God I hate this site

I don't think Lou has been great, BUT I have no idea what ownership wants from him either. I'm certain plenty of GMs recognize a team needs to rebuild badly but aren't allowed to as ownership objectives dictate what a GM does far more than what fans want to admit in most cases. I can understand why that loss is more painful, but realistically Carolina dominated play in that game as many have stated. Easily could have been a massive blowout. Metro only has three quality teams this season and NYI, WSH, PHI, PIT are truthfully mediocre at best and all should rebuild (PHI is) if they are optimizing to contend again. But again, GMs can't rebuild until ownership approves that action and usually it isn't cost effective to ownership to rebuild until it is too late.
- jfkst1

There's no doubt about that and it's been a point brought up here a few times. But at the end of the day, the owners aren't going to fire themselves and poop rolls down hill. I don't hate Lou and I don't hate the job he's done, but whatever they're doing isn't working. There are aspects of his tenure here I don't like and some I do, but trying to pretend that this team is the same level as the one that went to two consecutive ECF (yes I know one wasn't technically called that) is just lying to themselves and the fanbase.

What I suspect, is that ownership is carrying plenty of debt payments from the cost of building UBS and they don't want to have to also deal with poor attendance because the team is going through a rebuild/retool and have given Lou the order to keep the team competitive in the short term.

They played with them well enough until they tried to sit on a 3-0 lead for 35 minutes.
- UIF

Well yea I said that last night, didn't play tonwin they played not to lose but they had no answer for the canes after it was 3 1

There's no doubt about that and it's been a point brought up here a few times. But at the end of the day, the owners aren't going to fire themselves and poop rolls down hill. I don't hate Lou and I don't hate the job he's done, but whatever they're doing isn't working. There are aspects of his tenure here I don't like and some I do, but trying to pretend that this team is the same level as the one that went to two consecutive ECF (yes I know one wasn't technically called that) is just lying to themselves and the fanbase.

What I suspect, is that ownership is carrying plenty of debt payments from the cost of building UBS and they don't want to have to also deal with poor attendance because the team is going through a rebuild/retool and have given Lou the order to keep the team competitive in the short term.
- eichiefs9

This team would still have Barzal, Bo, Dobson, and Sorokin. The fans would probably appreciate having more young energetic players even if they are not the most talented. We are talking about moving on from Nelson, Palms, MM, and Cal. You cannot bring back the same old and slow roster each year and think it's going to work. The fans will have more of a problem with this type of roster than a younger and hungrier roster.

Well yea I said that last night, didn't play tonwin they played not to lose but they had no answer for the canes after it was 3 1
- Upstate_isles

This team does not have aggressive forwards or dmen that can change the tone of a game. Nelson and Pierre are some of the soft type players this team counts on.

There's no doubt about that and it's been a point brought up here a few times. But at the end of the day, the owners aren't going to fire themselves and poop rolls down hill. I don't hate Lou and I don't hate the job he's done, but whatever they're doing isn't working. There are aspects of his tenure here I don't like and some I do, but trying to pretend that this team is the same level as the one that went to two consecutive ECF (yes I know one wasn't technically called that) is just lying to themselves and the fanbase.

What I suspect, is that ownership is carrying plenty of debt payments from the cost of building UBS and they don't want to have to also deal with poor attendance because the team is going through a rebuild/retool and have given Lou the order to keep the team competitive in the short term.
- eichiefs9

Can they really expect fans to keep paying for this team as it stands? I get that a rebuild team would be worse short term, but this team isn't generating any excitement.

My issue is I'm not sure what any GM could do right now. A lot of the contracts are unmovable.

There's no doubt about that and it's been a point brought up here a few times. But at the end of the day, the owners aren't going to fire themselves and poop rolls down hill. I don't hate Lou and I don't hate the job he's done, but whatever they're doing isn't working. There are aspects of his tenure here I don't like and some I do, but trying to pretend that this team is the same level as the one that went to two consecutive ECF (yes I know one wasn't technically called that) is just lying to themselves and the fanbase.

What I suspect, is that ownership is carrying plenty of debt payments from the cost of building UBS and they don't want to have to also deal with poor attendance because the team is going through a rebuild/retool and have given Lou the order to keep the team competitive in the short term.
- eichiefs9

I remember when we first hired Lou, my biggest concern was that his Toronto tenure (and later Devils tenure) showed that he was perhaps too steadfast in his approach from the mid-90s. I think he's had a couple of good hits during his tenure, but also some massive misses. We all know who they are. Unfortunately I also think Lou tends to not turn his roster over as much as more modern GMs, which has definitely negatively impacted the team. Guys like Martin and Clutterbuck have stayed here far too long. We've had a few opportunities to get some value for guys that could have probably had us better both today and tomorrow.
Rosters are funny in the NHL, you can subtract and add three players from your roster and things will look dramatically different. A legit LW for BarHor. Younger, faster and feistier guys on the fourth line. Just a few things like that with a bit of youth injection can go a long ways. If it doesn't work, then you've got an opportunity to get a haul for Nelson come next trade deadline along with perhaps another player or two.

Can they really expect fans to keep paying for this team as it stands? I get that a rebuild team would be worse short term, but this team isn't generating any excitement.

My issue is I'm not sure what any GM could do right now. A lot of the contracts are unmovable.
- JimmyP

Have to think fans would prefer a younger and hungrier team. Team has to move Nelson and Palms this summer and let MM and Cal go. They need to investigate any other player they can move. Team does not have to be lousy when they still have Barzal, Bo, Dobson, and Sorokin.

I remember when we first hired Lou, my biggest concern was that his Toronto tenure (and later Devils tenure) showed that he was perhaps too steadfast in his approach from the mid-90s. I think he's had a couple of good hits during his tenure, but also some massive misses. We all know who they are. Unfortunately I also think Lou tends to not turn his roster over as much as more modern GMs, which has definitely negatively impacted the team. Guys like Martin and Clutterbuck have stayed here far too long. We've had a few opportunities to get some value for guys that could have probably had us better both today and tomorrow.
Rosters are funny in the NHL, you can subtract and add three players from your roster and things will look dramatically different. A legit LW for BarHor. Younger, faster and feistier guys on the fourth line. Just a few things like that with a bit of youth injection can go a long ways. If it doesn't work, then you've got an opportunity to get a haul for Nelson come next trade deadline along with perhaps another player or two.
- keaner17

This! Let's not pretend Lou wants to rebuild and Ledecky and Malkin are stopping him. Lou is stuck in the past and does not know how to build a team for 2024.

Can they really expect fans to keep paying for this team as it stands? I get that a rebuild team would be worse short term, but this team isn't generating any excitement.

My issue is I'm not sure what any GM could do right now. A lot of the contracts are unmovable.
- JimmyP

Maybe not to all the diehard fans who can see through the "we're a playoff team" marketing, but terrible position or not...UBS will be packed to the brim Thursday and Saturday and that's going to make them money.

I can't necessarily fault ownership for wanting to generate revenue after they were able to get the team and the fans a beautiful new arena, that part isn't lost on me. But at some point they're going to just have to bite the bullet and admit that this entire organization needs to hit the reset button. Whether that's this summer or in 5 years is something we have no control over, but just recycling the same aging, slow roster every year isn't going to get them anywhere except the occasional 1st round exit and no high draft picks.

I remember when we first hired Lou, my biggest concern was that his Toronto tenure (and later Devils tenure) showed that he was perhaps too steadfast in his approach from the mid-90s. I think he's had a couple of good hits during his tenure, but also some massive misses. We all know who they are. Unfortunately I also think Lou tends to not turn his roster over as much as more modern GMs, which has definitely negatively impacted the team. Guys like Martin and Clutterbuck have stayed here far too long. We've had a few opportunities to get some value for guys that could have probably had us better both today and tomorrow.
Rosters are funny in the NHL, you can subtract and add three players from your roster and things will look dramatically different. A legit LW for BarHor. Younger, faster and feistier guys on the fourth line. Just a few things like that with a bit of youth injection can go a long ways. If it doesn't work, then you've got an opportunity to get a haul for Nelson come next trade deadline along with perhaps another player or two.
- keaner17

Lou is a legend of the game, but everyone hits the decline eventually and I think he's been trending downward for awhile now. He, along with ownership and Trotz, legitimized the Isles and it made for an amazing couple seasons. I loved it and I appreciate the job he did but it's time to move on from that.

They have a couple of moveable assets that they can get some good picks and/or prospects for this summer if they choose to try and retool a bit. I genuinely believe that it can help accelerate things a bit if the decide to go that route. But ownership would have to sign off on knowing they're likely to have a few down years in the interim. They have a lot of old players who are entirely immovable locked in for a lot of years though so they're going to probably have to wait out a lot of these guys unless they, for some reason, request a trade and are willing to waive

Maybe not to all the diehard fans who can see through the "we're a playoff team" marketing, but terrible position or not...UBS will be packed to the brim Thursday and Saturday and that's going to make them money.

I can't necessarily fault ownership for wanting to generate revenue after they were able to get the team and the fans a beautiful new arena, that part isn't lost on me. But at some point they're going to just have to bite the bullet and admit that this entire organization needs to hit the reset button. Whether that's this summer or in 5 years is something we have no control over, but just recycling the same aging, slow roster every year isn't going to get them anywhere except the occasional 1st round exit and no high draft picks.
- eichiefs9

Fans will respect ownership more if they are not trying to fool the fans into thinking this is a legit team. Nobody is saying move Barzal, Bo, Dobson, and Sorokin. Move the players you can and use some Bridge players if you have to and acquire draft picks and sign players to 1-year deals until you have better prospects.

There's no doubt about that and it's been a point brought up here a few times. But at the end of the day, the owners aren't going to fire themselves and poop rolls down hill. I don't hate Lou and I don't hate the job he's done, but whatever they're doing isn't working. There are aspects of his tenure here I don't like and some I do, but trying to pretend that this team is the same level as the one that went to two consecutive ECF (yes I know one wasn't technically called that) is just lying to themselves and the fanbase.

What I suspect, is that ownership is carrying plenty of debt payments from the cost of building UBS and they don't want to have to also deal with poor attendance because the team is going through a rebuild/retool and have given Lou the order to keep the team competitive in the short term.
- eichiefs9

I don't think some teams even can afford to rebuild. Calgary should rebuild as they are stuck in purgatory. But ownership there can't afford to have multiple tanking seasons to load up on prospects so Conroy has no choice except to "re-tool" which really just means be below average forever instead of bad briefly with the hope of long term improvement. Even Pittsburgh at their peak was only breaking even in profit from the regular season and needed postseason revenue to become profitable. It's a major advantage of huge markets like TOR, NYR, CHI, MTR, etc. that can remain profitable while tanking.

- BINGO!

Well that didn't work.

Anyway it's just Martin looking like a (frank)ing bozo.

I don't think some teams even can afford to rebuild. Calgary should rebuild as they are stuck in purgatory. But ownership there can't afford to have multiple tanking seasons to load up on prospects so Conroy has no choice except to "re-tool" which really just means be below average forever instead of bad briefly with the hope of long term improvement. Even Pittsburgh at their peak was only breaking even in profit from the regular season and needed postseason revenue to become profitable. It's a major advantage of huge markets like TOR, NYR, CHI, MTR, etc. that can remain profitable while tanking.
- jfkst1

No question the teams you mentioned have a big edge. Teams still have to put the resources and effort into good scouting and player development. You also need to be smart and not lock up average players to 7-year deals. These contracts are hurting the sport bigtime and preventing teams from making moves.

Lou is a legend of the game, but everyone hits the decline eventually and I think he's been trending downward for awhile now. He, along with ownership and Trotz, legitimized the Isles and it made for an amazing couple seasons. I loved it and I appreciate the job he did but it's time to move on from that.

They have a couple of moveable assets that they can get some good picks and/or prospects for this summer if they choose to try and retool a bit. I genuinely believe that it can help accelerate things a bit if the decide to go that route. But ownership would have to sign off on knowing they're likely to have a few down years in the interim. They have a lot of old players who are entirely immovable locked in for a lot of years though so they're going to probably have to wait out a lot of these guys unless they, for some reason, request a trade and are willing to waive
- eichiefs9

Like I said a few tweaks can make a seemingly dysfunctional roster look functional. I think you can buy out Lee, sell Nelson , let Martin and Clutter go and make significant replacements to take advantage of our stars in their prime. If you go on a 3-4 rebuild, you may run into the same problem with Barzy, Horvat, Pelech, Pulock etc and others in that term

Fans will respect ownership more if they are not trying to fool the fans into thinking this is a legit team. Nobody is saying move Barzal, Bo, Dobson, and Sorokin. Move the players you can and use some Bridge players if you have to and acquire draft picks and sign players to 1-year deals until you have better prospects.
- ses111

They might respect it, but a lot of them aren't going to buy tickets to go watch it

Well that didn't work.

Anyway it's just Martin looking like a (frank)ing bozo.
- BINGO!

Martin is a waste of a roster space. Great guy and beloved in the lockeroom, but we should have never brought him back from Toronto.
I will say that Noesen should have gotten 5 for being a wussy last night during his altercation with Martin. He refused to engage Martin at all until the ref intervened, then trying to sucker punch Martin. That set everything off from there

Like I said a few tweaks can make a seemingly dysfunctional roster look functional. I think you can buy out Lee, sell Nelson , let Martin and Clutter go and make significant replacements to take advantage of our stars in their prime. If you go on a 3-4 rebuild, you may run into the same problem with Barzy, Horvat, Pelech, Pulock etc and others in that term
- keaner17

Need to trade Palms as well. MacLean has looked good. See if there are other players in Bridge that can help. Even if they can be supporting players to Barzal, Bo, Dobson, and Sorokin. The problem is even if the Islanders open up more Cap space, will quality FA's be willing to sign? I think a new GM will be needed that can articulate a vision.

They might respect it, but a lot of them aren't going to buy tickets to go watch it
- eichiefs9

They still at least have Barzal, Bo, Dobson, and Sorokin to watch as established players. Who is going to buy tickets for this same roster? Will management blame puck luck or the refs for this series and bring it back? No excuse not to have some sort of re-tool. No more evidence is needed.

Martin is a waste of a roster space. Great guy and beloved in the lockeroom, but we should have never brought him back from Toronto.
I will say that Noesen should have gotten 5 for being a wussy last night during his altercation with Martin. He refused to engage Martin at all until the ref restrained him, then trying to sucker punch Martin. That set everything off from there
- keaner17

Martin is nuts if he does not retire.

Martin is a waste of a roster space. Great guy and beloved in the lockeroom, but we should have never brought him back from Toronto.
I will say that Noesen should have gotten 5 for being a wussy last night during his altercation with Martin. He refused to engage Martin at all until the ref intervened, then trying to sucker punch Martin. That set everything off from there
- keaner17

Noesen just pushed him. Like that was barely a shot and Martin had been holding his visor trying to get him to go.

He got tossed anyway, same as Martin.

Fiery Roy isn’t so fiery
- Cptmjl

I know he just has that dump look on his face when the camera is on him. He should have blasted them.

I know he just has that dump look on his face when the camera is on him. He should have blasted them.
- roadworker

From last night's press conference when Andrew Gross asked him about giving up goals so quickly.