Speculation: Offseason Thread Pt V

[steveat]

I say Nylander is gone before the year ends.

 

[doublechili]

I saw that Staple has Leddy on the 3rd pairing in his Athletic season preview. And it seems like he thinks either Leddy or Hickey are traded.

 

[SI]

I am going to leave that up to other Isles fans. Hey, most of you guys were following the Isles longer than I. I just hitched a ride when Barzal joined the team. Big fan of his since Seattle where I had him in my top 5 draft ranking.

I just understand the the feelings of Isles fans. And I agree it was a snake move how he left the Isles to die on the side of the road, by leading them on and not doing the right thing by letting them know earlier he was not coming back. It would have been nice if the Isles got a pick or player at the TDL. But Pajamas had his own ideas. I will certainly not object everytime he is booed at Nassau C.

BTW I am focused on the Isles, and things are looking good to me this year. It's a process, but I think if one of the young fwds jumps up this year we will be in good shape.

As for Marner, I am laughing already my friend.

It being a snake move is fine - I agree with that. All this other criticism sounds like sour grapes.
I’d rather have Barrie than Gardiner, Ceci than Zaitsev.

Kadri was a liability out there, but they will def. miss him - Kerfoot is not a nobody.

This whole Marner thing is smoke and mirrors- he cannot sign before October 1st - this has all been designed for him to sign on October 1st the day they can move folks to LTIR.

 

[SI]

I saw that Staple has Leddy on the 3rd pairing in his Athletic season preview. And it seems like he thinks either Leddy or Hickey are traded.

Do you have exact quote?

Even if Leddy is paired up on 3rd pair - he will log more minutes than every D man not named Pulock.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

I saw that Staple has Leddy on the 3rd pairing in his Athletic season preview. And it seems like he thinks either Leddy or Hickey are traded.

He's just speculating at this point. Staple was an insider in the Snow-era. In the Lamoriello era, Staple is just a journalist who writes nice pieces on The Athletic.

 

[doublechili]

Do you have exact quote?

Even if Leddy is paired up on 3rd pair - he will log more minutes than every D man not named Pulock.

He goes down the depth chart at forward, and then on D he lists Pelech-Pulock first and then Toews-Mayfield. Then he says: "Nick Leddy and Thomas Hickey have the biggest cap hits among the lefty D, so one of them may not be here when camp breaks. If they're both still on the roster, it's likely they would vie for a third pair role that's very foreign to Leddy, who has carried the load on defense for the bulk of his five Islanders seasons." Then he gets to Boychuk and says that he and Leddy "could still form a reliable third pair". He also says that Toews will likely QB the PP.

BTW, this story was free on The Athletic phone app.

 

[SI90]

He goes down the depth chart at forward, and then on D he lists Pelech-Pulock first and then Toews-Mayfield. Then he says: "Nick Leddy and Thomas Hickey have the biggest cap hits among the lefty D, so one of them may not be here when camp breaks. If they're both still on the roster, it's likely they would vie for a third pair role that's very foreign to Leddy, who has carried the load on defense for the bulk of his five Islanders seasons." Then he gets to Boychuk and says that he and Leddy "could still form a reliable third pair". He also says that Toews will likely QB the PP.

BTW, this story was free on The Athletic phone app.

I don’t see the logic in playing Leddy as a 3rd pair defenseman if he’s on the team.

Right now I only have Toews ahead of him on the left side. Maybe Staple knows something we don’t? The team must really like Pelech a lot. Or maybe Aho? Just doesn’t make sense to me to have Leddy in that role if he’s on the team. If he’s here, he’s one of our 4 best defenseman

 

[PWJunior]

I don’t see the logic in playing Leddy as a 3rd pair defenseman if he’s on the team.

Right now I only have Toews ahead of him on the left side. Maybe Staple knows something we don’t? The team must really like Pelech a lot. Or maybe Aho? Just doesn’t make sense to me to have Leddy in that role if he’s on the team. If he’s here, he’s one of our 4 best defenseman

Pelech is better defensively and more suited to play the tough minutes with Pulock. The chemistry between them is evident and goes back to their Bridgeport days.

Toews is simply better than Leddy at the PPQB role and a better defender in his own zone.

Leddy would be overpaid as a 3rd pairing LD, but it's the role he's best suited for with how the other pairings shake out. Leddy (and Boychuk) could be sheltered on the 3rd and thrive.

 

[SI90]

Pelech is better defensively and more suited to play the tough minutes with Pulock. The chemistry between them is evident and goes back to their Bridgeport days.

Toews is simply better than Leddy at the PPQB role and a better defender in his own zone.

Leddy would be overpaid as a 3rd pairing LD, but it's the role he's best suited for with how the other pairings shake out. Leddy (and Boychuk) could be sheltered on the 3rd and thrive.

Would be our highest paired pair. Leddy would fetch more in a trade and free up more space but I’d prefer to move Hickey. I think Aho is going to eventually force the isles hands though with these guys.

 

[boredmale]

Pelech is better defensively and more suited to play the tough minutes with Pulock. The chemistry between them is evident and goes back to their Bridgeport days.

Toews is simply better than Leddy at the PPQB role and a better defender in his own zone.

Personally I think it's ridiculous how little the Islanders use Pulock on the PP(unit 1). The guy was drafted specifically noting his main strength is he is a top PP player

 

[PK Cronin]

Personally I think it's ridiculous how little the Islanders use Pulock on the PP(unit 1). The guy was drafted specifically noting his main strength is he is a top PP player

Hopefully they employ a new system this year that can take advantage of his shot while not removing Barzal's ability to create.

 

[SI90]

Hopefully they employ a new system this year that can take advantage of his shot while not removing Barzal's ability to create.

Hiller hopefully will change a lot of things.

 

[PWJunior]

Would be our highest paired pair. Leddy would fetch more in a trade and free up more space but I’d prefer to move Hickey. I think Aho is going to eventually force the isles hands though with these guys.

Leddy, Boychuk, and Hickey will need to be shipped out between now and next year. Pulock and Toews will get their big contracts and it basically evens out if you get rid of those 3. We still need Boychuk another year until Dobson is fully ready and Aho is ready so a succession plan is in place.

I would hold onto Leddy for now, but Hickey needs to go. His roster spot would give the team a lot of roster flexibility for the blue line. With everyone in Bridgeport waiver exempt, that's big. Plus Dobson could get his 9 games much easier with no roster gymnastics needed.

 

[PWJunior]

Personally I think it's ridiculous how little the Islanders use Pulock on the PP(unit 1). The guy was drafted specifically noting his main strength is he is a top PP player

I think Pulock will be a bigger factor on the PP in year 2 of Trotz, but I'm pretty thrilled at how his overall game has emerged. I was expecting a PP specialist and hopeful top-4 d-man when we drafted him. I didn't expect a top pairing guy with untapped offensive upside. Until someone like Dobson emerges and takes over the top role, Pulock is our main horse.

 

[KrisBeKreame]

Would be our highest paired pair. Leddy would fetch more in a trade and free up more space but I’d prefer to move Hickey. I think Aho is going to eventually force the isles hands though with these guys.

Hickey would be a better partner for Dobson. His zone play and mentorship helped bring Pulock along and would likely be similar for Dobson

 

[SI90]

I think Pulock will be a bigger factor on the PP in year 2 of Trotz, but I'm pretty thrilled at how his overall game has emerged. I was expecting a PP specialist and hopeful top-4 d-man when we drafted him. I didn't expect a top pairing guy with untapped offensive upside. Until someone like Dobson emerges and takes over the top role, Pulock is our main horse.

I was always high on him and was on record before the draft how much I liked him. But he’s become a different player than I thought. In junior he was an offensive beast and that overshadowed his defensive game. He was good defensively in junior but my expectations for him was that he would be average defensively in Pro and big time offensively. The way he played defensively last year was amazing. He was an absolute rock and Trotz played him as our #1 defenseman from game 1-82. I trust Trotz eye and the faith he showed in Pulock certainly paid off.
The most exciting thing about Pulock moving forward is just how much more he can show offensively. He’s shown at times his skills and talent offensively. We have a very fine and talented 2way defenseman on our hands. He’s still really young at 24( will be 25 for most of the year).

 

[boredmale]

No mention of this

Luca Sbisa to attend the Islanders' training camp

The New York Islanders have signed the 29-year-old to a professional try-out (PTO) and keep him on board for a little longer.

 

[eoin92]

No mention of this

Luca Sbisa to attend the Islanders' training camp

The New York Islanders have signed the 29-year-old to a professional try-out (PTO) and keep him on board for a little longer.

I doubt he makes the team. We already have too many bodies. Im hoping this is just to fill the requirements for veteran presence, if there’s any split squad games. I think the islanders may be giving him a chance to showcase himself for other teams. Assuming he didn’t garner much interest. Fingers crossed.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

If Dobson lives up to his pedigree, the obvious player to be moved IMO is Boychuck. I like right and left tandems. As do most coaches. But it is hard to break up the #1GA D in the NHL. But in the long run, Dobson is the future and core of this D. Got to get him mins if the Q is no longer an option.

 

[PWJunior]

If Dobson lives up to his pedigree, the obvious player to be moved IMO is Boychuck. I like right and left tandems. As do most coaches. But it is hard to break up the #1GA D in the NHL. But in the long run, Dobson is the future and core of this D. Got to get him mins if the Q is no longer an option.

Leddy and/or Hickey are more expendable than Boychuk. He is a veteran leader and can still play. With 3 years on his contract, he isn't going anywhere either. Maybe he gets moved next offseason, but I wouldn't be surprised if he stays another year to platoon with Dobson next season. We can afford him as the #7D next year considering the cheapness of Mayfield, Pelech, and the ELC kids.

 

[SI]

Hopefully they employ a new system this year that can take advantage of his shot while not removing Barzal's ability to create.

I couldn’t agree more.

They lack serious firepower on the PP.
adding Pulock to the PP1 at LW half wall, place Leddy or Toews at the top of the umbrella and move Barzal to RW half wall (where he can do his thing)- Lee in front and Eberle employs the final spot. The PP could also also rotate for different looks as they cycle the puck - to create some dynamics - like moving Pulock to the top (Carlson’s spot in Washington) with Toews sliding over to the RW half wall.

 

[SI]

He goes down the depth chart at forward, and then on D he lists Pelech-Pulock first and then Toews-Mayfield. Then he says: "Nick Leddy and Thomas Hickey have the biggest cap hits among the lefty D, so one of them may not be here when camp breaks. If they're both still on the roster, it's likely they would vie for a third pair role that's very foreign to Leddy, who has carried the load on defense for the bulk of his five Islanders seasons." Then he gets to Boychuk and says that he and Leddy "could still form a reliable third pair". He also says that Toews will likely QB the PP.

BTW, this story was free on The Athletic phone app.

Leddy still has a tremendous amount of speed and his zone entries are a huge plus. I still like Leddy a lot and rate him pretty high. I think he will still get his minutes even on the 3rd pairing which will be with Boychuk. Leddy will still get PP time and he adds protection if Toews struggles on the PP1.

I def. could see a scenario where he gets moved for futures (a Hamonic type deal) or for a top 6 (eh - Drouin) or for one of the RFA holdouts (cough Laine)

I also see a fit with Calgary for Hickey and Frolik.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Leddy and/or Hickey are more expendable than Boychuk. He is a veteran leader and can still play. With 3 years on his contract, he isn't going anywhere either. Maybe he gets moved next offseason, but I wouldn't be surprised if he stays another year to platoon with Dobson next season. We can afford him as the #7D next year considering the cheapness of Mayfield, Pelech, and the ELC kids.

Oh don't get me wrong, you keep Johnny as security for now. I really think it depends on how Dobson and Toews, do this year. Does Toews take a Pulock step? We have 3 big RFA's on deck. There are going to be dollars spent on Barzal, Toews, and Pulock. LTIR for Ladd would help. Boychuck and Leddy's contracts. Would be nice to get back assets for one.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

Leddy, Boychuk, and Hickey will need to be shipped out between now and next year. Pulock and Toews will get their big contracts and it basically evens out if you get rid of those 3. We still need Boychuk another year until Dobson is fully ready and Aho is ready so a succession plan is in place.

I would hold onto Leddy for now, but Hickey needs to go. His roster spot would give the team a lot of roster flexibility for the blue line. With everyone in Bridgeport waiver exempt, that's big. Plus Dobson could get his 9 games much easier with no roster gymnastics needed.

Boychuk is practically unmoveable in the cap era. Unless you move him for an equal contract like Edmonton did with Lucic. But that would render the whole thing pointless. So Boychuk will be here until his contract expires.

But Leddy is completely moveable and should be moved in the next year as long as we get fair value back.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

Ya, Boychuk isn't going anywhere with that contract and his age, so we should just face it and hope his decline is minimal in whatever role he ends up playing. Truth is we struggled without him in the postseason...As for Leddy, I don't think they move him either until the off season unless Aho/Dobson both have huge camps and prove they are ready to make the team. Hickey obviously seems to be the one to get dealt if any of our youngsters prove they are ready for some minutes....