Truthfully nobody knows what the dynamic was. Dubas is kind of just in neutral territory for me now. I don't think highly of his body of work to date, but the leaks about Shanahan exercising control of some sort does makes me wonder.

Dubas did navigate the cap well (in all fairness, he created most of their cap issues also) so he may be able to help start steering Pittsburgh in the right direction...but ultimately they're probably not going to be a major threat until Crosby/Malkin/Letang are all gone and they have a lot more cap flexibility.
- eichiefs9

Agreed we’ll never know. But we do know he went on tv and said he didn’t wanna be anywhere but Toronto and here we are two weeks later. Lol

Truthfully nobody knows what the dynamic was. Dubas is kind of just in neutral territory for me now. I don't think highly of his body of work to date, but the leaks about Shanahan exercising control of some sort does makes me wonder.

Dubas did navigate the cap well (in all fairness, he created most of their cap issues also) so he may be able to help start steering Pittsburgh in the right direction...but ultimately they're probably not going to be a major threat until Crosby/Malkin/Letang are all gone and they have a lot more cap flexibility.
- eichiefs9

I hope my first impression of him is correct that he’s not good at his job.

Agreed we’ll never know. But we do know he went on tv and said he didn’t wanna be anywhere but Toronto and here we are two weeks later. Lol
- kindlyrick

I thought Shanny fired Dubas?

I thought Shanny fired Dubas?
- JohnScammo

They “agreed to part ways”, which I believe is Bs but what do I know. I think what happened was Dubas high balled Shanny and the leafs knowing they would let him walk. He went from “I def don’t have it in me to go anywhere else” to signing a deal with the pens two weeks later. Gun to my head…..he had that convo with the pens prior and lined up that job. Again, I’ll never know, but it’s ironically similar to Tavares lying about his intentions.

They “agreed to part ways”, which I believe is Bs but what do I know. I think what happened was Dubas high balled Shanny and the leafs knowing they would let him walk. He went from “I def don’t have it in me to go anywhere else” to signing a deal with the pens two weeks later. Gun to my head…..he had that convo with the pens prior and lined up that job. Again, I’ll never know, but it’s ironically similar to Tavares lying about his intentions.
- kindlyrick

https://ca.sports.yahoo.c...by-the-day-183331915.html

Asked and answered

We'd have probably been thrilled to get Dubas if it meant dumping Milbury.

Plus, he's not one of the usual old retreads with a very long, predictable history. There's a sort of could-be-a-boom-or-bust feeling with Dubas, so I get the excitement. I kind of lean more toward "he's not as smart as he thinks he is," but we'll see. Maybe he learned a thing or two from his time in Toronto and won't try to win solely with 13 first liners or whatever. As a fan of a division rival, I'm not shaking in fear over the hire, though.
- UIF

Who else do we know like that?

Who else do we know like that?
- PeteM

Oh man, Pittsburgh's screwed.

Is Sullivan going to make the team younger and have more skill? I have no idea if Lane is the answer yet, but hard to tell after 1 year.
- ses111

The question was more hypothetical than realistic I know. But if he were available, would he be a good fit for this team. He comes from a veteran style team.

I agree that Lane's body of work is only a small sample. He dealt with many factors impacting his line up. It will be interesting to see how he does with a healthy Hovart and Barzal.

My feeling, regardless of Lane's status, if Sullivan was available I would have to take a serious look to see if would be interested in coaching my club.

The question was more hypothetical than realistic I know. But if he were available, would he be a good fit for this team. He comes from a veteran style team.

I agree that Lane's body of work is only a small sample. He dealt with many factors impacting his line up. It will be interesting to see how he does with a healthy Hovart and Barzal.

My feeling, regardless of Lane's status, if Sullivan was available I would have to take a serious look to see if would be interested in coaching my club.
- Nfdbulldawg

It's tough because Sullivan has been coaching a lot longer than Lane and Sullivan has a lot of talent with the Pens. I just think the biggest Islander issue is not coaching. You can certainly replace Lane, but if the roster remains larger the same, what kind of real impact will the new coach make?

The question was more hypothetical than realistic I know. But if he were available, would he be a good fit for this team. He comes from a veteran style team.

I agree that Lane's body of work is only a small sample. He dealt with many factors impacting his line up. It will be interesting to see how he does with a healthy Hovart and Barzal.

My feeling, regardless of Lane's status, if Sullivan was available I would have to take a serious look to see if would be interested in coaching my club.
- Nfdbulldawg

I think most would take Sullivan over Lambert. Hard to argue with two Stanley Cups.

I think most would take Sullivan over Lambert. Hard to argue with two Stanley Cups.
- eichiefs9

They probably wouldn’t fight back. Maybe if there were three of them they would.

They probably wouldn’t fight back. Maybe if there were three of them they would.
- Cptmjl

This would rule Sullivan out with the Islanders and his mention of speed.



https://thehockeynews.com...urgh-penguins-focus-speed

This would rule Sullivan out with the Islanders and his mention of speed.



https://thehockeynews.com...urgh-penguins-focus-speed
- ses111

Unless the NHL legalizes the use of Meth for its players it rules us out.

I think most would take Sullivan over Lambert. Hard to argue with two Stanley Cups.
- eichiefs9

Without question!

https://nypost.com/2023/0...e-in-islanders-offseason/

https://nypost.com/2023/06/03/mathew-barzals-position-a-key-issue-in-islanders-offseason/
- ses111

You cannot buy chemistry. Many teams have tried. When you find it in pro sports, more often then not you keep it together.

I personally like Barzal on the wing because it simplifies he defensive responsibilities. which is the weakest part of his game. He faceoff % is actually the lowest of all centerman dating back to when he strictly played the middle.

If I were Lou, I would be looking for the component to place on the left side of Horvat and Barzal rather than breaking the two up. Nothing against the Captain but his ice placement is similar to Horvat and his legs cannot keep up with Barzy or Horvat.

Zucker, Domi, or Evan Rodrigues could fill that void. Via Free Agency.

Long shot trade targets...Jared McCann, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Connor, Brady Tkachuk

Zach Parise... does he come back? If he does not, can the Isles fill the hole he will leave?

You cannot buy chemistry. Many teams have tried. When you find it in pro sports, more often then not you keep it together.

I personally like Barzal on the wing because it simplifies he defensive responsibilities. which is the weakest part of his game. He faceoff % is actually the lowest of all centerman dating back to when he strictly played the middle.

If I were Lou, I would be looking for the component to place on the left side of Horvat and Barzal rather than breaking the two up. Nothing against the Captain but his ice placement is similar to Horvat and his legs cannot keep up with Barzy or Horvat.

Zucker, Domi, or Evan Rodrigues could fill that void. Via Free Agency.

Long shot trade targets...Jared McCann, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Connor, Brady Tkachuk
- Nfdbulldawg

I would leave Barzal and Bo together. I do think they need to find another option for 1LW. I would move JGP this offseason. I hope the Cup final ends quickly, so we get onto the offseason and maybe get the official Lou and Lane are coming back announcement.

I would leave Barzal and Bo together. I do think they need to find another option for 1LW. I would move JGP this offseason. I hope the Cup final ends quickly, so we get onto the offseason and maybe get the official Lou and Lane are coming back announcement.
- ses111

Curious to know why you would to move JGP? To me he checks too many boxes to move him. Unless you are blowing things up and looking for picks and prospects. He is not going to give us back into the 1st round of this years draft. I also do not think that
OTTO KOIVULA is ready to assume the 4th or 3rd line center slot.

Curious to know why you would to move JGP? To me he checks too many boxes to move him. Unless you are blowing things up and looking for picks and prospects. He is not going to give us back into the 1st round of this years draft. I also do not think that
OTTO KOIVULA is ready to assume the 4th or 3rd line center slot.
- Nfdbulldawg

I would move JGP if the return is decent. It would also free of Cap space. The more you pay the bottom 6, the less you have to spend on the top 6. I'm not sure just trading or buying out Bailey is going to be enough for the Islanders to make other moves?

You cannot buy chemistry. Many teams have tried. When you find it in pro sports, more often then not you keep it together.

I personally like Barzal on the wing because it simplifies he defensive responsibilities. which is the weakest part of his game. He faceoff % is actually the lowest of all centerman dating back to when he strictly played the middle.

If I were Lou, I would be looking for the component to place on the left side of Horvat and Barzal rather than breaking the two up. Nothing against the Captain but his ice placement is similar to Horvat and his legs cannot keep up with Barzy or Horvat.

Zucker, Domi, or Evan Rodrigues could fill that void. Via Free Agency.

Long shot trade targets...Jared McCann, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Connor, Brady Tkachuk
- Nfdbulldawg

Totally agree with this.

I would move JGP if the return is decent. It would also free of Cap space. The more you pay the bottom 6, the less you have to spend on the top 6. I'm not sure just trading or buying out Bailey is going to be enough for the Islanders to make other moves?
- ses111

I understand that you need to trade something of value to get something of value unless the other GM is Chiarelli...I also do not view JGP as your typical bottom 6 guy...The return would have to be one you cannot turn down. I would for consider it for Samuel Girard.

While buying out Bailey may not give you the room for the number 1 or 2 wing it will allow for a potential younger forward to remain in the lineup.

Also, I would like to see Islanders look towards the trade route instead of FA. This years class of Free Agents is very thin... Which means a bidding war...Next.

I understand that you need to trade something of value to get something of value unless the other GM is Chiarelli...I also do not view JGP as your typical bottom 6 guy...The return would have to be one you cannot turn down. I would for consider it for Samuel Girard.

While buying out Bailey may not give you the room for the number 1 or 2 wing it will allow for a potential younger forward to remain in the lineup.

Also, I would like to see Islanders look towards the trade route instead of FA. This years class of Free Agents is very thin... Which means a bidding war...Next.
- Nfdbulldawg

The problem is what do the Islanders have of value to trade? UFA season is always a challenge and especially this year.

Curious to know why you would to move JGP? To me he checks too many boxes to move him. Unless you are blowing things up and looking for picks and prospects. He is not going to give us back into the 1st round of this years draft. I also do not think that
OTTO KOIVULA is ready to assume the 4th or 3rd line center slot.
- Nfdbulldawg

On the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Cats gonna sweep the next 4?

On the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Cats gonna sweep the next 4?
- nyisles7

My original prediction was the Cats in 5. After watching Vegas play the opener. I may have to rethink my position. Either it would be a good series to watch.