And Sorokin, 3-4 years he’ll be 31/32 starting those seasons and all our core will be on the downside of their careers. Aside from Dobson and maybe a couple others.
- streaks

Elite goaltenders are the easily hardest assest to find/acquire.

Thus Sorokin should stay.

EK has Timo Meier to Islanders as E4.
- ses111

That’s a relief. E5

Sorry to chief Sorokin must go as well.

- ses111

See above.

Therein lies the rub. Do the Islanders tweak/retool, or blow it up.

If the latter, then players like Pulock and Pelech should arguably be made available.
- Wildschwein

Pullock has been up and down. It might make sense to move him before his stock gets to low. I See Dober on the #1 pairing next season. Pelech I keep. Still very serviceable.

Sorokin could be shopped if they planned on going full rebuild, but only if they're getting a massive haul for him. Right now I don't see that one in the cards.
- eichiefs9

I agree chief.

Elite goaltenders are the easily hardest assest to find/acquire.

Thus Sorokin should stay.
- Wildschwein

Sorokin absolutely stays !!!! If he can stay healthy you have another 6 to 8 years with him.

I can't handle another tear down heck some of us may be in the grave by the time that's over with. If ek says tiemo meier then he's a Ranger for sure

And Sorokin, 3-4 years he’ll be 31/32 starting those seasons and all our core will be on the downside of their careers. Aside from Dobson and maybe a couple others.
- streaks

I think age with goalies are a different animal. Not to mention that Sorokin only has a handful of season in the NHL. I think Sorokin might not even be in his prime for another 2 or 3 years.

And….that’s exactly why you trade everyone now. I know Casey has some years left, but I’d even look to trade him. He’s built for the playoffs, he’s great at faceoffs, he’s a penalty killer and he plays a position we actually have depth at. I think a 1st rounder is where you start negotiations at. I love the guy, don’t want this to happen but any playoff team that needs a center would salivate at the prospect of acquiring him.

I am very much in agreement that the likelihood of them having the assets to land Meier is low. I'm skeptical that they can accommodate what his cap hit is going to be also, if he'd even be willing to sign an extension here. If he's not willing to sign an extension his cap hit will be $10M.

They're going to need to replace Mayfield and Varlamov next year, which will likely even out in terms of money because a back-up goaltender should cost less than $5M but there's going to be a jump in cost if they sign a vet because Mayfield's current deal is dirt cheap. They could replace Mayfield internally, but Hutton is the only RHD in the organization and I don't think he really belongs in the NHL.

Bailey, Beau, Clutterbuck, and Martin are signed through next season at a combined cap hit of $12.5M. Until proven otherwise, I'm assuming three of them are entirely unable to be traded. Beau could be traded before his deal ends but they'd be selling real low on him.

To me, the 2024 offseason would be the time to start spending money and beginning to build something. By that point, Palmieri and Nelson would be entering the final year of their contracts and could be moved at the deadline of the 2024-25 season for as much as they could get.

Adding expensive contracts now is just going to hinder their ability to utilize their cap space. So many teams are majorly cap strapped after the pandemic, having the flexibility to broker deals and collect assets for nothing but money would help accelerate things. May also give them an advantage if there's a prime UFA out there.
- eichiefs9

Any young goalies in the system that can be ready for a backup role soon? Looking at Timo's numbers he can certainly help, but not enough for it to be worth it long term.

How he is going to do this is what scares me
- Upstate_isles

Tough choices really because there are some pieces that are certainly worth holding onto and others that aren't. This is why the GM's make the big bucks. Not an easy decision at this point how much of a change you make and if you trade the future to make the changes for a quick fix or do you go for the all out rebuild.

If Meier happens (somehow) it’s a gigantic mistake that would set this organization back years. This team would get waxed by any elite team with Meier without trading any assets.

To quote the late, great Walt Bellamy, I want you to go out there and sell, sell, sell.

He's 27 at the start of next season. If they're going to try and retool and be competitive in about 3 or 4 seasons he'll be 30 or older by the time that happens.

In my opinion, all adding him into the fold now does is make them marginally better and will hinder their chances are being able to draft some young talent.
- eichiefs9

This all naturally depends on what the price ends up being. San Jose is likely looking for a complete overhaul at this point so I imagine they're looking for picks and prospects. I'm definitely not wild about parting with yet another first round pick but I guess it depends on what Lou can convince them to take on. Does that follow up with another deal as well? The dynamic of a team like this can change pretty fast with the right 2-3 players added. We have the best goaltender in hockey. An incredibly dynamic centerman who has needed a top tier winger his whole career and a second line center who was on a 40 goal pace last year. A couple of top tier dmen in Pelech and Dobson....

I think we learned two years ago that the dynamic of losing a single player like Pelech and then getting him back ended up being the difference between a franchise that looked lost and one that came within two games of the Stanley Cup Finals. If we get Pelly back, add someone like Meier and maybe another impact player, they could be significantly better. Or they could still suck lol....
Point being, as bad as they look, chemistry can change awful fast with the addition of the right player or two.

They both have full NTC's. Pulock's converts to a partial 16-team no-trade list in 2027, Pelech in 2025.
- eichiefs9

True. Hence why I only said “made available”.

Personally, I’d rather the Islanders just do an aggressive retool.

1) Move Mayfield to a contender. Retain coin to get the max return. The demand for his services at that cost will be VERY HIGH.

2) Move Nelson and Varlamov for picks and prospects.

3) If Meier is open to coming (and staying) to the Island, make the 2023 1st available. Attempt to unload Bailey while you do it. If Meier ain’t available, keep the pick.

4) Move Pageau up to 2C. He’s more than capable.

5) Play Holmstrom, Räty, Salo and Bolduc. Give them meaningful minutes this year, and get a sense of what you have in them.

6) Unload whatever other dead weight you can. Keep the core of Barzal, Pageau, Dobson, Sorokin, Romanov, Pelech and Pulock. Build around them.

7) Probably suffer in the standings this year and next. Be competitive again come 2025.

I am very much in agreement that the likelihood of them having the assets to land Meier is low. I'm skeptical that they can accommodate what his cap hit is going to be also, if he'd even be willing to sign an extension here. If he's not willing to sign an extension his cap hit will be $10M.

They're going to need to replace Mayfield and Varlamov next year, which will likely even out in terms of money because a back-up goaltender should cost less than $5M but there's going to be a jump in cost if they sign a vet because Mayfield's current deal is dirt cheap. They could replace Mayfield internally, but Hutton is the only RHD in the organization and I don't think he really belongs in the NHL.

Bailey, Beau, Clutterbuck, and Martin are signed through next season at a combined cap hit of $12.5M. Until proven otherwise, I'm assuming three of them are entirely unable to be traded. Beau could be traded before his deal ends but they'd be selling real low on him.

To me, the 2024 offseason would be the time to start spending money and beginning to build something. By that point, Palmieri and Nelson would be entering the final year of their contracts and could be moved at the deadline of the 2024-25 season for as much as they could get.

Adding expensive contracts now is just going to hinder their ability to utilize their cap space. So many teams are majorly cap strapped after the pandemic, having the flexibility to broker deals and collect assets for nothing but money would help accelerate things. May also give them an advantage if there's a prime UFA out there.
- eichiefs9

Thoughtful explanation, thanks. I can agree with your rationale on expiring contracts, salary cap and the timing of when and how likely it might be to add players. I just wonder if Lou and company have this same thought process…or if they try to add an impact player to the existing roster, with the mindset of building on the ECF runs of two years ago. They’re currently on the cusp of a wild card. I’m not sure if this makes sense or not, but I think if they can make the playoffs they’ll be a difficult out.

If you did, then you wouldn’t object to moving the 1st. Meier is 100% legit, and is almost certainly better than anyone the Islanders will draft with that pick.
- Wildschwein

Timo is young enough and the type of scorer the Islanders need so I agree you make that trade.

This all naturally depends on what the price ends up being. San Jose is likely looking for a complete overhaul at this point so I imagine they're looking for picks and prospects. I'm definitely not wild about parting with yet another first round pick but I guess it depends on what Lou can convince them to take on. Does that follow up with another deal as well? The dynamic of a team like this can change pretty fast with the right 2-3 players added. We have the best goaltender in hockey. An incredibly dynamic centerman who has needed a top tier winger his whole career and a second line center who was on a 40 goal pace last year. A couple of top tier dmen in Pelech and Dobson....

I think we learned two years ago that the dynamic of losing a single player like Pelech and then getting him back ended up being the difference between a franchise that looked lost and one that came within two games of the Stanley Cup Finals. If we get Pelly back, add someone like Meier and maybe another impact player, they could be significantly better. Or they could still suck lol....
Point being, as bad as they look, chemistry can change awful fast with the addition of the right player or two.
- keaner17

Islanders have enough trouble adding the 1 player let alone 2-3. Getting Pelech back was huge but the Islanders still had Leddy and Toews and they were huge in being able to skate the puck out of trouble. I just think this current team has missed their chance and better to get younger and more skilled at this point.

Thoughtful explanation, thanks. I can agree with your rationale on expiring contracts, salary cap and the timing of when and how likely it might be to add players. I just wonder if Lou and company have this same thought process…or if they try to add an impact player to the existing roster, with the mindset of building on the ECF runs of two years ago. They’re currently on the cusp of a wild card. I’m not sure if this makes sense or not, but I think if they can make the playoffs they’ll be a difficult out.
- streaks

I think we need to forget trying to build on those two runs at the point. Even with adding a Timo, it will be very unlikely they capture that magic again and especially with this current NHL schedule.

I think we need to forget trying to build on those two runs at the point. Even with adding a Timo, it will be very unlikely they capture that magic again and especially with this current NHL schedule.
- ses111

The Eastern Conference is stacked this year. Like I said earlier, adding Meier alone doesn’t put us into that group.

If Meier happens (somehow) it’s a gigantic mistake that would set this organization back years. This team would get waxed by any elite team with Meier without trading any assets.

To quote the late, great Walt Bellamy, I want you to go out there and sell, sell, sell.
- potvin05

Not if he signs an extension. I'd take that as now you can push a few down the roster where they belong and a few off the roster too

Thoughtful explanation, thanks. I can agree with your rationale on expiring contracts, salary cap and the timing of when and how likely it might be to add players. I just wonder if Lou and company have this same thought process…or if they try to add an impact player to the existing roster, with the mindset of building on the ECF runs of two years ago. They’re currently on the cusp of a wild card. I’m not sure if this makes sense or not, but I think if they can make the playoffs they’ll be a difficult out.
- streaks

Yeah I just don't see Lou as the type of GM that is suitable for navigating the landscape of retooling. He's a go-for-it kind of guy and I think virtually all of us are in agreement that the time to "go for it" has clearly passed.

I'm a big proponent of weaponizing cap space in order to stockpile assets. Clearing as much out as possible gives the Isles the flexibility to either broker retained-salary trades for other teams or allow teams to dump expiring contracts to us that they want off their books. Essentially a less-intense version of what Arizona has done in the last year or two. They have 18 picks in the next three drafts that are between 1st-3rd rounds

Islanders have enough trouble adding the 1 player let alone 2-3. Getting Pelech back was huge but the Islanders still had Leddy and Toews and they were huge in being able to skate the puck out of trouble. I just think this current team has missed their chance and better to get younger and more skilled at this point.
- ses111

They were TERRIBLE during that stretch while Pelech was out. If that season hadn't stopped for Covid, they wouldn't have finished anywhere near the playoffs. There's unquestionably a huge unknown in this situation but just adding a big scorer to your top line takes pressure and attention off of your second and third lines. It can change everything. Getting Pelech back will already give them a big boost. Unfortunately I think it will be one where they just narrowly miss the playoffs. Adding a guy like Meier could definitely change the whole dynamic. I'm not 100% sure I'm on board with doing it, but I'm also not sure it would be the disaster some are concerned of

The Eastern Conference is stacked this year. Like I said earlier, adding Meier alone doesn’t put us into that group.
- potvin05

Yep! The time for bold moves was two years ago. Team is older and slower now.

The Eastern Conference is stacked this year. Like I said earlier, adding Meier alone doesn’t put us into that group.
- potvin05

True.

The counter argument though, is that adding him now might be the move that puts you in that group a couple years from now.

Yeah I just don't see Lou as the type of GM that is suitable for navigating the landscape of retooling. He's a go-for-it kind of guy and I think virtually all of us are in agreement that the time to "go for it" has clearly passed.

I'm a big proponent of weaponizing cap space in order to stockpile assets. Clearing as much out as possible gives the Isles the flexibility to either broker retained-salary trades for other teams or allow teams to dump expiring contracts to us that they want off their books. Essentially a less-intense version of what Arizona has done in the last year or two. They have 18 picks in the next three drafts that are between 1st-3rd rounds
- eichiefs9

No you are finally starting to make sense.
- Nfdbulldawg

Yeah not a fortune teller like the rest of the internet GM's.