Between Varlamov and Bailey that’s like 10 million being unnecessarily spent imo. I’d like to see them get a cheaper serviceable backup and use that remaining money along with Baileys money and sign a top six winger who’s a UFA (if it’s out there).
- kindlyrick

Still need to sign a back-up goalie with some of that $5M we're saving from Varlamov. It's probably going to cost around $3M-ish to get a decent one

Take your pick: https://www.capfriendly.c...ies/ufa?stats-season=2023

We wouldn’t even have a chance without stellar goaltending. Even with them our chances are at best remote of making the playoffs this season. Sorokin is incredible but we can’t drop points every time someone else plays net and can’t stand on their head. Not really sure how we fix the D with zero assets besides internally? Have to hope one of these kids rises to the occasion that’s all we got.
- Cptmjl

That’s kinda the risk they took when they got rid of Trotz. They didn’t really have the horses up front to not play a defensive style. Another positive of Horvat is the 2 way game which they’ve been lacking. I agree with you though you can’t rely on stellar goaltending night in and night out. But, I still think with 30 games remaining the isles squeak in and who knows, anything can happen.

Still need to sign a back-up goalie with some of that $5M we're saving from Varlamov. It's probably going to cost around $3M-ish to get a decent one

Take your pick: https://www.capfriendly.c...ies/ufa?stats-season=2023
- eichiefs9

I’ll take any serviceable backup for 3 mill, and sign a serviceable vet on the backend (one who can skate in this league).
As it stand right now they’re rolling two starters, which I guess is better than snows 3 goalie rotation. Ha

That’s kinda the risk they took when they got rid of Trotz. They didn’t really have the horses up front to not play a defensive style. Another positive of Horvat is the 2 way game which they’ve been lacking. I agree with you though you can’t rely on stellar goaltending night in and night out. But, I still think with 30 games remaining the isles squeak in and who knows, anything can happen.
- kindlyrick

It's not going to happen. To get in they realistically can't lose more than 8 games for the rest of the season. I don't see them going 22-8 and finishing with 99 points.

Lou has left the Isles with a bubble team for the present season and an empty prospect cupboard. I'm not trolling you, I'm just having flashbacks of exactly what Uncle Lou did to NJ on his way out. Took us a decade + to get back to even a semblance of competitiveness. Hopefully you guys can recover quicker, because being a fan of a post-Lamoriello-era hockey team is painful and a leading cause of alcoholism.
- WayneZ

Our prospects are already gone and at 80 Lou doesn't care about the next 10 years

It's not going to happen. To get in they realistically can't lose more than 8 games for the rest of the season. I don't see them going 22-8 and finishing with 99 points.
- JimmyP

They started out playing great, and injuries happened. I dont see why its so unrealistic for this team to win 22 games out of 30.

Our prospects are already gone and at 80 Lou doesn't care about the next 10 years
- Upstate_isles

That’s true but to be fair he didn’t care about the Devil’s prospects 20 years ago when he was 60 either

They started out playing great, and injuries happened. I don't see why its so unrealistic for this team to win 22 games out of 30.
- kindlyrick

Do me a favor and PM me your dealer's contact info. I want to take what your taking.

They aren't making the playoffs.

Do me a favor and PM me your dealer's contact info. I want to take what your taking.

They aren't making the playoffs.
- JimmyP

Id bet you money, and venmo you if I lose. Let me know. You can private message me your number for me to send, and vice versa.

They started out playing great, and injuries happened. I dont see why its so unrealistic for this team to win 22 games out of 30.
- kindlyrick

I love your positivity but I think it’s nestled in with some unrealistic expectations. Every team ahead of them is going to be playing trying to hold onto those spots while we’re battling to get back in. They have to go on a serious run while hoping nobody else does and loses. Once you start depending on other teams to lose you already lost more often then not. We're going to need some kind of Tommy Soderstrom magic again.

It’s possible but like I said in an earlier post it’s remote.

I love your positivity but I think it’s nestled in with some unrealistic expectations. Every team ahead of them is going to be playing trying to hold onto those spots while we’re battling to get back in. They have to go on a serious run while hoping nobody else does and loses. Once you start depending on other teams to lose you already lost more often then not. We're going to need some kind of Tommy Soderstrom magic again.

It’s possible but like I said in an earlier post it’s remote.
- Cptmjl

Tommy Soderstrom lol. I can still see that crazy helmut. Im tryna be positive. Laws of attraction.....positivity breeds positivity!

Id bet you money, and venmo you if I lose. Let me know. You can private message me your number for me to send, and vice versa.
- kindlyrick

FYI I wouldn’t put anything in your PM’s. It’s not encrypted and these idiots have access to them. I was told by them they can read them at will. They are NOT really PM’s.

We wouldn’t even have a chance without stellar goaltending. Even with them our chances are at best remote of making the playoffs this season. Sorokin is incredible but we can’t drop points every time someone else plays net and can’t stand on their head. Not really sure how we fix the D with zero assets besides internally? Have to hope one of these kids rises to the occasion that’s all we got.

I think everyone has forgotten about this teams issues since the Horvat trade and thinks we’re some NHL powerhouse now sitting outside the wildcard with every team in front of us having games in hand.
- Cptmjl

Nah. Everyone is still just a little shell shocked. Lou pretty much just told us all to “hold his beer”. And since we don’t have a choice, everyone is being like…

FYI I wouldn’t put anything in your PM’s. It’s not encrypted and these idiots have access to them. I was told by them they can read them at will. They are NOT really PM’s.
- Cptmjl

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, whats encrypted? lol

Who can read the messages? The moderators?

Tommy Soderstrom lol. I can still see that crazy helmut. Im tryna be positive. Laws of attraction.....positivity breeds positivity!
- kindlyrick

Hey man even though I’m not a fan of this trade I’d love to watch them squeeze in. Especially since we don’t have a first round pick anymore. Prior I was honestly hoping for losses for obvious reasons. But now Lou took that away from me.

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, whats encrypted? lol

Who can read the messages? The moderators?
- kindlyrick

Correct

They started out playing great, and injuries happened. I dont see why its so unrealistic for this team to win 22 games out of 30.
- kindlyrick

*does a bourbon spit take*

Nah. Everyone is still just a little shell shocked. Lou pretty much just told us all to “hold his beer”. And since we don’t have a choice, everyone is being like…



- Wildschwein

I’m with everyone on that. Can’t root for them to lose since we don’t have the pick anymore.

Hey man even though I’m not a fan of this trade I’d love to watch them squeeze in. Especially since we don’t have a first round pick anymore. Prior I was honestly hoping for losses for obvious reasons. But now Lou took that away from me.
- Cptmjl

I guess the positive in all this is that if in a month they arent close to making the post season Lou can sell off assets and re coup some picks. This is why signing UFA's are so important. You're adding assets without giving up something. Those assets can always be flipped for picks. The Rangers were pro's at it.

First X, now Wayne…did Vukota send out some weird Batsignal or some poop?

*does a bourbon spit take*
- Wildschwein

Which Bourbon? Buffalo Trace in the states is like trying to find a unicorn. My buddies in Canada say its everywhere, but in the states you gotta get lucky. There's one called Rabbit Hole thats amazing, but its $89 a bottle. My weekly Bourbon is Larceny which is prob the best bang for the buck.

Correct
- Cptmjl

Good lookin out. Im a scammers wet dream. Too easy

I’m with everyone on that. Can’t root for them to lose since we don’t have the pick anymore.
- Cptmjl

You dont need picks when the Kirill's will be ready any year now...

Which Bourbon? Buffalo Trace in the states is like trying to find a unicorn. My buddies in Canada say its everywhere, but in the states you gotta get lucky. There's one called Rabbit Hole thats amazing, but its $89 a bottle. My weekly Bourbon is Larceny which is prob the best bang for the buck.
- kindlyrick

Buffalo Trace is everywhere up here. Relatively cheap, too.

Personally, I prefer Maker’s Mark.

That’s true but to be fair he didn’t care about the Devil’s prospects 20 years ago when he was 60 either
- Cptmjl

Extremely fair