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

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SayItAintSoJohnny said:
Islanders are abysmal and here are the 5 main reasons why:

  • Horrid shooting percentage- 39 goals in 16 games (2.44 goals per game). Only the woeful Sharks (1.52) and struggling Capitals (2.36) are scoring less and look no further than our dreadful shooting percentage (7.9%- again, ahead of only San Jose). Aside from Dobson, our other 6 defenseman are a combined 2 for 105 (1.9%) and Engvall, Lee, Wahlstrom and Pageau (who still hasn’t netted one and is 0/17) are a combined 4 for 83 (4.8%). Even Barzal, who is shooting more than he has ever been (3.56 per game) can’t buy a basket (3 for 57- 5.3%)
  • Giving up too many shots- Again, only the 3-13-1 Sharks are giving up more shots on goal than our Islanders who are allowing almost 35 shots on goal a game (34.8). It is just over a 5 shot difference on average per game, but when you consider we are close to 3% below league average in making them, that 5 shot difference seems like 10-15.
  • Dreadful penalty kill- Sharks actually beat us here, because after last night’s showing we dipped below the 70% success rate (67.86%) second only to the Minnesota Wild as the poorest penalty kill in the league. This is something we have been rather good at the last 3 seasons (9th, 4th and 6th) but has completely fallen apart so far this season
  • Not enough PP opportunities- They are in the top dozen in the league on power play goals allowed (with that horrid PK success rate) but what makes matters worse is they aren’t getting enough opportunities for themselves. 45 PPO’s in 16 games now which is .0125 ahead of the Capitals for dead last in the NHL. To make matters worse, many times they have seen their rare opportunities wasted by committing an infraction during the man advantage. Overall they have their success rate up to 22.22% (11th in NHL) but that doesn’t offset the fact that they are one of dozen NHL teams who have 10 goals or less. The power play goals/allowed of (-8) is the major reason they are (-12) overall so far for the season
  • SoroUCkin in net on PP- Simply hasn’t been nearly as efficient. Fat new contract and his 3.28 GAA is way over his career 2.38 career mark coming into the season as his save percentage is way down (.907/.923). Of course not having to face 35+ shots a contest would help (35.5 actually), but after 10 games he clearly isn’t as sharp as he has been. Of course a WHOPPING 60 of those shots have some when they are short-handed on the ice and unfortunately it has killed his overall numbers (.767 save percentage on PP- 14 goals allowed). He has an excellent .934 save % in regular action which is a career best for him actually and 2nd in the NHL right now
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But at least theyre really really good in OT and shootouts...
 
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Islanders approaching extra secret back door reverse Double Chili territory. Once we hit 9 the term November Nine will no longer be just for Poker. The best part is that the team is healthy and there is zero help waiting in Connecticut. USB Arena gonna be nothing but crickets in February
LGI

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doublechili said:
I wouldn't mess with the top 5 D - just add a puck-moving LHD and a new coach and I think it's fine. Better than fine.
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That would of course cost us our number one pick which seems to be par for the course for the organization.

Sure that would make us better but it’s hard to imagine that this club is a Cup contender in the next two years even with an addition. Fast forward two years and at that point Nelson is either gone which makes us far weaker or signed to an expensive contract, which might be unwise. We’ll still be stuck with Lee for another year and UFA‘s won’t be signing here.

How do we fill in the gaps? We have so few prospects that they can’t be part of a trade so it’ll be just more draft picks traded away.

It’s time to take the Band-Aid off. No more trades that improve us short term, raid the futures pool and leave us in the realm of mediocrity.
 
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The Real JT said:
That would of course cost us our number one pick which seems to be par for the course for the organization.

Sure that would make us better but it’s hard to imagine that this club is a Cup contender in the next two years even with an addition. Fast forward two years and at that point Nelson is either gone which makes us far weaker or signed to an expensive contract, which might be unwise. We’ll still be stuck with Lee for another year and UFA‘s won’t be signing here.

How do we fill in the gaps? We have so few prospects that they can’t be part of a trade so it’ll be just more draft picks traded away.

It’s time to take the Band-Aid off. No more trades that improve us short term, raid the futures pool and leave us in the realm of mediocrity.
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The puck-moving LHD could be an improvement on Aho for the 3rd pair. I'm not necessarily saying trade for Hanifin (although yeah, I could see that happening). I just don't see the need to swap out a current defender for a new one (and it's kind of academic anyway with the NTCs). And I'd prefer to keep the 2024 1st. I know it doesn't seem like it sometimes, but my default position is to build (re-tool!) through the draft - especially with a cap so that you have cheap replacements and can let a guy walk or alleviate a bad contract with an ELC guy.
 
Pelech has a NTC, he’s not going anywhere. But just for fun, Pelech for Nugent-Hopkins? Same term, RNH has a NMC though.
 
IslesNorway said:
Trotz got the very best out of most of this team. He found a way to make players like Pelech and Pulock look like top tier NHL defensemen and the team gelled and looked really good. Trotz hockey was what this team was made for. I bet Lou wanted more offence and he wanted a new coach to unleash the potential in Barzal and play more attack-minded hockey. Well, Lane Lambert clearly wasn't the guy to do it. Barzal still struggles, the aging roster Lou upped and re-upped are going downhill alarmingly fast, the defence looks a shell of its former self, and the kids aren't progressing much.

Lambert is toast, but the question is if there is any coach out there who can turn all of this around, with no cap space and no real changes possible?
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Well yeah....a coach who knows what he is doing well eek out more wins. There was a point to be had just by putting Wahlstrom on the shootout after Horvat.... which seemed like a no-brainer. Now that doesn't automatically mean will make the playoffs, but if you've count the blown leads our record would be pretty good. Actually, i argue if we didn't blow those two games we had leads and got the winner's point in Seattle, things would be okay here right now.
 
DerekKingSnipes said:
I’d probably not trade either Pelech or Pulock but if they are trying to skate roster up someone surprising would probably go.
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If the wheels come off on the season, then that player should absolutely be Nelson. He would have the highest value, at a premium position, and the cap hit is pretty good with another year of term.

I would think of this is a retool or a step back - not a rebuild. The hope is they would be able to get back a very good young player and a pick- something like Danielson or Kasper and a 1st from the Wings.

It would mean a very good young player on an ELC, two firsts - one being pretty high depending on the standings, not resigning players like Cal and Martin, giving them jobs on coaching or in the Booth. This would open roster for more youth and speed and create some cap room.
 
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SI said:
If the wheels come off on the season, then that player should absolutely be Nelson. He would have the highest value, at a premium position, and the cap hit is pretty good with another year of term.

I would think of this is a retool or a step back - not a rebuild. The hope is they would be able to get back a very good young player and a pick- something like Danielson or Kasper and a 1st from the Wings.

It would mean a very good young player on an ELC, two firsts - one being pretty high depending on the standings, not resigning players like Cal and Martin, giving them jobs on coaching or in the Booth. This would open roster for more youth and speed and create some cap room.
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Agree with regards to the timeline towards trading Nelson. Palmieri is another player that can possibly be moved too. His buyout this summer is 1.67M over two years. Maybe hold half his cap of 2.5M for the remaining year instead?
 
There are only two outcomes that I would be satisfied with for this season.

First off, I’d love to see this team go on a run like the Blues did a number of years back. Sure that’s unlikely but that’s why they play the games.

I have to reluctantly admit that the next best option is for the isles to be solidly out of the playoff race. If that were to occur, then the third option of them being a bubble team with Lou in charge would make the inevitable TDL trade using our futures less likely.

Can I start a GoFundMe page for a gold watch for Lou’s retirement this year?
 
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seafoam said:
Pelech has a NTC, he’s not going anywhere. But just for fun, Pelech for Nugent-Hopkins? Same term, RNH has a NMC though.
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my guess is the oilers would do this trade yesterday. For the NYI the team would keep losing but instead of giving up 4-5 goals per the number would be 5-6 per game .. Let’s do it for the draft slot . Another 5 OA draft slot failure is within reach .

Pulock - Romanov
Mayfield - Dobson
Aho - Bolduc

Cholowski / Salo


YIKES !!!!!!
 
doublechili said:
I wouldn't mess with the top 5 D - just add a puck-moving LHD and a new coach and I think it's fine. Better than fine.
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I am fine with adding a puck moving LHD. the problem is that this type is hardly to find unsigned and willing to play for bed and breakfast. Xmas is coming so I will make my wish list too, maybe I take a pure goal scorer with built in guarantee 40 goals/year?
 
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IslandersGER said:
I am fine with adding a puck moving LHD. the problem is that this type is hardly to find unsigned and willing to play for bed and breakfast. Xmas is coming so I will make my wish list too, maybe I take a pure goal scorer with built in guarantee 40 goals/year?
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Oh ye of little patience.

They’re already on the team. Aho and Wally.
 
Throttle said:
In games 1-5 this fanbase wanted Dobson traded. Read that, trade Dobson.

But keeping hoping and dreaming on Wally and the $9M figure skater.
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The negativity on Wally is well founded.

The positive comments regarding Aho continue to puzzle me. He's an obvious liability defensively and the mirage of his offensive potential has thus far yielded 3 assists and zero goals in 16 games with nearly 15 minutes of ice time per game. And btw only 1 of the assists came during 5v5 play.

I think fans of Aho are impressed that he doesn’t handle the puck like a grenade on the offensive end. I’ll give him that but that’s a small part of the skill set needed to be a regular NHL starter.
 
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The good- 11th best power play and third fewest goals against 5v5.

The bad- 2nd worst penalty kill and third fewest goals scored 5v5

I put the penalty kill on coaching and the low 5v5 scoring on the players. The talent is not there to make the plays to score much 5v5.
 
CupHolders said:
Agree with regards to the timeline towards trading Nelson. Palmieri is another player that can possibly be moved too. His buyout this summer is 1.67M over two years. Maybe hold half his cap of 2.5M for the remaining year instead?
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I don’t think they need to do that - the expiring contract is actually a benefit b/c if they fall out they could get a pick at the deadline and holding 50% - if they cannot rebound
 
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