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

[Rehabguy]

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...

We absolutely do need players like this. Even if we gave away a 3rd rounder this team needs as much offensive help from any position to give this team a spark. If anything this team needs another explosive skater like Tomasino. This was his scouting report:

He’s a fearless puck-carrier, willing to pay the price to take the puck to the high-danger parts of the offensive zone. His hands are elite
—EPrinkside.com 2019

Tomasino is a swiss-army knife forward whose versatility made him effective.
—Hockeyprospect.com 2019

His explosive skating style is highlighted by a lightning-quick first step and high-end foot speed
—Future Considerations 2019

He is a highly athletic center who is a plus skater, with good vision and a strong wrist shot
—McKeen's Hockey 2019

dynamic offensive talent … creates offence with hard work … very consistent … jumps in and out of holes to create chances

He's only 23 and he had a much better first 3 years in the NHL than any young Islander forward today. It is no surprise his numbers began to suffer once Trotz took over as GM. He's not Trotz kind of player- probably too much like Barzal. Since Trotz took over as GM he has given up 5 first rounders including: Tolvanen, Tomasino, Fabbro, Kevin Fiala and Askarov. They should have nabbed this kid at any reasonable cost once they had the chance as Trotz has no idea what he's doing with the Preds. He's horrible at managing young talent that don't fit into his mold. My understanding is that he did not work hard enough to fit the Predator identity and "structure". Sound familiar? Also he's pretty bad at getting returns for first round picks. In exchange for the Predators' 2019 first-round pick and the Vegas Golden Knights' 2017 first-round pick, respectively, he accepted a fourth-round pick and an undrafted ECHL forward.

Lou let this one get away. Probably asleep at the wheel. Or maybe he really did just fire Trotz because he thought he sucked and there is no relationship there to speak of and Trotz feels he owes the guy no favors.

 

[Chockey22]

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.

I appreciate this alternative take on Horvat, and am happy to agree to disagree - but I am honestly surprised that he is let off the hook while Barzal takes so much heat. He has no points in the last five games, and is on pace for under 20 goals. He routinely misses grade A scoring chances. Yes, he plays hard, wins more draws than he loses, and doesn't make as many mistakes as others, but that is not worth 8.5. even with a rising cap.

I am surrounded by Canucks fans where I live, and can tell you without a doubt most fans were fine with him being traded, and ecstatic when they saw the contract price and term.

I completely agree that Horvat stays; Lou wouldn't walk back his signature pick up and with his contract would probably not return much of value.

 

[Rehabguy]

I appreciate this alternative take on Horvat, and am happy to agree to disagree - but I am honestly surprised that he is let off the hook while Barzal takes so much heat. He has no points in the last five games, and is on pace for under 20 goals. He routinely misses grade A scoring chances. Yes, he plays hard, wins more draws than he loses, and doesn't make as many mistakes as others, but that is not worth 8.5. even with a rising cap.

I am surrounded by Canucks fans where I live, and can tell you without a doubt most fans were fine with him being traded, and ecstatic when they saw the contract price and term.

I completely agree that Horvat stays; Lou wouldn't walk back his signature pick up and with his contract would probably not return much of value.

I like Horvat's work ethic and he plays an intelligent game but make no mistake about it, Barzal is the reason he has been so successful scoring goals for the Islanders. He's not much of a threat on his own without someone like Barzal to feed him.

 

[SI]

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

IMO, it cannot be a full-fire sale - you want to be able to compete next year.

Lee and Pageau would be interesting pieces - more so Pageau, who I believe would be enticing for an acquiring team, especially if the Isles were to retain 50% and get a significant piece in return.

To trade JGP just to dump the salary - I am not a fan of it.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

I appreciate this alternative take on Horvat, and am happy to agree to disagree - but I am honestly surprised that he is let off the hook while Barzal takes so much heat. He has no points in the last five games, and is on pace for under 20 goals. He routinely misses grade A scoring chances. Yes, he plays hard, wins more draws than he loses, and doesn't make as many mistakes as others, but that is not worth 8.5. even with a rising cap.

I am surrounded by Canucks fans where I live, and can tell you without a doubt most fans were fine with him being traded, and ecstatic when they saw the contract price and term.

I completely agree that Horvat stays; Lou wouldn't walk back his signature pick up and with his contract would probably not return much of value.

I can't argue with that. A lot of the blame for lack of scoring should lay at his feet. Especially since he carries the 2nd highest cap hit and was brought in to be a goal scorer. Hell, we see Palms and Lee continue scoring in the absence of Barzal.

But compared to Palms who is shooting 18.2%, Horvat is at 7.7% which is 3% lower than his career low and 6% off his career average. I see his lack of producing a feature of the team being abhorrent on the PP and simply just a slump. After not being able to lift the puck over Lyon's right shoulder after a great feed from JGP, you could see it is getting to him.

I'm more confident in Horvat progressing more to his mean, than I do in Barzal in becoming a shoot-first player that we desperately wish him to be because we can see him do it sometimes. By the nature of being a puck-carrier, I think Barzal gets more heat because he is more susceptible to bad passes, bad turnovers, more giveaways on paper.

Maybe the Nucks fans flocking to HF Isles at the time of the trade were just being nice lol.