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

[doublechili]

Probably, and that Trotz guy played him in all critical minutes when he was the coach so, there’s that fact.

Isles should resign Mayfield, trade Pulock for offense, and backfill with a $2-3M d-man. Pulock is part of the Isles offense problem, especially the PP, and he ain’t worth his payday.

Gotta give to get, let other teams salivate over his glacial windup and popgun accuracy.

Didn't the new NASH GM love Pulock when he coached him?

 

[MJF]

Didn't the new NASH GM love Pulock when he coached him?

He can have him. Send Roman Josi this way and he can be rid of the Preds financial burden and replace Josi’s production in one fell swoop

 

[Throttle]

Didn't the new NASH GM love Pulock when he coached him?

Indeed, there you go, trade with an inexperienced GM.

 

[danteipp]

Pulock has a no-trade clause. He isn't going anywhere unless he wants to leave.

 

[Throttle]

Pulock has a no-trade clause. He isn't going anywhere unless he wants to leave.

Or told his role has been changed and you may be better off on another team. NTC just gives the player some leverage, but there’s ways around that as has been happening routinely.

 

[Lights911]

Pulock has a no-trade clause. He isn't going anywhere unless he wants to leave.

As it should be. Pulock means too much to this team to be moved, despite what some posters may say.

 

[danteipp]

Or told his role has been changed and you may be better off on another team. NTC just gives the player some leverage, but there’s ways around that as has been happening routinely.

So you of all people think Lou is going to turn around and ask a player he just signed to waive and go elsewhere?

Easier to see how Mayfield does in the playoffs and, if his skating is exposed, let him walk and find a younger, better defenseman.

One who can either lift up his partner and help be a coach on the ice like Greene was, help in transition/possession, or just find a stopgap on the cheap and look elsewhere later.

 

[Throttle]

So you of all people think Lou is going to turn around and ask a player he just signed to waive and go elsewhere?

Easier to see how Mayfield does in the playoffs and, if his skating is exposed, let him walk and find a younger, better defenseman.

One who can either lift up his partner and help be a coach on the ice like Greene was, help in transition/possession, or just find a stopgap on the cheap and look elsewhere later.

No I don’t think Lou is going to do that. In fantasyland, it should happen, but doubt it will.

I also think Lou places less emphasis on his offensive ability vs his overall defensive play.

 

[SI]

Could Engvall be signed for something similar? maybe 4/10?

 

[SI]

Or told his role has been changed and you may be better off on another team. NTC just gives the player some leverage, but there’s ways around that as has been happening routinely.

Why do you think his role is changing?

He is the team’s number 1 RHD - he plays in all situations and leads the defence in minutes played.

The GM doesn’t decide roles - the coach does. And right now the coach plays him as so.

Move on

 

[SI]

Yeah, I suspect this might be a very, very quiet summer. More likely housekeeping type stuff. If they do anything beyond trying to clear out a guy or two, it might be on defense rather than at forward.

I’ll take a quiet summer with a Sorokin extension!

IMO, it all depends on how the playoffs shake out. Lou needs to address the PP - but maybe a staff change and a training camp with Horvat maybe that is addressed.

I can also see Lou trying to strengthen the blue line too.

 

[CupHolders]

No I don’t think Lou is going to do that. In fantasyland, it should happen, but doubt it will.

I also think Lou places less emphasis on his offensive ability vs his overall defensive play.

Yes.

 

[danteipp]

So, if I am reading the numbers from Natural Stat Trick correctly, when paired with Mayfield at 5x5 during the regular season:

Romanov -3
Aho -4
Pelech -6
Bolduc +4
Salo +2
Wotherspoon +2

A few other pairings for comparison:

Pelech-Pulock +11
Romanov-Dobson +5
Romanov-Pulock +6

Assuming that is right, sure, let's trade Pulock and sign Mayfield.

As far as I can tell, Mayfield drags down all of our core NHL roster defensemen and tends to only play it safe when paired with younger AHL-type defensemen.

Can that possibly be correct?

If so, the all-strengths numbers are even worse for Mayfield with:

Pelech -14
Romanov -11
Aho -5

I mean if the Isles extend Mayfield, I guess we better pray Bolduc can form an effective pairing, because no one else in the system seems capable.

Hopefully I am reading the numbers wrong because, if not, that is grim.

 

[seafoam]

Could Engvall be signed for something similar? maybe 4/10?View attachment 688074

Engvall is worth closer to 15M total.

 

[Throttle]

Why do you think his role is changing?

He is the team’s number 1 RHD - he plays in all situations and leads the defence in minutes played.

The GM doesn’t decide roles - the coach does. And right now the coach plays him as so.

Move on

It was an example of how a player can be approached as a reason to waive his NTC. I didn’t say THAT was what was going to happen. One person inferred a NTC means certainty against a player being traded - and it’s happened numerous times (and GMs have said that they used that as a tactic to get a player to waive knowing the player wants a certain role).

The GM doesn’t decide roles? Listen to some player podcasts and they’ll certainly tell you some GMs tell the coach who is dressing and who is playing where and when because they have experienced it.

 

[PK Cronin]

It was an example of how a player can be approached as a reason to waive his NTC. I didn’t say THAT was what was going to happen. One person inferred a NTC means certainty against a player being traded - and it’s happened numerous times (and GMs have said that they used that as a tactic to get a player to waive knowing the player wants a certain role).

The GM doesn’t decide roles? Listen to some player podcasts and they’ll certainly tell you some GMs tell the coach who is dressing and who is playing where and when because they have experienced it.

Sometimes there's a feeling from the player when even asked to waive that if the current team doesn't want them they'd be better off going someplace else that does. They just get to control where that someplace is when there are multiple suitors.

You do run the risk of the player saying no and then being pissed off about it, potentially creating issues along the way.

 

[Throttle]

Sometimes there's a feeling from the player when even asked to waive that if the current team doesn't want them they'd be better off going someplace else that does. They just get to control where that someplace is when there are multiple suitors.

You do run the risk of the player saying no and then being pissed off about it, potentially creating issues along the way.

Absolutely, and that’s all that I was making reference to. Approaching a player about it, raises the ‘do you really want me here?’ I’ll just go somewhere else.

For as much as PITA it is for players to be moved, the NTC gives them some control, but in reality the GMs know players want to play in their current role
or more, rarely less unless they are on the downside where a player expects it.

 

[danteipp]

With respect to the talk about getting players to waive NTCs, and it working out, would require a GM that treats players like chess pieces (teams like Carolina, Vegas, etc.) AND a player that is not settled into a specific area AND a player that would seemingly like to retain a certain role, presumably to compete AND/OR get paid.

1. That GM isn't Lou;
2. Pulock is very settled with the Isles and the area;
3. See 1. with Lou looking for one last ring and willing to sell off any futures for help in the present to win which is all a current player could ask for; and
4. Pulock has already gotten paid and has no reason to need to maintain a role for the next contract.

I know we like to discuss hypotheticals and kick around ideas, but this one is probably right below, "Why don't we trade for Connor McDavid"? in terms of likelihood.

Just feels like too much would have to line up perfectly.

As opposed to, "Why don't we just try to generate more offense by upgrading on Mayfield significantly (offensively)?"

Or

"Let's find a solid, if unspectacular, defenseman to act as a placeholder on the cheap, then use the cap savings elsewhere."

Path of least resistance.

Although since it is Lou, I could see him resigning Mayfield, while still shopping for help, which will probably "cost" more in draft picks and a prospect or two, from a very limited system.

 

[Throttle]

Here’s the thing Lou has used assets to improve the team, however, Isles are running short on those and the offense is still weak overall. Lou is on record that he doesn’t care about how many, more. Just enough vs the other opponent.

Fans are clamoring for offense, elite winger, etc. Trading Bailey and Aho ain’t making that happen and the Isles are not the hot date for summer UFAs, let alone premium ones. So, A path would be to leverage a roster player that has legit market value.

The Isles have a limited number of those…and the only guys of value w/o current no trade protection are Dobson and Barzal, and we know they are precious in Islandersland. So, this is the team absent more picks/prospects go out the door, Wally turns into Brett Hull, and hope as a tactic for ‘offense.’

 

[Big L]

Here’s the thing Lou has used assets to improve the team, however, Isles are running short on those and the offense is still weak overall. Lou is on record that he doesn’t care about how many, more. Just enough vs the other opponent.

Fans are clamoring for offense, elite winger, etc. Trading Bailey and Aho ain’t making that happen and the Isles are not the hot date for summer UFAs, let alone premium ones. So, A path would be to leverage a roster player that has legit market value.

The Isles have a limited number of those…and the only guys of value w/o current no trade protection are Dobson and Barzal, and we know they are precious in Islandersland. So, this is the team absent more picks/prospects go out the door, Wally turns into Brett Hull, and hope as a tactic for ‘offense.’

So you want to trade dobson and/or barzal to fill a hole, only to create a hole that the departing player creates? Makes sense.

 

[leeroggy]

Could Engvall be signed for something similar? maybe 4/10?View attachment 688074

Gaudreau is coming off a $1,200,000 contract, while Engvall is at $2,250,000; hard to see Engvall signing for only $250,000 more for four more years

 

[doublechili]

The Pulock speculation is fun, but I agree that Lou wouldn't initiate anything to move him. Ditto that I suspect Mayfield will be re-signed.

Gaudreau is coming off a $1,200,000 contract, while Engvall is at $2,250,000; hard to see Engvall signing for only $250,000 more for four more years

I think what Engvall gets will be determined in the next days/weeks in the playoffs. If he doesn't produce, Lou could walk away - or offer him that $250k raise with a bit of term. If he does something along the lines of what Nichushkin did last playoffs, he would be in for a bigger raise. We can only hope!

 

[Throttle]

So you want to trade dobson and/or barzal to fill a hole, only to create a hole that the departing player creates? Makes sense.

Well, if we are playing the NTC game, then those are your options. And I think it shrinks to Dobson once Barzal becomes the highest paid player on the team this summer - and something like Top 30 paid player in the NHL…

The Pulock speculation is fun, but I agree that Lou wouldn't initiate anything to move him. Ditto that I suspect Mayfield will be re-signed.

I think what Engvall gets will be determined in the next days/weeks in the playoffs. If he doesn't produce, Lou could walk away - or offer him that $250k raise with a bit of term. If he does something along the lines of what Nichushkin did last playoffs, he would be in for a bigger raise. We can only hope!

If he does that, give him his day with the Cup and walk away from that deal.

 

[MJF]

So, if I am reading the numbers from Natural Stat Trick correctly, when paired with Mayfield at 5x5 during the regular season:

Romanov -3
Aho -4
Pelech -6
Bolduc +4
Salo +2
Wotherspoon +2

A few other pairings for comparison:

Pelech-Pulock +11
Romanov-Dobson +5
Romanov-Pulock +6

Assuming that is right, sure, let's trade Pulock and sign Mayfield.

As far as I can tell, Mayfield drags down all of our core NHL roster defensemen and tends to only play it safe when paired with younger AHL-type defensemen.

Can that possibly be correct?

If so, the all-strengths numbers are even worse for Mayfield with:

Pelech -14
Romanov -11
Aho -5

I mean if the Isles extend Mayfield, I guess we better pray Bolduc can form an effective pairing, because no one else in the system seems capable.

Hopefully I am reading the numbers wrong because, if not, that is grim.

This was not a typical Mayfield year. He had a bad season. If he would sign here for between 4 and 5M for 4 years I'd bet on him playing better next year.

 

[MJF]

Here’s the thing Lou has used assets to improve the team, however, Isles are running short on those and the offense is still weak overall. Lou is on record that he doesn’t care about how many, more. Just enough vs the other opponent.

So Lou hasn't really improved the team the last 2 seasons. Lou needs to reassess his plan for the Islanders. Isles ownership must not use long road trips, Covid shutdowns, unfairly being forced to play with a decimated roster, injuries as a crutch this summer and see this team for what it is...middle of the pack with not enough skill to compete with Eastern Conference heavyweights.