Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California

[Osakahaus]

Yeah, but how likely was it anyone offered anything for him? He was a career minor-leaguer when we let him go. I thought he was basically a #7 when he played for us and then what would you have done with Bolduc, since he would have been claimed? Hobson's choice . . . And he spent 20% of the season this year in the AHL for Boston; that's not proof yet of a long career coming up.

essentially a career backup tier option. I dislike when we act like a player who was a career minor leaguer would ever amount to being a star, when in reality we didnt have a spot for him. It happens. He isnt even close to what Toews brings, and Toews is constantly bullied in the playoffs as well.

 

[doublechili]

This is probably unrealistic - really just thinking out loud here. If JGP can be moved, could Lee spend the summer watching tapes of Jordan Staal (and himself playing C back in college) and be our 3C next year? Engvall-Lee-Holmstrom as the 3rd line? That would be hopefully under $12M, which would be better than $15M for Lee-JGP-Engvall.

 

[doublechili]

Okay, edited for regular season. Top 10 teams for total bursts of 20+ MPH:

• Colorado Avalanche2,911
• Edmonton Oilers2,417
• Tampa Bay Lightning2,037
• Columbus Blue Jackets2,023
• Washington Capitals2,011
• New York Islanders1,973
• Ottawa Senators1,900
• Montreal Canadiens1,876
• Los Angeles Kings1,862
• Pittsburgh Penguins1,853

NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Home

NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics, including skating speed, skating distance, shot speed, shot and save location, and zone time for National Hockey League players and teams.

edge.nhl.com

 

[seafoam]

This is probably unrealistic - really just thinking out loud here. If JGP can be moved, could Lee spend the summer watching tapes of Jordan Staal (and himself playing C back in college) and be our 3C next year? Engvall-Lee-Holmstrom as the 3rd line? That would be hopefully under $12M, which would be better than $15M for Lee-JGP-Engvall.

You need to skate well to effectively play center in this league so I can’t see it happening.

 

[doublechili]

Here are the top 10 maximum speeds attained by NHL players this season (playoffs only):

• Martin Necas 23.84
• Roope Hintz 23.51
• Anthony Cirelli 23.47
• Brayden Point 23.45
• Nathan MacKinnon 23.44
• Cale Makar 23.24
• Anders Lee 23.19
• Sean Walker 23.13
• Valeri Nichushkin 23.09
• John Beecher 23.08

I think there might be something wrong with the machine! Seriously though, this is the classic "top speed versus acceleration" thing.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Here are the top 10 maximum speeds attained by NHL players this season (playoffs only):

• Martin Necas 23.84
• Roope Hintz 23.51
• Anthony Cirelli 23.47
• Brayden Point 23.45
• Nathan MacKinnon 23.44
• Cale Makar 23.24
• Anders Lee 23.19
• Sean Walker 23.13
• Valeri Nichushkin 23.09
• John Beecher 23.08

I think there might be something wrong with the machine! Seriously though, this is the classic "top speed versus acceleration" thing.

Agility as well. Usain Bolt vs Tyreek Hill

 

[Lame Lambert]

Okay, edited for regular season. Top 10 teams for total bursts of 20+ MPH:

• Colorado Avalanche2,911
• Edmonton Oilers2,417
• Tampa Bay Lightning2,037
• Columbus Blue Jackets2,023
• Washington Capitals2,011
• New York Islanders1,973
• Ottawa Senators1,900
• Montreal Canadiens1,876
• Los Angeles Kings1,862
• Pittsburgh Penguins1,853

NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Home

NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics, including skating speed, skating distance, shot speed, shot and save location, and zone time for National Hockey League players and teams.

edge.nhl.com

I guess we are fast after all! Plan the parade.

 

[leeroggy]

Here are the top 10 maximum speeds attained by NHL players this season (playoffs only):

• Martin Necas 23.84
• Roope Hintz 23.51
• Anthony Cirelli 23.47
• Brayden Point 23.45
• Nathan MacKinnon 23.44
• Cale Makar 23.24
• Anders Lee 23.19
• Sean Walker 23.13
• Valeri Nichushkin 23.09
• John Beecher 23.08

I think there might be something wrong with the machine! Seriously though, this is the classic "top speed versus acceleration" thing.

Anders was channeling Jordan Faison that day

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Anders was channeling Jordan Faison that day

More like Luis Mendoza of Gordon Bombay's Team USA

 

[PK Cronin]

That is a hot take. You must have a real proclivity towards vets because Bortuzzo is so on his last legs that he barely has them any more. The amount of times he couldn't keep up with the play and it lead to opponent scoring chances was too numerous to count. .

And besides...Even if everyone was healthy all year this defense still needs work to the point where you shouldn't be giving away defensemen who still have room to grow.

This is probably unrealistic - really just thinking out loud here. If JGP can be moved, could Lee spend the summer watching tapes of Jordan Staal (and himself playing C back in college) and be our 3C next year? Engvall-Lee-Holmstrom as the 3rd line? That would be hopefully under $12M, which would be better than $15M for Lee-JGP-Engvall.

I don't think Lee could ever play center in the NHL and I really don't think he could now.

Here are the top 10 maximum speeds attained by NHL players this season (playoffs only):

• Martin Necas 23.84
• Roope Hintz 23.51
• Anthony Cirelli 23.47
• Brayden Point 23.45
• Nathan MacKinnon 23.44
• Cale Makar 23.24
• Anders Lee 23.19
• Sean Walker 23.13
• Valeri Nichushkin 23.09
• John Beecher 23.08

I think there might be something wrong with the machine! Seriously though, this is the classic "top speed versus acceleration" thing.

Acceleration and agility. He can get going in a straight line but it takes him a little bit and then he has to turn like he's on a NASCAR track.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

I'm implying that Wotherspoon has proved to be an NHLer at the most important part of the season. And for a team that played Bortuzzo, Aho, salo, Bolduc, etc way too much

There's zero difference between Wotherspoon and those other players other than the opportunity to scream into the void.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Per usual I agree with almost every opinion you have. However while you laid what Lou should do...There's zero discussion on HOW he can do it. Even if the cap goes up 6 million, the Isles won't have the cap space or assets to outbid other teams who would be interested in the same impact/top-end players that would solve the issues you mention below.

The offseason is young.... I'll have plenty of other posts on the how.

 

[Osakahaus]

Okay, edited for regular season. Top 10 teams for total bursts of 20+ MPH:

• Colorado Avalanche2,911
• Edmonton Oilers2,417
• Tampa Bay Lightning2,037
• Columbus Blue Jackets2,023
• Washington Capitals2,011
• New York Islanders1,973
• Ottawa Senators1,900
• Montreal Canadiens1,876
• Los Angeles Kings1,862
• Pittsburgh Penguins1,853

NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Home

NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics, including skating speed, skating distance, shot speed, shot and save location, and zone time for National Hockey League players and teams.

edge.nhl.com

Hell yeah, Engvall and Gauthier stats

Olofsson and Barabanov are free agents to be that will be let go by the Sharks and Sabres. Not flashy names but I could see both on our bottom 6 as options. Not big fans of either but I think Barabanov is just diet Engvall

 

[leeroggy]

More like Luis Mendoza of Gordon Bombay's Team USA

Luis didn't go to Notre Dame

 

[periferal]

The offseason is young.... I'll have plenty of other posts on the how.

OK. I'll be on the lookout for those, but at no point are you allowed to use the terms, "magic bullet" or "illuminati."

 

[seafoam]

OK. I'll be on the lookout for those, but at no point are you allowed to use the terms, "magic bullet" or "illuminati."

What are you? The Gestapo of HF Isles?

 

[Isles72]

Here are the top 10 maximum speeds attained by NHL players this season (playoffs only):

• Martin Necas 23.84
• Roope Hintz 23.51
• Anthony Cirelli 23.47
• Brayden Point 23.45
• Nathan MacKinnon 23.44
• Cale Makar 23.24
• Anders Lee 23.19
• Sean Walker 23.13
• Valeri Nichushkin 23.09
• John Beecher 23.08

I think there might be something wrong with the machine! Seriously though, this is the classic "top speed versus acceleration" thing.

among many other things he actually won often in speed skating in high school .

he would certainly make uncle junior soprano proud

 

[YearlyLottery]

Here are the top 10 maximum speeds attained by NHL players this season (playoffs only):

• Martin Necas 23.84
• Roope Hintz 23.51
• Anthony Cirelli 23.47
• Brayden Point 23.45
• Nathan MacKinnon 23.44
• Cale Makar 23.24
• Anders Lee 23.19
• Sean Walker 23.13
• Valeri Nichushkin 23.09
• John Beecher 23.08

I think there might be something wrong with the machine! Seriously though, this is the classic "top speed versus acceleration" thing.

Anders Lee is on this list due to him having to haul his ass back since he got caught so far behind the play probably.

 

[seafoam]

Anders Lee is on this list due to him having to haul his ass back since he got caught so far behind the play probably.

I believe it was when he negated an icing and had been skating in a straight line for about the whole length of the rink. I think they were in Carolina when it happened.

 

[JJ18Sniper]

Anders Lee = Big engine with the wrong transmission for speed.

 

[Tres Peleches]

Hell yeah, Engvall and Gauthier stats

Olofsson and Barabanov are free agents to be that will be let go by the Sharks and Sabres. Not flashy names but I could see both on our bottom 6 as options. Not big fans of either but I think Barabanov is just diet Engvall

Gauthier played in 27 games. If he really had that many bursts of speed then wow

 

[saintunspecified]

There's no magic recipe for adding two top-6 forwards (even if Palmieri were a decent top 6 forward which he isn't). It's like baseball. Unless you're good everywhere else, it's silly to add 'power' to your lineup just because. But you can improve your CF/SS/2B/C defense. It's the most reliable way to get your team a few extra W's by reducing a few runs against. The hockey version of this is to fix the awful penalty kill forwards in the short term, and accumulate assets to capitalize on opportunities when they come up. The division isn't improving super quickly. The Canes, for example, are going to shed talent. CBJ haven't been wise, and Philadelphia has their own problems. The Devils are at a tipping point (they either get really good or it falls apart imo - more likely the former). The Capitals will be meh. Only the Rag$ look pretty reliable. Doing the un-sexy thing can benefit without hampering long term commitments.

Barzal, Horvat, Dobson, Sorokin will still be good players in 3 years. And if not, or if no opportunities come up to spend capital, the Islanders will have at least accumulated talent to begin a rebuild.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Hell yeah, Engvall and Gauthier stats

Olofsson and Barabanov are free agents to be that will be let go by the Sharks and Sabres. Not flashy names but I could see both on our bottom 6 as options. Not big fans of either but I think Barabanov is just diet Engvall

I've been on the Olofsson train for a little while now. Dude can flat out shoot the puck.

I can't say I've watched a lot of Sabres games and I know he's a defensive liability, but we've been clamoring for a sniper...

 

[JPIsles18]

I've been on the Olofsson train for a little while now. Dude can flat out shoot the puck.

I can't say I've watched a lot of Sabres games and I know he's a defensive liability, but we've been clamoring for a sniper...

He's an empty calorie scorer. Guys like these are valuable in the bottom 6 surrounded by good defensive players and being PP specialists. There are better options to be had I'm sure.

Isles need a little more creativity to their roster building. A guy like Tsyplakov is a good start. You look at what the Panthers do, and every team should be emulating them. They consistently grab players off the garbage heap and make them into very useful pieces: Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling, Anthony Duclair, etc.

Lou did this with Engvall. Solid swing at a player that has the talent to be a 2nd line player. Hasn't necessarily panned out. He also did it with Rielly (more desperation). However, there is far more of getting guys with "strong" track records that are overpriced and overrated: JGP, Palmieri, Horvat.

There's nothing wrong with getting a few of the "fairly" priced guys like Horvat. However, when you load your team up with aging vets for things they have done in the past while ignoring the farm system and not trying to acquire "undervalued" projects, you become stale and irrelevant. The two words that describe the Isles best.

Stars and Panthers are excellent examples for the Isles. The Stars were in cap hell after Sequin/Benn contracts were fast becoming an albatross. All of a sudden they draft Hintz, Heiskenen, Oettinger, Johnston - now they're arguably the best team in the league despite the bad contracts. The Panthers signed Bob to an awful contract that looked to doom that franchise. However, they were able to trade and sign their way into becoming one of the best teams in the NHL. Their signings weren't the aging UFA types. They were the under the radar types.

Our GM isn't dumb, but he's not creative. He also doesn't seem to understand that the NHL is now played differently than it did when he won cups 30 years ago.

 

[BelovedIsles]

This is probably unrealistic - really just thinking out loud here. If JGP can be moved, could Lee spend the summer watching tapes of Jordan Staal (and himself playing C back in college) and be our 3C next year? Engvall-Lee-Holmstrom as the 3rd line? That would be hopefully under $12M, which would be better than $15M for Lee-JGP-Engvall.

Lee doesn't have the speed to cover 200 ft.