I bet a twelve pack that they’d lose. Figured there’s no way in hell they'd win two rounds.
- Wildschwein

Should've bet a 12 pack of $100 bills

That is not an entirely accurate statement. Leaf Nation (and it’s mood) carries a fair bit of sway with the organization. If they call for blood, they’ll get it.
- Wildschwein

Would they not have called for changes losing all these 1sts round series?

I vote re-tool.
- Wildschwein

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.

Should've bet a 12 pack of $100 bills
- eichiefs9

I wasn’t THAT confident that the Cats would win.

Would they not have called for changes losing all these 1sts round series?
- ses111

Oddly, no. The vast majority of Leaf fans I know still support Dubas.

They've about had enough of Keefe though.

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

Agree with all of this.

A window has opened. And the Isles arguably have the pieces in place to take advantage of it.

Just because I feel like stirring the pot a little, here's a question. What do the Isles do this off-season and for next season? Stay the course with the same players, a few tweaks, re-tool or just blow it up(keeping a few core players) and staring over?
- Isleshockeyman

Retool. Unfortunately, like a few have already responded, it will be tough sledding as they lack their #1 and prospects. Unless they move guys like Brock (id rather not)who can fetch a healthy return, I think they will just hold onto everyone until contracts expire. Until they settle the GM and coach situation, this is all moot.

Agree with all of this.

A window has opened. And the Isles arguably have the pieces in place to take advantage of it.
- Wildschwein

I just don't know where they can find the space to do it. I don't think there's a market for Bailey and, while it would help a little, a buyout doesn't do a ton for them.

Moving Pageau should be on the table if they can get some value for him, but dumping him for nothing just to clear space would be bad.

Burying Johnston in the minors should be a no-brainer. It's a free $1.1M in cap space.

I'd shop Palmieri too. His NTC turns to a 16-team no-trade list 7/1.

Not a ton else they can do though.

I just don't know where they can find the space to do it. I don't think there's a market for Bailey and, while it would help a little, a buyout doesn't do a ton for them.

Moving Pageau should be on the table if they can get some value for him, but dumping him for nothing just to clear space would be bad.

Burying Johnston in the minors should be a no-brainer. It's a free $1.1M in cap space.

I'd shop Palmieri too. His NTC turns to a 16-team no-trade list 7/1.

Not a ton else they can do though.
- eichiefs9

Just very difficult to see the impact moves that could be made to make this team a true Cup contender.

Retool. Unfortunately, like a few have already responded, it will be tough sledding as they lack their #1 and prospects. Unless they move guys like Brock (id rather not)who can fetch a healthy return, I think they will just hold onto everyone until contracts expire. Until they settle the GM and coach situation, this is all moot.
- Mancalledsting

Trading Nelson wouldn't make sense. His deal only has two more years at a beyond-fair price and he's arguably the team's best player. If they return to being competitive, they'll want him around. If they don't, the trade deadline will see (as of now, anyway) him, Palmieri, and Sorokin as pending UFA's, Dobson and Romanov as pending RFA's and Pageau with a year remaining on his deal. If things continue to decline and they decide to nuke it and really blow things up, moving some/all of those assets could fetch them some serious draft capital and expedite a rebuild. If they manage to turn things around then most of them get retained and the others can walk that summer.

I just don't know where they can find the space to do it. I don't think there's a market for Bailey and, while it would help a little, a buyout doesn't do a ton for them.

Moving Pageau should be on the table if they can get some value for him, but dumping him for nothing just to clear space would be bad.

Burying Johnston in the minors should be a no-brainer. It's a free $1.1M in cap space.

I'd shop Palmieri too. His NTC turns to a 16-team no-trade list 7/1.

Not a ton else they can do though.
- eichiefs9

Arguably there’s not a ton they need to do, provided that a few things go their way.

Firstly, if they can keep Varly for under 3 per, that’ll be huge.

Secondly, buyout Bailey. That’ll give them an additional 2.5(ish) to play with.

Thirdly, trade Pageau and sign a cheaper 3C for 3.5(ish) (Haula, Eller, Compher, etc).

Those three things would give them what, about 6(ish) million of wiggle room? 7 if/when they bury Johnston?

It’d be tight, but they might be able to scratch together enough coin for a winger.

Arguably there’s not a ton they need to do, provided that a few things go their way.

Firstly, if they can keep Varly for under 3 per, that’ll be huge.

Secondly, buyout Bailey. That’ll give them an additional 2.5(ish) to play with.

Thirdly, trade Pageau and sign a cheaper 3C for 3.5(ish) (Haula, Eller, Compher, etc).

Those three things would give them what, about 6(ish) million of wiggle room? 7 if/when they bury Johnston?

It’d be tight, but they might be able to scratch together enough coin for a winger.
- Wildschwein

Is the wing going to be good enough to make a real difference?

Is the wing going to be good enough to make a real difference?
- ses111

With the core the Islanders currently have in place, I think the addition of a high end wing could have a huge impact.

With the core the Islanders currently have in place, I think the addition of a high end wing could have a huge impact.
- Wildschwein

The core has not looked too good the last few years. No idea who is even available if the Islanders can free up space.

Arguably there’s not a ton they need to do, provided that a few things go their way.

Firstly, if they can keep Varly for under 3 per, that’ll be huge.

Secondly, buyout Bailey. That’ll give them an additional 2.5(ish) to play with.

Thirdly, trade Pageau and sign a cheaper 3C for 3.5(ish) (Haula, Eller, Compher, etc).

Those three things would give them what, about 6(ish) million of wiggle room? 7 if/when they bury Johnston?

It’d be tight, but they might be able to scratch together enough coin for a winger.
- Wildschwein

I like Pageau, so I'm not really aboard the "trade him" wagon. But, in theory, if they were to trade him, I don't think they'd need another center. In that case they should just roll with Barzal-Horvat-Nelson-Cizikas down the middle and use any freed up cap space to go after true wingers. Really, I'm not sure moving Barzal to wing is the best thing to do anyway...but that's been my opinion since back when we were supposed to be getting Kadri.

Just because I feel like stirring the pot a little, here's a question. What do the Isles do this off-season and for next season? Stay the course with the same players, a few tweaks, re-tool or just blow it up(keeping a few core players) and staring over?
- Isleshockeyman

Holy poop when did they let you out of jail?
Stirring the pot? Thats never done here.

I vote a re-tool

The core has not looked too good the last few years. No idea who is even available if the Islanders can free up space.
- ses111

The guy I REALLY want (and who might be available) is DeBrincat.

Making enough space for him would be tricky though.

I like Pageau, so I'm not really aboard the "trade him" wagon. But, in theory, if they were to trade him, I don't think they'd need another center. In that case they should just roll with Barzal-Horvat-Nelson-Cizikas down the middle and use any freed up cap space to go after true wingers. Really, I'm not sure moving Barzal to wing is the best thing to do anyway...but that's been my opinion since back when we were supposed to be getting Kadri.
- UIF

As do I. I just mention him because there was rumoured interest in him from other teams.

Ideally we’d just move wingers out, and bring new wingers in.

I like Pageau, so I'm not really aboard the "trade him" wagon. But, in theory, if they were to trade him, I don't think they'd need another center. In that case they should just roll with Barzal-Horvat-Nelson-Cizikas down the middle and use any freed up cap space to go after true wingers. Really, I'm not sure moving Barzal to wing is the best thing to do anyway...but that's been my opinion since back when we were supposed to be getting Kadri.
- UIF

I thought about that, but who are you giving 3rd line minutes to? Tough to pay Horvat $8.5M and then play him as a 3C. It also creates the same issue on the wings they already have.

As do I. I just mention him because there was rumoured interest in him from other teams.

Ideally we’d just move wingers out, and bring new wingers in.
- Wildschwein

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.

I thought about that, but who are you giving 3rd line minutes to? Tough to pay Horvat $8.5M and then play him as a 3C. It also creates the same issue on the wings they already have.
- eichiefs9

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.

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'm still open to trading JGP and using Casey as 3C for a year if needed. Islanders need to free up space to improve the wings. It's a gamble, but the Islanders have to think outside the box in their situation.

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.

I'm still open to trading JGP and using Casey as 3C for a year if needed. Islanders need to free up space to improve the wings. It's a gamble, but the Islanders have to think outside the box in their situation.
- ses111

I think I'd need to see more of what the plan would be before being on board. Like, if we are going to trade our most versatile centerman and weaken our overall strength down the middle, then I'd want to see some names -- who are the wingers we're talking about bringing in with the extra cap space? Even then, I'm not sure I'd trust my own judgment I thought Palmieri was going to play on Barzal's wing and pile up goals!

I think I'd need to see more of what the plan would be before being on board. Like, if we are going to trade our most versatile centerman and weaken our overall strength down the middle, then I'd want to see some names -- who are the wingers we're talking about bringing in with the extra cap space? Even then, I'm not sure I'd trust my own judgment I thought Palmieri was going to play on Barzal's wing and pile up goals!
- UIF

I thought JGP struggled down the stretch and in the playoffs. JGP had very little impact. Has Palms ever been given a long look with Barzal? They looked good together the few times they were on ice together during the playoff run.