Aging stars and a goal drought plague the New York Islanders. Can they overcome these challenges to stay competitive in the NHL?
With key players like Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri aging, the Islanders face a critical juncture. Gil Martin examines the team’s struggles with scoring, ranking 27th in the league, and previews their upcoming clash against the LA Kings. The episode scrutinizes General Manager Lou Lamorello’s decisions and the Islanders’ playoff prospects. Will the Islanders’ resilience shine through, or will their aging roster hold them back? Tune in for an in-depth analysis of the Islanders’ path forward.
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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16 Comments
When you’re the GM and pushing 142 years old, a 35 year old seems rather young in comparison. Point is we need to get younger from the top down. The game passed Lou by in 1995.
ROY is absolutely NOT any improvement over lambert. this team needs changes from the gm to the coach and assistant coaches down . The one assistant that roy got over from the ramparts is good our face off win percentage is good.Wholesale changes needed.LOU is DONE.Too old. Mandatory retirement should be in place by age 79. Fact of the matter is your taking a chance with decision making at that age the mind and decision making ability /aptitude does deteriorate with many people by age 80.
YES isles do need to get younger and find more scoring to compete in today's nhl. The problem is they are run by a fossilized old school louzer who has no grasp of 21st century nhl as the game has passed him by relying too much on his old guys and interchangeable bottom line types roster every season. And isles can only get better and younger thru the draft which is a crapshoot for louzer. Throw a dart and hope it works out on a long range project type. Louzer luck saw falling talent eiserman drop into his lap last draft as he lacks draft capital to manuever around the draft.
And to get the kind of offensive talent isles need you have to get it at top of draft, trade for it which is costly with heavy $$$'s attached to it (see: rantanen to stars deal), or sign them as a ufa which is rare a big scorer hits the market and costy. So isles fall short in all three categories since louzer is content to keep isles in the murky middle and out of top 3-5 draft range and has traded 4 firsts away. Louzer doesn't have assets in picks, prospects, or players to get a big time scorer. And louzer lacks the cap management skills to fit a big scorer under isles cap even if louzer somehow acquired one.
Bottom line is eiserman and ritchie are a start. Still don't know if eiserman goal scoring will translate at pro level and ritchie is top six potential yet may not be a superstar scorer at nhl level. And no hope at b'port as well. The few guys in college are ? at best. So until a complete bottoming out occurs and isles get a few prime lottery picks to get the primo offensive guys isles are fkd. And find a way to get multiple firsts louzer. At least snow knew how to use the draft and traded up multiple times to get extra firsts.
Gil, I’ll say it again Finley,D.Nelson,iskhakov, eiserman and Jeffries start on the big club next season. Of course senile Lou will never do it but I can dream. That would energize the fan base. Watching the future fly up and down the ice! Martin,fasching,Casey and engvall all easily replaceable. But senile Lou is bringing back palms and he’s still hoping for brock. But things are changing this summer. I’ll believe that when I see it. That’s why theirs know 82 year old gm’s in any sport in the WORLD!
They need to trade or get rid of: Palmari… Mayfield… Engvall… Peleech… Duclair … Cizikas … (Lee needs to play 3rd or 4th line or be traded)
They need to sign or trade for: A real first line center (Barzel & Horvat are 2nd line centers at best on a cup team) …. Top Defenseman to play with Pulock … Defensive Defenceman to play with Dobson….. A scoring 2nd line Center with size and speed
I don't really think it's about getting "Younger" its a skill issue. Young doesn't mean a thing if they aren't as good. Islanders need more skill on the top 6 letting the bottom 6 bang bodies and also be a scoring threat.
Lines:
Barzel – Free Agent – Horvat
Duclair – Free Agent – Tsyplakov
Lee – Pageau – Holmstrom
Free Agent – McLean – Prospect
Pulock – Free Agent
Dobson – Free Agent
Romanov – Boqvist
Sorokin
I trust louzer. Its all in the book 'ACCORDING TO LOUZER-MY RULES for nhl success' dated 1886.
"If I had a trade for in place for players instead of just being offered draft picks, I would have made trades" (more or less). Translation: Lou does not value draft picks and does not want to improve the team from within. FAs dont sign here due to mediocre team, not much money to offer, NY taxes. Anyone hoping for huge changes will be sadly disappointed in the summer where Lou typically does nothing. As Isles Never Say Die stated, we are dog paddling in the middle of the Atlantic.
Agree Gil Isles & Pens are the 2 oldest teams in our conference and both need to get younger. Lou blew it at the trade deadline. LGI
Good 🌄, Gil. How are you? The Islanders need to do some retooling. I understand that they have too many players over 30, but they need youth, speed, and 💪. They're going to Hollywood tonight. You're right, Gil, THEY'RE TOUGH. Do the 🤴 have a line that can hold a 🕯 to the famous 🤴🤴🤴 line? I think so. THE ISLANDERS MUST BE ON THEIR GAME. HAPPY 🎂,REIMO HE8NAN. He scored 3 assists in a win against the 😈. Hear from you later, Gil, ⏲️ to go nostalgia. Today, it will be Game 4 of the 82 Finals against Vancouver. Now, LET'S GO ISLANDERS.
Good morning team! Gil, I'm honestly torn on this one. Can the Islanders overcome and be competitive? This season, we had our more than fair share of injuries. The sad thing is, aging players on the north side of 30 means this is exactly what we're going to face season in and season out. With this core, if we do happen to stay healthy enough to play well and make the playoffs, we'll be eliminated in the first round! I think it's great Lou said himself the team needs to be younger, faster, and more skilled. That opportunity passed! Now if he wants to do any of that, he'll have to wait until the end of the season to start to make that happen. I'm on the verge of losing faith in his ability to do it. That's where I am right now. Sorry if I brought anyone down.
Everyone, have a great day! Enjoy the game tonight. I'll have to check it out on the highlights. See you all again tomorrow. Until then.. Let's Go Islanders!!
Gil what would do with Dobson after this year defensively and even offensively can u really give him a 7 year 8aav or more? Plus with Lou as gm don’t trust he do right thing he’s too old for the job and also too attached to these players
Spot on as always Gil 👍 I have to feel the only reason Brock was traded was because he'd had enough and was interested in being here anymore. Palmieri on the other hand is willing to stay home and he knows his market value is minimal.
Nice to hear Malkin remembers that he owns a hockey team.
Gm Gil. I watched the Avs play the Blackhawks last night as I wanted to watch Nelson play. Wow the Avs are a modern 21st century team. Every player is quick, knows their role, and doesn't find themselves out of position regularly. The Islanders are YEARS from that level of play … The Islanders with each passing day are further in decline. Lou, with the terrible contracts he gave out, is still hamstrung by them.
Age is a problem but resign palms we need to trade JG Pollock Mayfield egg duclair
I think this may be the only time that I’ve known you, that I disagree? Depending on who’s doing the rebuild? It can take up to 7-10 years. If we go complete rebuild? We would get a HAUL for Ilya! [He’ll be 30 soon] Palmieri is 34 like you said & he should have been traded. (Kyle Palmieri graduated High School in 1991) You know you’re getting old when one of the older players in the NHL was BORN a year after I graduated High School in 1990! I don’t have a problem with a strip down to the stubs rebuild. (I’m not against that) However, if we go that route? Ilya Sorokin needs to get traded! As you said, he’s going to be 30 and he’s a win-now goalie. Not a win 7 years from now goalie