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

[The Wahligator]

Locker clean out tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we'll get a little bit of clarity on the direction of the team, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[doublechili]

Just to clarify the timeline, didn't we acquire Palmieri (and Zajac) at the TDL after Lee got hurt and they needed a winger for the playoffs?

Then after the season ended Eberle and Bailey were exposed at the expansion draft, and Eberle was taken. Palmieri was a UFA and did not need to be protected.

Then the Isles signed Palmieri as a UFA (UFA day that year was after the expansion draft).

BTW, to add one more item to the timeline, if we still had Eberle, people would be saying we need to trade him at the draft because he's entering his UFA year and we'll lose him for nothing in 2024.

 

[doublechili]

Not sure he's a fit here, but there's a 6'8", 265lb Russian defenseman, Nikita Tryamkin, who is looking to come back to the NHL this summer and teams are interested. LHD who can apparently play both sides. Good skater "for his size".

 

[Big L]

Not sure he's a fit here, but there's a 6'8", 265lb Russian defenseman, Nikita Tryamkin, who is looking to come back to the NHL this summer and teams are interested. LHD who can apparently play both sides. Good skater "for his size".

265lb? I’d have my doubts this fella is very nimble.

 

[doublechili]

265lb? I’d have my doubts this fella is very nimble.

Only 9 pounds heavier than Chara - maybe a Dobson partner?!

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

The US beat Sweden in overtime to take gold at the U18 Worlds today.

Looking forward, that means we're taking a Swede with that 2nd rounder this summer...

I mean, like, if anyone had any doubts.

 

[islesfan3913]

I love playing around with capfriendly in the offseason, but I worry that there will be little reason to do so this offseason because I have a feeling it will all be very predictable. Bringing back Varly for $3.5 mil, Mayfield for $4 mil, Engvall for $3 mil, Fasching/Parise/Wahlstrom/Bolduc for under $1 mil, and trading Bailey would get us right to the projected $83.5 mil cap for next season.

Lee-Horvat-Barzal
Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri
Parise-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Fasching

Pelech-Dobson
Romanov-Pulock
Aho-Mayfield
Bolduc

Sorokin
Varly

I could see a move like trading Clutterbuck and giving Fasching the 4RW spot and signing a cheap 13th forward, but I just don’t see any upgrades or substantial moves happening.

 

[periferal]

I cannot stand this level of carelessness from you. Lou only knows how to go all in yet he is the one who rebuilt Toronto.

I really don't understand what you don't get. Lou only moves "forward" (meaning no rebuild). With Toronto he inherited a rebuild so had no choice, so honestly it's "careless" of you to not acknowledge that fact. He literally showed up just after they were the 4th worst team in the league and took Marner. The next season they were the worst team and took Matthews.

Conversely...The Devils probably should have been a rebuild before he left (and I think we're fast approaching that point with the Isles), and yet he still never took his foot off the pedal. Lou then "led" the Devils to the 6th worst team in the NHL in 2015 when he then jumped ship to the Leafs...And the Devils were forced into a rebuild that they are just seeing the fruits of now. That is the problem and we're seeing it come to fruition again in real time now with the Isles.

And all this is a distraction from the real point which is...

1. Do you think the Isles should be starting a retool/rebuild now?
2. Do you trust Lou to do it or do you believe he should be replaced?

 

[The Real JT]

265lb? I’d have my doubts this fella is very nimble.

Sounds like Mekhi Becton after a cleanse.

 

[LeapOnOver]

I really don't understand what you don't get. Lou only moves "forward" (meaning no rebuild). With Toronto he inherited a rebuild so had no choice, so honestly it's "careless" of you to not acknowledge that fact. He literally showed up just after they were the 4th worst team in the league and took Marner. The next season they were the worst team and took Matthews.

Conversely...The Devils probably should have been a rebuild before he left (and I think we're fast approaching that point with the Isles), and yet he still never took his foot off the pedal. Lou then "led" the Devils to the 6th worst team in the NHL in 2015 when he then jumped ship to the Leafs...And the Devils were forced into a rebuild that they are just seeing the fruits of now. That is the problem and we're seeing it come to fruition again in real time now with the Isles.

And all this is a distraction from the real point which is...

1. Do you think the Isles should be starting a retool/rebuild now?
2. Do you trust Lou to do it or do you believe he should be replaced?

LL isn't the type of GM you rebuild with anyway. So until owners replace him, he's following their vision. So you wanna be mad at LL, you should start harping on the owners as well. It's what you do best!

 

[seafoam]

Today I am of the opinion that the entire coaching staff should be fired, but what about Director of Pro Scouting Ken Morrow?

The Islanders need to find diamonds in the rough like Verhaege/Montour if they are going to overpay for players like Barzal/Lee/Horvat/etc.

 

[MJF]

The next time I say I want to face the Bruins over the Hurricanes, don’t fight me on it

Today I am of the opinion that the entire coaching staff should be fired, but what about Director of Pro Scouting Ken Morrow?

The Islanders need to find diamonds in the rough like Verhaege/Montour if they are going to overpay for players like Barzal/Lee/Horvat/etc.

Housecleaning means the ENTIRE front office. Management, coaches, scouts. The only holdovers should be Mitch Korn and Piero Grecco.

 

[The Wahligator]

The next time I say I want to face the Bruins over the Hurricanes, don’t fight me on it

We couldn’t even take the Hurricanes to 7 games with them missing 3(!) top six forwards and another regular. I don’t think our matchup mattered very much. Boston would’ve rolled us too.

 

[MJF]

We couldn’t even take the Hurricanes to 7 games with them missing 3(!) top six forwards and another regular. I don’t think our matchup mattered very much. Boston would’ve rolled us too.

Boston doesn’t skate like the Canes do. We had a better chance of grinding with the Bruins. I KNOW we can’t win against speed and skill.

 

[seafoam]

The next time I say I want to face the Bruins over the Hurricanes, don’t fight me on it


Housecleaning means the ENTIRE front office. Management, coaches, scouts. The only holdovers should be Mitch Korn and Piero Grecco.

I’m fine with both of that, this organization needs a new vision at the helm.

 

[MJF]

I’m fine with both of that, this organization needs a new vision at the helm.

Absolutely. Things plateaued and started to tail off the last 2 years. We have to put a team on the ice that can be better in the regular season.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Today I am of the opinion that the entire coaching staff should be fired, but what about Director of Pro Scouting Ken Morrow?

The Islanders need to find diamonds in the rough like Verhaege/Montour if they are going to overpay for players like Barzal/Lee/Horvat/etc.

Welp. We had him before lol.

 

[The Wahligator]

There’s so many different directions the team could go this offseason, it’s depressing when you realize the most likely outcome is returning virtually the same exact roster and leadership.

 

[periferal]

There’s so many different directions the team could go this offseason, it’s depressing when you realize the most likely outcome is returning virtually the same exact roster and leadership.

But that's the thing...There AREN'T so many different directions the Isles can go this offseason. The lack of cap space, picks, and prospects to trade dictate that.

Now if you're talking about making changes to management/coaching/the front office, then you are correct.

 

[doublechili]

How is that on coaching? It’s on the players.

This is an area that many of our players don’t excel in. Now you want a leopard to change it’s spots? They never executed simple passes well, had accurate shots, nobody here has a good one timer since Johnny Boychuk, and even he telegraphed it and made himself a prime target to get blocked. It also why our power play is downright embarassing.

I’m in no way trying to defend Lambert. I just think there is no way to game plan around what the Isles lack in basic skills.

We're just going to have to disagree. Yeah, they need to up the skill, especially on D on the PP (not just one-timers - more than that). But they just structurally were not generating high danger chances. If they flubbed attempts you can say it was skill, but I can't remember many/any cross slot pass attempts by the Isles. Ditto passes from behind the goal line to the slot. Ditto screened shots from the point. The PP couldn't gain the zone, and if they did they couldn't maintain pressure or even possession consistently. The PK gave up multiple slam dunk cross-slot passes. We failed to consistently get the puck deep such that the Canes' D had to skate back facing the glass with their backs to forecheckers. It was game 1 thru game 6, with not a lot of evidence that we countered what they were doing effectively. It was a lot of perimeter shots, shots the goalies could see, no horizontal plays to make the goalie move side to side, and mostly one and done chances - no rebounds. The coaches couldn't figure anything out to counter them?

 

[SI]

I hope you are right on the bolded. To me Pageau is a shell of his former self after injuries sustained on the two deep playoff runs. I cannot imagine a team wanting him unless they were taking cap back in a larger deal.

I disagree 1000%.

What is your expectation for a 3C?

40 points, 57% FO (700+ FO wins), 175 hits, 17+ mins, top PK, and played on the 2nd PP unit all this in 70 GP.

He was solid during - he didn’t score but neither did anyone else against the Canes.

My man did his job and there are teams looking for his skill set and would paid for his skill set, but if aisles let him go, who does what he does then?

Lee would be extremely hard to move. What value would you be happy with getting for JGP? Id take a midround pick and wouldnt look back. Moving JPG and Bailey would give us enough cap space to acquire a top 6 winger.



Completely agree. Id take a 4th line of Fasching-Cizikas-Durandeau/Holmstrom

Probably asking the wrong person - I value highly what Pageau does for this team. And I would want something significant in return in a hockey trade or for futures.

I would not consider Pageau in trade dump situation.

 

[SI]

I love playing around with capfriendly in the offseason, but I worry that there will be little reason to do so this offseason because I have a feeling it will all be very predictable. Bringing back Varly for $3.5 mil, Mayfield for $4 mil, Engvall for $3 mil, Fasching/Parise/Wahlstrom/Bolduc for under $1 mil, and trading Bailey would get us right to the projected $83.5 mil cap for next season.

Lee-Horvat-Barzal
Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri
Parise-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Fasching

Pelech-Dobson
Romanov-Pulock
Aho-Mayfield
Bolduc

Sorokin
Varly

I could see a move like trading Clutterbuck and giving Fasching the 4RW spot and signing a cheap 13th forward, but I just don’t see any upgrades or substantial moves happening.

Not a fan of bringing back exactly the same group. Lou may see it differently and maybe a new coaching staff and philosophy brings better results.

I would like to see some changes and upgrades - the first thing that needs to happen is the official Cap number. If only goes up 1m then it will be difficult to makes roster changes but if we see rise higher than that then there is hope for some more movement.

 

[Glorydays22]

There aren't any changes coming UNLESS management wakes the f*** up and tells Lou he's not coming back! Period.....

If he comes back, you will have the same roster including overpaying for Engvall, Mayfield and Vary.

Only hope is we bring in a new GM, he fires entire staff and tries to rid us of the over the hill gang in Bailey, Lee, Martin, Clutter. Along with NOT resigning Vary, Engvall and Mayfield. Need new blood, fresh legs and high motors.

Think about it, if you rid yourself of Martin, Clutter, Mayfield, Parise and Engvall - you have 5 spots in the lineup for youth, speed and wait....possibly some skill

Parise was a trooper, but it's time to stop with the guys over 30, he's be 39 next year. We caught lightning in the bottle 2 years in a row with him. Let's not press our luck.

Can we try and get younger. Even if we have to take a step backwards to inject some younger players.

 

[Duanesutter12]

There aren't any changes coming UNLESS management wakes the f*** up and tells Lou he's not coming back! Period.....

If he comes back, you will have the same roster including overpaying for Engvall, Mayfield and Vary.

Only hope is we bring in a new GM, he fires entire staff and tries to rid us of the over the hill gang in Bailey, Lee, Martin, Clutter. Along with NOT resigning Vary, Engvall and Mayfield. Need new blood, fresh legs and high motors.

Think about it, if you rid yourself of Martin, Clutter, Mayfield, Parise and Engvall - you have 5 spots in the lineup for youth, speed and wait....possibly some skill

Parise was a trooper, but it's time to stop with the guys over 30, he's be 39 next year. We caught lightning in the bottle 2 years in a row with him. Let's not press our luck.

Can we try and get younger. Even if we have to take a step backwards to inject some younger players.

Going to be hard to move Lee with his contract. And while I agree with you on Parise he was pretty damn productive this year so if he doesn't come back what $1.5M winger out there is going to come in and replace him? Not many options. Regarding Engvall, so long as we don't overpay I'd love to have him back. I don't know why everyone thinks it's a given we would overpay, it's not like he has a huge body of work. He was good in his time here thought so why not re-sign him?

 

[YearlyLottery]

I really don't understand what you don't get. Lou only moves "forward" (meaning no rebuild). With Toronto he inherited a rebuild so had no choice, so honestly it's "careless" of you to not acknowledge that fact. He literally showed up just after they were the 4th worst team in the league and took Marner. The next season they were the worst team and took Matthews.

Conversely...The Devils probably should have been a rebuild before he left (and I think we're fast approaching that point with the Isles), and yet he still never took his foot off the pedal. Lou then "led" the Devils to the 6th worst team in the NHL in 2015 when he then jumped ship to the Leafs...And the Devils were forced into a rebuild that they are just seeing the fruits of now. That is the problem and we're seeing it come to fruition again in real time now with the Isles.

And all this is a distraction from the real point which is...

1. Do you think the Isles should be starting a retool/rebuild now?
2. Do you trust Lou to do it or do you believe he should be replaced?

Meh I'll bite.

The Leafs did get worse when he went there though. You just said it yourself. They went from fourth worst to the worst. So he took part in that entire rebuild process.

The Devils were an interesting case that I am not sure any GM would have been ready for. Fact of the matter is when your top forward leaves in free agency and the other one retires to go back to Russia when you are a Stanley Cup Contender it puts the franchise in a very difficult decision. Things could have been handled better for sure, but I do not think this was an easy decision at all.

1.) Isles should probably continue retooling while competing.
2.) Whether or not Lou completes this process doesn't really matter to me. I would be fine with a new look on things but I would also be fine with seeing what else Lou does.