24-25

Forums/Armchair-GM

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Created by: swinny

Team: 2024-25 New York Islanders

Initial Creation Date: May 26, 2024

Published: May 30, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Description

The Islanders remain a classic case of being the middling team. Where is may behoove Lou to tear it down, I am not exactly sure there is an offseason market strong enough for him to do that; so..... you sign a couple reclamation projects hoping they bounce back. Buying out Lee is an option, but even there, to upgrade the offense you are over spending to do it - and putting more money on the books long term at this point simply doesn't make sense imo. The Islanders are what they are entering 2024-25......

Signings:

Reilly: I have always liked him as a pucking moving bottom pair D - and his play with the Islanders last season justifies bringing him back. Simply put, this blueline needs more offensive pop. While they are better out there, Reilly for now is a cheap option.

Holmstrom: his development has been slower than I would like, but not Wahlstrom bad either. One of the few young players that the Isles have that look to have traction. Need to sign that bridge.

MacLean: proved to be an effective 4th line player.... Easy decision here.

Kubalik: One of 2 reclamation projects. As a Wing, Kubalik proved effective. As a Hawk, Kubalik was solid enough. Those years a 35-45 point producer. His trainwreck season as a Sen I think is an outlier. He doesn't fit the typical Islander style, but, would add an element to the lineup. Low risk acquisition here to balance offense.

Vrana: Probably the squirelliest signing I could ever propose. I am not sure if anyone knows what happened here. Issues absolutely. Talent? Absolutely. The Islanders simply have a strong enough locker room where this risk could be taken on. The leadership and vet presence is there. Best case scenario, you have a dirt cheap 2nd line winger. Worst? You bury him for the year..... not like Bridgeport is exactly stocked with talent...... Still..... squirrely doesn't cover this one lol.

Side Notes:

1. Not qualifying Wahlstrom..... I think after 5 seasons we can call that a bust. Not even a trade market for him, as I investigated that.

2. Tsyplakov: I think the rookie Russian makes the team. Islanders need more offense, and that is something I think he brings.

3. Speaking of offense..... I get I didn't add a big sexy name. But, the one thing the Isles have are 3 lines they can roll. How Roy configures them will he interesting. Just goes back to my thinking that adding money and term to this team is a fools errand...... Given what I have done, worst case is they look the same as last year.

4. Playoffs: well, that all depends if the risks work I think. If they don't, I think there will be a very good market for Palmeiri and Nelson. Let the rebuild begin.

Overall:

Middling is the best way to describe it. And where tearing this down probably should be the course of action at this point, that isn't Lou's style; and knowing that you play into it. Hopefully Roy can squeeze something out of this. They will defend, for sure. Score? Ouff. That remains the $50 question. Taking risks. Nothing to loose.

Free Agent Signings

RFA		YEARS	CAP HIT
Holmström, Simon		2	$2,000,000
MacLean, Kyle		2	$875,000

UFA	YEARS	CAP HIT
Vrána, Jakub	1	$900,000
Kubalik, Dominik	1	$900,000
Reilly, Mike	1	$1,250,000

Buyouts

Rick DiPietro: $0

Draft	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
2024
2025
2026

ROSTER

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

EMBED

TEXT-EMBED

ROSTER SIZE	SALARY CAP	CAP HIT	OVERAGES	BONUSES	CAP SPACE
23	$87,700,000	$87,387,500	$0	$1,000,000	$312,500

Left Wing	Centre	Right Wing
Palmieri, Kyle $5,000,000$5,000,000 RW, LW M-NTC UFA - 1	Horvat, Bo $8,500,000$8,500,000 C NTC UFA - 7	Barzal, Mathew $9,150,000$9,150,000 C, RW M-NTC UFA - 7
Kubalik, Dominik $900,000$900,000 LW, RW UFA	Nelson, Brock $6,000,000$6,000,000 C, LW M-NTC UFA - 1	Holmström, Simon $2,000,000$2,000,000 RW RFA
Lee, Anders $7,000,000$7,000,000 LW M-NTC UFA - 2	Pageau, Jean-Gabriel $5,000,000$5,000,000 C M-NTC UFA - 2	Tsyplakov, Maxim $950,000$950,000 ($1,000,000$1M) RW RFA - 1
MacLean, Kyle $875,000$875,000 LW, C UFA - 3	Cizikas, Casey $2,500,000$2,500,000 C UFA - 3	Engvall, Pierre $3,000,000$3,000,000 RW, LW M-NTC UFA - 6
		Gauthier, Julien $787,500$787,500 RW UFA - 1
		Fasching, Hudson $775,000$775,000 RW UFA - 1

Left Defense	Right Defense	Goaltender
Romanov, Alexander $2,500,000$2,500,000 LD RFA - 1	Dobson, Noah $4,000,000$4,000,000 RD RFA - 1	Sorokin, Ilya $8,250,000$8,250,000 G NMC UFA - 8
Pelech, Adam $5,750,000$5,750,000 LD NTC UFA - 5	Pulock, Ryan $6,150,000$6,150,000 RD NTC UFA - 6	Varlamov, Semyon $2,750,000$2,750,000 G NTC UFA - 3
Reilly, Mike $1,250,000$1,250,000 LD UFA - 1	Mayfield, Scott $3,500,000$3,500,000 RD NTC UFA - 6
Bolduc, Samuel $800,000$800,000 LD RFA - 1

May 30 at 2:52 p.m.

ForsbergForVezina

CHI NYI

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 4,693

Likes: 2,263

I like your thoughts. I don't think Holmstrom will cost them that much personally, but I guess we'll see how it shakes out. Wahlstrom had to take his QO after putting up a stronger body of work than Holmstrom did, so I feel like maybe Holmstrom will do the same, at least next season.

I like Kubalik as a low-risk signing, I hadn't thought of him before. He was pretty atrocious last year with the Sens but I could see him bouncing back under the right circumstances. I always loved him in Chicago too.

swinny liked this.

May 30 at 2:59 p.m.

swinny

Thread Starter

Joined: Mar. 2017

Posts: 4,841

Likes: 2,023

Quoting: ForsbergForVezina

Atrocious doesn't cover Kubalik as a Sen lol. But I think the Isles would present a real opportunity for him. He doesn't have to hit, the rest of the team does that lol.

Could be right in Holmstrom...... and that would be beneficial for the Islanders. Cap space is cap space after all.

What is clear..... and I didn't address it, is just how BAD that system is. Odelius far and away is the best defensive prospect and he is at least 2 years out. Up front are we saying Dufour? Who at best is a 3rd line option? When the roster is that old, you need kids..... badly.

Lou needs to get in that. Why I think he flipped the picks.

May 30 at 3:03 p.m.

Bagofdonutz3113

Joined: Feb. 2024

Posts: 39

Likes: 9

If Lou decides to keep the picks and add to the farm I really like this approach. Yes fans will be upset because some are convinced "changes" are coming but 2025 seems like the real time for that. Nelson/Palmieri become free agents and Lee/Pageau's contracts become much more palatable as trade pieces since they only have a year remaining. Both Vrana and Kubalik make sense as cheap low-risk options to me as well and If one of them are able to play with Horvat and Barzal (or Palmieri as you did) I think they are good enough to make 3rd/4th in the Metro again with a full year of Roy. Sorokin also can't be as bad as he was this season again right??

swinny liked this.

May 30 at 3:08 p.m.

swinny

Thread Starter

Joined: Mar. 2017

Posts: 4,841

Likes: 2,023

Quoting: Bagofdonutz3113

The one thing that does work for the Isles is that blueline..... One of the better top 4's in the NHL imo.... and that excludes Mayfield. Why the Islanders hang around. Which would make one think Sorokin would be lights out, which last year he was not.

I think that is in large part because last season, beyond the top two lines, the Islanders simply could carry the play. Hemmed in the D zone if you will.

Maybe a more balanced offense helps that? We will see.

Bagofdonutz3113 liked this.

May 30 at 3:16 p.m.

ForsbergForVezina

CHI NYI

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 4,693

Likes: 2,263

Quoting: swinny

Yes, it's really bad. I was really glad to see them grab an extra 2nd and while I'd be okay with trading some draft capital for (young) established talent, I'm really hoping we don't use those picks to offload a bad contract like some have suggested.

Dufour might still be an NHLer, but probably not top 6. Ruslan Iskhakov will probably get a chance to prove he can do next season, but he's a bit of a mystery box. There's Danny Nelson and Quinn Finley, but they're both a few years out too.

May 30 at 3:17 p.m.

Bagofdonutz3113

Joined: Feb. 2024

Posts: 39

Likes: 9

Quoting: swinny

In hindsight knowing that Mayfield broke his foot on Opening Night definitely makes more sense. I think a full season of Roy's system will improve them for sure. This might be a hot take but a healthy Mayfield and Reilly could be one of the best third pairs in the league. If Pelech/Pulock don't regress then I absolutely agree that they will be in the mix. Tsyplakov is a wild card for now but if he can be a 15-goal 35-point guy then that could be huge. The regular season scapegoats (Lee and Pageau) upped their game against Carolina in the playoffs but the Isles were still pretty considerably outmatched. I'm really interested in seeing what they do with those picks because it seems like the consensus is Lou did really well to add another second in that fashion.

swinny liked this.

May 30 at 3:21 p.m.

tm0000

Joined: Jul. 2018

Posts: 809

Likes: 317

I think your general idea behind this may be close to what we see this summer. I'm pretty skeptical that we will see a bunch of big trades and UFA signings.

I'm not sure about the specific signings you have here though though. The guys Lou has acquired and drafted the last few years have all been above-average or better skaters - Kubalik doesn't really fit that bill. Vrana does, but I don't know if Lou is going to want another top-9 guy who's not overly physical in the lineup (Engvall).

You're probably a little light on the AAV for Reilly too; I've seen projections for him up to 3x$3MM which probably prices him off the Isles.

swinny liked this.

May 30 at 3:47 p.m.

swinny

Thread Starter

Joined: Mar. 2017

Posts: 4,841

Likes: 2,023

Quoting: tm0000

I hear what you are saying on the skating aspect of Kubalik..... Another interesting option maybe Kapanen; although historically his finishing ability has been less consistent than Kubalik. Further, I think Kapanen may actually land himself a multi year deal (weird I know, but he is a strong forechecker which does have its own value in the league).

I am not sure Reilly sees $3 million tbh. The UFA pool of defensemen is deep. Really deep. And as good as Reilly is under the right circumstances, he really is a 3rd pair option, PP specialist. Just too many other D on the market for him to see that kind of money imo. The last time he signed for that kind of money was in Boston..... and that damn near ended his career. I think he takes less to play.

May 30 at 3:50 p.m.

swinny

Thread Starter

Joined: Mar. 2017

Posts: 4,841

Likes: 2,023

Quoting: Bagofdonutz3113

Lou did great to add the second considering it only cost him like 10 positions in total. Just important to use those picks for young talent..... too important.

That roster needs a turnover.

Bagofdonutz3113 liked this.

May 30 at 4:04 p.m.

#10

ms39

Joined: Jul. 2022

Posts: 86

Likes: 17

I think the Reilly number is a bit low (in years+AAV), but I also understand your reasoning! Nevertheless, I am glad to see someone take a solid approach instead of the usual "Lee and our next 30 1st rounders to get him off the books!" posts. He and JGP are useful, even if overpaid, players. Smart to keep things clean for the next batch of contracts (Dobson, Romanov) as Lee, Nelson, JGP, Palms, etc. expire. (Instead of giving 6 years to someone like Teravainen.)

swinny liked this.

May 30 at 4:07 p.m.

#11

tm0000

Joined: Jul. 2018

Posts: 809

Likes: 317

Quoting: swinny

I agree, $3MM seems like a stretch, but I've seen that projection in a couple of spots. Regardless, even if he only gets half that, it may be too much to keep him around unless Lou can dump a contract off on someone.

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Forums/Armchair-GM

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