I only think it’s relevant because to me it backs up the theory of some of the record discussions. If nothing else Lou has had a modicum of success with extensions.
- kindlyrick

huh?

huh?
- Cptmjl

Fat fingers lol. I edited to “off the record” discussions.

Just my guess, but I think they'll re-sign him. Lou isn't Garth Snow and I don't think this will be a repeat of the Vanek situation.

I guess my concern is how that contract looks three or four years from now if it turns out the core of this team had its best run already. Now you start thinking of all the assets burned and if they really were used wisely.

I know enough to know that I don't know Maybe this guy turns out to be amazing, Palmieri becomes the guy we thought we traded for, Wahlstrom blossoms into a legit scorer who doesn't really have rocks for brains, Lee and Nelson play at their best well into their 30s, the D returns to its dominant form, etc. Maybe this group's best years are still ahead of it. I just feel like there's at least an equal chance that the opposite is true. It's a risky move, is all I'm saying.
- UIF

Lou lost Tavares

Fat fingers lol. I edited to “off the record” discussions.
- kindlyrick

Gotcha. I don’t think they talked. I don’t see any reason to believe otherwise. I’ll believe what Lameriello, Horvat, and everyone else attached to the trade said. I still think we’ll most likely sign him but I don’t think it’s due to four Islander players sharing the same agent. I’m sure there’s plenty of other players on other teams that have the same agents. I don’t think that’s really a lightbulb going off kind of thing

Lou lost Tavares
- PeteM

Nah man, Snow's neglect of that roster for most of JT's Isles tenure is the reason they lost JT. Had nothing to do with Lou. Lou just happened to be holding the shat bag in his hand that Snow left him when JT left

Lou lost Tavares
- PeteM

The guy doesn’t even grow a beard.

Lou lost Tavares
- PeteM

In fairness Lou took over at the 23rd hour. Never in the history of hockey that I can recall has a first overall walked at the last minute after asking not to be moved. Not to re hash the situation, but that was solely a scumbag move of their former captain to string them along. Had Lou been GM that entire year, I believe he would have given him a date to make a decision or be moved, much like Calgary did last summer. I think Garth got played and handed the hot potato to Lou. I don’t blame Lou for that outcome.

Gotcha. I don’t think they talked. I don’t see any reason to believe otherwise. I’ll believe what Lameriello, Horvat, and everyone else attached to the trade said. I still think we’ll most likely sign him but I don’t think it’s due to four Islander players sharing the same agent. I’m sure there’s plenty of other players on other teams that have the same agents. I don’t think that’s really a lightbulb going off kind of thing
- Cptmjl

I don’t think they have a filed deal waiting to be signed, but it doesn’t take a back door discussion to figure out comps for a 27 year old who’s top ten in goals. He’s gonna get paid and the isles have the lettuce to do so

Nah man, Snow's neglect of that roster for most of JT's Isles tenure is the reason they lost JT. Had nothing to do with Lou. Lou just happened to be holding the shat bag in his hand that Snow left him when JT left
- Vukota

Yeah Lou didn’t have a chance with that one. Tavares knew he was going to Toronto long before any of us did. I don’t think anyone was stopping that from happening. Especially right after Lameriello just got shipped out of Toronto

I don’t think they have a filed deal waiting to be signed, but it doesn’t take a back door discussion to figure out comps for a 27 year old who’s top ten in goals. He’s gonna get paid and the isles have the lettuce to do so
- kindlyrick

You’re scaring me.

You’re scaring me.
- Cptmjl

Lol. Question. Who’s worth more to you, Barzal or Horvat? (Contract wise)

I don’t think they have a filed deal waiting to be signed, but it doesn’t take a back door discussion to figure out comps for a 27 year old who’s top ten in goals. He’s gonna get paid and the isles have the lettuce to do so
- kindlyrick

And this is where folks should be concerned: Horvat is NOT a top 10 goal scorer in this league. On average he will just crack the top 50. That said, it will most certainly take a long term contract that pays him like a top 10-20 goal scorer to keep him here. That could look REAL bad in a couple of years.

Lol. Question. Who’s worth more to you, Barzal or Horvat? (Contract wise)
- kindlyrick

Horvat has some great attributes that Barzal doesn’t. I’ll also add that Barzal has frustrated the crap out of me this season so it’s kind of a loaded question.

I would still say Barzal. I’m not sure he’ll ever reach his ceiling but his is higher then Horvat’s imo. I’ll also add that Barzal is almost three years Horvat’s junior so he has a legit chance of being a big contributor for most or all of his contact.

And this is where folks should be concerned: Horvat is NOT a top 10 goal scorer in this league. On average he will just crack the top 50. That said, it will most certainly take a long term contract that pays him like a top 10-20 goal scorer to keep him here. That could look REAL bad in a couple of years.
- keaner17

I disagree and I think Barzals style and playmaking fits his style of being a goal scorer. I’m not worried about what his contract will look like in 7 years. He’s 27 and in his prime. I’m not about the minutia….the isles FINALLY have two elite skilled players on their first line.

Horvat has some great attributes that Barzal doesn’t. I’ll also add that Barzal has frustrated the crap out of me this season so it’s kind of a loaded question.

I would still say Barzal. I’m not sure he’ll ever reach his ceiling but his is higher then Horvat’s imo. I’ll also add that Barzal is almost three years Horvat’s junior so he has a legit chance of being a big contributor for most or all of his contact.
- Cptmjl

I think with Barzals speed and playmaking it will compliment Horvat, and the reality is, that kind of NHL skill are paid NHLers. The problem is the isles have too much being spent in the middle of the lineup, and I also don’t think they “need” a 5 million dollar back up.

Edit : Barzal was maddening at times but he’s also never had legit skill to head man the puck. He’s held it too long trying to carry the team.

JT left because 91 was too high for Lou
Horvat took another players number so that might be why people think he is staying?
I think Lou allows numbers below 55. I thought Horvat would take 33 or 55.
Who knows it really doesn't matter. Just something to talk about until Lou's next move.

I disagree and I think Barzals style and playmaking fits his style of being a goal scorer. I’m not worried about what his contract will look like in 7 years. He’s 27 and in his prime. I’m not about the minutia….the isles FINALLY have two elite skilled players on their first line.
- kindlyrick

Like I've said, I like Horvat and wanted him here when it became apparent talks with Vancouver were going nowhere. I do not think in the slightest that it's a given he will sign here. I do think he's a good match for Barzy, although I thought Palmieri would be too. With Barzy I can see him hitting 30 again...I don't see 40. He is very good, but I'm not so fast to call him 'elite'. We'll see

Anybody pay for the rumor chart? I saw somewhere that Ek had the Isles in on Dadonov from MTL.

Nah man, Snow's neglect of that roster for most of JT's Isles tenure is the reason they lost JT. Had nothing to do with Lou. Lou just happened to be holding the shat bag in his hand that Snow left him when JT left
- Vukota

Personally I blame both Lou and Garth (more Garth) but that really was on JT himself. He gave the Isles every reason to believe he wanted to stay until decision day. Lou had time to work that out as,well. The whole thing was a cluster F, compounded by JT's lack of transparency

Like I've said, I like Horvat and wanted him here when it became apparent talks with Vancouver were going nowhere. I do not think in the slightest that it's a given he will sign here. I do think he's a good match for Barzy, although I thought Palmieri would be too. With Barzy I can see him hitting 30 again...I don't see 40. He is very good, but I'm not so fast to call him 'elite'. We'll see
- keaner17

Fair enough. A deals not a deal until it’s a deal. I just think he signs….and while Horvat is not of the same ilk as Matthew’s, McKinnon, McDavid etc, the reality is he’s the best center the isles have had since Tavares. Luckily the isles aren’t cash strapped and have the means to finally put together a 1-2 scoring threat that’s been hampering them. Hopefully we see some 3rd period goals. Lol

I think with Barzals speed and playmaking it will compliment Horvat, and the reality is, that kind of NHL skill are paid NHLers. The problem is the isles have too much being spent in the middle of the lineup, and I also don’t think they “need” a 5 million dollar back up.

Edit : Barzal was maddening at times but he’s also never had legit skill to head man the puck. He’s held it too long trying to carry the team.
- kindlyrick

Im a big believer that we didn’t have an adequate top 6 especially on the wings. My problem with the trade has nothing to do with Horvat himself. With me saying I think our wingers were really inconsistent and at times subpar but Barzal has to take some of that negative responsibility himself. Having a decent winger or wherever he lines up will for sure help and I agree it will straighten out some to a lot of his game BUT he has to improve some aspects of his own game. He’s young and I think he will.

Personally I blame both Lou and Garth (more Garth) but that really was on JT himself. He gave the Isles every reason to believe he wanted to stay until decision day. Lou had time to work that out as,well. The whole thing was a cluster F, compounded by JT's lack of transparency
- keaner17

Lou didn't take the reins until the season was over. The best thing Lou could do was hire a proven coach to impress JT that he was serious about improving the team. He did that when he hired Trotz.

As others have said, Garth needed to give JT an ultimatum: sign or your getting traded at the deadline. Garth instead gave an inflated long-term contract to Bailey, thinking JT would never abandon his best buddy. We're still paying for that brilliant move.

Lebrun on the TSN insiders show said he believes the Isles were on Horvats short list of teams come July. I’ll take that as a good sign he is very open to signing here

Lou didn't take the reins until the season was over. The best thing Lou could do was hire a proven coach to impress JT that he was serious about improving the team. He did that when he hired Trotz.

As others have said, Garth needed to give JT an ultimatum: sign or your getting traded at the deadline. Garth instead gave an inflated long-term contract to Bailey, thinking JT would never abandon his best buddy. We're still paying for that brilliant move.
- JohnScammo

I think there’s a lot more to the story then that. I’d say we’ll never know it. The bottom line is when the music stopped it became very apparent to me and any other sane person that he knew he was going to Toronto and he strung us along. He even said he didn’t want “whatever team” that signed him not to have to give up any assets for him and weaken the team in the process. That’s all the proof anyone should need.

I think there’s a lot more to the story then that. I’d say we’ll never know it. The bottom line is when the music stopped it became very apparent to me and any other sane person that he knew he was going to Toronto and he strung us along. He even said he didn’t want “whatever team” that signed him not to have to give up any assets for him and weaken the team in the process. That’s all the proof anyone should need.
- Cptmjl

Undoubtedly. I was going with the short version to appeal to the people who lurk here but rarely, if ever, post. Did you know that there was a scientific study done that found that the attention span of the average hockeybuzz reader was roughly equivalent to that of a jack russell terrier? Okay, I'm bored and just made that up.

You could well be right about JT. I just don't blame Lou for the mess he inherited from Garth. Or maybe JT always wanted to grow a beard?