Ben Shelley: Islanders announce roster, Pierre Engvall clears waivers

Another awful long term contract signed by our clueless geriatric GM. Total joke that this man still has a job

Yeah I always get pumped for these Russian players. Be great to hit on one for once.
- Cptmjl

Ask and you shall may receive

https://nypost.com/2024/1...-standout-maxim-shabanov/

Ask and you shall may receive

https://nypost.com/2024/1...-standout-maxim-shabanov/
- eichiefs9

It wasn’t clear on whether or not this kid would play in the NHL this season, or next. I took from the article that he was gonna finish the KHL season??

Question is, if the isles land him, who does he replace? He plays center and wing.

It wasn’t clear on whether or not this kid would play in the NHL this season, or next. I took from the article that he was gonna finish the KHL season??

Question is, if the isles land him, who does he replace? He plays center and wing.
- kindlyrick

Next season. KHL season is already in full swing but I believe ends around February/March. I guess he could conceivably play this season if he's signed somewhere before the trade deadline. Or after, but would then be ineligible for any playoff games.

Palmieri is a pending UFA and should be allowed to walk. Nelson is a pending UFA, although it's a little more murky as to whether or not they should bring him back. Gauthier is a pending UFA. Wahlstrom is a pending RFA and, short of having a major breakout season, seems more likely than not to be let go. Pageau and Lee will be heading into the final year of their respective deals next season and become significantly easier to move, if they want to go that route.

I think there are options. Obviously this kid is going to be pretty highly sought-after and we know how the Isles usually fare in those situations, but he's certainly worthy of discussion.

Next season. KHL season is already in full swing but I believe ends around February/March. I guess he could conceivably play this season if he's signed somewhere before the trade deadline. Or after, but would then be ineligible for any playoff games.

Palmieri is a pending UFA and should be allowed to walk. Nelson is a pending UFA, although it's a little more murky as to whether or not they should bring him back. Gauthier is a pending UFA. Wahlstrom is a pending RFA and, short of having a major breakout season, seems more likely than not to be let go. Pageau and Lee will be heading into the final year of their respective deals next season and become significantly easier to move, if they want to go that route.

I think there are options. Obviously this kid is going to be pretty highly sought-after and we know how the Isles usually fare in those situations, but he's certainly worthy of discussion.
- eichiefs9

We may have a leg up with adding Tsyplakov and Sorokin here. Believe a lot of these guys are looking for as easy a transition as possible.

Another awful long term contract signed by our clueless geriatric GM. Total joke that this man still has a job
- BringNYIhome

Hi! I’ve been admiring your posts and profile for some time now and think we would make great friends. Please send me a DM.

We may have a leg up with adding Tsyplakov and Sorokin here. Believe a lot of these guys are looking for as easy a transition as possible.
- Cptmjl

I definitely feel a lot more optimistic about our chances after having Tsyplakov choose the Islanders over other teams. Not to mention, all those valid points aside, they're going to be in a transition phase and he's probably going to have a real opportunity to play big minutes here with some bigger names on their way/potentially on their way out.

We may have a leg up with adding Tsyplakov and Sorokin here. Believe a lot of these guys are looking for as easy a transition as possible.
- Cptmjl

I thought the same thing.

Next season. KHL season is already in full swing but I believe ends around February/March. I guess he could conceivably play this season if he's signed somewhere before the trade deadline. Or after, but would then be ineligible for any playoff games.

Palmieri is a pending UFA and should be allowed to walk. Nelson is a pending UFA, although it's a little more murky as to whether or not they should bring him back. Gauthier is a pending UFA. Wahlstrom is a pending RFA and, short of having a major breakout season, seems more likely than not to be let go. Pageau and Lee will be heading into the final year of their respective deals next season and become significantly easier to move, if they want to go that route.

I think there are options. Obviously this kid is going to be pretty highly sought-after and we know how the Isles usually fare in those situations, but he's certainly worthy of discussion.
- eichiefs9

I would love to see the isles add another scorer. I hear you with the isles not being successful in the past with signing guys. But that article did mention some guy who’s been key in luring Tysplakov to the island. (Too lazy to look up his name).

I’m hoping Lee and Pageau have better seasons. I can’t remember the last time Pageau had a stand out game.

I definitely feel a lot more optimistic about our chances after having Tsyplakov choose the Islanders over other teams. Not to mention, all those valid points aside, they're going to be in a transition phase and he's probably going to have a real opportunity to play big minutes here with some bigger names on their way/potentially on their way out.
- eichiefs9

Russians wanna get paid. He’s got a shot on the island to make money when Lee and Pageau come off the books.

Apparently Igor Shesterkin turned down an extension of 88 million over 8 years. Wow!!!

Russians wanna get paid. He’s got a shot on the island to make money when Lee and Pageau come off the books.
- kindlyrick

He'll certainly have a shot, but he'll get a standard entry level contract for I believe one year (like Tsyplakov) and be an RFA at expiry. Which means he's probably going to want to go to a team where he gets a big opportunity to produce offense so his next deal will be a lucrative one. Islanders need scoring and PP help, so I'm sure they'll offer him a spot on the top unit and a chance at big minutes at ES if he proves he can hang.

He's not a big guy either. EP has him listed at 5'8" 157. So, while I admittedly don't know how his defensive game is, it feels like it'll be top-6 scorer or back to the KHL for him.

He'll certainly have a shot, but he'll get a standard entry level contract for I believe one year (like Tsyplakov) and be an RFA at expiry. Which means he's probably going to want to go to a team where he gets a big opportunity to produce offense so his next deal will be a lucrative one. Islanders need scoring and PP help, so I'm sure they'll offer him a spot on the top unit and a chance at big minutes at ES if he proves he can hang.

He's not a big guy either. EP has him listed at 5'8" 157. So, while I admittedly don't know how his defensive game is, it feels like it'll be top-6 scorer or back to the KHL for him.
- eichiefs9

Yeah I saw he was small but I watched a few highlight videos and he’s got hands. At this point I’m loving the idea of adding assets without giving anything up. That business model hasn’t been attainable for whatever reason.

Yeah I saw he was small but I watched a few highlight videos and he’s got hands. At this point I’m loving the idea of adding assets without giving anything up. That business model hasn’t been attainable for whatever reason.
- kindlyrick

That's a drum I've been beating for a while, so I'm fully on board with you there. If you can't get NHL free agents to want to sign here, you better be all-in on signing the European ones when they become available. Especially the higher-end ones.

That's a drum I've been beating for a while, so I'm fully on board with you there. If you can't get NHL free agents to want to sign here, you better be all-in on signing the European ones when they become available. Especially the higher-end ones.
- eichiefs9

Agreed, otherwise you end up with Engvall for term.
Not sure what’s going on across the river, but Shesterkin turning down 88 million extension is wild. Is he outta New York? I have a ton of respect for Crosby…..he gets it. You can’t be paying guys 14 per. Crazy

Agreed, otherwise you end up with Engvall for term.
Not sure what’s going on across the river, but Shesterkin turning down 88 million extension is wild. Is he outta New York? I have a ton of respect for Crosby…..he gets it. You can’t be paying guys 14 per. Crazy
- kindlyrick

I don't think Shesterkin is going anywhere, but pretty wild and ballsy to turn down what would have been the largest goaltender contract in NHL history. I figured he'd come in at 8yrs x $11.5M, but now I might be leaning closer to $12M+.

It's a tough situation either way. That's going to be a lot of cap space dedicated to a guy that only plays ~2/3 of the season, but they're no longer a contender if they don't have him. Unfortunately the best option is probably to just work out a deal and figure it out from there.

I don't think Shesterkin is going anywhere, but pretty wild and ballsy to turn down what would have been the largest goaltender contract in NHL history. I figured he'd come in at 8yrs x $11.5M, but now I might be leaning closer to $12M+.

It's a tough situation either way. That's going to be a lot of cap space dedicated to a guy that only plays ~2/3 of the season, but they're no longer a contender if they don't have him. Unfortunately the best option is probably to just work out a deal and figure it out from there.
- eichiefs9

Very ballsy, and Igor has the leverage. I wonder if New York taxes factor in?

Very ballsy, and Igor has the leverage. I wonder if New York taxes factor in?
- kindlyrick

Maybe somewhat, but I think it just comes down to the fact that he's got the leverage and, unless this season is a total disaster, he's pretty much inarguably the best current goaltender in the league. He's got them by the balls and they can either just pay him and continue to benefit from his services or they can trade him and try to move on and use the cap space elsewhere.

The latter would be one of those career-altering decisions for Drury though. If it works, he's a genius with balls of steel. If they fall on their face, he's out of a job.

Maybe somewhat, but I think it just comes down to the fact that he's got the leverage and, unless this season is a total disaster, he's pretty much inarguably the best current goaltender in the league. He's got them by the balls and they can either just pay him and continue to benefit from his services or they can trade him and try to move on and use the cap space elsewhere.

The latter would be one of those career-altering decisions for Drury though. If it works, he's a genius with balls of steel. If they fall on their face, he's out of a job.
- eichiefs9

Yeah def not ideal for Drury. I do believe they buckle and give Igor what he wants. He’s a major piece to their puzzle.

Yeah def not ideal for Drury. I do believe they buckle and give Igor what he wants. He’s a major piece to their puzzle.
- kindlyrick

I think he's the biggest piece to the puzzle. A lot of their team stats last season were pretty average at 5v5. Take away an elite level backstop and a lot of those flaws get majorly exposed.

I think he's the biggest piece to the puzzle. A lot of their team stats last season were pretty average at 5v5. Take away an elite level backstop and a lot of those flaws get majorly exposed.
- eichiefs9

Agreed. Hence he rejected 88 million dollars lol. Just typing that is hard.

Agreed. Hence he rejected 88 million dollars lol. Just typing that is hard.
- kindlyrick

Gonna be an interesting one to follow for sure. Drury certainly has the road map of what not to do from the Bruins/Swayman saga, that's for sure.

Gonna be an interesting one to follow for sure. Drury certainly has the road map of what not to do from the Bruins/Swayman saga, that's for sure.
- eichiefs9

Yeah I thought Cam Neely going public was bush league. I get why Lou has tight lips…..as a fan it sucks, but it’s professional.

I think he's the biggest piece to the puzzle. A lot of their team stats last season were pretty average at 5v5. Take away an elite level backstop and a lot of those flaws get majorly exposed.
- eichiefs9

Igor covers up a lot of issues for the Rangers. It is Igor and special teams that drove the Ranger success.

Igor covers up a lot of issues for the Rangers. It is Igor and special teams that drove the Ranger success.
- ses111

Igor is one of if not the best goaltender in the league. But, truth be told, Drury put together a very formidable roster in a rebuild. It’s also not luck that the Rangers have gone from Richter, to Lundqvist, to Shesterkin. Gotta give credit