The Future of the Islanders: New GM Search and Draft Decisions Loom

I have read lately that people wonder if the Islanders are considering all their options. What do I mean by that? The option is to trade the number one draft pick for more assets. If I had my choice, which I don't really count, I would hang on to the pick. 

I understand the logic of trying to fill the prospect cupboard; the Isles could use some prospects. It would depend on how badly the Sharks would want Schaefer and whether the Islanders would be able to fleece or, I mean, forget it. That is precisely what I mean. Blackhawks might want to move up depending on who they have their eye on. Who is the prospect that the Isles would still consider it a win? 

I am sure there are a few, but I wouldn't go further than pick number four. I know people are saying the top five, but I am not sure the player they want would go down that far. 

The third option is to bring a player who can now play as a star, not an elite player. I don't see the Isles getting a player of the quality of Matthews or something like that. Maybe a player along the lines of Knies or a Coronato along those lines. I am not sure that will be enough. Let me tell you those are examples of the players you would want. They are in no way, shape, form, or sign of being on the market. Knies and Coronato will be the main fixtures in their rosters for years to come. 

The Islanders' search for a new GM is still a work in progress. They're waiting for some playoff teams to finish before making any moves. Rumors of Dallas Stars and the Maple Leafs giving permission slips are running wild. This begs the question: What happens to Roy in all this mess? Is he safe? Will the new General Manager bring in his own man? So many questions, it's almost like a soap opera. Who knows? Personally, I'm hoping to see some changes with the Isles. I get that they're taking their time with this decision—it's crucial they don't mess it up. We don't want a retool to turn into a rebuild of five years or more. Choosing the wrong General Manager just might do that. 

Randy

Life of a Delusional Leaf Fan

What bothers me isn't the fact the Leafs lost. It was the way they lost. They simply let the Panthers walk all over them. Losing on such a bad note will make us forget how good the season was, with some good moments that were not so bad. No one will remember that good season, only how they lost. It is too bad, because Stolarts played his heart out most of the season. We also have a warrior in Tanev. No matter how many times he was knocked down, he got back up.

We might have found a true superstar in Matthew Knies. The kid never gave up. He made huge strides this season. The release on his shot is truly excellent. But what we will remember is how we lost the season. They are a bunch of bums. Unfortunately, I am one of the nasty fans. I often get too negative, but tonight, I reflected on the good things this team has done this season. Seriously, I don't understand it myself.

John Tavarez showed us the true meaning of what it means to be a teammate. He was willing to give up his title and supported Matthews' captaincy. He went on to score 38 goals and 36 assists and showed more heart than I ever thought he had. But I chose to see how he didn't show up for the playoffs. Yes, this is a normal reaction to watching the clown show that was game seven.

As for Mitch Marner, I understand he doesn't show up in the playoffs. He forgets to give 100 percent at times. Let me play devil's advocate: he had a career year of 27 goals and 75 assists. But I choose to remember he didn't show up at the playoffs. He is a bum.

Conclusion

Oh, who am I kidding? They are a bunch of quitters. Fire everyone and start over with a clean slate.

I will never watch another hockey game for the rest of my life.

Oh, wait, the game is on. Got to go! See ya!

Randy Workman

Drafting Success: Key Traits NHL Teams Look For In Prospects

Today's blog is a draft prequel to the Draft. I wanted to know what teams look at when considering a prospect in the Draft. Thanks to my friends, I better understand what a team looks for in a prospect.

Colton Davies, Writer for Daily Faceoff @coltonrdavies

When NHL general managers evaluate draft prospects, they look at a mix of skill, IQ and long-term potential. Skating, puck handling, and other traits are all major factors in overall production, but so are physical tools like size, strength, and athleticism. While we have moved away from teams drafting based on size, it still tends to be a trend in the Draft, even with smaller players like Cole Caufield, Johnny Gaudreau, and Logan Stankoven all breaking barriers.

Teams also take a look at organizational need, and how their game projects to the NHL level—whether they're a top-line scorer, shutdown defender, or a depth player who will fill out the bottom-six. 

Nowadays, teams invest heavily in pre-draft interviews and psychological testing at the Draft combine to get a sense of a prospect's mindset.

Are they mature enough to handle the spotlight?

Can they handle the NHL grind?

Analytics teams also feed into the process, offering context with advanced data, like zone entries, shot quality, and usage rates to back up what scouts see.

Randy

Colton, I am not surprised teams are not completely relying on the player's size. It's good to see teams are paying more attention to the skill and puck-handling skills. What I find surprising is the grind, but I see why teams have to consider whether the player can last the season.

Steven Ellis Associate Editor Daily Faceoff @SEllisHockey

Two traits scouts are always looking for are guys who can think the game at a high level and work their butt off. Hard-working players will find ways to stay relevant in a lineup, and players who outthink others will continue to make their opportunities with just about anyone.

Randy

The biggest quality noticed on most scouting reports is hockey IQ. Teams want to know if the player can think ahead to make plays. Thank you, Steve.

Paul Kreischer Isles @P_Kreischer of @IslesTalk

The real question at this time for many young players is this:

1. How much have they learned? Their age is undoubtedly a factor, the younger they are the more potential of molding that player into what a team wants for their organization, but there comes a point where the skills overtake the age.

2. Can they play multiple positions? In the later rounds, it's helpful to find a versatile player to give them a better chance at a pro career.

3. Skating, puck handling and especially hockey IQ (do you or how do you study the game?)

4. What type of a person are they, what's their character like? Are they playing for the team or really looking out for themselves? 

5. How much drive/work ethic and passion do they have? Do they have that push to be better when games are not playing, and it's about fundamentals and practice?

6. Body language: how do you react to certain moments of either your game or your teammates?

7. Where is the player's compete level? Work ethic is one thing, but showing it on the ice is another. Is this player a "passenger" or is he willing to sacrifice his body to block a shot, or make/take a hit? 

Randy

Mesa's ability to play wing and centre has given him a leg up on the Draft. I mean, it's not the only reason, but it helps. I agree on seeing if a player will go to the mat to win. Taking a hit to make a play is vital to a player's success.

Thanks so much to Steven, Colin, and Paul. You guys are the best. Follow them at their Twitter/X addresses above. 

Can the Leafs Fix Their Defensive Issues Before Playoffs?

In my opinion, the Maple Leafs have two main purposes going into the deadline. First up, they really need to find a solid third-line center, and second, the classic veteran defencemen. This may be harder because every team is looking for a dman. As for the centres, there are not too many available. Plus, with cap restrictions, they’ve got some limits to deal with.

My reasoning is simple. The Leafs are still giving up way too many scoring opportunities. Defensively, we have to clean up. To be fair, this is not on all the defence. Our forwards have been a bit lazy getting back into their own zone. They have to work on their entire game. Being a one-cycle player isn’t what the Leafs need. We need complete players who can do it all.

Snagging a defensive-minded third-line center would be ideal. It would be nice if he could fill in the top six in case of injuries and could add some offense. It’d be great to have someone reliable on the ice in those nail-biting moments when we’re trying to protect a lead. Come playoffs, shutting down the opposition will be vital.

The defense is still struggling in the defensive zone. We need a dman to stabilize the the third pairing. There are Way too many gaps in the defensive play. Time to fill in the gaps before the playoffs start.

The saying “defense wins cups” comes to mind. Let’s hope the Leafs adhere to this philosophy. 

Randy

Islanders’ Playoff Hopes

There is a lot of gossip or speculation about what the Islanders might do at the deadline. I had a chat with a source on this exact topic. Here is his answer: “You know Lou, he won’t give up until it’s impossible to win.” He is saying that General Lou has not given up on this team. The first sign of this is the attempt to sign Brock “Broccoli” Nelson. No guarantees here, but Brock wants to stay, and the Isles are definitely keen on keeping him.

The next bit of news on the agenda is Noah Dobson. I have never seen so much talk around Noah. Rumor has it teams are reaching out to the Isles to see if they can snag the defender. “Teams inquiring about Noah does not mean he is on the market.” Any team would have to pay an arm and a leg to persuade Lou to give up Noah. A GM’s job is to explore all his options; if they’re not, they’re not doing their job. This is just a case of a manager doing his due diligence.

If the Islanders decide to add, here are my thoughts: I limit it to two players because I am lazy. :)

Jake Evans Centre

Jake is a terrific jack-of-all-trades player. He is a fast skater who will help out in penalty killing. He will punch in with the odd offensive goal. He has an underrated shot.

Nikolai Ehlers LW

Nikolai is a significant power forward. A talented player with a terrific shot. He is potentially a 25 to 35 goal scorer. I doubt the Jets will put him on the market, but if they do, the Isles might inquire if he is available.

If you presume to know anything Lou is doing, assume you will look like a fool. 

Mapping Out Success: The Key Players Driving Toronto Forward

The Leafs have to play a particular way to win. I know our automatic impulse is to outscore everyone every game, but hear me out. Consistency has got to be the name of the game. Lately, the Leafs have been struggling to play a full 60 minutes. Remember, defense wins games. Sure, offense is important too, but solid defense has to be the foundation of any successful hockey team.

The Leafs have been better lately, coming closer to playing the full 60 minutes. Their core guys are firing on all cylinders! Matthews has been skating like the wind and has his shot back. And let’s not forget about Nylander—he’s absolutely on fire, matching Matthews goal for goal. T Speaking of offensive firepower, Matthew Knies has officially arrived! Wow. Knies is a brilliant young forward with some wheels, smooth stick handling, and a terrific shot. Knies is valuable to the team’s success. And we can’t discuss the core without mentioning Mitch Marner—he’s having a career year! Marner might be one of the best playmaking forwards in the league. Some people are even saying that he deserves a shot at MVP.

The Leafs could use some help with the secondary scoring. The bottom six need to get more involved. Mann has been doing his job lately, and Robertson did get a goal against Tampa. They must continue to hustle and work. The Leafs must continue with the hard work and continue working together. If the core can continue with their play, the Leafs can be one of the best teams in the league. The defense led by Tanev must continue to play more responsibly on their end. Think more responsibly by staying out of the box. 

Conclusion

Having Stolartz return will be a massive part of the team’s success. I have been telling everyone who will listen that he is the the best bargain free agent signing of the offseason. I’m not saying Woll has been terrible, but Stolartz has been outstanding between the pipes. I love how he covers the angles. He is a great standup netminder. He stabilizes the goaltending this season. Here’s hoping the team continues to rack up those wins for the rest of the season!

Randy

Trade Rumors Heat Up as Isles Face Tough Decisions

The Isles are gearing up to make some big decisions, and it’s happening very soon. There is all sorts of speculation about Nelson possibly being on the chopping block. So, what’s the deal with Palms?

Nelson is being speculated to be a UFA soon. The thought is that he is ready to move on. The team is not performing up to expectations. Everyone can see that, including Roy and Lou. To make problems worse, Brock is getting frustrated with his low production.

Brock Nelson’s stats are 11 goals and 12 assists through 41 games. At the writing of this blog, Those numbers work out to 46 points for the full season. Granted, those numbers are not great, but to be fair, he is not the only one struggling out there. While Brock’s been having a rough season overall, I’ve noticed he’s starting to pick up his game a bit and getting more involved. He may not be matching his performance from last year; I think the main issue is that he just doesn’t seem to be skating as much or feeling the same motivation he used to have.

Another player generating some buzz is Kyle Palmieri. As of now, he’s racked up 12 goals and 15 assists, which puts him on pace for a solid 54-point season. Palmieri is a valuable asset who could get two assets in return in the offseason. You would only trade him if you’re entirely out of the race. If the Isles are out of the running, it would be in their best interest to get what they can now.

If they end up getting traded, where might they land? Let’s check in with our buddies over at IslesTalk on YouTube. Don’t miss their awesome show, and make sure to follow them on Twitter @IslesTalk!

It will be interesting. The Isles’ problem isn’t with how many points they’re behind; it is how many teams are involved in the hunt. Jumping over five teams definitely complicates things! I’ve got a feeling it could go either way. I never like to bet against the Isles; I know better. See, really, I am a chicken at heart.

Randy.