They did it with Barzal. They took free agency out of play on that contract.
- nyisles7

Yes but what about clutterbuck, Martin, Johnston I mean those are 3 awful deals with too much money and termh¹. All 3 could be off the team and there wouldn't be a huge impact. 3 or 4 years ago they were great but now they are handicaps

That'd all well and good but the isles didn't do that and have handicapped themselves for the foreseeable future
- Upstate_isles

Hence why I said not doing so has indeed impacted the Islanders.

It’s killing the Islanders which is enough for me. You simply cannot give out long term contracts to grinding type players who do not generate offense. Giving long term contracts to young star offensive players is not an issue.
- ses111

For me as well Ses, for me as well.

Yes but what about clutterbuck, Martin, Johnston I mean those are 3 awful deals with too much money and termh¹. All 3 could be off the team and there wouldn't be a huge impact. 3 or 4 years ago they were great but now they are handicaps
- Upstate_isles

Paying a talent like Barzal is never the issue. The Palms deal is not looking good and even the Lee contract will not end well.

Yes but what about clutterbuck, Martin, Johnston I mean those are 3 awful deals with too much money and termh¹. All 3 could be off the team and there wouldn't be a huge impact. 3 or 4 years ago they were great but now they are handicaps
- Upstate_isles

Honestly Clutter, Martin and Casey are not the problem imho. They are doing their jobs and more. Casey has been one of our more consistent better players imo. Johnston's contract can be buried in the AHL. Cal and MM are in the last year at 1.5 per next year.
The problem is the top 2 lines aren't producing. The pucks have not found the back of the net and thats a problem obviously. To be honest the Defensive side of the play has been shatty as well. This team doesn't start putting the puck in the net and start playing a little tighter on D there are going to be changes made at the deadline and off season.

Hopefully Lou can sign players to 1 year contracts in the future so that they continue to play good hockey and not just lace their skates for the (frank) of it

Long term contracts are definitely killing the FA market per SES 111. Look at Minnesota, they are still paying Parise and Suter $7m each for two more years. Every 3 to 4 years a team needs to recreate itself.

Yes but what about clutterbuck, Martin, Johnston I mean those are 3 awful deals with too much money and termh¹. All 3 could be off the team and there wouldn't be a huge impact. 3 or 4 years ago they were great but now they are handicaps
- Upstate_isles

I like all three players but yeah this is correct. From the GM to the coach and everyone in between puts a bit too much emphasis and importance on the fourth line. I say that knowing that every line plays a role in a teams success but there needs to be more of a priority and focus on the top 6. That’s like calling the sky blue at this point.

Edit; I don’t like all three players I think Johnston is useless. Like Beau I have no idea what anyone sees. I thought you were talking about cizikas
I’ll also add that even though he scored yesterday Martin is a shell of his former self. An example of knowing when to move on.

Paying a talent like Barzal is never the issue. The Palms deal is not looking good and even the Lee contract will not end well.
- ses111

Barzal is a good player not a great player. I like him. Always have but we need a great player or even two. When Lee was locked up we couldn’t have our next captain walk out the door also. We all knew the contract would hurt at some point. That’s just the way it is. I don’t/didn’t love his contract but he’s more an example of the price of doing business. More situational then anything else imo.

The problem is now and always has been under Lou subtracting and adding to the lineup when needed. Sure, those very same contracts play a role in that but successful teams find a way. He still, to this day, has not found a way to compliment this lineup. Period.

Barzal is a good player not a great player. I like him. Always have but we need a great player or even two. When Lee was locked up we couldn’t have our next captain walk out the door also. We all knew the contract would hurt at some point. That’s just the way it is. I don’t/didn’t love his contract but he’s more an example of the price of doing business. More situational then anything else imo.

The problem is now and always has been under Lou subtracting and adding to the lineup when needed. Sure, those very same contracts play a role in that but successful teams find a way. He still, to this day, has not found a way to compliment this lineup. Period.
- Cptmjl

Lou will be out of a job this summer and his statement will STILL be, "I am comfortable with the team we have."

This fan base is the epitome of what have you done for me lately. Pathetic really.

This fan base is the epitome of what have you done for me lately. Pathetic really.
- nyisles7

I mean it's about winning and they aren't doing a ton of it. Sure I think the 4th line was great a few years ago but Martin is cooked. Casey is still good and clutterbuck when healthy and Johnston has no spot. This team when compared to a lot of teams has a 2nd line and 2 third lines. Our top line has been barzal with Bailey and facshing a few games and that is not a top line. They don't have a lot of high end skill and the farm system isn't great either. Maybe they turn it around but in all honesty they are a middle of the pack to lower end team. I'd rather they suck and get a high pick then be a constant bubble team

This fan base is the epitome of what have you done for me lately. Pathetic really.
- nyisles7

This is true of every single fan base of every single sport.

Except maybe curling.

I mean it's about winning and they aren't doing a ton of it. Sure I think the 4th line was great a few years ago but Martin is cooked. Casey is still good and clutterbuck when healthy and Johnston has no spot. This team when compared to a lot of teams has a 2nd line and 2 third lines. Our top line has been barzal with Bailey and facshing a few games and that is not a top line. They don't have a lot of high end skill and the farm system isn't great either. Maybe they turn it around but in all honesty they are a middle of the pack to lower end team. I'd rather they suck and get a high pick then be a constant bubble team
- Upstate_isles

Islander fans should just hold onto the Cups and two long playoff runs forever and not care about the current team. We should only criticize Garth and no other GM.

Islander fans should just hold onto the Cups and two long playoff runs forever and not care about the current team. We should only criticize Garth and no other GM.
- ses111

Lou brought this team back from irrelevancy but it could be argued his best move was hiring trotz. I may be wrong but I'd like to see a new gm and have him as the president

Islander fans should just hold onto the Cups and two long playoff runs forever and not care about the current team. We should only criticize Garth and no other GM.
- ses111

Lou brought this team back from irrelevancy but it could be argued his best move was hiring trotz. I may be wrong but I'd like to see a new gm and have him as the president

Lou brought this team back from irrelevancy but it could be argued his best move was hiring trotz. I may be wrong but I'd like to see a new gm and have him as the president
- Upstate_isles

Hiring Barry was Lou’s best move. Lou has not improved the top 6 at all and this is still very much Garth’s players. You are not wrong.

I mean it's about winning and they aren't doing a ton of it. Sure I think the 4th line was great a few years ago but Martin is cooked. Casey is still good and clutterbuck when healthy and Johnston has no spot. This team when compared to a lot of teams has a 2nd line and 2 third lines. Our top line has been barzal with Bailey and facshing a few games and that is not a top line. They don't have a lot of high end skill and the farm system isn't great either. Maybe they turn it around but in all honesty they are a middle of the pack to lower end team. I'd rather they suck and get a high pick then be a constant bubble team
- Upstate_isles

You’re a terrible fan. Pathetic really.

Hiring Barry was Lou’s best move. Lou has not improved the top 6 at all and this is still very much Garth’s players. You are not wrong.
- ses111

I disagree and I’m not really sure how can say that with the Clutterbuck “value contract”?

You’re a terrible fan. Pathetic really.
- Cptmjl

Fair

I disagree and I’m not really sure how can say that with the Clutterbuck “value contract”?
- Cptmjl

What about Leo's "value contract".

Fair
- Upstate_isles

Agreed

What about Leo's "value contract".
- ses111

I knew you would find a way to insert Leo into todays thread

I knew you would find a way to insert Leo into todays thread
- Cptmjl

Like a dog with a bone

I knew you would find a way to insert Leo into todays thread
- Cptmjl

No way I let Mr. 1st line playoff wing go.

Like a dog with a bone
- Upstate_isles

I only hope the islanders could find such consistency.