New York Islanders: The rest of the season

[The Real JT]

I didn’t include option #3 which we’d all love to see but almost certainly won’t happen. That is, the Isles miraculously put it together, play quality hockey and get solid contributions and improved play from players like Dobson, Holmstrom, Barzal, Pelech and Pulock.

I’m going to reluctantly choose #2 since option #1 leaves open the possibility of Lou holding onto Nelson and Palmieri, potentially resigning them or even trading assets for a quick fix at the TDL.

If it weren’t for Lou and his track record of holding onto his veterans, I’d rather see them win ugly but that would mean Lou stays and might do things to set back the franchise. So #2 it is for me.

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[MJF]

I want this team to win games. As many as possible.

But I don’t expect that much to happen.

I expect option 1 to happen. Through no doing of the team’s the bottom of the Eastern Conference is battling it out for the 2 wiid card spots and the Isles are in the conversation The Isles are not like a horse that stalks 3 off the lead and finishes strong for the win. The Isles are the longshot that wins because the pace falls apart. The Isles are a bad hockey team.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

If I had the power, I'd press a button and have them lose every game remaining.

This team has no shot at winning a Cup. Why make a pointless run to the playoffs as WC #2?

 

[MJF]

If I had the power, I'd press a button and have them lose every game remaining.

This team has no shot at winning a Cup. Why make a pointless run to the playoffs as WC #2?

The mushy (lower) middle.

 

[periferal]

Not voting because there's no combination of anything that suggests...

• Sell every potential UFA before the deadline
• Play bad enough that Malkin is forced to replace Lou.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

If I had the power, I'd press a button and have them lose every game remaining.

This team has no shot at winning a Cup. Why make a pointless run to the playoffs as WC #2?

If you have that power make them win the cup

 

[seafoam]

Trade Cizikas, dangle Barzal and Pelech, entertain Nelson and Palmieri.

 

[xECK29x]

I picked the worst year to finally get a ticket package

 

[Nassau Revisited]

They will hang around the playoff bubble just long enough for Lou to do nothing. Than he won’t make any meaningful trades and re sign Nelson and Palms to 4 years deals or lose them for free. Lou knows how to lose and he does it well

 

[NYI365]

I picked the worst year to finally get a ticket package

Hopefully they put up some entertaining games the rest of the way for you. I had fulls first year UBS, then a half season, quarter last year and none this year. Writing was on the wall with this team, won't get a package again until Lou is gone.

 

[Osakahaus]

Here's the islanders MAIN issue: they lack skill and depth. The team cannot be as loyal as it was to these guys because we've kept this core for at least a good decade now. Nelson, Palmieri, Romanov and Varlamov all should be available to trade, REGARDLESS if the islanders are in the hunt or not. Last nights loss was perfect, because it makes the islanders issues way more apparent. of course I want to win, but this team needs a losing season in the worst of ways. I still want to say the islanders "have" the pieces to be good but the east is so bad that nobody wants to overthrow us.

Also the islanders issues on D are stemming a ton from poor communication and terrible coaching. do you really think we need P&P in this day and age, or do we need a guy like Forsling, Montour, Reilly, Hughes, etc on this roster? The islanders defense just lacks so much modern day play. I also hate seeing the regression of Romanov because it just proves that JFresh was correct on him being overrated vastly by our fanbase.

 

[bromanagro]

If they can stay healthy *big if* then they will hang around.

In recent years they have shown resilience in the face of .....all the BS.

 

[Fantom]

voted but neither option really felt right to me. While winning is obviously the goal, this team just isn't going anywhere. I think the problem is more about the players we have than their health.

Honestly, I think we need to completely tear things down and start over. No player should be off the table – if the right deal comes along, you take it. I think it's time to look at making some changes at the top, maybe even getting rid of Lou and Roy. But I'd be willing to let a new GM decide if Roy stays or goes

 

[Bones45]

I picked the worst year to finally get a ticket package

You did. I'd look forward to when they allow the STH to skate the ice at UBS. Kinda fantastic.

 

[Glorydays22]

I vote - "NONE OF THE ABOVE"

 

[islesfan186]

I have watched 1 full game this season…and that was the opener. The way they lost that game told me everything I needed to know; that it will be more of the same shit from the last 2 years. In the past, I may have still gotten roped in, but I’ve got a 9 month old now…I ain’t got time to waste on these mooks. Rather spend that time making memories with my daughter.

Next game I watch will probably me the one they play in Nashville, which I am sure they will find a way to lose in spectacular fashion (even as bad as the Preds are this year)

 

[SI]

Here’s an updated version incorporating "if they can" to reflect a bit more hopefulness:

---

Not sure if the Isles have truly thrust themselves back into the playoff picture.
They’ve given up far too many points, the schedule ahead is brutal, and other teams are starting to pull away.
Here’s their upcoming stretch:

• Toronto (3 times, including 2 games in Toronto)
• Pittsburgh (twice, home and away)
• Buffalo (home)
• @Boston
• @Vegas
• @utah

Even with an optimistic mindset, they’ll be lucky to go .500 during this stretch—and a record of 16-18-8 after 42 games just doesn’t cut it. If they can take 2 of 3 from Toronto, sweep the Penguins, and beat both Buffalo and Boston in regulation, they’ll give themselves a chance to jump back into the race. But that’s a tall order, and honestly, I just don’t see it happening.
By mid-January, after these nine games, we might be looking at a team officially out of contention. If that’s the case, hopefully, all eyes turn to the trade deadline and what moves they can make to retool.

Here’s who I think should be on the block:

• Nelson
• Palmieri
• Varlamov
• Cizikas

If they can move these four by the deadline, the hope would be to acquire multiple picks and prospects to replenish the pipeline—or set the stage for offseason moves to bring in serious talent.

Pageau and Lee carry hefty contracts for one more season, which could make them trade targets at next year’s deadline if the team fails to rebound. While Pelech, Pulock, and Mayfield all have trade protection, their presence on the blue line is crucial in keeping the team from completely free-falling into the abyss.

That said, there’s enough talent on this roster to take a step back, bring in some new blood, and make a serious push in 2025-26. Moving key pieces like Nelson, Palmieri, and Varlamov at this year’s deadline could help restock the prospect pool and create offseason flexibility.

This strategy isn’t about tearing it all down but about retooling and setting up a better foundation for the future while staying competitive enough to avoid a complete collapse. It might be the tough move they need to ensure long-term success.

 

[saintunspecified]

It's time to sell. that's really all there is to it. They have to maximize value. They need to hold open 2 retention slots to maximize return for Palmieri, and Nelson. Those are easy calls, because they regain those retention slots in the offseason.

Then they've got 1 more slot. If NYI are going to use it to deal someone especially over multiple years, it's got to be for something worthwhile. Hard to imagine that the returns for Varlamov, Cizikas, etc. over multiple years is going to net anything worth the retention slot. I wouldn't do anything on Cizikas now. His contract can be bought out or buried. I don't think Pageau is worth enough even with retention to bother dealing. Maybe not even worth buying out. With Engvall, the savings from burying > the benefit of buying out, and nobody wants him. It would probably only make sense to retain on Varlamov if a team is desperate.

Still probably the only good reason for NYI to retain over multiple years is if they were to get someone to take a flyer on Pelech, or significant futures for Pulock. Both seem unlikely. NYI should retain to deal Lee only if they're very sure they want to move on from him as captain.

imo that's the dynamic right now.

As for salary cap position... imo it's not a big deal. Dobson & Romanov are not beating down the door for a big raise. They're not going to sign any amazing free agent. Some contracts will be buried, and buyouts may be coming. It's very much not an issue.

I know there's a lot of pessimism about our young players. But I feel a lot better about Eiserman, Finley, and Nelson than the CHL pretender prospects we've seen lately. George being likely to be a real player (if not with huge upside) is a plus. Adding Tsypklakov also helps. What NYI need most to succeed in a retool is getting more picks, and using them well. And tank for the home town boy ffs. This is the year to do it.

 

[icelander25]

It's time to sell. that's really all there is to it. They have to maximize value. They need to hold open 2 retention slots to maximize return for Palmieri, and Nelson. Those are easy calls, because they regain those retention slots in the offseason.

Then they've got 1 more slot. If NYI are going to use it to deal someone especially over multiple years, it's got to be for something worthwhile. Hard to imagine that the returns for Varlamov, Cizikas, etc. over multiple years is going to net anything worth the retention slot. I wouldn't do anything on Cizikas now. His contract can be bought out or buried. I don't think Pageau is worth enough even with retention to bother dealing. Maybe not even worth buying out. With Engvall, the savings from burying > the benefit of buying out, and nobody wants him. It would probably only make sense to retain on Varlamov if a team is desperate.

Still probably the only good reason for NYI to retain over multiple years is if they were to get someone to take a flyer on Pelech, or significant futures for Pulock. Both seem unlikely. NYI should retain to deal Lee only if they're very sure they want to move on from him as captain.

imo that's the dynamic right now.

As for salary cap position... imo it's not a big deal. Dobson & Romanov are not beating down the door for a big raise. They're not going to sign any amazing free agent. Some contracts will be buried, and buyouts may be coming. It's very much not an issue.

I know there's a lot of pessimism about our young players. But I feel a lot better about Eiserman, Finley, and Nelson than the CHL pretender prospects we've seen lately. George being likely to be a real player (if not with huge upside) is a plus. Adding Tsypklakov also helps. What NYI need most to succeed in a retool is getting more picks, and using them well. And tank for the home town boy ffs. This is the year to do it.

Perfectly stated. My only concern is that Lou waits too long on trading those players. Trading them in say January would net them a bigger return, not risk an injury to them, and it’d make the team worse so they don’t potentially steal us a game in that timeframe. Plus I don’t even wanna entertain the possibility that they go on a 5 game win streak to get to .500 right before the deadline and he actually holds off. He has to move them as quick as possible