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Well I think this approach is what Isles should do if Lou doesn’t manage to get one of Gaudreau, Fiala or DeBrincat, but if he do he only needs a good/reliable top-4 LD and I definitely believe they could contend next year, not a cup favourite or something, but a contender no less. I mean NHL is one of the toughest leagues in the world to contend in (imo) to begin with, there is more to it than a good team… in hockey so much comes down to luck, timing and injuries etc in a series of 7.
I think you could argue that the majority of the teams in the league shouldn’t go for it and contend with the roster structure that they have, but it doesn’t work like that… with a foundation of Sorokin, Pelech, Pulock, Dobson, Barzal, Nelson, Beauvillier, Wahlström, Lee etc + a really good top-6 winger to play with Barzal is ”good enough” to go for it imo, if they don’t it’s better to just go into a full rebuild right now. It’s hard to get the ”perfect team” ala Colorado, Tampa, even Florida but the only thing to do is to try I guess lol. But I really think the pieces Isles have with addition of a really good winger and a top-4 LD should make them a contender, not a favourite but a contender…

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How much would his defensive numbers be impacted by playing for Edmonton? This would obviously impacted Puljujvari too.

is your point that Edmonton makes defensive numbers worse?

Yeah I wasn’t sure how the model accounted for it tbh

Also IK zone starts aren’t that important, but it’s pretty telling that Puljujvari started in the O zone so often. I’m a little concerned he didn’t score more given the talent around him.

In a thread where you say Oilers fans are probably the dumbest fanbase in hockey, you then so confidently display your lack of knowledge of the key player in-question.

From,
A member of the "dumbest fanbase in hockey"

yeah I get your point I just think next season might be a good year to "take a step back". Landing Yurov and Nazar in the draft would not only make the isles prospect significantly better, but in 2 years the isles could look like this. The isles can still potentially make the playoffs with this roster because their aren't any liabilities.

Yurov--Barzal-Wahlstrom
Beauvillier-Raty-Nazar

There's a reason why Mcdavid and Draisaitl's production and underlying numbers are significantly better with Puljujarvi. He takes good routes, knows how to maintain possession to give Mcdavid+Draisaitl more time and space to do what they do best.

it accounts for it. Half of the oilers forwards are good defensively, its the defense that struggles

He takes good routes when backtracking defensively and acting as F1. In the OZ, he has a tendency to misunderstand his linemates and gets crossed up on one-touch plays, drop passes, or rim arounds and doesn't really have a nose for finding open space. He's also not as effective along the boards as his size would suggest. Lastly, while he has definitely improved in this respect, his net front effectiveness is hampered by his ability to get his stick loose/free.

Say all the things you want about Jesse, but I wouldn't describe him as "high hockey IQ"- though it likely depends on how you define that term. For me, he's someone that plays on instinct using the many details drilled into his mind through repetition over his lifetime of playing. He is not, however, someone that excels at thinking creatively, using deception, or attacking in a variety of ways, which is how I would define high hockey IQ. Yamo is far better at that than Puljujarvi.

Puljujariv is not a creative player and his one major flaw is his finishing ability, but his anticipatory instincts are elite and he consistently makes the smart play with and without the puck. That's why he's one of the best two way play drivers in the NHL. There aren't any elite play drivers in the NHL with mediocre hockey IQ.

Yamamoto is an all tools no toolbox player, when he has the puck he ooks dynamic but he wastes a lot of energy and makes low percentage plays.

Yeah I agree with you in principle but I think this year also is a unique summer in high end UFAs, RFAs forwards available via trade, i.e. Gaudreau, Forsberg (don’t want him but still), Nichushkin, Fiala, DeBrincat, Paštrnák (is he’s even going to be available), Burakovsky, Miller (don’t want him either, but could make someone else go cheaper) and there are for sure someone I’m missing, it’s not even guaranteed Matthew Tkachuk wants to stay longterm in Calgary… I don’t think Isles should go for everyone here just because Isles simply don’t have the assets for them, i.e. Paštrnák and Tkachuk… and I also think players with projected good reputation Tarasenko (I think some GMs vill value him pretty high after this year) P. Kane and some GMs will surely pay E. Kane and see him as a near elite winger. It’s almost inflation in good top-6 forwards this summer and maybe the Conor Garlands of the world will be available too..

It’s too good for Lou to not take a big swing imo, realistically the only options for Gaudreau is Calgary, Philly, New Jersey and Isles, other teams can’t afford him, or are in a rebuild or the market simply isn’t attractive to him. My gut feeling says he’ll end up on the market, will New Jersey really spend 10.5-11 mil on another small forward in their top-6 with Hughes, Hischier, Bratt etc. and on top of that maybe a Cooley? Either way they could have:
Bratt - Hughes - Holtz
Slafkovsky - Hischier - Mercer… in a nearby future, don’t sure they think Gaudreau is worth that much to them actually. I get that Philly can entice Gaudreau with the soft values with him being a Flyers fan and having his family there and soon having a baby himself (his gf is pregnant), maybe a perfect time to be closer to his family… but other than that I can’t see anything attractive with Philly right now, especially not with Torts…

I think Isles with Lambert, their new arena, close to New York City if that’s his thing and playing with Barzal should be attractive incentives for him..

Both his lack of creative thought and his lack of finishing ability are major flaws. But yes, his instincts are a strong point for him and he makes the "smart" play in the sense that it's the one that he has (presumably) been taught to make as the high percentage plays that are most likely to retain possession. Given how European leagues have long played a possession-focused style, it would make sense. For clarity, he absolutely has value and I'm not detracting from his game. However, I just can't get behind calling that high hockey IQ, but it seems we'll have to agree to disagree.

Wholeheartedly disagree re: Yamo. Calling a 5'8 player "all tools" is selling him short- specifically the physical and mental effort that goes into playing around his size. Further, I have a hard time imagining what of his game you've seen to say he looks "dynamic with the puck". His contributions to the play are rarely dynamic in nature; he's the one on the receiving end of dynamic plays but most of his tools are average, at best (excluding skating). His toolbox skills (work ethic, consistency, finding open space, creative plays, etc) are where I'd say his strengths lie. All-in-all a confusing assessment of the player.

Name them.
Name even a handful of people that have denied buffalo on a trade.

Islanders getting fleeced in the panthers deal Mayfield himself can get a low first round pick never mind with Varly, a 3rd and 4th

Buffalo deal*

I don't get what so many Isles fans on here see in Puljujarvi.....I watch every single Oilers game and he doesnt show much at all. He's had chances to play with 97 and 29 and never made most of it. He's a guy I'd stay away from. just my opinion tho.

The time has passed for that, Mayfield should have been traded before the trade deadline. Now they’re both rentals

He’s one of the better two way play drivers in the NHL. He’s not flashy but he’s effective

I’d have to go back and look at the guys they traded for with M-NTC’s and get back to u

Mayfield can EASILY get a late first at the deadline

The value here is god awful for NY.

How is his "taxation status" going to change going from the Isles to Buffalo? Same New York state taxes either place. If anything he's better off in Buffalo where (I assume) the property taxes are lower than Nassau county.