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

[Glorydays22]

Once we lose Tuesday and are out of the playoffs. Management has to understand it's time Lou goes and we need a new voice and direction. I'm not bring back Parise, Mayfield, and Engvall at any price. I think we have to seriously need to find a way to rid this roster of Bailey, Lee, Martin and Clutterbuck. Not sold on Fasching, you can see with a team with speed and good forechecking, he can't handle it. At best he's a 4th line winger and I'm not sold on that because he does not throw the body at all. Almost as bad as Engvall. Regarding Engvall, for my isles fans who would kill Beau for his lack of production, you will be saying the same thing about Engvall if we resign him. He's a guy like Beau who will frustrate you to no end game after game..

Oh and a scorer (how many times we we have to talk about this) is DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY NEEDED! Horvat, don't care if he has a full season with us, is NOT A TOP SCORER!!

 

[PK Cronin]

Once we lose Tuesday and are out of the playoffs. Management has to understand it's time Lou goes and we need a new voice and direction. I'm not bring back Parise, Mayfield, and Engvall at any price. I think we have to seriously need to find a way to rid this roster of Bailey, Lee, Martin and Clutterbuck. Not sold on Fasching, you can see with a team with speed and good forechecking, he can't handle it. At best he's a 4th line winger and I'm not sold on that because he does not throw the body at all. Almost as bad as Engvall. Regarding Engvall, for my isles fans who would kill Beau for his lack of production, you will be saying the same thing about Engvall if we resign him. He's a guy like Beau who will frustrate you to no end game after game..

Oh and a scorer (how many times we we have to talk about this) is DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY NEEDED! Horvat, don't care if he has a full season with us, is NOT A TOP SCORER!!

Why wouldn't you bring back Parise if he wants to come back? He makes no money and is a solid bottom six guy. How are we doing better than that?

 

[Osakahaus]

Once we lose Tuesday and are out of the playoffs. Management has to understand it's time Lou goes and we need a new voice and direction. I'm not bring back Parise, Mayfield, and Engvall at any price. I think we have to seriously need to find a way to rid this roster of Bailey, Lee, Martin and Clutterbuck. Not sold on Fasching, you can see with a team with speed and good forechecking, he can't handle it. At best he's a 4th line winger and I'm not sold on that because he does not throw the body at all. Almost as bad as Engvall. Regarding Engvall, for my isles fans who would kill Beau for his lack of production, you will be saying the same thing about Engvall if we resign him. He's a guy like Beau who will frustrate you to no end game after game..

Oh and a scorer (how many times we we have to talk about this) is DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY NEEDED! Horvat, don't care if he has a full season with us, is NOT A TOP SCORER!!

They need a better backline. Sorry. They need to find a way to replace the holes left by Leddy and Toews (which still haven't been patched btw!), but a scorer matters. I think that they desperately need to start moving out guys like Clutterbuck and Bailey, while also thinking about some futures. Maybe Isaiah George could be that guy? I just don't know anymore. The isles are content with being a really meh team, and if Lamoriello doesn't try to fire away their coaches, then they're stupid.

 

[gordie43]

Once we lose Tuesday and are out of the playoffs. Management has to understand it's time Lou goes and we need a new voice and direction. I'm not bring back Parise, Mayfield, and Engvall at any price. I think we have to seriously need to find a way to rid this roster of Bailey, Lee, Martin and Clutterbuck. Not sold on Fasching, you can see with a team with speed and good forechecking, he can't handle it. At best he's a 4th line winger and I'm not sold on that because he does not throw the body at all. Almost as bad as Engvall. Regarding Engvall, for my isles fans who would kill Beau for his lack of production, you will be saying the same thing about Engvall if we resign him. He's a guy like Beau who will frustrate you to no end game after game..

Oh and a scorer (how many times we we have to talk about this) is DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY NEEDED! Horvat, don't care if he has a full season with us, is NOT A TOP SCORER!!

I agree with you on Engvall and Fashing. Fashing seems like a guy that can spot play during regular season, but he has not brought anything come playoff time.

Lee and Clutterbuck aren’t going anywhere Clutter serves his role in the fourth line and pk very well, and his contract isn’t terrible. Lee is the captain like him or not he’s not going anywhere. Even if he were who are they getting to replace his nearly 30 goals?

Martin too fit the same as Clutterbuck. Not a bad contract coming off a career year. Who’s his replacement? Goal scoring and power play are the issues, not the fourth line.

As for Parise, no reason to not consider bringing him back if his contract is reasonable. Again, who do you plan replacing with?

Sorry for the edits, but my opinion is fix a PowerPlay fix this team

 

[Glorydays22]

Why wouldn't you bring back Parise if he wants to come back? He makes no money and is a solid bottom six guy. How are we doing better than that?

Again, it's time to change the narrative with this team. We need to stop signing plus 30 yr old players. I like Parise, but he will be 39 years old going into next year. Besides Nelson, Parise was probably our best, most reliable forward this season.

But we can find a younger player with speed and high energy. How about giving someone in bridgeport a chance? We need to find a younger player....

I agree with you on Engvall and Fashing. Fashing seems like a guy that can spot play during regular season, but he has not brought anything come playoff time.

Lee and Clutterbuck aren’t going anywhere Clutter serves his role in the fourth line and pk very well, and his contract isn’t terrible. Lee is the captain like him or not he’s not going anywhere. Even if he were who are they getting to replace his nearly 30 goals?

Martin too fit the same as Clutterbuck. Not a bad contract coming off a career year. Who’s his replacement? Goal scoring and power play are the issues, not the fourth line.

As for Parise, no reason to not consider bringing him back if his contract is reasonable. Again, who do you plan replacing with?

Sorry for the edits, but my opinion is fix a PowerPlay fix this team

So basically you have the same roster coming back. We have to STOP with this narrative! We need to change the roster over. NOT saying a rebuild, but we need to change it up. We cannot go into next year with basically the same roster, oh with Wally as well. It's NOT going to work.

 

[Glorydays22]

They need a better backline. Sorry. They need to find a way to replace the holes left by Leddy and Toews (which still haven't been patched btw!), but a scorer matters. I think that they desperately need to start moving out guys like Clutterbuck and Bailey, while also thinking about some futures. Maybe Isaiah George could be that guy? I just don't know anymore. The isles are content with being a really meh team, and if Lamoriello doesn't try to fire away their coaches, then they're stupid.

I totally agree, not only the forwards need a face lift, but the backline will need to be address. Fill Mayfield's spot and bring in a Vet just in case Bolduc does not progress. AHO should only play if someone is injured, he is a 7th D-man...That's it.

Lee is from Minnesota, why can't we move him there. Give the "C" to either Pelech, Brazal or Nelson.

 

[gordie43]

Again, it's time to change the narrative with this team. We need to stop signing plus 30 yr old players. I like Parise, but he will be 39 years old going into next year. Besides Nelson, Parise was probably our best, most reliable forward this season.

But we can find a younger player with speed and high energy. How about giving someone in bridgeport a chance? We need to find a younger player....



So basically you have the same roster coming back. We have to STOP with this narrative! We need to change the roster over. NOT saying a rebuild, but we need to change it up. We cannot go into next year with basically the same roster, oh with Wally as well. It's NOT going to work.

Going to be hard to move some of the contracts. Lee and Nelson still put the puck in the net, if they get moved, which I don’t think they will, you have to replace their goal scoring. I love Bailey, but unless it was an injury holding him back this season, he will need to be moved to open up some cap space.

A puck moving defender and a power play winger, maybe a Jaden Schwartz type who excels on power play could make the difference. If those additions are at the cost of Bailey, Parise, or Aho I’m fine with that. Pulock and Pelech are not going anywhere. Mayfield on the other hand can walk unless he signs a team friendly deal

 

[Osakahaus]

I totally agree, not only the forwards need a face lift, but the backline will need to be address. Fill Mayfield's spot and bring in a Vet just in case Bolduc does not progress. AHO should only play if someone is injured, he is a 7th D-man...That's it.

Lee is from Minnesota, what can't we if we can move him there. Give the "C" to either Pelech, Brazal or Nelson.

I think that if anything, we start to get younger gradually. We also should start to shop Sorokin (don't shoot me) if they get a quality trade in return. Start viewing younger players that dont have a role here on their teams, like Liljegren or Addison or even Sandin. They have to fix that.

 

[gordie43]

I think that if anything, we start to get younger gradually. We also should start to shop Sorokin (don't shoot me) if they get a quality trade in return. Start viewing younger players that dont have a role here on their teams, like Liljegren or Addison or even Sandin. They have to fix that.

Bang!!!!!

I’m joking but really? The best goalie the isles have had since Billy Smith? No way, an elite talent, a good GM finds a way. Isles would never get equal value back.

 

[PK Cronin]

Again, it's time to change the narrative with this team. We need to stop signing plus 30 yr old players. I like Parise, but he will be 39 years old going into next year. Besides Nelson, Parise was probably our best, most reliable forward this season.

But we can find a younger player with speed and high energy. How about giving someone in bridgeport a chance? We need to find a younger player....

Why? It buys another year for cheap with a reliable player if he re-signs. Younger doesn't mean better.

 

[Glorydays22]

Why? It buys another year for cheap with a reliable player if he re-signs. Younger doesn't mean better.

Why are we so afraid to try and get younger and faster? at what point do we start giving younger players a chance here? Parise was a good signing the last 2 years...but it's time, we have to start somewhere. From what everyone is saying, guys like Lee, Bailey, Martin, Clutterbuck are not going anywhere. How do we get some fresh younger guys here with maybe, just maybe more speed, talent and hustle.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

I don't think there's a fix to be made. The team needs high quality talent, which every team wants. But they don't have any assets or cap space, so how in the world would the Islanders be able to get that talent?

It's like someone with enough money to buy a McDouble saying that he wants filet mignon and lobster.

 

[gordie43]

I don't think there's a fix to be made. The team needs high quality talent, which every team wants. But they don't have any assets or cap space, so how in the world would the Islanders be able to get that talent?

It's like someone with enough money to buy a McDouble saying that he wants filet mignon and lobster.

If horvat was a free agent Isles fans would be drooling over him. Lou got him in a trade. Who else could they add?

 

[PK Cronin]

Why are we so afraid to try and get younger and faster? at what point do we start giving younger players a chance here? Parise was a good signing the last 2 years...but it's time, we have to start somewhere. From what everyone is saying, guys like Lee, Bailey, Martin, Clutterbuck are not going anywhere. How do we get some fresh younger guys here with maybe, just maybe more speed, talent and hustle.

So you want more talent, speed, and hustle, but Parise just put in 20 goals this year, isn't exactly slow, and hustles his ass off.

Engvall is younger and is faster but you just said you don't want him either.

You sign Parise again for $1M so his entire contract can be buried in the minors when things inevitably slow down for him. This doesn't prevent the team from going after anyone else and provides an insurance policy in case someone younger doesn't pan out. If they can't beat out Parise for a job then they don't deserve to be on the roster.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

If horvat was a free agent Isles fans would be drooling over him. Lou got him in a trade. Who else could they add?

Getting Horvat for free in UFA puts the state of the organization in a much different spot than trading Raty and a first for him.

You'd have tradeable assets to improve the roster elsewhere.

As is reality right now? There's still plenty of holes in this roster with nothing to trade unless you want to keep trading future firsts, which isn't a good idea. We're out of bullets.

But feel free to tell me where this talent is going to come from this summer.

 

[danteipp]

My quick thoughts on potential moves -

First goaltending -

Sorokin is the clear starter and should see 50 or so games next season. I guess if they want to offer Varly a contract around $2-2.5 million AAV, maybe, but I would prefer to save the cap space for a season and sign two cheap backups like say a Alex Lyon, Brian Elliott, etc. for around $750,000 to $1 million. Let them compete and the best player is the NHL backup, while the loser goes to the AHL until needed.

I would even be willing to take a chance on Jarry as the primary backup and hope the coaches can fix some of the issues and his confidence rebounds outside of Pittsburgh. But adding two cheap vets gives the Isles some options and flexibility. It also covers the vet needed at the Bridge, with Schneider retiring.

On defense -

Mayfield should be allowed to leave and the cap space earmarked for him goes to a PP specialist like Ghost or (vomit in my mouth) a Shattenkirk-type, and a vet placeholder like Hamonic or Holl.

Hamonic seemed to have a nice season with Ottawa and I would welcome his return for a year or so. Him and Romanov could cause some big issues for opponents and make life uncomfortable. I am not a big Holl fan but he does block shots and can play around 20 minutes a night. I think he could also fit with Romanov.

If the Isles can't fill the defense out in free agency, trading for a player will, unfortunately, probably be cost prohibitive.

The forwards are a little tougher because the Isles would still benefit from adding a true sniper to the first line and more speed obviously.

Nikolaj Ehlers is a player I always come back to and he has been banged up and had a down season. Would the Jets be willing to trade him? Would it essentially cost the Isles 2024 first rounder? Or do they want a roster player, someone ready to pay in the NHL now? I don't know the cost, but Ehlers speed at LW would play perfectly with Horvat and Barzal. Ideally they need to find someone like that.

The rest of the forwards are harder to sort out. The numbers, both roster spots and cap space, are big issues unless the Isles get creative.

I think you can live with Martin for another season BUT that means Ross needs to go to the AHL and, so be it, if he is claimed by another team. There just isn't a spot for him on the Isles.

They can extend Fasching and let him rotate with Martin and Clutter on the fourth line, maybe along with a player like Durandeau. But Martin and Clutter should see a lot of rest and let Fasching and Durandeau rotate in and out.

I think Parise can be brought back for another season and will be fine with JGP and Wahlstrom on the third line. Again, maybe you spot Durandeau or Holmstrom in for Parise or Wahlstrom as need on the third line.

The problem is Lee on LW2 alongside Nelson and Palms. That is a slow line and Lee will probably be an anchor. But I don't know what else to do. Because Lee on the third line with a still-learning-on-the-job Wahlstrom would be a nightmare.

There are options, however, some tough choices need to be made. And if/when Dufour is ready (and any prospect for that matter), they cannot be blocked by a banged up Martin or Clutter. I think Dufour and Maggio will be NHL players and anyone who has speed and/or can shoot needs to be given a role.

 

[gordie43]

Getting Horvat for free in UFA puts the state of the organization in a much different spot than trading Raty and a first for him.

You'd have tradeable assets to improve the roster elsewhere.

As is reality right now? There's still plenty of holes in this roster with nothing to trade unless you want to keep trading future firsts, which isn't a good idea. We're out of bullets.

But feel free to tell me where this talent is going to come from this summer.

If you don’t trade for him, the odds of him coming to a non playoff team from Long Island are pretty slim. Who’s singing with the islanders if they don’t make the playoffs? We’ve seen this movie before with free agents. I still remember when everyone was angry at Garth snow for dealing Ryan O Mara, Robert Nilsson and a first for Smyth. Late first round picks are a crap shoot. Horvat and Smyth are known entities, playoff bound teams should make that deal 100 out of 100 times.

Will a 2023 first round pick and Raty make a difference in 2024? I personally don’t think so. This team like it or not has a short window and as a fan I say go for it. We rebuilt through out the 90’s and we know how that went.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

If you don’t trade for him, the odds of him coming to a non playoff team from Long Island are pretty slim. Who’s singing with the islanders if they don’t make the playoffs? We’ve seen this movie before with free agents. I still remember when everyone was angry at Garth snow for dealing Ryan O Mara, Robert Nilsson and a first for Smyth. Late first round picks are a crap shoot. Horvat and Smyth are known entities, playoff bound teams should make that deal 100 out of 100 times.

Let me put this another way:

$6.9M cap space
Engvall, Wahlstrom, Fasching, Parise, Mayfield, Bolduc, Wotherspoon and Varly all free agents
No first round or third round pick
Not a single prospect in the farm system that another team would want as the main piece in a trade

Please explain to me how it is possible to turn this wild card first round exit team into a Cup contender.

 

[danteipp]

I don't think there's a fix to be made. The team needs high quality talent, which every team wants. But they don't have any assets or cap space, so how in the world would the Islanders be able to get that talent?

It's like someone with enough money to buy a McDouble saying that he wants filet mignon and lobster.

So give up? Teams retool quickly, if they are smart and motivated. Vegas and Carolina churn players every year. Players like Patches, Bjorkstrand, etc. are moved, usually for scraps.

 

[gordie43]

Let me put this another way:

$6.9M cap space
Engvall, Wahlstrom, Fasching, Parise, Mayfield, Bolduc, Wotherspoon and Varly all free agents
No first round or third round pick
Not a single prospect in the farm system that another team would want as the main piece in a trade

Please explain to me how it is possible to turn this wild card first round exit team into a Cup contender.

Making the playoffs already makes the team a contender, but an affective power play makes this team a cup worthy team.

A first round pick unless is a top 5 is not making a difference in at least 2 years, how does that help now? A third round pick? This team has enough trouble drafting talent in the first round.

Lou or whoever needs to identify someone, coach or player(s) who can salvage this atrocious power play. Figure that out and this team as constructed make a run. If not well, we are seeing how it ends.

 

[MJF]

The problem with the PP is 2 fold…

1) ONLY THE PUCK CARRIER IS MOVING. Everyone stands and watches

2) their passing is ATROCIOUS, which leads to teams getting pressure because they can’t move it fast enough due to missed passes/fumbling. This also is why they’re so god-awful at one-timers

Low scoring, low skilled hockey team has trouble scoring on the power play.

 

[MJF]

Once we lose Tuesday and are out of the playoffs. Management has to understand it's time Lou goes and we need a new voice and direction. I'm not bring back Parise, Mayfield, and Engvall at any price. I think we have to seriously need to find a way to rid this roster of Bailey, Lee, Martin and Clutterbuck. Not sold on Fasching, you can see with a team with speed and good forechecking, he can't handle it. At best he's a 4th line winger and I'm not sold on that because he does not throw the body at all. Almost as bad as Engvall. Regarding Engvall, for my isles fans who would kill Beau for his lack of production, you will be saying the same thing about Engvall if we resign him. He's a guy like Beau who will frustrate you to no end game after game..

Oh and a scorer (how many times we we have to talk about this) is DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY NEEDED! Horvat, don't care if he has a full season with us, is NOT A TOP SCORER!!

One thing. Parise isn’t blocking a prospect from making the roster, and he’s not going to cost a lot. If Parise want to stay here I’d keep him.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

Making the playoffs already makes the team a contender, but an affective power play makes this team a cup worthy team.

A first round pick unless is a top 5 is not making a difference in at least 2 years, how does that help now? A third round pick? This team has enough trouble drafting talent in the first round.

Lou or whoever needs to identify someone, coach or player(s) who can salvage this atrocious power play. Figure that out and this team as constructed make a run. If not well, we are seeing how it ends.

Making the playoffs as a WC and probably getting ousted by a Carolina team missing Svech and two other forwards is anything but a true contender. You think this team could take on Boston or Colorado?

Not to mention, the team is getting older and teams like Buffalo and Ottawa are going to be right in the WC race next season.

Let's not play dumb here.

 

[gordie43]

Making the playoffs as a WC and probably getting ousted by a Carolina team missing Svech and two other forwards is anything but a true contender. You think this team could take on Boston or Colorado?

Not to mention, the team is getting older and teams like Buffalo and Ottawa are going to be right in the WC race next season.

Let's not play dumb here.

Dumb? Will Ottawa and Buffalo be there next year? I don’t know I heard a lot of talk that they wound make the playoffs this season, and they did not. I also heard Pittsburgh and Washington would definitely be in, they seem to be missing as well.

Though I’m not happy with the results, give me a playoff team every season. Just need to get in and you never know. Then again there are really only 12 good draft picks who could be good in five years to pick from. So maybe a never ending rebuild could be the way.

This Isles team is clearly flawed, but what team isn’t? Figure the power play out and who knows. In my opinion playoff game disappointments sure beat talking about the draft.

 

[IslesNorway]

Parise stays but the rest will have to go. It's time to phase out the old guard and usher in a younger one. There will have to be some pretty decisive action taken to get this team somewhere. Martin, Clutter and such are on decent contracts but if there's a taker you take it. Let Mayfield and Varly walk and look to trade Pageau and/or Palmieri along with Bailey for some cap room.