Eklund: What the Islanders CAN Do. What Should they Do?

Trade Barzal to Toronto for picks/prospects and start a proper rebuild.

I think Tavares screwed the team over. The team accommodated his request for no trade at the tdl last year. The guy's selfish for doing that. Isles deserved better.

Lou should get the goalchie and get a 3 way deal going where they get a young solid d man plus take on salary from whatever team is trying to get karlsson and take Bobby Ryan as well. The other team gets karlsson and give up the young dman and salary to the Isles. The Isles take on some salary in Bobby Ryan and Ottawa gives them a 2nd for doing so. Then the other team gets karlsson gives up pieces to Ottawa, plus the d man to Isles and Ottawa gives up a 2 nd plus ryan.in the end Isles lose a couple late round picks for their trouble and take on salary..

So Ottawa is going to trade Duchene and Karlsson in a year where Colorado owns their first round pick?

good luck

I wish they were in on Karlsson. Only Hockeybuzz is saying they are trying, TSN & NHL all claim it's Dallas, Vegas and Tampa

I wish they were in on Karlsson. Only Hockeybuzz is saying they are trying, TSN & NHL all claim it's Dallas, Vegas and Tampa
- 22bossy

EK has sources

I'd like to say I heard no talk of Duchene to the Islanders until I mentioned it here and on Twitter *pats self on shoulder* haha! (kidding but it's true, I hadn't seen it anywhere). Also, we already took care of our goalie situation (for this season).

EK has sources
- Symba007

agree some good prospects coming....tank this year, get a high pick next year and start building from there. They'll be competitive in 2 or 3 years in their new building.

If they cant sign Lee and Eberle to extensions they should tank. Trade Lee, Eberle, Nelson, Leddy.

You mean Robin Lehner won't be the starter??

You mean Robin Lehner won't be the starter??
- drewster99

Greiss and Lehner....

I say the Isles should relocate to Huston or Quebec. They are nothing more than an in house NHL level farm club for the rest of the league. Their own in home talent always leaves. Free agents of note won't sign there. Even when they have a superstar who proclaims they love the area and the franchise, they still leave. It worked for the Ravens, as soon as they were out of Cleveland things turned around. I feel we are in a similar situation. That Belmont can still fall through, anyone who is following it knows it. The fact is the Isles are in rebuilding mode and have been for 20+ years. Unless they move, they will be rebuilding for another 20. Not one player in the league says 'I'm going to the Island to win.'

I've read that Karlsson and the Isles couldn't agree on an extension, so i'm not sure if he's going to the Islanders.

About Tampa, they can't do it. It won't work with their cap.

5m in space left this year. Move out Callahan if possible. Johnson and Killorn also candidates. Girardi and Coburn dropping off next year. Callahanm if untraded, also dropping off the year after.

Stevie would have to get creative, but it's possible.

try and extend lee and eberle. if they don't sign, trade them for top prospects or 1st rd picks. isls already have a really good pool of prospects that should be ready in the next 2 - 3 yrs. get a ahl coach who can develop them.( not sure why this hasn't been addressed already) if you can add a high end player via trade, do it as long as it doesn't cost you more than 2 of those high prospects. DON'T sign anymore 30+ older players to long term deals ever.

isls will be fine. first game at home vs TO they should have a wear your islander pj's night.

I think Tavares screwed the team over. The team accommodated his request for no trade at the tdl last year. The guy's selfish for doing that. Isles deserved better.

Lou should get the goalchie and get a 3 way deal going where they get a young solid d man plus take on salary from whatever team is trying to get karlsson and take Bobby Ryan as well. The other team gets karlsson and give up the young dman and salary to the Isles. The Isles take on some salary in Bobby Ryan and Ottawa gives them a 2nd for doing so. Then the other team gets karlsson gives up pieces to Ottawa, plus the d man to Isles and Ottawa gives up a 2 nd plus ryan.in the end Isles lose a couple late round picks for their trouble and take on salary..
- kaptaan

He had a NMC/NTC did he not? They couldn't trade him.

You mean Robin Lehner won't be the starter??
- drewster99

No, he will be. Ek must have forget they signed him.

I say the Isles should relocate to Huston or Quebec. They are nothing more than an in house NHL level farm club for the rest of the league. Their own in home talent always leaves. Free agents of note won't sign there. Even when they have a superstar who proclaims they love the area and the franchise, they still leave. It worked for the Ravens, as soon as they were out of Cleveland things turned around. I feel we are in a similar situation. That Belmont can still fall through, anyone who is following it knows it. The fact is the Isles are in rebuilding mode and have been for 20+ years. Unless they move, they will be rebuilding for another 20. Not one player in the league says 'I'm going to the Island to win.'
- jsFALLEN

Your point is duly noted. *Takes note and feeds it into paper shredder.*

Tavares is not a superstar.. he is very good, but NOT a superstar..
Barzal, a ROOKIE outperformed him every night and had more points.

I've read that Karlsson and the Isles couldn't agree on an extension, so i'm not sure if he's going to the Islanders.

About Tampa, they can't do it. It won't work with their cap.
- thejonathans

Karlsson does not pose any kind of risk to the cap situation in Tampa. He is $6.5m this year. Yzerman has 15 months to adjust.

Tavares is not a superstar.. he is very good, but NOT a superstar..
Barzal, a ROOKIE outperformed him every night and had more points.
- RagingMike

Brazal is going to be a special player.

Here's a dark horse.. I think Karlsson could end up in Boston! Chara not getting any younger! I'm aware that PD doesn't like trading within the division but me personally, I'm not ruling it out!

Eklund: What the Islanders CAN Do. What Should they Do?
- Eklund

And while it may take a little more time, Lou will land a goalie before the season begins...

Awkward

Robin Lehner is the best goalie since Patrick Roy, don't you read Garth's blogs, Ek? He's going to win six Vezina's this year. And the Hart. And the Rocket Richard. Isles are fine because of Lou reasons. #FranchiseSaved