I’m too old to engage with arguments for the sake of arguing. Praising Lou is homerish and this organization as a whole has hit a low that is indefensible.
It really boils down to 101 business. Your home is worth 500k. Someone offers you 750k for it and the obvious answer is you take the 750k and buy another 500k home, earning 250k. You don’t turn that down…..it’s the advantage of a volatile market….people pay up.
It seems that Lou was more focused on favoring the player than the organization.

Side note : Brock Nelson has yet to register a point in the playoffs.
- kindlyrick

It has to be about what is best for the team and not for players or a GM's ego.


Lousy job by Brock. He really struggles on the big stage. Brock lacks that killer instinct the same as Bailey and a lot of Garth's picks.

Question #1. After going 0-21 on the PP in the playoffs, do you bring back MacLean?

Question # 2. At this years deadline, do you load up on picks and prospects, or do you stand pat?

Question # 3. After losing your franchise player to free agency, do you not sign an elite UFA to replace the 10.5 million you offered 91?

Question # 4. Do you put no beards and low jersey numbers as a priority over special teams?
- kindlyrick

I can't kill him for the 3rd point, they were right there at the end trying to sign Panarin and offering him $11M.

I can't kill him for the 3rd point, they were right there at the end trying to sign Panarin and offering him $11M.
- Gabe Athaus

I don’t lay blame, but I guess in 7 years the inability to field a competitive NHL first line is a fail. Subsequently, the PP was in the basement for a while. The two are parallel.

It has to be about what is best for the team and not for players or a GM's ego.


Lousy job by Brock. He really struggles on the big stage. Brock lacks that killer instinct the same as Bailey and a lot of Garth's picks.
- ses111

Love Brock. Great guy….but I have to agree about the killer instinct. That was Garth’s draft formula. Draft the smart guy who’s a good kid. The results were the litany of first rounders who didn’t make it.

I can't kill him for the 3rd point, they were right there at the end trying to sign Panarin and offering him $11M.
- Gabe Athaus

I agree. Lou did not seem to have a good plan B when plan A did not work out. Lou needed to be more aggressive after the 1st ECF when you have Barry coaching, and you are not a rebuilding team.

Love Brock. Great guy….but I have to agree about the killer instinct. That was Garth’s draft formula. Draft the smart guy who’s a good kid. The results were the litany of first rounders who didn’t make it.
- kindlyrick

Brock does seem to be a great guy, but it's not about that. The Islanders lack the aggressive type of player and not in terms of fighting. It's about wanting to take the shot and having the game come down to you and the willingness to take and give a hit.

Brock does seem to be a great guy, but it's not about that. The Islanders lack the aggressive type of player and not in terms of fighting. It's about wanting to take the shot and having the game come down to you and the willingness to take and give a hit.
- ses111

I.E either Tkatchuk

I’m too old to engage with arguments for the sake of arguing. Praising Lou is homerish and this organization as a whole has hit a low that is indefensible.
It really boils down to 101 business. Your home is worth 500k. Someone offers you 750k for it and the obvious answer is you take the 750k and buy another 500k home, earning 250k. You don’t turn that down…..it’s the advantage of a volatile market….people pay up.
It seems that Lou was more focused on favoring the player than the organization.

Side note : Brock Nelson has yet to register a point in the playoffs.
- kindlyrick

Yeah that’s exactly why I decided to ignore the moron a lonnnnnnng time ago.

I.E either Tkatchuk
- kindlyrick

A player like this would be a big help. You need a good mix of skill and toughness like Florida.

I don’t lay blame, but I guess in 7 years the inability to field a competitive NHL first line is a fail. Subsequently, the PP was in the basement for a while. The two are parallel.
- kindlyrick

No argument there, but Long Island clearly isn't a high-value free agent destination for whatever reason that may be. Only way I see to change that is to draft, and occasionally trade, well and build a strong/competitive team.

No argument there, but Long Island clearly isn't a high-value free agent destination for whatever reason that may be. Only way I see to change that is to draft, and occasionally trade, well and build a strong/competitive team.
- Gabe Athaus

Islanders have to follow and draft and trade model. It should have been obvious. When has the team every been able to sign a top UFA?

No argument there, but Long Island clearly isn't a high-value free agent destination for whatever reason that may be. Only way I see to change that is to draft, and occasionally trade, well and build a strong/competitive team.
- Gabe Athaus

IMHO I believe Lou’s litany of rules was a deterrent for top UFAs. I know if I’m in a position to chose where I wanna go with similar money, I’m definitely not going to a place where I’m being watched under a microscope. I guess we’ll see with whomever is the new GM, but I’d be willing to bet that their free agent signings are more fruitful than Lou Lam

Islanders have to follow and draft and trade model. It should have been obvious. When has the team every been able to sign a top UFA?
- ses111

2006….Mike Sillinger. Not a first liner, but a winner and a piece to any puzzle. Almost 20 years ago. 🤷‍♂️

2006….Mike Sillinger. Not a first liner, but a winner and a piece to any puzzle. Almost 20 years ago. 🤷‍♂️
- kindlyrick

Yep! Not to be a broken record, but that was the best in terms of the Islanders signing quality UFA's. Even Poti was a good signing. If things worked out differently, I really think the Islanders could have won a Cup with the people in charge. They seemed to have respect from players and agents.

IMHO I believe Lou’s litany of rules was a deterrent for top UFAs. I know if I’m in a position to chose where I wanna go with similar money, I’m definitely not going to a place where I’m being watched under a microscope. I guess we’ll see with whomever is the new GM, but I’d be willing to bet that their free agent signings are more fruitful than Lou Lam
- kindlyrick

The rules were absolutely antiquated, I have no idea how much players cared or didn't care about that honestly. But even the Yankees eased up on their facial hair rules. So I would probably venture a guess that, at best, it didn't help the Islanders case with signing anyone.

The rules were absolutely antiquated, I have no idea how much players cared or didn't care about that honestly. But even the Yankees eased up on their facial hair rules. So I would probably venture a guess that, at best, it didn't help the Islanders case with signing anyone.
- Gabe Athaus

Right or wrong, it's a new world and players are not going to be as patient for old rules.

Right or wrong, it's a new world and players are not going to be as patient for old rules.
- ses111

Yep. The days of rules like Lou's and coaches like Mike Keenan are over, regardless of who wants to yell about the new generation being soft and entitled. I'm not supporting one side or the other, just stating the obvious truth.

Another thing I'd expect to see change with the new regime: The Islanders have one of the smallest analytics departments in the league (per the Post, today)

Roy seems to value analytics pretty highly, and the article gives Lou credit for being open to them but I'm not sure how much they factored into a lot of his decision-making. I would expect a new GM to expand that department and start incorporating them more into organizational decisions.

Another thing I'd expect to see change with the new regime: The Islanders have one of the smallest analytics departments in the league (per the Post, today)

Roy seems to value analytics pretty highly, and the article gives Lou credit for being open to them but I'm not sure how much they factored into a lot of his decision-making. I would expect a new GM to expand that department and start incorporating them more into organizational decisions.
- Gabe Athaus

Lou’s analytics ran from the numbers 2-30, like his jerseys.

Yep! Not to be a broken record, but that was the best in terms of the Islanders signing quality UFA's. Even Poti was a good signing. If things worked out differently, I really think the Islanders could have won a Cup with the people in charge. They seemed to have respect from players and agents.
- ses111

Poti was a good pick up, as was Wisniewski and then I was always a fan of Boychuk back there. The isles were missing that Vet puck mover. DeAngelo was a nice pick up, but they must do better.

I always wondered why Pulock and his 103 MPH shot wasn’t even a thought on the PP.

It has to be about what is best for the team and not for players or a GM's ego.


Lousy job by Brock. He really struggles on the big stage. Brock lacks that killer instinct the same as Bailey and a lot of Garth's picks.
- ses111

THIS ^^^^^

This has long been my concern about Brock and why I've felt that, even though he put up good goal totals, moving on from him (and a few others) might be best to finally erase the 'country club' aura of the Isles clubhouse. When Snow made picks, he constantly referred to their hockey IQ and overall intelligence. In many cases, I think this caused him to value 'cerebral' guys like that over aggressive/more emotional talents. The problem with that is you don't end up with enough guys who have a killer instinct. Bailey was always a prime example. Josh Bailey had elite skill (some may groan at that). The kid had top tier hands, great passing ability, decent skating and an underrated shot. What he lacked was puck greed...it's that same puck greed that made Ovechkin what he is. Tons of guys have great shots, great hands, great skates..but it's that mindset that makes the most competitive of players great.
I always found Anders, Bailey, Brock and several other Snow guys to simply be too laid back... You need a few guys like that but when your team is inundated with them, you suddenly lack urgency, grit, and aggression, which is precisely what this team has seemingly lacked for years and years. Trotz managed to milk something extra out of them. That said, I also think their success with those two ECF appearances caused them to become too calm in the face of adversity. There was always this "we'll be okay attitude" that real competitors would never settle on.
As guys like Anders age out of the lineup, firey guys like Cole Eiserman should change the team attitude. (Hopefully)

Another thing I'd expect to see change with the new regime: The Islanders have one of the smallest analytics departments in the league (per the Post, today)

Roy seems to value analytics pretty highly, and the article gives Lou credit for being open to them but I'm not sure how much they factored into a lot of his decision-making. I would expect a new GM to expand that department and start incorporating them more into organizational decisions.
- Gabe Athaus

Of course during the Snow period, the Islanders were one of the most analytic- heavy
teams in the league. It's definitely not surprising to hear that Lou was more old school in that case.

THIS ^^^^^

This has long been my concern about Brock and why I've felt that, even though he put up good goal totals, moving on from him (and a few others) might be best to finally erase the 'country club' aura of the Isles clubhouse. When Snow made picks, he constantly referred to their hockey IQ and overall intelligence. In many cases, I think this caused him to value 'cerebral' guys like that over aggressive/more emotional talents. The problem with that is you don't end up with enough guys who have a killer instinct. Bailey was always a prime example. Josh Bailey had elite skill (some may groan at that). The kid had top tier hands, great passing ability, decent skating and an underrated shot. What he lacked was puck greed...it's that same puck greed that made Ovechkin what he is. Tons of guys have great shots, great hands, great skates..but it's that mindset that makes the most competitive of players great.
I always found Anders, Bailey, Brock and several other Snow guys to simply be too laid back... You need a few guys like that but when your team is inundated with them, you suddenly lack urgency, grit, and aggression, which is precisely what this team has seemingly lacked for years and years. Trotz managed to milk something extra out of them. That said, I also think their success with those two ECF appearances caused them to become too calm in the face of adversity. There was always this "we'll be okay attitude" that real competitors would never settle on.
As guys like Anders age out of the lineup, firey guys like Cole Eiserman should change the team attitude. (Hopefully)
- keaner17

It was not on all on Nelson, but he could have made a difference in the last Tampa series. Nelson put up good numbers, but he cannot be counted on when it counts Many Islander fans have a blind spot with Nelson and some other players. We saw the lack of impact Brock had during the tournament and so far, this Avs series.

You need skill and you need an edge. You need to be able to play a skill game and when the game gets rough.

Poti was a good pick up, as was Wisniewski and then I was always a fan of Boychuk back there. The isles were missing that Vet puck mover. DeAngelo was a nice pick up, but they must do better.

I always wondered why Pulock and his 103 MPH shot wasn’t even a thought on the PP.
- kindlyrick

It's not just about the big name. You need to be able to find value in the draft and in free agency. You need to have a solid plan when you strike out on the main target. You cannot miss out and then give up the rest of the offseason. You need a complete type of team and not just one type of player. Islanders have a pass first soft type of team. The 4th line was tough, but the rest of the team mostly soft.

Of course during the Snow period, the Islanders were one of the most analytic- heavy
teams in the league. It's definitely not surprising to hear that Lou was more old school in that case.
- keaner17

Seems like he embraced them, to some degree. I just have no idea whether or not he was simply not dismissive of them or if he actually heavily incorporated them into his decision making processes. Based on some of his signings, I wouldn't think it was the latter. But he was seemingly, at least, open to the idea of them.