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

[Chardo]

While I would not LOVE trading Dobson + for the third overall pick I do think giving Dobson an 8 year $8 million dollar deal is even worse.

If you were drafting today, and there's an NHL-ready defenseman who will definitely score 10+ goals, and can also give you 60 assists, and has shown some defensive skill that could improve, and is 6 foot 4 and shoots right, would you draft him at #3?

Of course you would.

Dobson is going nowhere. Teams try every day to acquire a player like that. When they have them, they keep them, even overpay them. That's just how it goes. If the new GM ultimately determines that Dobson won't sign, and decides to trade him, Isles won't be the ones adding. 30 teams will be calling with their own 1st plus.

 

[Thrasymachus]

I’ve watched whatever YouTube footage is available on all 3 of these prospects since we won the draft. Further, Hagens was the consensus number one in this draft until very recently, and is still the highest rated center. We are going to need a center to play with Eiserman that has the same or similar competition window. Hagens fits that bill.

Now I have watched enough gameplay of Noah Dobson to know that he is not worth 8 million dollars a year, nor does his prime fit the current window of this team. I would trade him in a package for 3 OA regardless of who’s available at that time, because this team’s window is not going to reopen for another 3 years at a minimum.

Misa is rated higher by most scouts.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

We pretty much will, which is exactly what happens when your GM locks up a bunch of middling players on 8 year deals and perennially tries to “win now” by mortgaging the future and not developing talent.

Haha. Classic.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Agreed, but there's still eventually going to be a log jam if you're expecting one of Pulkinnen/Odelius to eventually make the NHL and George already showing that he's capable. If you sign Romanov (and can't move Pelech), there's no spot for either.

By trading Romanov you can either grab a pick/prospect that might come into their prime with Schaefer/Eiserman/Ritchie/Nelson/next year's two picks (and clear 6M-ish off the books). Or you can get top 6 help now, as that will be the biggest weakness in our prospect pool assuming Schaefer is drafted.

You act like Pelech is going to play a full season, lol.

 

[miscs75]

You act like Pulock is going to play a full season, lol.

He most certainly will. There might be some times that he takes off during the season but ultimately after his usual 10-15 game vacation (it was only 8 games last season), he’ll be there in the end.

 

[LeapOnOver]

He most certainly will. There might be some times that he takes off during the season but ultimately after his usual 10-15 game vacation (it was only 8 games last season), he’ll be there in the end.

We were talking about LD and Pelech. I typed Pulock and edited it immediately but somehow you still got the reply in.

 

[miscs75]

We were talking about LD and Pelech. I typed Pulock and edited it immediately but somehow you still got the reply in.

Pulock has had injury issues but Pelech definitely can’t finish the season unless he plays more sheltered minutes. He just puts his body on the line and it’s being held together by cheap brand duct tape and rusted screws.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Mentioned this in the other thread but assuming we take Schaefer with the first overall, that player will not hit his prime for probably 4 seasons. Not saying he won't be in the NHL before then, but that's about how long it took players like Makar, Hughes and Dahlin to start becoming a major factor in games. Ideally, you'll want to make sure your team is as strong as possible at that time.

That's not to say the team needs to go into a complete rebuild, but I do think step one would be completely punting next season as much as possible. We've already started this process by getting a great return for Nelson. Now you need to trade Pageau and Lee and recoup picks/prospects for them that will fortify the team during their contention window, which will likely coincide with us having a true #1 defenseman and a true #1 goalie.

If Nelson, Lee and Palmieri are gone next season, that will be 3 or our 4 top scorers on a team with a scoring problem. We will be terrible - and that's a good thing. The 2026 draft is loaded - and while I doubt we win the lottery 2 years straight, you still want a shot at Stenberg or Roobroeck or Verhoeff or another one of the top picks.

If you do this right, you end up with a core prospect core Schaefer, Our 2026 first, Eiserman, Ritchie, Colorado's 2026 first, Nelson, Pulkinnen, and the returns for Lee and Pageau that will all hit the NHL while Barzal, Sorokin, Dobson, Romanov, Holmstrom and maybe Horvat are veterans but not yet in decline. And you've done it with only one truly bad season.

It's the best possible scenario for us. You need another elite talent to pair with Schaefer, and can hopefully find another in FA in 2026. Next year should be a punt, but things should immediately start to look brighter after that

 

[Lame Lambert]

Misa is rated higher by most scouts.

From what I’ve been reading it’s questionable whether he stays at center in the NHL or moves back to wing. My point on SJ stands regardless: you don’t take Misa over Schaefer at 1OA, and SJ won’t move 2OA, so there’s little reason to even discuss Misa in this scenario.

 

[Lame Lambert]

Haha. Classic.

Yeah I’m wrong with our consistent bottom quartile farm system. Continue to stick your head in the sand and deny.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Yeah I’m wrong with our consistent bottom quartile farm system. Continue to stick your head in the sand and deny.

What exactly am I asserting that would necessitate denying?

 

[periferal]

If you were drafting today, and there's an NHL-ready defenseman who will definitely score 10+ goals, and can also give you 60 assists, and has shown some defensive skill that could improve, and is 6 foot 4 and shoots right, would you draft him at #3?

Of course you would.

Dobson is going nowhere. Teams try every day to acquire a player like that. When they have them, they keep them, even overpay them. That's just how it goes. If the new GM ultimately determines that Dobson won't sign, and decides to trade him, Isles won't be the ones adding. 30 teams will be calling with their own 1st plus.

Great post. I am such a young talent/draft guy, but sometimes the thing you want is staring you right in the face. Dobson hasn't played well and has still proven he can be a 70 point defenseman in the NHL...And he's still only 25. He could be doing this for another decade.

With a new regime, and probably new coach(es), his game could round out very nicely. At minimum he's a very capable 2nd line defenseman on a team that is going to need more defense very soon when both Pelech and Pulock's game fall off a cliff...And Mayfield just continues being himself.

 

[periferal]

While I would not LOVE trading Dobson + for the third overall pick I do think giving Dobson an 8 year $8 million dollar deal is even worse.

So what you're saying is you can't win and will be very disappointed one way or the other very soon.

 

[SRBisles]

Need a wellness check on @periferal immediately

 

[xECK29x]

oh boy

 

[Glorydays22]

Great post. I am such a young talent/draft guy, but sometimes the thing you want is staring you right in the face. Dobson hasn't played well and has still proven he can be a 70 point defenseman in the NHL...And he's still only 25. He could be doing this for another decade.

With a new regime, and probably new coach(es), his game could round out very nicely. At minimum he's a very capable 2nd line defenseman on a team that is going to need more defense very soon when both Pelech and Pulock's game fall off a cliff...And Mayfield just continues being himself.

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Need a wellness check on @periferal immediately

Hahaha you gotta be kidding me. Honestly, that’s some clown show stuff. Can’t get the guys we want so let’s go back to the old guy

 

[impaaaaaact]

Need a wellness check on @periferal immediately

Am I the only person that doesn't mind this as long as he's not the decision maker? Who better to guide a transition to a first time GM? If this is what gets us a Darche then I'm not opposed

 

[Strummergas]

Hahaha you gotta be kidding me. Honestly, that’s some clown show stuff. Can’t get the guys we want so let’s go back to the old guy

Staple, Botta, and the like are clearly spit-balling for clicks and likes. Don't get bent out of shape until it's confirmed by the team.

 

[SRBisles]

Am I the only person that doesn't mind this as long as he's not the decision maker? Who better to guide a transition to a first time GM? If this is what gets us a Darche then I'm not opposed

It depends how much say he has in hockey decisions. Lou isn’t exactly the type to give up autonomy. Last time a team tried to kick him upstairs he bolted to us to be the guy again.

 

[Glorydays22]

Wonder if ownership it holding out to talk to front office people in Dallas and/or Carolina.

 

[impaaaaaact]

It depends how much say he has in hockey decisions. Lou isn’t exactly the type to give up autonomy. Last time a team tried to kick him upstairs he bolted to us to be the guy again.

I'm starting to wonder if Collins stays on as POHO (he does have league office experience), Lou is an advisor, and they bring on a first time GM. I bet they can sell that to Malkin, who probably doesn't want to trust the franchise to a rookie

 

[YearlyLottery]

If you were drafting today, and there's an NHL-ready defenseman who will definitely score 10+ goals, and can also give you 60 assists, and has shown some defensive skill that could improve, and is 6 foot 4 and shoots right, would you draft him at #3?

Of course you would.

Dobson is going nowhere. Teams try every day to acquire a player like that. When they have them, they keep them, even overpay them. That's just how it goes. If the new GM ultimately determines that Dobson won't sign, and decides to trade him, Isles won't be the ones adding. 30 teams will be calling with their own 1st plus.

Yes but the bold is not the situation. Is "some" defensive skill as you put it enough to warrant an 8 year $8 million dollar deal? Dobson has scored above 52 points once in his career. I would not call that a 60 point defenseman.

I also stated however that even I would not be willing to trade Dobson for the number three pick. His value IS higher than that.

So what you're saying is you can't win and will be very disappointed one way or the other very soon.

I'm saying the following:

-Dobson is not worth top pairing money when after 388 NHL games we have not seen a successful playoff round from him. I mean you want to give this guy major money a for what? One elite season?

- He is worth more than the third overall pick. If the new GM trades him for essentially Hagens I would not be happy.

These are not the only two scenarios that could take place though. So no, I do not believe I will 100% be disappointed either way. That being said I will be disappointed in what I believe is the wrong move.

 

[doublechili]

Wonder if ownership it holding out to talk to front office people in Dallas and/or Carolina.

Or Washington.

 

[NC 1972]

If you were drafting today, and there's an NHL-ready defenseman who will definitely score 10+ goals, and can also give you 60 assists, and has shown some defensive skill that could improve, and is 6 foot 4 and shoots right, would you draft him at #3?

Of course you would.

Dobson is going nowhere. Teams try every day to acquire a player like that. When they have them, they keep them, even overpay them. That's just how it goes. If the new GM ultimately determines that Dobson won't sign, and decides to trade him, Isles won't be the ones adding. 30 teams will be calling with their own 1st plus.

Exactly