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

[Glorydays22]

If this is true, I think Lou got Mayfield at a discount - I'm thinking 3.5M for 4 years. I hope it's not true.....I love Mayfield, but it's time to move on from him.

 

[SI90]

In a perfect world I’d love to ship out Pageau and Bring in JT Compher

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

A very large number of players out there weren't qualified today.

Thus, a whole slew of players have been added to free agency.

Any interest in McLeod , Boqvist and Bastian ? I know we have bigger issues than bottom 6 players. it just seems like these are Lou type of moves, Especially if we wind up moving Pageau

Like all of them. Just dunno where any fit.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

I've seen some posts talking about moving Palmieri. That's fine depending on the return, but I'm also more than fine keeping him. Unless I was watching different playoff games than other people were?

BTW, I'll be away from a computer for about a week but will keep up with all the "action" on my phone.

Palmieri I am fine with keeping. I would much rather move on from Pageau who has an additional year and did not have nearly the playoff run Palmieri had.

I’m someone who mentioned moving Palms for Debrincat which I should mention

I’m a huge Palms fan, every playoff run with the Isles he’s been huge and I love his game. Was merely a suggestion that he’s a winger and I’m fine trading him for an upgrade on wing (Debrincat).

 

[Kevin27NYI]

If this is true, I think Lou got Mayfield at a discount - I'm thinking 3.5M for 4 years. I hope it's not true.....I love Mayfield, but it's time to move on from him.

I think it’s more years vs money.

Put me down for 3.75 x 6

Competitive with offers of 4.5 million on five years. Trade term for dollars.

I go back and forth on Mayfield.

My overall feeling on him is that he’s an incredible PKer that won’t be replaced and we should keep him. Even if you move on that’s a move that necessitates a big improvement elsewhere to compensate.

Also I go back to every playoffs and the guy is a gamer. I can’t quantify that at all but he’s a motherf***er to play against.

 

[SI]

I think it’s more years vs money.

Put me down for 3.75 x 6

Competitive with offers of 4.5 million on five years. Trade term for dollars.

I go back and forth on Mayfield.

My overall feeling on him is that he’s an incredible PKer that won’t be replaced and we should keep him. Even if you move on that’s a move that necessitates a big improvement elsewhere to compensate.

Also I go back to every playoffs and the guy is a gamer. I can’t quantify that at all but he’s a motherf***er to play against.

I wouldn’t be shocked by that contract. You may be correct

And to your post about Palmieri to Ottawa - he has m-NTC and you can be sure Ottawa is on the NT side of that list.

 

[CupHolders]

I’m someone who mentioned moving Palms for Debrincat which I should mention

I’m a huge Palms fan, every playoff run with the Isles he’s been huge and I love his game. Was merely a suggestion that he’s a winger and I’m fine trading him for an upgrade on wing (Debrincat).

Agree with this post 100%.

I mentioned Palms moved and I too appreciate his game. I simply see it as a winger in, a winger out.

Pageau as a center and face off specialist would still provide depth and benefit to the lineup. Also think that Pageau will keep value longer than Palmieri.

 

[Seph]

Bridgeport signs him to an AHL contract and he doesn’t count against the 50.

Oh, if that's your plan then I think you're overestimating what kind of goalie you can get for that.

AHL contracts aren't for regular AHL players. AHL contracts are for guys who are expected to play most, if not all, of the season in the ECHL. There are 13 goalies who played on AHL contracts last season and are UFA this summer. Mostly they are older ECHL journeyman. 12 of those 13 played the majority of last season in the ECHL. The only one who didn't is, funnily enough, Kevin Poulin, and he had spent time in the ECHL in 2021-22, then signed another 1-year AHL contract, and most likely after playing a full season in the AHL will be looking for a 2way NHL contract this summer. And if he is willing to sign another AHL deal, I'm guessing he'll want to stay where he is in Quebec, where he grew up and his family lives.

The gain of a contract slot doesn't really seem worth it to me to go with an ECHL goalie instead. I don't think highly of Skarek, but we know he can play 35+ AHL games in a season at a near .900 save%, which is not great, but still notably better than I'd expect from someone who is willing to sign an AHL contract.

 

[Isles72]

I'm curious to see if any team touches the 2018 wjc canadian players that werent qualified .

McLeod , Comtois

Varly 2.5 x 2 , Mayfield 4.0 x 5 , Engvall 3.5 x 3 , Whally 1.5 x 2

I think thats it

 

[SRBisles]

This Mayfield contract is about to be ugly. Hope I’m wrong

 

[MJF]

Oh, if that's your plan then I think you're overestimating what kind of goalie you can get for that.

AHL contracts aren't for regular AHL players. AHL contracts are for guys who are expected to play most, if not all, of the season in the ECHL. There are 13 goalies who played on AHL contracts last season and are UFA this summer. Mostly they are older ECHL journeyman. 12 of those 13 played the majority of last season in the ECHL. The only one who didn't is, funnily enough, Kevin Poulin, and he had spent time in the ECHL in 2021-22, then signed another 1-year AHL contract, and most likely after playing a full season in the AHL will be looking for a 2way NHL contract this summer. And if he is willing to sign another AHL deal, I'm guessing he'll want to stay where he is in Quebec, where he grew up and his family lives.

The gain of a contract slot doesn't really seem worth it to me to go with an ECHL goalie instead. I don't think highly of Skarek, but we know he can play 35+ AHL games in a season at a near .900 save%, which is not great, but still notably better than I'd expect from someone who is willing to sign an AHL contract.

What I’d like is for the Islanders to stop wasting time and money on prospects who really aren’t good enough for an NHL career. Skarek is one of those players. His contract expired. Let him go. Find someone else who can back up Tristan Lennox.

 

[MJF]

I’m someone who mentioned moving Palms for Debrincat which I should mention

I’m a huge Palms fan, every playoff run with the Isles he’s been huge and I love his game. Was merely a suggestion that he’s a winger and I’m fine trading him for an upgrade on wing (Debrincat).

I’m with you on Palmieri. Last season was the first time we got a look at what Palmieri could provide us when he’s healthy. Power forward who should score around 25 goals. If the Isles would give him more time on the PP1 and set him up from the Ovechkin spot we might see more output from the power play. Maybe.

 

[seafoam]

That’s pretty disappointing.

Lamoriello is completely tearing down the defense Snow built and appears to be under the influence behind the wheel today.

The only reason Dobson fell into his lap was because Snow maximized return on Hamonic. For all we know, Lamoriello would have re-signed Hamonic to a bloated long term contract (I know Hamonic wanted to go out West, but if he hadn’t I guarantee Lou would have signed him) like what he’s doing to Mayfield right now.

Romanov has had flashes, but other than that this is a Snow built defense that Lamoriello has only made worse by having to offload talent year after year because of cap holes he dug himself into…

This Mayfield contract is about to be ugly. Hope I’m wrong

You’re not wrong, it’s going to make a lot of the Islanders faithful on here resent him because of how bad it’s going to be.

The only way this makes sense is if NYI is trading Pulock for a monster return.

 

[crashthenet]

I was calling for that 2 years ago

We ALREADY have Fasching, we don’t need another with the same profile

You need the slots for Wally and Holmstrom

I think Holmstrom is ready. Question is do you add a forward and if so who's out? Parise without a contract? Trade Wally coming off the injury? Not sure.

Lee, Nelson, Palms
Homstrom, Horvat, Barzal
Wally, JGP, Parise
Martin, Zeke, Clutter
Johnson, Fasching

 

[leeroggy]

I think Holmstrom is ready. Question is do you add a forward and if so who's out? Parise without a contract? Trade Wally coming off the injury? Not sure.

Lee, Nelson, Palms
Homstrom, Horvat, Barzal
Wally, JGP, Parise
Martin, Zeke, Clutter
Johnson, Fasching

Zach turns 39 this month, I take Lou at his word that Zach:
a) Isn't sure he wants to play
b) Lou would definitely want to bring him back in the same format/cost

My gut is telling me that Zach will retire, otherwise he would have likely told Lou he wanted to play one more year already. If he is still thinking about it at his age, he's probably trying to come to grips with walking away.

 

[crashthenet]

Trying to think what the most Louish moves might be-

Trade Pulcok and Wahlstrom for Chabot (actual money goes up this year) so the Sens can bring back EK? Maybe

Mayfield 6 years at 3mil per and front-loaded but not announced til his Labor Day BBQ. Yes and he will eat nuts and berries in lieu of burgers and dogs.

Add Justin Holl. Add Miles Wood. IDK

Good morning for foolish predictions.

Zach turns 39 this month, I take Lou at his word that Zach:
a) Isn't sure he wants to play
b) Lou would definitely want to bring him back in the same format/cost

My gut is telling me that Zach will retire, otherwise he would have likely told Lou he wanted to play one more year already. If he is still thinking about it at his age, he's probably trying to come to grips with walking away.

He has been an absolute pleasure to watch this season. They should keep around regardless as a reminder to our younger players of how a pro conducts himself.

 

[SRBisles]

So we’ve heard stuff on Varlamov, Mayfield, and Parise, but radio silence on Engvall. Wonder what’s going on there.

 

[The Real JT]

Trying to think what the most Louish moves might be-

Trade Pulcok and Wahlstrom for Chabot (actual money goes up this year) so the Sens can bring back EK? Maybe

Mayfield 6 years at 3mil per and front-loaded but not announced til his Labor Day BBQ. Yes and he will eat nuts and berries in lieu of burgers and dogs.

Add Justin Holl. Add Miles Wood. IDK

Good morning for foolish predictions.


He has been an absolute pleasure to watch this season. They should keep around regardless as a reminder to our younger players of how a pro conducts himself.

Not a Lou move but how about this? Details above.

Buyout the Captain Anders Lee. The cap hit for the buyout this year is manageable though years 2 and 3 going forward it will hurt but less so in a rising cap world.

The opportunities for upgrades this season without his cap hit would be compelling with a $6.8M savings this season.

Won’t happen though.

 

[IslandersFan17]

View attachment 724580

Not a Lou move but how about this? Details above.

Buyout the Captain Anders Lee. The cap hit for the buyout this year is manageable though years 2 and 3 going forward it will hurt but less so in a rising cap world.

The opportunities for upgrades this season without his cap hit would be compelling with a $6.8M savings this season.

Won’t happen though.

The buyout window closed

 

[The Real JT]

The buyout window closed

That did cross my mind but seeing Duchenne and others bought out I thought maybe it was still an option.

My bad anyway and a missed opportunity IMO.

Lou is playing checkers, not chess. I’d rather he was playing bocce and shuffleboard like he should be doing at his age.

 

[leeroggy]

Trying to think what the most Louish moves might be-

Trade Pulcok and Wahlstrom for Chabot (actual money goes up this year) so the Sens can bring back EK? Maybe

Mayfield 6 years at 3mil per and front-loaded but not announced til his Labor Day BBQ. Yes and he will eat nuts and berries in lieu of burgers and dogs.

Add Justin Holl. Add Miles Wood. IDK

Good morning for foolish predictions.


He has been an absolute pleasure to watch this season. They should keep around regardless as a reminder to our younger players of how a pro conducts himself.

I think you have to look at Winnipeg if there's a major trade coming for us. Calgary too. With the buyouts, you could see some surprise FA signings similar to what Parise did the last 2 years.

 

[The Real JT]

I’m with you on Palmieri. Last season was the first time we got a look at what Palmieri could provide us when he’s healthy. Power forward who should score around 25 goals. If the Isles would give him more time on the PP1 and set him up from the Ovechkin spot we might see more output from the power play. Maybe.

@MJF I’ve always respected your takes here. I’d call it guarded optimism with realistic pessimism.

I’ll disagree with you and play devil’s advocate here. Palmieri is an asset but a minor one at that. He’s overpaid, intermittently injured and his productivity has been declining over the last few years. In the last 3 seasons his highest goal total was 16 and fans are now penciling him in for 25 this upcoming season. He’s not a guy that creates much on his own though that backhander last season was pretty impressive if you remember it.

No one is touching that contract based on the AAV, term and all of the above not to mention the other players recently bought out. Clearly teams couldn’t even give those players away with minor salary retention.

He’s ours so we’ll see how it plays out.

 

[leeroggy]

Here's an off-the-board thought:

Barzal and Aho for Buchnevich, Leddy and a 2024 1st

 

[IslandersFan17]

Here's an off-the-board thought:

Barzal and Aho for Buchnevich, Leddy and a 2024 1st

Oh god no

 

[CupHolders]

View attachment 724580

Not a Lou move but how about this? Details above.

Buyout the Captain Anders Lee. The cap hit for the buyout this year is manageable though years 2 and 3 going forward it will hurt but less so in a rising cap world.

The opportunities for upgrades this season without his cap hit would be compelling with a $6.8M savings this season.

Won’t happen though.

Unless there is something pressing that NEEDS to be signed I don't see the point. Looking at the current crop of FA... who would be worth overpaying for while also costing the Isles this cap hit for six years.

Maybe revisit a buyout next year, or the following... again only if there is a clear upgrade or necessary player to re-sign. Additionally, you get into his Modified Trade Clause next year. So you can investigate trading him for a similarly onerous but maybe better fitting contract.

Besides, this is a "grass is always greener on the other side" kind of board. Some of the players we pine for have their own issues that frustrate their fanbase. I think Lee still puts up 20+ goals for the next three years. Isles just need to find speed elsewhere in the lineup.