The fanbase in NYI took a huge hit when they lost JT to free agency. Their only consolation prize was getting their dominating fourth line back. I feel like there is no way they split that line up now, especially when they can take hard minutes from the kids NYI is trying to develop.

I' don't think this is a good move for Detroit. Yes we save money, but Nielsen is still a useful top-9 player who underperformed last year due to being used as a shutdown center. The <2Mil cap savings isn't worth replacing a top-9 center with a replacement level player to me. I really should be calling him a top-6 center because without Zetterberg both Detroit and NYI would use him as a 2C.

The last part of this is the most important point. Rebuilding teams need a veteran presence to allow their younger players to grow and learn at the correct pace without too much being placed on them too soon (if you want to rebuild correctly anyway). Barzel is already going to have a world of pressure on him to be the solution to losing JT...the Islanders are going to need their wrecking ball 4th line to step in at times and tilt the ice with a fore check shift and rough stuff.

From a purely logic standpoint, I don't see either team getting anything of great value out of this.

Speaking of JT, now is when you want to send Nielsen back? ...a little late, no? lol

To be completely honest. In my personal opinion the difference between Nielsen and Filppula is so marginal. Same age (same draft year). Same playing style. Same size. Very similar career statistics. Shoot I think they were even drafted right next to each other? Lol the major difference between the 2 is one has been given a lot larger opportunity the last couple seasons (playing for a bad Detroit team) than the other. And one makes a significantly more chunk of change than the other.