I’d pay money to hear the first phone call from Darche to Duclair. Darche strikes me as the kinda guy that wants things done his way and if not you’re gone. Winners don’t take their toys and go home. IMHO
- kindlyrick

The country club needs to be dead and buried. No more vets playing no matter what.

The country club needs to be dead and buried. No more vets playing no matter what.
- ses111

I’m curious to see who Darche keeps and who goes. He seemed to feel they’re a playoff team. Perhaps he adds a UFA like Ehlers?

I’m curious to see who Darche keeps and who goes. He seemed to feel they’re a playoff team. Perhaps he adds a UFA like Ehlers?
- kindlyrick

Playoffs are well and good as long as panic moves just to make the playoffs are not made. Just focus on smart moves and if the playoffs happen fine.

I’m curious to see who Darche keeps and who goes. He seemed to feel they’re a playoff team. Perhaps he adds a UFA like Ehlers?
- kindlyrick

I would hard-pass on Ehlers. He's injury-prone, streaky, and is probably going to get a contract that's too long and for more money than he'll ultimately end up being worth. He's not young and I don't foresee those injury issues getting better with age. He'll be 30 in February.

I don't think you'll see them signing any bigger name free agents. Maybe some depth but that's about all I'd expect. Obviously nobody knows how Darche operates so that can change, but it doesn't seem like they're in a place to be adding anything major right now.

And, frankly, this year's free agent class kind of sucks

https://puckpedia.com/players/search?q=2024-25-ufa

I would maybe consider bringing in a veteran that has a decent shot at being a good trade deadline chip. Overpay them a little, in almost all bonus ideally, for just the one year and promise them that you'll shop them to contenders at the deadline if they bust their ass to get their value up. A guy like P. Kane, Marchand, Giroux, JvR, etc...

I would hard-pass on Ehlers. He's injury-prone, streaky, and is probably going to get a contract that's long and for more money than he'll ultimately end up being worth. He's not young and I don't foresee those injury issues getting better with age. He'll be 30 in February.

I don't think you'll see them signing any bigger name free agents. Maybe some depth but that's about all I'd expect. Obviously nobody knows how Darche operates so that can change, but it doesn't seem like they're in a place to be adding anything major right now.
- Gabe Athaus

Yeah i def wasn’t thinking long term. But the thing is they are going to need a 1LW unless they feel Duclair is the guy? Also a 2C to replace Nelson is on the docket.

Yeah i def wasn’t thinking long term. But the thing is they are going to need a 1LW unless they feel Duclair is the guy? Also a 2C to replace Nelson is on the docket.
- kindlyrick

I think your 1LW is Anders Lee, with Duclair and Tsyplakov being middle-6 wingers and maybe Foudy makes the roster as 4LW. Maybe they go out and make a depth signing for that 4th line spot. At the right price, Tanner Jeannot would be a good Matt Martin replacement at 4LW

Seems like the centers will be Horvat-Pageau-Ritchie-Cizikas, unless they decide to put Barzal back at center and play Ritchie on the wing for a year to get his feet wet.

Yeah i def wasn’t thinking long term. But the thing is they are going to need a 1LW unless they feel Duclair is the guy? Also a 2C to replace Nelson is on the docket.
- kindlyrick

Sorry, lots of edits on the post you replied to

Sorry, lots of edits on the post you replied to
- Gabe Athaus

I love Anders Lee and he’s probably a great captain. I just can’t get on board with him being 1LW with his limited leg speed.

I think your 1LW is Anders Lee, with Duclair and Tsyplakov being middle-6 wingers and maybe Foudy makes the roster as 4LW. Maybe they go out and make a depth signing for that 4th line spot. At the right price, Tanner Jeannot would be a good Matt Martin replacement at 4LW

Seems like the centers will be Horvat-Pageau-Ritchie-Cizikas, unless they decide to put Barzal back at center and play Ritchie on the wing for a year to get his feet wet.
- Gabe Athaus

As I said in a previous post, I haven't been able to keep up with the happenings of the team, but Lee as you 1LW doesn't seem to jive. He's what, 34, 35 years old and slow. Maybe Duke or somebody with some speed would work better.

I haven't listened to Darche's presser yet, but what are your guys' opinion on this off-season? Think he'll make some trades? Any big UFA signings?

I love Anders Lee and he’s probably a great captain. I just can’t get on board with him being 1LW with his limited leg speed.
- kindlyrick

Agreed

As I said in a previous post, I haven't been able to keep up with the happenings of the team, but Lee as you 1LW doesn't seem to jive. He's what, 34, 35 years old and slow. Maybe Duke or somebody with some speed would work better.

I haven't listened to Darche's presser yet, but what are your guys' opinion on this off-season? Think he'll make some trades? Any big UFA signings?
- Isleshockeyman

I think you’re in for a new look islanders the likes of which we haven’t seen in 3 decades.

I love Anders Lee and he’s probably a great captain. I just can’t get on board with him being 1LW with his limited leg speed.
- kindlyrick

Responding to you and IHM:

He was their best LW last year, so until proven otherwise I don't think anyone else is going to pencil into that slot. He was 1 short of a 30g season. He slimmed down last offseason and I think he looked a step quicker this year for sure. Obviously isn't, and shouldn't be, a long-term option there but for this season I can see him in that spot.

I think you’re in for a new look islanders the likes of which we haven’t seen in 3 decades.
- kindlyrick

Let's hope so. Watching them run out pretty much the same team for the last 5 years got a bit frustrating. Either barely making it into the playoffs and getting knocked out first round or not making in it at all.

As I said in a previous post, I haven't been able to keep up with the happenings of the team, but Lee as you 1LW doesn't seem to jive. He's what, 34, 35 years old and slow. Maybe Duke or somebody with some speed would work better.

I haven't listened to Darche's presser yet, but what are your guys' opinion on this off-season? Think he'll make some trades? Any big UFA signings?
- Isleshockeyman

I'm not convinced that he goes nuts this offseason.

One thing I would love to see him do, if they can't trade back up into the early 1st to take Hagens (which I'm not expecting) is to go out and get Isaac Howard from Tampa. Not signing with TBL, Hobey Baker winner, he would be an excellent add. Tampa's compensatory pick if they didn't trade him and he walked away as an unsigned UFA next summer would be a 2nd round pick so it would have to beat that. I'd happily move COL's 2026 1st for him and I honestly think that would get it done given how few 1st rounders Tampa has in the next few drafts, which is zero until 2028.

Darche should be extremely familiar with Howard's game and probably has some sort of relationship with player & agent. It makes a ton of sense and the Isles could guarantee him a roster spot. He's a LW.

Responding to you and IHM:

He was their best LW last year, so until proven otherwise I don't think anyone else is going to pencil into that slot. He was 1 short of a 30g season. He slimmed down last offseason and I think he looked a step quicker this year for sure. Obviously isn't, and shouldn't be, a long-term option there but for this season I can see him in that spot.
- Gabe Athaus

Fair enough. I was only able to watch maybe one or two games this season so I can't really have an opinion on him or the team as a whole. I'm just going off of seasons past.
I am looking forward to seeing what the team will look like over the next few months.

Let's hope so. Watching them run out pretty much the same team for the last 5 years got a bit frustrating. Either barely making it into the playoffs and getting knocked out first round or not making in it at all.
- Isleshockeyman

The best thing the team can do is see which players they can move this offseason and sign a few players to one-year deals to buy time for the prospects. Good to see you IHM.

I'm not convinced that he goes nuts this offseason.

One thing I would love to see him do, if they can't trade back up into the early 1st to take Hagens (which I'm not expecting) is to go out and get Isaac Howard from Tampa. Not signing with TBL, Hobey Baker winner, he would be an excellent add. Tampa's compensatory pick if they didn't trade him and he walked away as an unsigned UFA next summer would be a 2nd round pick so it would have to beat that. I'd happily move COL's 2026 1st for him and I honestly think that would get it done given how few 1st rounders Tampa has in the next few drafts, which is zero until 2028.

Darche should be extremely familiar with Howard's game and probably has some sort of relationship with player & agent. It makes a ton of sense and the Isles could guarantee him a roster spot. He's a LW.
- Gabe Athaus

Adding Howard would make a lot of sense and trading back into the 1st round a lot tougher.

I'm not convinced that he goes nuts this offseason.

One thing I would love to see him do, if they can't trade back up into the early 1st to take Hagens (which I'm not expecting) is to go out and get Isaac Howard from Tampa. Not signing with TBL, Hobey Baker winner, he would be an excellent add. Tampa's compensatory pick if they didn't trade him and he walked away as an unsigned UFA next summer would be a 2nd round pick so it would have to beat that. I'd happily move COL's 2026 1st for him and I honestly think that would get it done given how few 1st rounders Tampa has in the next few drafts, which is zero until 2028.

Darche should be extremely familiar with Howard's game and probably has some sort of relationship with player & agent. It makes a ton of sense and the Isles could guarantee him a roster spot. He's a LW.
- Gabe Athaus

My only concern with what's bolded is that he relies on that connection too much and starts bringing in ex-Tampa players because he knows them. I would think that any player(s) that are brought in would/should need to fit the system.

I'm not convinced that he goes nuts this offseason.

One thing I would love to see him do, if they can't trade back up into the early 1st to take Hagens (which I'm not expecting) is to go out and get Isaac Howard from Tampa. Not signing with TBL, Hobey Baker winner, he would be an excellent add. Tampa's compensatory pick if they didn't trade him and he walked away as an unsigned UFA next summer would be a 2nd round pick so it would have to beat that. I'd happily move COL's 2026 1st for him and I honestly think that would get it done given how few 1st rounders Tampa has in the next few drafts, which is zero until 2028.

Darche should be extremely familiar with Howard's game and probably has some sort of relationship with player & agent. It makes a ton of sense and the Isles could guarantee him a roster spot. He's a LW.
- Gabe Athaus

Interesting, although it seems the impasse is Howard not wanting to eat a little humble pie in the AHL. He wants that NHL money right away.

My only concern with what's bolded is that he relies on that connection too much and starts bringing in ex-Tampa players because he knows them. I would think that any player(s) that are brought in would/should need to fit the system.
- Isleshockeyman

I don’t think he struck me as the kind of GM who looking for the easy nepotism route. Much like a talented player who gets paid with results, I think Darche has something to prove and is going to build a winner.
Doesn’t suck house hunting on Long Island with millions of dollars to purchase with. It’s life changing for the Darche family to be at this level now. The better the isles do, the more money the owners make. That’s the incentive for positive results. Status quo is over.

Interesting, although it seems the impasse is Howard not wanting to eat a little humble pie in the AHL. He wants that NHL money right away.
- kindlyrick

All part of the new generation of NHL'ers. Without debating who agrees/disagrees with the mentality, this is part of their MO. They want to break in early, not have the old school Mike-Keenan-type coach, have an open line of communication with coaching/mgmt, and they want to get paid when they've earned it.

Love it or hate it, it's how the league is going to operate for the foreseeable future so better to get on board than to be the last dinosaur holding out on moral ground and suffering for it.

I don’t think he struck me as the kind of GM who looking for the easy nepotism route. Much like a talented player who gets paid with results, I think Darche has something to prove and is going to build a winner.
Doesn’t suck house hunting on Long Island with millions of dollars to purchase with. It’s life changing for the Darche family to be at this level now. The better the isles do, the more money the owners make. That’s the incentive for positive results. Status quo is over.
- kindlyrick

Is there any scuttlebutt as to who they might take with the first pick? Any chatter about trading it for more picks?

Is there any scuttlebutt as to who they might take with the first pick? Any chatter about trading it for more picks?
- Isleshockeyman

Everyone's got their own opinion, but Schaefer is the consensus #1 pick. I personally agree with that. Some want Misa, some want the hometown kid in Hagens but the scouting community thinks Schaefer is the best player in the draft and a future star #1 defenseman which is arguably the hardest type of player to find in the draft.

Anyone that claims they have inside info as to who the Islanders actually are going to select is lying.

Is there any scuttlebutt as to who they might take with the first pick? Any chatter about trading it for more picks?
- Isleshockeyman

Darche mentioned it was very unlikely the pick gets traded. Schaefer seems to be the best bet, and the Islanders can use a clear #1 dman.

All part of the new generation of NHL'ers. Without debating who agrees/disagrees with the mentality, this is part of their MO. They want to break in early, not have the old school Mike-Keenan-type coach, have an open line of communication with coaching/mgmt, and they want to get paid when they've earned it.

Love it or hate it, it's how the league is going to operate for the foreseeable future so better to get on board than to be the last dinosaur holding out on moral ground and suffering for it.
- Gabe Athaus

I agree. Islanders need to get with the times. Howard may actually be ready for the NHL.