"A first and some" for a guy you currently have as your 7th D. Lol

I wouldn’t sign Klingberg . Dobson is already better than him and Klingberg is on the decline.

The isles need to do something with the 4th line too , that line has been one of the worst lines in Hockey

The only one thats going to depart is Clutterbuck. Cizikas will remain centered around that line. Martin probably plays out his contract so that leaves the need for a checking winger. perhaps Panik? I dont like Ross playing 82 games and can't exactly throw a rookie or a guy like Bellows out there. The 4th line when in sync and healthy is good enough if you have capability above them which the Isles lack this year. The Klingberg signing could be a gamble that doesn't pay off I agree, in which case the Isles should turn around and use that money to try and get Tkachuk or Giroux..

that ask is based off the trade deadline which is obviously going to be elevated. if its offseason it should/would be just a first or a second and a prospect.

That would quickly become an albatross of a contract for Klinberg.

Isles should be focused on adding a 2LD, and moving only 1 of Bailey or Palmeri. Next year could be:

Beau-Barzal-Wahlstrom (It is time for this line to play big minutes together)
Lee- Nelson- Bailey/ Palmeri (The speed of this line may be too slow but I'm sure Trotz would do it)
Parise- Pageau- Bellows (Parise and Pageau help mentor Bellows like they are doing Wahlstrom)
Koivula-Czizkas-Clutter (I'd expect Clutter to resign for 2 years and Koivula has proven he is NHL ready)
Martin
Johnston

Pelech-Pulock (No explanation needed)
New 2LD- Dobson (Please give Dobson someone who can skate)
Salo-Mayfield (Mayfield plays the stay at home style to let Salo play more offensive)
Hutton

Sorokin
Varly

Out:
1 of Bailey/ Palmeri
Chara
Greene
Aho
Hickey

After 2022-23 you move on from Nelson, as Raty comes in. Parise retires and Holmstom comes in.

Martin isn’t an NHL caliber winger at this point in his career. I don’t see how he can play next year if they want to make the playoffs. I would go with Parise on lw, panik on rw. Currently the isles 4th line is too old and slow, if the organization cares about winning Martin will not be on the roster next season

RD is one of the few places the Islanders are pretty well set in, so devoting $8.1M of your cap to a guy who plays there is just bad asset allocation. Mayfield gets paid like an RD3 but has played this year at a solid top 4 level - if Lou's plan is to get back into contention next year, Mayfield is a very good piece to hold on to, and even if you do flip him out for picks/prospects, you can sign a passable RD3 for under $2M in the UFA market. If you want to spend big on D, go after Hampus Lindholm on the left side, but I'd prefer getting a winger who can score if we're going to use up cap space.

edited to add: missed that you have Holmstrom as RW2 here, I don't think he's shown anything this year in Bridgeport to show he's ready for that spot. I'd honestly rather keep one of Bailey or Palmieri there than rush a kid that isn't ready into such an important spot on a contender.

Holmstrom playjng 2nd line but nelson on the 3rd is laughable. Also wth is dobson doing playing 3rd pair.
That being said, i 100% agree they have to get younger and faster. The klingberg contract makes no sense as we already have a younger cheaper version in dobson. Casey has to be the only one left from the identity theft line, otherwise it will be a disaster again.

I like a lot of this too but I do wonder if it then becomes targeting the needed top 6 winger perhaps with that Money not spent on Klingberg you try and get Giroux or revisit Tarasenko in a trade. Klingberg at that price I can see being another Andrew Ladd. But I do think they need to get Palms and Bails off the book bc after next season Wahlstrom Barzal and Mayfield will all get big raises

he has 19 points in 41 games so nothing flashy but also not atrocious and have to wonder if he'd have more success if it was literally any other coach behind that bench

if they went for Klingberg Dobber would be 3rd pair. but if they try and get a guy like Lindholm he plays 2nd pair with him and Mayfield Salo is third pair. If Parise did re-sign which I think is 50/50 he would play forth line with Zeeker and rotate Panik/Johnston in

Thinking realistically, I don't think Lou cuts bait with Martin. 2 years left at $1.5M isn't an onerous deal and it can be buried in Bridgeport if need be. I think it'll actually work well for the cap to cycle Martin/Johnston/Panik as the wingers on the 4th line and just drop that line to around 10 minutes a night - it was nice to have the ability to roll 4 lines deep these past few years but it's at the point where it's not performing the way it should, and with the amount of money invested in the top 3 lines, we should start leaning more on them.

What im saying is it makes less than 0 sense to sign klingberg. As for the 4th line your team has 17-53-15. So idrk what youre talking about with ross or panik.

A .5ppg pace in the ahl doesnt scream top 6 nhler

Ross should not get minutes except as a 14th F. Same for martin. Panik woild be in the mix for a 4th line W job or 13th F, along with koivula and parise if he re-signs. As much as i like martin as a fan at the end of the day hes washed and its time to release the anchors.

I think 2 LD outweighs another top 6 W at this point, and wouldn't want to bring in another 30 year old forward. If by some miracle Lou can unload Palmeri and Bailey I would be all for a someone like Domi or Copp if they make it to UFA.