He is doing exactly what he always does.

I like Martin and I think he’s part of the heart and soul of this team, but that’s way too much in a flat cap world.

Now he’s gonna try to lowball Barzal which is f*cking hilarious

Did this really happen?

When hasn't Lou overpaid depth guys needlessly?

Yup! Low ball him right out of town.

If that happens I’m changing my fandom until he’s fired

Yep

https://twitter.com/stapeathletic/status/1346504985614323713?s=21

Good idea. Lou is literally the dumbest GM in hockey right now. Just wait for him to trade Barzal for Toews once he's over his illness.

And then watch as Chicago signs him for a cheaper contract than Toews anyway

I can't wait to see some of the diehard Isles fans to justify this.

Horrible contract. You're going to continue the fourth line as if it's 2014-15 when they've drastically slowed down. Now they're going to be a cap and on-ice liability. This also likely means Cizikas comes back and I think we should let him walk. Not sure what this will mean for Clutterbuck moving forward.

This has nothing to do with Martin, Cizikas, and Clutterbuck as players, but in a cap world, you don't give grinders more than three-year deals. I really don't like this.

There is no justifying signing a 4th liner for more than 2 years

No doubt this an awful deal and I also have no doubt he’s playing hardball with barzal. Good thing he doesn’t have the power to trade him!

Totally the GM doesn't have that ability

Barzal takes the max he can get for 4 years if Lou won’t make it a 4 yr deal do 2+2 or 3+1 but I take max until 4 then tell the isles over f—-ing pay me or bubye

Actually, I don’t really have a problem with this. Most ELCs that actually play in the NHL are .9 ish aav, a 1.5 aav isn’t too big an increase on that. And as a 4th liner, he’s not really blocking the way for prospects. And if the cap hit really becomes a problem, it’d be easy to trade away for mid-late pick.

I remember when that GM was told by TOR owners to f*ck off when he was playing hardball with Matthews bonuses.

The isles owners wouldn’t allow Lou to trade barzal. They love him.

2 Year, and $500K too much. Not a huge issue but it obviously isn't great.

I hope we see Casey back at $1.5 next year.

Or he just demands a trade

Other than holding out and not making any money he really doesn’t have another choice but to sign he can demand a trade butThe Islanders don’t have to trade them

Word on the street he wants to stay 👀 - isles decide where barzal plays for at least the next 4 years

That is media speculation. Lou said there were no issues and Matthews got the standard max ELC.

Lol no it wasn’t. It’s 100% true.

Trading him for something makes more sense. Not having him hurts the Islanders chance of being anything