The coach may, and probably will, ultimately take the fall for this and rightfully so. But this team's issues are so much more than that. Mayfield, in year 1 of a mind-numbingly stupid 7 year extension, looks entirely lost most nights.

Feels like a coaching change could be coming sooner than later. May as well do it sooner and give this team a wake up call if they have any sort of semi-delusional thoughts that they could compete for anything this year.
- eichiefs9

I’ll never understand some of these contracts. Mayfield and Engvall seemed to be Bad ideas from the start. I get the Islanders have trouble signing quality UFA’s. I’d still rather take chances on 1 or 2 year deals than giving out bad contracts.

I’ll never understand some of these contracts. Mayfield and Engvall seemed to be Bad ideas from the start. I get the Islanders have trouble signing quality UFA’s. I’d still rather take chances on 1 or 2 year deals than giving out bad contracts.
- ses111

Rightly or wrongly, I think Lou is betting on the cap going up. If he insisted on 1 or 2 year deals, he would have to pay a lot more; otherwise, he'd lose guys in free agency. Of course, you could argue that losing Mayfield would not be the worst thing.... But then they'd be even thinner on the blue line.

As we've all seen, Lou plans for the playoffs.......and Mayfield has shown he has some value in the playoffs. Problem is this team doesn't look good enough to even make the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong.

Rightly or wrongly, I think Lou is betting on the cap going up. If he insisted on 1 or 2 year deals, he would have to pay a lot more; otherwise, he'd lose guys in free agency. Of course, you could argue that losing Mayfield would not be the worst thing.... But then they'd be even thinner on the blue line.

As we've all seen, Lou plans for the playoffs.......and Mayfield has shown he has some value in the playoffs. Problem is this team doesn't look good enough to even make the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong.

- JohnScammo

Maybe not pay too much more on value type UFA’s. I know it’s probably not easy to find these players. Even with the Cap going up, it will be a challenge for the Islanders.

No I said (or at least meant) that the isles don’t have the talent to rely on run and gun style hockey. They’re a team of 2nd and 3rd liners. They need to play a trap in order to sneak out wins. That’s the elephant in the room here. No one wants to admit (Lou) the isles have an inferior roster talent wise. In order to combat that lackluster roster you gotta play a boring trap style, or you else you run the risk of blown third period leads all season….
- kindlyrick

Gotcha misunderstood your post.

9 blown leads in the 3rd period and we’re only on game 20🤣🤣
- Vukota

Don’t worry next year we probably won’t have to many leads to blow.

Rightly or wrongly, I think Lou is betting on the cap going up. If he insisted on 1 or 2 year deals, he would have to pay a lot more; otherwise, he'd lose guys in free agency. Of course, you could argue that losing Mayfield would not be the worst thing.... But then they'd be even thinner on the blue line.

As we've all seen, Lou plans for the playoffs.......and Mayfield has shown he has some value in the playoffs. Problem is this team doesn't look good enough to even make the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong.

- JohnScammo

Pay a lot more for players that nobody wants to pay for to begin with. Makes complete sense. Have to know when to move on from players and potentially get some kind of return in the process(mayfield anyone?). Lou seems to be completely inept when it comes to this.

Pay a lot more for players that nobody wants to pay for to begin with. Makes complete sense. Have to know when to move on from players and potentially get some kind of return on the process. Lou seems to be completely inept when it comes to this.
- Cptmjl

I was really hoping the combo of Lou and Barry would be able to attract more quality UFA’s. Maybe that is not fair?

I was really hoping the combo of Lou and Barry would be able to attract more quality UFA’s. Maybe that is not fair?
- ses111

Not even knocking on Lou here but he’s had the same issues as Snow with regard to signing the big name UFA. Just can’t get it done. I’m not buying that Lou didn’t go after Johnny hockey. I believe he’s gone 4 summers with no results in signing anyone.

Not even knocking on Lou here but he’s had the same issues as Snow with regard to signing the big name UFA. Just can’t get it done. I’m not buying that Lou didn’t go after Johnny hockey. I believe he’s gone 4 summers with no results in signing anyone.
- kindlyrick

It’s the truth than Lou has not been able to attract quality UFA’s. Johnny himself said the Islanders never contacted him. I think Lou is loyal to his own players to a fault and wants a certain team.

Rightly or wrongly, I think Lou is betting on the cap going up. If he insisted on 1 or 2 year deals, he would have to pay a lot more; otherwise, he'd lose guys in free agency. Of course, you could argue that losing Mayfield would not be the worst thing.... But then they'd be even thinner on the blue line.

As we've all seen, Lou plans for the playoffs.......and Mayfield has shown he has some value in the playoffs. Problem is this team doesn't look good enough to even make the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong.

- JohnScammo

I'm not sure that there isn't another defenseman they could have signed for less term and similar cap hit. Radko Gudas makes $500k more per year but on a three year deal.

Here's the list of UFA defensemen that signed between July 1st and Sep 30th:



There's one major outlier in the term column

Pay a lot more for players that nobody wants to pay for to begin with. Makes complete sense. Have to know when to move on from players and potentially get some kind of return in the process(mayfield anyone?). Lou seems to be completely inept when it comes to this.
- Cptmjl

I suspect that there is a market for these guys. Even Mayfield would have attracted some interest as a UFA. I don't think there is surplus of big, physical blue liners out there.......even if they make mistakes and take dumb penalties. To be clear, I'm not saying that Lou didn't overpay for him, just that Mayfield would have received other offers.

I'm not sure that there isn't another defenseman they could have signed for less term and similar cap hit. Radko Gudas makes $500k more per year but on a three year deal.

Here's the list of UFA defensemen that signed between July 1st and Sep 30th:



There's one major outlier in the term column
- eichiefs9

There is why not being able to rely on internal options hurt.

I suspect that there is a market for these guys. Even Mayfield would have attracted some interest as a UFA. I don't think there is surplus of big, physical blue liners out there.......even if they make mistakes and take dumb penalties. To be clear, I'm not saying that Lou didn't overpay for him, just that Mayfield would have received other offers.
- JohnScammo

Sure there is. There’s always a market even for middling talent. My point is you have to know when to move on and get a return. That’s GM’ing 101. Lou just doubles down on the mediocrity and signs it to term.

I'm not sure that there isn't another defenseman they could have signed for less term and similar cap hit. Radko Gudas makes $500k more per year but on a three year deal.

Here's the list of UFA defensemen that signed between July 1st and Sep 30th:



There's one major outlier in the term column
- eichiefs9

Again, I'm saying that Lou is betting on a significant increase in the cap, so that Mayfield and others will look like a bargain toward the end of their contracts. It remains to be seen if Lou is right about the cap.

9 blown leads in the 3rd period and we’re only on game 20🤣🤣
- Vukota

That’s not a trend though…

Again, I'm saying that Lou is betting on a significant increase in the cap, so that Mayfield and others will look like a bargain toward the end of their contracts. It remains to be seen if Lou is right about the cap.
- JohnScammo

If someone sucks does that still constitute a bargain? There’s no way that guy is going to look like a bargain at the end of his contract more like an albatross.

If someone sucks does that still constitute a bargain?
- Cptmjl

Clearly not. The Isles did go pretty far into the playoffs with guys like Mayfield.......but with a different coach. It will be interesting to see if a coaching change makes a difference.

What's your prediction? Does Lambert make it to the new year?

Clearly not. The Isles did go pretty far into the playoffs with guys like Mayfield.......but with a different coach. It will be interesting to see if a coaching change makes a difference.

What's your prediction? Does Lambert make it to the new year?
- JohnScammo

Different coach and some different players and the stars aligned.

Islanders struggled under Barry outside those runs.

Again, I'm saying that Lou is betting on a significant increase in the cap, so that Mayfield and others will look like a bargain toward the end of their contracts. It remains to be seen if Lou is right about the cap.
- JohnScammo

The cap is certainly going up this year and will continue to rise, but his cap hit isn't the only problem. He's not very good and now with Pelech out he's going to be relied on to play more minutes against tougher competition and he's clearly going to end up being exposed for what he is, a bottom-pairing defenseman that's in over his head in that kind of role.

I don't think that contract will look like a bargain at any point, no matter how much the cap goes up. The cap rising will lessen the burden, AAV-wise, but he's going to continue to age and deteriorate. 7 years was bat-shit crazy term to give a 30yo bottom pairing defenseman.

The cap is certainly going up this year and will continue to rise, but his cap hit isn't the only problem. He's not very good and now with Pelech out he's going to be relied on to play more minutes against tougher competition and he's clearly going to end up being exposed for what he is. A bottom-pairing defenseman that's in over his head in that kind of role.

I don't think that contract will look like a bargain at any point, no matter how much the cap goes up. The cap rising will lessen the burden, AAV-wise, but he's going to continue to age and deteriorate. 7 years was bat-shit crazy term to give a 30yo bottom pairing defenseman.
- eichiefs9

Yep! Mayfield is not getting better and will only get worse. 7 years for Mayfield and Engvall were not good deals.

Clearly not. The Isles did go pretty far into the playoffs with guys like Mayfield.......but with a different coach. It will be interesting to see if a coaching change makes a difference.

What's your prediction? Does Lambert make it to the new year?
- JohnScammo

Unless there’s a complete, total, correction, from what we’ve seen(which I don’t see happening) no.

Unless there’s a complete, total, correction, from what we’ve seen(which I don’t see happening) no.
- Cptmjl

They have games on the road against two very good teams in CAR and FLA tomorrow and Satuday and then the Sharks at home Tuesday. If they drop the next two in similar fashion and then lose to the Sharks I would put money on Lambert being out one week from today

At least there was a surprise. I expected them to blow the lead and lose in overtime but, lo and behold, they managed to blow it and lose in regulation!

Always keeping us on our toes
- eichiefs9

Just when you think they can't disappoint you anymore

The cap is certainly going up this year and will continue to rise, but his cap hit isn't the only problem. He's not very good and now with Pelech out he's going to be relied on to play more minutes against tougher competition and he's clearly going to end up being exposed for what he is, a bottom-pairing defenseman that's in over his head in that kind of role.

I don't think that contract will look like a bargain at any point, no matter how much the cap goes up. The cap rising will lessen the burden, AAV-wise, but he's going to continue to age and deteriorate. 7 years was bat-shit crazy term to give a 30yo bottom pairing defenseman.
- eichiefs9

I think it will all be fine

They have games on the road against two very good teams in CAR and FLA tomorrow and Satuday and then the Sharks at home Tuesday. If they drop the next two in similar fashion and then lose to the Sharks I would put money on Lambert being out one week from today
- eichiefs9

Who’s the replacement is the question, cause it ain’t Oompa Loompa Lou