Good article. Found this interesting;

Last summer, Pulock signed a two-year bridge contract with the Islanders worth $4 million, a modest annual bump from his entry-level salary. It might prove costly against the cap in hindsight given how Pulock has blossomed, but the idea of a long-term deal was never presented as a viable option during negotiations, according to Epp. Then under new management in GM Lou Lamoriello, the Isles needed to see more from Pulock before committing further.

I was wondering at the time why the heck Lou didn’t sign him longer term and was attacked on here by a few saying along the lines of him and his agent obviously wouldn’t commit longer to drive his value up😂
We’re going to have to pay up for this kid next season...
- Cptmjl

Well, the good news is that Lou's strategy of having so many key players looking for new contracts at the same time seems to be paying off in a season where everyone expected the Isles to be competing for Jack Hughes. Talk about a motivated team!

Good article. Found this interesting;

Last summer, Pulock signed a two-year bridge contract with the Islanders worth $4 million, a modest annual bump from his entry-level salary. It might prove costly against the cap in hindsight given how Pulock has blossomed, but the idea of a long-term deal was never presented as a viable option during negotiations, according to Epp. Then under new management in GM Lou Lamoriello, the Isles needed to see more from Pulock before committing further.

I was wondering at the time why the heck Lou didn’t sign him longer term and was attacked on here by a few saying along the lines of him and his agent obviously wouldn’t commit longer to drive his value up😂
We’re going to have to pay up for this kid next season...
- Cptmjl

Good problem to have though. #1 RHD don't grow on trees, and many NHL franchises wish they had a home grown version to throw coin at.

Well, the good news is that Lou's strategy of having so many key players looking for new contracts at the same time seems to be paying off in a season where everyone expected the Isles to be competing for Jack Hughes. Talk about a motivated team!
- JohnScammo

Pulock is 2020/21. Eberle, Nelson, yeah 100% that was his strategy along with seeing what he had.

At least we Mayfield locked up along with komorov while not a forward is a defensive specialist?

- Upstate_isles

Komarov gtfo😂

Mayfield and Pelech look like absolute robbery right now. Wish he had locked Pulock longer term up but as we all know this isn’t an exact science far from it. Found it interesting that at least according to this it was Lou’s decision to hold off on the term...

Pulock is 2020/21. Eberle, Nelson, yeah 100% that was his strategy along with seeing what he had.
- Cptmjl

Yeah next offseason is Barzal/Pulock/Toews

Lou's got a few tough summers ahead of him

Yeah next offseason is Barzal/Pulock/Toews

Lou's got a few tough summers ahead of him
- eichiefs9

When you think about it how aggressive can he really be in the offseason? Nelson is most likely getting locked up and lee also. Eberle is certainly making a case for himself right now. Have no idea how this summer is going to shake out for this team?

When you think about it how aggressive can he really be in the offseason? Nelson is most likely getting locked up and lee also. Eberle is certainly making a case for himself right now. Have no idea how this summer is going to shake out for this team?
- Cptmjl

Eberle is going to be a tough decision with him turning 29. Lou really needs to see the playoffs through. If the Isles win a round and go no further, does he bring back the same team?

When you think about it how aggressive can he really be in the offseason? Nelson is most likely getting locked up and lee also. Eberle is certainly making a case for himself right now. Have no idea how this summer is going to shake out for this team?
- Cptmjl

I think a lot of it is going to hinge on the bigger-name free agents. Nelson and Eberle are playing great but you also can't just look at a small sample size like playoffs because that's how you end up with deals that you regret big time. I can't say enough about how good Eberle's been in the three games so far, but I still don't think he's back next season and I can't say I really disagree with that.

I do think there's a good chance Nelson re-signs but I think they're going to be going after Duchene and/or Panarin and that's going to affect what they're able to do with Nelson. If they miss on Panarin but land Duchene (I think that's unlikely) then I could see Nelson taking the 3C spot next season if they can lock him up at a reasonable cost. I really don't know what to do with him, it's a seriously tough spot.

Trading Leddy and Hickey would free up $8M in cap space which would go a long way, if they're just traded for futures. I think Toews can easily fill Leddy's spot (already has, really) and Aho is ready to make the jump and play 3rd pairing minutes.

edit: They should buyout Johnston too. He's 150% worthless and they'd actually eliminate 83% of his cap hit off the books for the next three years and only have to live with 166k cap hit on the back three of the buyout.

Eberle is going to be a tough decision with him turning 29. Lou really needs to see the playoffs through. If the Isles win a round and go no further, does he bring back the same team?
- ses111

This team needs more scoring. There's absolutely no guarantee that they're able to replicate this season next year and they have to be able to score more.

I think a lot of it is going to hinge on the bigger-name free agents. Nelson and Eberle are playing great but you also can't just look at a small sample size like playoffs because that's how you end up with deals that you regret big time. I can't say enough about how good Eberle's been in the three games so far, but I still don't think he's back next season and I can't say I really disagree with that.

I do think there's a good chance Nelson re-signs but I think they're going to be going after Duchene and Panarin and that's going to affect what they're able to do with Nelson. If they miss on Panarin but land Duchene (I think that's unlikely) then I could see Nelson taking the 3C spot next season if they can lock him up at a reasonable cost. I really don't know what to do with him, it's a seriously tough spot.

Trading Leddy and Hickey would free up $8M in cap space which would go a long way, if they're just traded for futures. I think Toews can easily fill Leddy's spot (already has, really) and Aho is ready to make the jump and play 3rd pairing minutes.
- eichiefs9

Do not re-sign Eberle.
Loving his performance against the Pen's, but his last two regular seasons (and current cap hit) can't be ignored. Play him and pay him till he's a FA, then let him test Free Agency with no hard feelings.

This team needs more scoring. There's absolutely no guarantee that they're able to replicate this season next year and they have to be able to score more.
- eichiefs9

Exactly chief! I can see bringing back Nelson and Lee. Unless this team gets to the Cup, I think Isles have to let Eberle go.

This team needs more scoring. There's absolutely no guarantee that they're able to replicate this season next year and they have to be able to score more.
- eichiefs9

Yes it does. Trading Leddy and letting Eberle walk should create enough coin to afford a pretty big fish.

Do not re-sign Eberle.
Loving his performance against the Pen's, but his last two regular seasons (and current cap hit) can't be ignored. Play him and pay him till he's a FA, then let him test Free Agency with no hard feelings.
- Wildschwein

Yeah at age 29 I just can't see them paying him more, or even equal-to, the $6M that he's currently making. I'd keep him if he ended up with the same cap hit and would take like a 3 year deal but I probably wouldn't do anything more than that.

Yes it does. Trading Leddy and letting Eberle walk should create enough coin to afford a pretty big fish.
- Wildschwein

Send nudges

Yeah at age 29 I just can't see them paying him more, or even equal-to, the $6M that he's currently making. I'd keep him if he ended up with the same cap hit and would take like a 3 year deal but I probably wouldn't do anything more than that.
- eichiefs9

No more than 3 years for Eberle. Hopefully the Isles have some good options if they have a nice playoff run. It has to get them attention from FA's. Landing Panarin is still going to be tough. Nelson seems like a real favorite for Barry.

No more than 3 years for Eberle. Hopefully the Isles have some good options if they have a nice playoff run. It has to get them attention from FA's. Landing Panarin is still going to be tough. Nelson seems like a real favorite for Barry.
- ses111

I doubt Eberle would go for something like that, but that's about all I'd be comfortable with personally. Not gonna be easy to land the big fish. I'd still be, varying degrees of, interested in Hayes, Zucarello, Nyquist, Skinner and maybe a few others if we strike out with the big names.

I wouldn't rule out them taking a stab at Karlsson either, if he doesn't stay in SJ.

I think a lot of it is going to hinge on the bigger-name free agents. Nelson and Eberle are playing great but you also can't just look at a small sample size like playoffs because that's how you end up with deals that you regret big time. I can't say enough about how good Eberle's been in the three games so far, but I still don't think he's back next season and I can't say I really disagree with that.

I do think there's a good chance Nelson re-signs but I think they're going to be going after Duchene and/or Panarin and that's going to affect what they're able to do with Nelson. If they miss on Panarin but land Duchene (I think that's unlikely) then I could see Nelson taking the 3C spot next season if they can lock him up at a reasonable cost. I really don't know what to do with him, it's a seriously tough spot.

Trading Leddy and Hickey would free up $8M in cap space which would go a long way, if they're just traded for futures. I think Toews can easily fill Leddy's spot (already has, really) and Aho is ready to make the jump and play 3rd pairing minutes.

edit: They should buyout Johnston too. He's 150% worthless and they'd actually eliminate 83% of his cap hit off the books for the next three years and only have to live with 166k cap hit on the back three of the buyout.
- eichiefs9

I though they got cap relief for most of Johnston's contract by sending him to Bridgeport.

Komarov gtfo😂

Mayfield and Pelech look like absolute robbery right now. Wish he had locked Pulock longer term up but as we all know this isn’t an exact science far from it. Found it interesting that at least according to this it was Lou’s decision to hold off on the term...
- Cptmjl

Komorov was just for you

I though they got cap relief for most of Johnston's contract by send him to Bridgeport.
- JimmyP

Yeah I think so. I'd buy him out anyway. He's an absolutely useless hockey player. I'd rather take one more contract away from the 50 contract limit than have him take up time from a useful prospect in Bridgeport.

I doubt Eberle would go for something like that, but that's about all I'd be comfortable with personally. Not gonna be easy to land the big fish. I'd still be, varying degrees of, interested in Hayes, Zucarello, Nyquist, Skinner and maybe a few others if we strike out with the big names.

I wouldn't rule out them taking a stab at Karlsson either, if he doesn't stay in SJ.
- eichiefs9

I'm sure Eberle will not go for 3 but that would be my limit. I do not think the Isles will land Duchene or Panarin. Karlsson I cannot see either. Isles have some trade chips being so deep on D.

Yeah I think so. I'd buy him out anyway. He's an absolutely useless hockey player. I'd rather take one more contract away from the 50 contract limit than have him take up time from a useful prospect in Bridgeport.
- eichiefs9

Would it make sense to keep Johnson just in case of injury to Martin?

Would it make sense to keep Johnson just in case of injury to Martin?
- ses111

Nope

This team needs more scoring. There's absolutely no guarantee that they're able to replicate this season next year and they have to be able to score more.
- eichiefs9

That’s the thing. Wonder what Lou will base his decisions on this offseason. Cant expect some of these guys to do the same next season and I also agree on Eberle. It’s just not as clear cut as a decision as it was and who knows how Lameriello will view him now if he continues playing awesome in the playoffs.

Komorov was just for you
- Upstate_isles

I dislike the guy and his contract but you should’ve put him there for chiefs. That’s some pure venom and hate😂

Nope
- eichiefs9

How could you not like Ross the Boss?