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

[Throttle]

Barzal is a better winger

That’s the belief, however, something tells me beyond faceoffs and linemates, what he does on the ice may not be so different whether he’s a center or winger. Time will tell though.

He played a more north/south game under Trotz first 3 years. Year 4 he seemed to stray from it. Lambert opened it up and we know the rest.

If he plays wing like under Trotz yr1-3, there’s hope. If he plays Trotz yr4 and lambert yr1, gonna be a rough ride on the term of that contract.

 

[Throttle]

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.

Well, Johnny took the team to the waning moments of UFA, so the family thing was already a known item by that time. It’s just a soft landing excuse. Kinda like Dubas playing that card in Toronto out of nowhere.

Dubas already had an option with PIT otherwise he doesn’t pull that charade.

Johnny Trademark played the game to the last minute to drum up interest with options for available teams once he hit UFA. He just didn’t expect there to be limited options.

Tavares did the same thing, except the target was to get a Toronto media all worked up and sucker a not so bright kid GM to fall prey to it. No way in heck does Lou as GM of Toronto sign Tavares while he was in the middle of adding depth, defense, and already had his goalie.

 

[SI]

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.

I believe Nelson can and still be very effective there- I think Barzal and Nelson together could be dynamite.

I think the speed and space Barzal can create - it could be a very productive line. IMO, I’d rather have that puck skill speed and transition game that Barzal brings in the middle most people would prefer the size that he brings.

Just my thoughts

 

[doublechili]

@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 that conversation - I think if anything people were talking about trading Horvat more than Nelson that day. The Nelson conversations that I recall were pre-Horvat and in the context of getting back futures and rebuilding.

 

[doublechili]

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.

Is CGY looking for players or futures? I'd agree that it would seem to be players since they signed Kadri and traded for Huberdeau and extended him, but who knows? If they do want players, an alternative to "local boys" would be guys who are locked up with term. We have a talented player who's locked up for 8 years. CGY has Hanifin and Lindholm. I can think of some posters here who would use that as the basis of a deal [actually, I really like both of those guys and was jealous when CGY made the deal to obtain them from CAR, so maybe I'd be on board with that too]

 

[SI]

Is CGY looking for players or futures? I'd agree that it would seem to be players since they signed Kadri and traded for Huberdeau and extended him, but who knows? If they do want players, an alternative to "local boys" would be guys who are locked up with term. We have a talented player who's locked up for 8 years. CGY has Hanifin and Lindholm. I can think of some posters here who would use that as the basis of a deal [actually, I really like both of those guys and was jealous when CGY made the deal to obtain them from CAR, so maybe I'd be on board with that too]

I believe Columbus, Minnesota, and St. Louis will push hard for Lindholm - all 3 teams have a big need for a C like Lindholm and have the pieces to acquire him.

I can see Backlund being moved to Colorado.

 

[JKP]

God this place is tough to absorb at this time of year… lol

 

[Osakahaus]

God this place is tough to absorb at this time of year… lol

Because this team has so little to work with again. Sucks but thats the reality

 

[seafoam]

Nelson for Toews and then Bailey + picks/prospects for Toffoli?

Engvall-Barzal-Toffoli
Lee-Horvat-Palmieri
Parise-Pageau-Wahlstrom
MM-CC-CC

Toews-Pulock
Pelech-Dobson
Romanov-X

 

[leeroggy]

Nelson for Toews and then Bailey + picks/prospects for Toffoli?

Engvall-Barzal-Toffoli
Lee-Horvat-Palmieri
Parise-Pageau-Wahlstrom
MM-CC-CC

Toews-Pulock
Pelech-Dobson
Romanov-X

I like the proposed 3rd RHD!

 

[doublechili]

God this place is tough to absorb at this time of year… lol

Don't worry, the baseless speculation will end in a week or two, to be replaced by constant complaining.

 

[doublechili]

So this is the schedule next week?

Wed: 1st day of draft
Thurs: 2nd day of draft
Fri: buyout window closes
Sat: Free agency begins

That's nuts. Has the schedule ever been so compressed?

 

[Stercrazy]

I like the proposed 3rd RHD!

Poffo's brother was better.....and a good baseball prospect as well.

 

[leeroggy]

So this is the schedule next week?

Wed: 1st day of draft
Thurs: 2nd day of draft
Fri: buyout window closes
Sat: Free agency begins

That's nuts. Has the schedule ever been so compressed?

1918 . . . but the Spanish Flu was definitely a factor

 

[CupHolders]

Poffo's brother was better.....and a good baseball prospect as well.

You referring to Macho Man Randy Savage? Or, did he actually have another brother… who played baseball.

As an aside, it’s such an Islander thing to have “the better brother.” Lol… Isles are the Leaping Lanny’s of the NHL.

 

[SRBisles]

So this is the schedule next week?

Wed: 1st day of draft
Thurs: 2nd day of draft
Fri: buyout window closes
Sat: Free agency begins

That's nuts. Has the schedule ever been so compressed?

The regular season schedule releases on Tuesday as well. Lots to look forward to next week.

 

[leeroggy]

The regular season schedule releases on Tuesday as well. Lots to look forward to next week.

Even better is the World Lacrosse championships on ESPN+ that are going on now

 

[seafoam]

Boston might be looking to clear space for a center (Dubois? Lindholm?), NYI may be able to pry away someone like DeBrusk, who’s already hit 25 goals three times and is a LW who can skate.

 

[WangMustGo]

Boston might be looking to clear space for a center (Dubois? Lindholm?), NYI may be able to pry away someone like DeBrusk, who’s already hit 25 goals three times and is a LW who can skate.

The problem is we are also looking to clear cap space.

 

[xECK29x]

 

[LeapOnOver]

So this is the schedule next week?

Wed: 1st day of draft
Thurs: 2nd day of draft
Fri: buyout window closes
Sat: Free agency begins

That's nuts. Has the schedule ever been so compressed?

And in September we'll find out if LL did anything.

 

[scott99]

So this is the schedule next week?

Wed: 1st day of draft
Thurs: 2nd day of draft
Fri: buyout window closes
Sat: Free agency begins

That's nuts. Has the schedule ever been so compressed?

This has to be the first time the draft has been on a Wednesday night in ages. Maybe since the old days when every draft was in Montreal. I remember calling sports phone while at work when the Isles drafted Pat Lafontaine in 1983.

I understand the Friday night draft (1st round) followed up by Saturday morning continuation of the draft (rounds 2-7), that makes sense to me. But a Wednesday and Thursday night NHL draft, seems so bizarre to me.

 

[Big L]

Oh look, a team looking for a top 6 winger and top 4 D. Just like 28 other teams.

 

[seafoam]

The problem is we are also looking to clear cap space.

Indeed.

The only saving grace is that the Islanders have five quality centermen that all have term in a summer in which 35 year old ROR is probably the best UFA center on the market.


Unless the Islanders are committed to moving one of their centermen to the wing full time, they may have to get serious about moving one of them to balance out their roster.

 

[The Real JT]

Lou is in a tough spot.

He needs to shed salary but he has no interest in a retool. Personally, I’d buy out Bailey but I suspect Lou would rather trade him with a sweetener and avoid the cap hit associated with a buyout. That would also be a more respectful way of unloading Bailey compared to a buyout or burying him in the AHL.

So how does he otherwise shed salary while not diminishing our competitiveness for the upcoming season? Beats me. Sure he could flip JGP but I don’t think he returns much value. Nelson is the next logical choice and he’d return a sizable amount of assets. Whatever he might bring back would probably diminish our chances for next season so that doesn’t sound like a “Lou” move to me.

Meanwhile, we have big question marks on the third D pairing, backup G and scoring winger positions. Filling those slots all cost $.

Does that sound like a pessimistic take for the near term? Regrettably so. We better hope Wally emerges next year as a legitimate winger. Dufour and Maggio are nice stories so far but we can’t expect NHL contributions from them next season.