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

[YearlyLottery]

No team tears it down in 1 off season and fields Lou Brown’s Cleveland Indians.

At this point I’d target as trade bait our guys who will be on the wrong side of 30 in 3 years. And yes that includes Barzal because the return for him can really kick start this team back to being competitive.

I'm not sure... 35 seems like the new 30 in today's league. We continue to see career seasons from players well into their 30's.

Don’t really see Barzal slowing down too much in his 30’s.

Sure he is frustrating as hell, but he still creates offense on a team that needs offense.

I wouldn’t mind seeing him go back to center.

Horvat/Barzal/Pageau/Cizikas or MacLean down the middle (I’m down to trade Cizikas anytime).

Trade Pageau at the deadline and promote Ritchie after starting in the minors.

He plays his best hockey at center. I would like to trade Pageau this offseason though (unless they think holding on until the deadline will result in a good draft pick). That being said, whether it is a buyer or sellers market always depends on the year. Makes it even more infuriating that Lou did not trade him or Palmieri.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

They aren't burning it all down and trading Barzal, Dobson, Romanov, Holmstrom, Horvat and Sorokin. It just isn't going to happen- so talking about it is quite silly.

A more realistic and obvious direction is to get younger and try and build around these guys, and the only reason I add two 30 year old's into that argument (Bo and Ilya, the later who turns 30 before the season starts) is because one is all but untradeable and the other is still relatively young for a netminder.

No, what needs to happen is find a way to rid the "other" contracts on the team, specifically Engvall, Duclair, Pageau and Lee among the forwards and Pulock, Pelech and Mayfield on the back end. No need to bring back Palms either- especially since it is likely means a 2 to 4 year commitment with him averaging 27 goals and 50+ points and playing every game the last two seasons. Im just not doing that with someone who will turn 35 mid way through next season....period.

Sure, get what assets you can and DO NOT trade one of your two first rounders for the next Draft and at the midseason trade deadline is when you can look to sell off anything else you might want to, like Lee if in fact you don't entertain moving him this offseason (also doubtful).

 

[Thrasymachus]

No team tears it down in 1 off season and fields Lou Brown’s Cleveland Indians.

You never go full Buffalo Sabres

 

[doublechili]

Hypothetical question: say the Isles win the lottery again next year. Then the following year they finish with the worst record in the league. If they "win" the lottery, do they re-do it until another team wins because the Isles can't win a third time? Or can you just not move up more than 2 times?

 

[miscs75]

Hypothetical question: say the Isles win the lottery again next year. Then the following year they finish with the worst record in the league. If they "win" the lottery, do they re-do it until another team wins because the Isles can't win a third time? Or can you just not move up more than 2 times?

The third year I’d think they would be skipped and just stay locked in whatever spot they have at years end.

 

[MJF]

You never go full Buffalo Sabres

Won’t happen. We don’t have the ownership problem the Sabres have.

 

[seabass45]

Hypothetical question: say the Isles win the lottery again next year. Then the following year they finish with the worst record in the league. If they "win" the lottery, do they re-do it until another team wins because the Isles can't win a third time? Or can you just not move up more than 2 times?

Looking for a good explanation for this and I can’t find anything aside from a reddit thread claiming that it’s specifically about moving up, not wins. So if we were last and ended up winning again, it wouldn’t count as the second time.

Would be nice to have a better source than reddit to confirm though.

 

[doublechili]

Looking for a good explanation for this and I can’t find anything aside from a reddit thread claiming that it’s specifically about moving up, not wins. So if we were last and ended up winning again, it wouldn’t count as the second time.

Would be nice to have a better source than reddit to confirm though.

Thanks - I put it out on the NHL forum to see if anyone can provide more info.

 

[seabass45]

Thanks - I put it out on the NHL forum to see if anyone can provide more info.

I see we have confirmation. Interesting, I could have sworn that there was also a restriction on number of times you could pick first (due to that run Edmonton had) but I guess they probably feel that reducing the odds of the worst team getting #1 is enough.

 

[mm11]

I'm not sure... 35 seems like the new 30 in today's league. We continue to see career seasons from players well into their 30's.





He plays his best hockey at center. I would like to trade Pageau this offseason though (unless they think holding on until the deadline will result in a good draft pick). That being said, whether it is a buyer or sellers market always depends on the year. Makes it even more infuriating that Lou did not trade him or Palmieri.

Seemed to have the injuries occur last 2 years playing wing as well

 

[Strickland]

They aren't burning it all down and trading Barzal, Dobson, Romanov, Holmstrom, Horvat and Sorokin. It just isn't going to happen- so talking about it is quite silly.

A more realistic and obvious direction is to get younger and try and build around these guys, and the only reason I add two 30 year old's into that argument (Bo and Ilya, the later who turns 30 before the season starts) is because one is all but untradeable and the other is still relatively young for a netminder.

No, what needs to happen is find a way to rid the "other" contracts on the team, specifically Engvall, Duclair, Pageau and Lee among the forwards and Pulock, Pelech and Mayfield on the back end. No need to bring back Palms either- especially since it is likely means a 2 to 4 year commitment with him averaging 27 goals and 50+ points and playing every game the last two seasons. Im just not doing that with someone who will turn 35 mid way through next season....period.

Sure, get what assets you can and DO NOT trade one of your two first rounders for the next Draft and at the midseason trade deadline is when you can look to sell off anything else you might want to, like Lee if in fact you don't entertain moving him this offseason (also doubtful).

The problem with trading the "other" contracts on the team is that each and every one of them has some measure of trade protection. Most full on NTCs. And that's the ones you can actually trade. Some of them you could put on waivers and no other team is touching them (Engvall, Mayfield, Duclair).

Of that first group you say the Isles aren't trading, only half have NTCs. Those three are all RFAs this summer, meaning they're due sizable raises. Some of them are probably seeking long term deals with, you guessed it, NTCs.

In the end, what you deem as "silly" is really the only way forward for this team. Maybe you can get one or to of the Pelech's and Pulock's and Horvat's to waive, but that's hard to predict.

But make no mistake, trying to retool around that first group, and i agree that's what they're likely to do, will only end in this team spinning its wheels for years to come. It's delaying the rebuild that this team needs, pushing the pain back and ultimately, making it worse.

 

[Osakahaus]

Ehlers watch begins now

btw, this stars series cements the bigger need for Matthew Schaeffer for the Islanders and keeping Noah Dobson to an extent

 

[scott99]

Ehlers watch begins now

btw, this stars series cements the bigger need for Matthew Schaeffer for the Islanders and keeping Noah Dobson to an extent

Would LOVE to add Ehlers. He would add speed and talent to the forward group. Not a GREAT player, but he’s very good, surpassed 20+ goals 8 times in his career, but has never reached 65 points in a season. Averages 0.77 points per game and 63 points per 82 games played. Worth going after.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

The problem with trading the "other" contracts on the team is that each and every one of them has some measure of trade protection. Most full on NTCs. And that's the ones you can actually trade. Some of them you could put on waivers and no other team is touching them (Engvall, Mayfield, Duclair).

Of that first group you say the Isles aren't trading, only half have NTCs. Those three are all RFAs this summer, meaning they're due sizable raises. Some of them are probably seeking long term deals with, you guessed it, NTCs.

In the end, what you deem as "silly" is really the only way forward for this team. Maybe you can get one or to of the Pelech's and Pulock's and Horvat's to waive, but that's hard to predict.

But make no mistake, trying to retool around that first group, and i agree that's what they're likely to do, will only end in this team spinning its wheels for years to come. It's delaying the rebuild that this team needs, pushing the pain back and ultimately, making it worse.

By "silly" I mean it is so highly unlikely that there seems no reason to really entertain it; and I 100% agree that most of the other contracts will be hard to move, which is why I said "try" to get rid of.

Basically, it is incorporating reality (what they are likely to do) and combining it with options of what they should also do (with also some realism in it).

1) Rid (buyout or whatever) the contracts of Engvall, Duclair and Mayfield (at least two of them)
2) Trade Lee and/or Pageau ASAP (both with modified NTC's and final years on their contract)- NO LATER THAN 2025 trade deadline
3) Trade Pelech (modified NTC) or Pulock (NTC- would need his approval and it would likely need to be in a "hockey trade")
4) Do not re-sign "will be 35 years old at mid-season" Palmieri....PERIOD

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

1) Draft BPA with #1 overall pick in 2025 Draft (Schaefer and Misa are the only ones I remotely support)
2) DO NOT trade either first round picks in the 2026 Draft (look to add one if possible and get higher, also if possible)
3) Look to KEEP all three of Dobson, Romanov and Holmstrom
4) NO LONG TERM DEALS IN FA (more than 2 years) with anyone over 30- ADD YOUTH AND YOUNG TALENT

I do NOT agree with your prognosis with the re-signing the RFA's- of course you try to not overpay, but the goal is still to TRY AND KEEP THEM. Holmstrom has improved each season thus far, I still think Romanov is a top four defenseman and I can say the same thing about Dobson, who I still think better resembles the 2023 Noah and not last season's Noah.

It is not the same "spinning the wheels" IMO when you are committing to young players as it is with signing mediocre veterans to long term deals, which is what Lou did that ultimately sank this current ship.

As much as I would at least entertain deals for Barzal and Horvat- I dont see either as realistic so I dont even mention it and moving Dobson seems almost as equally unlikely and I still lean on that being a risky endeavor (getting something better in return).

No, in all honesty- even if they overpay a little with their YOUNG RFA's- as long as they succeed with the REALISTIC eight things I number above, I would almost assuredly be happy with the end result and our franchise for the first time in a long time would be headed in the right direction....

 

[LeapOnOver]

This season was brutal to watch. I am someone who usually watches 70+ games and I do not even think I watched 50 games this season actually being invested. They need to make major changes to the organization and major roster changes.

I am more hopeful than some of you in the aspect of I do not believe they need to tear it down. But after winning the lottery if they decide to fast track a rebuild and get a top pick next year I am open to it. I just do not see how it happens with Sorokin, Barzal, Horvat, and Dobson.

I watch 99,9% of games. In fact, I think i missed as much this season as I have the last five years combined. Just got too boring and painful to watch.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Would LOVE to add Ehlers. He would add speed and talent to the forward group. Not a GREAT player, but he’s very good, surpassed 20+ goals 8 times in his career, but has never reached 65 points in a season. Averages 0.77 points per game and 63 points per 82 games played. Worth going after.

About to turn 30 and probably gonna sign until 37. Not sure that's the right kind of player to be chasing right now.

 

[seafoam]

About to turn 30 and probably gonna sign until 37. Not sure that's the right kind of player to be chasing right now.

I’d rather break the bank for Marner than Ehlers.

 

[Thrasymachus]

Ehlers watch begins now

btw, this stars series cements the bigger need for Matthew Schaeffer for the Islanders and keeping Noah Dobson to an extent

Heiskanen was a huge x factor for the stars, no doubt

 

[Thrasymachus]

I’d rather break the bank for Marner than Ehlers.

I kind of want to continue the trend started by Chara and bring back JT. Would lift the curse, mend the wound, so to speak.

OFC that is highly unlikely. But imagine if JT is waking up every night with nightmares for leaving the island, and takes a sweetheart deal to return?

A guy can dream xD

 

[seafoam]

I kind of want to continue the trend started by Chara and bring back JT. Would lift the curse, mend the wound, so to speak.

OFC that is highly unlikely. But imagine if JT is waking up every night with nightmares for leaving the island, and takes a sweetheart deal to return?

A guy can dream xD

I can't imagine his wife wants to return to LI.

 

[Thrasymachus]

I can't imagine his wife wants to return to LI.

Yeah he is back to toronto in all likelyhood.

 

[Strickland]

By "silly" I mean it is so highly unlikely that there seems no reason to really entertain it; and I 100% agree that most of the other contracts will be hard to move, which is why I said "try" to get rid of.

Basically, it is incorporating reality (what they are likely to do) and combining it with options of what they should also do (with also some realism in it).

1) Rid (buyout or whatever) the contracts of Engvall, Duclair and Mayfield (at least two of them)
2) Trade Lee and/or Pageau ASAP (both with modified NTC's and final years on their contract)- NO LATER THAN 2025 trade deadline
3) Trade Pelech (modified NTC) or Pulock (NTC- would need his approval and it would likely need to be in a "hockey trade")
4) Do not re-sign "will be 35 years old at mid-season" Palmieri....PERIOD

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

1) Draft BPA with #1 overall pick in 2025 Draft (Schaefer and Misa are the only ones I remotely support)
2) DO NOT trade either first round picks in the 2026 Draft (look to add one if possible and get higher, also if possible)
3) Look to KEEP all three of Dobson, Romanov and Holmstrom
4) NO LONG TERM DEALS IN FA (more than 2 years) with anyone over 30- ADD YOUTH AND YOUNG TALENT

I do NOT agree with your prognosis with the re-signing the RFA's- of course you try to not overpay, but the goal is still to TRY AND KEEP THEM. Holmstrom has improved each season thus far, I still think Romanov is a top four defenseman and I can say the same thing about Dobson, who I still think better resembles the 2023 Noah and not last season's Noah.

It is not the same "spinning the wheels" IMO when you are committing to young players as it is with signing mediocre veterans to long term deals, which is what Lou did that ultimately sank this current ship.

As much as I would at least entertain deals for Barzal and Horvat- I dont see either as realistic so I dont even mention it and moving Dobson seems almost as equally unlikely and I still lean on that being a risky endeavor (getting something better in return).

No, in all honesty- even if they overpay a little with their YOUNG RFA's- as long as they succeed with the REALISTIC eight things I number above, I would almost assuredly be happy with the end result and our franchise for the first time in a long time would be headed in the right direction....

If you're gonna overpay, even a little for your RFAs, then you basically have no cap space this summer. Which is fine, you're not getting any UFAs to sign here. But you'd be really tight against the cap if you wanted to absorb money in a trade to get some more young assets.

They have like $28 million of cap space, but those top 3 RFAs (Dobson, Romanov, Holmstrom) alone are gonna account for ~$20 of that space. And then there's Tsyplakov, the rumored Palms extension and Boqvist/Perunovich.

I think they should move one of the RFAs (probably Romanov) this summer, no matter what the plan is. Unless they can get one or two of the NTC brigade to waive. Then they're good. I just don't see that happening.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

If you're gonna overpay, even a little for your RFAs, then you basically have no cap space this summer. Which is fine, you're not getting any UFAs to sign here. But you'd be really tight against the cap if you wanted to absorb money in a trade to get some more young assets.

They have like $28 million of cap space, but those top 3 RFAs (Dobson, Romanov, Holmstrom) alone are gonna account for ~$20 of that space. And then there's Tsyplakov, the rumored Palms extension and Boqvist/Perunovich.

I think they should move one of the RFAs (probably Romanov) this summer, no matter what the plan is. Unless they can get one or two of the NTC brigade to waive. Then they're good. I just don't see that happening.

Um, no.

1) There is absolutely no sense in bringing back soon to be 35-year old Palms. None, whatsoever. That was another Lou inspired brainfart (they should have moved him) and he is gone, so let's not stink up the room again

2) I clearly stated that they need to rid themselves of 2 if not all 3 of Engvall, Duclair and Mayfield's contracts. Even buying 2 of them out would save over 4.5 million on cap (I chose Anthony and Scott ONLY because of their full NTC's that make it harder to move them). I don't like the $2.3 million cap hit for the next 6 years (and $1.2 million for the next 4 after that) but I can live with it.

3) I clearly stated that we need to try and move Lee or Pageau and their expiring deals. This should not be too hard since they still have value and the more likely of the two would be JGP, saving us another $5 million.

4) No, I dont think Dobson, Romanov and Holmstrom (I am assuming you are saying 10-6-4) are costing 20 million- that is high end and I dont think ultimately that is where they wind up. 18 combined is a safer bet and the 3-4 others (Tsyplakov, Boqvist, Perunovich, Gatcomb) probably gets that to 22-24 million tops.

5) But, if you are able to move JGP, buyout 2 of the 3 I mentioned above (and bury the other), you will have $40 million in cap space before signing your RFA's. That of course goes to 16 is the RFA's are all signed (and I still think even that is on the high end, because I see many of them taking shorter deals)

6) A hopeful healthy Varlamov will have your 1-2 punch at goalie, which is still WAY BETTER than most teams have going into a season- and that alone "could/should" make you competitive for 2025-26

7) Your forward group is a healthy Barzal, Horvat, Lee (at least until the deadline), Holmstrom, Tsyplakov, Cizikas, Gatcomb and MacLean (8) and your blueline is Dobson, Romanov, Pelech, Pulock, Boqvist (probably) (5) and with the (2) goalies and I would assume (3) minimum paid guys (George, Ritchie, Peruno, etc or someone currently not on the roster- two of them being forwards and 1 defenseman likely) for a total of 18 guys and some 15 million to play with

8) 15 million is not a lot when you need at least one more puck moving defenseman (Riley or whomever) and at least 2 decent forwards (and probably 3-4 total)- but it isn't impossible either. This is also where a Pelech/Pulock "hockey trade" comes into play

Bottom line is as long as you keep your 3 first round picks the next two seasons (and look to add to that by trading Lee/JGP), don't sign Kyle or give any other really bad contracts to aging guys....then you are making the right moves.

Realistic and rather simple actually....

 

[Strickland]

Um, no.

1) There is absolutely no sense in bringing back soon to be 35-year old Palms. None, whatsoever. That was another Lou inspired brainfart (they should have moved him) and he is gone, so let's not stink up the room again

2) I clearly stated that they need to rid themselves of 2 if not all 3 of Engvall, Duclair and Mayfield's contracts. Even buying 2 of them out would save over 4.5 million on cap (I chose Anthony and Scott ONLY because of their full NTC's that make it harder to move them). I don't like the $2.3 million cap hit for the next 6 years (and $1.2 million for the next 4 after that) but I can live with it.

3) I clearly stated that we need to try and move Lee or Pageau and their expiring deals. This should not be too hard since they still have value and the more likely of the two would be JGP, saving us another $5 million.

4) No, I dont think Dobson, Romanov and Holmstrom (I am assuming you are saying 10-6-4) are costing 20 million- that is high end and I dont think ultimately that is where they wind up. 18 combined is a safer bet and the 3-4 others (Tsyplakov, Boqvist, Perunovich, Gatcomb) probably gets that to 22-24 million tops.

5) But, if you are able to move JGP, buyout 2 of the 3 I mentioned above (and bury the other), you will have $40 million in cap space before signing your RFA's. That of course goes to 16 is the RFA's are all signed (and I still think even that is on the high end, because I see many of them taking shorter deals)

6) A hopeful healthy Varlamov will have your 1-2 punch at goalie, which is still WAY BETTER than most teams have going into a season- and that alone "could/should" make you competitive for 2025-26

7) Your forward group is a healthy Barzal, Horvat, Lee (at least until the deadline), Holmstrom, Tsyplakov, Cizikas, Gatcomb and MacLean (8) and your blueline is Dobson, Romanov, Pelech, Pulock, Boqvist (probably) (5) and with the (2) goalies and I would assume (3) minimum paid guys (George, Ritchie, Peruno, etc or someone currently not on the roster- two of them being forwards and 1 defenseman likely) for a total of 18 guys and some 15 million to play with

8) 15 million is not a lot when you need at least one more puck moving defenseman (Riley or whomever) and at least 2 decent forwards (and probably 3-4 total)- but it isn't impossible either. This is also where a Pelech/Pulock "hockey trade" comes into play

Bottom line is as long as you keep your 3 first round picks the next two seasons (and look to add to that by trading Lee/JGP), don't sign Kyle or give any other really bad contracts to aging guys....then you are making the right moves.

Realistic and rather simple actually....

A lot of this is just flat out the wrong approach.

1) Agreed on Palms.

2) Moving any of those three is functionally impossible. To do so would mean attaching very valuable assets to the players to get other teams to take them. Isles can't be doing that. Buying them out is also absurd, imo. Having Mayfield's cap hit on the books for a decade, not in a compliance buy out but in one that means these will effect how the team spends for the next decade is wrong. At least now. Every year you hold onto these three is a year closer to the end of the deal (Duclair) and two years less on an eventual buyout (Engvall and Mayfield). The Isles are gonna stink no matter what next year, there's no reason to buy these guys out now.

3) You also can't move Lee and Pageau this summer. They have NTCs and the market for them is gonna be pretty thin. They're both prime deadline deals, though. That's when they can and probably will be dealt.

4) The little " ` " means "around". The trio of Dobson/Romanov/Holmstrom are gonna eat up around $20 million. You said $18 million. Close enough.

5) You're doing all this to create an extra $12 million in cap space. For what? For who? Trading JGP means you're pushing Barzal back to center (fine) but weakening Horvat's line. He can't drive play by himself and short of Marner, no one in the UFA market is gonna be able to do it.

6) Varly hasn't been healthy in years. No one, fans or the team, should count on the 36 year old goalie staying healthy.

7) So you're running back the same dismal team as last year. But this time it'll be different? They can have high numbers again? Power of the beard? That team you've built (rather, Lou built) STINKS. It sucks. It's gonna finish with the 11th overall pick again. And to what end?

8) And you concede that the money you're freeing up isn't gonna help much. Well, at least you can see the truth.

You're basically in favor of doing nothing and hoping things work out? Here's a spoiler, from the last 4 years of Isles hockey: IT WON'T

The team stinks. It's going nowhere, even with the first overall pick. And instead of looking at this pick as a blessing and an opportunity to jumpstart a rebuild, we get...nothing at all, actually. Just another turn of the hamster wheel. Another year of nothing. Islanders hockey. Catch the fever!

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

A lot of this is just flat out the wrong approach.

1) Agreed on Palms.

2) Moving any of those three is functionally impossible. To do so would mean attaching very valuable assets to the players to get other teams to take them. Isles can't be doing that. Buying them out is also absurd, imo. Having Mayfield's cap hit on the books for a decade, not in a compliance buy out but in one that means these will effect how the team spends for the next decade is wrong. At least now. Every year you hold onto these three is a year closer to the end of the deal (Duclair) and two years less on an eventual buyout (Engvall and Mayfield). The Isles are gonna stink no matter what next year, there's no reason to buy these guys out now.

3) You also can't move Lee and Pageau this summer. They have NTCs and the market for them is gonna be pretty thin. They're both prime deadline deals, though. That's when they can and probably will be dealt.

4) The little " ` " means "around". The trio of Dobson/Romanov/Holmstrom are gonna eat up around $20 million. You said $18 million. Close enough.

5) You're doing all this to create an extra $12 million in cap space. For what? For who? Trading JGP means you're pushing Barzal back to center (fine) but weakening Horvat's line. He can't drive play by himself and short of Marner, no one in the UFA market is gonna be able to do it.

6) Varly hasn't been healthy in years. No one, fans or the team, should count on the 36 year old goalie staying healthy.

7) So you're running back the same dismal team as last year. But this time it'll be different? They can have high numbers again? Power of the beard? That team you've built (rather, Lou built) STINKS. It sucks. It's gonna finish with the 11th overall pick again. And to what end?

8) And you concede that the money you're freeing up isn't gonna help much. Well, at least you can see the truth.

You're basically in favor of doing nothing and hoping things work out? Here's a spoiler, from the last 4 years of Isles hockey: IT WON'T

The team stinks. It's going nowhere, even with the first overall pick. And instead of looking at this pick as a blessing and an opportunity to jumpstart a rebuild, we get...nothing at all, actually. Just another turn of the hamster wheel. Another year of nothing. Islanders hockey. Catch the fever!

1) We agreed so you shouldn't have mentioned his signing in your original post

2) I said nothing about trading them, I said getting rid of their contracts. I agree however that I see no real reason to do that UNLESS it is to sign someone who is talented and YOUNG. I agree we do NOT add assets to trade them...period. I don't however have any problem with the low cap hit (even for ten years) if and when they have to be bought out

3) Lee and JGP have MODIFIED trade stipulations not full trade clauses. Most players who are traded have these and WITHOUT A DOUBT they need to be moved NO LATER THAN THE DEADLINE NEXT SEASON. And no, with a rather bleak FA market, the market will be more robust than usual for those two BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPIRING DEALS. I do however agree that they will be even more attractive come deadline time- assuming they don't drop off a map (also possible)

4) Much more likely to be 18 than 20 is the ONLY point I was making, but your dooms day comment had the highest end possible outlook

5) Again, for anyone willing to take a short deal and is YOUNG. Don't need the cap space really it was in reference to you saying we couldn't create any while signing our RFA's....which is simply not the case

6) That just simply isn't true. You would expect 20-25 games as a backup to Sorokin and he has AVERAGED 27 starts in his 6 years as an Islander. most of it doing that very thing. Sure, we need a better #3 than we currently have- but it is not an automatic by any shape or form that Semyon can't return and give us that

7) Different? Not sure what you mean by that. Different in that we are focusing on our long term success....Yes, most definitely. Better? Hell, not very hard (with whatever roster we wind up with) then to be better than the suckage we were last season. Just a better return to form Sorokin, healthy Barzal, and infusion of young talent would in my eyes make us better...so yes, I will take those odds. If you mean compete for a chip- no that isn't likely to happen even if you do something dramatic like trade Romanov like you suggest

8) Yes, it isn't going to help us CONTEND NEXT SEASON- but of COURSE replacing some of the dead weight on the roster (which makes up half of it) and replacing them with YOUTH and UPSIDE is in fact going to help us in the long term- even if only a couple pan out

In short, I am not overly concerned with what we do with the cap this season but the game plan remains the same:

X) Acquire young assets and do not trade the good ones you have (and yes both Dobbie and Romanov would fall into that category)

X) Keep and ONLY ADD TO the draft picks you currently have

X) Unload ASAP/when it is most ideal the contracts you can that don't figure into our future...in this order:

1. Engvall
2. Mayfield
3. Duclair
4. JGP
5. Lee
6. Cizikas
7. Pulock/Pelech

It isn't rocket science...