I've never understood the infatuation with Dubas or Shanahan (or Keefe, for that matter, to a lesser extent). The Leafs have what should be a murderer's row of talent up front and have consistently failed when it matters. Until Dubas was gone, they virtually ignored bolstering the blue line and goaltending positions because they assumed they could produce in the playoffs the way they do in the regular season.
- Gabe Athaus

Again, I’m not sticking up for shanahan but I think blaming Dubas is really the right thing here. Shanahan moved on from Dubas and is getting the same results. None of us have any idea what kind of autonomy the GM’s for the Leafs actually have. They haven’t addressed their lineup properly. Obviously. But where that blame truly lies who knows.
I assume shanahan is gone if they get eliminated. If he weren’t fired and he allowed Marner to be resigned and tripled down on this lineup(sound familiar?)on his watch yeah I would say throw the barbs at him. Were the expectations to trade Matthews? Nylander? He would have been executed in the public square if he did that. They’ve tried bolstering their blue line. Added assorted goaltenders. None of it worked but there were changes made.

Interview with Pronman about the number-one pick and the Isles' prospect pool: https://t.co/QnPdzTxvvk
- UIF

Still listening, but Pronman really hammers home that Schaefer is the pick. I don't think there's any other correct answer to the question of who to draft at #1.

I would love to see them get creative and get back into the top-5 to hopefully select Hagens, but not sure they have the assets to do that without moving Dobson. I wouldn't trade Ritchie either.

I've never understood the infatuation with Dubas or Shanahan (or Keefe, for that matter, to a lesser extent). The Leafs have what should be a murderer's row of talent up front and have consistently failed when it matters. Until Dubas was gone, they virtually ignored bolstering the blue line and goaltending positions because they assumed they could produce in the playoffs the way they do in the regular season.
- Gabe Athaus

I agree with you on Dubas et al, and the common denominator of both Dubas, keefe and the core 4 is Brendan Shanahan. Ironically his style of play is the polar opposite of his core four. Their captain is Knies not Matthew’s.
I heard on some podcast maybe with Botta where they referenced a famous quote from LA Kings owner to Marcel Dionne. The quote, “I don’t pay you to get chances, I pay you to score goals”.
In the end I think Brendan Shanahan doesn’t have the success at the management role, and to me is part of that boys club in the league. Hard pass imho

Again, I’m not sticking up for shanahan but I think blaming Dubas is really the right thing here. Shanahan moved on from Dubas and is getting the same results. None of us have any idea what kind of autonomy the GM’s for the Leafs actually have. They haven’t addressed their lineup properly. Obviously. But where that blame truly lies who knows.
I assume shanahan is gone if they get eliminated. If he weren’t fired and he allowed Marner to be resigned and tripled down on this lineup(sound familiar?)on his watch yeah I would say throw the barbs at him. Were the expectations to trade Matthews? Nylander? He would have been executed in the public square if he did that. They’ve tried bolstering their blue line. Added assorted goaltenders. None of it worked but there were changes made.
- Cptmjl

The roster was assembled with analytics in mind. Dubas was fired but his core 4 remained. Kind of like Lou coming aboard and making no changes to the organizational staff. It’s going to be the same result.

I get what you’re saying and I don’t blame Shanahan for all the flaws. I’m only saying he’s had a decade to produce and his biggest accomplishment (in management) has been round 2. Get the isles someone who’s had success previously. That’s all I want.

The roster was assembled with analytics in mind. Dubas was fired but his core 4 remained. Kind of like Lou coming aboard and making no changes to the organizational staff. It’s going to be the same result.

I get what you’re saying and I don’t blame Shanahan for all the flaws. I’m only saying he’s had a decade to produce and his biggest accomplishment (in management) has been round 2. Get the isles someone who’s had success previously. That’s all I want.
- kindlyrick

Analytics are important and hugely beneficial, but it seemed like Dubas & Co. only cared about analytics and didn't bother to actually address obvious issues unless they showed up analytically. It's gotta be a healthy mix of the two to truly work, in my opinion.

Still listening, but Pronman really hammers home that Schaefer is the pick. I don't think there's any other correct answer to the question of who to draft at #1.

I would love to see them get creative and get back into the top-5 to hopefully select Hagens, but not sure they have the assets to do that without moving Dobson. I wouldn't trade Ritchie either.
- Gabe Athaus

Just watched a clip where they said Calum Ritchie could become a Patrice Bergeron. I’ll take it!!

Just watched a clip where they said Calum Ritchie could become a Patrice Bergeron. I’ll take it!!
- kindlyrick

Yeah that was Frank Seravalli. That's a lofty prediction and one that I highly doubt will come to fruition. Nobody else is that high on him.

But, by all accounts, Ritchie is a kid that has incredible two-way attention to detail and is extremely likely to become a top-6 center. His offensive output will be the great determining factor as to how valuable he is.

If he can be a 65-75pt guy that can also be a shutdown center then he's a legit #1 center in the mold of Patrice Bergeron. If he's a 40-50pt guy he's probably more of a #2 with a higher-end defensive game.

Analytics are important and hugely beneficial, but it seemed like Dubas & Co. only cared about analytics and didn't bother to actually address obvious issues unless they showed up analytically. It's gotta be a healthy mix of the two to truly work, in my opinion.
- Gabe Athaus

I think analytics are hugely important and changed the game. But there’s no stat for heart and I just don’t feel Marner/Matthews have it….yet they continue “believing in their group”. Happy to watch them implode but I’ll stand by my opinion of no thanks to Shanahan and no thanks to free agent Mitch Marner. Let him go sign with the Hawks and play with Bedard (who b!tched out on team Canada).

I think analytics are hugely important and changed the game. But there’s no stat for heart and I just don’t feel Marner/Matthews have it….yet they continue “believing in their group”. Happy to watch them implode but I’ll stand by my opinion of no thanks to Shanahan and no thanks to free agent Mitch Marner. Let him go sign with the Hawks and play with Bedard (who b!tched out on team Canada).
- kindlyrick

I have to imagine Matthews is fighting some sort of injury, he's been a mess offensively. Marner is Marner. Supremely skilled and a regular season superstar that isn't willing to lay it all on the line when it matters in the playoffs.

I wouldn't pay Marner what he's probably going to get as a free agent either. He's going to cost quite a bit. Curious if his contract value craters a bit after yet another (likely) failed playoff performance, but I don't think it will.

I have to imagine Matthews is fighting some sort of injury, he's been a mess offensively. Marner is Marner. Supremely skilled and a regular season superstar that isn't willing to lay it all on the line when it matters in the playoffs.

I wouldn't pay Marner what he's probably going to get as a free agent either. He's going to cost quite a bit. Curious if his contract value craters a bit after yet another (likely) failed playoff performance, but I don't think it will.
- Gabe Athaus

His value based off his history is probably 9 million per…..solely based on reg season stats. But I can see the Hawks giving him 11x5

Yeah that was Frank Seravalli. That's a lofty prediction and one that I highly doubt will come to fruition. Nobody else is that high on him.

But, by all accounts, Ritchie is a kid that has incredible two-way attention to detail and is extremely likely to become a top-6 center. His offensive output will be the great determining factor as to how valuable he is.

If he can be a 65-75pt guy that can also be a shutdown center then he's a legit #1 center in the mold of Patrice Bergeron. If he's a 40-50pt guy he's probably more of a #2 with a higher-end defensive game.
- Gabe Athaus

Honestly, the way Pronman described Ritchie -- two-way player, probably second-line center, who at times he would like to see be tougher to play against -- sounds an awful lot like Brock Nelson!

Still listening, but Pronman really hammers home that Schaefer is the pick. I don't think there's any other correct answer to the question of who to draft at #1.

I would love to see them get creative and get back into the top-5 to hopefully select Hagens, but not sure they have the assets to do that without moving Dobson. I wouldn't trade Ritchie either.
- Gabe Athaus

I think Hagens on LI would be a great story for both him and the organization. If there's any chance it's a toss-up, then he'd be my pick. But if there really is as much of a gap as Pronman suggests, it's hard to see them not taking Schaefer.

As for trading back up for Hagens as well...I don't know. I'm trying to imagine how much we'd all freak out if it was the Isles who traded out of a top-three spot!

I think Hagens on LI would be a great story for both him and the organization. If there's any chance it's a toss-up, then he'd be my pick. But if there really is as much of a gap as Pronman suggests, it's hard to see them not taking Schaefer.

As for trading back up for Hagens as well...I don't know. I'm trying to imagine how much we'd all freak out if it was the Isles who traded out of a top-three spot!
- UIF

I could be wrong, but I don't think "Gabe" was suggesting trading out of a top-three spot for Hagens. I think he's saying, pick Schaefer, and then trade up the other first round pick (from Colorado) to take Hagens, possibly including Dobson (which sounds too risky to me. I'd rather bundle additional picks/prospects.)

I'd add that, with Hagens, it's not just that he's from LI...it's also that he had been the top prospect before this past season and then fell, and Pronman notes it wasn't even because of anything he did wrong, but rather because of the other players having strong seasons. So, it seems like he's not any less of a prospect than when he was leading the rankings, and I feel like he's maybe getting knocked a little too much just because of his size...it even felt that way from Pronman's comments.

I'll qualify everything above and below by noting I didn't follow these prospects at all as I never thought the Isles would be picking first. So this is just what's kicking around in my head after reading a few articles and listening to interviews like the Pronman one.

I also don't think NCAA prospects can ever really have the hype that Canada juniors players get with the really splashy stats because you're an 18 year old going against older and more physically developed players in NCAA rather than against players as young as 16 and no older than 20 in juniors. In that regard, I find Hagen's output just as impressive as the other top prospects.

But, scouts are scouts and I'm just a fan for a reason. They must see something really special in Schaefer for him to be rising above the field. Pronman also said Schaefer's a very young 18, so his later rise in the rankings wouldn't really be that surprising seeing how he no doubt developed a bit more this season and was really able to show what he can do.

I could be wrong, but I don't think "Gabe" was suggesting trading out of a top-three spot for Hagens. I think he's saying, pick Schaefer, and then trade up the other first round pick (from Colorado) to take Hagens, possibly including Dobson (which sounds too risky to me. I'd rather bundle additional picks/prospects.)
- JohnScammo

Right...I'm thinking about it from the perspective of the other team that would be trading that pick to the Isles. If the roles were reversed, we probably wouldn't be overjoyed trading the 2 or 3 pick, and I imagine SJ or Chicago would face a bit of heat for doing the same.

Right...I'm thinking about it from the perspective of the other team that would be trading that pick to the Isles. If the roles were reversed, we probably wouldn't be overjoyed trading the 2 or 3 pick, and I imagine SJ or Chicago would face a bit of heat for doing the same.
- UIF

I did mean trading back up into the top-5 after selecting Schaefer at 1.

It's not likely and it would probably involve us trading assets we don't really want to. I don't see it actually happening, but that's the only way I think it would be smart for the Islanders to draft Hagens. The pick at #1 has to be Schaefer.

The only way I see the Isles trading back is if one of those teams really loves Schaefer and wants to offer some lucrative package, then maybe the Isles would consider it, but it'd really have to be something good. If SJS likes him and wants to offer something like Sam Dickinson and the 2nd overall for 1st overall. Even then, it still feels like the pick would have to be Misa and not Hagens. And I don't really see much value for SJS to trade Dickinson just to draft another defenseman. He just set the record for points in the OHL playoffs by a defenseman. Chicago has a couple of high-end defense prospects/young NHL'ers, so I don't really think they'd be interested in Schaefer to begin with.

edit: I can't believe this website censored Dickinson to Richardinson

I did mean trading back up into the top-5 after selecting Schaefer at 1.

It's not likely and it would probably involve us trading assets we don't really want to. I don't see it actually happening, but that's the only way I think it would be smart for the Islanders to draft Hagens. The pick at #1 has to be Schaefer.

The only way I see the Isles trading back is if one of those teams really loves Schaefer and wants to offer some lucrative package, then maybe the Isles would consider it, but it'd really have to be something good. If SJS likes him and wants to offer something like Sam Dickinson and the 2nd overall for 1st overall. Even then, it still feels like the pick would have to be Misa and not Hagens. And I don't really see much value for SJS to trade Dickinson just to draft another defenseman. He just set the record for points in the OHL playoffs by a defenseman. Chicago has a couple of high-end defense prospects/young NHL'ers, so I don't really think they'd be interested in Schaefer to begin with.

edit: I can't believe this website censored Dickinson to Richardinson
- Gabe Athaus

That's hilarious. And as I quote your post I see what you had to do to get it to display correctly, which is just as funny.

If the new GM wants to refresh the roster a bit, I do think the Isles can trade back into the first round if they want to; just not high enough to get Hagens (assuming they take Schaefer first overall).

That's hilarious. And as I quote your post I see what you had to do to get it to display correctly, which is just as funny.

If the new GM wants to refresh the roster a bit, I do think the Isles can trade back into the first round if they want to; just not high enough to get Hagens (assuming they take Schaefer first overall).
- UIF

Woulda been nice to have had the new GM in place before the trade deadline. It could have been a real ad value trade deadline

Woulda been nice to have had the new GM in place before the trade deadline. It could have been a real ad value trade deadline
- kindlyrick

Agreed...would have given them a nice jump start on whatever new direction the GM wants to go in. Now, the draft is going to be huge...bigger than free agency for sure.

That's hilarious. And as I quote your post I see what you had to do to get it to display correctly, which is just as funny.

If the new GM wants to refresh the roster a bit, I do think the Isles can trade back into the first round if they want to; just not high enough to get Hagens (assuming they take Schaefer first overall).
- UIF

They definitely could, although at that point it may make sense to just hold onto the Colorado pick (which I can only assume they'd need to use in order to trade back into the 1st round) and see how that goes. 2026 figures to be a better draft anyway

I'd love to trade back in and get Brady Martin. I suspect he will go pretty early since teams are back to prioritizing the kind of big, mean, skilled players that thrive in the playoffs...but he'd be a hell of an add.

Martin is a well-rounded, fearless, workhorse, pro-style forward whose combination of competitiveness and strength has endeared him to scouts and OHL coaches and players alike. He played huge, all-situations minutes for the Soo this season, often clocking 25-plus minutes as a forward, and then wore a letter for Canada at U18 Worlds and was one of the best players in the tournament. He plays extremely hard, he plays in the guts of the ice, his effort level and physicality get the highest grades in the draft and he stays involved in all three zones, constantly seeming to make things happen and have an impact on shifts and games. He’s strong on his feet and finishing checks, delivering some of the hardest hits I saw all year and doing it seemingly every game without being a dirty player. He’s got good hands and reflexes on tips and redirects around the net. He’s got some raw power and should continue to get even stronger. He’s got a B and C game that allows him to consistently impact games in a variety of desirable ways. While I wouldn’t call his skill or skating extremely dynamic, he’s very talented, regularly attacking at and challenging defenders with his hands and middle-lane drive and beating goalies with his quick release (he’s got an NHL shot already). So he’s not just a worker type with secondary skill; there’s some play-driving and individual playmaking to his game as well. He’s going to have a long career as a productive up-and-down-the-lineup center in the NHL and should be an excellent and unique middle-six C at minimum. There’s some untapped potential yet with him and his development curve as well. He’s very early in it, and while he’s a quick skater and a very powerful player, both of those things still have another level. I don’t think there’s a more competitive, honest, stick-to-it, high motor player in the class. His stock is at an all-time high right now, too. I thought about ranking him higher here.

Agreed...would have given them a nice jump start on whatever new direction the GM wants to go in. Now, the draft is going to be huge...bigger than free agency for sure.
- UIF

Free agency should be virtually non-existent for the Isles, outside of their own guys that need contracts. Foudy probably steps in to replace Martin/Fasching. George/Perunovich will probably compete for the 3rd pair LHD spot. Maybe Boqvist comes back as another extra defenseman. Maybe they re-sign Palmieri. Maybe they sign a 3C-type player for a year so Cizikas can remain as the center on the 4th line and the hypothetical 3C can be flipped for assets at the deadline. But it should be a relatively quiet July 1st for the Isles, I would imagine, unless they make a trade and create a hole that needs to be filled.

Right...I'm thinking about it from the perspective of the other team that would be trading that pick to the Isles. If the roles were reversed, we probably wouldn't be overjoyed trading the 2 or 3 pick, and I imagine SJ or Chicago would face a bit of heat for doing the same.
- UIF

Man, I had a brain fart. I was thinking that the first round pick we got for Nelly was in this year's draft. And yes, now I understand your original post better. I'm gonna blame it on this cold medication.

Man, I had a brain fart. I was thinking that the first round pick we got for Nelly was in this year's draft. And yes, now I understand your original post better. I'm gonna blame it on this cold medication.
- JohnScammo

You can blame me...I wasn't all that clear.

It would be awesome to somehow walk away with Schaefer and Hagens, though. Probably won't happen, but maybe years down the road if he turns into a star we can lure him away in free agency and some other team's fan base will go ballistic over his Islanders pajamas.

Man, I had a brain fart. I was thinking that the first round pick we got for Nelly was in this year's draft. And yes, now I understand your original post better. I'm gonna blame it on this old age medication.
- JohnScammo

Fixed for you

Fixed for you
- nyisles7