Ben Shelley: Islanders snap seven-game losing streak with shootout win over Flames

Looking at the next 5. Isles can easily go 1-4 or 0-5. One of the biggest questions is the PK that was ranked 9th last year is now 31st in the league.

My question is what has changed? Zach Parise? Is this the reason for the drop? It just makes no sense why this team has dropped so much on the PK.

The other thing is the penalties. They should do what my kids junior does. They have a players only court and players get fined for bad penalties. Money goes to the snacks for road trip and tape. lol. I know it sounds stupid but they need to correct this. Especially since Lambert refuses to sit players.

Looking at the next 5. Isles can easily go 1-4 or 0-5. One of the biggest questions is the PK that was ranked 9th last year is now 31st in the league.

My question is what has changed? Zach Parise? Is this the reason for the drop? It just makes no sense why this team has dropped so much on the PK.

The other thing is the penalties. They should do what my kids junior does. They have a players only court and players get fined for bad penalties. Money goes to the snacks for road trip and tape. lol. I know it sounds stupid but they need to correct this. Especially since Lambert refuses to sit players.
- Nfdbulldawg

The three combined games against Philly and Ottawa are entirely winnable. Yes, the Flyers are playing pretty well and overachieving so far this season but they're not some juggernaut that are likely to steamroll the Isles. They lost to the Sharks two weeks ago.

The three combined games against Philly and Ottawa are entirely winnable. Yes, the Flyers are playing pretty well and overachieving so far this season but they're not some juggernaut that are likely to steamroll the Isles. They lost to the Sharks two weeks ago.
- eichiefs9

No doubt these are winnable games. Isles may take the first one, but Sens the day after Thanksgiving and the Flyers again on the back to back. I only see one possible win.

IF we go into full rebuild mode who do you focus on moving out? Obviously someone like Lee, Pageau, Palmieri. BUT do you consider a Sorokin, Barzal(obviously if they want due to NMC or NTC)?

IF we go into full rebuild mode who do you focus on moving out? Obviously someone like Lee, Pageau, Palmieri. BUT do you consider a Sorokin, Barzal(obviously if they want due to NMC or NTC)?
- Cptmjl

As much as I am very unimpressed this season, they're 4pts out of 2nd place in the division 17 games into the year. Rebuilding isn't a phrase I'm sure they're even considering right now.

But if this season turns out to be a major bust, Nelson would be the #1 candidate to get moved a for a good return. An offseason trade gives a team a full year of him at an exceptionally fair number, especially once the cap goes up. Lee is untradeable, I would hope they'd just hold their nose and buy him out although I don't see that happening unless Lou is gone. I would assume Pageau/Palmieri would be on the block, but I wouldn't expect much in return for them. Maybe they could retain salary to boost the return a little.

Barzal only has a partial NTC starting next year until the end of his deal. I find it very odd that he had no trade protection in year 1, but whatever. If they're truly blowing things up and he or Sorokin wanted off the Island then sure, ship them out West. Sorokin has a full NMC the first four years of his deal though, so he'd hold all the cards and likely wouldn't bring the kind of return that I think a lot of Isles fans believe that he would.

IF we go into full rebuild mode who do you focus on moving out? Obviously someone like Lee, Pageau, Palmieri. BUT do you consider a Sorokin, Barzal(obviously if they want due to NMC or NTC)?
- Cptmjl

If its a full rebuild, everyones on the table. Barzal and Sorokin go to the highest bidders out west. All the other guys you mentioned need to be gone any way possible.
Whatever youth you get in those deals need to be on the ice and playing for this team as soon as the ink dries on the trades. Get young, get fast, get skilled. Then continue with adding to that pipeline over the next few drafts. Add a couple of decent mid level free agents to help the youth along.
Obviously, all of this will be for the NEXT general manager after our owners wake up from their slumber.

Isles press conference at 11.
False alarm

As much as I am very unimpressed this season, they're 4pts out of 2nd place in the division 17 games into the year. Rebuilding isn't a phrase I'm sure they're even considering right now.

But if this season turns out to be a major bust, Nelson would be the #1 candidate to get moved a for a good return. An offseason trade gives a team a full year of him at an exceptionally fair number, especially once the cap goes up. Lee is untradeable, I would hope they'd just hold their nose and buy him out although I don't see that happening unless Lou is gone. I would assume Pageau/Palmieri would be on the block, but I wouldn't expect much in return for them. Maybe they could retain salary to boost the return a little.

Barzal only has a partial NTC starting next year until the end of his deal. I find it very odd that he had no trade protection in year 1, but whatever. If they're truly blowing things up and he or Sorokin wanted off the Island then sure, ship them out West. Sorokin has a full NMC the first four years of his deal though, so he'd hold all the cards and likely wouldn't bring the kind of return that I think a lot of Isles fans believe that he would.
- eichiefs9

I agree on Nelson, and I also cannot see a rebuild right now as well. I think a coaching change happens very soon. I think Barzal and Sorokin need to ask out for a trade to happen with them.

As much as I am very unimpressed this season, they're 4pts out of 2nd place in the division 17 games into the year. Rebuilding isn't a phrase I'm sure they're even considering right now.

But if this season turns out to be a major bust, Nelson would be the #1 candidate to get moved a for a good return. An offseason trade gives a team a full year of him at an exceptionally fair number, especially once the cap goes up. Lee is untradeable, I would hope they'd just hold their nose and buy him out although I don't see that happening unless Lou is gone. I would assume Pageau/Palmieri would be on the block, but I wouldn't expect much in return for them. Maybe they could retain salary to boost the return a little.

Barzal only has a partial NTC starting next year until the end of his deal. I find it very odd that he had no trade protection in year 1, but whatever. If they're truly blowing things up and he or Sorokin wanted off the Island then sure, ship them out West. Sorokin has a full NMC the first four years of his deal though, so he'd hold all the cards and likely wouldn't bring the kind of return that I think a lot of Isles fans believe that he would.
- eichiefs9

Yeah season isnt over yet but if they continue trending in this direction... I will say they certainly haven’t built themselves any cushion which is exactly what a team like the islanders needs to do as we witnessed last season(skin of our teeth) and the season before.

I would dump whatever we could outside of Romanov and every other young player that earns a job. Barzal I would look to shop. Don’t hate him but don’t love him either. To me he’s not a long term answer to a number 1 center. Way to many flaws in his game as exciting as he is to watch at times. I don’t think he would be easy to trade with his contract and I doubt the return would be as good as most would expect.

Yeah season isnt over yet but if they continue trending in this direction... I will say they certainly haven’t built themselves any cushion which is exactly what a team like the islanders needs to do as we witnessed last season(skin of our teeth) and the season before.

I would dump whatever we could outside of Romanov and every other young player that earns a job. Barzal I would look to shop. Don’t hate him but don’t love him either. To me he’s not a long term answer to a number 1 center. Way to many flaws in his game as exciting as he is to watch at times. I don’t think he would be easy to trade with his contract and I doubt the return would be as good as most would expect.
- Cptmjl

If CAR and NJD wake up and the Isles haven't rattled off a good few weeks then the season is definitely cooked with WSH and PHI having strong starts to the season and PIT floating around there too.

Yeah season isnt over yet but if they continue trending in this direction... I will say they certainly haven’t built themselves any cushion which is exactly what a team like the islanders needs to do as we witnessed last season(skin of our teeth) and the season before.

I would dump whatever we could outside of Romanov and every other young player that earns a job. Barzal I would look to shop. Don’t hate him but don’t love him either. To me he’s not a long term answer to a number 1 center. Way to many flaws in his game as exciting as he is to watch at times. I don’t think he would be easy to trade with his contract and I doubt the return would be as good as most would expect.
- Cptmjl

I hope a new GM gets to make these decisions. I'm fine if a new GM wants to trade Barzal. Barzal has his flaws, but this team has not built around Barzal like they did not with JT. It's not going to end well if you have a highly skilled player and just add 3rd and 4th line players around that player. You cannot add a JT or Barzal and think they are going to carry the entire team with little help.

If CAR and NJD wake up and the Isles haven't rattled off a good few weeks then the season is definitely cooked with WSH and PHI having strong starts to the season and PIT floating around there too.
- eichiefs9

I don’t see making the playoffs as a success for this team at this point. They are way to old with way to many flaws to keep hoping for a different result. Losing a few million off the cap here and there every season hoping to improve while trading the future away will never equal any semblance of success or at least what any of us should consider success. Making the playoffs will be more of a detriment to this teams long term success then anything imo. Rip the bandaid off and get on with it already.

I hope a new GM gets to make these decisions. I'm fine if a new GM wants to trade Barzal. Barzal has his flaws, but this team has not built around Barzal like they did not with JT. It's not going to end well if you have a highly skilled player and just add 3rd and 4th line players around that player. You cannot add a JT or Barzal and think they are going to carry the entire team with little help.
- ses111

Barzal to me is a great 2nd line center. He was in his perfect role his rookie season when JT was still here imo.

Barzal to me is a great 2nd line center. He was in his perfect role his rookie season when JT was still here imo.
- Cptmjl

You could be right Cpt, the system the team played was also different and it was esier to put up better offensive numbers. The defense was pretty much nonexistent though. The bottom line is the team has not been built well for a long time.

You could be right Cpt, the system the team played was also different and it was esier to put up better offensive numbers. The defense was pretty much nonexistent though. The bottom line is the team has not been built well for a long time.
- ses111

I’m not even referring to his point total from that season. There are multiple reasons other then that to me that point to him being better suited as a second line center. Most of all I look at Barzal as a player who does not make the players around him better. I think a first line center should fit that description. Also, Barzal is not a center anymore. That should disqualify him.

I don’t see making the playoffs as a success for this team at this point. They are way to old with way to many flaws to keep hoping for a different result. Losing a few million off the cap here and there every season hoping to improve while trading the future away will never equal any semblance of success or at least what any of us should consider success. Making the playoffs will be more of a detriment to this teams long term success then anything imo. Rip the bandaid off and get on with it already.
- Cptmjl

I'm kind of torn because I don't totally disagree with your logic, but playoffs are playoffs. From a fan standpoint they're fun and from a business standpoint ownership wants to be there because they make money. That said, limping in again as an 8th seed and losing to the #1 seed is just kind of like having your balls tickled and then subsequently stomped on. With high heels, if the loss comes to the Rangers.

I'm kind of torn because I don't totally disagree with your logic, but playoffs are playoffs. From a fan standpoint they're fun and from a business standpoint ownership wants to be there because they make money. That said, limping in again as an 8th seed and losing to the #1 seed is just kind of like having your balls tickled and then subsequently stomped on. With high heels, if the loss comes to the Rangers.
- eichiefs9

It's not fun if we are out in the 1st round again because we cannot score goals during the tight checking of the playoffs. The defense with having Mayfield and Aho is not much of a help either. I'd rather make moves for the future at this point and L&M need to start the search for Lou's replacement. It will only be worse the more things get delayed.

I’m not even referring to his point total from that season. There are multiple reasons other then that to me that point to him being better suited as a second line center. Most of all I look at Barzal as a player who does not make the players around him better. I think a first line center should fit that description. Also, Barzal is not a center anymore. That should disqualify him.
- Cptmjl

I still think Barzal can work well as 1C. If the Islanders can improve by trading Barzal, bye bye Barzal! My loyalty is not with the GM, coach, or a certain player.

I'm kind of torn because I don't totally disagree with your logic, but playoffs are playoffs. From a fan standpoint they're fun and from a business standpoint ownership wants to be there because they make money. That said, limping in again as an 8th seed and losing to the #1 seed is just kind of like having your balls tickled and then subsequently stomped on. With high heels, if the loss comes to the Rangers.
- eichiefs9

I don’t know about anyone else but I’m kind of sick with going into the season hoping we can squeeze in(which is honestly a stretch) then going into the playoffs with “anything can happen”. If that’s our MO or rallying cry I’m sorry it should be annihilated immediately.

I still think Barzal can work well as 1C. If the Islanders can improve by trading Barzal, bye bye Barzal! My loyalty is not with the GM, coach, or a certain player.
- ses111

I don’t. Moved on from that notion.

I don’t know about anyone else but I’m kind of sick with going into the season hoping we can squeeze in(which is honestly a stretch) then going into the playoffs with “anything can happen”. If that’s our MO or rallying cry I’m sorry it should be annihilated immediately.
- Cptmjl

This is not a good plan for success. You do not have to be an NHL GM to be able to look at roster and tell if a team has a legit chance at a Cup. Teams can get hot like the Islanders did during those two ECF runs, but to win it all with a flawed roster is another thing.

Barzal to me is a great 2nd line center. He was in his perfect role his rookie season when JT was still here imo.
- Cptmjl

I agree.

Yeah season isnt over yet but if they continue trending in this direction... I will say they certainly haven’t built themselves any cushion which is exactly what a team like the islanders needs to do as we witnessed last season(skin of our teeth) and the season before.

I would dump whatever we could outside of Romanov and every other young player that earns a job. Barzal I would look to shop. Don’t hate him but don’t love him either. To me he’s not a long term answer to a number 1 center. Way to many flaws in his game as exciting as he is to watch at times. I don’t think he would be easy to trade with his contract and I doubt the return would be as good as most would expect.
- Cptmjl

That is what I have been saying. This why I thought Horvat was a good move and a solid No.1 Center.

https://www.msn.com/en-us...1d79b3d26d258c8c835&ei=10