Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2024-25: Re-Tool, Re-Group, Re-Mix, Re-Build
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MikeyMike01
U.S.S. Wang
Sparksrus3
Registered User
- Jun 2, 2012
- 10,255
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The Real JT
The crowd called out for more
The Engvall signing was never defensible IMO and obviously looks even worse now.
I’ll differ with you regarding Dobson. His lack of intensity and toughness worry me greatly. He’s still a very valuable asset and by no means should we trade him for anything but a very valuable return. I liken it to the situation we were in with Griffin Reinhart. Before anyone slams me regarding that comparison, Dobson is obviously a solid NHL asset while Reinhart was nowhere near that. My point is that you are hoping that Dobson lives up to his potential and I’m not sure that’s going to happen specifically on the defensive side. Aside from tying up a large chunk of change to re-sign Dobson, we also may miss out on the chance to retool on the fly with an NHL quality asset coming back in return.
So yes I would trade him but only for a sizable return. I don’t want the next Seth Jones or Darnell Nurse taking up space on our roster for the next 8 years.
periferal
Registered User
- Jul 5, 2007
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No it doesn't, and here's why...
The Islanders are not coming close to a Stanley Cup while Nelson is still productive. That means you are literally holding a very valuable asset and just letting it slowly decay until it has no value - When instead you could actually get rid of that assets while it is very valuable and help this team increase its chances of winning long-term.
Given those two choices, there isn't a choice - Just an obvious path to take.
And you can see that Nelson is already starting to fade. The next contract he gets will probably be his last in the NHL. And if you resign him, the moment you do it cuts his value to other teams down by half at least given the contract he will get.
Lou has already proven he does not know how to maximize the salary cap to the Islanders benefit so there's zero reason to resign any player who will only make that worse, and especially when you trade him for younger assets that is how you will increase the odds of opening up a new Cup window as soon as possible.
The Isles should've traded Tavares when they had the chance and he was in his prime. Nelson is leaving his prime for a team nowhere near a Cup. To not trade him is true GM malpractice.
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The Real JT
The crowd called out for more
Well said.
The sad thing for me is that I’ve come to grips with the fact that Lou is likely to re-sign Nelson. He won’t come cheaply and he’ll be a deteriorating asset from day one.
As we all pontificate on the inner workings of Lou’s strategy, I’ll add this. If there was mutual interest in striking a deal with Nelson, maybe it would have happened already?
I wouldn’t straight out say no - but there are a lot of Isles fans who will only move Dobson if he isn’t the best player in the deal. If that’s the starting point, then there probably isn’t a deal to be made here. I happen to think Knies is a good young scorer who has size and speed - all things this team needs. He’s not a pure sniper though, which is I think what people want in return for Dobson. I do think if there was a package of Knies, Cowan and the 2026 first, the Isles would have to listen.
- May 17, 2011
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I think the rationale with re-signing Nelson is that if you *don’t* re-sign him you have a massive hole at 2C next season, which for a team as low scoring as the Islanders makes it a big shoe to fill.
Younger options (i.e. Mittelstadt, Zegras, etc.) are just as expensive and not as productive as Nelson so how do you reasonably upgrade/re-tool that position without dealing someone like Dobson?
@periferal I get you’re probably in the camp of crash and burn, but the fact of the matter is they aren’t going to run Pageau out there as a 2C next season so unless they are planning on moving Barzal back to center, Nelson (in a vacuum) is one of the best center options available this summer.
Personally, I *would* interested in Mittelstadt as a 2C and Frederic as a 3C. This allows you to flip Nelson and Pageau for picks/prospects and fill their holes with younger, cheap to acquire players with potential to bloom into a bigger role.
Use the assets from Nelson and Pageau to add scorers on the wings.
Younger options (i.e. Mittelstadt, Zegras, etc.) are just as expensive and not as productive as Nelson so how do you reasonably upgrade/re-tool that position without dealing someone like Dobson?
@periferal I get you’re probably in the camp of crash and burn, but the fact of the matter is they aren’t going to run Pageau out there as a 2C next season so unless they are planning on moving Barzal back to center, Nelson (in a vacuum) is one of the best center options available this summer.
Personally, I *would* interested in Mittelstadt as a 2C and Frederic as a 3C. This allows you to flip Nelson and Pageau for picks/prospects and fill their holes with younger, cheap to acquire players with potential to bloom into a bigger role.
Use the assets from Nelson and Pageau to add scorers on the wings.
Fair enough.
For me knies has the potential to be a prime Lucic type guy. He plays nasty in the playoffs and has the potential to be your prototypical true power forward. He's not as nasty as looch but i think he's such a rare breed and it'll develop. Which is why it's a bit unfair to kinda just label him as a top 6 winger you know? Plus he kills pens ( not very well yet but he's learning) and tries to be a 2 way player. Which is why I'd move one of Cowan and the first but would have trouble with both
Anyway pretty interesting discussion as it'd kill me to move knies lol. Will be interesting to see where Dobson goes if he is indeed moved. Maybe the move was Petey for Dobson. Would be nasty for both teams: barzal Petey one two C punch and Hughes with Dobson is stupid lol
Yeah, you're right. A good bit of exaggeration on my part, when all I really wanted to say is Zegras doesn't impress me. But sure, based on age and potential alone, yes I would make this deal.
