Then (in retrospect) the obvious solution is to start targeting RFAs from rebuilding markets, and stop hoping for the 30 year old freebies.

Case in point, Timo Meier. 2015 draft, loves to shoot and is a dynamic player/skater.

Getting him is gonna cost a bunch. But if the organization is in win now mode, then you suck it up and do it.
- Wildschwein

Costing a bunch is the issue as the Isles do not have a deep prospect pool. The player development needs to be much better if you cannot sign top UFA's. You need more patience with young players and not bench them at the drop of a hat.

Costing a bunch is the issue as the Isles do not have a deep prospect pool. The player development needs to be much better if you cannot sign top UFA's. You need more patience with young players and not bench them at the drop of a hat.
- ses111

You think Lou’s gonna care about that? We have some players teams would want. If you’re a possibly outgoing GM, you’re not gonna try to save your butt by making the present roster more competitive? Why do you give a (frank) about Raty or, even Wahlstrom two or three years from now if it saves your job now? Look at how he left Toronto if you want your answer.

Costing a bunch is the issue as the Isles do not have a deep prospect pool. The player development needs to be much better if you cannot sign top UFA's. You need more patience with young players and not bench them at the drop of a hat.
- ses111

Yeah. But you can also trade said young prospects on YOUNG and talented RFAs.

Wahlstrom might become a great player. MIGHT. Meier already is a great player. If he’d agree to sign an extension immediately after acquisition, then I’d HAPPILY trade the young maybe for the young certainty. No matter the cost.

Islanders are in win now mode. Patience is not a virtue in which the can indulge.

You think Lou’s gonna care about that? We have some players teams would want. If you’re a possibly outgoing GM, you’re not gonna try to save your butt by making the present roster more competitive? Why do you give a (frank) about Raty or, even Wahlstrom two or three years from now if it saves your job now? Look at how he left Toronto if you want your answer.
- potvin05

You can want to trade all you want but other teams have to value your prospects though.

You can want to trade all you want but other teams have to value your prospects though.
- ses111

If they don’t value your prospects, they’ll certainly value your picks. An unprotected 2023 1st is gonna be a hit commodity in the Bedard sweepstakes.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Palat 5x$6M in NJ

You can want to trade all you want but other teams have to value your prospects though.
- ses111

I flagged you on accident. Maybe😉

You’d have to be a pretty (frank)ing dumb GM to not want Raty.

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.

If they don’t value your prospects, they’ll certainly value your picks. An unprotected 2023 1st is gonna be a hit commodity in the Bedard sweepstakes.
- Wildschwein

We have guys teams are gonna want. We probably overvalue them as fans. Lou’s a wildcard. He’s knows this is probably his last job, and this is probably the season to keep it.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Palat 5x$6M in NJ
- niteislander

Much “Ooof”!

Well he certainly took less to leave Calgary. I wonder if his family and wife's family had enough of all the dopey Covid rules. They are expecting their first kid and I am guessing her family would like to be allowed to actually see the baby when born...

As far as the Taxes, $$, etc. Lou wouldn't budge off the 9 mill (no clue why).. but when you factor that in with the Taxes it's over $1miil more a year. That's pretty significant.. no?

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

could be part of it too... Philly fans don't have a lot of love for the Islanders.

the fact that we waiting and missed out on a lot of other possible targets is worst part of all of this nonsense. Pacioretty would have been a great pick up for "future considerations" .. guy is a sniper, only making $7.5 mill and actually has a 2 way game.

You can want to trade all you want but other teams have to value your prospects though.
- ses111

Here is where we disagree.. u think we have no prospects that other teams value.

I believe that we value our prospects so high that we will not trade them..

There is value in Salo, Bode Wilde, Raty, Dufour, Iskhakov, and Bolduc (remember him).. We just don't want to trade them..

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

Exactly right UIF! Garth is no longer the GM so excuses should be gone.

Here is where we disagree.. u think we have no prospects that other teams value.

I believe that we value our prospects so high that we will not trade them..

There is value in Salo, Bode Wilde, Raty, Dufour, Iskhakov, and Bolduc (remember him).. We just don't want to trade them..
- niteislander

If we will not trade them we better start developing them better. If we cannot sign quality fa's and will not trade prospects that does not leave a lot of options.

If we will not trade them we better start developing them better. If we cannot sign quality fa's and will not trade prospects that does not leave a lot of options.
- ses111

17 of our 23 present players were drafted by this team and they made it to the ECF twice. I’m not saying I’m happy right now with the UFA situation but that’s a large segment of our roster brought through the system. Will add: largely drafted by Snow and coached by Trotz who are obviously neither here anymore.

the fact that we waiting and missed out on a lot of other possible targets is worst part of all of this nonsense. Pacioretty would have been a great pick up for "future considerations" .. guy is a sniper, only making $7.5 mill and actually has a 2 way game.
- niteislander

I’m gonna give Lou a pass on that; there is something altogether fishy about that deal.

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

Keep in mind that it was Philly that had to walk away from JG, not the other way around. That WAS his choice. I do think the taxes could have been a factor in JG's decision to not choose NJ and NY when you consider it could mean up to an additional $2m per season in deductions. Anyone who doesn't think this plays a factor is fooling themselves (I know you didn't say that).
Clearly winning wasn't a major factor here. Theoretically JG chose the next closest to home suitor NOT in NY or NJ,. I'd love to hear his candid explanation but doubt we'll get one

Kevin Kurz
@KKurzNHL
·
7m
According to @PierreVLeBrun
"The Islanders showed interest (in Gaudreau) but couldn’t create the cap room to get more seriously involved, a source suggested."


I guess that's the reason we're going with, then.

Kevin Kurz
@KKurzNHL
·
7m
According to @PierreVLeBrun
"The Islanders showed interest (in Gaudreau) but couldn’t create the cap room to get more seriously involved, a source suggested."


I guess that's the reason we're going with, then.
- UIF

I thought it was super easy to clear cap space

Kevin Kurz
@KKurzNHL
·
7m
According to @PierreVLeBrun
"The Islanders showed interest (in Gaudreau) but couldn’t create the cap room to get more seriously involved, a source suggested."


I guess that's the reason we're going with, then.
- UIF

Couldn't or wouldn't.
I'm one of the few who isn't that bothered by missing out on JG with the exception of yet another negative public showing.

Kevin Kurz
@KKurzNHL
·
7m
According to @PierreVLeBrun
"The Islanders showed interest (in Gaudreau) but couldn’t create the cap room to get more seriously involved, a source suggested."


I guess that's the reason we're going with, then.
- UIF

comical excuse... here come all the Cap Crunchers.. lol. If they signed him for $10 mill they still have cap room.. and easily could trade Varly/Bailey for more.. just a dopey excuse.

We could have afforded to pay Panerin $12 mill a few years ago but JG we will only offer 9 mill.. period... line in the sand..

I thought it was super easy to clear cap space
- eichiefs9

remember when you said we would never lose Ladd.. that was a non producing $6 mill a year. It didn't even cost a first..

https://www.capfriendly.com/ As of right now there are 7 teams Over the cap.. I'm sure u can guess who they are.. The Isles have more cap room than all but 8 teams. The..."Isles have no cap room" nonsense is just old and tired. Teams that win are always over the cap and making tweaks and moves to remain compliant. We are always under it.. always