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

[PhysicalGraffiti]

I was looking at the free agent class for next season and there isn't alot of hope I can see. I mean I would love to get a guy like Rantanen, but I know that isn't happening. I've heard Boeser wants to go to Minny, so can't use Horvat to help recruit.

PuckPedia shows us with 28 million in cap space for next season.

So however it shakes out with Nelson and Palms, I wonder what Lou does for next year if he stays around. Seems trades are the only option.

Duclair has regressed again, Engvall is terrible, Lee has his streaks, and Varly is hurt for who knows how long. So many issues with large/expensive contracts, and we have RFA's we need to resign. Romy, Tsylakov, and Holmstrom are top priority.

Like many others have said, I unfortunately think it's gonna take a bit to get back. Aside from the more obvious bad contracts, you've got 3 D men under long expensive deals. Those are already looking scary with Pulock, Pelech, and Mayfield. But to be fair I feel like it made sense to give some of those out, especially like Pulock and Pelech. It's scary how quick a contract can look bad.

 

[saintunspecified]

I was looking at the free agent class for next season and there isn't alot of hope I can see. I mean I would love to get a guy like Rantanen, but I know that isn't happening. I've heard Boeser wants to go to Minny, so can't use Horvat to help recruit.

? I'm a little surprised, bc it looks like there's quite a bit 'out there'. imo if free agency is the plan then NYI would need to go after the *biggest* fish. I know this will be controversial, but it's really not the worst idea in the world to give the 27 y/o WAY more than ppg player a super big deal.

 

[impaaaaaact]

? I'm a little surprised, bc it looks like there's quite a bit 'out there'. imo if free agency is the plan then NYI would need to go after the *biggest* fish. I know this will be controversial, but it's really not the worst idea in the world to give the 27 y/o WAY more than ppg player a super big deal.

I think he's saying he wants him but Rantanen will have better options.

I still think that our most realistic FA add is Chychrun, but any major add is going to require shedding some salary. I did the math one day and just re-signing our guys + letting Palmieri and Nelson walk will probably leave us with something like 4M-5M in leftover salary.

 

[saintunspecified]

I think he's saying he wants him but Rantanen will have better options.

I wasn't thinking about Rantenen. I agree, NYI have no shot, and NYI have never been linked to him. Also, Rantenen is 28.

 

[impaaaaaact]

I wasn't thinking about Rantenen. I agree, NYI have no shot, and NYI have never been linked to him. Also, Rantenen is 28.

Or Marner lolol. I’d love to have him, but I think next season we’re basically hoping for a healthy Duclair to replace Palmieri and basically probably f***ed at 2C. Likely going to need to split Barzal and Horvat again

 

[IslesNorway]

I think he's saying he wants him but Rantanen will have better options.

I still think that our most realistic FA add is Chychrun, but any major add is going to require shedding some salary. I did the math one day and just re-signing our guys + letting Palmieri and Nelson walk will probably leave us with something like 4M-5M in leftover salary.

Which only shows the importance of selling now. We simply cannot afford to keep the likes of Nelson and Palmieri around.

 

[Isles72]

Is Nelson even saying anything to the beat writers when asked about the situation ?

just sign him to 7.5 x 5 before the 4 nations tourney and worry about fine tuning the cap issues afterwards .

DeAngelo and Perunavich(rfa) can move the puck well and would likely be eager to resign allowing you to trade Dobson for XYZ at the draft .

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Is Nelson even saying anything to the beat writers when asked about the situation ?

just sign him to 7.5 x 5 before the 4 nations tourney and worry about fine tuning the cap issues afterwards .

DeAngelo and Perunavich(rfa) can move the puck well and would likely be eager to resign allowing you to trade Dobson for XYZ at the draft .

I agree. This week I’m hoping to hear something about a contract being offered to Brock. If you really want to stay, sign it now. I just really don’t want to lose him for nothing. I don’t think our group can afford that

 

[impaaaaaact]

Funny to think that even with winning 8/9 and 11/14 games, we’ve actually lost ground on the wings over the last 20 games, going 13-7.

If the plan is to make the playoffs, we realistically need 2 teams to fall off and us to keep playing at at that .650 clip till the end of the season. Not saying it can’t happen, but we’re going to need to start to get more than 14 shots on goal.

 

[MJF]

Is Nelson even saying anything to the beat writers when asked about the situation ?

just sign him to 7.5 x 5 before the 4 nations tourney and worry about fine tuning the cap issues afterwards .

DeAngelo and Perunavich(rfa) can move the puck well and would likely be eager to resign allowing you to trade Dobson for XYZ at the draft .

At this point with a small sample size, I think I'd prefer to keep Boqvist around instead of Perunovich. Not thrilled with his reads and watching another Smurf trying to defend. DeAngelo slots in as a 2nd pair defenseman here and would offer him a 4 year deal.

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Funny to think that even with winning 8/9 and 11/14 games, we’ve actually lost ground on the wings over the last 20 games, going 13-7.

If the plan is to make the playoffs, we realistically need 2 teams to fall off and us to keep playing at at that .650 clip till the end of the season. Not saying it can’t happen, but we’re going to need to start to get more than 14 shots on goal.

Said it earlier or in a different thread. We lost 3 TIMES to them this year. 6 points. That just might hurt us on last day of season

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Funny to think that even with winning 8/9 and 11/14 games, we’ve actually lost ground on the wings over the last 20 games, going 13-7.

If the plan is to make the playoffs, we realistically need 2 teams to fall off and us to keep playing at at that .650 clip till the end of the season. Not saying it can’t happen, but we’re going to need to start to get more than 14 shots on goal.

If the plan is to make the playoffs, we realistically need Sorokin to keep up his stellar .945 SV% (since beginning of January, 9-2 in 11 games played) for the rest of the season with minimal rest considering Varly & Hog injuries.

He's more than capable of continuing to steal wins, but that is a lot to expect especially because of the workload.

 

[impaaaaaact]

I agree. This week I’m hoping to hear something about a contract being offered to Brock. If you really want to stay, sign it now. I just really don’t want to lose him for nothing. I don’t think our group can afford that

Is Nelson even saying anything to the beat writers when asked about the situation ?

just sign him to 7.5 x 5 before the 4 nations tourney and worry about fine tuning the cap issues afterwards .

7.5 is a ton to be paying to someone who's likely your 3C within 2 seasons. We've already started to see the decline - he was underpaid on his last contract but that doesn't mean you have to overpay him on his next one. I'm fine to keep him around for something like 6M, but as it stands I don't even think we can afford that next season without at least moving out Varly.

That all being said, the 2026 UFA class could be insane, depending on who actually makes it there - right now some names are Kaprizov, Eichel, Connor, Panarin, Necas, Andersenn... and Mcdavid. If you want to add RFAs as we could see some offer sheets with all this newfound cash, you add Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, McMichael... you get the idea.

We'll be clearing 12M in cap between Lee and Pageau, + there will be an 8M cap increase. We'll have the cash to go hard after someone like Eichel or Necas if we want... there's always just the question of if they'll sign here or not.

 

[Isles72]

Funny to think that even with winning 8/9 and 11/14 games, we’ve actually lost ground on the wings over the last 20 games, going 13-7.

If the plan is to make the playoffs, we realistically need 2 teams to fall off and us to keep playing at at that .650 clip till the end of the season. Not saying it can’t happen, but we’re going to need to start to get more than 14 shots on goal.

Detroit was red hot last year at this time then choked .

I'm sure Paul Bizz would rather see the young up and coming teams like sens and detroit stay in those playoff spots instead of isles , boston

7.5 is a ton to be paying to someone who's likely your 3C within 2 seasons. We've already started to see the decline - he was underpaid on his last contract but that doesn't mean you have to overpay him on his next one. I'm fine to keep him around for something like 6M, but as it stands I don't even think we can afford that next season without at least moving out Varly.

That all being said, the 2026 UFA class could be insane, depending on who actually makes it there - right now some names are Kaprizov, Eichel, Connor, Panarin, Necas, Andersenn... and Mcdavid. If you want to add RFAs as we could see some offer sheets with all this newfound cash, you add Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, McMichael... you get the idea.

We'll be clearing 12M in cap between Lee and Pageau, + there will be an 8M cap increase. We'll have the cash to go hard after someone like Eichel or Necas if we want... there's always just the question of if they'll sign here or not.

come on man , none of those high end free agents are going to consider the isles

 

[impaaaaaact]

come on man , none of those high end free agents are going to consider the isles

I mostly agree, but I do think that if we can pay Eichel through the nose we might have a shot there. Probably will be fighting the Bruins on it though who seem to have been in need of a center forever, and he's from Mass.

My move would be to deal Dobson for a young C with 1C potential - I think that's our way out of cap hell for next year at least.