Isles trade for rights to Boyle

[Josh]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

While Vanek or Moulson would be a great fit at LW1, assuming neither would go back, I'd target Jussi Jokinen and Mike Cammalleri. For the RD2 slot, I'd target Matt Niskanen and Tom Gilbert. If I was able to land Niskanen however, I'd play him at RD1 partnered with de Haan and bump Hamonic down to RD2.

[Alfie11]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

OK, so:

(Bold is UFA, italics is RFA, red is TRADE/SIGNING)

LW1 - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo
Anders Lee - Frans Nielsen - Michael Grabner
Josh Bailey - Ryan Strome - Cal Clutterbuck
Matt Martin - Brock Nelson - Colin McDonald

Calvin de Haan - Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey - Dan Boyle
Lubomir Visnovsky - Radek Martinek
Matt Donovan

Jaroslav Halak
Anders Nilsson

A few more good moves, and I honestly think they're a threat to make the Playoffs..

Who do you think they should target for the top line left-wing position?

I honestly think they should ask Matt Moulson about playing there again. I don't know the terms he left on (ex: if he asked for a trade), but he's a very good player who had great chemistry with their star player. He scored 30 goals three times playing beside Tavares. If he doesn't want to return, or money is an issue, I think they should look at Cammalleri, Michalek, Jokinen and Penner.

Also, assuming Boyle does not sign there (which is seems like he won't), who would you target for that last top four defenseman position?

[matchesmalone]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

Agree about them at center for sure. Note, Bailey also plays center. But Strome can also play the right wing and Brock Nelson can play the left wing, so there's likely to be some shuffling there, because I can't imagine either of Strome or Nelson playing the fourth line.

I can't quite agree about Nick Ritchie. As far as I can tell, the top four of Draisaitl, Ekblad, Reinhart and Bennett seem to be a clear cut above the rest. So if one of those were to fall to fifth, I would think they would have to take that guy. Personally, I would have Ritchie ranked about 8th or 9th, so I'm interested as to why you would be so high on picking him if you're the Isles?

[Josh]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

OK, so:

(Bold is UFA, italics is RFA, red is TRADE/SIGNING)

LW1 - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo
Anders Lee - Frans Nielsen - Michael Grabner
Josh Bailey - Ryan Strome - Cal Clutterbuck
Matt Martin - Brock Nelson - Colin McDonald

Calvin de Haan - Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey - Dan Boyle
Lubomir Visnovsky - Radek Martinek
Matt Donovan

Jaroslav Halak
Anders Nilsson

A few more good moves, and I honestly think they're a threat to make the Playoffs..

Putting it up like that leads me to realize two things: they are an amazing team at center, and they should draft Nicholas Ritchie, no matter who else is available.

[Josh]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

OK, so:

(Bold is UFA, italics is RFA, red is TRADE/SIGNING)

LW1 - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo
Anders Lee - Frans Nielsen - Michael Grabner
Josh Bailey - Ryan Strome - Cal Clutterbuck
Matt Martin - Brock Nelson - Colin McDonald

Calvin de Haan - Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey - Dan Boyle
Lubomir Visnovsky - Radek Martinek
Matt Donovan

Jaroslav Halak
Anders Nilsson

A few more good moves, and I honestly think they're a threat to make the Playoffs..

[Alfie11]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

I think things might be finally looking up for the Islanders. I just hope it will come together in time for them to avoid giving up a lottery pick.

Agreed. This year wasn't a great year for them of course, but there was a lot to like about them in the lockout-shortened season, plus all the youth, prospects and potential on the team. Now you add in some smart free agent signings.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

What happened to Grabner? Guy had 34 goals with only 2 on the PP one season.

[matchesmalone]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson are arriving to help the offense. Both should be pretty well ready for top six minutes, but if the Islanders want to be a playoff team next year, they'll need to add another top six forward, and probably a puck-moving defenseman.

Anders Lee and Matt Donovan might be ready to be impact players as well.

I think things might be finally looking up for the Islanders. I just hope it will come together in time for them to avoid giving up a lottery pick.

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

I like Nielsen and Grabner on the same line, but you're right they need a third.

Man, Martinek just refuses to go away huh?

[Josh]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

Looks like it's unlikely he'll sign for them: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=455117

It's too bad, really. Boyle would have been a great addition to a pretty decent d-corps on the Island. He would have likely played with Thomas Hickey on the second pair, behind de Haan and Hamonic. A third pairing of Visnovsky - Martinek (who also needs to be re-signed) is solid too. They've also got a good goaltender in Halak. The problem is offense. Tavares and Okposo mesh perfectly, but they need to re-acquire a legit LW for that line, where Moulson and then Vanek used to play. They also need to add a couple second-line wingers. Josh Bailey and (less so) Michael Grabner would be better off on the third line. Frans Nielsen could really benefit from better wingers on the second line.

[Jasmine]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

According to this article: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=454454 ...he wants to go to a contender..

According to Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest, defenceman Dan Boyle is highly unlikely to sign with the New York Islanders. Strickland reports that Boyle, 37, is looking to sign with a contender. The Islanders traded a conditional 2015 fifth-round draft pick for the rights to the unrestricted free agent last week. If Boyle were to sign with the Islanders, the pick returning to the San Jose Sharks would improve to a fourth-round selection.

Update: Arthur Staple of Newsday reports Boyle will let the Islanders know by the end of this week whether he is interested in contract negotiations with the team.

[Josh]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

They're trying to make damn sure that pick they're giving to Buffalo next year won't be a lottery pick.

There may just be a lot of validity to this.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

Well, acquiring Halak seems like a good start.

Plus, they're shopping their 5th overall pick this year.

[matchesmalone]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

They're trying to make damn sure that pick they're giving to Buffalo next year won't be a lottery pick.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Isles trade for rights to Boyle

His agent said he wants to test the market. I'd expect Tampa to get him, tbh.