In the mix for what though, making the playoffs or winning a Cup? The two ECF trips happened under very unique situations. Defense was in much better shape and Nelson, Palms, and Lee were younger and healthier. This team has not been able to go on a run during a full NHL season.
- ses111

The more I see of this season the more on board I am with trading Nelson.

I think you watched more than I have. Never got NASCAR. No offense to NASCAR fans.



- ses111

There’s a lot of them from what I understand.

The more I see of this season the more on board I am with trading Nelson.
- Cptmjl

It makes a ton of sense. Nelson will be 33. Why not move him while is value is high?

Nope.

In 37+ years of life I have probably watched a collective 11 minutes of NASCAR, it's the absolute dumbest thing in the world.
- eichiefs9

FWIW, Dale Earnhardt is my go to as well when making a nascar reference, not that I make many. I’ve got a few years on you, and have about the same lifetime viewing total. It’s impossible to watch.

You have me beat by 11 minutes.
- Cptmjl

FWIW, Dale Earnhardt is my go to as well when making a nascar reference, not that I make many. I’ve got a few years on you, and have about the same lifetime viewing total. It’s impossible to watch.
- streaks

I mean I could honestly probably name maybe 5 guys off the top of my head and couldn't tell you a single thing about any of them. Most of them are probably from growing up in the 90's and having to sit through the highlights on ESPN or having some Hot Wheels toys

I'd probably go to a race if someone gave me free tickets, it'd be worth checking it out and drinking outside for an afternoon. But outside of that, it's awful.

There’s a lot of them from what I understand.
- Cptmjl

I found out a family friend who is an older woman loves watching NASCAR?

In the mix for what though, making the playoffs or winning a Cup? The two ECF trips happened under very unique situations. Defense was in much better shape and Nelson, Palms, and Lee were younger and healthier. This team has not been able to go on a run during a full NHL season.
- ses111

Yeah, again, I'm not the one who needs to be convinced! But when it comes to the team's philosophy, I'm just making guesses based on what I see. I don't think they throw out all those 8- and 7-year contracts last offseason and then slam it in reverse immediately afterward and commit to a rebuild. It just seems to me like that decision about whether to retool or push forward with the current group was already made at the last trade deadline and in the offseason.

So, if someone like Nelson is traded, I don't think it'd be for picks and prospects or whatever with an eye toward the future. I think any trade will be done based on whether there's a deal that gives the current roster a better chance.

Yeah, again, I'm not the one who needs to be convinced! But when it comes to the team's philosophy, I'm just making guesses based on what I see. I don't think they throw out all those 8- and 7-year contracts last offseason and then slam it in reverse immediately afterward and commit to a rebuild. It just seems to me like that decision about whether to retool or push forward with the current group was already made at the last trade deadline and in the offseason.

So, if someone like Nelson is traded, I don't think it'd be for picks and prospects or whatever with an eye toward the future. I think any trade will be done based on whether there's a deal that gives the current roster a better chance.
- UIF

Tell the truth UIF, you are in Lou's ear.



I really need to talk to Ledecky again and get control of this entire operation.

I think it's worth taking some time like the Rangers did to rebuild the right way. I know it's the Rangers, but it did not take them years to be competitive again. The Islanders way is simply not working. Maybe fans will support a young team with exciting young players. We are also not talking about moving Barzal, Bo, Sorokin, and Dobson. Nelson, Palms, and JGP would need to go.
- ses111

We gonna get ink-filled lottery balls like they did? Hell, with Lou, will we even have 1st round picks?

We gonna get ink-filled lottery balls like they did? Hell, with Lou, will we even have 1st round picks?
- potvin05

I wish we had a time machine to go back to the deadline and get a #1 for Nelson and #1 for Palms.


Can you imagine the Islanders with 3 #1?

Stuff actually happens in NASCAR unlike F1 and Islander games when the outcome seems predetermined.

This team is mediocre. Pretty good goaltending. Pretty good defense. Weirdly constructed forward group.

We've been waiting 40 years. what's another 2-4 ?

I mean I could honestly probably name maybe 5 guys off the top of my head and couldn't tell you a single thing about any of them. Most of them are probably from growing up in the 90's and having to sit through the highlights on ESPN or having some Hot Wheels toys

I'd probably go to a race if someone gave me free tickets, it'd be worth checking it out and drinking outside for an afternoon. But outside of that, it's awful.
- eichiefs9

I've been to a few races. You drink outside for a weekend, not just an afternoon

Nope.

In 37+ years of life I have probably watched a collective 11 minutes of NASCAR, it's the absolute dumbest thing in the world.
- eichiefs9

When I moved to Virginia, watching NASCAR became a 'when in Rome thing'. I cheered for Dale Earnhardt, since he at least added an air of excitement to it with his attitude and aggressive driving. If I 'watched' a race, that meant it played in thw background while I did other things. The moment I left Virginia, my NASCAR experience pretty much ended. Then Earnhardt died and the whole thing died with him, to me.

Isles Twitter/X focusing on Sorokin after this loss is why I hate Isles Twitter/X
While I did mention yesterday that he hasn't been quite as superhuman this year, idiots pretending that he's responsible for our misfortunes is beyond moronic

I've been to a few races. You drink outside for a weekend, not just an afternoon
- UIF

My in-laws had someone set them up with the pit passes (I think that's what they're called?) where they got down go way down low and see a lot of the stuff up close. I'm sure that's interesting but otherwise I have zero interest in watching:

When I moved to Virginia, watching NASCAR became a 'when in Rome thing'. I cheered for Dale Earnhardt, since he at least added an air of excitement to it with his attitude and aggressive driving. If I 'watched' a race, that meant it played in thw background while I did other things. The moment I left Virginia, my NASCAR experience pretty much ended. Then Earnhardt died and the whole thing died with him, to me.
- keaner17

I was in college and the Daytona 500 where Earnhardt died was the first race I ever watched. As tragic as it was, I was kind of hooked...how would his son deal with it? Who would step up to become the big personalities? I watched it regularly for a few seasons from there, right when it really kind of took off into the mainstream, which was a fun time to jump on board.

It was still clearly a South-dominated sport, but the more popular it got, the more they tried to kind of bury that and appeal to a broader audience...even as you still had announcers throwing out weird Southern lines that made no sense to people like me, like, "Look at 'em! They like three cats sittin' in a one-hen tub!"

Isles Twitter/X focusing on Sorokin after this loss is why I hate Isles Twitter/X
While I did mention yesterday that he hasn't been quite as superhuman this year, idiots pretending that he's responsible for our misfortunes is beyond moronic
- keaner17

That’s exactly why I’m hypersensitive to criticism of the guy. 😂

This team is one of the worst defensive teams I’ve seen in my lifetime. Goaltending is the least of this teams problems. Pulock has been better recently but I’m beginning to think both him and Pelech may be toast. Mayfield forget about. Romanov is young and yeah that’s all I got. 😂

That’s exactly why I’m hypersensitive to criticism of the guy. 😂

This team is one of the worst defensive teams I’ve seen in my lifetime. Goaltending is the least of this teams problems. Pulock has been better recently but I’m beginning to think both him and Pelech may be toast. Mayfield forget about. Romanov is young and yeah that’s all I got. 😂
- Cptmjl

I think Sorokin's amazing, but I still don't think having an elite goaltender is as critical as it was in previous decades, or worth the massive financial investment it takes to lock one up. That was probably my most controversial offseason take

I was in college and the Daytona 500 where Earnhardt died was the first race I ever watched. As tragic as it was, I was kind of hooked...how would his son deal with it? Who would step up to become the big personalities? I watched it regularly for a few seasons from there, right when it really kind of took off into the mainstream, which was a fun time to jump on board.

It was still clearly a South-dominated sport, but the more popular it got, the more they tried to kind of bury that and appeal to a broader audience...even as you still had announcers throwing out weird Southern lines that made no sense to people like me, like, "Look at 'em! They like three cats sittin' in a one-hen tub!"
- UIF

I think Sorokin's amazing, but I still don't think having an elite goaltender is as critical as it was in previous decades, or worth the massive financial investment it takes to lock one up. That was probably my most controversial offseason take
- UIF

I remember it. 😂

I think having Sorokin locked up at the number we got him for is a home run. I agree that he’s not having the best season but I think that has a lot more to do with the team in front of him. I fully expect him to bounce back if and when this team is competitive again. Only question is whether it will be while he’s still a viable player…

I remember it. 😂

I think having Sorokin locked up at the number we got him for is a home run. I agree that he’s not having the best season but I think that has a lot more to do with the team in front of him. I fully expect him to bounce back if and when this team is competitive again. Only question is whether it will be while he’s still a viable player…
- Cptmjl

That's part of it. He'll be 29 going into next season when his 8-year contract kicks in. I feel like the Isles should be at the height of their window now and over the next couple of seasons to really take advantage of Sorokin's peak ability. If the team did decide to retool, they'd kind of be wasting the best years of the contract while building out the rest of the team, and by the time they're ready to compete again, Sorokin would be approaching his mid-30s. That contract is maybe Exhibit A in why they're sort of boxed in to making the best of their current roster.

I think Sorokin's amazing, but I still don't think having an elite goaltender is as critical as it was in previous decades, or worth the massive financial investment it takes to lock one up. That was probably my most controversial offseason take
- UIF

As of now, Sorokin will go into next season as the fifth highest paid goalie in the league. In 25-26, several top tier goalies will enter with new contracts including Ullmark, Shesterkian, Oettinger, Saros etc. I would bet that Hellybuck and Sorokin drop a few spots in that salary ranking by then.

I remember it. 😂

I think having Sorokin locked up at the number we got him for is a home run. I agree that he’s not having the best season but I think that has a lot more to do with the team in front of him. I fully expect him to bounce back if and when this team is competitive again. Only question is whether it will be while he’s still a viable player…
- Cptmjl

Certainly beats 15 years @ 67.5m

As of now, Sorokin will go into next season as the fifth highest paid goalie in the league. In 25-26, several top tier goalies will enter with new contracts including Ullmark, Shesterkian, Oettinger, Saros etc. I would bet that Hellybuck and Sorokin drop a few spots in that salary ranking by then.
- keaner17

I agree Sorokin is a good deal at the price he's being paid relative to his amazing ability, and I think he's every bit as good as people say he is. I'm just not sure what that actually means for the team, practically speaking. It didn't get them any further than the conference finals, which is where they got with Varly and Greiss. And I don't think there's any doubt Sorokin is a better goalie than both of those guys. It just didn't make that big of a difference. Other factors are more important these days and maybe it's better to spend the few extra million dollars there.

I believe if you already have cheaper "good enough" goaltending...to the point where it's not a major problem for your team...then upgrading to more expensive "elite" goaltending doesn't move the needle for you as much as it used to. Whether it's the systems teams play now, the commitment to defense and shot blocking, or just an abundance of higher quality goalies overall that have narrowed the gap between "good" and "elite," I think it's a bit of a different era compared to the days when goalies were the most important thing.