95% Rational Islanders Fan

Just a guy trying to be a rational fan... most of the time. Let's see where this thing goes.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@VoiceIslanderFn @LifeIsles4 Unfortunately, most elite 1st overall picks coming off their ELCs prefer long-term deals (besides Matthews). Short-term deals also give players arbitration rights. He will likely want a long-term deal, and you don’t want a contract dispute like what happened with Leo Carlsson.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@dk13_chrisdano @stefen_rosner I get the feeling that next offseason, with the extra cap space and one year burned on a lot of these contracts, he might look to buy them out or trade them but retain the salary.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@Nysportssteve1 @IslesFix While we can extend him, Schaefer's next contract kicks in for the 2028-2029 season. For that season rn we have 68 million in cap space.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@craig_kiger @IslesFix Next season, they also have 3.5 million in bonus due to Schaefer, plus Varly and Vitek will come off the books. When I do the math on Puckpedia, it's around 35 million but the website is saying 40 million so idj

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@feuermathdoc @IslandersLobst1 @stefen_rosner Most likely a top-6 forward, middle-6 forward, and 2 guys on the fourth line. And hopefully trade or buy out a defenseman, add one through free agency, or have a prospect take a step forward.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@LegacySporting @feuermathdoc @IslandersLobst1 @stefen_rosner Yeah, I'm looking now, and it's a lot of older superstars. Debrincat ( can't see him staying) would be an interesting signing, or Marchenko (RFA). A lot of good middle six forwards, though, but you are right; they will most likely need to trade.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@_m_me_me @SchaefDaddyyyy @stefen_rosner Garth was able to trade for and sign Ledy and Boychuk. He was able to sign Halak, Grabovski, Kulemin. But yes, the top free agents do not normally sign here. Also Garth was limited for a while with wang not wanting to spend to the ceiling

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@LegacySporting @feuermathdoc @IslandersLobst1 @stefen_rosner There are other ways to get top free agents to sign here, like trading for a player with 1 year left and having them resign like Hovart did, and Bo was going to be the top free agent of that class.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@_m_me_me @SchaefDaddyyyy @stefen_rosner Yeah top free agents rarely come here, but we’ve had some good signings in the past. Limited turnover comes from our long-term deals. We can trade for and re-sign players like Horvat. Hopefully Darche avoids what Grier’s did today and next year’s class is stronger.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@shalashaska098 @stefen_rosner Good players do make it to free agency, but with the cap jumping so much, many of them can resign with their teams. Teams aren't going to be able to do that once the salary cap stops increasing by crazy amounts. Teams are also getting smarter by doing sign-and-trades.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@feuermathdoc @IslandersLobst1 @stefen_rosner Palat, Palmieri, Cizikas, Holmstrom (will be resigned), Heineman ( will be resigned), Maclean, plus the salary cap jumping 8/9 million dollars. Darche is going to spend next season. This has been his plan all along and that's why he is only signing players for 1-2 years

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@SchaefDaddyyyy @_m_me_me @stefen_rosner This. Also, the year Schaefer's contract kicks in, we currently have 70 million in space. So even if it's let's say, 15 million dollars contact, Darche will still have around 55 million to play with.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@PNilan91592 @ariel_cornfield What's even funnier is that no franchise player besides Kane has ever won the cup on their ELC: Crosby, Ovi, Stamkos, Mac, McDavid, Ekblad, Lecavalier. Most of their teams were not good during the ELC. Schaefer loves it here.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@VignolaJoseph @WillChiarucci I agree with all of that. This team should’ve been blown up years ago, and Darche had a bad deadline. I’m just giving him time. If he has another bad year, I’ll want him gone too. Let’s see if he learned from his mistakes. I do wish they’d buy someone out.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@VignolaJoseph @WillChiarucci The hurricanes were rebuilding from 2010-2018. The lightening rebuilt around the same time we got JT. The Panthers and Aves also rebuilt in the 2010s. Capitals and Penguins also rebuilt when they got Sid and Ovi

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@VignolaJoseph @WillChiarucci But that is also what happens with teams due to the salary cap. The league made it so the same team are not contending every year. Teams are competitive for a stretch, then have to retool and rebuild like the Hawks, Pens, and Caps.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@VignolaJoseph @WillChiarucci There’s still time this offseason, but all his signings are only for two years. That tells me the next two offseasons are when he’ll make his big moves, especially with more assets and a much stronger free-agent class.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@VignolaJoseph @WillChiarucci If you look at all of the last winning cup teams ( besides Vegas), they had to rebuild or retool before they became contenders. We just need patience.

[95% Rational Islanders Fan @islestherapy57]

@VignolaJoseph @WillChiarucci That’s mostly on Lou because of the roster’s age. The Islanders were bad from 2004-12 because Milbury traded away our prospects. Elite talent doesn’t come here, so we have to draft it. The guys' darche brought in will be gone in 1-2 years, unlike Lou’s contracts.