luke fox @lukefoxjukebox
11s
John Tavares asked about idea of waving his no-move clause: “I love it here… I want to be here.” Open to more time on the wing. Wants to be captain.


Lance Hornby 🇺🇦 @sunhornby
29s
Tavares on what he’d do if approached about his no move clause. “I made a commitment here for seven years.”

Things are going well in Toronto
- eichiefs9

I think this pairing works great.

I think Toronto would be making a mistake losing Dubas. He's a dweeb and he has his flaws, but it's not like there's a horde of high-end GM's out there waiting in the wings to take over. Not to mention a lot of teams would want to snatch him up in an instant if he was leaving Toronto.

I have no idea about Shanny. I think Keefe is toast though, he's terrible.
- eichiefs9

I think owners seem reluctant to move on from GM's in general. At least move on quickly. GM's have the owners ear and they spend a lot of time together. The coaches do not have the same relationship with the owners.

Yeah it's a terrible decision to have to make. And one that will set the course for this franchise for a long time. If they keep him and the team just falls apart, he's the exact kind of player that could keep you from getting a high lottery pick and landing a big talent.

I don't think we have to worry about losing him for nothing. I'm sure ownership is adamant that a situation like Tavares never, ever happens again while they're at the helm.

I do recall reading that Sorokin said, maybe on break-up day, that he wasn't in a rush to sign a contract and wasn't thinking about it. So I'm not entirely sure that we see him extended this summer, even if the team is motivated. Sorokin may very well want to bet on himself for another season and see if he can up his price. But they should at least have a good idea of the neighborhood he'll be in...unless him and Milstein are entirely unwilling to even begin talking about it.
- eichiefs9

It's a very difficult decision on Sorkin. He is obviously a top quality goalie you would love to keep. It's just not easy giving a goalie huge money on a long term deal.

It's a very difficult decision on Sorkin. He is obviously a top quality goalie you would love to keep. It's just not easy giving a goalie huge money on a long term deal.
- ses111

Wouldn’t mind offering Ryan O’Reilly a deal

Chicago needs some cap to reach the floor. Send Bailey there for a 7th round pick in 2075. Seems like a fair trade to me. Also just looked at the roster. They dont have 1 forward signed past next season. Also only 2 dmen signed past then. Talk about cap space.
- chazpet

100%. See ya Bailey…enjoy that deep dish

Wouldn’t mind offering Ryan O’Reilly a deal
- kindlyrick

O'Reilly is a C and the Islanders could use wings.

Yeah it's a terrible decision to have to make. And one that will set the course for this franchise for a long time. If they keep him and the team just falls apart, he's the exact kind of player that could keep you from getting a high lottery pick and landing a big talent.

I don't think we have to worry about losing him for nothing. I'm sure ownership is adamant that a situation like Tavares never, ever happens again while they're at the helm.

I do recall reading that Sorokin said, maybe on break-up day, that he wasn't in a rush to sign a contract and wasn't thinking about it. So I'm not entirely sure that we see him extended this summer, even if the team is motivated. Sorokin may very well want to bet on himself for another season and see if he can up his price. But they should at least have a good idea of the neighborhood he'll be in...unless him and Milstein are entirely unwilling to even begin talking about it.
- eichiefs9

Yeah, I'd have to think that's 100% the case. However, it definitely does get trickier if they don't talk contract with him now (even if he'd rather not think about it yet) and make a decision very soon. The more time goes by, the more leverage he gets, because let's say the Isles are sitting solidly in the first wildcard spot come the trade deadline (not killing it, but a respectable season where they're not hanging on by a fingernail either). It becomes a lot harder to trade him in that scenario and give up on a season when they're right in the mix. But then if trading him is off the table at that point, they'd pretty much have to give in to whatever he wants or risk having him walk for a fortune after the season just like Tavares did.

I changed my mind on the Council of HockeyBuzz Posters taking over as GM. I'm not sure I'd want to make this decision

We all agree that Sorokin is fantastic...one of the better goalies in the league who may have been the biggest factor in the Isles even getting to the playoffs. If he's seeking a monster payday though, what's the ceiling for you guys on how much you'd be willing to spend on a goalie, given all the Isles' other commitments and needs?
- UIF

I think the Sorokin deal is going to be one of the more difficult negotiations to anticipate. Sorokin took a very passive approach on his last deal which seems to fall in line with his demeanor on everything. He's sort of a rare bird in that he appears to value loyalty and duty over glitz and glamor. I'm sure his agent is doing everything he can to get Sorokin to milk what he can out of this deal, but I wouldn't be shocked that he take something seemingly lower than his market value. If he and Varly are really as close as all indications say, the both of them could be used to entice the other to agree to more cap friendly deals.
The top five highest paid goaltenders presently are: Price ($10.5); Bobrovsky ($10); Vasilevskiy ($9.5); Gibson ($6.4); Murray ($6.2). None of last year's Vezina finalists were due for new contracts so we can't use that as a barometer.
If I'm Lou, I'd congratulate him on his Vezina nomination but also caution that the top three highest guys all WON the Vezina. In most of the main categories he was at or near the top three. The Isles COULD wait for Shesterkin to sign his deal, which would allow them to use that as a ceiling or they could try to low-ball him early. Vasilevskiy's deal came off a Vezina win and a Stanley Cup. So I think that would be absolutely the ceiling. Bobrovsky's contact came right after he had won his second Vezina. Price, of course was considered the best goalie in Hockey having won a Vezina just before carrying the Habs to a cup appearance.

With all things considered, I think Sorokin comes in just under this group, market or not. I'm thinking he ends up in the 7 year- $8-$8.5m range which I am absolutely willing to do

O'Reilly is a C and the Islanders could use wings.
- ses111

I’d move JGP and sign O’Reilly. He’s a winner.

I think the Sorokin deal is going to be one of the more difficult negotiations to anticipate. Sorokin took a very passive approach on his last deal which seems to fall in line with his demeanor on everything. He's sort of a rare bird in that he appears to value loyalty and duty over glitz and glamor. I'm sure his agent is doing everything he can to get Sorokin to milk what he can out of this deal, but I wouldn't be shocked that he take something seemingly lower than his market value. If he and Varly are really as close as all indications say, the both of them could be used to entice the other to agree to more cap friendly deals.
The top five highest paid goaltenders presently are: Price ($10.5); Bobrovsky ($10); Vasilevskiy ($9.5); Gibson ($6.4); Murray ($6.2). None of last year's Vezina finalists were due for new contracts so we can't use that as a barometer.
If I'm Lou, I'd congratulate him on his Vezina nomination but also caution that the top three highest guys all WON the Vezina. In most of the main categories he was at or near the top three. The Isles COULD wait for Shesterkin to sign his deal, which would allow them to use that as a ceiling or they could try to low-ball him early. Vasilevskiy's deal came off a Vezina win and a Stanley Cup. So I think that would be absolutely the ceiling. Bobrovsky's contact came right after he had won his second Vezina. Price, of course was considered the best goalie in Hockey having won a Vezina just before carrying the Habs to a cup appearance.

With all things considered, I think Sorokin comes in just under this group, market or not. I'm thinking he ends up in the 7 year- $8-$8.5m range which I am absolutely willing to do
- keaner17

Sorokin is the best goalie the isles have had in decades. He’s still “young.” Maybe they can get him for cheaper if they max the term. Lou was always crafty with numbers.

According to Kurz on Monday, Romanov underwent a successful minor surgical procedure on his shoulder and will be ready to go for training camp in September.

I’d move JGP and sign O’Reilly. He’s a winner.
- kindlyrick

If this was the final piece to the puzzle I might agree with you. However, I do not think it is and it would make the team older. Plus, I think JGP had an off year and I like his all around game.

I think one of the biggest under the radar questions going into next season is Oliver Wahlstrom.

Can he be the scorer that the Islanders have projected him to be? Can he stay healthy? Given his current unknowns, he should be offered a qualifying RFA offer. Let him prove himself next season. If he can prove that he is that player, than offer him a bridge deal.

I think one of the biggest under the radar questions going into next season is Oliver Wahlstrom.

Can he be the scorer that the Islanders have projected him to be? Can he stay healthy? Given his current unknowns, he should be offered a qualifying RFA offer. Let him prove himself next season. If he can prove that he is that player, than offer him a bridge deal.
- Nfdbulldawg

He hasn't done anything yet as far as I'm concerned. He's pretty one-dimensional so he either needs to make some drastic improvements in other areas (after essentially a lost season) or really start depositing the puck in the net on a regular basis.

He won't get much of a raise this year, which could be good, but if he doesn't start stringing together some sort of consistency then things are not looking good for his future here...or anywhere. Right now he's starting to look more like Kieffer Bellows than what we hoped he'd be.

I think the Sorokin deal is going to be one of the more difficult negotiations to anticipate. Sorokin took a very passive approach on his last deal which seems to fall in line with his demeanor on everything. He's sort of a rare bird in that he appears to value loyalty and duty over glitz and glamor. I'm sure his agent is doing everything he can to get Sorokin to milk what he can out of this deal, but I wouldn't be shocked that he take something seemingly lower than his market value. If he and Varly are really as close as all indications say, the both of them could be used to entice the other to agree to more cap friendly deals.
The top five highest paid goaltenders presently are: Price ($10.5); Bobrovsky ($10); Vasilevskiy ($9.5); Gibson ($6.4); Murray ($6.2). None of last year's Vezina finalists were due for new contracts so we can't use that as a barometer.
If I'm Lou, I'd congratulate him on his Vezina nomination but also caution that the top three highest guys all WON the Vezina. In most of the main categories he was at or near the top three. The Isles COULD wait for Shesterkin to sign his deal, which would allow them to use that as a ceiling or they could try to low-ball him early. Vasilevskiy's deal came off a Vezina win and a Stanley Cup. So I think that would be absolutely the ceiling. Bobrovsky's contact came right after he had won his second Vezina. Price, of course was considered the best goalie in Hockey having won a Vezina just before carrying the Habs to a cup appearance.

With all things considered, I think Sorokin comes in just under this group, market or not. I'm thinking he ends up in the 7 year- $8-$8.5m range which I am absolutely willing to do
- keaner17

Still seems high to me

I believe Sorokin may deserve that if he wants it. But I also just feel like it's not really the 90s or early 00s anymore as far as goaltending is concerned. There seem to be more competent (not elite, but not Yan Denis either) goalies than available jobs these days, and you can get good results with a solid, but not spectacular goalie on a short term deal at a reasonable cost...or at least I'd say a competent goalie today let's you hang right in there with an opposing team that does have an elite goalie (heck, how are all the Vezina finalists' teams doing right now? How about last year's Vezina winner?). Like, the Isles' results with Varlamov, who won't be getting $8m+, were not drastically (if at all) worse than their results with Sorokin, and I definitely consider Sorokin a better goalie than Varly.

Eh, I'm probably wrong here...I'm not at all saying goaltending doesn't matter; just that the gap between an affordable solid goalie and a highly paid elite goalie maybe isn't quite what it was 15 years ago, and may not be worth the gap in salary you have to pay to get the elite one. And then the tipping point for me is the years you have to give to the elite one for a position where performance can unexpectedly fall off a cliff really quickly.

I’d move JGP and sign O’Reilly. He’s a winner.
- kindlyrick

Between Kadri last offseason, Horvat this season, and now O'Reilly, I don't get why we keep wanting to rearrange deck chairs at center when winger is so obviously the pressing need

Between Kadri last offseason, Horvat this season, and now O'Reilly, I don't get why we keep wanting to rearrange deck chairs at center when winger is so obviously the pressing need
- UIF

Yep. Would like ROR in our bottom 6 he would be a great add but how does it make any sense at all?

Yep. Would like ROR in our bottom 6 he would be a great add but how does it make any sense at all?
- Cptmjl

The number 1 priority is obviously the pp. They need skill injected into the top 6. How they do that remains to be seen. (Hell with Lou at the helm, I wouldn't be surprised if he surrenders the 2024 1st and dufour for another Horvat)

The number 1 priority is obviously the pp. They need skill injected into the top 6. How they do that remains to be seen. (Hell with Lou at the helm, I wouldn't be surprised if he surrenders the 2024 1st and dufour for another Horvat)
- Mancalledsting

He will keep doing trades like that as long as he’s here. His MO is not valuing picks or prospects. He literally has done that and said it his entire career. He will continue to go for it for better or worse.

Between Kadri last offseason, Horvat this season, and now O'Reilly, I don't get why we keep wanting to rearrange deck chairs at center when winger is so obviously the pressing need
- UIF

It's unreal UIF. Should be obvious after all these years what is needed.

Still seems high to me

I believe Sorokin may deserve that if he wants it. But I also just feel like it's not really the 90s or early 00s anymore as far as goaltending is concerned. There seem to be more competent (not elite, but not Yan Denis either) goalies than available jobs these days, and you can get good results with a solid, but not spectacular goalie on a short term deal at a reasonable cost...or at least I'd say a competent goalie today let's you hang right in there with an opposing team that does have an elite goalie (heck, how are all the Vezina finalists' teams doing right now? How about last year's Vezina winner?). Like, the Isles' results with Varlamov, who won't be getting $8m+, were not drastically (if at all) worse than their results with Sorokin, and I definitely consider Sorokin a better goalie than Varly.

Eh, I'm probably wrong here...I'm not at all saying goaltending doesn't matter; just that the gap between an affordable solid goalie and a highly paid elite goalie maybe isn't quite what it was 15 years ago, and may not be worth the gap in salary you have to pay to get the elite one. And then the tipping point for me is the years you have to give to the elite one for a position where performance can unexpectedly fall off a cliff really quickly.
- UIF

Just look at what the Canes have done with a non-elite goalie. Sorokin is very much to have, but the price will mostly be very high and in a Cap world, it prevents the team from doing other things.

Sounds like we'll know tonight if the Coyotes are staying in Arizona or not. Vote on that Tempe arena is today.

Just like at what the Canes have done with a non-elite goalie. Sorokin is very much to have, but the price will mostly be very high and in a Cap world, it prevents the team from doing other things.
- ses111

I disagree with this theory of getting by with mediocre goaltending. I get he has to be locked up to a level below a Carey Price contract but you have to pay more for elite talent. There’s not a better place to do that then in net imo. Both him and his agent have to understand that there’s a limit that any team can spend in net on top of for as good as he is he hasn’t won anything yet.

I think he comes in under 9 million and if he keeps playing at this level I’m fine with that. The real problem is the same problem we’ve always had and that is way too much money invested in players that don’t consistently perform. You have too pay for the ones that do.

Sounds like we'll know tonight if the Coyotes are staying in Arizona or not. Vote on that Tempe arena is today.
- eichiefs9

Just move the team already it’s been a joke for far too long. I think it’s hysterical the NHL seems to be dead set on Atlanta again as a real option.

Just move the team already it’s been a joke for far too long. I think it’s hysterical the NHL seems to be dead set on Atlanta again as a real option.
- Cptmjl

Yeah I think it's about time that the NHL moves on from Arizona. I think that'll happen if this vote fails. Bettman won't let them play in an NCAA arena forever.