Sorry, but I for one, am not positive. Yes I like some of the draft picks , but they are years away. I like Reilly on a one year deal. But, if you think Duclair is anything more than Another middle six forward, I think you are wrong. Team still needs a legit top line LW. Until they bring one of those in, I will not be happy or positive.
- chazpet

On the isles Duclair is a 1LW. Not a name, but his intangibles fit today’s game of speed. Can’t say I’m surprised as the isles always seem to land the generic brand. It’s never Coca Cola, it’s always fizzy bubbly.

Honestly Lou had no choice to be careful with UFA this offseason. Islanders just do not have the Cap room. I like how Lou kept the draft picks and I like the Tommy hire. As of now, the Islanders are again a middle team that will fight for a spot.
- ses111

Agreed on all

Agreed on all
- kindlyrick

Hopefully Tommy can help the defense because the defense may be a bigger question mark than the offense. Pelech and Pulock need to bounce back, and Dobson needs to be much stronger on D.

Hopefully Tommy can help the defense because the defense may be a bigger question mark than the offense. Pelech and Pulock need to bounce back, and Dobson needs to be much stronger on D.
- ses111

Yeah well I guess the Doug Houda hire was about as successful as Lane Lambert. Both are gone, so I’m happy to see a full season of Roy, with a new PK coach.

My landscaper would have picked Eiserman. Being lucky to have this guy fall in your lap and making a shrewd pick are two totally different scenarios. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good
- BringNYIhome

Did anyone say this was a shrewd pick?

Sports have an immense amount of luck-factor across virtually every facet of operation. Luck, skill, whatever...the draft was a strong one for them and UFA has started off on a positive note.

Did anyone say this was a shrewd pick?

Sports have an immense amount of luck-factor across virtually every facet of operation. Luck, skill, whatever...the draft was a strong one for them and UFA has started off on a positive note.
- eichiefs9

I personally thought they had an excellent draft, and I also thought last year had a few nice pick ups. Obviously time will tell, but the prospect pool has improved.

With the addition of Maxim Tysplakov I wonder where he fits in the lineup. Obviously with Martin and Clutterbuck gone, the 4th line will have Cizikas and Reilly. Does he fit on the wing with them or is he vying for Holmstroms spot on the 3rd?

I personally thought they had an excellent draft, and I also thought last year had a few nice pick ups. Obviously time will tell, but the prospect pool has improved.

With the addition of Maxim Tysplakov I wonder where he fits in the lineup. Obviously with Martin and Clutterbuck gone, the 4th line will have Cizikas and Reilly. Does he fit on the wing with them or is he vying for Holmstroms spot on the 3rd?
- kindlyrick

My guess is that Tsyplakov is going to start as a bottom six winger.

I'm assuming you meant Cizikas and MacLean, but it's possible he slots in there or on the third line with Pageau and Engvall. He's listed on EP (and anywhere else I could find) as a RW only (doesn't mean he can't play anywhere else, but that's what I see) so as things are right now I don't see him taking top-6 jobs from Barzal or Palmieri.

Lines could look something like:

Duclair-Horvat-Barzal
Lee-Nelson-Palmieri
Envgall-Pageau-Tsyplakov
MacLean-Cizikas-Fasching

I personally thought they had an excellent draft, and I also thought last year had a few nice pick ups. Obviously time will tell, but the prospect pool has improved.

With the addition of Maxim Tysplakov I wonder where he fits in the lineup. Obviously with Martin and Clutterbuck gone, the 4th line will have Cizikas and Reilly. Does he fit on the wing with them or is he vying for Holmstroms spot on the 3rd?
- kindlyrick

And regarding the draft:

I liked it a lot. Eiserman possesses a skill set that they sorely lack. Hopefully the third time is a charm for drafting goal-scoring wingers from the NTDP who are BU bound

Not sure what the upside of Pulkinnen is, but he's huge and even if he ends up as as bottom pairing defenseman that can be reliable that's not a bad pick.

I both like and don't like the Bednarik pick. He's solid at everything, great at nothing. He projects as a bottom-six energy guy. Lots of value in that come playoff time and it's good to get a "safe" pick into the pipeline, but if I had to guess I'd say he'd probably be more Casey Cizikas than anything else.

The goalies are the goalies. Need to get them in the pipeline now because they are a long way out from the NHL and are more likely to be nothing than something. Gamzin projects as the CSKA starter this year I think (Sorokin's old club) and has very good numbers in limited KHL action. Based on much of what I read, Gidlof seems to be the one with more consensus upside among the prospect writers crowd. He's huge.

The Veilleux kid is what he is. A 6th round pick that's got some raw potential and had a good rookie year in a second-tier junior league. He's Harvard bound and will likely play at least all three years there where hopefully he can develop into a solid prospect. He seemed to be ranked higher across the board than where the Isles got him so it's good value nonetheless.

My guess is that Tsyplakov is going to start as a bottom six winger.

I'm assuming you meant Cizikas and MacLean, but it's possible he slots in there or on the third line with Pageau and Engvall. He's listed on EP (and anywhere else I could find) as a RW only (doesn't mean he can't play anywhere else, but that's what I see) so as things are right now I don't see him taking top-6 jobs from Barzal or Palmieri.

Lines could look something like:

Duclair-Horvat-Barzal
Lee-Nelson-Palmieri
Envgall-Pageau-Tsyplakov
MacLean-Cizikas-Fasching
- eichiefs9

Yes I meant MacLean, sorry brain fart.

I don’t think that’s a cup lineup, but it’s solid and it’s a better roster than last year with a full year of Roy.

And regarding the draft:

I liked it a lot. Eiserman possesses a skill set that they sorely lack. Hopefully the third time is a charm for drafting goal-scoring wingers from the NTDP who are BU bound

Not sure what the upside of Pulkinnen is, but he's huge and even if he ends up as as bottom pairing defenseman that can be reliable that's not a bad pick.

I both like and don't like the Bednarik pick. He's solid at everything, great at nothing. He projects as a bottom-six energy guy. Lots of value in that come playoff time and it's good to get a "safe" pick into the pipeline, but if I had to guess I'd say he'd probably be more Casey Cizikas than anything else.

The goalies are the goalies. Need to get them in the pipeline now because they are a long way out from the NHL and are more likely to be nothing than something. Gamzin projects as the CSKA starter this year I think (Sorokin's old club) and has very good numbers in limited KHL action. Based on much of what I read, Gidlof seems to be the one with more consensus upside among the prospect writers crowd. He's huge.

The Veilleux kid is what he is. A 6th round pick that's got some raw potential and had a good rookie year in a second-tier junior league. He's Harvard bound and will likely play at least all three years there where hopefully he can develop into a solid prospect. He seemed to be ranked higher across the board than where the Isles got him so it's good value nonetheless.
- eichiefs9

You should call Lou for a scouting gig. Boulton and Cairns got nothing on you. Lol

You should call Lou for a scouting gig. Boulton and Cairns got nothing on you. Lol
- kindlyrick

Just going off what I read online. What the hell do I know.

And regarding the draft:

I liked it a lot. Eiserman possesses a skill set that they sorely lack. Hopefully the third time is a charm for drafting goal-scoring wingers from the NTDP who are BU bound

Not sure what the upside of Pulkinnen is, but he's huge and even if he ends up as as bottom pairing defenseman that can be reliable that's not a bad pick.

I both like and don't like the Bednarik pick. He's solid at everything, great at nothing. He projects as a bottom-six energy guy. Lots of value in that come playoff time and it's good to get a "safe" pick into the pipeline, but if I had to guess I'd say he'd probably be more Casey Cizikas than anything else.

The goalies are the goalies. Need to get them in the pipeline now because they are a long way out from the NHL and are more likely to be nothing than something. Gamzin projects as the CSKA starter this year I think (Sorokin's old club) and has very good numbers in limited KHL action. Based on much of what I read, Gidlof seems to be the one with more consensus upside among the prospect writers crowd. He's huge.

The Veilleux kid is what he is. A 6th round pick that's got some raw potential and had a good rookie year in a second-tier junior league. He's Harvard bound and will likely play at least all three years there where hopefully he can develop into a solid prospect. He seemed to be ranked higher across the board than where the Isles got him so it's good value nonetheless.
- eichiefs9

Pulkinnen has 7 years to develope if he is gonna take Mayfields spot.

On the isles Duclair is a 1LW. Not a name, but his intangibles fit today’s game of speed. Can’t say I’m surprised as the isles always seem to land the generic brand. It’s never Coca Cola, it’s always fizzy bubbly.
- kindlyrick

That’s not always true and sometimes the generic is a better fit than the name brands. I think Duclair is a player who could make this team better. Though I feel how successful they will be next season all depends on the defense and Sorokin.

Pulkinnen has 7 years to develope if he is gonna take Mayfields spot.
- chazpet

It'd be great if they could get him over to the AHL after this upcoming season. Let him grow in Bridgeport and see where things take him.

It'd be great if they could get him over to the AHL after this upcoming season. Let him grow in Bridgeport and see where things take him.
- eichiefs9

The tough thing is even if some of these prospects start to show they are ready in a year or two, they will be blocked.

That’s not always true and sometimes the generic is a better fit than the name brands. I think Duclair is a player who could make this team better. Though I feel how successful they will be next season all depends on the defense and Sorokin.
- maximumcarnage

I don’t disagree that sometimes generic is better but I wouldn’t know because I can’t name the time a top UFA signed with the isles.


Disclaimer : I don’t consider Ladd to have been a top UFA.

The tough thing is even if some of these prospects start to show they are ready in a year or two, they will be blocked.
- ses111

Maybe, but it never hurts in any way to have a kid in the AHL growing and seeing what he is. If there's not a spot on the roster for him you can explore a trade if he has some decent value.

Let's assume the timeline I said I hoped for is what happens. That means a year in Finland this season. Then probably a minimum of 2 years in Bridgeport. Who knows what the roster will look like at the start of the season four years from now.

Someone could be bought out or be a permanent fixture on LTIR.

Guys like Pelech/Pulock/Mayfield will see their full NTC's shift to modified NTC's at some point, they could be moved out down the line.

Looks like Aho's a Pen.

Taylor Haase
@TaylorHaasePGH
Sebastian Aho (no, not that one) is a Penguin.

https://dkpittsburghsport...bastian-aho-islanders-tlh
.

I don’t disagree that sometimes generic is better but I wouldn’t know because I can’t name the time a top UFA signed with the isles.


Disclaimer : I don’t consider Ladd to have been a top UFA.
- kindlyrick

😂😂 unfortunately he was at the time of his signing

My guess is that Tsyplakov is going to start as a bottom six winger.

I'm assuming you meant Cizikas and MacLean, but it's possible he slots in there or on the third line with Pageau and Engvall. He's listed on EP (and anywhere else I could find) as a RW only (doesn't mean he can't play anywhere else, but that's what I see) so as things are right now I don't see him taking top-6 jobs from Barzal or Palmieri.

Lines could look something like:

Duclair-Horvat-Barzal
Lee-Nelson-Palmieri
Envgall-Pageau-Tsyplakov
MacLean-Cizikas-Fasching
- eichiefs9

You could time this line with a calendar.