I hope for their sake they do. Two years in a row I watched the Oilers in the finals with back up goaltending. After seeing McDavids comments after the loss they gotta improve that weakness or he’s leaving.
- kindlyrick

They have to at this point. Skinner wasn't the only reason they lost, Florida is legitimately one of the best constructed/coached teams of the salary cap era. But EDM needs to shore up their net with someone that can steal them a game or two when they're outplayed.

They have to at this point. Skinner wasn't the only reason they lost, Florida is legitimately one of the best constructed/coached teams of the salary cap era. But EDM needs to shore up their net with someone that can steal them a game or two when they're outplayed.
- Gabe Athaus

Agreed Florida is a well oiled machine, but as you said your goalie needs to steal one or two. Wonder what Varlys status is as an islander? If healthy, maybe they move him?

Kane went for a 4th rounder. Seems a bit cheap to me 🤷‍♂️

Agreed Florida is a well oiled machine, but as you said your goalie needs to steal one or two. Wonder what Varlys status is as an islander? If healthy, maybe they move him?

Kane went for a 4th rounder. Seems a bit cheap to me 🤷‍♂️
- kindlyrick

Sure doesn't seem like Varly is healthy, but it's obviously been awhile since we had any news on that front.

Sounds like they did Kane a solid and sent him home at his request. Also they didn't have to retain any of his cap hit, so they weren't going to get much for him. I think he breaks down relatively quickly and he really needs a solid play-driver on his line to make him effective. He takes a ton of stupid penalties too. I think that's about fair-market value for him with zero salary retention.

Maybe he figures it out playing for a bigger franchise with a better coach (although I have concerns he'll mesh well with Tocchet). But so far, I'm unimpressed with him. He may be a guy that always gets his points, but I'm not sure he's well-rounded enough to ever be a real star. Maybe he tops out at "Mike Ribeiro".
- Gabe Athaus

Only time will tell but I still think Philly got him cheap.

They have to at this point. Skinner wasn't the only reason they lost, Florida is legitimately one of the best constructed/coached teams of the salary cap era. But EDM needs to shore up their net with someone that can steal them a game or two when they're outplayed.
- Gabe Athaus

Playing better team defense might help as well. Counting on your offense to win in shootouts doesn't work. Especially in the PO's

Playing better team defense might help as well. Counting on your offense to win in shootouts doesn't work. Especially in the PO's
- nyisles7

I honestly think they may have missed their shot. They had two kicks at the can and couldn't get over the hump. Now Draisaitl goes from $8.5M to $14M. Bouchard is going to be $10M+ on his next deal and then McDavid is going to get pretty much whatever he asks for, which is going to be huge.

They're going to have an absolutely massive percentage of their cap dedicated to three players for the foreseeable future, if McDavid re-signs.

I honestly think they may have missed their shot. They had two kicks at the can and couldn't get over the hump. Now Draisaitl goes from $8.5M to $14M. Bouchard is going to be $10M+ on his next deal and then McDavid is going to get pretty much whatever he asks for, which is going to be huge.

They're going to have an absolutely massive percentage of their cap dedicated to three players for the foreseeable future, if McDavid re-signs.
- Gabe Athaus

I agree.
If you want to win you have to leave some money in the kitty for others.
I respected Crosby for not choking the Pens when he certainly could have.
Cap is tough. If your team plays well all the players seem to play well and they all are due raises.
Seems crazy but I think
McJesus signs for 1 or 2 years to see how management addresses their needs going forward. He’ll get a monster payday whenever he wants it.

So if The Isles take Schaefer (which it looks like they will).
They will have Romy, Dobson Schaefer and Pulock on the left side.
If its me I'm trading Pulock before I trade Romy or Dobson.
Someone could come in and put an offer sheet in for Dobson and or Romy as well.
I think Romy would be more or less susceptible to this as Dobson at 11 Million would require a haul of at least 2 first round picks coming to the Isles from the offering club.

So if The Isles take Schaefer (which it looks like they will).
They will have Romy, Dobson Schaefer and Pulock on the left side.
If its me I'm trading Pulock before I trade Romy or Dobson.
Someone could come in and put an offer sheet in for Dobson and or Romy as well.
I think Romy would be more or less susceptible to this as Dobson at 11 Million would require a haul of at least 2 first round picks coming to the Isles from the offering club.
- nyisles7

Dobson and Pulock are RHD. Romanov and Schaefer are lefties. Assuming Schaefer doesn't play in the NHL this year...I would imagine the left side of the defense will be Romanov-Pelech-George. If Dobson is still around the right side is pretty set at Dobson-Pulock-Mayfield

Dobson and Pulock are RHD. Romanov and Schaefer are lefties. Assuming Schaefer doesn't play in the NHL this year...I would imagine the left side of the defense will be Romanov-Pelech-George. If Dobson is still around the right side is pretty set at Dobson-Pulock-Mayfield
- Gabe Athaus

You are right!
What about resigning Tony D if resigned they have Boquist as well. So right side is covered.

I guess my question is, ould you trade Pulock before Dobson or Romy?

You are right!
What about resigning Tony D if resigned they have Boquist as well. So right side is covered.

I guess my question is, ould you trade Pulock before Dobson or Romy?
- nyisles7

I would absolutely trade Pulock (and Pelech) before either one of those two. Pulock still has his full NTC, Pelech's has already converted to a M-NTC (16 team list). So Pulock is, effectively, untradeable unless he asks for one or agrees to waive for a specific team or group of teams.

I would absolutely trade Pulock (and Pelech) before either one of those two. Pulock still has his full NTC, Pelech's has already converted to a M-NTC (16 team list). So Pulock is, effectively, untradeable unless he asks for one or agrees to waive for a specific team or group of teams.
- Gabe Athaus

He may approve the move to a contender or hometown team? I say that not knowing where his hometown is.

What about resigning Tony D? I thought he was good last year.

He may approve the move to a contender or hometown team? I say that not knowing where his hometown is.

What about resigning Tony D? I thought he was good last year.
- nyisles7

Pulock is from Winnipeg (or near it, anyway. Manitoba for sure) Not sure he would be a fit there, positionally speaking. They have Pionk/DeMelo/C. Miller down the right side. Miller is nothing special but he also makes $4.5M less than Pulock does ($1.5M vs. $6M). Contender maybe, if he's interested.

I would love to re-sign Tony D but that can't happen unless one of Dobson/Pulock/Mayfield gets shipped out. I would assume that's the path they'd take if Dobson gets moved.

Pulock is from Winnipeg (or near it, anyway. Manitoba for sure) Not sure he would be a fit there, positionally speaking. They have Pionk/DeMelo/C. Miller down the right side. Miller is nothing special but he also makes $4.5M less than Pulock does ($1.5M vs. $6M). Contender maybe, if he's interested.

I would love to re-sign Tony D but that can't happen unless one of Dobson/Pulock/Mayfield gets shipped out. I would assume that's the path they'd take if Dobson gets moved.
- Gabe Athaus

Buy out Mayfield?

Lots of interesting stuff in here, but phenomenal news that the new CBA won't be an issue

https://www.dailyfaceoff....riday-84-game-season-ltir

Notable:

- The NHL will move to 84-game regular seasons beginning in 2026-27. The preseason will be shortened, to an expected four games per team, and players with 100-plus career games played can play in a maximum of two preseason games.

- Player contracts will be term limited to a maximum of seven years for players re-signing with their current club and six years for players on the free agent market. The 2025-26 season (next week’s free agency) will mark the final eight-year deals in the NHL.

- A comprehensive playoff salary cap mechanism, which has many machinations to account for player acquisition, will effectively close the LTIR loophole for teams to significantly pad payroll by using injury relief space.

- Signing rights to draft picks will be uniform across the board until age 22, regardless of the league prospects are picked from or which league they matriculate to next. In other words, if an 18-year-old CHL player is drafted but decided to play NCAA, a team will still hold his rights for four years.

Buy out Mayfield?
- nyisles7

Sounds like Darche pretty much said nobody was getting bought out this year, so I'm not holding my breath on that one

Utah Mammoth
@utahmammoth
8h
We have acquired JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan.

Peterka has been signed to a 5-year deal.

Peterka traded to Utah for, uh, not a great return

Lots of interesting stuff in here, but phenomenal news that the new CBA won't be an issue

https://www.dailyfaceoff....riday-84-game-season-ltir

Notable:

- The NHL will move to 84-game regular seasons beginning in 2026-27. The preseason will be shortened, to an expected four games per team, and players with 100-plus career games played can play in a maximum of two preseason games.

- Player contracts will be term limited to a maximum of seven years for players re-signing with their current club and six years for players on the free agent market. The 2025-26 season (next week’s free agency) will mark the final eight-year deals in the NHL.

- A comprehensive playoff salary cap mechanism, which has many machinations to account for player acquisition, will effectively close the LTIR loophole for teams to significantly pad payroll by using injury relief space.

- Signing rights to draft picks will be uniform across the board until age 22, regardless of the league prospects are picked from or which league they matriculate to next. In other words, if an 18-year-old CHL player is drafted but decided to play NCAA, a team will still hold his rights for four years.
- Gabe Athaus

You knew that LTIR loophole killed Gary Bettman. They needed to shorten the pre season, glad they did.

You knew that LTIR loophole killed Gary Bettman. They needed to shorten the pre season, glad they did.
- kindlyrick

Good on him for addressing it "immediately" (as in, the next available CBA) though. I don't think it was ever intended to be used that way but it's days became numbered once Tampa blatantly held off Kucherov's surgery to time his return to be right at the start of the playoffs in that Cup year so that they could use his LTIR overage to acquire more players.

Taking advantage of it a little here and there was one thing but egregiously using it as a loophole was the beginning of the end for that, and it's the right call.

Good on him for addressing it "immediately" (as in, the next available CBA) though. I don't think it was ever intended to be used that way but it's days became numbered once Tampa blatantly held off Kucherov's surgery to time his return to be right at the start of the playoffs in that Cup year so that they could use his LTIR overage to acquire more players.

Taking advantage of it a little here and there was one thing but egregiously using it as a loophole was the beginning of the end for that, and it's the right call.
- Gabe Athaus

I also don’t think Kucherov wearing that t shirt during the cup parade helped lol

Jacque Lemaire gone, after 7 years with the isles. Just another piece of Lou out the door thankfully.

Seems like the hiring of Rocky Thompson is a direct culture change. Slowly but surely the isles are changing for the better. The Panthers farm team was in the Calder finals, which is where Bridgeport should be in the next few years.

I also don’t think Kucherov wearing that t shirt during the cup parade helped lol

Jacque Lemaire gone, after 7 years with the isles. Just another piece of Lou out the door thankfully.

Seems like the hiring of Rocky Thompson is a direct culture change. Slowly but surely the isles are changing for the better. The Panthers farm team was in the Calder finals, which is where Bridgeport should be in the next few years.
- kindlyrick

Bridgeport will take a while to rebuild as well. Isles are lacking any good-to-mid tier prospects that can round out that roster (a guy like Cal Ritchie is going to jump straight to the NHL) but the hope is definitely that as the pipeline builds, the front office alters its course, and Thompson brings a new culture...the AHL team will improve and starting churning out some of that mid-to-low tier talent the Islanders need to fill out the roster.

And I remember one of the big insider podcasts I listen to (Friedman or Seravalli) talking about how Kucherov wearing that shirt absolutely incensed the league. I think the Tampa players making a mockery of that whole thing got the league so angry that they were forced to do something about it

NHL Rosters
@NHL_Rosters
1m
Evgeny Kuznetsov is expected to return to the NHL next season.

Not my favorite player, but might be a cheap 2C option if they trade Pageau and aren't keen on moving Barzal back to C. Could offer a one year deal with a promise to trade him to a contender if the Isles are out of the playoff race at the deadline.

Not holding my breath though, I doubt he moves the needle for a lot of NHL teams are this point.

Lots of interesting stuff in here, but phenomenal news that the new CBA won't be an issue

https://www.dailyfaceoff....riday-84-game-season-ltir

Notable:

- The NHL will move to 84-game regular seasons beginning in 2026-27. The preseason will be shortened, to an expected four games per team, and players with 100-plus career games played can play in a maximum of two preseason games.

- Player contracts will be term limited to a maximum of seven years for players re-signing with their current club and six years for players on the free agent market. The 2025-26 season (next week’s free agency) will mark the final eight-year deals in the NHL.

- A comprehensive playoff salary cap mechanism, which has many machinations to account for player acquisition, will effectively close the LTIR loophole for teams to significantly pad payroll by using injury relief space.

- Signing rights to draft picks will be uniform across the board until age 22, regardless of the league prospects are picked from or which league they matriculate to next. In other words, if an 18-year-old CHL player is drafted but decided to play NCAA, a team will still hold his rights for four years.
- Gabe Athaus

Glad these were addressed.
The next issue they are discussing is the tax differences teams and their players pay.

Renaud Lavoie
@renlavoietva
3m
Utah is getting lots of calls regarding pick #4. Looks like they want an active player in return.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
51m
Other key contract changes in addition to the lower term limit:

There will be a new 60 per cent ceiling on signing bonus money; variance year-to-year lowered to 20 per cent.

If I'm understanding this correctly, that sounds like no more contracts like Tavares' where you can pay them almost entirely in bonus money and almost no salary. Sounds like bonuses can only be 60% of the total value of the contract