slight risk and start Varly on Saturday or do we just ride Sorokin? I know we may all want to just ride Sorokin but thinking since we have two good goalies, we may not want to wear out Sorokin (he has already played in 48 games this year, started 46) and also may want to keep Varly active with one start a week. I kind of hope it will be Varly on Saturday.


Next week we have 3 games, would expect Sorokin Tues vs Kngs, Varly on 2nd night of b2b Wed vs Ducks then Sorokin Saturday vs San Jose. Varly one game a week.

That he's an ex-Capital who came up with Ovechkin and has generally played well against the Caps over time might play a role in Lambert's decision.

If not, I think the west coast swing could see him play two times.