Just wondering if you guys thought that the Islanders were ever actually serious about Kadri.

Just an Eklund/internet rumour, or did they actually kick tires?

Thanks in advance.
- Atomic Wedgie

Pretty sure we all follow the same insiders on twitter as you do.

Im not very optimistic that icing the same team from last year is a wise decision. I just looked at their schedule results from last season. They were 5-6-2 after the “brutal” 13 game road trip. Not bad actually. The problem was they lost the next 5 home games. Even before the two week Covid break, they were still 10-12-6 on Jan 1st. Again, not bad. The problem was they never made a run and basically played .500 hockey for the remainder of the season. Their longest win streak was 4 games and that happens in late March when they were all but out of it. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not overly optimistic about the current team structure.
- streaks

So would you trade the future of the team for a run at the cup? Or would you wait and see how this year starts and if positive make the changes then and if not then evaluate the best strategy moving forward.

Nah. If they poop the bed two years in a row, then changes will be a coming.

Frankly, I don’t blame the organization if they wanna gamble on this squad one more time. They've earned that trust.

If it falls apart early, then sell the house.
- Wildschwein

100% foolish to chase the cup and trade the future if you don’t have the confidence in this team. If they start well then you have time to make changes to the squad.

Me too. The upcoming season looks like more of last year, except that a new coach will be tested. It will be interesting to see if he can squeeze better hockey out of these guys............but I'm not optimistic.

Then again, after two non-playoff seasons, we lost our all-star captain for nothing. How did Lou respond? He signed (or traded for) Matt Martin, Leo Komarov and Valterri Filppula. I was sure Lou had lost his marbles, and the team was doomed for years to come. So there is at least some basis for the idea that I do not know as much as Lou.
- JohnScammo

How could you forget Jan Kovar.......

Here we go with all the gloom and doom. This place is depressing I prescribed Xanax for everyone

Here we go with all the gloom and doom. This place is depressing I prescribed Xanax for everyone
- kasperrko

I agree with someone finally... the "We suk" people are back in full force. We have no team... all our contracts are terrible and unmovable.. we have zero prospects in our system.... blah blah blah.

This team was 1 SH goal from a cup a year ago. We were one of the cup favorites last year... but this year we are worse team in the league.

Well yea, you can do pretty much anything in life if you pay a premium for it. The Islanders can't afford to do that after not drafting in the first round for the last three years
- eichiefs9

But still getting a player that most think should have gone in top 10 now.

Just wondering if you guys thought that the Islanders were ever actually serious about Kadri.

Just an Eklund/internet rumour, or did they actually kick tires?

Thanks in advance.
- Atomic Wedgie

Of course, Yes 100% they were in on Kadri at 10 mil per and 7 years but no one wants to play for the Islanders and when Kadri’s agent called the Islanders Lou was playing shuffle board with Snow reminiscing about the good old days. To Lou’s credit he is in discussions with Greene and Chara

Here we go with all the gloom and doom. This place is depressing I prescribed Xanax for everyone
- kasperrko

Does it pair well with scotch?

Problem is it could be tough to move these contracts. I think it’s smart not to move the #1 or someone like Raty. Might as well sit tight and find about Wally and Salo and maybe Raty later in the season. Maybe Bailey can be moved next offseason?
- ses111

I'm curious which contracts you think are imovable? All of our D-men would be movable in a minute and would get a lot for them.. Other than Bailey I would think any of our contracts are more than "movable".

You can say Lou doesn't do much in signing UFA's but that is mainly b/c he doesn't overpay. All of our contracts are fair... and movable.

Some of them yes, some of them no.

Varly could be dealt at the deadline as a rental. And if picks were wanted in return, I can’t see the Islanders having any difficulty moving Beauvillier, Nelson and Pageau.

Personally I’d just as soon not ever trade Pelech or Pulock, but both would garner excellent returns.

I’m not at all worried in regards to regaining assets in a retool. Especially as retooling around a young core of Barzal, Sorokin, Dobson, Wahlstrom, Romanov and Räty would likely result in a somewhat swift turnaround. Perhaps swifter still if the Islanders kept Pelech and Pulock.

That’s just my opinion of course.
- Wildschwein

Your opinion makes sense. Also I would add Beau would/could be kept as part of the rebuild as well.

I'm curious which contracts you think are imovable? All of our D-men would be movable in a minute and would get a lot for them.. Other than Bailey I would think any of our contracts are more than "movable".

You can say Lou doesn't do much in signing UFA's but that is mainly b/c he doesn't overpay. All of our contracts are fair... and movable.
- niteislander

I'm not talking about moving the defensemen. More someone like Palms or Bailey and maybe some on the 4th line if needed.


You have to be willing to overpay for top talent like Johnny G. The Islanders need an impact forward and that costs big money or big assets in trade. Islanders do not seem to be a prime destination for the top FA's. I'd love to be able to sign these type of players at a cheaper cost but it's not happening.

So would you trade the future of the team for a run at the cup? Or would you wait and see how this year starts and if positive make the changes then and if not then evaluate the best strategy moving forward.
- nyisles7

Unless there’s a trade that makes sense, I think at this point you have to see what you have. I’m not trying to be negative on the team, I just feel like they had multiple opportunities to make a push last season and for whatever reason, couldn’t put anything together. That’s concerning to me.

Also, part of my concern is the two playoff runs were part of shortened seasons. And we were lucky to make the playoffs the first playoff run that happened during covid, IMO. Last year was a full season and they were 16 points behind the Caps for the final spot. Was last year the fluke - or was it the previous two? I’m not sure. I do I think this team is built for the playoffs but you have to make them first.

Unless there’s a trade that makes sense, I think at this point you have to see what you have. I’m not trying to be negative on the team, I just feel like they had multiple opportunities to make a push last season and for whatever reason, couldn’t put anything together. That’s concerning to me.

Also, part of my concern is the two playoff runs were part of shortened seasons. And we were lucky to make the playoffs the first playoff run that happened during covid, IMO. Last year was a full season and they were 16 points behind the Caps for the final spot. Was last year the fluke - or was it the previous two? I’m not sure. I do I think this team is built for the playoffs but you have to make them first.
- streaks

Some do not want to admit those long playoff runs happened under very unique situations and many things broke right for the Islanders. Pelech was hurt and the delay gave Pelech time to recover. In the Boston series their defense was very banged up. The Isles had Leddy and Toews who really helped in moving the puck out of the zone. We cannot base everything on the two playoff runs and those runs have not helped in being able to sign top FA's. Nobody is saying this team is lousy and has no chance but this team has some big holes to overcome at this point and if no impact moves are made, things need to really break well for the Islanders to go on another run.

Unless there’s a trade that makes sense, I think at this point you have to see what you have. I’m not trying to be negative on the team, I just feel like they had multiple opportunities to make a push last season and for whatever reason, couldn’t put anything together. That’s concerning to me.

Also, part of my concern is the two playoff runs were part of shortened seasons. And we were lucky to make the playoffs the first playoff run that happened during covid, IMO. Last year was a full season and they were 16 points behind the Caps for the final spot. Was last year the fluke - or was it the previous two? I’m not sure. I do I think this team is built for the playoffs but you have to make them first.
- streaks

You’re not being negative, you’re being smart.
The fact that every team had the exact same circumstances as the Islanders on the 2 ECF runs make me believe they are not flukes. As you said the team “then” was built for the POs and was a tough team to play against. Last year they were not the same team. That said what team will you get this year and do you gamble your future on a non PO year? I think not.

We'll see how valuable cap space is when a number of teams try to become cap compliant in the next few weeks.
Vegas is about $7M over and only 17 or 18 under contract.

Some do not want to admit those long playoff runs happened under very unique situations and many things broke right for the Islanders. Pelech was hurt and the delay gave Pelech time to recover. In the Boston series their defense was very banged up. The Isles had Leddy and Toews who really helped in moving the puck out of the zone. We cannot base everything on the two playoff runs and those runs have not helped in being able to sign top FA's. Nobody is saying this team is lousy and has no chance but this team has some big holes to overcome at this point and if no impact moves are made, things need to really break well for the Islanders to go on another run.
- ses111

I agree with someone finally... the "We suk" people are back in full force. We have no team... all our contracts are terrible and unmovable.. we have zero prospects in our system.... blah blah blah.

This team was 1 SH goal from a cup a year ago. We were one of the cup favorites last year... but this year we are worse team in the league.
- niteislander

Dufour promoted to top line duty

Dufour promoted to top line duty


- eichiefs9

Why? Lol

Taxes

Dufour promoted to top line duty


- eichiefs9

That’s gonna be a female dog of a line to play against.

Dufour has really impressed me thus far with his physical play.

Why? Lol
- Vukota

Cause he’s a mean bastard who can score decently well.

That’s gonna be a female dog of a line to play against.

Dufour has really impressed me thus far with his physical play.
- Wildschwein

Upping his physicality is a good way for him to stick at the pro level if he can't produce offense like he did in juniors. He's already a big boy so if he can develop his physical game then he has a good shot at sticking around as a bottom-six grinder if the offense doesn't pan out

Upping his physicality is a good way for him to stick at the pro level if he can't produce offense like he did in juniors. He's already a big boy so if he can develop his physical game then he has a good shot at sticking around as a bottom-six grinder if the offense doesn't pan out
- eichiefs9

From what I’ve seen thus far, me thinks he tops out as a Clutterbuck clone.

Which would be a win for a 5th Round pick.

https://www.thestar.com/s...p-the-first-one-hurt.html