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

[blinkman360]

From timing perspective, Darche can just let it ride on Roy since he has a contract before he arrived and let Roy shoot himself in the foot at some point - and he will.

Darche doesn’t need to make a move on Roy, once he does, he’s on the clock for the hire. Right now, he’s not and that’s actually important in the grand scheme of things. He’s worked in TB with Cooper his entire tenure.

This is all true, but at the end of the day the goal is to build a winner, not stretch out your tenure. I don't think he's going to rush to replace Roy, but if someone he likes hits the market who is actually open and willing to come here, I don't see any world where Darche passes because he doesn't want to start the countdown on his window.

 

[beach]

Fair, seems to be a growing consensus even amongst friends. Marner or bust so to speak.

I don’t disagree.

My clipping of the fat would be not buying out anyone. Kick the can down.

But a D core of Pulock and Schaffer, Dobson and Pelech and Deangelo and Romanov is objectively a strong D core in front of Sorokin.

Offense is just bleak. Could get a game breaker in the 26 draft for sure, and that free agent class is strong so if we keep costs low there could be real opportunity. But I don’t want to go three years drafting high.

Or, draft Misa, keep Dobson and bring up George.

 

[WangMustGo]

Or, draft Misa, keep Dobson and bring up George.

You don’t draft for need, especially with top picks. You take BPA every time. That’s Schaefer and Misa isn’t in the same tier.

 

[doublechili]

Darche doesn’t need to make a move on Roy, once he does, he’s on the clock for the hire. Right now, he’s not and that’s actually important in the grand scheme of things. He’s worked in TB with Cooper his entire tenure.

In Dream World, Cooper comes here next year when his TBL contract is up. Okay, wake me up now.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Indeed, this is the key to moving him in any deal whatsoever.

You sign him now to market value over many years (cause you believe in him as a long-term solution to competitiveness) or you move him.

That has to happen this offseason - and I only really see these two options.

Anything else is either stupidly playing with fire (a 1-year deal leading him to free agency) or his agent hasn't come close to doing his work properly (signing for say just 3 or 4 years at 7 million or less).

In relation to this, Dobson is listed in The Athletic's latest RFA-related article:

I don't think any sane GM gives him that, but do you even give him those 8 years at 8.1 or 8.3 MM per???

Why these 5 NHL restricted free agents could become trade candidates this offseason

As always, unrestricted free agents garner plenty of attention, but this summer's crop of RFAs is worth keeping an eye on too.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Or, draft Misa, keep Dobson and bring up George.

George's fate is completely independent of what the Isles do this draft and with RHD Dobson.

George's path to the NHL is far more influenced by the decisions made pertaining to Romanov, Pelech, Reilly, Perunovich, and even Boqvist.

BTW, he didn't sink but he certainly didn't tear things up in BPort (nobody did) after his stint in the NHL this season.

He's still got plenty to learn.

And there's plenty of time.

One can only hope Darche straightens things out down there because a player like George could really use a solid year of prime time minutes in the AHL on a healthy, productive club. That would be in his and our best interest(s).

 

[MJF]

This is all true, but at the end of the day the goal is to build a winner, not stretch out your tenure. I don't think he's going to rush to replace Roy, but if someone he likes hits the market who is actually open and willing to come here, I don't see any world where Darche passes because he doesn't want to start the countdown on his window.

Exactly, GMs want to build winners, not cover their asses.

 

[beach]

George's fate is completely independent of what the Isles do this draft and with RHD Dobson.

George's path to the NHL is far more influenced by the decisions made pertaining to Romanov, Pelech, Reilly, Perunovich, and even Boqvist.

BTW, he didn't sink but he certainly didn't tear things up in BPort (nobody did) after his stint in the NHL this season.

He's still got plenty to learn.

And there's plenty of time.

One can only hope Darche straightens things out down there because a player like George could really use a solid year of prime time minutes in the AHL on a healthy, productive club. That would be in his and our best interest(s).

My point is in response to the OP comment:
"But a D core of Pulock and Schaffer, Dobson and Pelech and Deangelo and Romanov is objectively a strong D core in front of Sorokin. Offense is just bleak. "

Our offense is bleak. So draft the scorer, keep Dobson, and find another D man over the next 2-3 years to be top six.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

My point is in response to the OP comment:
"But a D core of Pulock and Schaffer, Dobson and Pelech and Deangelo and Romanov is objectively a strong D core in front of Sorokin. Offense is just bleak. "

Our offense is bleak. So draft the scorer, keep Dobson, and find another D man over the next 2-3 years to be top six.

Ah, I see.

Something tells me that Darche will look to make considerable changes within the first two years.

There are some limitations as to what he can do right now or in the course of the summer, even if buyouts and trades and non-signings are on the table of possibilities.

The smartest path may be to take a wait-and-see approach to basically every player who is still under contract.

Between our own UFAs and RFAs, the draft, and then the first few days of free agency, there are more than enough "current assignments".

Our own RFAs chief among them on the difficulty scale.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Depth is worse on the left side. Trade Romanov and we're left with a guy who has missed 20 games each of the last three years. George is still a question mark. A lot of this talk was pre-Schaefer, but even now we're a year out from seeing him and that's if we end up drafting him.

I don't agree with the "oft injured" part. Missed 6 games his first year here, one the following, and then this past year was tougher with 18 games missed. Not enough to earn the "injury prone" label though IMO.

Organizational depth is much much stronger on the left side, especially if we draft Schaefer.

Romanov
Pelech
(Schaefer)
Perunovich
Reilly
George
Pulkinnen
Odelius
Boludc

 

[seabass45]

Organizational depth is much much stronger on the left side, especially if we draft Schaefer.

Romanov
Pelech
(Schaefer)
Perunovich
Reilly
George
Pulkinnen
Odelius
Boludc

Three locked in NHL contracts on the right side (plus maybe TDA), left side if Romanov is traded is Pelech and a LOT of short term question marks. And after a few recent LD prospect flame-outs I'm not penciling anyone in as a regular from this prospect list.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

What are the last few recent examples of a player the likes of Marner hit UFA?

Gaudreau in '22
Pietrangelo in '20
Bobrovsky in '19
Panarin in '19
Duchene in '19
Tavares in '18

Now this list hurts to read since the Isles were spurned by a few of them, but how many of the teams do you think are upset with how the signing turned out?
Duchene in Nashville sticks out the most, but they did make the playoffs in every season he was there.
Tavares and Panarin have been good in every season, but they don't have the ultimate prize.
Bob and Petro each have a Cup.
Johnny Hockey is...simply unfathomable, RIP.

I guess my thought process on Marner is that you HAVE to make the pitch. These types of guys don't become available very often, especially at the cost of just a dollar cost vs. dollars + assets.

 

[Strickland]

I have brought it up multiple times and have gotten crucified for it by the “play the right way” crowd.

I think he’s going to get overpaid this year, probably by the same amount as Dobson because he was the last man standing for a portion of the season. I’d rather lose him than a potentially more dynamic player if I had to choose one, and I think we’d get a good return on him.

It’s at least something that you need to explore.

Absolutely. If he's gonna want a long term deal at around $6 million on the AAV, then I'd move him. Dobson, as maddening as he is, can produce points at an elite level. I'd much rather overpay him by $1-2 million per year than Romanov. Especially on a long term deal. Those physical defenders age terribly.

 

[doublechili]

I guess my thought process on Marner is that you HAVE to make the pitch.

Marner is top 5 in the NHL in scoring over the past 5 years, and he's gotten a Selke nomination. So yeah, I agree.

 

[seafoam]

If Peterka (BUF) and Rossi (MIN) are truly available, acquiring both of them would transform this team akin to what acquiring Leddy & Boychuk did.

Both are 23 and already have a promising track record already with room to grow.

Signing a big time UFA might be neccesary to be able to trade pieces not named Eiserman/Ritchie/Nelson/etc.

 

[Taswell]

I think Darche is in a pretty good spot to completely rebuild this system without having to tear everything down. We've already added a couple of good ones recently with Eiserman and Ritchie. He's got a 1st overall coming, probably another high pick next year, an extra 1st already in hand next year and you'd figure at least one or two more still to come with Lee and Pageau early favorites to be rentals.

I'd completely avoid any kind of big moves this offseason. My guess is Roy gets another year, and if he's unable to pull a miracle out of his ass, it's gonna be Darche bringing in his own guy a year from now.

Jon Cooper’s deal is up after next season

 

[NYI365]

In the new cap world I would go max $7M per on Romanov (The new $5M) and $9M (The new $7M) on Dobson

 

[impaaaaaact]

If Peterka (BUF) and Rossi (MIN) are truly available, acquiring both of them would transform this team akin to what acquiring Leddy & Boychuk did.

Both are 23 and already have a promising track record already with room to grow.

Signing a big time UFA might be neccesary to be able to trade pieces not named Eiserman/Ritchie/Nelson/etc.

Just getting one of them would be great.

I don’t think we get Peterka without dealing Romanov+, which I am fine with.

Rossi is a weirder situation… I have no clue what his cost is. Guerin obviously hates him. The issue is that Minnesota doesn’t really need anything and has a million prospects, so you kind of have to trade them an NHL player. Realistically Horvat would be the most likely candidate to be a part of a Rossi trade I think

 

[seafoam]

If Peterka (BUF) and Rossi (MIN) are truly available, acquiring both of them would transform this team akin to what acquiring Leddy & Boychuk did.

Both are 23 and already have a promising track record already with room to grow.

Signing a big time UFA might be neccesary to be able to trade pieces not named Eiserman/Ritchie/Nelson/etc.

1.) Romanov + Pageau (at 50%) for Peterka
2.) Horvat for Rossi straight up

NYI might have to add to the first one, but the second one isn't that bad in my opinion.

If NYI is set on Misa (which I'm not saying they should be), what about Pulock for Byram?

 

[doublechili]

Just getting one of them would be great.

I don’t think we get Peterka without dealing Romanov+, which I am fine with.

Rossi is a weirder situation… I have no clue what his cost is. Guerin obviously hates him. The issue is that Minnesota doesn’t really need anything and has a million prospects, so you kind of have to trade them an NHL player. Realistically Horvat would be the most likely candidate to be a part of a Rossi trade I think

1.) Romanov + Pageau (at 50%) for Peterka
2.) Horvat for Rossi straight up

NYI might have to add to the first one, but the second one isn't that bad in my opinion.

If NYI is set on Misa (which I'm not saying they should be), what about Pulock for Byram?

Rossi is 5'9", 180lbs. Horvat is 6'1", 210lbs. Are you watching the playoffs this year? Heavy still matters.

I view a guy like Rossi the way I view the salary cap. It's an allocation thing. It's fine to have 1 or maybe 2 forwards like him on the roster, but you have to be careful you don't have too many if your goal is to go 4 rounds in the playoffs.

And Peterka seems to be a nice player, but if you trade away Romanov you're giving up a lot to get him, and making the Isles a softer, easier team to play against. Romanov is a 6'1", 215lb defensemen who can hit and has elite agility - if you can name 3 in the NHL who can top him in that combo, I'll be impressed.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Rossi is 5'9", 180lbs. Horvat is 6'1", 210lbs. Are you watching the playoffs this year? Heavy still matters.

I view a guy like Rossi the way I view the salary cap. It's an allocation thing. It's fine to have 1 or maybe 2 forwards like him on the roster, but you have to be careful you don't have too many if your goal is to go 4 rounds in the playoffs.

And Peterka seems to be a nice player, but if you trade away Romanov you're giving up a lot to get him, and making the Isles a softer, easier team to play against. Romanov is a 6'1", 215lb defensemen who can hit and has elite agility - if you can name 3 in the NHL who can top him in that combo, I'll be impressed.

Yeah no way I’m making both of those trades, but I’d consider one

 

[periferal]

1.) Romanov + Pageau (at 50%) for Peterka
2.) Horvat for Rossi straight up

NYI might have to add to the first one, but the second one isn't that bad in my opinion.

If NYI is set on Misa (which I'm not saying they should be), what about Pulock for Byram?

Yeah - The Isles would have to add to that one for sure. Paterka is basicall the #1 trade target this offseason. He only 23 years old and has 28 and 27 goals in his last 2 seasons...ON THE SABRES. he might get 40 on a good team.

This dude is legit and a heavy price will be paid for any team that trades for him.

Also we all need to stop overrating Romanov. He's a very likable nice player, but just becuase he's the Isles 2nd best defenseman doesn't mean he's more than an OK defenseman on a Cup winning team.

 

[MJF]

Jon Cooper’s deal is up after next season

Hofstra’s own.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Have to think Darche is going to have way more roadblocks than he did in Tampa, as he's got income tax and a destination not coveted by players. He's not going to have nearly the leverage that his ex-franchise had. So many people knock Lou, and it is warranted, but let's not forget your options are way more limited as a GM for the Isles than they would be a GM for the Lightning.

 

[Chockey22]

1.) Romanov + Pageau (at 50%) for Peterka
2.) Horvat for Rossi straight up

NYI might have to add to the first one, but the second one isn't that bad in my opinion.

If NYI is set on Misa (which I'm not saying they should be), what about Pulock for Byram?

Buffalo is set on the left side, even if they move Byram, so I can’t imagine they have any interest in Romanov. I would think Dobson or Pulock would be the main piece going for Peterka. That said, I doubt Pulock waives his NTC to go to Buffalo, and unless Dobson is willing to sign long term with Buffalo, there’s no way they move Peterka for Dobson.