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

[Isles72]

Yep, I remember.

After Leddy was gone the team needed to upgrade in the same skillset but they didn't, and ultimately never even replaced the skillset. Dobson is nice but he's defensively weak and not a great puck transporter, he excels on the rush. If we could just combine Leddy and Dobson's abilities then we'd be in a good spot.

A few of us have mentioned the issue is the redundancy on the roster. Every grouping of players are incredibly similar, and that's why they're stale and non-dynamic.

yeah they needed to sign camp invite Erik Gustafsson instead of Big Z to help puck movement .

that season was a waste but I guess you can point to Dobson learning a thing or two from Chara on/off the ice as a win-win

 

[impaaaaaact]

The worst part of this is that I actually don’t think it matters that we’re losing. Lou already made an offer to Brock… it’s been 2 real life weeks since that info came out, but also only 2 NHL games.

Do you think losing 2 NHL games makes Lou do a 180 on a 4 year commitment? What about his word? Palmieri I could see going to NJ, that’s easy - but the more I think about it, pretty likely that Nelson and Pageau are back next season if ownership doesn’t step in.

 

[Strickland]

There's gonna be people who tell you this thing can be salvaged. It can not. The only path forward is to rebuild. And until the organization admits that (and to be clear, they won't), this franchise is screwed. The "core" is rotten. Start stripping it down at the deadline, continue at the draft and head into next season prepared to gut it even further approaching the 2026 offseason.

That's gonna mean you bully players with NTCs into waiving, but that's what's gotta happen.

And Lou can not be the GM past the deadline. He shouldn't be the GM at the deadline, but the front office is so barebones and laughable that there's no one who can sell other than him.

Flush him and this "core" down the toilet. Until they do it, all you're accomplishing is prolonging the pain.

 

[SRBisles]

The worst part of this is that I actually don’t think it matters that we’re losing. Lou already made an offer to Brock… it’s been 2 real life weeks since that info came out, but also only 2 NHL games.

Do you think losing 2 NHL games makes Lou do a 180 on a 4 year commitment? What about his word? Palmieri I could see going to NJ, that’s easy - but the more I think about it, pretty likely that Nelson and Pageau are back next season if ownership doesn’t step in.

Who says Nelson wants even wants to be here past this year? He’s been very careful about what he says to the media- I think he’s gone. Problem is I think Lou is perfectly fine with keeping him around for a playoff push even at the risk of walking in the summer.

 

[mm11]

Let's see where the wind blows this week. Losing sucks

 

[Thrasymachus]

Stick a fork in it

 

[Tahoeblue]

This team is done. I can't root for losses but I wouldn't be upset if and when the Pens and Sabres move ahead. I know I am paraphrasing here but Lou has said in the past that he either buys or sells at the tdl from signals from the team. Last night was loud and clear on what should be done.

 

[eoin92]

This season is cooked. I don’t want to see them sneak into the playoffs to get smoked in the first round. I’d rather save my money. If done correctly, they could retool and be competitive as early as next season, depending on the return for the guys we all know need to go.

 

[Isles72]

This team is done. I can't root for losses but I wouldn't be upset if and when the Pens and Sabres move ahead. I know I am paraphrasing here but Lou has said in the past that he either buys or sells at the tdl from signals from the team. Last night was loud and clear on what should be done.

they have to go on another tear of something like 18-7 to get 92 points so the bat signal in on loud and clear .

 

[rockymtnoyster]

 

[The Real JT]

Who says Nelson wants even wants to be here past this year? He’s been very careful about what he says to the media- I think he’s gone. Problem is I think Lou is perfectly fine with keeping him around for a playoff push even at the risk of walking in the summer.

That got me thinking of all the possible upcoming scenarios for our UFAs.

Worst to best:
1. Sign both pending UFAs and add a serviceable but uninspiring NHL regular at the TDL for this year’s first round pick
2. Sign only one of the UFAs and make a TDL trade to make a minor acquisition for something less than a first round pick.
3. Roll the dice with both UFA players for the rest of the season but don’t trade them and don’t resign them.
4. Sell the UFAs for whatever the market will bear. Duh Lou!

 

[rockymtnoyster]

 

[xECK29x]

 

[doublechili]

The worst part of this is that I actually don’t think it matters that we’re losing. Lou already made an offer to Brock… it’s been 2 real life weeks since that info came out, but also only 2 NHL games.

I'm hoping the talk of wanting to re-sign Nelson was a plant to try to increase his trade value (possibly with MIN). Maybe that's wishful thinking, but I'm sticking with it for now.

If I'm the owners, and if I'm planning on replacing Lou after the season, then I'm telling him he needs to run any trades by ownership for approval, and I don't want to re-sign the UFAs, so they must be dealt for assets.

I know people say that's not the way it works, but under these (lame duck, hopefully) circumstances I'd want to protect my $1B investment and have some say in things.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Mayfield staying out for second straight game tomorrow, even after Pulock got manhandled yesterday. He’s either not healthy or Roy is done with him.

 

[duster19]

Duclair as your top RW is all you need to know…

 

[MJF]

View attachment 983259

But the puck doesn’t go in the net.

 

[Torrey Redux]

I'm hoping the talk of wanting to re-sign Nelson was a plant to try to increase his trade value (possibly with MIN). Maybe that's wishful thinking, but I'm sticking with it for now.

If I'm the owners, and if I'm planning on replacing Lou after the season, then I'm telling him he needs to run any trades by ownership for approval, and I don't want to re-sign the UFAs, so they must be dealt for assets.

I know people say that's not the way it works, but under these (lame duck, hopefully) circumstances I'd want to protect my $1B investment and have some say in things.

This is no solution. They don't know anything about hockey and certainly not enough to make or even advise on such decisions. No, Lou's gotta go and we gotta wrestle Darche away from TB somehow.

I wake up every day hoping to see the headline, "Isle's Fire Lou" over my mug of coffee and every day it's Groundhog Day instead. Gray and dark in Elmont and Lou doesn't see any shadow of his replacement lurking.

 

[doublechili]

This is no solution. They don't know anything about hockey and certainly not enough to make or even advise on such decisions. No, Lou's gotta go and we gotta wrestle Darche away from TB somehow.

I wake up every day hoping to see the headline, "Isle's Fire Lou" over my mug of coffee and every day it's Groundhog Day instead. Gray and dark in Elmont and Lou doesn't see any shadow of his replacement lurking.

I don't mean that the owners would actively play GM. I just mean that if I'm the owner and Lou is a lame duck, I want some say before he trades a pick and prospect for an older guy with term on his contract. Or a rental.

 

[Throttle]

Duclair as your top RW is all you need to know…

Signing Duclair to begin with was all you really needed to know…

 

[Torrey Redux]

I don't mean that the owners would actively play GM. I just mean that if I'm the owner and Lou is a lame duck, I want some say before he trades a pick and prospect for an older guy with term on his contract. Or a rental.

Even so, they would be flying blind, and god forbid, they could make matters worse.

This is an amazing statement, but IMO, there is no one in the organization currently qualified and/or properly motivated to make those decisions. What I mean by "properly motivated", and I think this gets to your post, is that Lou's only motivation at this point is to reinforce what he has done and not to look to the future so I see why you want at least a higher level of approval, but it still does not achieve anything because they have no idea what they would be approving. I guess we have to hope that they have been reaching out to someone who does have an idea outside of the org.

 

[periferal]

The one good thing to come from this losing streak near the deadline is there should be no doubt our GM needs to retool the roster. Lets hope he can maximize on all his deals to better set us up with a younger, faster and less cap restrictive roster for 2025-26

Oh there's no doubt what should be done (and it's been obvious for much longer than just this season), but....

What's obvious to most all of us what should be done....That is the exact opposite of how Lou has been going for the last 40 years he's been an NHL GM.

To further, read this....

The worst part of this is that I actually don’t think it matters that we’re losing. Lou already made an offer to Brock… it’s been 2 real life weeks since that info came out, but also only 2 NHL games.

Do you think losing 2 NHL games makes Lou do a 180 on a 4 year commitment? What about his word? Palmieri I could see going to NJ, that’s easy - but the more I think about it, pretty likely that Nelson and Pageau are back next season if ownership doesn’t step in.

100000000% this. Beyond totally on target.


I think every single one of you out there should prepare for Nelson to be on the Isles for the rest of the season and Lou f**k up the trade deadline entirely.

As Impaaaact said above...The only way the trade deadline will go well is if ownership steps in - And what are the chances of that happening?

It's a sad ugly state of affairs with this franchise right now and it's going to get worse until Malkin steps in and removes Lou the way he removed Snow.

 

[Throttle]

This is no solution. They don't know anything about hockey and certainly not enough to make or even advise on such decisions.

And other team owners do? That’s why they hire experienced professionals with knowledge in the space.

I highly doubt Lou is lame duck or being removed anytime soon.

Remember, the Isles also have John Collins as a minority owner with deep league-wide connections. While he’s a business guy, he knows the underlying hockey elements. So, Malkin is not running blind here.

 

[impaaaaaact]

100000000% this. Beyond totally on target.


I think every single one of you out there should prepare for Nelson to be on the Isles for the rest of the season and Lou f**k up the trade deadline entirely.

As Impaaaact said above...The only way the trade deadline will go well is if ownership steps in - And what are the chances of that happening?

It's a sad ugly state of affairs with this franchise right now and it's going to get worse until Malkin steps in and removes Lou the way he removed Snow.

I think it could go beyond Brock saying that he won’t sign here for Lou to move him… he might need to ask for a trade.

 

[doublechili]

Even so, they would be flying blind, and god forbid, they could make matters worse.

This is an amazing statement, but IMO, there is no one in the organization currently qualified and/or properly motivated to make those decisions. What I mean by "properly motivated", and I think this gets to your post, is that Lou's only motivation at this point is to reinforce what he has done and not to look to the future so I see why you want at least a higher level of approval, but it still does not achieve anything because they have no idea what they would be approving. I guess we have to hope that they have been reaching out to someone who does have an idea outside of the org.

IDK. The basic framework would be that the UFAs must be dealt, and the strong preference is that they're dealt for futures. In such a futures deal, ownership approval is not needed..

If the UFAs, or anyone else, is in a proposed deal for something other than futures, the owners want to have sign-off approval.

I don't think that's onerous or unworkable.