It's one year of this kind of production, that's it. Statistical outlier seasons at his age are rarely replicated on a consistent basis.

You're aboslutely right they're a better team today then they were yesterday, but I'm not sure how much better and if the juice is going to be worth the squeeze in the long-term. Even if they turn it around and make the playoffs, it'll probably be as a wildcard team and they'll draw either Boston or Carolina...two teams they match up terribly against
- eichiefs9

This is the thing. Yes today the Islanders are better, but this move does not seem to make the team a legit Cup contenders. Just making the playoffs does not seem to be the goal. Even if Bo continues his play, the team still has holes.

We were looking for a center?
- Cptmjl

Unpopular opinion maybe, but Barzal was thrown into that 1C after Tavares left. I don't think he measured up IMO. Perhaps it was his lack of talent on the wing, and him trying to do too much, but he's simply not as good in that spot as Tavares was. They FINALLLLLYYY have a 1C. Who knows, maybe Lou trades Barzal...

That’s the only reason you make this trade. You’re right he’s not bringing the cup here. That’s one of the other reasons I don’t like the trade.
- Cptmjl

They have needed to improve the PP for yearsssssssssss. From Cliff Ronning, to MAB, the list goes on and on. The PP has been their achilles heel. It was long overdue to address it

Unpopular opinion maybe, but Barzal was thrown into that 1C after Tavares left. I don't think he measured up IMO. Perhaps it was his lack of talent on the wing, and him trying to do too much, but he's simply not as good in that spot as Tavares was. They FINALLLLLYYY have a 1C. Who knows, maybe Lou trades Barzal...
- kindlyrick

JT was drafted 1st overall. It can work with Barzal as 1C but he needs better support. He needs shooters who can take advantage of his playmaking.

Unpopular opinion maybe, but Barzal was thrown into that 1C after Tavares left. I don't think he measured up IMO. Perhaps it was his lack of talent on the wing, and him trying to do too much, but he's simply not as good in that spot as Tavares was. They FINALLLLLYYY have a 1C. Who knows, maybe Lou trades Barzal...
- kindlyrick

You make it sound like we’re getting Mackinnon. You were looking for a guy that broke 61 points once his entire career for our #1 center? He’s also not signed

JT was drafted 1st overall. It can work with Barzal as 1C but he needs better support. He needs shooters who can take advantage of his playmaking.
- ses111

Enter 31 goals in 49 games Horvat. Its a 1-2 punch they haven't had since two months of Tavares/Vanek.

They have needed to improve the PP for yearsssssssssss. From Cliff Ronning, to MAB, the list goes on and on. The PP has been their achilles heel. It was long overdue to address it
- kindlyrick

There’s so many more problems with this team besides the PP. we don’t need to address our pp right now. We just disagree on which direction this team should be going.

You make it sound like we’re getting Mackinnon. You were looking for a guy that broke 61 points once his entire career for our #1 center? He’s also not signed
- Cptmjl

Def not Mackinnon, but sadly, he's a better 1C than anyone on the isles. He also brings some snipe to the left side of the PP.....which as we all know has been garbage.

There’s so many more problems with this team besides the PP. we don’t need to address our pp right now.
- Cptmjl

I'll disagree with that......the PP was one of their biggest weakness'

I don’t like this at all. I’ve made my feelings VERY known that we need more than one piece. I would have cared more about Beau last year but you trade your best asset in Raty (and this guy has perennial 30-goal scorer written all over him) and your 1st round pick too?? I wish we lost the last two games now. I’d rather have a shot at Bedard than losing to the Bruins in the first round.

And, if we’re trading valuable assets, I’d have rather had Meier than Horvat. I do like that Horvat was a leader on that team, but Meier would have fit in the lineup better and is a more proven scorer. I also think he’s younger, but I may be wrong about that.

Agreed on all fronts. Maybe Lou isn't done? Again, i'm happy to see him finally replace Tavares.....it only took 3 years.
- kindlyrick

I don't know what else he can trade at this point. '24's first round pick is now tied to the '23 pick, so that'd be a tough one to move. Not to mention, they're now likely to not have had a first round pick in 2020/2021/2022/2023. Their best prospect is gone. There isn't a ton of moveable assets left in this organization.

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
1m
Bo Horvat calls it a whirlwind day. No extension talks yet. Sounds like he's willing to listen.

I don’t like this at all. I’ve made my feelings VERY known that we need more than one piece. I would have cared more about Beau last year but you trade your best asset in Raty (and this guy has perennial 30-goal scorer written all over him) and your 1st round pick too?? I wish we lost the last two games now. I’d rather have a shot at Bedard than losing to the Bruins in the first round.

And, if we’re trading valuable assets, I’d have rather had Meier than Horvat. I do like that Horvat was a leader on that team, but Meier would have fit in the lineup better and is a more proven scorer. I also think he’s younger, but I may be wrong about that.
- potvin05

Lou went all in after those two wins. Maybe Chris is not waiting in the wing to take over for Lou?

I don’t like this at all. I’ve made my feelings VERY known that we need more than one piece. I would have cared more about Beau last year but you trade your best asset in Raty (and this guy has perennial 30-goal scorer written all over him) and your 1st round pick too?? I wish we lost the last two games now. I’d rather have a shot at Bedard than losing to the Bruins in the first round.

And, if we’re trading valuable assets, I’d have rather had Meier than Horvat. I do like that Horvat was a leader on that team, but Meier would have fit in the lineup better and is a more proven scorer. I also think he’s younger, but I may be wrong about that.
- potvin05

Totally separate topic but I dont think the isles win the draft lottery to land Bedard. Gun to my head that first overall selection is hand picked for whatever is best for the league, and whatever team is needs that kinda star power.

I don't know what else he can trade at this point. '24's first round pick is now tied to the '23 pick, so that'd be a tough one to move. Not to mention, they're now likely to not have had a first round pick in 2020/2021/2022/2023. Their best prospect is gone. There isn't a ton of moveable assets left in this organization.
- eichiefs9

He’s pretty much napalming this team on the way out

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
1m
Bo Horvat calls it a whirlwind day. No extension talks yet. Sounds like he's willing to listen.
- eichiefs9

Yay

I don't know what else he can trade at this point. '24's first round pick is now tied to the '23 pick, so that'd be a tough one to move. Not to mention, they're now likely to not have had a first round pick in 2020/2021/2022/2023. Their best prospect is gone. There isn't a ton of moveable assets left in this organization.
- eichiefs9

This is the thing. What is even left to trade to make further improvements? This reminds me of the Ryan Smyth move in a way.

I understand that the priority is a scoring winger.

The Isles have Barzal, Bo, Nelson, JGP, Casey down the middle.

Could be another move built in here.

This is the thing. What is even left to trade to make further improvements? This reminds me of the Ryan Smyth move in a way.
- ses111

Get ready the Nelson for Jeff Carter trade is upon us.

Totally separate topic but I dont think the isles win the draft lottery to land Bedard. Gun to my head that first overall selection is hand picked for whatever is best for the league, and whatever team is needs that kinda star power.
- kindlyrick

Still seems to be a strong draft even if Bedard is not likely.

This is the thing. What is even left to trade to make further improvements? This reminds me of the Ryan Smyth move in a way.
- ses111

Don't jump off the boat yet.

I don't know what else he can trade at this point. '24's first round pick is now tied to the '23 pick, so that'd be a tough one to move. Not to mention, they're now likely to not have had a first round pick in 2020/2021/2022/2023. Their best prospect is gone. There isn't a ton of moveable assets left in this organization.
- eichiefs9

I guess we will find out soon enough when we see where this team is at the deadline. If they are out of the playoffs, you could see a real dump.

Don't jump off the boat yet.
- Nfdbulldawg

I never jump of boats.

Totally separate topic but I dont think the isles win the draft lottery to land Bedard. Gun to my head that first overall selection is hand picked for whatever is best for the league, and whatever team is needs that kinda star power.
- kindlyrick

Bettman has always had a hard on for us. If we just played the string out, unloaded some players before the TD and not traded Raty, that is what would have been better for this organization, short term and long term.

The only thing that sticks in my craw is that maybe we’re making trades like this because Lou thinks he can’t get anyone from outside LI to sign any kind of long-term contract to play here. History tells us we have a hard enough time keeping our best players and the players from other organizations never sign here. That’s really all I got it’s purely speculation on my part.

This is the thing. What is even left to trade to make further improvements? This reminds me of the Ryan Smyth move in a way.
- ses111

Followed by the never ending rebuild because we had nothing left which we don’t now. Eerily similar events.