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

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Tkachuk doesn’t turn this sad sack of a team into anything. Would still be spinning their wheels circling around 8th place every season.

Adding Tkachuk to a team that Barzal is on? That could work.

I’m all for trading Barzal assuming it’s to start a rebuild. Replacing Barzal with any one player is not going to make this team any better.
Tkachuk changes the way you play the game and build around vs the ‘we still need a winger, nope now it’s a center, really it’s everyone else, not him’ annual game.
 
Nope, I just responded to the initial assertion that he’s a top 3 forward on contending teams. Looking at the cap hit of those contending teams and that statement is inaccurate. You lowered the cap hit - not me - in an attempt to help the initial statement. And now you are looking to expand the results even further to help your rationalize you lowering the cap hit.

That’s pretty much what’s going on here. Keep going though.
But you yourself showed that it is not inaccurate, there are four current contenders where his salary would be the third highest forward on the team (TB, VGK, FLA, DAL), and one where he would be fourth (TML). Many of the third highest paid forwards on the teams where Barzal would be third are paid roughly equivalent to him.
 
Tkachuk changes the way you play the game and build around vs the ‘we still need a winger, nope now it’s a center, really it’s everyone else, not him’ annual game.
It doesn’t. Tkachuk is a great player, he’s not a cornerstone generational talent ala Crosby, Ovechkin and Mack. Panthers were a sum of all parts. Adding Tkachuk and removing Barzal doesn’t negate almost half the forwards are at best 13 forwards and at worst belong in the AHL. Add in a tire fire for defense even when everyone is healthy and the only thing playing heavier does is same outcome with more hits at the end of the game.

They need better players and not just replacing Barzal with someone you deem better. They need a gut job of the entire roster.
 
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But you yourself showed that it is not inaccurate, there are four current contenders where his salary would be the third highest forward on the team (TB, VGK, FLA, DAL), and one where he would be fourth (TML). Many of the third highest paid forwards on the teams where Barzal would be third are paid roughly equivalent to him.
Nice job with the data to back it up. To add to this even further, it's a good bet there will be much more teams to add to this list next year, the following year, the year after etc. The Isles will have something like 30 Million to play with next year. Would be nice to get a guy making 12-13 million to take the load off #13 and Horvat up front. Most likely since were the NYI we won't but just once.............maybe
 
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That hardware is 3 coaches ago. Those playoff stats are two coaches ago under Barry as a 4 line team.

Tossing Suzukis -60 is kinda like saying Tkachuk sucks too bc he’s -60. Both are on not so good teams. Being a - player year over year is expected. Bedard is -82.
Ironic, you complaining about only picking certain statistics. Maybe the student has surpassed the master here?
 
I'm not referring to broadcasts, I'm only speaking about these boards.

Plenty of people on here view him as an elite player or talent and are unwilling to acknowledge his shortcomings, viewing any and all criticisms as unfair or unjust simply because he is the most talented player on the team.



I don't find that to be true about the corners, and it's certainly not true if we're counting going towards the front of the net and taking abuse. Barzal stays on the perimeter and will often avoid contact, he also doesn't throw hits often.

I've got issues with both of them in the D zone at times.
I don't think the criticism is the issue. Trying to jettison him every waking moment is what annoys people. When people said, "I wish Barzal would shoot more" or "Barzal is too predictable" people don't disagree. It's the mental midget who thinks he's an overpaid ineffective scrub that the team is better off without and should be traded for any return possible that people react to. They react to insane narratives.
 
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Interesting little tidbit, if true...

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I’ve been pretty adamant about not retaining on JGP. Again I want to compete next year so that’s a non starter for me. I know Leaf fans were circling him but always with 50 percent. That’s not happening and I’m glad. With Ritchie coming through next year, if they can get a bonafide number two to replace Nelson and his production I would love to trade Pageau and I’d be ok with futures in that scenario, assuming we’re trading futures for a number two center.
 
I’ve been pretty adamant about not retaining on JGP. Again I want to compete next year so that’s a non starter for me. I know Leaf fans were circling him but always with 50 percent. That’s not happening and I’m glad. With Ritchie coming through next year, if they can get a bonafide number two to replace Nelson and his production I would love to trade Pageau and I’d be ok with futures in that scenario, assuming we’re trading futures for a number two center.

They can just split Barzal and Horvat. Not saying that is the ideal 1-2 punch but it's an option. For me the ideal situation might be somehow getting rid of Duclair and get a legit first line forward to play with either of those guys
 
This could very well be what Lou meant when he said some moves are better made in the offseason. Seems like a lay-up tbh

Yeah, if there will be more of a market for Pageau (and others) and their cap hits in the off-season it makes more sense to make those trades then than to retain on salary mid-season.
 
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That’s fair, but as you can see him underperforming on his cap hit makes that unlikely to happen.

You can trade him, reallocate the assets and repair the depth.
but is it worth trading away that guy for players who might be meh? thats the problem. where the islanders are is between a rock and a hard place. they lack so much as a roster but they fight tooth and nail. they need to add more to the roster. period.
 
Yeah, if there will be more of a market for Pageau (and others) and their cap hits in the off-season it makes more sense to make those trades then than to retain on salary mid-season.
Pageau 100% will get a market, even if the isles miss. Take advantage of it. You need to get assets and do something to get this team better. JGP was excellent for the past five seasons (wow five seasons already), but the time to sell is now. I think even if you get a few picks back, that can help long term

While im talking about it, I do hope the islanders try to find a way to get another center on this roster. its becoming a glaring issue.
 
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They can just split Barzal and Horvat. Not saying that is the ideal 1-2 punch but it's an option. For me the ideal situation might be somehow getting rid of Duclair and get a legit first line forward to play with either of those guys
I think this is what they should do, but of course BoZal is attached at the hip on the PP.

Horvat
Barzal
JGP?
Cizikas/Ritchie

at 9.1 Barzal is being paid to be a teams #2 or #3 option. Look around

Using the Horvat - Barzal split up roster structure, then you are paying 2 centers as 2C's. Which is fine, because I would consider them to be upper echelon 2C's. But since you are paying those two guys at that level, then the money should be spent elsewhere to find that #1...LW, RW, D?
 
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