Feelings on Liane? Numbers are good. It is his attitude that makes say no way. Not what this team needs. The Isles need to stay away from these problems.

Would rather them go after Nikolaj Ehlers.

Feelings on Liane? Numbers are good. It is his attitude that makes say no way. Not what this team needs. The Isles need to stay away from these problems.

Would rather them go after Nikolaj Ehlers.
- Nfdbulldawg

Agreed. How many fresh starts is Laine gonna have? I notice Ehlers everytime the isles play them. Would love to see him as 1LW and let Nelson center the second line.
Anders Lee stepped up in the playoffs imo. Maybe he would be a good fit for a young team. That would free up 7 million.

Feelings on Liane? Numbers are good. It is his attitude that makes say no way. Not what this team needs. The Isles need to stay away from these problems.

Would rather them go after Nikolaj Ehlers.
- Nfdbulldawg

I'll pass on both. Islanders need younger cost-controlled players.

Feelings on Liane? Numbers are good. It is his attitude that makes say no way. Not what this team needs. The Isles need to stay away from these problems.

Would rather them go after Nikolaj Ehlers.
- Nfdbulldawg

I'd rather take the chance on Laine. Given his cost and the issues surrounding him, I would imagine the acquisition price is lower and he only has two years remaining on that deal.

Extending yet another 29 year old player, and one that has dealt with frequent injuries, for 6-8 years with a high price tag would be an exceptionally poor business decision.

I'll pass on both. Islanders need younger cost-controlled players.
- ses111

We keep talking about getting younger. However, no one mentions any names. We know the answer does not lie in the organization, so where is it coming from?

Trade? Free Agency or the draft?

Yes, the Islanders need young, skilled, cost controlled players. But who are they and where are they coming from? I am not trying to break your balls. I am just not seeing what we are talking about.

I'd rather take the chance on Laine. Given his cost and the issues surrounding him, I would imagine the acquisition price is lower and he only has two years remaining on that deal.

Extending yet another 29 year old player, and one that has dealt with frequent injuries, for 6-8 years with a high price tag would be an exceptionally poor business decision.
- eichiefs9

I think Laine, is Ho-Sang with better skill. Nothing more than a head case. I would take a chance of Elhers because the cost is assumed to be reasonable. He is under contract for another year. if he does not work move him at the dead line.

We keep talking about getting younger. However, no one mentions any names. We know the answer does not lie in the organization, so where is it coming from?

Trade? Free Agency or the draft?

Yes, the Islanders need young, skilled, cost controlled players. But who are they and where are they coming from? I am not trying to break your balls. I am just not seeing what we are talking about.
- Nfdbulldawg

I believe what he is trying to say is they need to stop doing what they are currently doing and draft players that will eventually be exactly that.

I think Laine, is Ho-Sang with better skill. Nothing more than a head case. I would take a chance of Elhers because the cost is assumed to be reasonable. He is under contract for another year. if he does not work move him at the dead line.
- Nfdbulldawg

Ehlers is not under contract for another year. He is going into the last year of his deal for the 2024-25 season and then is a UFA that will be due a relatively big contract.

Laine has 24-25 and 25-26 at $8.7M.

Not really sure why he's being branded a "head case" either. He's nothing like Ho Sang. Entering the players' assistance program doesn't make him nuts. Lehner was in it as well and he was a resounding success story here. He's far from a perfect player, but he's much less likely to get injured than Ehlers.

Neither are a perfect choice. If Ehlers had another year at $6M I'd prefer him. But he doesn't and the long-term deals for 30yo's has to stop at some point.

Ehlers is not under contract for another year. He is going into the last year of his deal for the 2024-25 season and then is a UFA that will be due a relatively big contract.

Laine has 24-25 and 25-26 at $8.7M.

Not really sure why he's being branded a "head case" either. He's nothing like Ho Sang. Entering the players' assistance program doesn't make him nuts. Lehner was in it as well and he was a resounding success story here. He's far from a perfect player, but he's much less likely to get injured than Ehlers.

Neither are a perfect choice. If Ehlers had another year at $6M I'd prefer him. But he doesn't and the long-term deals for 30yo's has to stop at some point.
- eichiefs9

Ehlers played all 82 games last year (and 3 times total in his career). I don’t think it’s the perfect fit, but a fit none the less for 1LW.

My problem with Laine is that he’s digressed statistically and has now had a problem with both teams he’s played for. Doesn’t strike me as a Lou type acquisition. Ehlers is a positive +/- vs Laine who’s been negative most years.

We keep talking about getting younger. However, no one mentions any names. We know the answer does not lie in the organization, so where is it coming from?

Trade? Free Agency or the draft?

Yes, the Islanders need young, skilled, cost controlled players. But who are they and where are they coming from? I am not trying to break your balls. I am just not seeing what we are talking about.
- Nfdbulldawg

I would use players like Ruslan, Maggio, or Dufour if possible and I would sign UFA's to 1 year deals. I do not see this team as being legit Cup contenders so I would rather not add big salary to the current team. The sooner the team builds around Barzal, Bo, Dobosn, and Sorokin the better. The longer the team delays a re-tool, the worse it will be.

NO to Laine! Ehlers maybe , I would look at Connor Garland ( played well with Hovart) if Vancouver still has him on the trade block or Zegras form Ducks.

NO to Laine! Ehlers maybe , I would look at Connor Garland ( played well with Hovart) if Vancouver still has him on the trade block or Zegras form Ducks.
- gizzy77

Not really interested in either for multiple reasons. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about which is the better player because we’ll be getting neither. 😆

Not really interested in either for multiple reasons. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about which is the better player because we’ll be getting neither. 😆
- Cptmjl

Does anyone think either player puts the Islanders over the top? The Islanders are not one forward away. The team has issues on defense as well and Sorokin needs to rebound.

Does anyone think either player puts the Islanders over the top? The Islanders are not one forward away. The team has issues on defense as well and Sorokin needs to rebound.
- ses111

I don’t think anyone really believes that it’s probably more wanting to see Lou make some kind of change. I’d rather him do nothing. He’s been on a long run of doing stupid sh!t.

I don’t think anyone really believes that it’s probably more wanting to see Lou make some kind of change. I’d rather him do nothing. He’s been on a long run of doing stupid sh!t.
- Cptmjl

We need smart type moves now more than ever and moves with an eye towards the future.

Ehlers is not under contract for another year. He is going into the last year of his deal for the 2024-25 season and then is a UFA that will be due a relatively big contract.

Laine has 24-25 and 25-26 at $8.7M.

Not really sure why he's being branded a "head case" either. He's nothing like Ho Sang. Entering the players' assistance program doesn't make him nuts. Lehner was in it as well and he was a resounding success story here. He's far from a perfect player, but he's much less likely to get injured than Ehlers.

Neither are a perfect choice. If Ehlers had another year at $6M I'd prefer him. But he doesn't and the long-term deals for 30yo's has to stop at some point.
- eichiefs9

Ehlers played all 82 games last year (and 3 times total in his career). I don’t think it’s the perfect fit, but a fit none the less for 1LW.

My problem with Laine is that he’s digressed statistically and has now had a problem with both teams he’s played for. Doesn’t strike me as a Lou type acquisition. Ehlers is a positive +/- vs Laine who’s been negative most years.
- kindlyrick

Laine was a negative one year only with Winnipeg, the rest playing on a dog poop Columbus team. Ehlers gets to play in front of a top-5 goaltender in the league every night. This is why +/- is a pretty worthless stat without more context.

Also Laine's regression really comes after, you guessed it, moving to a dog poop team. His last full year in WPG he was a hair short of a PPG player.

I also don't believe there's any sort of "problem" he has with Columbus, other than that they're absolute garbage. And the issue with Winnipeg seems to be that two of his older teammates, Scheifele and Wheeler, did quite a bit to try and ensure that Laine didn't threaten Wheeler's role as the top line RW...according to Finnish media. Fair to take that report with a grain of salt, but it doesn't sound like he's just a lazy piece of poop that coaches don't like...as is the guy he was traded for, PLD.

Again, I'm not a huge Laine fan and am not dying to acquire him. But taking all factors into account including contract status....I think there's a lot less risk with Laine. If he stinks, you only have to keep him for two years and can either trade him at some point or let him walk.

Ehlers won't come cheap and will need a new contract this time next year and will be 29 in February. So either Lou is trading another 1st round pick+ for a one year rental or he's going to do that and then burden them with another guy signed until he's 36 or 37 making a lot of money.

Ehlers is not under contract for another year. He is going into the last year of his deal for the 2024-25 season and then is a UFA that will be due a relatively big contract.

Laine has 24-25 and 25-26 at $8.7M.

Not really sure why he's being branded a "head case" either. He's nothing like Ho Sang. Entering the players' assistance program doesn't make him nuts. Lehner was in it as well and he was a resounding success story here. He's far from a perfect player, but he's much less likely to get injured than Ehlers.

Neither are a perfect choice. If Ehlers had another year at $6M I'd prefer him. But he doesn't and the long-term deals for 30yo's has to stop at some point.
- eichiefs9

I was referring to the up coming season. I think he can gotten for a reasonable cost. If he does not work out you flip him at the deadline and recoup assets. I would not give him more than 3 yrs.

Ehlers is not under contract for another year. He is going into the last year of his deal for the 2024-25 season and then is a UFA that will be due a relatively big contract.

Laine has 24-25 and 25-26 at $8.7M.

Not really sure why he's being branded a "head case" either. He's nothing like Ho Sang. Entering the players' assistance program doesn't make him nuts. Lehner was in it as well and he was a resounding success story here. He's far from a perfect player, but he's much less likely to get injured than Ehlers.

Neither are a perfect choice. If Ehlers had another year at $6M I'd prefer him. But he doesn't and the long-term deals for 30yo's has to stop at some point.
- eichiefs9

I was referring to the up coming season. I think he can gotten for a reasonable cost. If he does not work out you flip him at the deadline and recoup assets. I would not give him more than 3 yrs.

I was referring to the up coming season. I think he can gotten for a reasonable cost. If he does not work out you flip him at the deadline and recoup assets. I would not give him more than 3 yrs.
- Nfdbulldawg

The reported cost is a 1st and a top-6 foward/top-4 defenseman. So either way they'd be adding a player and subtracting one. I don't think a guy like Palmieri gets it done for WPG and moving a defenseman would leave a considerable hole on the blueline.

I'm willing to bet he ends up as a Hurricane in a deal that involves Martin Necas.

The reported cost is a 1st and a top-6 foward/top-4 defenseman. So either way they'd be adding a player and subtracting one. I don't think a guy like Palmieri gets it done for WPG and moving a defenseman would leave a considerable hole on the blueline.

I'm willing to bet he ends up as a Hurricane in a deal that involves Martin Necas.
- eichiefs9

Canes better focus on a goalie.

Canes better focus on a goalie.
- ses111

Let's trade Varlamov to the Canes for the other Sebastian Aho. Butchie will be so confused.

Let's trade Varlamov to the Canes for the other Sebastian Aho. Butchie will be so confused.
- JohnScammo

You have the best trades Johnny.

You have the best trades Johnny.
- ses111

I would use players like Ruslan, Maggio, or Dufour if possible and I would sign UFA's to 1 year deals. I do not see this team as being legit Cup contenders so I would rather not add big salary to the current team. The sooner the team builds around Barzal, Bo, Dobosn, and Sorokin the better. The longer the team delays a re-tool, the worse it will be.
- ses111

Good points. So then success wise, you are more inclined to for go potential wins by adding a older established player in order to get the team back on track for the long term.
I think what your saying makes a ton of sense, however, this fan base has been know to lose their patience very quickly.