You have no idea how much it hurts me not wanting Lou to wheel and deal. Just does not seem to be in the cards.
- ses111

If you don’t think it’s in the cards or we should my question is why?

Maybe calm down was the wrong words... the meaning was..we are top 5 in the league and it feels like we are last. .. nothing more.. .

If we get 1 top 6 players and start playing the right way again we can beat anyone.. period. Look at playoffs last years.

Lightening, Leafs, Pens and Caps were top teams in league talent wise... they all lost in first round.
- niteislander

I agree. We’re in a funk but I’m confident this team can dig itself out of it. Until they prove me wrong I’m completely on board dealing whatever to help this team.

Agreed, St. Louis won the Stanley Cup last year. Where were they at this point in the season last year. 1ST objective for every team is to make the PO's. From there on any team can win. Ask Tampa and the Leafs.
- nyisles7

SHUT THE (frank) UP

If you don’t think it’s in the cards or we should my question is why?
- Cptmjl

If the Isles could sign top FA's it's easier to trade a #1 pick or some prospects. That leaves the draft and trades and with the prospect pool not seeming to be impressive, trades are that much tougher. Trades are already tough in the NHL and the 3 point games. I'm also looking at players like Bailey, Eberle, and even Lee. They have not exactly dominated in the playoffs. Isles need a lot to go right with the current team.

Well to be fair there isn’t any one team that’s “probably” getting to the finals. I’m not even saying that sarcastically. We all know anything can happen. Though this team hasn’t been playing well lately we’ve been in the top five of the league the entire season.
- Cptmjl

True but the caps pens bolts Bruins have a better chance I'd say of course they all eliminate each other to get there save one. Isles can do it but I think there are better teams, hope I'm wrong

True but the caps pens bolts Bruins have a better chance I'd say of course they all eliminate each other to get there save one. Isles can do it but I think there are better teams, hope I'm wrong
- Upstate_isles

Caps, Pens, Bolts, and Bruins do have a better chance and it's mainly do to the talent. Barry is a great coach and he did not win the Cup with the Preds because he did not have enough talent. Barry had the talent with the Caps. Isles still have a ways to go talent wise. The Blues with Ryan O'Reilly, Schenn, and Tarasenko are better than most of the Isles forwards.

If the Isles could sign top FA's it's easier to trade a #1 pick or some prospects. That leaves the draft and trades and with the prospect pool not seeming to be impressive, trades are that much tougher. Trades are already tough in the NHL and the 3 point games. I'm also looking at players like Bailey, Eberle, and even Lee. They have not exactly dominated in the playoffs. Isles need a lot to go right with the current team.
- ses111

Ok well they can’t. So what do we do with the first round pick? Draft a late round prospect and wait at least three years for them to make an impact with an aging roster? Or draft someone another team may or may not want in a trade whenever everyone perceives we’re “ready” for said trade? Or trade for a player to help us now that has a long window to see what we’re about and maybe have an opportunity to sign him?

Not really sure I see the positives in holding onto a first round pick if there’s a good player available with where this team is at now?

True but the caps pens bolts Bruins have a better chance I'd say of course they all eliminate each other to get there save one. Isles can do it but I think there are better teams, hope I'm wrong
- Upstate_isles

The team we swept in the first round last season? Yeah I get it they’re playing unreal right now and we’re not but there’s a lot of season left.

Ok. So what do we do with the first round pick? Draft a late round prospect and wait at least three years for them to make an impact with an aging roster? Or draft someone another team may or may not want? Or trade for a player to help us now that has a long window to see what we’re about and maybe have an opportunity to sign him?

Not really sure I see the positives in holding onto a first round pick if there’s a good player available with where this team is at now?
- Cptmjl

I would trade the #1 pick for a signed player. That may need to wait until the offseason. If I thought this team was one player away, I would gladly trade a #1 for a rental. I just do not believe this team is that close and I do not believe the current forward group is good enough for a run. Even though this is year 2 with Barry, many of these players have not shown enough in a big spot during the playoffs.

I would trade the #1 pick for a signed player. That may need to wait until the offseason. If I thought this team was one player away, I would gladly trade a #1 for a rental. I just do not believe this team is that close and I do not believe the current forward group is good enough for a run. Even though this is year 2 with Barry, many of these players have not shown enough in a big spot during the playoffs.
- ses111

That’s fair. I see them turning it around and our forward group playing the way we know they’re capable of down the stretch. Hopefully I’m right and you’re wrong😂

Ok well they can’t. So what do we do with the first round pick? Draft a late round prospect and wait at least three years for them to make an impact with an aging roster? Or draft someone another team may or may not want in a trade whenever everyone perceives we’re “ready” for said trade? Or trade for a player to help us now that has a long window to see what we’re about and maybe have an opportunity to sign him?

Not really sure I see the positives in holding onto a first round pick if there’s a good player available with where this team is at now?
- Cptmjl

Catch 22 really, they cant lure guys here and they are good enough to not get top talent in the draft

That’s fair. I see them turning it around and our forward group playing the way we know they’re capable of down the stretch. Hopefully I’m right and you’re wrong😂
- Cptmjl

I want to be wrong so bad. I just think this forward group has a ceiling and when the competition gets much better and more intense in the playoffs and the 3 point games are over, this team just comes up short in the talent department. Look at a player like Lee. He has nice regular seasons and seem to have trouble scoring in the playoffs. Sorry schwein.

You named one if he actually becomes available. Who knows who will become available between now and then?
- Cptmjl

Who?

Regarding the 2nd part: Well I mean it's not too difficult to figure out who's going to be available as a rental at the trade deadline. Here's your list of guys that are going to be free agents this summer. Just cross off the players that are on playoff teams. If any team really falls off a cliff then maybe one of those guys becomes available, but until then...the list of available rental players is not going to change.

Catch 22 really, they cant lure guys here and they are good enough to not get top talent in the draft
- Upstate_isles

This is the problem and when they had the top picks, Garth messed it up. Lou wants to win now and it's understandable but he has some big things against him.

Who?

Regarding the 2nd part: Well I mean it's not too difficult to figure out who's going to be available as a rental at the trade deadline. Here's your list of guys that are going to be free agents this summer. Just cross off the players that are on playoff teams. If any team really falls off a cliff then maybe one of those guys becomes available, but until then...the list of available rental players is not going to change.
- eichiefs9

Leblanc. Potentially. Also, Travis Zajac of course.

Leblanc. Potentially. Also, Travis Zajac of course.
- Cptmjl

Labanc wouldn't be a rental

I'm talking about rental players only, regarding my objection to trading a first round pick

Labanc wouldn't be a rental

I'm talking about rental players only, regarding my objection to trading a first round pick
- eichiefs9

Didn’t now you were specifically talking about rentals I can normally only get through a couple sentences of your posts.😂


Rentals yeah as far as what we know is available not much. If it were between us and another team AND this team started playing great again I would trade a first for Pageau. That’s right it I said it. Lose your mind.

Didn’t now you were specifically talking about rentals I can normally only get through a couple sentences of your posts.😂


Rentals yeah as far as what we know is available not much. If it were between us and another team AND this team started playing great again I would trade a first for Pageau. That’s right it I said it. Lose your mind.
- Cptmjl

Would it help you get through my posts if I wrote them in crayon? That way if you still struggle at least your wife can read them out loud to you. Bonus reading practice for her.

I said a few posts ago I think he'd be about the only guy out there you could make a kinda-reasonable argument for. I don't agree with you but I'm not going to lose my mind because you disagree

But, as far as I'm concerned, it's not even remotely close to being up for debate for anyone else out there. Rentals. Just to be clear. Just rentals. Rentals only. Nobody but rentals.

Just rentals.

Would it help you get through my posts if I wrote them in crayon? That way if you still struggle at least your wife can read them out loud to you. Bonus reading practice for her.

I said a few posts ago I think he'd be about the only guy out there you could make a kinda-reasonable argument for. I don't agree with you but I'm not going to lose my mind because you disagree

But, as far as I'm concerned, it's not even remotely close to being up for debate for anyone else out there. Rentals. Just to be clear. Just rentals. Rentals only. Nobody but rentals.

Just rentals.
- eichiefs9

- Cptmjl

- eichiefs9

But it’s Zajac.

Pageau is about the only rental out there that you can even kinda make an argument for being worth one and it's my personal opinion that he's not.

I'm fine with some sort of conditional 1st, although that's nearly impossible to talk about. You want to tell Ottawa "we'll give you a conditional 1st and Otto Koivula for Pageau - If the Isles are eliminated in the first or second round then the 2020 1st becomes a 2020 2nd, but if they reach the ECF and/or the Stanley Cup finals it becomes a 1st" then I think I'm OK with that. But there's way too much randomness in hockey for me to feel that trading a 1st for a middle-six defensive forward rental is a smart decision.
- eichiefs9

Bonino is another 3C that would fit imho. Probably cheaper than Pageau, who may not be available

Bonino is another 3C that would fit imho. Probably cheaper than Pageau, who may not be available
- nyisles7

Yep, gotta fit his $4.1M salary next season though which I wouldn't completely rule out as possible.

But it’s Zajac.
- Cptmjl

Just to be clear - I am saying I wouldn't give up our 1st for McDavid. Just to be clear.

Just to be clear - I am saying I wouldn't give up our 1st for McDavid. Just to be clear.
- eichiefs9

Maybe we could get another first for sorokon since you love firsts so much.