Maybe he just woke up and realized this team has painted itself into a corner because of all the horrible contracts he gave out?
I see people are advocating trading players left and right to sort it out, but they somehow keep forgetting that these players (JGP, Palms, Lee, Nelson, Engvall, Pelech etc.) all have NTCs and NMCs, and they are all seasoned veterans with families, and thus not easy to move. Also, the teams who are willing to take on the likes of Lee or JGP in a hypothetical trade to get above the floor or something will be on the no trade lists.
I'm pretty sure Lou tried moving JGP at the draft but found out he would have to pay or take on a similar bad deal in return, and decided not to. There could be new openings once free agency opens and teams can have a better idea of what their roster is like, but don't get your hopes up.
Again, it takes a GM a whole lot more creative than Lou, and one that isn't so loyal to his players (to a fault).
I agree that both Pageau and Lee (especially) would be difficult to move, and that is why a more creative GM is needed.....because as hard as those two players would have been to deal (especially with our limited assets and the necessity of something needing to be added to them), teams would have lined up for both Nelson (especially) and Palmieri, with their expiring deals.
I doubt Lou even thought about moving his two expiring contracts, even though their values are at their highest with Brock having his third straight 33+ goal season (37G per 82) and Kyle reaching the 30 number for only the second time in his career (2015-16), even if both times it took him playing all 82 games to do it. Much easier to trade desirable players with MTC's than undesirable ones as well.
Moving those guys would have given the Islanders 11 million in cap space and the return probably would have been no less than a first round pick and some combination of a couple of 2nd rounders and good prospects; one very likely ready to contribute in 2024-25, or at least battle for a spot.
Lou would still likely do what he is going to do now anyway (re-signing Reilly, qualifying Holmstrom and trying to trade Wahlstrom) and the team would be sitting with 14-15 million in cap space.
1) Trade C Brock Nelson to ANY TEAM for a 1st round and 2nd round pick/prospect
2) Trade RW Kyle Palmieri to ANY TEAM for a 2nd round pick and another 3rd round pick/prospect
3) Trade acquired draft pick(s) to Winnipeg for C Rutger McGroarty (option)
Just using Hockey Trade Rumors and their predicted costs, you could have done this:
15. Vladimir Tarasenko / Seattle Kraken / 3 years, $5MM AAV
29. Anthony Duclair / Pittsburgh Penguins / 3 years, $3.75MM AAV
40. Erik Gustafsson / New York Islanders / 1 year, $1.5MM AAV
Could have gone many ways with the 4th addition and the obvious one on HTR is Arvidsson, but I am going with someone who was bought out prior to them making their list, who I think has to reset his market a little and signs for a little less
XX. Jeff Skinner / New York Islanders / 2 years, $3.5MM AAV
and yes, you would still have around 1-1.5 million left to get you another forward to help on the PK.
Hell, it you wanted even more punch- like someone mentioned before- and the Flames are serious about getting out from under Kadri's contract and are willing to eat 1.5/2 million per on his deal- they would probably take a JGP swap and it would cost us little cap wise. It is about the only way I am swallowing the last 3 years on his contract...but, let's say we just keep JGP. Depth galore, more youth, more scoring potential, better D depth, more assets, more options....
Now your forwards are:
- Barzal
- Nelson
- Tarasenko
- Duclair
- Skinner
- Lee
- Pageau
- Kaliyev (or whomever you trade Ollie for)
- Tsyplakov
- Cizikas
- Engvall
- Holmstrom
- MacLean
- (whatever PK guy you signed with remaining cap space)
- Fasching
And you now have McGroarty and possible another forward that you obtained in the Nelson/Palmieri trades as well as your own couple of rookies (Iskhakov, Maggio, etc) pushing for PT
Your Blueline:
- Dobson
- Pulock
- Romanov
- Pelech
- Mayfield
- Reilly
- Gustafsson
- Bolduc
And of course your two goalies....
But we have a GM who has absolutely no creativity and is too damn loyal, and that is a serious problem