I get the reasoning, too...the Isles don't have many other tradable assets, and they have five good centers already on the roster. It does make sense to cash one of them in if it helps to bring in a winger when you consider the best wingers the team has right now are Palmieri on the right side, Lee on the left side, and it goes downhill from there.

But Pageau just does so many things well, I think it'd be another unfortunate loss for this team, especially if the return is exclusively or mostly cap space. They've already waved goodbye to Toews and Eberle for essentially nothing, and it feels like bad asset management to keep shipping off good players for Big Future Plans.
- UIF

He does indeed, although I'd argue he hasn't done a few of those things quite as well the last two seasons. Of course you could say that about 90% of the team. I like Pageau and am fine if he stays, but I guess what we 'should' do with him depends largely on just how large of a retool we want to do. To your point with our centers, I think Barzal belongs at center and therefore believe we probably may need to make a painful decision in letting go of one of those guys. That won't be Barzal or Horvat, so it leaves either Nelson, Cizikas or Pageau. Pageua's price tag would make him a desirable piece to move if we could use the money on an equally desirable wing. I'm not sure that's possible at this stage.

As a side note to improving the current roster, I also think Barzal should be bag skated EVERY SINGLE FÜCKING TIME he opts to pass on a good shooting opportunity.

Was watching Isle’s highlights earlier, holy hell does he have a shot. (frank)er needs to start using it.
- Wildschwein

You would have to bag skate the entire team. Nobody like to shoot. That is the problem.

He does indeed, although I'd argue he hasn't done a few of those things quite as well the last two seasons. Of course you could say that about 90% of the team. I like Pageau and am fine if he stays, but I guess what we 'should' do with him depends largely on just how large of a retool we want to do. To your point with our centers, I think Barzal belongs at center and therefore believe we probably may need to make a painful decision in letting go of one of those guys. That won't be Barzal or Horvat, so it leaves either Nelson, Cizikas or Pageau. Pageua's price tag would make him a desirable piece to move if we could use the money on an equally desirable wing. I'm not sure that's possible at this stage.
- keaner17

You do make a pretty good case for moving Pageau in a world where they are absolutely forced to move someone. I agree that if a center has to go, he'd probably be the one. What I haven't really seen though is the "why." We've all made vague statements about bringing in a winger, but, given all the struggles this organization has had trying to do that, I don't think it's a simple matter of just freeing up some cap space by moving Pageau. If money was the only obstacle, this problem would have been solved a few years ago.

If our target winger is an FA, that FA needs to want to come here. If it's a trade, I'm not sure what the Isles have to give up to get the kind of winger we're all asking for. It seems like we just want to move Pageau and then worry about the second part of the equation later. I'd rather take the opposite approach. Get the winger, then we'll worry about moving Pageau to make the math work.

He does indeed, although I'd argue he hasn't done a few of those things quite as well the last two seasons. Of course you could say that about 90% of the team. I like Pageau and am fine if he stays, but I guess what we 'should' do with him depends largely on just how large of a retool we want to do. To your point with our centers, I think Barzal belongs at center and therefore believe we probably may need to make a painful decision in letting go of one of those guys. That won't be Barzal or Horvat, so it leaves either Nelson, Cizikas or Pageau. Pageua's price tag would make him a desirable piece to move if we could use the money on an equally desirable wing. I'm not sure that's possible at this stage.
- keaner17

Keaner, For a team that struggles to score why on earth would you even consider trading Nelson.
For me it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

In that scenario, I'd think Nelson would get 3C minutes unless or until Horvat plays his way out 2C...but maybe the Isles would divide the minutes more evenly between the second and third lines in that case. I agree about the dilemma it creates there, but I think it's maybe not the worst dilemma to have.

As for the wing, I imagine the idea in that case would be to use all available dollars to finally solve that wing problem. Even just one go-to winger improves the situation vastly with others able to slide into better roles. But that's easy for me to type and a lot harder to execute considering how the last few attempts to bring in that go-to winger have gone.
- UIF

I can't imagine that. There's a pretty strong argument that Nelson is our top forward and is definitely our best goal scorer. Even if they were to distribute the ice time a bit more evenly, I think Nelson should be playing as many or more minutes than any other forward.

Keaner, For a team that struggles to score why on earth would you even consider trading Nelson.
For me it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
- nyisles7

I don't disagree. I think it again comes back to what the overall plan is. Are we retooling for next season. Are we retooling for 2024? Or are we doing a minor 2-3 year rebuild? Nelson carries good value at this stage for the Islanders since, as you say, he's one of the few people that actually lights the lamp. Of course he's also probably the most valuable player not locked up for 4+ years at this stage.

We all know, and I think buy into, the adage that no player is untradeable. The question becomes, what trades make sense for 'the plan'. Then of course that is preceded by "What is the plan?"

I guess we'll need to figure out if our fearless GM is returning first. Then what he wants to do.

Honestly at this stage, if Carolina were to roll over NJ and give Florida a hard time in the ECF, how far off were we really? We were a pair of bad OT collapses away from perhaps being in their shoes. So I think we're probably looking at a one year retool, which means Nelson should absolutely remain here.

You do make a pretty good case for moving Pageau in a world where they are absolutely forced to move someone. I agree that if a center has to go, he'd probably be the one. What I haven't really seen though is the "why." We've all made vague statements about bringing in a winger, but, given all the struggles this organization has had trying to do that, I don't think it's a simple matter of just freeing up some cap space by moving Pageau. If money was the only obstacle, this problem would have been solved a few years ago.

If our target winger is an FA, that FA needs to want to come here. If it's a trade, I'm not sure what the Isles have to give up to get the kind of winger we're all asking for. It seems like we just want to move Pageau and then worry about the second part of the equation later. I'd rather take the opposite approach. Get the winger, then we'll worry about moving Pageau to make the math work.
- UIF

I'm not sure how we manage to make any of that work tbh. Naturally if you 'get the winger' and are left in a must trade scenario to move someone for cash space, your return is going to be sub market. Can they afford that? I dunno. I'm not necessarily advocating that the club move JPG. I'm simply saying if you are talking about moving someone of value to free up space, you would likely want to do it from our deepest position. By the time you add up all of that, JPG is likely the most movable commodity.

I will also say that I by no means think this is what WILL happen. I think they'll 'hope' that Wahlstrom can put things together and become the player he was drafted to be. They'll add insurance with Ishakov being a potential fill-in. There won't be much money available regardless, so I'm not holding my breath on us adding a winger of significance.

The gamble would be that Sorokin enters with another year of experience, wiser. Dobson gets his act together. One of the youngsters like Bolduc, Salo, Wotherspoon or even Fulp/Mitchell can step into a defensive role with an added vet. Then a healthy Barzal and Horvat find their grove while the rest of the team adjusts to their second year with Lane. That's what I think is most likely. No major additions. Basically last year's roster minus Mayfield and perhaps Bailey.

I don't disagree. I think it again comes back to what the overall plan is. Are we retooling for next season. Are we retooling for 2024? Or are we doing a minor 2-3 year rebuild? Nelson carries good value at this stage for the Islanders since, as you say, he's one of the few people that actually lights the lamp. Of course he's also probably the most valuable player not locked up for 4+ years at this stage.

We all know, and I think buy into, the adage that no player is untradeable. The question becomes, what trades make sense for 'the plan'. Then of course that is preceded by "What is the plan?"

I guess we'll need to figure out if our fearless GM is returning first. Then what he wants to do.

Honestly at this stage, if Carolina were to roll over NJ and give Florida a hard time in the ECF, how far off were we really? We were a pair of bad OT collapses away from perhaps being in their shoes. So I think we're probably looking at a one year retool, which means Nelson should absolutely remain here.
- keaner17

We are aligned
If it’s a total strip down rebuild of course he would be traded but I don’t think the teams there at this point imho.

I can't imagine that. There's a pretty strong argument that Nelson is our top forward and is definitely our best goal scorer. Even if they were to distribute the ice time a bit more evenly, I think Nelson should be playing as many or more minutes than any other forward.
- eichiefs9

Yeah, I agree. But to your earlier point, they wouldn't have paid $8.5m to Horvat to start him out on the third line either. I'd think he'd get the opportunity to be what he's paid to be. However, if he doesn't get it done, then maybe he does become a super high-priced third-line center and Nelson moves back to 2C.

I guess the point here is I don't see the purpose of moving out Pageau if over half of the saved salary is used to bring in a center who's not as good as Pageau...and not as good as the four centers they'd still already have on the roster anyway.

If they could find a way to try and retool on the fly I'm all for it.

The Rangers are about to be real tight to the cap. Washington is on its way down. Philly is hovering around rock bottom with no real end in the near future, unless they win the Bedard lottery. Pittsburgh is not a big hurdle anymore. The Jackets blow donkey balls. Carolina is obviously a very strong team, but them and the Rangers are about it.

If the Isles were able to find a way to clear some space and make some moves, things look very differently next year. Not super confident that happens, but if they can...they should. Otherwise they'll be mediocre for a long time, which is the worst thing they can be.
- eichiefs9

Very good point about the division becoming weaker in comparison to being the toughest division in the league for years.
Edit: let me add I think Barzal stays on the wing as it frees him up in the d zone and they can utilize him for a quick zone exit.

If they could find a way to try and retool on the fly I'm all for it.

The Rangers are about to be real tight to the cap. Washington is on its way down. Philly is hovering around rock bottom with no real end in the near future, unless they win the Bedard lottery. Pittsburgh is not a big hurdle anymore. The Jackets blow donkey balls. Carolina is obviously a very strong team, but them and the Rangers are about it.

If the Isles were able to find a way to clear some space and make some moves, things look very differently next year. Not super confident that happens, but if they can...they should. Otherwise they'll be mediocre for a long time, which is the worst thing they can be.
- eichiefs9

I'm not sure how we manage to make any of that work tbh. Naturally if you 'get the winger' and are left in a must trade scenario to move someone for cash space, your return is going to be sub market. Can they afford that? I dunno. I'm not necessarily advocating that the club move JPG. I'm simply saying if you are talking about moving someone of value to free up space, you would likely want to do it from our deepest position. By the time you add up all of that, JPG is likely the most movable commodity.

I will also say that I by no means think this is what WILL happen. I think they'll 'hope' that Wahlstrom can put things together and become the player he was drafted to be. They'll add insurance with Ishakov being a potential fill-in. There won't be much money available regardless, so I'm not holding my breath on us adding a winger of significance.

The gamble would be that Sorokin enters with another year of experience, wiser. Dobson gets his act together. One of the youngsters like Bolduc, Salo, Wotherspoon or even Fulp/Mitchell can step into a defensive role with an added vet. Then a healthy Barzal and Horvat find their grove while the rest of the team adjusts to their second year with Lane. That's what I think is most likely. No major additions. Basically last year's roster minus Mayfield and perhaps Bailey.
- keaner17

I agree with you. Frankly, I think this is the bet Lou made when he acquired Horvat and immediately signed him to an eight-year deal. It's hard to do that and then slam the whole thing in reverse a few months later and say you're retooling/rebuilding.

I do think Lou will make an attempt at a big swing for a winger. How he does it, who he swings at, and what's done to even make it possible, I have no idea. But I think he knows the exact same roster won't cut it, even if major changes to it aren't in the cards.

I can't imagine that. There's a pretty strong argument that Nelson is our top forward and is definitely our best goal scorer. Even if they were to distribute the ice time a bit more evenly, I think Nelson should be playing as many or more minutes than any other forward.
- eichiefs9

He's certainly the guy whose stick you want to the puck on for a final shot. I think the tough thing with saying he should have top minutes is that to some degree I think he benefits from being that #2 center. Nelson sort of gets to be stealth with teams paying attention to Horvat/Barzal, although I think it's much tougher for him to fly under the radar today than say two years ago. To a degree, I'd almost rather see Barzal paired with him than Horvat after Horvat's awful showing down the stretch.

Still, I think the overall point here is that the Isles lack great talent at wing, but seem to have it in spades at center. It would be nice if our GM could find a way to shift that a bit.

I agree with you. Frankly, I think this is the bet Lou made when he acquired Horvat and immediately signed him to an eight-year deal. It's hard to do that and then slam the whole thing in reverse a few months later and say you're retooling/rebuilding.

I do think Lou will make an attempt at a big swing for a winger. How he does it, who he swings at, and what's done to even make it possible, I have no idea. But I think he knows the exact same roster won't cut it, even if major changes to it aren't in the cards.
- UIF

Well it would be quite the feat if he could do it. We have about $6m available right now with multiple players left to resign. We have very little in terms of assets to deal. So if we're going to attempt a big swing, it's going to require some crafty maneuvering. Bailey's buyout won't help enough. I doubt we manage to pull off a trade with him. Frankly, I'm concerned he'll still be here, which leaves little money to make any of this happen.

Well it would be quite the feat if he could do it. We have about $6m available right now with multiple players left to resign. We have very little in terms of assets to deal. So if we're going to attempt a big swing, it's going to require some crafty maneuvering. Bailey's buyout won't help enough. I doubt we manage to pull off a trade with him. Frankly, I'm concerned he'll still be here, which leaves little money to make any of this happen.
- keaner17

I gotta think a team that’s rebuilding could use Baileys services. Blackhawks, or Coyotes could be a fit.

Well it would be quite the feat if he could do it. We have about $6m available right now with multiple players left to resign. We have very little in terms of assets to deal. So if we're going to attempt a big swing, it's going to require some crafty maneuvering. Bailey's buyout won't help enough. I doubt we manage to pull off a trade with him. Frankly, I'm concerned he'll still be here, which leaves little money to make any of this happen.
- keaner17

Yep, I know about the math and the improbabilities. To me, though, another offseason of doing nothing that excites the fan base (let alone improve the team's chances of competing for a Cup) after two straight disappointing seasons would be a tough sell...both to the fan base and to the owners who probably want to generate at least some goodwill with the fans so they can translate that into ticket sales and revenue. Just my guess, anyway.

If they could find a way to try and retool on the fly I'm all for it.

The Rangers are about to be real tight to the cap. Washington is on its way down. Philly is hovering around rock bottom with no real end in the near future, unless they win the Bedard lottery. Pittsburgh is not a big hurdle anymore. The Jackets blow donkey balls. Carolina is obviously a very strong team, but them and the Rangers are about it.

If the Isles were able to find a way to clear some space and make some moves, things look very differently next year. Not super confident that happens, but if they can...they should. Otherwise they'll be mediocre for a long time, which is the worst thing they can be.
- eichiefs9

You forgot the Devils. They're going to be very good for a while.

Yep, I know about the math and the improbabilities. To me, though, another offseason of doing nothing that excites the fan base (let alone improve the team's chances of competing for a Cup) after two straight disappointing seasons would be a tough sell...both to the fan base and to the owners who probably want to generate at least some goodwill with the fans so they can translate that into ticket sales and revenue. Just my guess, anyway.
- UIF

Offseason has been a challenge for the Islanders for the longest time and this offseason will really be a challenge. Hopefully we hear from L &M soon on the direction. They need to seriously think about what the want for this team.

You forgot the Devils. They're going to be very good for a while.
- PeteM

Ah right. Them too. My bad.

Still, division is taking a step back from the best in hockey for sure.

I agree with you. Frankly, I think this is the bet Lou made when he acquired Horvat and immediately signed him to an eight-year deal. It's hard to do that and then slam the whole thing in reverse a few months later and say you're retooling/rebuilding.

I do think Lou will make an attempt at a big swing for a winger. How he does it, who he swings at, and what's done to even make it possible, I have no idea. But I think he knows the exact same roster won't cut it, even if major changes to it aren't in the cards.
- UIF

I agree with you. Frankly, I think this is the bet Lou made when he acquired Horvat and immediately signed him to an eight-year deal. It's hard to do that and then slam the whole thing in reverse a few months later and say you're retooling/rebuilding.

I do think Lou will make an attempt at a big swing for a winger. How he does it, who he swings at, and what's done to even make it possible, I have no idea. But I think he knows the exact same roster won't cut it, even if major changes to it aren't in the cards.
- UIF

I can see Lou if he’s still around going after tarasenko. He’s going to be 32 so he doesn’t make us younger but I think he makes us better. I don’t think he’ll be overly expensive given his age and injury history but who knows. Maybe we could get a couple good years out of him and be stuck with his contract like everyone else. This is a crap UFA period.

- nyisles7

He's going to walk up to the podium in that outfit and ask us all to call him Louise Lamoriello now.

I can see Lou if he’s still around going after tarasenko. He’s going to be 32 so he doesn’t make us younger but I think he makes us better. I don’t think he’ll be overly expensive given his age and injury history but who knows. Maybe we could get a couple good years out of him and be stuck with his contract? Like everyone else. This is a crap UFA period.
- Cptmjl

I'd take Tarasenko. I feel like our best opportunity to retool was the trade deadline, and with that opportunity behind us and not much left to flip for picks/prospects/young talent, maybe we should just ride the "go for it" train to the last stop at this point.

I'd take Tarasenko. I feel like our best opportunity to retool was the trade deadline, and with that opportunity behind us and not much left to flip for picks/prospects/young talent, maybe we should just ride the "go for it" train to the last stop at this point.
- UIF

Said this since the day we traded for Horvat. That was, by far, the best opportunity for this team to retool with this upcoming draft and some UFA’s to trade. Sucks but here we are so to me at least tarasenko right now seems to be the best potential option. That’s right now of course things can change but I have no idea how.

Offseason has been a challenge for the Islanders for the longest time and this offseason will really be a challenge. Hopefully we hear from L &M soon on the direction. They need to seriously think about what the want for this team.
- ses111

Yep. Agree with all of this. I can't really remember when the coach/GM/owners would usually address the media...has it been a longer-than-usual period of silence? Maybe they are really going to shake things up. I'm under the assumption it'll still be Lou's show and that he's more interested in adding a piece or two to go for it than trying to reset the whole thing.