Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2025-26: Welcome to the Darche Side

[Throttle]

$11.8m for EP40
$10.5m for Tuch

and this fanbase complains about Barzal and his $9.15m contract.

Here we go again. Rationalizing contracts to make us feel good about security blankets. He’s going on year 4, not year 1.

 

[IslesNorway]

So let me get this straight, in the last two days the Caps have added Kyrou and Tuch. Unless we do something major, we are screwed. The Caps have flown by us easily with these moves.

So what? They are nowhere close to a cup even after these moves. The smart thing is to manage the cap and spend the next year sucking and acquiring assets. If done right the Isles can benefit in the years to come.

 

[miscs75]

Here we go again. Rationalizing contracts to make us feel good about security blankets. He’s going on year 4, not year 1.

Still the point. Neither of those two are worth anywhere near that but they're both making more then Barzal. It's just comical that teams want to toss around absurd contracts that they know will age terribly.

 

[Konk]

With the rate some teams are improving, we might actually have a shot of drafting DuPont or Privalov next year

Dupont
Privalov
Joseph
Skvortsov
Sundstrom
Nelson
Meyer
England
Jacobson
Zhilkin

Luckily for us, the top end is looking really good so far next year!

 

[Throttle]

Still the point. Neither of those two are worth anywhere near that but they're both making more then Barzal. It's just comical that teams want to toss around absurd contracts that they know will age terribly.

That’s the cost of doing business. VCR paid a 3x 30 goal scorer as a RFA. Lou paid Barzal THAT amount as barely a 60 point forward as a RFA. Tuch is getting paid UFA rates.

Barzal compared to say Suzuki…is well, kinda pathetic. They paid him less as a 60 point forward and look at him go. Captain of MTL, 100 point forward, 2x 30G scorer, and played for Team Canada.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

So what? They are nowhere close to a cup even after these moves. The smart thing is to manage the cap and spend the next year sucking and acquiring assets. If done right the Isles can benefit in the years to come.

Problem is that we (fans) keep saying this and then management doesn't agree to make it happen. The best players are good enough to keep the team in the mushy middle so in order to really suck they would need (or should have already) traded away those valuable pieces (JGP, Lee, Pulock, Pelech, etc.)

Instead we did the opposite and acquired Schenn and Palat.

Running back this roster minus Lee + healthy Palms, Schenn and year 2 of Schaefer will put us in exactly the same position as 25-26.

 

[19 in a row]

Aren't Wilson, Kyrou, Tuch and Leonard all RWs? Can Leonard play center? Well not a bad problem for the Caps to have.

Buffalo taking a hit the last 2 days

 

[Throttle]

Problem is that we (fans) keep saying this and then management doesn't agree to make it happen. The best players are good enough to keep the team in the mushy middle so in order to really suck they would need (or should have already) traded away those valuable pieces (JGP, Lee, Pulock, Pelech, etc.)

Instead we did the opposite and acquired Schenn and Palat.

Running back this roster minus Lee + healthy Palms, Schenn and year 2 of Schaefer will put us in exactly the same position as 25-26.

Agreed, but it’s a bit sad, at this point at least, that the ONLY person being held accountable for the post-Olympic break is … Roy? (An easy fall guy).

The end of the season had warning and red flags all over it about these same players.

 

[miscs75]

That’s the cost of doing business. VCR paid a 3x 30 goal scorer as a RFA. Lou paid Barzal THAT amount as barely a 60 point forward as a RFA. Tuch is getting paid UFA rates.

Barzal compared to say Suzuki…is well, kinda pathetic. They paid him less as a 60 point forward and look at him go. Captain of MTL, 100 point forward, 2x 30G scorer, and played for Team Canada.

Look at Suzuki's supporting cast. Caufield can score goals and they backed into Slafkovsky as a complimentary piece. Barzal had high level talent such as Oliver Wahlstrom, Jonathan Drouin and Anthony Duclair to work with. The problem comes down to him not being given capable linemates outside of Horvat but they went and split that up so Barzy can go play center again.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Well done!

The Graduate lives!

If only they got together one more time . . .

If Oasis could do it, then so too can they.

But they're each 84 now. Time is running out.

They need roster D. They are not done. Sorry, but are you kidding me? This is selling excess, for currency. "For what?" is the question you should be asking.

Agreed that it looks like another move could be on the way.

As for roster D, can you please call up Mr. Grier and let him know about the many wonderful attributes of Messers Mayfield, Pelech, and Romanov?

They will select Lawrence (Connolly), Hemming (Pyatt), Piiparinen (Mezei), and Hakansson (Kudroc)!

Ahhh, may they bask in a form of glory similar to that which we experienced with those boys of '99.

I think I’m the only one around here that likes Romanov lol.

I think DeBoer will like him. Or, well, see a means by which to round off his game.

It already occurred to me...

16 and 29 for 13 and 2027 3rd

Honestly, I wouldn't tack any form of draft capital in order to drop back in this draft.

If the staff really loves a kid who they think they can take a few picks later, then dropping back solely from spot 13 to a later spot to gain more picks is an option. Stick with that.

But otherwise, there seems to be a clear group of 13 players that top this draft and then pick 14 already brings us into the next category.

I got a proposal idea lemme throw it out there and get flamed immediately.

To Seattle:

Mat Barzal

To NYI:

Matty Beniers
Shane Wright
7th Overall

It seems you may not be aware that exactly this (but also including RHD prospect Fiddler) was already suggested before the regular season had even concluded.

We've been exploring this train of thought for a good long while now...

Kyle Davidson really about to give up the 4th overall for Bowen Byram and then throw 10mill a year at him? Madness. I hope there’s more to the deal than that.

I have yet to find a single person who feels Chicago didn't get fleeced here.

I even have a Blackhawks friend who is on suicide watch right now.

Can we still trade Lee?

Darche could deal his UFA rights. That is permitted right on up until July 1st.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Agreed, but it’s a bit sad, at this point at least, that the ONLY person being held accountable for the post-Olympic break is … Roy? (An easy fall guy).

The end of the season had warning and red flags all over it about these same players.

We make fun of the Rags and their letters to the fans but I actually appreciate them punting on the season and outright admitting it.

And yes, I understand that they have the very specific luxury of saying that AND continuing to sell out their arena just because they play in The Garden.

 

[Glorydays22]

I'd gather its being upset about not selling considering the returns for guys like Kyrou, Nemec, Byram, etc.

Bingo...

 

[leeroggy]

But they're each 84 now. Time is running out.

As long as they are on this side of the earth, I'll pay for that concert! At least most of their songs are easier on the vocal chords, unlike poor Daltry's version of Love Reign O'er Me.

 

[Glorydays22]

Doomers are feasting, jesus get a grip

I guess you haven't been a fan for the last 40 years. If you did, you would understand.

 

[Glorydays22]

Who is taking bad contracts? There is so much cap right now there is no such thing as a bad contract in the short term. The Islanders are not rebuilding.

 

[boredmale]

Surprisingly nobody complaining how if we only had a 3rd round pick we could have had Tuch.

 

[seabass45]

Surprisingly nobody complaining how if we only had a 3rd round pick we could have had Tuch.

I will say that's a pretty solid get for someone who wasn't returning.

 

[Islesfan22]

Hope I’m wrong but it sure looks like there going to run back the same team next season.

 

[Throttle]

Surprisingly nobody complaining how if we only had a 3rd round pick we could have had Tuch.

And lower taxes…whoops! Guess Tuch couldn’t find a lower tax team.

 

[MJF]

Ladd 2

Did Tuch have back surgery?

 

[MJF]

Seriously, we’re in a shit spot right now thanks to Lou’s management of the cap and draft capital.

I’m glad we’re not paying ludicrous prices for stuff (at least this far) at least so kudos to Darche for not falling to that temptation

Unless something changes big-time, our only hope for this coming season is that guys like Eiserman and/or Eklund come out of the gate flying

 

[xECK29x]

I guess you haven't been a fan for the last 40 years. If you did, you would understand.

Uhh yea since 1990, doesn't mean I bring it up and revert back to it every f***ing post. Different era, different team, different ownership, apples and oranges

 

[xECK29x]

Majority of the league has plenty of room to operate with almost full rosters under contract

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Buffalo taking a hit the last 2 days

Not worried about them.

Got plenty of options knocking on the door for more responsibility, starting with Helenius, Östlund, and Kulich.

 

[MJF]

So what? They are nowhere close to a cup even after these moves. The smart thing is to manage the cap and spend the next year sucking and acquiring assets. If done right the Isles can benefit in the years to come.

Matthew Schaefer is going to learn from losing.