It's fair to ask if Lou has to change his approach with FA's. The hiring of Lou and Barry seem to have gotten the Isles more respect but it has not helped with FA's. Ownership should be asking why to do we keep missing out on players? Trading players like you did in the 70's and 80's does not work in 2022.
- ses111

I think the world changed in the last 10 years. Personally, I think the next generation of players don’t wanna deal with a “red right hand” so to speak with Lou. I get it if you’re winning and can demand your way. But, the isles are probably the only team to make it to the 3rd round without a bonafide NHL 1/2 punch. They beat teams with Barry’s system, and now there’s no Barry.

Too soon to give up on Wahlstrom. Islanders have to do a better job in developing offensive forwards and cannot try to turn them into chip and chase type players. Wahlstrom was a high #1 pick and is an offensive minded player.
- ses111

I’m not giving up on Wahlstrom I just don’t think he’s a first liner. Great for the left side of the PP as a righty shot, but his skating is weak.

I think the world changed in the last 10 years. Personally, I think the next generation of players don’t wanna deal with a “red right hand” so to speak with Lou. I get it if you’re winning and can demand your way. But, the isles are probably the only team to make it to the 3rd round without a bonafide NHL 1/2 punch. The beat teams with Barry’s system, and now there’s no Barry.
- kindlyrick

Players are different whether some want to believe it or not. The two long playoff runs were very nice but happened under very unique situations and those runs have not helped in signing quality UFA's and the new building has not helped either. A strong system like Barry's is nice but it wears on the players after time and you need more than a system to beat elite teams like Tampa.

Players are different whether some want to believe it or not. The two look playoff runs were very nice but happened under very unique situations and those runs have not helped in signing quality UFA's and the new building has not helped either. A strong system like Barry's is nice but it wears on the players after time and you need more than a system to beat elite teams like Tampa.
- ses111

You need a dynamic top line….you need to score a PP goal with a min left down a goal.

The isles tried to make Yashin/Satan a top 1/2 punch but neither had heart. The last time the isles had a legitimate 1/2 punch was when Snow traded for Vanek. We saw 2 months of Tavares/Vanek and in those two months the isles had one of the best lines in hockey. Amazing how that works.

You need a dynamic top line….you need to score a PP goal with a min left down a goal.
- kindlyrick

Which is why Miller would be a great get.

You need a dynamic top line….you need to score a PP goal with a min left down a goal.
- kindlyrick

Isles have had question marks in the top 6 for a long while. Offense is still important and very hard to always try to win games 2-1. You need those easy victories once in a while during a long regular season.

Which is why Miller would be a great get.
- Wildschwein

Tkachuk was a great get. But again at what cost. In its simplest form, you let Tavares walk away for nothing…..ideally you’d sign that 10 million dollar guy as a UFA, to bring back that scoring for nothing.

Im all in for JT Miller if the cost is Bailey and Dal Colles rights. Lol

Isles have had question marks in the top 6 for a long while. Offense is still important and very hard to always try to win games 2-1. You need those easy victories once in a while during a long regular season.
- ses111

A wins a win. But we all know special teams wins championships. When a team like Tampa, or the Avs goes on the PP the odds are pretty good they’re gonna score. When the isles went on the PP I’d hope they didn’t let in a shorty. Not a great recipe.

A wins a win. But we all know special teams wins championships. When a team like Tampa, or the Avs goes on the PP the odds are pretty good they’re gonna score. When the isles went on the PP I’d hope they didn’t let in a shorty. Not a great recipe.
- kindlyrick

PP has been another long time Islanders issue. The team has struggled to find the balance between playing both solid defense and offense. It was either no defense with Cappy and Doug or all defense with Barry and big struggle to score.

PP has been another long time Islanders issue. The team has struggled to find the balance between playing both solid defense and offense. It was either no defense with Cappy and Doug or all defense with Barry and big struggle to score.
- ses111

The isles have a been a team that is known for trying to make square pegs round. Decades of trying to make a player a top line guy without them being a top line guy. Again, when the isles traded for Vanek, the isles had two months of the best line in hockey. I can’t see a scenario where that’s not needed here.

Makes ya wonder if Devon Toews coulda been packaged with someone to land an elite player. Dman who just won a cup and he got 2nd rounders for him. Seems light to me in hindsight.

The isles have a been a team that is known for trying to make square pegs round. Decades of trying to make a player a top line guy without them being a top line guy. Again, when the isles traded for Vanek, the isles had two months of the best line in hockey. I can’t see a scenario where that’s not needed here.

Makes ya wonder if Devon Toews coulda been packaged with someone to land an elite player. Dman who just won a cup and he got 2nd rounders for him. Seems light to me in hindsight.
- kindlyrick

Isles have been known to have more 3rd and 4th line type players than top 6 players.

Toews is a different case. He was playing under Barry's tight defensive system and he is now playing with elite level talent in Colorado and a much more offensive system.

Isles have been known to have more 3rd and 4th line type players than top 6 players.

Toews is a different case. He was playing under Barry's tight defensive system and he is now playing with elite level talent in Colorado and a much more offensive system.
- ses111

My only point about Toews, was young, cap friendly, talented Dman which are hard to come by…..isles have had issues signing UFAs. Rather than trade him for second rounders, perhaps he could have used that asset to address the top line wing 🤷🏻‍♂️

Isles have been known to have more 3rd and 4th line type players than top 6 players.

Toews is a different case. He was playing under Barry's tight defensive system and he is now playing with elite level talent in Colorado and a much more offensive system.
- ses111

No team wins the Stanley cup trying to make bottom 6 players into top line roles. Lou has added players like JGP, Palmieri, Romanov, and even Parise. He’s on the right track. But it’s time to FINALLY ADDRESS the need for a top line wing. Tarasenko intrigues me…super talented. Also hoping he quietly signed Kadri

Last season there was no Leddy and no Romanov. I’m a fan of Dobson, but he wasn’t replacing Leddy last year. I believe Lou went in on Ryan Suter as Leddys replacement and came up empty. Again, never replaced that PP1 zone entry.

In a perfect world your draftee’s fill in, but I don’t think Wahlstrom was or will be a top line guy. Eberle like him or not, had some timely goals for the isles. Again, never replaced.
- kindlyrick

I thought Dobson was a beast in the 2nd half.

My only point about Toews, was young, cap friendly, talented Dman which are hard to come by…..isles have had issues signing UFAs. Rather than trade him for second rounders, perhaps he could have used that asset to address the top line wing 🤷🏻‍♂️
- kindlyrick

To be fair Toews had a miserable POs the year Lou traded him.

I thought Dobson was a beast 2nd half.
- nyisles7

He’s going to be a top pair dmen. I just didn’t think he was ready to take Leddys spot.

To be fair Toews had a miserable POs the year Lou traded.
- nyisles7

Perhaps but no one is gonna say Devon Toews had a terrible playoffs his first year with the Avs. He’s gonna be remembered as a cup winner

I think the thought process was Palms “replaced” Eberle and we’d get a healthy Lee back. No answer for not replacing Toews other than maybe they thought Salo would be mostly ready.

The team in general was pretty bad the majority of the season save for Sorokin, Dobson a and maybe one or two others. Late December/early January they still had a fighting chance to make the POs and just couldn’t get it together. Maybe it was the long playoff runs the previous two years, who knows. My concern is we aren’t skilled/fast enough for the regular season and miss the POs again - for which this team is built for ImO.

He’s going to be a top pair dmen. I just didn’t think he was ready to take Leddys spot.
- kindlyrick

No, but Lou didn't pick the timing of the expansion draft. He would have been selected by Seattle and they would have lost him for nothing. Lou got what he could for him. It is true that they then lost Eberle for nothing, but that's the nature of expansion drafts. Teams are going to lose decent players for nothing. Can't be helped.

No, but Lou didn't pick the timing of the expansion draft. He would have been selected by Seattle and they would have lost him for nothing. Lou got what he could for him. It is true that they then lost Eberle for nothing, but that's the nature of expansion drafts. Teams are going to lose decent players for nothing. Can't be helped.
- JohnScammo

I get it and I’m not judging Lou for losing Ebs, my gripes are not replacing the lost assets, I.E Tavares, Leddy and Ebs.

I think the thought process was Palms “replaced” Eberle and we’d get a healthy Lee back. No answer for not replacing Toews other than maybe they thought Salo would be mostly ready.

The team in general was pretty bad the majority of the season save for Sorokin, Dobson a and maybe one or two others. Late December/early January they still had a fighting chance to make the POs and just couldn’t get it together. Maybe it was the long playoff runs the previous two years, who knows. My concern is we aren’t skilled/fast enough for the regular season and miss the POs again - for which this team is built for ImO.
- streaks

Again, I don’t think Eberle or Palmieri are top line guys to me. On the isles yes, but not on any cup team I don’t think. Heck, the Isles franchise player for a decade is now the 2C on the leafs.

Again, I don’t think Eberle or Palmieri are top line guys to me. On the isles yes, but not on any cup team I don’t think. Heck, the Isles franchise player for a decade is now the 2C on the leafs.
- kindlyrick

True. It's nice to have a superstar or two on any team. Then again when a team sucks season after season after season, the team should eventually be able to find that kind of talent in the draft, because it is getting top 5 picks. This was the colossal fail by the Islanders which has to fall on Snow's shoulders.

Obtaining those players post-draft is much more expensive.

We will see won’t we and he will be held accountable with either the success or failure of the team. He was wrong according to the fan base the first year he arrived with his off season moves and the team has had more success in his first 3 years than a decade of Sh!thead Snow and Co.

Taxes aren’t the whole issue however you’re a fool if you think it doesn’t matter. These guys have limited earning years and want and need to make the most they can during that time.
Home towns, spouses home towns and having a chance to win certainly are a part as well but in MT case his list basically was St. Louis ( his home town ) and 4 other teams in non income tax states.
- nyisles7

Taxes aren’t the whole issue: I would agree, but it seems like the majority believe it is one of the top two issues

Home towns, spouses home towns and having a chance to win certainly are a part...I would stay that this is a top issue.
Who would not want to play in their own backyard.

This team is good... with the right additions it can be really good. All the amenities are in place...I just believe Lou missed out on some golden opportunities to make this team elite. Does not mean I am not going to root for them...

True. It's nice to have a superstar or two on any team. Then again when a team sucks season after season after season, the team should eventually be able to find that kind of talent in the draft, because it is getting top 5 picks. This was the colossal fail by the Islanders which has to fall on Snow's shoulders.

Obtaining those players post-draft is much more expensive.
- JohnScammo

I just went back and looked and starting in 2006 with Okposo, no pick 1st round in 2007, then Bailey, Taveras, Neidereitter, Strome, Reinhart, Pulock, DalColle, Barzal/Beau, Bellows, R Salo.

Aside from Reinhart, which ultimately landed us Barzal and DalColle, the majority of his picks are pretty good NHL players.

Not arguing anything, just my thoughts.

EDIT/ if I remember correctly he may have had input on Dobson and Wahlstrom too as Lou was just coming in in 2018.

I thought Dobson was a beast 2nd half.
- nyisles7

He was as his confidence grew. He may not win a Norris but he will be a solid defenseman for some time