Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2024-25: Re-Tool, Re-Group, Re-Mix, Re-Build

[SI]

A person that just spent 6 years in the NHL (350 games) not riding the bus and staying at the Motor Inn for the next 6. He’s going to get a reality check real fast. Remember, also played for Keefe’s floater operation in Toronto and Lambert was a bit of a softie too. Roy, not so much. Roy wants to win and has to continue to restore his reputation in the NHL. A floater like Engvall ain’t gonna work under Roy - he’s done in organization as long as the other guys never give Roy the reason to make a change.

He can walk, go home, play for a team making $500-750k and be fine.

This might be your hottest and dumbest take yet - He is NOT walking away from 3 m this season and 18m overall. if he sticks out this season he might even be bought out and guarantees 10m of the remaining 15 and could still get his league minimum next season.

You should say things out loud before you post.

And shame to those who like this post.

None of you would dream to walk away from that.

 

[IslesNorway]

Let’s see how Gauthier shakes out. His pattern is he doesn’t maintain the consistency to keep his role.

Whiplashing Engvall in favor of Gauthier is pretty much one of the same. Color me surprised if Gauthier plays more than 40 NHL games with the Isles this season.

He started out on the roster last season too, but disappeared after a month or two. I suppose it was a really close call on who made the roster, so unless he lights it up this time, they'll try out someone else. Same with Wahlstrom..

 

[Throttle]

This might be your hottest and dumbest take yet - He is NOT walking away from 3 m this season and 18m overall. if he sticks out this season he might even be bought out and guarantees 10m of the remaining 15 and could still get his league minimum next season.

You should say things out loud before you post.

And shame to those who like this post.

None of you would dream to walk away from that.

Another projector with empty pockets saying what they would do.

 

[Chockey22]

Three Stanley Cup rings are the rejoinder

And this team is set up to have a great year . . .

This sounds like a Leaf fan who brings up their 13 cup rings as a rejoinder to their futility since 67. I’m not sure how long you use Lou’s great history as a rejoinder on the Engvall deal. Just because someone was great 20 years ago doesn’t mean they are now. Lou has an impressive history, but it doesn’t make up for the Engvall signing that everyone knew was a mistake.
I hope like the rest of us here, that the Isles are set up to have a great year, and waiving Engvall is a step in the right direction. I’m just not as convinced as others that enough changes were made to view this team as “set up to have a great year” given how maddeningly inconsistent they were last year.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Another projector with empty pockets saying what they would do.

??? He reported to Bridgeport. It’s actually really awesome to be getting paid 3M a year to play a children’s game, even if you have to ride the bus to them.

 

[periferal]

This might be your hottest and dumbest take yet - He is NOT walking away from 3 m this season and 18m overall. if he sticks out this season he might even be bought out and guarantees 10m of the remaining 15 and could still get his league minimum next season.

You should say things out loud before you post.

And shame to those who like this post.

None of you would dream to walk away from that.

Honestly the people saying that Engvall would agree to terminate his contract (which as you said is utterly ridiculous) I think are just looking for a way out from it and trying to rationalize any way it could happen (no matter how far fetched). It's truly no different than when we needed cap space the last few years and some people suggested we could trade guys like Bailey or Ladd for even a 6th round pick because they're good character guys or something.

Engvall's contract is an embarrassment, but he'll be around to collect every penny of it. They're going to just have to work around Lou's huge mistake (as they are by sending him down).

 

[Throttle]

??? He reported to Bridgeport. It’s actually really awesome to be getting paid 3M a year to play a children’s game, even if you have to ride the bus to them.

No one said he wasn’t reporting.

All I said was a mutual termination was an OPTION during the life of the contract, if Engvall didn’t want to be riding a bus for 6 years. His contract is long and unique for a player like him.

On the flip side, Sorokin came over and wasn’t riding the bus to play a kids game. He wanted the NHL or not coming over. He had leverage, but it’s not as simple as ‘get paid millions to play a kids game.’

 

[doublechili]

All I said was a mutual termination was an OPTION during the life of the contract, if Engvall didn’t want to be riding a bus for 6 years. His contract is long and unique for a player like him.

I'm sure when Engvall eventually gets back on the roster or gets traded for another bad contract or with an asset, or bought out, there will be a chorus of "can you believe the posters who said that he'd definitely agree to terminate his contract!!".

A couple of us are saying it's a possibility - not inconceivable. That's it. Yeah, if someone offered Joe Schmoe $3M a year for 6 years to sit around and do nothing, he'd agree. But if you're a 28 year old hockey player who left his native country to play in the best league in the world, and it starts looking like he might be in the minors long-term because his salary is too high and/or term is too long, maybe he takes a chance on himself and terminates so that he can sign a shorter term contract for less money. Again, a 28 year old hockey player - not George Castanza looking to sit around in sweats eating cheese like an apple. But maybe I'm just projecting?

Another angle to consider - there's a new CBA coming down the pike in a couple of years. Isn't there usually a get out of jail (contracts) free card or two given out with those?

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Let me know in all his years where he has signed "said player" the previous year to a contract longer than 4 years and then waived him the next season.

So, only this very specific thing?

 

[Throttle]

I'm sure when Engvall eventually gets back on the roster or gets traded for another bad contract or with an asset, or bought out, there will be a chorus of "can you believe the posters who said that he'd definitely agree to terminate his contract!!".

A couple of us are saying it's a possibility - not inconceivable. That's it. Yeah, if someone offered Joe Schmoe $3M a year for 6 years to sit around and do nothing, he'd agree. But if you're a 28 year old hockey player who left his native country to play in the best league in the world, and it starts looking like he might be in the minors long-term because his salary is too high and/or term is too long, maybe he takes a chance on himself and terminates so that he can sign a shorter term contract for less money. Again, a 28 year old hockey player - not George Castanza looking to sit around in sweats eating cheese like an apple. But maybe I'm just projecting?

Another angle to consider - there's a new CBA coming down the pike in a couple of years. Isn't there usually a get out of jail (contracts) free card or two given out with those?

It’s bizarre that people can’t discuss and explore scenarios. Engvall’s situation is pretty unique for the direct reasons you state above.

Could anyone foresee Vegas seeking to terminate Lehner’s contract, then ask for salary cap relief, but still pay him under his contract? Nope…(ps - they are paying to avoid a bunch of plaintiffs lawyers naming Vegas in a lawsuit, if they didn’t pay him, seeking to collect from Vegas and/or the NHL, so Vegas ‘wrote it off’ to avoid a bigger issue since Lehner screwed over a bunch of prominent Vegas business people).

 

[periferal]

No one said he wasn’t reporting.

All I said was a mutual termination was an OPTION during the life of the contract, if Engvall didn’t want to be riding a bus for 6 years. His contract is long and unique for a player like him.

On the flip side, Sorokin came over and wasn’t riding the bus to play a kids game. He wanted the NHL or not coming over. He had leverage, but it’s not as simple as ‘get paid millions to play a kids game.’

Completely different situation....

• Engvall's choice - Play in the minors and collect 4M/year for next 4 years (16M total)...Or terminate the contract and make probably minimum wage (about 750K/year) on another team (where he might get sent down again).
• Sorokin's choice - Agree to an Isles/NHL contract paying him millions a year...Or stay in his homeland and play in their best league and still make...Millions of dollars a year.

Unlike Engvall, Sorokin is not just talented, but could be the best at his position (arguably the most important position) if he plays to his potential. That alone gives him leverage. Ain't no one banging on Engvall's door if he became a free agent.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Engvall didn’t want to be riding a bus for 6 years.

Being waived today doesn't mean he's doomed to spend the next 6 years in the minors. It's not like this is permanent over the length of his contract.

 

[impaaaaaact]

It’s bizarre that people can’t discuss and explore scenarios. Engvall’s situation is pretty unique for the direct reasons you state above.

Could anyone foresee Vegas seeking to terminate Lehner’s contract, then ask for salary cap relief, but still pay him under his contract? Nope…(ps - they are paying to avoid a bunch of plaintiffs lawyers naming Vegas in a lawsuit, if they didn’t pay him, seeking to collect from Vegas and/or the NHL, so Vegas ‘wrote it off’ to avoid a bigger issue since Lechner screwed over a bunch of prominent Vegas business people).

lol we are exploring and discussing them dude, people just don’t agree with you about the likelihood of what you suggested. You’re out here calling people broke because they’re suggesting it’s probably wise to cash the check he earned.

The other part of this is that his agent is Claude Lemieux who won cups with Roy on both the Avs and Habs. He also played 5 seasons with John Maclean on the Lou Lamoriello run New Jersey Devils, so just a ton of familiarity with the organization. I would expect that he has a finger on the pulse of what the org’s plans for Engvall is right now, and will be able to guide his client accordingly.

 

[Throttle]

Completely different situation....

• Engvall's choice - Play in the minors and collect 4M/year for next 4 years (16M total)...Or terminate the contract and make probably minimum wage (about 750K/year) on another team (where he might get sent down again).
• Sorokin's choice - Agree to an Isles/NHL contract paying him millions a year...Or stay in his homeland and play in their best league and still make...Millions of dollars a year.

Unlike Engvall, Sorokin is not just talented, but could be the best at his position (arguably the most important position) if he plays to his potential. That alone gives him leverage. Ain't no one banging on Engvall's door if he became a free agent.

Of course they are different scenarios, but same flavor of what some players will do or not do.

Btw, what Sorokin makes in the NHL (now) is just shy of what the cap ceiling is for an entire team in the KHL. So, he ain’t making near NHL money (now) in the KHL.

 

[Throttle]

Being waived today doesn't mean he's doomed to spend the next 6 years in the minors. It's not like this is permanent over the length of his contract.

Of course it doesn’t, but the term impacts a lot of things for such a player.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Of course it doesn’t, but the term impacts a lot of things for such a player.

I'm just saying that everyone's speculation seems to be based on him being in the minors for 5 years because he got waived. As if he's been banished there permanently and waived players never make their way back to the NHL.

 

[Throttle]

I'm just saying that everyone's speculation seems to be based on him being in the minors for 5 years because he got waived. As if he's been banished there permanently and waived players never make their way back to the NHL.

Agreed, it’s very reactionary. Most of the PTOs aren’t going to be on the roster on game 82, either.

 

[impaaaaaact]

I'm just saying that everyone's speculation seems to be based on him being in the minors for 5 years because he got waived. As if he's been banished there permanently and waived players never make their way back to the NHL.

FWIW, without a trade to clear salary or sending Wahlstrom through waivers we can't call him up this season unless someone who makes more than his remaining cap hit of 1.85M goes down... we're already not carrying a full roster as it is. Forwards that meet that criteria are: Barzal/Horvat/Duclair/Nelson/Palmieri/Pageau/Lee/Cizikas.

So if he's up at any point chances are we have bigger fish to fry. Realistically (again barring a salary clearing trade), those are the players he would need to beat for a roster spot out of camp next year too.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

FWIW, without a trade to clear salary or sending Wahlstrom through waivers we can't call him up this season unless someone who makes more than his remaining cap hit of 1.85M goes down... we're already not carrying a full roster as it is. Forwards that meet that criteria are: Barzal/Horvat/Duclair/Nelson/Palmieri/Pageau/Lee/Cizikas.

Again, that's now. One injury could change everything.

 

[Osakahaus]

I'd like to say that the Islanders should watch the Utah team carefully. I still get worried around their goaltending

 

[impaaaaaact]

FWIW, without a trade to clear salary or sending Wahlstrom through waivers we can't call him up this season unless someone who makes more than his remaining cap hit of 1.85M goes down... we're already not carrying a full roster as it is. Forwards that meet that criteria are: Barzal/Horvat/Duclair/Nelson/Palmieri/Pageau/Lee/Cizikas.

So if he's up at any point chances are we have bigger fish to fry. Realistically (again barring a salary clearing trade), those are the players he would need to beat for a roster spot out of camp next year too.

I actually did this incorrectly I'm realizing - the 1.85 cap hit is already being applied, it's the 1.15 that would need to be cleared. that, combined with the 200k+ cap space we already have means that he can be called up if Tsyplakov goes down as well.

If Holmstrom, Maclean, Gauthier, or Wahlstrom go down it will not create enough cap for Engvall to be recalled at the moment, although it's probably close enough that cap accrual will change that as the year goes on.

 

[SI]

The final note on this Engvall situation -

• He will start the season in Bridgeport and more likely is called up before Thanksgiving.
• NO there will be NO mutual termination this season! (or next, or after that.)
• If Wahlstrom or Tsyplakov fail to produce, then Engvall can be called up with the Islanders just under the cap with a 22-man roster- 13th F and a 7th D. Gauthier getting demoted alone doesn't clear enough cap space to promote Engvall.
• If Engvall is a non-event for the rest of the year, i.e., more time in Bridgeport, doesn't produce, or frustrates his coach, he would be a strong candidate to be bought out. A buyout would be 1m vs. 1.85 on the cap and 10m paid across 10 years vs. 15m across 5 seasons. Lou will need every bit of cap space next season to resign Dobson, Romanov, and Nelson.
• Can he be traded? YES, but it would cost Lou assets to move that contract. And IMO, Lou may need those picks to jettison Lee's contract if he wants to improve this team.

 

[BelovedIsles]

Christ, Pierre Engvall is a hot topic.

 

[Throttle]

The final note on this Engvall situation -

• He will start the season in Bridgeport and more likely is called up before Thanksgiving.
• NO there will be NO mutual termination this season! (or next, or after that.)
• If Wahlstrom or Tsyplakov fail to produce, then Engvall can be called up with the Islanders just under the cap with a 22-man roster- 13th F and a 7th D. Gauthier getting demoted alone doesn't clear enough cap space to promote Engvall.
• If Engvall is a non-event for the rest of the year, i.e., more time in Bridgeport, doesn't produce, or frustrates his coach, he would be a strong candidate to be bought out. A buyout would be 1m vs. 1.85 on the cap and 10m paid across 10 years vs. 15m across 5 seasons. Lou will need every bit of cap space next season to resign Dobson, Romanov, and Nelson.
• Can he be traded? YES, but it would cost Lou assets to move that contract. And IMO, Lou may need those picks to jettison Lee's contract if he wants to improve this team.

Can you add more affirmative bullet points to your crystal ball analysis?

 

[Big L]

Nevermind