Garth should be taking calls on him. The fact that he isn't planning on signing by Saturday is extremely concerning. If he walks for nothing or his rights get traded for pennies on the dollar I'm throwing in the towel on this team.
- eichiefs9

You know me, I've already got towel in hand. However, if he does trade JT, I don't see any way he keeps his job. Trading him would signal the beginning of another rebuild. We've already seen year after year of muddling through, signing mid-level UFA's & starting rookies in the top-6. Since this one has taken 11 years to get half -way done, I can't see L&M giving him more time to start from scratch. Like you, I'm not starting over with this team if that's the route this goes.

I said it before. I'm giving him till the end of July to sign or I trade him.
- ses111

By all accounts he still wants to be here and they figure to ride out the season and negotiate with him with confidence that he'll sign.

If Snow doesn't add more to this team, without completely mortgaging the future too, I'm not as confident he'll stick around. Also some surety as to the arena situation, even if it's a ways-off, would go a long way.

By all accounts he still wants to be here and they figure to ride out the season and negotiate with him with confidence that he'll sign.

If Snow doesn't add more to this team, without completely mortgaging the future too, I'm not as confident he'll stick around. Also some surety as to the arena situation, even if it's a ways-off, would go a long way.
- eichiefs9

My guess is that he's looking for some solid foundation from this organization before he signs. Being on a homeless team with not enough talent to compete for a cup is probably not the best selling point to him.

By all accounts he still wants to be here and they figure to ride out the season and negotiate with him with confidence that he'll sign.

If Snow doesn't add more to this team, without completely mortgaging the future too, I'm not as confident he'll stick around. Also some surety as to the arena situation, even if it's a ways-off, would go a long way.
- eichiefs9

Adding a 2C and getting surety on the area would be huge. I'm just not comfortable taking JT into the season unsigned. If the Isles need to make a JT trade and it's a good one, I'll still be a fan.

You know me, I've already got towel in hand. However, if he does trade JT, I don't see any way he keeps his job. Trading him would signal the beginning of another rebuild. We've already seen year after year of muddling through, signing mid-level UFA's & starting rookies in the top-6. Since this one has taken 11 years to get half -way done, I can't see L&M giving him more time to start from scratch. Like you, I'm not starting over with this team if that's the route this goes.
- Isleshockeyman

I don't wholly agree about the trading JT part.

I couldn't begin to guess what the return would be, but it would include a lot of proven, young pieces. Someone like ANA could afford to cough up something like one of Lindholm/Manson/Montour/Larsson + Rakell + Steel + a 2018 1st

Nothing replaces Tavares but those would be huge additions on the back-end and would really round the team out nicely. Who knows if ANA would give up that much, or any team for that matter, but I'm not wholly convinced that it would bring us back to the stone-age.

Adding a 2C and getting surety on the area would be huge. I'm just not comfortable taking JT into the season unsigned. If the Isles need to make a JT trade and it's a good one, I'll still be a fan.
- ses111

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but it's gonna happen. May as well accept it now.

Shorter term carries risk for the Oilers. I get the disdain for skipping the RFA years but he's invaluable and they're bypassing a lot of risk to keep him around for a long time.
- eichiefs9

Sorry but coming off ELC, $7-9m per is sufficient enuff for a 6-8yr contract and see what happen by then with NHL contracts. Now Draisytel will make approx $7m per?? plus Nurse at maybe $4m

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but it's gonna happen. May as well accept it now.
- eichiefs9

The NHL is not exactly trade central now, but it's easier to trade now in the offseason then in September.

Sorry but coming off ELC, $7-9m per is sufficient enuff for a 6-8yr contract and see what happen by then with NHL contracts. Now Draisytel will make approx $7m per?? plus Nurse at maybe $4m
- Ur Not Me

He scored 100pts in 82 games in his first full season in the NHL at age 20.

Making less than Jonathan Toews is not sufficient. He is the next superstar and face of the league. That contract amount/term is perfectly acceptable, relative to what he provides.

He scored 100pts in 82 games in his first full season in the NHL at age 20.

Making less than Jonathan Toews is not sufficient. He is the next superstar and face of the league. That contract amount/term is perfectly acceptable, relative to what he provides.
- eichiefs9

No one is doubting his ability, but RFA was set-up for team advantage, player advantage is after

Shorter term carries risk for the Oilers. I get the disdain for skipping the RFA years but he's invaluable and they're bypassing a lot of risk to keep him around for a long time.
- eichiefs9

is he worth it? probably, but that kind of cap hit for that kind of term when the player is an rfa fresh off an elc is a massive risk as well as making it very difficult to build a solid team around him when he's at the cap hit of two players. he's 20...so you're getting what...3 ufa years, he'll be 28 when his contract is done and you're paying him 13 mil per? this doesn't feel like value to me. why not even give him 8-9 mil per for 3 years, still have him as an rfa and then sign him long term? at that point you're paying him for 6 ufa years, and a near max deal makes more sense in that scenario.

No one is doubting his ability, but RFA was set-up for team advantage, player advantage is after
- Ur Not Me

exactly...I somehow doubt making 6-8 mil over the next 3 years would make him bitter.

is he worth it? probably, but that kind of cap hit for that kind of term when the player is an rfa fresh off an elc is a massive risk as well as making it very difficult to build a solid team around him when he's at the cap hit of two players. he's 20...so you're getting what...3 ufa years, he'll be 28 when his contract is done and you're paying him 13 mil per? this doesn't feel like value to me. why not even give him 8-9 mil per for 3 years, still have him as an rfa and then sign him long term? at that point you're paying him for 6 ufa years, and a near max deal makes more sense in that scenario.
- Isles_since_6

The cap is going to continue to rise, likely at a higher rate than it has over the last three seasons. In a "slow growth" period of the previous 3 years the cap went up $6M. It's not unreasonable to believe that in the next 5-6 years the cap will go up around $10M and the percentage of cap space that his contract will take up will drop.

He's a super-superstar and they really didn't have a choice. Frankly, I think bypassing his RFA years was a good move. RFA or not, McDavid holds all the cards and if he wanted out in 3 years then they'd have to trade him. That's a tough-sell to a fanbase who already has had to deal with trading the greatest player in NHL history once before.

Garth should be taking calls on him. The fact that he isn't planning on signing by Saturday is extremely concerning. If he walks for nothing or his rights get traded for pennies on the dollar I'm throwing in the towel on this team.
- eichiefs9

He scored 100pts in 82 games in his first full season in the NHL at age 20.

Making less than Jonathan Toews is not sufficient. He is the next superstar and face of the league. That contract amount/term is perfectly acceptable, relative to what he provides.
- eichiefs9

100% agree, without question.

- Vukota

I won't stop being a fan, but I'll stop being crazy into them. I probably won't spend money to go to games or pay nearly as much attention. I don't see why anyone would. Garth has had every opportunity to either do enough to keep him around or, now, move him if they aren't sure he'll be here after this season. If he just sits on his hands and prays hard that Tavares likes it enough to stay and is wrong...that's not acceptable.

I won't stop being a fan, but I'll stop being crazy into them. I probably won't spend money to go to games or pay nearly as much attention. I don't see why anyone would. Garth has had every opportunity to either do enough to keep him around or, now, move him if they aren't sure he'll be here after this season. If he just sits on his hands and prays hard that Tavares likes it enough to stay and is wrong...that's not acceptable.
- eichiefs9

If you leave who will ask Staple if traded 1st rd picks are lottery protected?

If you leave who will ask Staple if traded 1st rd picks are lottery protected?
- Vukota

I will pass that torch to you. And by "pass" I mean I will stick a lit torch directly into your leather cheerio.

I will pass that torch to you. And by "pass" I mean I will stick a lit torch directly into your leather cheerio.
- eichiefs9

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but it's gonna happen. May as well accept it now.
- eichiefs9

I agree, and if the islanders gave JT and Brisson an ultimatum to sign by July 1st he would say Good bye, so imho it makes sense for the Islanders who want JT to stay to give it time. Players like JT don't come around all the time.
contracts and extensions are part of the business and JT wouldn't be the only player waiting and not signing immediately on July 1st. It happens.

I agree, and if the islanders gave JT and Brisson an ultimatum to sign by July 1st he would say Good bye, so imho it makes sense for the Islanders who want JT to stay to give it time. Players like JT don't come around all the time.
contracts and extensions are part of the business and JT wouldn't be the only player waiting and not signing immediately on July 1st. It happens.
- nyisles7

They were smart not to start throwing out ultimatums to a player of Tavares' caliber because that never ends well for one side. But they better know something we don't, because otherwise Snow is gambling with not only his career, but the entire direction of this franchise.

I realize that the biggest issue for the team right now is 2C but I would like to see us bring in Yakapov on a 1 year "prove it" deal. As the roster stands now he would be a good fit on the 3rd line with potential upside
27-91-7
16-29-12
yak-72-66
25-53-15
86-13

that 3rd line would be scary fast

EK has the Oilers and Isles discussing Halak and the Isles reaching out to Radulov.

EK has the Oilers and Isles discussing Halak and the Isles reaching out to Radulov.
- ses111

well thats not happening

EK has the Oilers and Isles discussing Halak and the Isles reaching out to Radulov.
- ses111

Radulov wanted $7M x 6yrs