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

[IslesNorway]

Moving the 10th for a young roster player makes sense. A move along the Romanov lines is fine. This draft seems pretty weak, so I'd even be open to moving it for next year's 1st if a deal like that is on the table.

The main point of restart is getting rid of Pageau and Lee, and not signing anyone to stupid deals. Offer TDA 2 years, Romanov and Dobson 4 years and take things from there. No need to panic and sign them to 7-8 year deals just because you can. It will cripple any wriggle room you have, and we can only hope they this is what the owners have started to realise. In order to build a winning team you need to be able to add and change along the way, not be stuck with the same team for the foreseeable future.

I'd also buy out Engvall and Mayfield if need be, and look for any takers on any of the other players on the roster. No one should be off limits really.

 

[Isles72]

Moving the 10th for a young roster player makes sense. A move along the Romanov lines is fine. This draft seems pretty weak, so I'd even be open to moving it for next year's 1st if a deal like that is on the table.

The main point of restart is getting rid of Pageau and Lee, and not signing anyone to stupid deals. Offer TDA 2 years, Romanov and Dobson 4 years and take things from there. No need to panic and sign them to 7-8 year deals just because you can. It will cripple any wriggle room you have, and we can only hope they this is what the owners have started to realise. In order to build a winning team you need to be able to add and change along the way, not be stuck with the same team for the foreseeable future.

I'd also buy out Engvall and Mayfield if need be, and look for any takers on any of the other players on the roster. No one should be off limits really.

I think it could be smart to move on from pager and lee in the offseason so theres more of a fresh start to the camp . It might take a combination of retaining or taking back a player though .

if they're flirting with wildcard at 2026 trade deadline it would be harder to trade them but maybe we'll have a GM that is more open to that than Lou

 

[impaaaaaact]

Not sure I would make that trade. I would trade the 10th OA for a young NHL player - there are many RFAs out there that could possibly be had for the 10th

You guys are right that the 10th is probably a little too much. Still, wouldn’t mind it with a sweetener

 

[impaaaaaact]

I think it could be smart to move on from pager and lee in the offseason so theres more of a fresh start to the camp . It might take a combination of retaining or taking back a player though .

if they're flirting with wildcard at 2026 trade deadline it would be harder to trade them but maybe we'll have a GM that is more open to that than Lou

Agreed, and they probably will be if they’re around. Would really prefer them to be dealt now.

 

[YearlyLottery]

I think fairly regardless of the player they are getting in return I'd rather hold onto the first and actually pick somebody. Even if you were able to get a guy like Zegras who has not been good since 2022, why would we take a valuable asset and trade it for an asset that is plummeting in value?

Even if this first round pick ends up being a bust they will hold their value for 1-2 years minimum. Look at Reinhart for example.

- Move out Pageau.

- I would be fine holding onto Lee and making a decision at the deadline. If he is having another good season you may get a decent amount of value for a 25-30 goal scorer at the deadline.

- Let Palmieri walk if it is anything more than 2 years (Eiserman potential timeline)

- Would Isaac Howard sign an ELC if the Isles were willing to give him a true shot at a roster spot in training camp?

- This should be a 2-3 year timeline max (with this past season being year 1) of moving out from the offensive vets, keeping Barzal/Horvat, making the scouting department the strongest in the league, and grabbing as much value as you possibly can in all areas of the organization.

 

[Sparksrus3]

I think it could be smart to move on from pager and lee in the offseason so theres more of a fresh start to the camp . It might take a combination of retaining or taking back a player though .

if they're flirting with wildcard at 2026 trade deadline

 

[periferal]

Moving the 10th for a young roster player makes sense. A move along the Romanov lines is fine. This draft seems pretty weak, so I'd even be open to moving it for next year's 1st if a deal like that is on the table.

I'd only move #10 if it was part of a deal to get back a SPECIAL young player. If you can't get that then just stick and take best player available, or...Trade down and gather more picks in the much better 2026 draft.

Enough with trading 1sts for guys like Palmeri, Pageau, Romanov, or any other just OK player. That's a major reason why we're in this mess.

I want a GM who will go after Eichel, Rantanen, or Tkachuk when they are on the block. Real elite core players you can build around for years.

 

[seafoam]

I'd only move #10 if it was part of a deal to get back a SPECIAL young player. If you can't get that then just stick and take best player available, or...Trade down and gather more pick in the much better 2026 draft.

Enough with trading 1sts for guys like Palmeri, Pageau, Romanov, or any other just OK player. That's a major reason why we're in this mess.

I want a GM who will go after Eichel, Rantanen, or Tkachuk when they are on the block. Real elite core players you can build around for years.

The Islanders don't have anything appealing to those types of star players unfortunately.

The only way they acquire them is via the draft.

The Islanders...
- Are not an original six franchise
- They do not play in a major North American city
- The state they play in is one of the worst tax burden states in the country (time and time again has shown stars are willing to forego this negative to play in the the largest city in the US at a world famous arena which is also a global hub for everything under the sun)
- Their weather is not advantageous

 

[periferal]

The Islanders don't have anything appealing to those types of star players unfortunately.

The only way they acquire them is via the draft.

The Islanders...
- Are not an original six franchise
- They do not play in a major North American city
- The state they play in is one of the worst tax burden states in the country (time and time again has shown stars are willing to forego this negative to play in the the largest city in the US at a world famous arena which is also a global hub for everything under the sun)
- Their weather is not advantageous

Don't disagree with anything you said, but...That's even more of a reason to start holding on to (top) draft picks and using them.

Then you build a core with great players that want to stay, and if you do find yourself in another Tavares situation 9 years later (hopefully you're already won a Cup), but either way you trade that mutherf***er the moment he doesn't resign and use those assets to keep your team a Cup contender.

You draft players at 18. They become UFAs at 27. That's 9 years which is more than enough time to build a Cup contender if you do it right. And during that time I'd much rather have elite players who might leave, but get you closer to a Cup...Then average players who stay until they retire, but you're an average team the entire time.

 

[YearlyLottery]

I'd only move #10 if it was part of a deal to get back a SPECIAL young player. If you can't get that then just stick and take best player available, or...Trade down and gather more pick in the much better 2026 draft.

Enough with trading 1sts for guys like Palmeri, Pageau, Romanov, or any other just OK player. That's a major reason why we're in this mess.

I want a GM who will go after Eichel, Rantanen, or Tkachuk when they are on the block. Real elite core players you can build around for years.

There was a time and place for when Lou made the trades to acquire Pageau and Palmieri. That time is no more. Under no circumstances should that pick be traded for a player.

 

[Throttle]

There was a time and place for when Lou made the trades to acquire Pageau and Palmieri. That time is no more. Under no circumstances should that pick be traded for a player.

I’d like the Isles to keep their first this year and the two next year. Pick players, they need options and assets.

I agree on JGP - sorry bud, new GM needs to be business-like on this one and move him out for an asset this summer. Don’t wait until the deadline for a ‘better return’ - start making the moves now. Teams like OTT and Anaheim should be all over him.

JGP is only getting a first at next years deadline if he’s netted 17-20+ goals already, and that’s a long shot.

 

[Strickland]

Moving the 10th for a young roster player makes sense. A move along the Romanov lines is fine. This draft seems pretty weak, so I'd even be open to moving it for next year's 1st if a deal like that is on the table.

Damn, you folks never learn.

 

[Strickland]

Given the names that will likely be available, 10th in a weak draft for an NHL ready player who was just named the best player in his league isn’t horrific to me.

Insanity. Howard isn't some impressive prospect who's a guaranteed NHLer. He's a guy who had to transfer to MSU after a disappointing first collegiate season. To give ANY first round pick for him is madness. Sheer madness.

 

[Strickland]

Romanov and Dobson 4 years and take things from there. No need to panic and sign them to 7-8 year deals just because you can. It will cripple any wriggle room you have, and we can only hope they this is what the owners have started to realise. In order to build a winning team you need to be able to add and change along the way, not be stuck with the same team for the foreseeable future.

Romanov and Dobson aren't signing bridge deals. They have no reason to. It's either a long term deal this summer for each, or they go to arb and get their long term deals next summer. As UFAs.

EDIT: Romanov not a UFA until 2027. Not 2026. But still, he's not signing a bridge deal

 

[Tahoeblue]

Don't disagree with anything you said, but...That's even more of a reason to start holding on to (top) draft picks and using them.

Then you build a core with great players that want to stay, and if you do find yourself in another Tavares situation 9 years later (hopefully you're already won a Cup), but either way you trade that mutherf***er the moment he doesn't resign and use those assets to keep your team a Cup contender.

You draft players at 18. They become UFAs at 27. That's 9 years which is more than enough time to build a Cup contender if you do it right. And during that time I'd much rather have elite players who might leave, but get you closer to a Cup...Then average players who stay until they retire, but you're an average team the entire time.

Well said!

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

What is a new management group not likely to do:
- Come in and move out the team captain
- Come in and trade the team's 1st rounder
- Come in and re-sign the fringe UFAs
- Come in and keep all the current contracts

What seems fairly likely is that the new management group will make a number of personnel changes (placing its stamp on the team) while not overhauling the core and on-ice leadership group (which would risk a certain level of instability).

In addition, I think they'll know that what they're not here to do is to run things according to the same gameplan and modi operandi seen from Lamoriello.

For better or worse, I think we're guaranteed a different approach.

 

[saintunspecified]

Insanity. Howard isn't some impressive prospect who's a guaranteed NHLer. He's a guy who had to transfer to MSU after a disappointing first collegiate season. To give ANY first round pick for him is madness. Sheer madness.

There are other pieces that can be involved in a deal.

What I'm unclear about is what's said about him. Because, to me, Howard looked better than 31st overall in that draft. And then he had the loud suit thing, and looked a bit like a joker at the draft, etc. While he struggled in his first stop, he definitely grew after that. If it was about maturity (mental and/or physical), and he matured the last couple of years... well, I would make a bet on Howard. I like his hockey sense, and I think his skills are adaptable, and projectable.

If, on the other hand, this dust up with Tampa is evidence of lingering immaturity, I think twice.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Howard is a play carrier. But I think there are very few play carriers in this draft, and I easily come up with scenarios where NYI have no chance to draft one.

 

[Strickland]

There are other pieces that can be involved in a deal.

What I'm unclear about is what's said about him. Because, to me, Howard looked better than 31st overall in that draft. And then he had the loud suit thing, and looked a bit like a joker at the draft, etc. While he struggled in his first stop, he definitely grew after that. If it was about maturity (mental and/or physical), and he matured the last couple of years... well, I would make a bet on Howard. I like his hockey sense, and I think his skills are adaptable, and projectable.

If, on the other hand, this dust up with Tampa is evidence of lingering immaturity, I think twice.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Howard is a play carrier. But I think there are very few play carriers in this draft, and I easily come up with scenarios where NYI have no chance to draft one.

he's eligible for UFA next summer. Why are you trading the 10th overall for a guy who seems like he wants to pick his spot? even Fox, who told everyone it was Rangers or bust, didn't get a first round pick in return.

It's an absurd suggestion and one that'll never happen.

And also shows a lack of understanding both about the nature of Howard as a prospect and who might be available for the Isles at 10.

 

[SI90]

Thank god

 

[saintunspecified]

he's eligible for UFA next summer. Why are you trading the 10th overall for a guy who seems like he wants to pick his spot? even Fox, who told everyone it was Rangers or bust, didn't get a first round pick in return.

It's an absurd suggestion and one that'll never happen.

And also shows a lack of understanding both about the nature of Howard as a prospect and who might be available for the Isles at 10.

I don't think you should be commenting on absurdity or lack of understanding when you fail to acknowledge the first sentence you quoted, "There are other pieces that can be involved in a deal."

If you don't care about the point that there are no play drivers that seem likely to be available at 10/11 when NYI will likely pick, please feel free not to reply. But the import is that I'm not at all sure that there's a significant difference between 10th and 20th, or even 25th overall in this draft.

There are only two types of deals that could apply to Howard, anyway. One is conditional on his signing. Another swaps him with another unsigned asset. Say, like Quinn Finley.

 

[periferal]

Thank god

Again...

Not happy people lost their jobs, but an overhaul of this franchise is needed, and these are two pieces in that overhaul.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Assuming we take Schaefer, we have a bit of a logjam at LHD.

Schaefer
Romanov
Pelech
Perunovich
Reilly
George
Pulkinnen
Odelius
Bolduc

Reilly is the only one of those players who is a UFA. Is it wrong to think the second most likely player not to be back is Romanov? He's the highest value player, and needs a new contract.

 

[seafoam]

Assuming we take Schaefer, we have a bit of a logjam at LHD.

Schaefer
Romanov
Pelech
Perunovich
Reilly
George
Pulkinnen
Odelius
Bolduc

Reilly is the only one of those players who is a UFA. Is it wrong to think the second most likely player not to be back is Romanov? He's the highest value player, and needs a new contract.

Is this sarcasm?

 

[impaaaaaact]

Is this sarcasm?

Uh... no? We all know you want Misa because you posted it like 15 times yesterday, but they're more than likely going BPA. He's a top 4 LHD, but I wouldn't exactly consider him an untouchable core piece.

With the entire board (including you) calling for more offensive help the entire year and a projected number one defenseman entering the organization, doesn't it make sense to explore a possible return for Romanov before you sign him to a long term deal?

 

[Strummergas]

Uh... no? We all know you want Misa because you posted it like 15 times yesterday, but they're more than likely going BPA. He's a top 4 LHD, but I wouldn't exactly consider him an untouchable core piece.

With the entire board (including you) calling for more offensive help the entire year and a projected number one defenseman entering the organization, doesn't it make sense to explore a possible return for Romanov before you sign him to a long term deal?

Exploring is fine, but I think it's much more likely they just let Bolduc go unqualified than it is that they trade Romanov.