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

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Throttle said:
The teams record was better after the Horvat and Engvall acquisitions, inclusive of missing its alleged best forward. So, there’s already that momentum and baseline to work off of. Another benefit, although the team came up short in the playoffs, both those players got plenty of games in together last season. So, there’s more than training camp to get acclimated.
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I'd just like to say i appreciate you not adding in " but my gut tells me Barzal will just continue to have no chemistry and be mediocre on the ice. "
 
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LeapOnOver said:
I'd just like to say i appreciate you not adding in " but my gut tells me Barzal will just continue to have no chemistry and be mediocre on the ice. "
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Probably because it’s more my brain vs my gut. ;)(I don’t think the season hinges on the success of that player, it would help, but the Isles have demonstrated they can win with and without).
 
Throttle said:
Probably because it’s more my brain vs my gut. ;)(I don’t think the season hinges on the success of that player, it would help, but the Isles have demonstrated they can win with and without).
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That's cool, but then if you are wrong you will have to say your brain is wrong. Might be better to go gut here...at least you have an out.
 
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Not really excited about this season. Was hoping for some real change over the summer, but since Lou brought back the exact same team it's hard to be hopeful of anything better. The fact that he signed them all forever means that we are looking at a long time of gradually diminishing returns and steadily poorer results. We may always hope that a healthy Barzal clicks with Horvat and that some players find their mojo again but until that happens this is a bubble team.
 
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WangMustGo said:
Yep i agree. I personally like being the "underdog". I like the addition of Guathier, I am hoping he gets an everyday spot from Martin. Gives us speed throughout the forward core.

I think the isles change of system midway through the season is what got us into the playoffs. Keep that system and a halfass PP and this team likely puts up 100+ points.

I am most interested in seeing how Dobson and Wahlstrom develop this year. I really think Dobson takes that next step and becomes a 60+ point defenseman that is good (not grear) on the blueline. I really want him to be partners with Pelech to start the season.
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Yeah, Gauthier does intrigue me. Size, mobility, and some skill. Could be a diamond in the rough, late bloomer.
 
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Osakahaus said:
The real thing that matters is how our PP/PK do, because both were incredibly suspect. Also cannot drop games like the Coyotes, Canadiens, and Jackets again. Granted we went 3-0-1 against Columbus last year, but they cannot repeat those results.
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The PK was pretty good. I do not see the PP improving much, same coaching and there simply isn't enough talent.

This is a tough league, any team can win on any given night. AZ is a better team, Mtl a year older, and the Jackets, well, they're too distracted by their phones.
 
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IslesNorway said:
Not really excited about this season. Was hoping for some real change over the summer, but since Lou brought back the exact same team it's hard to be hopeful of anything better. The fact that he signed them all forever means that we are looking at a long time of gradually diminishing returns and steadily poorer results. We may always hope that a healthy Barzal clicks with Horvat and that some players find their mojo again but until that happens this is a bubble team.
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I think the Lou-plan has been on full display for years now.

It's basically stick to your key horses while incrementally improving from the outside by dishing off first rounders for slightly above-average "good guys", hoping that will all one day culminate in a Stanley Cup victory.

It's at least a more genuine, if not better path to take, than a number of other GMs have been taking.

This said, I dunno, I've been re-signed to the fact that "real change" simply isn't happening while Lou's the GM. That's not how he rolls. It will first come when he steps down, and even then, I can imagine it would only really come if Chris isn't his successor.

It would have to be a totally new face in order for there to be change as you're likely referring to.
 
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Chapin Landvogt said:
I think the Lou-plan has been on full display for years now.

It's basically stick to your key horses while incrementally improving from the outside by dishing off first rounders for slightly above-average "good guys", hoping that will all one day culminate in a Stanley Cup victory.

It's at least genuine a more genuine, if not better path to take than a number of other GMs have been taking.

This said, I dunno, I've been re-signed to the fact that "real change" simply isn't happening while Lou's the GM. That's not how he rolls. It will first come when he steps down, and even then, I can imagine it would only really come if Chris isn't his successor.

It would have to be a totally new face in order for there to be change as you're likely referring to.
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You'd have to think that anything short of at least a 2nd round would spell the end of the Lou experience, right?
 
IslesNorway said:
Not really excited about this season. Was hoping for some real change over the summer, but since Lou brought back the exact same team it's hard to be hopeful of anything better. The fact that he signed them all forever means that we are looking at a long time of gradually diminishing returns and steadily poorer results. We may always hope that a healthy Barzal clicks with Horvat and that some players find their mojo again but until that happens this is a bubble team.
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If Barzal and Horvat do click together for a full season we're probably in the conversation for 3rd in the Metro. If not I can't see us being any better but in a scrap for the 8 seed in the East. We really need Barzal to become a 75+ point player this year.
 
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JPIsles18 said:
You'd have to think that anything short of at least a 2nd round would spell the end of the Lou experience, right?
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Who knows? If the owners see the 2nd round as a team trending in the right direction while not losing any season ticket holders, they might not be inclined to change anything.

Getting to the 2nd round isn't cutting it for me anymore. This team should have been much further along in it's development by now but it's growth stunted after 2021.
 
JPIsles18 said:
You'd have to think that anything short of at least a 2nd round would spell the end of the Lou experience, right?
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Owners have different needs and wants in comparison to fans. Once the revenue declines or there’s little hope for enhanced revenue, then a owner will make a change. Owners want to maximum the revenue window, which right now remains open. TBD how long.

So far, Lou has stabilized the franchise, got them connected deeper into the NHL HQ, and made them a lot of money.

Based on Lou’s contributions to this franchise, Malkin is going to let Lou go out on his own terms. If fans want to accelerate that, well, don’t spend your money and turn UBS into Tuesday’s at NVMC. You’ll go back to Isles fans favorite place of sucking, rebuilding, and 6k in the arena and complaining they can’t go to the game bc of ‘school nights.’ Something tells me Malkin is less reliant on the day to day fan at UBS vs NVMC.
 
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I'm sorry if it seems like I am singling out posters but...I will never understand not being excited for Islanders hockey season.

You can be disappointed at how Lou did not live up to expectations this summer, I will not disagree with that at all.

I would assume that at this time in 2018, nobody was excited for the season.
We were expected to be a bottom feeder, lost our franchise player, our major UFA signings were a 4th liner (Martin), a penalty killer (Komarov) amd a "headcase" goaltender (Lehner).
We were the joke of the league by splitting their our "home games" between Brooklyn and Uniondale.
Sure, we had a new found level of stability with Lou and Barry, but the on ice product was not going to be exciting.

And whaddya know, they made the playoffs and swept the almighty Penguins.

By the 10th game, the 2023-24 NYI very well could suck balls, but can we at least keep up the excitement for opening night?
 
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Mr Misunderstood said:
I've seen this movie before...
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1695313051522.png
 
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