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

[NC 1972]

Pageau was almost near his career high with 12 games missed. I don't think you let go of such a player, especially when you still can compete

And you could argue that the time missed is an issue with the smaller player , who likes the contact. It beats you up and father time marches on , and that's why big centreman are sought after given the responsibility's of a center I'll take the 6'2" - 6'4" guy over the 5'9" - 5'11" guy.

 

[doublechili]

Taking the long view of this team isn’t the strong suit of too many posters around here.

There's a difference between talking about trading Nelson for picks as part of a tear-down rebuild prior to the Horvat trade, and talking about trading Nelson from a position of strength for an NHL player who can fill another hole (and maybe a younger one to boot which would help a re-tool on the fly). So the current Nelson discussion and the previous one are apples and oranges.

 

[PK Cronin]

This is a clickbait nonsense. Kinda like all that nonsense on Varly and Bailey last time around…that was all falsehoods to drive clicks.

It would be great if a player sued one of these false rumors clickbait pieces for defamation.

They'd have to actually be defamed. Saying a team doesn't want a particular player doesn't quite fit the criteria.

 

[MJF]

This is a clickbait nonsense. Kinda like all that nonsense on Varly and Bailey last time around…that was all falsehoods to drive clicks.

It would be great if a player sued one of these false rumors clickbait pieces for defamation.

Riiigght. I’m sure this type of speculation harmed someone’s career.

 

[Throttle]

I get the frustration with Barzal, but for all his issues he's young, he's a great/fast skater, and he's got a lot of skill (especially at transporting the puck and entering the zone). Some concerns with the Isles are that we're getting older, we're slow, we lack skill, and we're not great at moving the puck and zone entries. So I'd be wary about trading him.

I guess I see it that he’s not a player to build around bc he has too many faults that he’s not addressing and at 26, he is what he is at this point.

Paying $9.125M for a player that the team has to shift the roster around and constantly juggle in game bc he’s hard to play with and refuses to play a north/south game that the other players on the ice do, is just counterintuitive. He went almost 20 games w/o a goal, the team held its own, he missed 20 games due to injury and the team played better when they closed things down and simplified their game. That’s even with Horvat being a nothing burger on offense.

So, reallocating his role and cap for another player is where to take this.

Can flip Nelson, but there’s no one on the roster making up his 35G, back to a wing and prayer that Wally can help there.

 

[Throttle]

They'd have to actually be defamed. Saying a team doesn't want a particular player doesn't quite fit the criteria.

Of course, but we’ve gone long on the game of telephone from actual news outlets and those connected in the industry to faux news/fan click-driven sites w/o any real basis.

 

[PK Cronin]

Of course, but we’ve gone long on the game of telephone from actual news outlets and those connected in the industry to faux news/fan click-driven sites w/o any real basis.

It's no different than People magazine, and might actually be better.

 

[SI]

The Nelson - Horvat - Barzal and the sentiment of Nelson as the 3C is way overblown.

If they did got his route and moved Pageau, They would roll all 3 lines equally - these 3 players would all feature on the PP and two of the 3 would kill penalties as well. I'm not sure why Nelson would be considered the 3C with regard to defensive zone starts, because that detail would fall to Horvat and then Cizikas who then be (without Pageau) the top C in the faceoff dot.

Folks look beyond how they are listed in the lineup card - and focus more on usage on 5on5 and special teams.
Sam Reinhart was listed on the 3rd line RW - still logging 19 minutes a game.

 

[SI]

I don't disagree with that if they feel Barzal is a C. Going with Barzal, Horvat and JGP would be a more traditional distribution. And as you said, trading Nelson would bring a good return and fill a hole on D (Toews or Hanifin?) or the wing. Also, a decision is going to need to be made on Nelson in a year anyway - to extend or trade him. If they extend him he'll be 33 at the start of the new term. I don't see Brock as a guy who's gotten beaten up or who relies on speed, so he could contribute into his latter 30s. But still, term and $$ will be a question.

I don't see the harm in moving Nelson to Maty's wing - Lane did stack Lee - Barzal - Nelson in a game or two and they looked pretty great. They could keep Barzal on Horvat's wing or they can try Nelson on Maty's wing - I'd prefer Maty in the middle.

If there is a hockey trade to be made - for example, Nelson for say Buchnevich or Nelson for Laine... maybe? But, do you sacrifice C depth for a natural winger? I don't see Lou doing that. I see him rather keeping his 5C's and moving someone to W. My preference would be to have Nelson and Barzal's wing, but I don't think Lane and the staff are going to do that. I believe they want to further explore the Horvat - Barzal combo.

With regard, to Nelson's next contract - he'll be 34? How many years? term? Or do you let him walk and use those savings on a younger free agent? My feeling is they let the season play out.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

I dont see them moving Nelson when they are so deprived of goal-scoring and he has been our most consistant scorer.

I also dont see them really moving JGP either when it would force Barzal to take face offs again, something he just can't seem to even get remotely average at, but that is much more possible than trading Brock is.

I would think Cizikas moving to the third line is more likely than Nelson dropping down should they find a taker for Pageau though that would net us a better wing or puck moving blueliner (or money to go get one)...

No, more than likely it is finding a taker for Bailey and trying to use the 10-11 million to get another forward to replace him, a RD and a backup goalie, whether those are our own FA's or not in Engvall, Mayfield and Varly....

Not sure we find a "hockey trade" that we can make work while also badly needing to ship Josh off...

 

[Seph]

Funny how trading Brock Nelson isn't so far fetched anymore.

Not really all that funny, more just what you'd expect given the change of circumstances from when he was near untouchable for us. He's now only 2 years from being a 33 year old UFA, and we now have Horvat signed longterm to play in his role if he is moved. It seems rather expected that with those changes people would be more open to the idea of trading him than they were when we had no one to play in his spot and he was further from UFA.

Nah, that’s what you wrote.

You have to understand the nuance of how he wrote that he'd rather "move Nelson down to 3rd line center," it obviously wasn't meant to indicate he had any interest in moving Nelson down to 3rd line center.

 

[SRBisles]

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Not really all the funny, more just what you'd expect given the change of circumstances from when he was near untouchable for us. He's now only 2 years from being a 33 year old UFA, and we now have Horvat signed longterm to play in his role if he is moved. It seems rather expected that with those changes people would be more open to the idea of trading him than they were when we had no one to play in his spot and he was further from UFA.

@MJF and I were talking about the possibility of trading Nelson the day after Stastny's pinball dagger.

At that time, it was not even entertained. Yet 2 months later, now it is a card on the table.

 

[SRBisles]

I could see Lou being interested in Erik Johnson on a 1 or 2 year deal around league min if Mayfield walks.

 

[SI90]

Everyone in Calgary is available even concession workers and ushers

 

[Big L]

Everyone in Calgary is available even concession workers and ushers

We could use a new dippin dots

 

[Seph]

@MJF and I were talking about the possibility of trading Nelson the day after Stastny's pinball dagger.

At that time, it was not even entertained. Yet 2 months later, now it is a card on the table.

I don't recall it being completely rejected by everyone regardless of return, but I could be wrong as I wasn't on a lot at that time(there tends to be a lot hysterics and overly emotional posts after a big loss like that that I prefer to avoid, but that would also support the likelihood that people weren't thinking as clearly at the time). Link to the thread?

 

[SI90]

We could use a new dippin dots

Nobody wants to shave when they get here lol especially dippin dots

 

[YearlyLottery]

Something to keep an eye on:

Calgary is going to be scouting players specifically close to where the team is from. The reason for this is after getting burnt by so many Americans such as Gaudreau who specifically noted Calgary being too far from family. I am not sure if the isles have anyone from around there but if so that could be something to look out for.

 

[LeapOnOver]

This is being speculated upon because "why not just move Barzal to wing" is apparently untenable.

Well that and we need more wingers with goal scoring ability, especially on the PP.

 

[LeapOnOver]

The real issue to me is that Pageau is being thrown as a trade option, when in reality he's one of the most important players on this team. We whined about not having a 3C for so long, that now we see him as tradable?

Well... haven't things changed? We have 5 centers... all decent ones. Why do we have to hoard based on the past? Should we be pursuing a number 1 goalie as well?

 

[LeapOnOver]

@MJF and I were talking about the possibility of trading Nelson the day after Stastny's pinball dagger.

At that time, it was not even entertained. Yet 2 months later, now it is a card on the table.

I brought up trading Nelson back in the offseason in a scenario where the Isles weren't making the playoffs and it was discussed seriously with some people not being opposed to it. I don't really get what you are driving at. Hockey rosters are fluid, evolving organisms. I'm not annoyed that more people are leaning in that direction than when i brought it up, lol.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Of course, but we’ve gone long on the game of telephone from actual news outlets and those connected in the industry to faux news/fan click-driven sites w/o any real basis.

The flip is that the discerning fan has more access to information than ever.

 

[Osakahaus]

Well... haven't things changed? We have 5 centers... all decent ones. Why do we have to hoard based on the past? Should we be pursuing a number 1 goalie as well?

Barzal is a better winger

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

@MJF and I were talking about the possibility of trading Nelson the day after Stastny's pinball dagger.

At that time, it was not even entertained. Yet 2 months later, now it is a card on the table.

There's new information in hand, specifically that management is intent on Barzal playing center. Now, it becomes a matter of having 5 centers on the team, so the discussion isn't about Nelson, per se, it's about how to alleviate a personnel logjam. That's the difference in this discussion from prior ones, which were ideological in nature.

If Nelson can play wing, then it changes the complexion of the discussion further. Who knows if that's viable, though.