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

seabass45

Registered User
Jan 12, 2007
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if that's the case it would cost us more to get him. That shows even more reasons why Lou must go. He has not pull anymore with GMs. to be, he is not respected by the GMs now. They know they can take advantage of him
Why shouldn't it take more for us to get him? Trotz isn't doing any team favors, and it's stupid to claim that he doesn't "respect" Lou. His job is to get the best return for his players, especially players who they invested a lot of draft capital on. If he accepts less then he isn't doing his job.
 

Glorydays22

Registered User
Nov 21, 2011
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Why shouldn't it take more for us to get him? Trotz isn't doing any team favors, and it's stupid to claim that he doesn't "respect" Lou. His job is to get the best return for his players, especially players who they invested a lot of draft capital on. If he accepts less then he isn't doing his job.
LOL, you just stated to me, that if Trotz offered him to us it would be a 3rd. So why would it be a 3rd if it's us??? Only reason is Trotz thinks he can get more from Lou than other GMs. :sarcasm:
 

seabass45

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Jan 12, 2007
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LOL, you just stated to me, that if Trotz offered him to us it would be a 3rd. So why would it be a 3rd if it's us??? Only reason is Trotz thinks he can get more from Lou than other GMs. :sarcasm:
Because the expectation would be that our fourth is going to be lower than their fourth. This is where I repeat my previous statement about the Pens potentially being very bad in 2027 with Crosby and Malkin being retired or close to it. Hence, the only way we could beat their offer with that estimate in mind is with a third. This really shouldn’t be difficult to understand.
 

Big L

Grandpa’s Cough Medicine is 180 Proof
Feb 7, 2013
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FWIW this isn't that bad for a 23 year old. As a comparison, Brock Nelson had 68 points in his first 154 games.
That’s fine, all I’m saying is the isles have plenty of those bottom 6 players. No need to give up a 4th for a carbon copy of players they already have. It’s a waste of a pick.
 

seabass45

Registered User
Jan 12, 2007
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That’s fine, all I’m saying is the isles have plenty of those bottom 6 players. No need to give up a 4th for a carbon copy of players they already have. It’s a waste of a pick.
And I’m saying he might not be just a bottom six player. .5 PPG isn’t bad at that age. Brock Nelson had similar stats early on and eventually broke out. Tomasino might do the same, or maybe not, but Pittsburgh will have to figure out how they can get him to that next level now.
 

doublechili

For all intensive purposes, your nuts
Apr 11, 2006
19,021
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Are you f***ing kidding me....Pittsburgh gets Philip Tomasino for a Freaking 4th rounder? This is why Lou needs to be punched, and dropped kicked out the door immediately. He and Trotz have a relationship and we can't get a deal like this for a young kid with talent who hasn't really gotten a fair chance...what a joke mgmt is...
Eddie Tomasino stole Lou's lunch one day back at Holy Name Elementary School. There's no way he was adding someone with that last name to the orchestra, at any price.
 

Chockey22

Registered User
Jul 12, 2022
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I hear ya. The Isles seem like they are best suited for a multi-trade scenario to change up the core - a little bit like how FL did it. I would say the keepers are Sorokin, Dobson, Romanov, and Horvat.
Horvat? For what reason other than trying to save face on an ill-advised trade and contract extension?
 

Throttle

Registered User
Sep 22, 2020
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Horvat? For what reason other than trying to save face on an ill-advised trade and contract extension?
Because you need players on the ice. He’s a good to very good player. He got a UFA payday and Lou didn’t give up much to get him. Top tier UFAs (or talent) don’t really find their way to Long Island.

Upping the talent = good trade. Believing it would help the other center = bad trade.
 

Chockey22

Registered User
Jul 12, 2022
339
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Because you need players on the ice. He’s a good to very good player. He got a UFA payday and Lou didn’t give up much to get him. Top tier UFAs (or talent) don’t really find their way to Long Island.

Upping the talent = good trade. Believing it would help the other center = bad trade.
It would be interesting if you could evaluate all players like you evaluate Barzal; you could make the exact same case for Barzal as you just did for Horvat - you need players, he’s a good to very good player, etc. The reality is that Horvat is mediocre, and nearly every Vancouver Canuck fan will tell you they love that trade because he’s just not that good.
 
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SI

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Feb 16, 2013
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I’d rather get Dobson on a bridge deal vs trading him. His confidence and defense are questionable- this is a good time to bridge him since he ain’t earning a big long term deal.

If people want to be ‘younger’ he still fits the mold and one can deal with his growing pains. It’s the payday that’s at issue.
What bridge deal? He is on a bridge deal. Dobson is eligible to be a UFA after the 2025-26 season. If there is no long-term contract, Isles will qualify him and Dobson will file for arbitration. And mind you players who are only 1 year away from being a UFA can only have a 1 year contract awarded. Dobson has way more leverage than when he signed his 3-year bridge deal.

If it is not a long-term deal, then Dobson can take his 1-year arbitration reward and bet on himself when he becomes a UFA.
 

SI

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Feb 16, 2013
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Wouldn’t trade Eiserman for him. But I would trade Dobson for a forward and trade something else for Jiricek. These are the type of moves needed to redo the core.
Moving Dobson to a team like Anaheim for one of their top young F's (Mactavish?) Trading Nelson for a 1st +, then sending those pieces to Columbus for Jiricek, similar to what Vancouver did with Horvat and receiving Hronek.

In this situation, you have no D to put on PP 1 - you may have to go with 5 F's with that blue line.

I doubt Dobson will get traded
 
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SI

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Feb 16, 2013
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To SELL or NOT to Sell -
HERE is my stab at selling -


I’ve been posting on this board for a long time—this is actually my second stint here after going dark for a few years. Some of you know me as someone who tries to stay positive. I’ve always been one of the last to throw in the towel, even when the outlook wasn’t great. I didn’t think it was the right time to sell last year or the year before, but I believe the time has come.

I like the way Roy has this team playing, but unfortunately, the results just aren’t there. This team needs to take a step back this year to make that next big jump. Clearing some cap space, making smart deals, and replenishing the prospect cupboard are necessary moves for the long-term health of the franchise. I still firmly believe in the core we have here - Sorokin, Dobson, Romanov, Barzal, and Horvat - and I think with the right adjustments, they can lead this team to a brighter future.

If the Islanders find themselves trending in the same direction—on the outside looking in at a playoff spot—by January 2025, moving players like Brock Nelson (@ 50% retained), Kyle Palmieri (@ 50% retained), and possibly Semyon Varlamov (if he waives his no-trade clause) could yield significant returns. Here’s a breakdown of potential trade partners and targets:

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo is desperate to end their playoff drought and might look to add reliable veterans to stabilize their lineup. Acquiring Nelson would allow them to move Dylan Cozens to RW while providing much-needed depth and coverage, especially given Tage Thompson’s frequent injury issues. Nelson or Palmieri could be perfect fits for their playoff push. Potential targets include Isak Rosen, Noah Ostlund, Jack Quinn, or even a 1st-round pick. While a stretch, Bowen Byram could also be worth exploring.

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit is aggressively pursuing a playoff spot, and Nelson’s leadership and two-way game make him an attractive addition. Their prospect pool is deep, featuring names like Axel Sandin Pellikka, Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper, and, potentially, a 1st-round pick as part of the return.

Minnesota Wild

Minnesota lacks center depth, and Nelson would fill that gap perfectly. Varlamov could also provide solid backup goaltending. Potential targets include Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, Riley Heidt, or a 1st-round pick.

Washington Capitals​

Washington’s aging core means they’ll likely look to compete for one more playoff run. With their need for goaltending, Varlamov could be a natural fit, especially given the chance to reunite with Alex Ovechkin, which could incentivize him to waive his no-move clause. Targets might include Andrew Cristall, Terik Parascak, Ivan Miroshnichenko, or a 1st-round pick.

Dallas Stars

Dallas is already a strong contender, but adding a versatile scorer like Palmieri or a two-way center like Nelson could make them almost unbeatable. Potential returns could include Mavrik Bourque, Lian Bischell, or a 1st-round pick.

Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina is always in the market for depth and reliability come playoff time. Nelson would be an excellent fit as a 2C, while Varlamov could provide elite goaltending insurance. Possible targets include Scott Morrow, Jackson Blake, a 1st rounder, or Brady Nadeau.

Buffalo and Detroit are desperate to make the playoffs, Minnesota needs a center, Washington is searching for a goaltender, and Carolina and Dallas are looking to solidify their playoff chances. The Islanders are in a strong position to extract valuable assets from these teams. If Lou plays his cards right, we could set this team up for sustained success while keeping our core intact.

Imagine if Lou can turn Varlamov, Nelson, & Palmieri into Cristall, an extra 2025 1st, a young player like Ostlund, Morrow, Yurov, or Quinn.
 
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Lek

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Nov 25, 2006
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Agree...it is time. It truly is not a lack of effort but more the case of a team just needing something more than it can give. On a personal level will hate to see some of these guys go as i like them, but this team has not had an earth-shaking shake up in a long time, and it is due....and it is the right time.
 

duster19

Registered User
Feb 13, 2013
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Agree...it is time. It truly is not a lack of effort but more the case of a team just needing something more than it can give. On a personal level will hate to see some of these guys go as i like them, but this team has not had an earth-shaking shake up in a long time, and it is due....and it is the right time.
I don’t disagree. It’s ground hog day around year going on a couple years. I think Lou will convince himself that declair barzal and pelech could be the difference and wait till they return before making a move.

On a side note - not being able to hold a lead in the 3rd seems like a very difficult thing to fix. Hard to deny that there is some issue going on. Going to be difficult to put your finger on exactly what is going on. Likely a combination of things and not one thing to correct for a quick fix. And..it’s not gone on with multiple coaches. It’s a big big problem that will be tough to fix, IMO.
 

The Real JT

The crowd called out for more
Jul 2, 2018
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Here’s a slightly different perspective

I don’t think this team is choking on third period leads. They just don’t have the talent and in this season’s short sample size they’ve had a few games get away from them that they could’ve won with a call or bounce of the puck.

Those things will likely even out over the course of the season and they’ll win their share of games like last night’s. What won’t change is that this squad cannot compete with the upper echelon of teams within their division, conference and the league as a whole.
 
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MJF

Hope is not a strategy
Sep 6, 2003
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IMHO, this is a situation where Lou should let the team bottom out. Do nothing until the TDL and then sell off Nelson, Palmieri and possibly Lee and Pageau, as well as Pulock or Pelech. Lou will have the excuse of long term injuries to Barzal, Duclair, Reilly and Pelech to lean on to keep the pressure off him. Letting the Isles bottom out and become sellers will allow us to get assets that will increase the organization's depth and get some younger legs in the lineup
 

Mr Misunderstood

Must win.
Apr 11, 2016
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It would be interesting if you could evaluate all players like you evaluate Barzal; you could make the exact same case for Barzal as you just did for Horvat - you need players, he’s a good to very good player, etc. The reality is that Horvat is mediocre, and nearly every Vancouver Canuck fan will tell you they love that trade because he’s just not that good.

Disagree, they all came to HF Isles when the trade was made and said that we were going to love him. He's been very good for the Isles and have always been impressed by his play and effort. I never find myself questioning his decisions on the ice as compared to most of the others.

He's would also be the Captain pick if Lee does not re-sign a team friendly deal when he's up at the end of 2026.

Add in the fact that he's only being paid $8.5mm AAV with the cap expected to rise significantly...Horvat stays on LI.
 

The Real JT

The crowd called out for more
Jul 2, 2018
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IMHO, this is a situation where Lou should let the team bottom out. Do nothing until the TDL and then sell off Nelson, Palmieri and possibly Lee and Pageau, as well as Pulock or Pelech. Lou will have the excuse of long term injuries to Barzal, Duclair, Reilly and Pelech to lean on to keep the pressure off him. Letting the Isles bottom out and become sellers will allow us to get assets that will increase the organization's depth and get some younger legs in the lineup

I’ll pile on a little here and add Cizikas’s name to the list.

He’s got one goal and one assist in 22 games. Just a few years ago he was a tremendous asset on the PK and as part of the identity line. Those days are long gone.

Three years left at $2.5 million per year. I suppose it’s not a lot of money or term and if his play worsens we could always bury him to lessen the cap hit. In any event, if we could get an asset for him I think it would be worthwhile though I suspect we might have to retain some salary.
 

saintunspecified

Registered User
Nov 30, 2017
6,350
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IMHO, this is a situation where Lou should let the team bottom out. Do nothing until the TDL and then sell off Nelson, Palmieri and possibly Lee and Pageau, as well as Pulock or Pelech. Lou will have the excuse of long term injuries to Barzal, Duclair, Reilly and Pelech to lean on to keep the pressure off him. Letting the Isles bottom out and become sellers will allow us to get assets that will increase the organization's depth and get some younger legs in the lineup
I think it depends on the market. Selling off Nelson, and Palmieri are no-brainers. Lee imo has value with retention. imo Pageau has negative value without retention. The issue is whether NYI really want to sell off Lee. I wouldn't mind selling off Cizikas either, if that's remotely possible.

I think Pelech has negative value at the moment b/c of health. I really have no idea what the market for Pulock might be.

Increasing Wahlstrom, and MacLean's icetime seems a very good tank recipe.
 
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The Wahligator

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Nov 27, 2015
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I agree with those saying moving Nelson and Palmieri makes the most sense long term, but the reality is ownership is going to want to be as competitive as possible next year with the ASG coming to UBS and it’d be incredibly hard to replace ≈65ish goals in one offseason- we’d likely be in the bottom third of the league next year if we move those guys.
 

MJF

Hope is not a strategy
Sep 6, 2003
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I think it depends on the market. Selling off Nelson, and Palmieri are no-brainers. Lee imo has value with retention. imo Pageau has negative value without retention. The issue is whether NYI really want to sell off Lee. I wouldn't mind selling off Cizikas either, if that's remotely possible.

I think Pelech has negative value at the moment b/c of health. I really have no idea what the market for Pulock might be.

Increasing Wahlstrom, and MacLean's icetime seems a very good tank recipe.
You and @TheRealJT can substitute players as the market dictates. The idea remains the same. We’re approaching a point in the season where Lou has to decide what direction this team can go. Bottoming out and selling would be the right move. Lou should sit back and watch it happen.
 

Mr Misunderstood

Must win.
Apr 11, 2016
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I agree with those saying moving Nelson and Palmieri makes the most sense long term, but the reality is ownership is going to want to be as competitive as possible next year with the ASG coming to UBS and it’d be incredibly hard to replace ≈65ish goals in one offseason- we’d likely be in the bottom third of the league next year if we move those guys.
We are in the bottom 3rd of the league this year with them, who gives a shit if we are next year without them?

Also, penciling them into next year's lineup requires them to re-sign against the open market. Are we willing to re-up aging veterans to a team is not a playoff competitor?
 

MJF

Hope is not a strategy
Sep 6, 2003
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Let me add this. I think the culture change Lou brought to the organization when he arrived here is fast going in the wrong direction.
 
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