Us being the litmus stick for the league with covid, the 13-game road trip and Pulock’s injury killed us. We finished above .500 despite all that crap. We are still a good team. We definitely need a big piece though, there’s no disputing that.

I think the team is one big player away from making another run. That's why I'm beating this drum! I think the wildcard is whether they can do it without Trotz's structure, but I'll take that chance.

To the point of not going for it all at once if it means sacrificing future runs, I just think that the organization needed to get serious years earlier than it did if it wanted to go that route. They had good players and let them languish for years under Cappy and Weight. The reality is that, by the time competent leadership was brought in, the identity and much of the core was in its 30s, or fast approaching there. At this point, I say you give this group the best chance possible to take one more run at it and then worry about the future.
- UIF

Ran into an isles fan up here the other day at CVS, wasn't you was it there aren't many of us around here

I don’t think Gaudreau was all about the money. He wanted out of Canada, supposedly, because he’s having a kid and the border restrictions with covid would make travel difficult for his family. If it was ALL about the money he’d be a Devil right now.

Ran into an isles fan up here the other day at CVS, wasn't you was it there aren't many of us around here
- Upstate_isles

- eichiefs9

I don’t think Gaudreau was all about the money. He wanted out of Canada, supposedly, because he’s having a kid and the border restrictions with covid would make travel difficult for his family. If it was ALL about the money he’d be a Devil right now.
- potvin05

How do you know what they offered? I know what was reported, but I haven't spoken to Fitzgerald. And I haven't heard him say what they offered.

How do you know what they offered? I know what was reported, but I haven't spoken to Fitzgerald. And I haven't heard him say what they offered.
- Isleshockeyman

Tom Fitzgerald and Gerald Fitztom

How do you know what they offered? I know what was reported, but I haven't spoken to Fitzgerald. And I haven't heard him say what they offered.
- Isleshockeyman

Fake news?
Do you speak to ol Fitzie often?

- eichiefs9

Ran into an isles fan up here the other day at CVS, wasn't you was it there aren't many of us around here
- Upstate_isles

Nope, not me. I still say I've run into more Isles fans here than I ever did back in Orange County, Hoboken, or even Queens.

That new Norris deal might help with future Barzal negotiations.

Nope, not me. I still say I've run into more Isles fans here than I ever did back in Orange County, Hoboken, or even Queens.
- UIF

Uh oh! Port Jervis! I knew it....

I don’t think Gaudreau was all about the money. He wanted out of Canada, supposedly, because he’s having a kid and the border restrictions with covid would make travel difficult for his family. If it was ALL about the money he’d be a Devil right now.
- potvin05

He should have played for the Stars. There’s no border restrictions down there.

He should have played for the Stars. There’s no border restrictions down there.
- Cptmjl

Aren’t they forming their own country or something?

Aren’t they forming their own country or something?
- potvin05

No. Mexico is just going to expand into the US and swallow up Texas.

Taxes and playing in the Rangers' shadow are all well and good, but they didn't lose out on this guy to a big-name team like the Rangers and they didn't lose out on him to the highest bidder, which was Calgary. They also didn't lose out on him for family reasons, since the Isles and Devils would have been closer. They didn't lose out on him to a surefire contender. And they didn't even lose out on him to his personal dream team, which people here said was Philly.

All we know is the Isles identified their target in a do-or-die offseason and got outdone by the Columbus Blue Jackets. It's tough to spin that positively whatever the ultimate reason was. One thing I can say is it's 100% on Lou if there is no plan B and plan C ready to go since this isn't his first rodeo with the Isles. It's nice to swing for the fences, but the team has never been a hot FA destination and, even for Lou himself, this is his third big FA miss (Tavares and Panarin). There really wasn't a plan B those other two times, so he definitely should have learned that lesson by now.
- UIF

A two hour flight or a 4 hour jaunt down the Jersey Turnpike.

A two hour flight or a 4 hour jaunt down the Jersey Turnpike.
- PeteM

True

A two hour flight or a 4 hour jaunt down the Jersey Turnpike.
- PeteM

Anyone who thought LI is local to southern Jersey needs to get their head examined. It took me 3 hours to get home from Staten Island about a month ago. And, I’m barely into Suffolk on the South Shore.

It's funny that I said yesterday maybe Lou didn't want to overpay and mortgage the future. A few people stated that if you're in "win now mode" forget about the future.
I don't think you can get rid of all your assets and sign a player(s) for more money than you have to spend just to win one cup. Then what? Tear it all down and go full rebuild? Personally, I want to have multiple shots at the cup. I want to have a strong team now and five years from now.
Obviously none of know what transpired yesterday. Maybe us having a defense-first type of system along with "Lou's rules" played a factor in JG's decision. Pretty sure money played a big part. But you have an offense-minded player that wants to put points on the board. Not sure he wants to chase around in the D zone and step in front of shots.
Not sure if we'll ever know. I think Ledecky/Malkin want to win. I think that's obvious. If we fail to make the playoffs this year or get bounced in the first round, I don't know how safe Lou's job is.
- Isleshockeyman

I would hope this is true. It's a results oriented business. That is unless the owner is Charles Wang who showed loyalty to the point of borderline insanity.

I don't think Lou is on a short leash but you have to think L&M want results and a packed building.

Anyone who thought LI is local to southern Jersey needs to get their head examined. It took me 3 hours to get home from Staten Island about a month ago. And, I’m barely into Suffolk on the South Shore.
- potvin05

It will probably be a quicker commute for him from Ohio.

This more like the reason...

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...s-for-his-old-school-ways
- Nfdbulldawg

Stopped reading as soon as I saw he's quoting Gallof.

The other Strome to the Caps for 1/3.5m. Good deal for the Caps.

I would hope this is true. It's a results oriented business. That is unless the owner is Charles Wang who showed loyalty to the point of borderline insanity.

I don't think Lou is on a short leash but you have to think L&M want results and a packed building.
- JimmyP

Agreed. Those two ponied up some serious coin over the last five years.

It will probably be a quicker commute for him from Ohio.
- Cptmjl

I honestly wouldn’t doubt that.

Johnny Gaudreau: “I’ve gotten to play here many times, and every time it’s a lot of fun to play here. There’s a good young group here, and that attracted me too. Me and my wife thought it was a really good fit for us. The best one, personally.
This was always a place circled on my list. … I heard so many great things from past players. It made me feel really comfortable with my decision to come here.”


- keaner17

If somebody doesn't post a photoshop of Gaudreau in Blue Jackets jammies I'm going to be very disappointed.