Ben Shelley: Examining the Islanders’ play through 25 games

this but with "they gon choke"

Brutally honest assessment.

Brutally honest assessment.
- PeteM

I agree with Ben's assessment of the team, as well as your assessment of his assessment.

Wow, probably the best post by Ben throughout his entire time writing for Hockey Buzz.

https://nypost.com/2024/1...-engvalls-latest-scratch/

https://nypost.com/2024/12/02/sports/patrick-roy-isnt-hiding-the-reason-for-pierre-engvalls-latest-scratch/
- ses111

This pretty much sums up Engvall in a nut shell:

“I’m not really sure right now,” he said when asked what Roy’s message to him had been.

I agree with Ben's assessment of the team, as well as your assessment of his assessment.
- JohnScammo

The take on Bo was good. Bo has not been good and was not good in the playoffs. Lou was not happy with that Bo contract.

This pretty much sums up Engvall in a nut shell:

“I’m not really sure right now,” he said when asked what Roy’s message to him had been.
- PeteM

Engvall can be lazy with a 7-year deal. Lou has no clue on how to be GM in a Cap world.

Great write up Ben. Very accurate assessment of the team currently. Thanks for keeping this blog going and giving us a place to stay connected. Hope everything is okay.

On a separate note, the Rangers are really struggling. Is this because of the Trouba situation or are the Rangers just not as good and rely on Igor to bail them out?

From the Athletic's rankings of team's salary cap situations from best to worst

32. New York Islanders
2025-26 salaries: $67 million
RFAs estimate: $18 million
Dead money: None

Notable UFAs: Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri
Projected cap space: $9 million (29th)

Biggest decision: Is it time for a change at the top?

The Islanders have one of the worst records in the league and are third last in goals per game. They’re brutal on the power play and the penalty kill. Their pricey goalie tandem is producing close to league average results. And they also have one of the NHL’s oldest rosters and are committed with term to some of their worst overpayments.

They have some tough RFA calls to make, led by Noah Dobson, who’s earned a massive raise. And their top two scorers, who are on two of the organization’s better contracts, are about to go UFA and land huge paydays.

I’m not sure that $9 million in cap space is going to be enough to right the ship here

From the Athletic's rankings of team's salary cap situations from best to worst

32. New York Islanders
2025-26 salaries: $67 million
RFAs estimate: $18 million
Dead money: None

Notable UFAs: Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri
Projected cap space: $9 million (29th)

Biggest decision: Is it time for a change at the top?

The Islanders have one of the worst records in the league and are third last in goals per game. They’re brutal on the power play and the penalty kill. Their pricey goalie tandem is producing close to league average results. And they also have one of the NHL’s oldest rosters and are committed with term to some of their worst overpayments.

They have some tough RFA calls to make, led by Noah Dobson, who’s earned a massive raise. And their top two scorers, who are on two of the organization’s better contracts, are about to go UFA and land huge paydays.

I’m not sure that $9 million in cap space is going to be enough to right the ship here
- eichiefs9

Just brutal work with the Cap chief and for a team with not a lot of star type players. The only option should be to re-tool. Ownership does not have to be hockey experts to see there is a huge problem.

From the Athletic's rankings of team's salary cap situations from best to worst

32. New York Islanders
2025-26 salaries: $67 million
RFAs estimate: $18 million
Dead money: None

Notable UFAs: Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri
Projected cap space: $9 million (29th)

Biggest decision: Is it time for a change at the top?

The Islanders have one of the worst records in the league and are third last in goals per game. They’re brutal on the power play and the penalty kill. Their pricey goalie tandem is producing close to league average results. And they also have one of the NHL’s oldest rosters and are committed with term to some of their worst overpayments.

They have some tough RFA calls to make, led by Noah Dobson, who’s earned a massive raise. And their top two scorers, who are on two of the organization’s better contracts, are about to go UFA and land huge paydays.

I’m not sure that $9 million in cap space is going to be enough to right the ship here
- eichiefs9

Noah Dobson has "earned a massive raise"?????? Sorry, but he's been mostly terrible this season on the defensive side. Whoever wrote that hasn't been watching the Islanders this season.

Noah Dobson has "earned a massive raise"?????? Sorry, but he's been mostly terrible this season on the defensive side. Whoever wrote that hasn't been watching the Islanders this season.
- JohnScammo

He has, albeit one that will come after a disappointing (so far) season. He's only making $4M this year and will probably at least double that. Your point is fair, but he's their best defenseman and he/his agent know that.

He has, albeit one that will come after a disappointing (so far) season. He's only making $4M this year and will probably at least double that. Your point is fair, but he's their best defenseman and he/his agent know that.
- eichiefs9

I respectfully disagree. He may have the most potential, but it hasn't been realized this season. Poor decisions in the D zone have led to the worst +/- on the team. I don't understand what happened to the guy. I would say that Romanov and possibly others have been better.

He has, albeit one that will come after a disappointing (so far) season. He's only making $4M this year and will probably at least double that. Your point is fair, but he's their best defenseman and he/his agent know that.
- eichiefs9

Best offensive dman, but that is not saying much on this team. Dobson still has not earned a big deal.

I respectfully disagree. He may have the most potential, but it hasn't been realized this season. Poor decisions in the D zone have led to the worst +/- on the team. I don't understand what happened to the guy. I would say that Romanov and possibly others have been better.
- JohnScammo

He hasn't been good, but that's more of a comment about how pedestrian the rest of the blueline has been than a compliment to Dobson. I'm not just talking about 25 games of this season, that's not all they're going to base his contract on.

He hasn't been good, but that's more of a comment about how pedestrian the rest of the blueline has been than a compliment to Dobson. I'm not just talking about 25 games of this season, that's not all they're going to base his contract on.
- eichiefs9

Dobson will be paid. Should the Islanders at least investigate moving Dobson?

Dobson will be paid. Should the Islanders at least investigate moving Dobson?
- ses111

Kind of a double-edged sword. They should listen on anyone but, for all Dobson's flaws, he's still only 24 and defensemen take a long time to fully develop and the talent is there.

If they were to move him it better have been because they got such a ridiculous haul that brought back a similar young player and a piece or more for the future.

He hasn't been good, but that's more of a comment about how pedestrian the rest of the blueline has been than a compliment to Dobson. I'm not just talking about 25 games of this season, that's not all they're going to base his contract on.
- eichiefs9

I would say that I noticed his game slipping last season too. Also, he's an RFA, albeit with arbitration rights, so Lou has some leverage. I'm thinking he most likely gets a reasonable raise on a short-term "show me" deal.

Kind of a double-edged sword. They should listen on anyone but, for all Dobson's flaws, he's still only 24 and defensemen take a long time to fully develop and the talent is there.

If they were to move him it better have been because they got such a ridiculous haul that brought back a similar young player and a piece or more for the future.
- eichiefs9

I agree. Should be for a big return if he is moved.

I would say that I noticed his game slipping last season too. Also, he's an RFA, albeit with arbitration rights, so Lou has some leverage. I'm thinking he most likely gets a reasonable raise on a short-term "show me" deal.
- JohnScammo

I was hoping Tommy A could help Dobson. Still time for Dobson to turn things around.

I would say that I noticed his game slipping last season too. Also, he's an RFA, albeit with arbitration rights, so Lou has some leverage. I'm thinking he most likely gets a reasonable raise on a short-term "show me" deal.
- JohnScammo

He may want a deal like that, but the team won't. All that will do is eat up his remaining RFA years and then he'll be a UFA with all the leverage when it comes time for his next deal. The team will almost certainly want to lock him up on an 8 year deal this summer.

The only way I could see the front office wanting a bridge deal is if they're not sold on him being a star and/or foresee a rebuild around the time a hypothetical bridge deal would expire so they could move him for futures.

Renaud Lavoie
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Pencil him in for his first goal as a Hab