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

[MJF]

The desert island commentary is about using the fact he isn't in the lineup and how the team is struggling as an example of why we need him. "See, if we don't have Barzal we can't win" is the sentiment I get from those posts. I'm just trying to highlight that nobody, even Throttle, wants to jettison Barzal for nothing so it's not a true reflection of what life would be like without Barzal.

 

[SI]

He curls, he delays, he looks for open passing lanes, but you wish he drove the net to add more balance. He's not a power forward, he doesn't go into the slot, and the majority of what you're highlighting is his ability to stay on the perimeter but he's not a perimeter player?

I didn't say he never does any of those things either but to suggest he does it more than Horvat is crazy.

When I hear perimeter player, the suggestion is that he is a soft player and a floater.
My point was he is neither of those things. Barzal thrives when he has space to use his skating and edgework. He often circles the zone, looking for passing lanes. He gets involved down low, protects the puck well, and wins battles. If he hasn't gained the zone by carrying the puck in and it has been dumped in - quite often he is the F1 trying to win back the puck.

Never suggested anything about Horvat.

 

[SI90]

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

My gripe with Barzal is that he doesn't do this enough. And I (we) all know he can, because he has done it in one of the biggest moments of his career (against big bad Norris runner-up Carlson).

We all know it's in there. I feel like there was a time that he tried, got bundled and became gun-shy or something...

 

[PK Cronin]

When I hear perimeter player, the suggestion is that he is a soft player and a floater.
My point was he is neither of those things. Barzal thrives when he has space to use his skating and edgework. He often circles the zone, looking for passing lanes. He gets involved down low, protects the puck well, and wins battles. If he hasn't gained the zone by carrying the puck in and it has been dumped in - quite often he is the F1 trying to win back the puck.

Never suggested anything about Horvat.

A perimeter player is simply a player who stays on the perimeter. I do not think he's a floater or soft either.

The conversation you quoted was specifically in reference to Horvat vs Barzal in those areas.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Offer sheets came up on my twitter for spittin chiclets, I wonder if you do 6.8 per year for Matthew knies at 2/3 years if it would be worth it. 1st and a 3rd by last years standards.

Lee-Horvat-palmieri
Knies-Barzal-Holmstrom
Duclair/Engvall-Ritchie-Tayplakov
Cizikas-McLean-Gatcomb
Engvall/Duclair

Trade Pageau obviously.

Still have Colorado’s first.

 

[WangMustGo]

Offer sheets came up on my twitter for spittin chiclets, I wonder if you do 6.8 per year for Matthew knies at 2/3 years if it would be worth it. 1st and a 3rd by last years standards.

Lee-Horvat-palmieri
Knies-Barzal-Holmstrom
Duclair/Engvall-Ritchie-Tayplakov
Cizikas-McLean-Gatcomb
Engvall/Duclair

Trade Pageau obviously.

Still have Colorado’s first.

I wouldn’t move that 2026 first round pick. This team will likely be worse next year and the draft sounds like it’s gonna be a good one.

 

[Zeeker]

I wouldn’t move that 2026 first round pick. This team will likely be worse next year and the draft sounds like it’s gonna be a good one.

I know nobody likes to lose but the “we need to compete next year” crowd are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I expect geriatric Lou to want to compete, but not fans prioritizing the long term health of the team.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

I wouldn’t move that 2026 first round pick. This team will likely be worse next year and the draft sounds like it’s gonna be a good one.

I don’t think we’d be worse, and even then unless it’s a top 3 pick I wouldn’t bet on the player being better than Knies.

 

[PhysicalGraffiti]

My gripe with Barzal is that he doesn't do this enough. And I (we) all know he can, because he has done it in one of the biggest moments of his career (against big bad Norris runner-up Carlson).

We all know it's in there. I feel like there was a time that he tried, got bundled and became gun-shy or something...

Playoff Varly was spectacular those years. My goodness.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

The problem with entaining trading Barzal and/or Dobson...whomever is coming back in the trade is still coming into a GOD AWFUL roster.

So to me, if you are going to make that move in dealing either, you HAVE to move all the other dead wood on this roster and I don't care how you do it. If not, it will be the same situation with just without them.

You cannot go into next season with have this roster back....I mean it.

Goalie - Done - Vary.......

Defense, Mayfield, Pelech have to go....Pulock and Dobson if the price is right. I don't want guys like Boqvist, Perunovich or Reilly back at all.

Forwards - Gone- Duclair, Fasching, Engvall, MacLean, Lee, Cizkas - on the fence with Pageau, Palmieri and Tsyplakov

Yep, all this ain't happening.

Not even half of it...

 

[JJ18Sniper]

Offer sheets came up on my twitter for spittin chiclets, I wonder if you do 6.8 per year for Matthew knies at 2/3 years if it would be worth it. 1st and a 3rd by last years standards.

Lee-Horvat-palmieri
Knies-Barzal-Holmstrom
Duclair/Engvall-Ritchie-Tayplakov
Cizikas-McLean-Gatcomb
Engvall/Duclair

Trade Pageau obviously.

Still have Colorado’s first.

Not sure if it was the same episode, but another clip I saw mentioned locking up Knies 8x8.5 and letting Marner walk.

 

[MikeyMike01]

So just to be clear, you're saying that while the process that got this team to the playoffs during COVID was illusory, once there it was all just normal? Do I have that right?

I'm not saying they didn't make the best of the circumstance and shouldn't be acknowledged for doing so, but as you have stated, they failed at asset management subsequently. Do you know why they failed at asset management after those runs? Because Lou thought they had all the assets that they needed and all that was required was some tweaking around the edges. He, and most fans, completely misread those results and what they meant. There was nothing normal or indicative of team excellence going forward in any of it.

Please explain the prior season where they had 103 points and challenged for a division title. Those teams were legitimate teams.

 

[Glorydays22]

Yep, all this ain't happening.

Not even half of it...

Sadly, I agree....nothing will change with this organization until Lou is gone.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

It's certainly legitimate to proceed with the construction of this team surrounding a core of Barzal, Horvat, Romanov, and Holmstrom.

Other pieces we can certainly proceed with as overall pluses include:
Sorokin, Lee, Tsyplakov, Cizikas, Gatcomb

Pieces that should prolly be retained if the price is right:
DeAngelo, Palmieri (yes, I wrote it... I know)

Pieces that need to go:
Pageau, Mayfield

Players who we're likely just plain stuck with:
Pulock, Pelech, Duclair

Can help as depth or be buried:
Engvall, MacLean

Hanging in the wind:
Fasching (UFA), Reilly (UFA), Martin (UFA), Boqvist (RFA), Perunovich (RFA)

***
The name "Dobson" is missing from this list. If he is kept, you do so with a long-term contract giving him market value and plan with him as a key part of the core. If not, you make a blockbuster trade of sorts but the return is likely minimized to a degree by his contractual status.

***
Absolutely no real reason to move any of the picks or current top prospects.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

I know nobody likes to lose but the “we need to compete next year” crowd are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I expect geriatric Lou to want to compete, but not fans prioritizing the long term health of the team.

I would view next season as an opportunity to find the cast-offs who have shown ability in the NHL but may have had a down year. Similar to the year after JT left, or the inaugural seasons of Vegas and Seattle - find those guys that have a chip. If they overachieve, you can compete and even find some diamonds in the rough for the future.

If not, you can offload them at the TDL and "tank" a bit for a strong 2026 draft.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I would view next season as an opportunity to find the cast-offs who have shown ability in the NHL but may have had a down year. Similar to the year after JT left, or the inaugural seasons of Vegas and Seattle - find those guys that have a chip. If they overachieve, you can compete and even find some diamonds in the rough for the future.

If not, you can offload them at the TDL and "tank" a bit for a strong 2026 draft.

Love this take!

Which means that Lou ain't gonna go that route...

 

[Osakahaus]

Lou Lamoriello literally placed the islanders into this situation and he probably has another year here still.

 

[Osakahaus]

Offer sheets came up on my twitter for spittin chiclets, I wonder if you do 6.8 per year for Matthew knies at 2/3 years if it would be worth it. 1st and a 3rd by last years standards.

Lee-Horvat-palmieri
Knies-Barzal-Holmstrom
Duclair/Engvall-Ritchie-Tayplakov
Cizikas-McLean-Gatcomb
Engvall/Duclair

Trade Pageau obviously.

Still have Colorado’s first.

I will literally do that in a heartbeat because Knies is a great player on the Leafs and someone the Islanders SHOULD'VE taken over Raty in 2021

 

[WangMustGo]

I don’t think we’d be worse, and even then unless it’s a top 3 pick I wouldn’t bet on the player being better than Knies.

Knies is a good player, but is he a build your team around him player? That’s what this team needs and the best shot of landing a player like that is through the draft.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Knies is a good player, but is he a build your team around him player? That’s what this team needs and the best shot of landing a player like that is through the draft.

I think we need a big body winger going forward with Lee at 34/35.

I do think we’re going to be competitive next year and on that assumption I’d trade a pick in the 10-20 range for Knies

 

[doublechili]

I see that Knies is getting 18:35 TOI per game - does he play on one of the top 2 lines in TO? If so, I'd be wary of offer-sheeting (or trading for) him since we don't have Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares for him to play with.

The better move would be to find some guy who isn't getting enough ice time on a stacked team. Not to beat a dead horse, but Holloway was getting 10 mins per game in EDM last year (when he wasn't in the AHL), and StL offer-sheeted him and gave up peanuts due to his relatively low salary, and this year he's got 26-36-62 (better than Knies) making $2M. Of course, you need the right GM to make a move like that....

 

[LAIcelanders]

It's certainly legitimate to proceed with the construction of this team surrounding a core of Barzal, Horvat, Romanov, and Holmstrom.

Other pieces we can certainly proceed with as overall pluses include:
Sorokin, Lee, Tsyplakov, Cizikas, Gatcomb

Pieces that should prolly be retained if the price is right:
DeAngelo, Palmieri (yes, I wrote it... I know)

Pieces that need to go:
Pageau, Mayfield

Players who we're likely just plain stuck with:
Pulock, Pelech, Duclair

Can help as depth or be buried:
Engvall, MacLean

Hanging in the wind:
Fasching (UFA), Reilly (UFA), Martin (UFA), Boqvist (RFA), Perunovich (RFA)

***
The name "Dobson" is missing from this list. If he is kept, you do so with a long-term contract giving him market value and plan with him as a key part of the core. If not, you make a blockbuster trade of sorts but the return is likely minimized to a degree by his contractual status.

***
Absolutely no real reason to move any of the picks or current top prospects.

From the plus category

Cizikas is done. Can certainly use some fresh faces and he’s become completely ineffective across the 200 feet of the rink

Tsyplakov is ok, can certainly play in the NHL but not fast enough for a Top 6 role and likely too expensive for where he belongs.

Lee has had a good bounce back year. He hasn’t looked this speedy in his entire career. Can he replicate that again at age 35?

 

[Run It Back]

Please explain the prior season where they had 103 points and challenged for a division title. Those teams were legitimate teams.

Not sure what exactly you mean by legitimate, but yes, it was very good season though how "legitimate" they were was unceremoniously demonstrated by Carolina. In the following season, '19-'20, were it not for Covid they would have missed the playoffs altogether, having gone 10-13-7 after the New Year and 0-3-4 during the playoff push before the season was halted.

The point is now and always has been that the Islanders, while having had some nice seasons and being a pretty good team, never demonstrated the consistent excellence, nor did they have the talent to do so, of a serious Cup contender. The problem is that their GM thought they were and behaved accordingly.

 

[isles55]

I really don’t see how this team plans to replace Nelson, Palmieri, Pageau, and Lee by next offseason.

Nelson is gone. Palmieri should be gone and is 34 years old. Lee will be 36 for the 26-27 season and Pageau will be 33.

It’s not realistic to expect these players to play the same role they do now at these ages. They play important positions, and we have no young players ready to take on a bigger role(other than Holmstrom potentially). Expecting players like Eiserman or Ritchie to be big contributors that soon is probably asking too much.