Well yeah, they know they have to load up in order to compete.

The Bruins are on pace to set the all-time points record for a season, they have every reason in the world to load up and put themselves in the best position to win a Cup. The Leafs are the Leafs, they haven't won round since the Roman empire fell and Dubas is almost certainly a goner if they make another first round exit. The Rangers had almost-exclusive cheap access to two very talented players. The Lightning are still very much in their contention window. The Devils are young and taking the next step and trying to get their young guys some good playoff experience (they'll still be out in the first round, even with Meier). Carolina is an exceptional team that could make a deep run if they get the goaltending they need.

Lots of good reasons for teams to bend over backwards to acquire every good player they can fit under the cap and mortgage the future
- eichiefs9

I also think it has to do with there being a lot of sellers due to the strength of this draft. You have a lot of teams that are bailing on this season a little earlier then normal with the mindset of doing a reset for next season. There’s also an abundance of decent players for sale.

Lee-Horvat-Engvall
Parise-Nelson-Palmieri
Martin-Cizikas-Fasching
Johnston-Holmstrom-Bailey

So Durandeau is sent down in favor of Ross. Maybe Pageau still plays and Holmstrom shifts over? Meanwhile, I thought we sent Holmstrom down????

Well yeah, they know they have to load up in order to compete.

The Bruins are on pace to set the all-time points record for a season, they have every reason in the world to load up and put themselves in the best position to win a Cup. The Leafs are the Leafs, they haven't won round since the Roman empire fell and Dubas is almost certainly a goner if they make another first round exit. The Rangers had almost-exclusive cheap access to two very talented players. The Lightning are still very much in their contention window. The Devils are young and taking the next step and trying to get their young guys some good playoff experience (they'll still be out in the first round, even with Meier). Carolina is an exceptional team that could make a deep run if they get the goaltending they need.

Lots of good reasons for teams to bend over backwards to acquire every good player they can fit under the cap and mortgage the future
- eichiefs9

Not to get ahead of myself here, but right now, it certainly looks like the Islanders have a reasonable shot at making the playoffs. However, if they do, it would most likely be as the 2nd wild card..........meaning their first round match up would be against the [gulp] Bruins. When they beat the Bruins in the playoffs a couple years ago, I believe Ullmark was still in Buffalo. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Isles could have more difficulty this year.

Lee-Horvat-Engvall
Parise-Nelson-Palmieri
Martin-Cizikas-Fasching
Johnston-Holmstrom-Bailey

So Durandeau is sent down in favor of Ross. Maybe Pageau still plays and Holmstrom shifts over? Meanwhile, I thought we sent Holmstrom down????
- keaner17

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
16s
Still no J-G Pageau (IR/upper body).

Doesn't look like Pageau is going to be in. I guess there's still an outside chance he skates tomorrow and plays Saturday, but seems pretty unlikely

Not to get ahead of myself here, but right now, it certainly looks like the Islanders have a reasonable shot at making the playoffs. However, if they do, it would most likely be as the 2nd wild card..........meaning their first round match up would be against the
- JohnScammo[gulp] Bruins. When they beat the Bruins in the playoffs a couple years ago, I believe Ullmark was still in Buffalo. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Isles could have more difficulty this year.

Boston was also banged up on defense during that series if I remember. Boston is going to be tough to beat for any team.

Not to get ahead of myself here, but right now, it certainly looks like the Islanders have a reasonable shot at making the playoffs. However, if they do, it would most likely be as the 2nd wild card..........meaning their first round match up would be against the
- JohnScammo[gulp] Bruins. When they beat the Bruins in the playoffs a couple years ago, I believe Ullmark was still in Buffalo. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Isles could have more difficulty this year.

They have almost zero margin for error. PIT still has 4 games in hand (1pt back) and BUF 5 (4pts. They can't string together multiple losses otherwise Buffalo will close the gap and even Florida (2 games in hand, 4pts back) could catch up.

And yes, as a reward for their hypothetical success in making the playoffs, they will likely get to play a juggernaut on pace for a record-setting season

Lee-Horvat-Engvall
Parise-Nelson-Palmieri
Martin-Cizikas-Fasching
Johnston-Holmstrom-Bailey

So Durandeau is sent down in favor of Ross. Maybe Pageau still plays and Holmstrom shifts over? Meanwhile, I thought we sent Holmstrom down????
- keaner17

No he was sent down in favor of Koivula which is worse IMO

Lee-Horvat-Engvall
Parise-Nelson-Palmieri
Martin-Cizikas-Fasching
Johnston-Holmstrom-Bailey

So Durandeau is sent down in favor of Ross. Maybe Pageau still plays and Holmstrom shifts over? Meanwhile, I thought we sent Holmstrom down????
- keaner17

Whatever justification there was for playing Ross against the Wild (Reaves) does not seem to exist with the Red Wings.......unless the Wings have called up a tough guy from the AHL for the remainder of the season. I suspect (hope?) that this is not the line up we see on Saturday.

Whatever justification there was for playing Ross against the Wild (Reaves) does not seem to exist with the Red Wings.......unless the Wings have called up a tough guy from the AHL for the remainder of the season. I suspect (hope?) that this is not the line up we see on Saturday.
- JohnScammo

Koivula will play before Ross

Boston was also banged up on defense during that series if I remember. Boston is going to be tough to beat for any team.
- ses111

Plus, the Islanders had Uncle Leo then.

Koivula will play before Ross
- Vukota

Well, I suppose that's a step up in hockey skills......small as it may be.

Plus, the Islanders had Uncle Leo then.
- JohnScammo

No comment.

No comment.
- ses111

Gross on Twitter

Barzal wandering around #Isles  practice facility without a noticeable limp. Had one last week.

If the Islanders do make a move in the next 24 hours it's gotta be out of left field. There are no expected to be traded guys left.

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
4m
Pierre Engvall will wear No. 18 with #Isles, rather than initially listed No. 47.

New Beau

If the Islanders do make a move in the next 24 hours it's gotta be out of left field. There are no expected to be traded guys left.
- chazpet

Schmaltz would be a very good option. They can fit him currently, but they'd likely need to clear out space in the offseason to fit his deal since ARI is not retaining or taking back money

And given what they gave up Ghost and Chychrun for, I don't think he'd cost much

There are still a couple options out there. JvR could be a decent fit. Maybe Domi. Nick Seeler could be a decent Mayfield replacement for next year (plays the left side) and he's signed for dirt cheap at $775k.

When we first traded for Engvall, I sort of figured he was a short term replacement for Barzal. A speedy guy who was a good stick handler and passes. So I'm not shocked he's practicing with Horvat. With Barzy off crutches and not walking with a limp, I would imagine he is 1-2 weeks away. Our lineup gets really interesting when he and Pageau come back. Unfortunately I'm not real optimistic it will be in time

I like the Shmaltz idea. Saw it somewhere else too.
We are also forgetting about Ottawa when looking at other wildcard teams. And to get wayyyy ahead, of the Islanders were to beat the Bruins, they would get either TB or Toronto.

I like the Shmaltz idea. Saw it somewhere else too.
We are also forgetting about Ottawa when looking at other wildcard teams. And to get wayyyy ahead, of the Islanders were to beat the Bruins, they would get either TB or Toronto.
- chazpet

The East is going to be a meat grinder this year. Pretty much everyone is going to be playing ECF-level games from the first round until the actual ECF

Schmaltz would be a very good option. They can fit him currently, but they'd likely need to clear out space in the offseason to fit his deal since ARI is not retaining or taking back money

And given what they gave up Ghost and Chychrun for, I don't think he'd cost much

There are still a couple options out there. JvR could be a decent fit. Maybe Domi. Nick Seeler could be a decent Mayfield replacement for next year (plays the left side) and he's signed for dirt cheap at $775k.
- eichiefs9

- Vukota

I would very much like to add Schmaltz. More so for next season than this one, but he would be a smart add at a more than reasonable cap hit.

Problem is that the three remaining years on his deal he gets paid

- $7.5M
- $6.95M (and a $1.5M signing bonus July 1st)
- $8.5M

in actual dollars. His cap hit is $5.85M and ownership probably wouldn't be thrilled about paying that salary

Upside to that is that they could probably get him for next to nothing. He has 100pts in his last 107gp (41g, 59a)

- Vukota

Read something recently that said he wants to stay in Philly.

Well yeah, they know they have to load up in order to compete.

The Bruins are on pace to set the all-time points record for a season, they have every reason in the world to load up and put themselves in the best position to win a Cup. The Leafs are the Leafs, they haven't won round since the Roman empire fell and Dubas is almost certainly a goner if they make another first round exit. The Rangers had almost-exclusive cheap access to two very talented players. The Lightning are still very much in their contention window. The Devils are young and taking the next step and trying to get their young guys some good playoff experience (they'll still be out in the first round, even with Meier). Carolina is an exceptional team that could make a deep run if they get the goaltending they need.

Lots of good reasons for teams to bend over backwards to acquire every good player they can fit under the cap and mortgage the future
- eichiefs9

I’m absolutely baffled by Kyle Dubas’ lack of goaltender now in year 5. For someone who’s been an advocate of advanced stats, I can’t figure out how his team is so weak in net and on the backend. What makes a team like the Bolts so good is that their skilled forwards can do their thing because they have a stellar backend with a Norris winner and a Vezina goalie. There’s no wayyyyy the leafs can compete with the Lightening or the Bruins.

I’m absolutely baffled by Kyle Dubas’ lack of goaltender now in year 5. For someone who’s been an advocate of advanced stats, I can’t figure out how his team is so weak in net and on the backend. What makes a team like the Bolts so good is that their skilled forwards can do their thing because they have a stellar backend with a Norris winner and a Vezina goalie. There’s no wayyyyy the leafs can compete with the Lightening or the Bruins.
- kindlyrick

If they lose in the first round it will be because if this imo. If one of their two tenders plays well they may go far.