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

[MJF]

And considering all that this franchise has been through, it is surprising to me why fans shit on ownership/management for prioritizing a solid, stable team.

How long are you going to hold on to that? Time marches on and is not waiting for us to enjoy what we have.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

How long are you going to hold on to that? Time marches on and is not waiting for us to enjoy what we have.

Hold on to what? And if you're not enjoying this, then why spend your time/energy on it? In the lean years, I definitely tuned out quite a bit. Sure I still kept tabs on the team and visited the boards. But watching most games like I do now? When we were out of it by Thanksgiving every year? Hard pass.

But this I do enjoy. So it goes.

 

[MJF]

Hold on to what? And if you're not enjoying this, then why spend your time/energy on it? In the lean years, I definitely tuned out quite a bit. Sure I still kept tabs on the team and visited the boards. But watching most games like I do now? When we were out of it by Thanksgiving every year? Hard pass.

But this I do enjoy. So it goes.

For me there's a difference between enjoying the game of hockey in general and liking what I'm seeing on the ice. I'll watch anyone play hockey. But I won't hold my tongue if I see things going on that I disagree with.

Consider this. IF Isles ownership doesn't shift into prioritizing a winning on ice product over a solid, stable team the fans will stop buying season tickets. The Isles have already experienced the last 2 years of declining renewals. You'll have to trust me on this one.

If the Isles continue to hover around wild card territory rather than challenging for top of the Metro Division the team will not be able to sell playoff tickets with a commitment to buying a season ticket the following season. Wild Card teams do not generate much fan interest here.

You may be enjoying things now compared to the Maloney/Milbury/Snow years but most people will say "that was yesterday, what have you done for me today?" I am one of them. I think ownership has become complacent. They can no longer take victory laps about having the new arena. It's time to prioritize winning, not just making the playoffs.

 

[SI]

Hey, thanks for the response. You bring up some solid names and are certainly well versed with players outside the Isles who could possible be an option. Really like the Jake Bean comment. Agreed that this is the lineup for certainly the next few months and looks like Lee has found his way back on the top line which seems to be the right choice for now. I do like JGP between Wally and SH and hope they get going.

Hell, if Mayfield doesn't come back soon- RHD may be a concern as well. Tough result last night for sure.

I don't believe he is out for an extended amount of time - if so they would have placed him LTIR, so they could bring someone up to give them options.

Bolduc is clearly not ready and the fact that he is no longer being waiver-exempt has really hurts him. He was drafted the same year as Holmstrom, who is waiver exempt, but he is a late 2000 birthday rather than 2001.

I also do not like the shifting of lines late and splitting up Horvat and Barzal.
I wonder if Parise signs in the next month or so that would really help solidify that 3rd line.

IMO, I would much rather see an

Engvall Barzal Nelson - 1st line
Lee Horvat Palmieri - 2nd line

 

[Doshell Propivo]

For me there's a difference between enjoying the game of hockey in general and liking what I'm seeing on the ice. I'll watch anyone play hockey. But I won't hold my tongue if I see things going on that I disagree with.

Consider this. IF Isles ownership doesn't shift into prioritizing a winning on ice product over a solid, stable team the fans will stop buying season tickets. The Isles have already experienced the last 2 years of declining renewals. You'll have to trust me on this one.

If the Isles continue to hover around wild card territory rather than challenging for top of the Metro Division the team will not be able to sell playoff tickets with a commitment to buying a season ticket the following season. Wild Card teams do not generate much fan interest here.

You may be enjoying things now compared to the Maloney/Milbury/Snow years but most people will say "that was yesterday, what have you done for me today?" I am one of them. I think ownership has become complacent. They can no longer take victory laps about having the new arena. It's time to prioritize winning, not just making the playoffs.

That's fair. But I disagree that ownership "doesn't prioritize winning." They spend to the cap limit every year and hire competent professionals to run the team. Are you suggesting that by not firing Lou they are merely taking a victory lap and being complacent?

A solid, stable team is a pre-requisite to having a winning on-ice product. A rebuild is currently premature. It will come eventually but shouldn't come at the expense of maximizing what success we can have NOW.

Do you know when fans will REALLY stop buying tickets? When we're rebuilding and are not a playoff team. Yes, contending for the division is preferable but you will see a much more drastic decline when we are in last place. There will be 6,000 in the stands (again) when that happens.

 

[NC 1972]

I don't believe he is out for an extended amount of time - if so they would have placed him LTIR, so they could bring someone up to give them options.

Bolduc is clearly not ready and the fact that he is no longer being waiver-exempt has really hurts him. He was drafted the same year as Holmstrom, who is waiver exempt, but he is a late 2000 birthday rather than 2001.

I also do not like the shifting of lines late and splitting up Horvat and Barzal.
I wonder if Parise signs in the next month or so that would really help solidify that 3rd line.

IMO, I would much rather see an

Engvall Barzal Nelson - 1st line
Lee Horvat Palmieri - 2nd line

I know many feel good about Palmieri, I cant help believe that his production is extremely dependent on Brock and Engvail and wouldn't enjoy near the success with Lee and Horvat. I would keep them together.

 

[MJF]

That's fair. But I disagree that ownership "doesn't prioritize winning." They spend to the cap limit every year and hire competent professionals to run the team. Are you suggesting that by not firing Lou they are merely taking a victory lap and being complacent?

A solid, stable team is a pre-requisite to having a winning on-ice product. A rebuild is currently premature. It will come eventually but shouldn't come at the expense of maximizing what success we can have NOW.

Do you know when fans will REALLY stop buying tickets? When we're rebuilding and are not a playoff team. Yes, contending for the division is preferable but you will see a much more drastic decline when we are in last place. There will be 6,000 in the stands (again) when that happens.

Yes I am. The team is in Year 5 of Lamoriello and is not positioned well for this season or future seasons. If Ledecky says In Lou We Trust to the fans again. this year he’ll be viewed as being complacent and continuing his victory laps.

I know many feel good about Palmieri, I cant help believe that his production is extremely dependent on Brock and Engvail and wouldn't enjoy near the success with Lee and Horvat. I would keep them together.

That’s funny, I see it as the opposite. Palmieri and Nelson work well together no matter who the LW. They were good together last year with Lee on the wing and Palms on the left. So I feel as long as Palmieri stays healthy he’ll be productive wherever he plays on a top 6.

 

[Osakahaus]

There's two problems right now with this squad

1. Defense looks extremely poor from the bottom pair. Mayfield HAS to come back eventually.
2. Lee and Wahlstrom have no roles and its killing this team with the blender

if we are really going to make a run to the playoffs, i'd start by making Lee more accountable for his mistakes. He's barely got any points this season (only 2), and his skating has been dreadful. For a captain, I saw more responsibility from Horvat than Lee. Durzi should've been a target for the islanders last offseason. We needed that type of defenseman. Does he suck on defense? yeah. But he scores points, something we haven't seen Aho or Bolduc do at all.

 

[MJF]

And FWIW, I think Lambert’s been swapping Wahlstrom to the Horvat line in the name of getting Wahlstrom going, not so much to spark Barzal or Horvat. It hasn’t worked for Wahlstrom yet.

 

[PK Cronin]

And FWIW, I think Lambert’s been swapping Wahlstrom to the Horvat line in the name of getting Wahlstrom going, not so much to spark Barzal or Horvat. It hasn’t worked for Wahlstrom yet.

Wahlstrom hasn't been making a case to be in the lineup at all. We're approaching the 10 game marker and he's done next to nothing out there.

 

[Throttle]

And FWIW, I think Lambert’s been swapping Wahlstrom to the Horvat line in the name of getting Wahlstrom going, not so much to spark Barzal or Horvat. It hasn’t worked for Wahlstrom yet.

And never will…

 

[miscs75]

And FWIW, I think Lambert’s been swapping Wahlstrom to the Horvat line in the name of getting Wahlstrom going, not so much to spark Barzal or Horvat. It hasn’t worked for Wahlstrom yet.

He’s trying to beat a dead horse that died years ago and is fully decomposed by doing that.

 

[WangMustGo]

Wahlstrom hasn't been making a case to be in the lineup at all. We're approaching the 10 game marker and he's done next to nothing out there.

Wahlstrom blows. Throw him in as a trade chip at the deadline. He is too dumb and slow to be a regular.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Yes I am. The team is in Year 5 of Lamoriello and is not positioned well for this season or future seasons. If Ledecky says In Lou We Trust to the fans again. this year he’ll be viewed as being complacent and continuing his victory laps.

Quite the leap to suggest that not firing Lou = ownership not prioritizing winning.

 

[The Real JT]

There's two problems right now with this squad

1. Defense looks extremely poor from the bottom pair. Mayfield HAS to come back eventually.
2. Lee and Wahlstrom have no roles and its killing this team with the blender

if we are really going to make a run to the playoffs, i'd start by making Lee more accountable for his mistakes. He's barely got any points this season (only 2), and his skating has been dreadful. For a captain, I saw more responsibility from Horvat than Lee. Durzi should've been a target for the islanders last offseason. We needed that type of defenseman. Does he suck on defense? yeah. But he scores points, something we haven't seen Aho or Bolduc do at all.

It’s a small sample size but one can’t help but agree that Lee’s slow start is troubling. His role was clearly defined for many years but now what? Is it all on him or is the design of the team partially to blame?

Could it be that the valuable addition of Horvat has diminished the value Lee brings to this squad?

 

[YearlyLottery]

Wahlstrom hasn't been making a case to be in the lineup at all. We're approaching the 10 game marker and he's done next to nothing out there.

I think Wahlstrom has been doing the little things more right lately like actually dumping the puck in. That being said it seems as if his lack of skating and stick handling ability (along with being a perimeter hockey player) just are not enough for a top six role.

 

[PK Cronin]

I think Wahlstrom has been doing the little things more right lately like actually dumping the puck in. That being said it seems as if his lack of skating and stick handling ability (along with being a perimeter hockey player) just are not enough for a top six role.

I'd actually agree with that. While he's making smarter decisions with the puck he isn't doing anything other than taking up time. He doesn't generate shots, he doesn't hit the net when he shoots, he isn't great defensively, he doesn't move well enough. Just about the only positive thing I'd say is that he's been physical at times but he's so slow his hits are usually well after the puck has moved.

Frustrating for someone with that shot can't put it together even a little bit.

 

[Throttle]

I'd actually agree with that. While he's making smarter decisions with the puck he isn't doing anything other than taking up time. He doesn't generate shots, he doesn't hit the net when he shoots, he isn't great defensively, he doesn't move well enough. Just about the only positive thing I'd say is that he's been physical at times but he's so slow his hits are usually well after the puck has moved.

Frustrating for someone with that shot can't put it together even a little bit.

He’s kinda just ‘there’ w/o much else. This isn’t an injury recovery thing either. He’s done.

As noted above, Lou will probably flip him at or near the deadline as part of an upgrade - the other team gets all excited (and the GM sells) the former 1st rounder side of it.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

He’s kinda just ‘there’ w/o much else. This isn’t an injury recovery thing either. He’s done.

As noted above, Lou will probably flip him at or near the deadline as part of an upgrade - the other team gets all excited (and the GM sells) the former 1st rounder side of it.

Sometimes players just need a change. Maybe he will be able to put it all together elsewhere.

I also think that this is the type of player many fans would like for Lou to go after. An undervalued, recent prospect with high-end offensive upside.

 

[Lek]

Welp....Wally could be a future 4th liner with a little more improvement.

 

[MJF]

I think Wahlstrom has been doing the little things more right lately like actually dumping the puck in. That being said it seems as if his lack of skating and stick handling ability (along with being a perimeter hockey player) just are not enough for a top six role.

We’re talking about baby steps for a winger who should have been a Top 6 player. Now his knee injury set back his progress and Lambert is giving him the white glove treatment. I think Wahlly has been up to game speed for a while now. If he doesn’t start making a difference after the next game or 2, he should take a seat on the bench.

 

[Top Corner]

Maybe you should be asking why Seattle let Sprong go when they had plenty of cap space and he signed for $2 million? He had 21G/26A last year in 66 games yet was let allowed to walk.
Over his career he was reputed to be pretty lousy defensively. Whether true or not, there had to be something Seattle couldn't live with for $2 million. This is his FIFTH NHL team at age 26; a red flag should be attached to his name.

Not worried about the red flag as long as he can turn on the Red light especially for a team that can't. I know he's got his warts but this is a team that needs to find goals if Wahlstrom is not your guy. With the character already in the room, we can get away with 1 as long as they can put up numbers. Durzi was another that looks real real good.

 

[YearlyLottery]

We’re talking about baby steps for a winger who should have been a Top 6 player. Now his knee injury set back his progress and Lambert is giving him the white glove treatment. I think Wahlly has been up to game speed for a while now. If he doesn’t start making a difference after the next game or 2, he should take a seat on the bench.

I'm not disagreeing with you but just trying to be specific in his deficiencies as to why he may never be a successful forward in the league.

 

[miscs75]

We’re talking about baby steps for a winger who should have been a Top 6 player. Now his knee injury set back his progress and Lambert is giving him the white glove treatment. I think Wahlly has been up to game speed for a while now. If he doesn’t start making a difference after the next game or 2, he should take a seat on the bench.

He was given the same treatment last season pre-injury. Kept being forced onto Mat’s wing when he couldn’t even keep up or keep track of his linemates. At this point, staple him to JGP until he proves he’s deserving of a promotion.

 

[PK Cronin]

He was given the same treatment last season pre-injury. Kept being forced onto Mat’s wing when he couldn’t even keep up or keep track of his linemates. At this point, staple him to JGP until he proves he’s deserving of a promotion.

Or play one of the other two forwards who will actually do something.