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

[lafellaesobar]

HOPE is a powerful tool

Gaudreau to NJ most likely.

 

[JKP]

Let the games begin….

 

[BelovedIsles]

I could really go for some Dippin' Dots right about now.

 

[MJF]

I’ll get the coffee going. It’s gonna be a long night.

 

[CupHolders]

When is the last time we had a good july 1? Seems like we do well right before the end of the season but I can't remember any great signings on free agent day.

Tomorrow is July 13th! Lou is pulling out the cheat code!

 

[lafellaesobar]

I’ll get the coffee going. It’s gonna be a long night.

he ain't going back to calgary and if it isn't over money? we got a shot.

 

[doublechili]

I posted this once before (maybe 2 months ago) and will a second and final time.

In the off-season Johnny coaches a close friend of my family and has done so for years. They got to talking a short while back and Johnny expressed the following:

1. NYR his top free agency destination
2. NYI is a close second and a very strong consideration.

No mention of resigning in Calgary, NJ or Philly were made during the exchange.

This was all discussed on a personal level.

Take it for what it’s worth.


Don’t be so sure. The perception is that it will be quite some time before NJ and Philly in any meaningful way.

Thanks for posting that. I'll reserve the "dippin' dots" references to people who signed up last week, not someone who's been here for 17 years (a little longer than me). I'll take my slivers of hope where I can get them.

 

[cjdv16]

Let the games begin….

Interesting.

 

[Crashsunday]

Wondering if JG is going to get booed as much as JT when he returns to Calgary.

 

[Tahoeblue]

Quick Thoughts:
Didn't know Rakell signed for 6 years. That probably won't age well and I liked him in Ana.
Conflicted on Gaudreau and if he chooses Isles
If we miss I hope Lou has a backup plan. I like Garland as an example. Isles may have to trade for their winger who has term left. Lou does a nice job in resigning players. Get that winger on the team, in the room, rabid fan base, and a great place to live to help keep players and not go UFA route.

 

[lafellaesobar]

Wondering if JG is going to get booed as much as JT when he returns to Calgary.

doubt because Johnny wasn't a face of the franchise type

 

[19 Straight]

Wondering if JG is going to get booed as much as JT when he returns to Calgary.

Did he tell Calgary not to trade him at the trade deadline because he wanted to sign with the Flames?

 

[cjdv16]

Thanks for posting that. I'll reserve the "dippin' dots" references to people who signed up last week, not someone who's been here for 17 years (a little longer than me). I'll take my slivers of hope where I can get them.

Thanks. Appreciate it.

A life-long Isles fan for over 40 years. I too have been burned and over-excited way too many times.

Simply passed on info that I know to be legit (does that mean JG signs here -- hell no. Only 1, maybe 2 people know that for certain... and possibly not because you need 2 to tango -- e.g., Lou). I don't appreciate all the territorial vultures swarming as if I'm new blood and fresh meat.

Little do they know that I've spent the last 5 years reading these boards and so yeah, i can easily separate the tools from the valid posters.

Thankfully there's a few folks who aren't so overly sensitive as to jump down people's throats when they come forward with what little info they may/may not have.

I'm the furthest from an insider and any insinuation for attention is just plain flawed.

Simply passed what I felt was excited news around a prospectively exciting time of year.

Hope it pans out. (And yeah, personally also so i can piss all over a few of you -- immature i know. Too bad.).

 

[doublechili]

Yup - That's about as nightmarish as it gets.


...Which of course means that if we trade for Kane and the rangers sign Kadri that would be a dream.

I'll say though, Kadri is the kind of guy who might still be an effective player when he's 37 or 38. He might not be a PPG player, but he'll still put up some points and play an annoying, good all around game. So 7 years isn't horrible, especially if the actual salary is lower in later years so he could be traded to a cap floor team. So if Lou does sign him I won't need counseling.

 

[cjdv16]

Did he tell Calgary not to trade him at the trade deadline because he wanted to sign with the Flames?

I'd guess just like anything he used them to help set the market for himself.

Back to rational posting -- I'm a big JG fan. Simply because he's a UFA and can be had for cap space and not assets.

A few posters have said it and I whole-heartedly agree.....

A player like him, you lock in and then figure out how to make it work all around. Personally, I think the Isles have enough flex to figure it out while not being bent over a barrel.

 

[SCMURRAY]

Would have to move Bailey and Varlamov's 10m combined to pay JG 10m but it would be worth it.

You could actually make it work by just moving Bailey but all the pieces have to fall in line. Dobson and Romanov on friendly bridges, bellows at 800k, send out Panik for futures anywhere and waive Johnston. Run a 22 man squad instead of 23.

 

[doublechili]

I don't think he would rock the internal cap structure if he came in here at 9.5-10M per year.

That's a great point. If Lou signed Kadri for $8M a year to be the highest paid player on the team that would be bad re: guys who signed for less than their market value and also for upcoming negotiations like Barzal, Dobson, etc.. But no one can complain if we sign a top 10-ish guy and pay him accordingly.

 

[2ndGenIslander]

I have no expectations here. We’ve never once landed the big fish in UFA

 

[cjdv16]

I have no expectations here. We’ve never once landed the big fish in UFA

Agreed. No expectations, but one can dream (again)... can't we?

 

[doublechili]

You can complain about the numbers, but Gaudreau would fill the Islanders biggest need, and would be, by a mile, the biggest free agent signing the franchise has ever had.

I mentioned this before, but Gaudreau would be sort of a 2 for 1 deal because if Wahlstrom plays RW with JG and Barzal he might suddenly be a 30 goal scorer.

 

[lafellaesobar]

I have no expectations here. We’ve never once landed the big fish in UFA

Well this one lies down in the god damn cap space, because where has Lou cleared up space to sign him?

 

[Crashsunday]

Did he tell Calgary not to trade him at the trade deadline because he wanted to sign with the Flames?

No, but the main board is saying Calgary got the Tavares treatment - he knew he wasn’t signing, but led Calgary on until they called his bluff by offering maximum dollars which he ultimately rejected.

 

[mm11]

stings for Flames fans. JT circus all over again

 

[doublechili]

HOPE is a powerful tool

Gaudreau to NJ most likely.

The only success that franchise ever had was due to our GM.

Granted, Newark is beautiful in the Spring.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

That's a great point. If Lou signed Kadri for $8M a year to be the highest paid player on the team that would be bad re: guys who signed for less than their market value and also for upcoming negotiations like Barzal, Dobson, etc.. But no one can complain if we sign a top 10-ish guy and pay him accordingly.

No one in the room would bat an eye if Johnny was the highest paid player on the Isles. This guy was a top 5 player last year. And he is one of the NHL's brighest stars.