Well the hope is that Snow & Co. see that assuming young players will always follow a straight-line, upward trajectory isn't a good way to operate.

It's still to early to make a shopping list because of the uncertainty of Nielsen's status with the team. But he needs to add a winger to play with Tavares for sure, ideally a RH shot. With Okposo leaving, we are severely lacking RH shot wingers. Strome and Clutterbuck are the only two RH wingers up front.

There aren't too quality many UFA RH forwards out there:

- Stamkos
- Purcell
- Backes
- Versteeg
- Perron
- Brouwer

That's really just about it, in terms of players that I'd be happy signing. I'd be weary of overpaying Brouwer based off his playoff performance. Perron is good depth, but has issues staying healthy. That list, outside of Stammer, is entirely middle-6 guys. I'd be happy to add any of them for depth, but I don't think anyone really solves the "Tavares needs a winger" issue.

In terms of guys that could be traded and are righties:

- Eberle
- Shaw
- ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- eichiefs9

JUST GET HIM !

My opinion on Strome and Brock are a change of coaches would help them immensely. I don't want to trade them b/c they will be stars with a better coach.

I think Strome hates Cap at this point.

JUST GET HIM !
- nyisles7

Well that would be priority #1, if it were up to me.

My opinion on Strome and Brock are a change of coaches would help them immensely. I don't want to trade them b/c they will be stars with a better coach.

I think Strome hates Cap at this point.
- niteislander

The whole team would benefit from a coaching change

One depth signing that has "Garth Snow move" written all over him, would be Jonathan Marchessault from Tampa. He's a Group VI UFA and was basically a PPG player in the AHL the last two years (he only played 11 AHL games this year, but had 9pts). He's undersized, but had some decent scoring numbers for averaging barely over 12min per game.

I'm not confident that Mayfield has the foot speed or the puck moving abilities to be an impact defenseman in the NHL. Big and mean is nice, but it means nothing if you're getting torched every night.

Not to mention that he's a RHD and we're pretty set with 3, 55, 6 down the right side. He could be the 7th defenseman this year, but he could also be dangled as trade bait too.
- eichiefs9

I dont think he's a top 4 dman, nor is he mean. Big yes, but not an aggressive guy. I think for a big man he moves well (I know people disagree with me on that). As a bottom pair guy, last season, I was shocked that Strait got the nod over him. Again, I like him for "depth", but I wouldnt be calling his number to go out and get a PP goal.

The whole team would benefit from a coaching change
- nyisles7

Case in point, look at the penguins. Isnt it amazing that they were sh!tting the bed in the beginning of the season, and make a coaching change and boom. They are like a completely different team.

I dont think he's a top 4 dman, nor is he mean. Big yes, but not an aggressive guy. I think for a big man he moves well (I know people disagree with me on that). As a bottom pair guy, last season, I was shocked that Strait got the nod over him. Again, I like him for "depth", but I wouldnt be calling his number to go out and get a PP goal.
- kindlyrick

Huh? Are you sure you're not confusing him with someone else?

The entire book on him is that he is a big, physically imposing defenseman.

Huh? Are you sure you're not confusing him with someone else?

The entire book on him is that he is a big, physical, imposing defenseman.
- eichiefs9

Not sure what book that is, but when I watched him, he's not a mean dude. I dont see facials, or chops of any kind. He's a big dude no doubt, but from everything i saw he's not very imposing.

If the cap goes down this off season its going to cause chaos with plenty of teams. When do the players vote on the escalator? This could be a wild summer.
- Isles_since_6

Offer sheet Kreider or someone worthy....

Huh? Are you sure you're not confusing him with someone else?

The entire book on him is that he is a big, physically imposing defenseman.
- eichiefs9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYlMnL8aRjE

Not that this is the be all end all, but he didnt look that imposing in this tilt. He looked like he could use a few offseasons in the gym...

One depth signing that has "Garth Snow move" written all over him, would be Jonathan Marchessault from Tampa. He's a Group VI UFA and was basically a PPG player in the AHL the last two years (he only played 11 AHL games this year, but had 9pts). He's undersized, but had some decent scoring numbers for averaging barely over 12min per game.
- eichiefs9

NO budget signings unless we are completely out of running for bigger fish....

Not sure what book that is, but when I watched him, he's not a mean dude. I dont see facials, or chops of any kind. He's a big dude no doubt, but from everything i saw he's not very imposing.
- kindlyrick

He’ll be the 8th defenseman on the depth chart this year unless anything changes, but I’d almost expect a cheap ufa vet to be signed on d to take the 7th spot and mostly be a healthy scratch, allowing pelech and Mayfield to continue to play top minutes in the ahl. If someone gets hurt I’d expect pelech to be the first call up.

I like Mayfield, but he gets caught flat footed a LOT and he’s not quick. He’s got okay speed once moving, but changes of direction get him turned around too much to be a regular, pulock and pelech are clearly ahead of him on the depth chart.

NO budget signings unless we are completely out of running for bigger fish....
- Ur Not Me

Don't hold your breath........the isles are always good for a low cost, high upside signing. It wouldnt be an offseason without that, or a "tryout".

One depth signing that has "Garth Snow move" written all over him, would be Jonathan Marchessault from Tampa. He's a Group VI UFA and was basically a PPG player in the AHL the last two years (he only played 11 AHL games this year, but had 9pts). He's undersized, but had some decent scoring numbers for averaging barely over 12min per game.
- eichiefs9

we already have prince, who I don't expect much from next season. I don't know that we have room to add another smurf.

have to get rid of 2 of 12, 84, 86 and 1 this offseason, unless 84 remains injured and they can put him on ltir. If he gets healthy that'll screw up our cap.

Not sure what book that is, but when I watched him, he's not a mean dude. I dont see facials, or chops of any kind. He's a big dude no doubt, but from everything i saw he's not very imposing.
- kindlyrick

What does that even mean?

There's plenty of scouting reports out there that talk about his physical bite or the edge to his game.

I mean the guy had 80 PIM for BPT last year, 173 the year before, and 129 the year before that. He likes to fight and throw his weight around. We saw it in the playoffs two years ago when he tossed a seasoned veteran like Chimera on his ass with ease.

He’ll be the 8th defenseman on the depth chart this year unless anything changes, but I’d almost expect a cheap ufa vet to be signed on d to take the 7th spot and mostly be a healthy scratch, allowing pelech and Mayfield to continue to play top minutes in the ahl. If someone gets hurt I’d expect pelech to be the first call up.

I like Mayfield, but he gets caught flat footed a LOT and he’s not quick. He’s got okay speed once moving, but changes of direction get him turned around too much to be a regular, pulock and pelech are clearly ahead of him on the depth chart.
- Isles_since_6

Let me just reiterate that my thoughts on Mayfield are not that he should be a top 4 guy. I was originally expressing my dismay that he was benched for Brian Strait. For a guy his size, i think his speed is decent. Again, Im not calling #42 to man the point on the PP, but I would have chosen him over Strait.

Great Write up Dan.

Garth needs to go big. We got taste of 2nd round. we have the cap space. time to make a splash - Stamkos is what we need.

I don't know how some of you mention names like Purcell (did you forget he didn't nothing in Edm) and isn't an upgrade over Okposo. Versteeg is basically an NHL journeyman now.

Ladd suffers from Okposo Syndrome, he clearly thinks he work more than he is. He is looking for money not a cup. Otherwise he would be great fit.

I like idea of Hoffman, but why would Ott want to get rid of him?
A trade for Hall or Eberle seems most in the cards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYlMnL8aRjE

Not that this is the be all end all, but he didnt look that imposing in this tilt. He looked like he could use a few offseasons in the gym...
- kindlyrick

He didn't, but he was also a 21 year old kid in his first full pro season fighting an older guy who had played professional hockey for 3 full seasons.

we already have prince, who I don't expect much from next season. I don't know that we have room to add another smurf.

have to get rid of 2 of 12, 84, 86 and 1 this offseason, unless 84 remains injured and they can put him on ltir. If he gets healthy that'll screw up our cap.
- Isles_since_6

I don't expect a ton from Prince, but he could be the left side of a high-energy third line featuring Cizikas and Clutterbuck.

What does that even mean?

There's plenty of scouting reports out there that talk about his physical bite or the edge to his game.

I mean the guy had 80 PIM for BPT last year, 173 the year before, and 129 the year before that. He likes to fight and throw his weight around. We saw it in the playoffs two years ago when he tossed a seasoned veteran like Chimera on his ass with ease.
- eichiefs9

Im not trying to be a d!ck, but do you even watch him play or are you going solely off scouting reports? Because maybe at U of D he had some edge playing against boys, but at the NHL level, he does not have an edge to his game. He's lost basically every fight he's been in at the NHL level. Being that he's 6 ft 4, and trying to become and NHL mainstay, fighting is an added bonus. I dont know what his PIMs in the A are like, but based on his NHL fighting, he looked like a boy hanging on.

As for my comment about facials, or after the whistle chops, being that he's 6 ft 4, if he's got an edge to his game, you'd see more of that kind of stuff. To me, he's got more Milan Jurcina to him, than Eric Cairns.

Not sure what book that is, but when I watched him, he's not a mean dude. I dont see facials, or chops of any kind. He's a big dude no doubt, but from everything i saw he's not very imposing.
- kindlyrick

He didn't, but he was also a 21 year old kid in his first full pro season fighting an older guy who had played professional hockey for 3 full seasons.
- eichiefs9

Well you referenced his PIMs the last few years.......the fact is, he's not a strong kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlvw7QuKGhI

Heres one from 2016......didnt look to menacing here either.

Honestly Dan-
This feels like a re-tread post from all of the past three seasons.
5 outta the last 6 years JT has had no support while our, highly-ranked young talent is faltering under the "guidance" of our coaching staff.

Im sick of the same off season discussions. I can already predict this team will convene for training camp with questions still needing answers and roster holes to be filled.

With new owners, there needs to be change that brings different(improved) results. There needs to be accountibility. Not a reshuffled deck sprinkled with a few new faces who bring marginal contributions to the table.

I disagree that you cannot remove gm/coach before the draft. Anyone in the biz has to know how to evaluate talent and the rankings have been available for more than a year.. Film is available on all players to asess talent etc. Sometimes, new "eyes" on an old problem will see things differently which isn't always a bad thing-not when the problem has yet to be solved. There's no more time for a 2nd, 3rd 5th or 8th chance to get it right.