At least if they attempt to retool and it becomes obvious that it isn't working out, they're already part of the way through a full on rebuild.

All of this said, and I very much agree with everything you posted, I'm not confident anything happens. Ownership invested a ton of money in this arena and has creditors to pay back so I strongly suspect that we're going to be stuck wallowing in mediocracy while they try to keep attendance up long enough to square up with all the lenders they borrowed money from to make UBS happen.
- eichiefs9

I think Islander fans would support a retool if they are seeing the right things being done. The fans would still have players like Barzal, Bo, Dobosn, and Sorokin to watch. Maybe Ruslan, Maggio, Dufour show something, and they can find some cheap UFA's? Ownership needs to be honest with the fans. They can mention the team made two ECF's and they were hoping to continue to compete and now we need to retool.

A cheaper backup should have been found. Again, Lou not understanding the Cap.
- ses111

I mean, he's making $2.75M. I think that's pretty good value for how good he is. Take a look around on CapFriendly and see what some of the other much-worse, goalies in the league are getting paid

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/joonas-korpisalo

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/philipp-grubauer

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/ville-husso

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/elvis-merzlikins

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/ilya-samsonov

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/darcy-kuemper

https://www.capfriendly.c...layers/alexandar-georgiev

A cheaper backup should have been found. Again, Lou not understanding the Cap.
- ses111

He's only making $2.7m. I agree thats a lot for the number of games he's played but I imagine Lou probably thought he'd see more action. Personally I think Sorokin has been burnt out by this team. They should have kept a 60/40 split on games played.

I mean, he's making $2.75M. I think that's pretty good value for how good he is. Take a look around on CapFriendly and see what some of the other much-worse, goalies in the league are getting paid

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/joonas-korpisalo

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/philipp-grubauer

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/ville-husso

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/elvis-merzlikins

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/ilya-samsonov

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/darcy-kuemper

https://www.capfriendly.c...layers/alexandar-georgiev
- eichiefs9

It's still a 4-year deal for a guy who hardly plays. What about bringing along a young prospect to backup Sorokin?

He's only making $2.7m. I agree thats a lot for the number of games he's played but I imagine Lou probably thought he'd see more action. Personally I think Sorokin has been burnt out by this team. They should have kept a 60/40 split on games played.
- keaner17

I agree the split probably should have been kept. It just goes back to Lou keeping this roster together at all costs instead of the focus on trying to improve in a Cap world.

It's still a 4-year deal for a guy who hardly plays. You about bringing along a young prospect to backup Sorokin?
- ses111

The only thing that concerns me about the term is his health. I think Varly has been battling a chronic knee injury for the last few seasons. That may play in to how much they've used him

It's still a 4-year deal for a guy who hardly plays. What about bringing along a young prospect to backup Sorokin?
- ses111

We don't have a young prospect to bring along. At $2.75M for what Varlamov gives you I have no issue with that deal. Anything cheaper than that for another goalie and you're not getting anything close to the quality you'll get from him.

Now if we're talking rebuild/retool then it's a different story. He has a full NTC through next year and then they can explore moving him if they are going that route.

I mean, he's making $2.75M. I think that's pretty good value for how good he is. Take a look around on CapFriendly and see what some of the other much-worse, goalies in the league are getting paid

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/joonas-korpisalo

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/philipp-grubauer

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/ville-husso

https://www.capfriendly.c.../players/elvis-merzlikins

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/ilya-samsonov

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/darcy-kuemper

https://www.capfriendly.c...layers/alexandar-georgiev
- eichiefs9

2.7 million for a guy who’s not playing isn’t money well spent imo. A better option would have been a young prospect goalie to get his reps in the league at the league min. They could have gotten a nice return for Varly at the deadline

The only thing that concerns me about the term is his health. I think Varly has been battling a chronic knee injury for the last few seasons. That may play in to how much they've used him
- keaner17

Agreed.

Something seems “off” regarding Varly. But that shouldn’t be surprising considering his age and the amount of ice he’s seen.

Agreed.

Something seems “off” regarding Varly. But that shouldn’t be surprising considering his age and the amount of ice he’s seen.
- Wildschwein

If Varly was hurt wouldn’t it have made sense to put him on LTIR to add a player/salary the deadline?

2.7 million for a guy who’s not playing isn’t money well spent imo. A better option would have been a young prospect goalie to get his reps in the league at the league min. They could have gotten a nice return for Varly at the deadline
- kindlyrick

They couldn't have because he has a full NTC through the end of next season

If Varly was hurt wouldn’t it have made sense to put him on LTIR to add a player/salary the deadline?
- kindlyrick

Depends on the severity of the injury.

It wouldn’t need to be serious to be a detriment to his play.

And it’s not like the Ilses have a better in house option as backup, injury or no.

Depends on the severity of the injury.

It wouldn’t need to be serious to be a detriment to his play.

And it’s not like the Ilses have a better in house option as backup, injury or no.
- Wildschwein

True, but this is a business and when money is on the line, I’d imagine teams can inflate injuries to exercise the LTIR. Either way as you said you need a serviceable backup and Lou is all about his netminders.

They couldn't have because he has a full NTC through the end of next season


- eichiefs9

Ahhh and there you have it

True, but this is a business and when money is on the line, I’d imagine teams can inflate injuries to exercise the LTIR. Either way as you said you need a serviceable backup and Lou is all about his netminders.
- kindlyrick

Tampa and Vegas ruined that for everyone. The league scrutinizes the medicals pretty hard now in an attempt to put an end to the kind of horsepoop Tampa pulled with Kucherov.

Tampa and Vegas ruined that for everyone. The league scrutinizes the medicals pretty hard now in an attempt to put an end to the kind of horsepoop Tampa pulled with Kucherov.
- eichiefs9

Yeah I get it, although from afar I give kudos. Kinda brilliant.

Yeah I get it, although from afar I give kudos. Kinda brilliant.
- kindlyrick

On one hand, yeah they exploited a loophole they found and they get credit for not technically breaking any rules by finding a way to use something to their advantage.

On the other hand, it goes completely against the spirit of LTIR and its intended purpose. It was blatant abuse of the system.

Kucherov wearing the shirt that said something like "$9M over the cap" at the Tampa boat parade apparently enraged the league, so now that loophole is closed.

edit: It was $18M over the cap actually

Get ready for it. We may revisit some of those right here on this very thread. You may want to preemptively numb your mind with some narcotics. That’s my plan.
- Cptmjl

I prefer a nice bourbon.

ISLANDERS SIGN THIESING

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (March 22, 2024) – The New York Islanders have signed forward Cam Thiesing to a two-year, two-way, entry-level contract that begins in 2024-25.

Thiesing, 22, completed a three-year career at Ohio State University earlier this month, recording 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 31 games while serving as an alternate captain. He had 61 points (32 goals, 29 assists) in 108 career games, including a career-high 15 goals in 2022-23, which led all Buckeyes. Thiesing collected a career-high 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) as a freshman in 2021-22, ranking third on the team in points and assists.

The Franklin, Tenn. native registered 72 points (31 goals, 41 assists) in 94 games with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) from 2019-21. Thiesing also had 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 54 games with the Chippewa Steel of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) in 2018-19, earning All-Rookie Second Team honors.

I prefer a nice bourbon.
- Nfdbulldawg

I prefer mixing a nice bourbon with narcotics.

On one hand, yeah they exploited a loophole they found and they get credit for not technically breaking any rules by finding a way to use something to their advantage.

On the other hand, it goes completely against the spirit of LTIR and its intended purpose. It was blatant abuse of the system.

Kucherov wearing the shirt that said something like "$9M over the cap" at the Tampa boat parade apparently enraged the league, so now that loophole is closed.

edit: It was $18M over the cap actually


- eichiefs9

Omg I never saw that. The balls on him…lol

Agreed.

Something seems “off” regarding Varly. But that shouldn’t be surprising considering his age and the amount of ice he’s seen.
- Wildschwein

I think he's been trying to avoid surgery for a few years now. I think it began with his January 2018 'lower body injury'. A couple of months later he was hurt again and they actually identified it as a 'knee' injury. Then January the following year he missed time with another 'lower body injury'. In April 21, they didn't disclose his injury but rumors were it was a knee injury. Then remember he started the following season a month late due to an 'undisclosed' injury, which I think was clearly a carry-over of the prior injury. Then:
12/17/22 Lower body injury...
12/24/23 Lower Body Injury then he returned for like one period and went right back out.

I think this is why they're limiting his playing time, because while I don't think Sorokin has been 'terrible', I do think it would have been to his benefit to get a stretch where Varly handled the bulk of duties

Omg I never saw that. The balls on him…lol
- kindlyrick

Not sure how you missed that one. Lol. It was everywhere…

I think he's been trying to avoid surgery for a few years now. I think it began with his January 2018 'lower body injury'. A couple of months later he was hurt again and they actually identified it as a 'knee' injury. Then January the following year he missed time with another 'lower body injury'. In April 21, they didn't disclose his injury but rumors were it was a knee injury. Then remember he started the following season a month late due to an 'undisclosed' injury, which I think was clearly a carry-over of the prior injury. Then:
12/17/22 Lower body injury...
12/24/23 Lower Body Injury then he returned for like one period and went right back out.

I think this is why they're limiting his playing time, because while I don't think Sorokin has been 'terrible', I do think it would have been to his benefit to get a stretch where Varly handled the bulk of duties
- keaner17

If this is actually true it makes resigning him insane.

If this is actually true it makes resigning him insane.
- Cptmjl

There was definitely something up with him missing extensive time at the end of 20-21, then being said to be on track to be back for the beginning of 21-22 before missing nearly a month. That one period return from injury this past December spoke volumes. The guy is damaged good right now.

It may also have been why he didn't pursue more money in a starters role. If he liked LI and the backup role suited him more now....