Aho has played pretty well. I'm not sure if the Islanders keep Mayfield? I would let him walk at this point.
- ses111

So you don't see Mayfield's value during these playoffs??

He's going to get overpaid, unless he just wants to stay here and take a team-friendly deal. Paying him $4M+ would be a mistake
- eichiefs9

I agree chief.

So you don't see Mayfield's value during these playoffs??
- JohnScammo

If the Islanders win the series I'll see the value.

After Mayfield killed 40 seconds of that PP late in the third by himself, on effort alone I don’t see how you don’t keep that guy. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Usually they blow the play after yelling move it, but he pinned the puck with his size 82 skate and 40 seconds ticked away. It was crazy
- kindlyrick

Mayfield is a hustler. That's about all I can give him and I'm not keeping him based on a play that would have been whistled dead two years ago.
He is terrible and clearing the puck, constantly sending limp-Richard clearing attempts up the boards. He takes stupid penalty after stupid penalty. He was drafted to be a ohysical dman but rarely wins battles in front and isn't a strong hitter. Occasionally he surprises offensively but it's far and few between.
I'm fine with him as a #6 guy, but the money he will command will be way too high for his rightful role

I'd prefer both Aho and Mayfield be replaced. Unfortunately it may be necessary to keep one or both based on Bulduc and Salo clearly not being ready. I have no idea what Mayfield will command and my guess is he'll be gone.
Aho is awful. The only thing folks can say on occassion us he wasn't as awful as usual last night. He still had a couple of turnovers and lost his man on a breakaway which ended with a penalty. I will say he's less awful than he was early in the season, but if they are going to get better, he's one spot they can start with
- keaner17

The problem with the isles, as usual, is they let a role player go and it’s not replaced. Nick Leddy for whatever he was, was their PP QB. Now they’ve given the reigns to a green 23 (or 24) yr old Dobson. While Dobson has tremendous upside, they’ve put that first pair task on a kid who quite frankly isn’t ready. They have zero veteran presence on the backend….which translates to growing pains. If only there was a Johnny Boychuk available as he was the quintessential vet presence they need.

I'd prefer both Aho and Mayfield be replaced. Unfortunately it may be necessary to keep one or both based on Bulduc and Salo clearly not being ready. I have no idea what Mayfield will command and my guess is he'll be gone.
Aho is awful. The only thing folks can say on occassion us he wasn't as awful as usual last night. He still had a couple of turnovers and lost his man on a breakaway which ended with a penalty. I will say he's less awful than he was early in the season, but if they are going to get better, he's one spot they can start with
- keaner17

Replacing both would be nice but doubtful it happens. Have to think Aho is kept. Any internal option like Bolduc or Salo will take a lot of time to get comfortable. Dobson still looks lost on occasion. I hope someone better than Houda is brought in to work with the defense. The defense as a whole panics and have regressed.

Mayfield is a hustler. That's about all I can give him and I'm not keeping him based on a play that would have been whistled dead two years ago.
He is terrible and clearing the puck, constantly sending limp-Richard clearing attempts up the boards. He takes stupid penalty after stupid penalty. He was drafted to be a ohysical dman but rarely wins battles in front and isn't a strong hitter. Occasionally he surprises offensively but it's far and few between.
I'm fine with him as a #6 guy, but the money he will command will be way too high for his rightful role
- keaner17

For big money, I’d rather move him, but I think you’ll be surprised what the market will dictate/return for a big dman who can skate and has offensive upside. He’s an asset, and not for that single play. I think he’s a 2nd pair…my opinion of course.

Replacing both would be nice but doubtful it happens. Have to think Aho is kept. Any internal option like Bolduc or Salo will take a lot of time to get comfortable. Dobson still looks lost on occasion. I hope someone better than Houda is brought in to work with the defense. The defense as a whole panics and have regressed.
- ses111

They had Boychuk on the ice working with them. Get his a$$ on the bench next year.

They had Boychuk on the ice working with them. Get his a$$ on the bench next year.
- kindlyrick

I'll take Boychuk over Houda. I know the players need to take responsibility, but good coaching helps as well.

Replacing both would be nice but doubtful it happens. Have to think Aho is kept. Any internal option like Bolduc or Salo will take a lot of time to get comfortable. Dobson still looks lost on occasion. I hope someone better than Houda is brought in to work with the defense. The defense as a whole panics and have regressed.
- ses111

Aho costs them nothing and is a good 3rd pairing defenseman that can move the puck. He's under $1M cap hit and that's the exact kind of player/contract that they need to fill that role. The reason they can't afford to (try and, anyway) add stars to this roster is because they're paying a premium for "luxury" role players.

As much as I like Engvall and he's been a big part of this team, re-signing him would be a mistake unless they are able to clear out some significant salary.

Aho costs them nothing and is a good 3rd pairing defenseman that can move the puck. He's under $1M cap hit and that's the exact kind of player/contract that they need to fill that role. The reason they can't afford to (try and, anyway) add stars to this roster is because they're paying a premium for "luxury" role players.

As much as I like Engvall and he's been a big part of this team, re-signing him would be a mistake unless they are able to clear out some significant salary.
- eichiefs9

Exactly right chief! Many of us have been saying this about paying bottom pair players so much in a Cap world. Your top 6 forwards and top 4 dmen need to be paid and need to drive the success. What do we know though?

Aho costs them nothing and is a good 3rd pairing defenseman that can move the puck. He's under $1M cap hit and that's the exact kind of player/contract that they need to fill that role. The reason they can't afford to (try and, anyway) add stars to this roster is because they're paying a premium for "luxury" role players.

As much as I like Engvall and he's been a big part of this team, re-signing him would be a mistake unless they are able to clear out some significant salary.
- eichiefs9

Really depends on how expensive he is, I would think. Isles are in general a slow team. Engvall improves the overall team speed. Plus, he seems to be gelling with Nelson and Palms. I'd try to keep him, if at all possible.

Exactly right chief! Many of us have been saying this about paying bottom pair players so much in a Cap world. Your top 6 forwards and top 4 dmen need to paid. What do we know though?

- ses111

They would be smart to bring in a veteran who plays a similar style to Mayfield to play with Aho. Problem is that this year's free agent class sucks balls. Gudas and Schenn would be available and shouldn't cost much more than Mayfield does currently.

They would be smart to bring in a veteran who plays a similar style to Mayfield to play with Aho. Problem is that this year's free agent class sucks balls. Gudas and Schenn would be available and shouldn't cost much more than Mayfield does currently.
- eichiefs9

It would be best for a Vet to be signed. How bad do you think it would be to use Bolduc and Aho as bottom pair next year? It would help the Cap for sure.

Really depends on how expensive he is, I would think. Isles are in general a slow team. Engvall improves the overall team speed. Plus, he seems to be gelling with Nelson and Palms. I'd try to keep him, if at all possible.
- JohnScammo

I love Engvall, but the team can't score to save their lives and he's a 3rd liner. He's probably going to get to at least $3.5M, he's currently making $2.25M.

I'd like to keep him too, but overpaying for 3rd liners is a one-way ticket to mediocrity...which is about the worst place to be in the NHL

It would be best for a Vet to be signed. How bad do you think it would be to use Bolduc and Aho as bottom pair next year? It would help the Cap for sure.
- ses111

Bad. Also, they both play the left side. Wotherspoon also (and he's a G6 UFA)

Took the isles and under in my parlay, $450 hit was sweating it out tho, screaming no empty net goal!!

Took the isles and under in my parlay, $450 hit was sweating it out tho, screaming no empty net goal!!
- Slimtj100

This is the Isles' specialty.

I love Engvall, but the team can't score to save their lives and he's a 3rd liner. He's probably going to get to at least $3.5M, he's currently making $2.25M.

I'd like to keep him too, but overpaying for 3rd liners is a one-way ticket to mediocrity...which is about the worst place to be in the NHL
- eichiefs9

I think a lot depends on who they replace him with. Wahlstrom should be back, but he's been a mixed blessing so far. Wally's got potential to be a top 6 player, but sometimes I wonder what's between his ears.

He's going to get overpaid, unless he just wants to stay here and take a team-friendly deal. Paying him $4M+ would be a mistake
- eichiefs9

I don’t expect him to stay, but I also didn’t expect Pulock and Pelech to sign such friendly deals either.

So who knows.

For big money, I’d rather move him, but I think you’ll be surprised what the market will dictate/return for a big dman who can skate and has offensive upside. He’s an asset, and not for that single play. I think he’s a 2nd pair…my opinion of course.
- kindlyrick

Going into next season, the Isles have about $6.9mm in cap space. They will first have to replace Varly (who they should have traded). Engvall, Parise, Fasching, Mayfield, Wahlstrom, Wotherspoon & Buldoc are all up for contracts. I doubt you will seen Mayfield get anything less than $4mm. Your goalie is going to command at least $2mm unless you go on the cheap. That leaves very little space for anything else, and you need to extend Ilya ASAP. I don't see any way we keep Mayfield. (barring perhaps the buyout of Chainz)
I would also say that one of the things that has gotten Mayfield into trouble is being expected to fill a top four role. He's just not that and if we're looking for paths for this team to get better, I don't think asking Scott to play 20-25 min is a good idea. At $1.4mm, Scott was wonderfully priced. He has his ups and downs which will become far less tolerable at his his soon-to-be pricetag.

This is the Isles' specialty.
- JohnScammo

I was also sweating the canes having the puck the last 5 minutes of the game. Which I’m sure you can relate

Up yours, piglet.
- BINGO!

Gonna need a LOT of Pilsner for that to happen.

I was also sweating the canes having the puck the last 5 minutes of the game. Which I’m sure you can relate
- Slimtj100

Just a smidge.

Just a smidge.
- Wildschwein

Yea that was rough. My gf couldn’t watch she was like I’m going in the shower lol