Osakahaus
Chillin' on Fuji
- May 28, 2021
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Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California
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KingsHockey24
Registered User
- Aug 1, 2013
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periferal
Registered User
- Jul 5, 2007
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You're not understanding. No one is saying get rid of Horvat (if that were even possible). Just discussing the corner that Lou has backed the Isles in and saying that he didn't anticipate this "3 years ago" isn't an excuse.
Skip To My Lou
Abused Fan
MikeyMike01
U.S.S. Wang
You’d think people would wait until something bad happens to whine, but no we’re getting it in early.
Throttle
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2020
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What playoff team (s) from pre-COVID to current successfully managed their cap space to accommodate for a continued year-over-year flat cap?
Also, remember the Isles entered COVID as a has been franchise.
I really don’t have an issue with what Lou did, he elevated the franchise from a giant nothing burger to relevance, he had to and will continue to overpay, and yet went to 2 b2b conference finals and playoffs 4/5 years. If the team. Flatlines
For a season or two, it is what it is. Some of these players also need to step the heck up too.
Look CLB won the offseason award last year and are picking 3OA this year, yippee! Boston fired their coach (just like the fans wanted…btw), win the regular season award, then make big trades, and whif big time by blowing a 3-1 first round lead. That same coach goes on to win the Cup with a franchise most thought was gonna have no fans, their GM showed no loyalty to anyone, and in the end leveraged LTIR (permitted to do so), and pulled off trading picks/prospects/players to get Stone, Eichel, and signed Pieterangelo and it’s one of the most desirable franchises to play for. That took balls, ownership and management commitment, and they were rewarded for it.
In Toronto, the not so experienced GM spent more time managing his image with the media to mask year over year poor player transactions, only to let the media ‘blame’ the players, not the actual constructor of the team. And he parachuted out to PIT and is already CYA himself with titles and his AGM lackey in Spezza.
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SI
Registered User
- Feb 16, 2013
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Is he?
Vilardi is not a C and has only had 1 successful season.
And why will PLD not be a leader?
Would rather have PLD.
3 years ago the team was in the Eastern Conference championship - the 1st of TWO.
And techincally he added 4+ m to the cap not 8.5
And why can't we have it both ways - it's nuanced.
IslesNorway
Registered User
Lou basically said what a few of us have been saying for the past few years, but this is as good as an admittance as you'll ever get from him. He screwed up. Exactly when did he anticipate the cap to go up? He's made so many questionable signings and extensions it's hard to fathom he didn't see this coming.
LeapOnOver
Mackenzie is a hack!
Vilardi is a natural center. Just hasn't been used that way in LA. You think PLD is a leader? Does a leader give up on shifts because he's pouting and wants to be traded? You didn't see the infamous video? I don't care what the excuses are, watch the video. Someone who does that can never command respect as a leader.
You keep saying this, but both teams that played in the finals had cap problems. One could only hold a 21 man roster and the other need injury shenanigans to escape the cap. You act like LL is the only one putting himself in this situation, lol.
Other teams are finding ways around their cap issues. Lou keeps getting thwarted. No Robidas Island. No LTIR shens.
It is likely that the players Lou would like to move there is no market for without salary retention or an added asset. So rather than robbing Peter to pay Paul, we end up with much of the same core, a year older and a year slower, for the 3rd straight season since the 2 trips to the semis. This is why we had Lou's admission of frustration last night.
Lou keeps saying he believes in his team, but he really has no choice.
Top Corner
Registered User
I’ve always maintained that the biggest thing Lou has done for this franchise was bring on Trotz. I think he’s miscalculated that this team has what it takes to be a championship team and when he does step away, this team will be a lot worse off then when he took over. I’m assuming his recent comments reflect his inability to make a hockey trade because most of his assets are overpriced.
leeroggy
Registered User
- Jan 3, 2010
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The biggest potential for improvement this year is whether the kids take the next step.
Wahlstrom finally potting 20 goals
Holmstrom taking the next step to 15G/20A range
Aho getting a shot at QB'ing PP1
Dobson showing up ripped and improves defensively
Frankly, the biggest issue we face among players, assuming he retires, is replacing Parise's 21 goals
If these things happen, we can get away with another year of putting the mediocre contracts behind us. And if they don't compete for the playoffs, you likely have:
Cizikas and Clutter traded at the deadline
No more Bailey, no matter what happens now
Palmieri down to 1 year and Pageau and Lee down to 2 years
Another year of development for Dufour, Bolduc, Durandeau and Maggio and players like Odelius and George.
It's not the end of the world
Wahlstrom finally potting 20 goals
Holmstrom taking the next step to 15G/20A range
Aho getting a shot at QB'ing PP1
Dobson showing up ripped and improves defensively
Frankly, the biggest issue we face among players, assuming he retires, is replacing Parise's 21 goals
If these things happen, we can get away with another year of putting the mediocre contracts behind us. And if they don't compete for the playoffs, you likely have:
Cizikas and Clutter traded at the deadline
No more Bailey, no matter what happens now
Palmieri down to 1 year and Pageau and Lee down to 2 years
Another year of development for Dufour, Bolduc, Durandeau and Maggio and players like Odelius and George.
It's not the end of the world
So, LA moving 3 good assets to add an 8.5 mil player is a sign of good cap management, but Lou moving 3 good assets to add a 8.5 mil player is a sign of bad cap management because it happened 5 months ago. All right then.
Can somebody please explain to me how the Devils get Tyler Toffoli for Sharangovich and a third round pick? If Sharangovich was being traded all reports were it was going to be basically a salary dump because they could not afford to sign him. Instead they get a 35 goal scoring upgrade on him? Now with only 8 forwards and 5 defensemen signed they have just 19 million in cap space. At least 8 million of that has to be going to Meier. That leaves them 11 million to sign 4 more forwards and 2 defenseman. Yet somehow they manage to bring in Toffoli and supposedly are one of the front runners to get Hellebuyck (which is their one real weakness and would be a disaster for the rest of the Metro if they get him). Hellebuyck supposedly wants 8+ million
How are they managing this? I swear if some team helps them out by taking garbage salary like Palat or something I am going to lose it. How is it that all these other teams that skirt the salary cap (Vegas, Tampa, the Rags and others) always seem to find a way year after year to make additions and changes, get some form of help from other teams taking salary, but somehow the Isles are always "stuck" with their current group. Are we not able to make trades and be creative the same way these other teams are? I just do not get it.
How are they managing this? I swear if some team helps them out by taking garbage salary like Palat or something I am going to lose it. How is it that all these other teams that skirt the salary cap (Vegas, Tampa, the Rags and others) always seem to find a way year after year to make additions and changes, get some form of help from other teams taking salary, but somehow the Isles are always "stuck" with their current group. Are we not able to make trades and be creative the same way these other teams are? I just do not get it.
JKP
Registered User
JKP
Registered User
When he took over the franchise player had spurned them and left, they'd given up the most goals of any team in a decade and the last GM and Coach did their year end presser in track suits... wtf are you talking about??
doublechili
For all intensive purposes, your nuts
- Apr 11, 2006
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I don't see the same broad admission of culpability by Lou that others are seeing. For all our speculation of other deals, he probably just wants to re-sign Varlamov, Mayfield and Engvall and can't do it if he buys out Bailey or retains salary in a trade. That's probably the "situation" he's referring to. Not any more than that. Lou believes in his plan - that can be a strength and a weakness.
Anyway, barring something creative (no reason to think that will happen) we'll have to see if he values a guy like Engvall enough to be willing to pay a pick to make Bailey's $5M disappear....
Anyway, barring something creative (no reason to think that will happen) we'll have to see if he values a guy like Engvall enough to be willing to pay a pick to make Bailey's $5M disappear....
CupHolders
Really Fries My Bananas!
- Aug 8, 2006
- 7,571
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...and they had one playoff win since 1993.
Seriously, some people forget how bad the Islander's brand had become. Often overlooking the Islanders finally returned to a normal professionally run franchise for the first time since the mid 1980's. The Islanders were how the Coyotes are viewed now.
Thank you.
I’m not in love with thr way things are playing out but there’s no f’ing way it will be as bad as Wang-Snow-Cappy/Weight days.
CupHolders
Really Fries My Bananas!
- Aug 8, 2006
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Exactly this. We can dispute rebuild/retools and what that all means in player personnel. But that's still normal discourse about a normal organization.
But to say the Isles will return to a level of Charles Wang's tenure or my personal favorites:
(Milstein-Gluckstern) aka The pigs at the toughs... and their whole scheme of moving the Islanders because the scoreboard might fall down. Failing that, trying to SELL Ziggy Palffy to the Rangers. Bettman himself put a stop to the deal.
Doshell Propivo
Registered User
- Dec 5, 2005
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Ummm.... What? Do you remember the state of the team when he took over? I suppose it's possible but even if that would be the case, doesn't take away from the success the team has had under Lou.
Doshell Propivo
Registered User
- Dec 5, 2005
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YES! It is extremely refreshing to have these, and only these, conversations. Not "will we move to Quebec or KC, will the owners sell the team, will we ever get a new arena, where will the team play, etc." We have professional owners with deep pockets, a new arena, legit management/coaching and a playoff team. Life ain't bad.
Throttle
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2020
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Do you think Lou felt he would get a 60 point center that can’t take faceoffs for $9.125M and a 25 point ‘offensive’ defenseman for $6.1M?
People can complain about his UFA signings all day long, but those are paying market plus bc you are the Isles. These RFA deals where he invested in the player(s) and he’s got .50 on the dollar for them, well, that’s on the players.
Pulock and Barzal both would gwt good value in a trade. The problem is tying up 18 million between Bailey, Palmieri, and Lee. Id also take Barzal at 9 million anyday over Horvat at 8.
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