So, obviously the Islanders want to improve the roster. That was highly addressed by Lou during the exit interview. However, you can't just wave your magic wand and GMs will just give you whatever you want. You have to look at the teams, their situations, and what their long-term goal is in this or that position.
Let's look at first what the Islanders need. They need a 40-60 point winger and a more mobile 3C. People are always asking "why not go after Duchene? We've been chasing him since 2016." And my answer is this, if we sign him, we'd have to give him more AAV because he can't get 8 years. Also, you can't lose Nelson no matter what, hence why Lou signed him to a very favorable deal. So, we already have our proposed 1C/2C threat. Obtaining better wingers is the next objective unless we want to see Kuhnhackl and Komarov up there in the top 2 lines again, which you know you don't.
Anyways, back on my proposed trade. My first one involves making a deal with the Jets. The reason is that Winnipeg is faced with very tough decisions to make regarding Trouba, Myers, and Hayes. Also, if I were the Jets, I'd want to get better my transition game from my defense that given in an elimination game vs. the Blues my team had only 6(you read it right) SIX shots on goal after 2 periods. I propose to give them Leddy and a 2nd for Ehlers for 2 reasons regarding why this works out well for the Jets. 1 so WPG can get faster in their defensive end. 2. So they can also make room for up and coming star Vesalainin. Also, as a bonus, it softens the blow of losing either Trouba or Myers by adding Leddy(who has a cheaper cap hit, by the way).
From the Islanders point of view, this gives Mathew Barzal a competent winger who plays identical to Eberle but is younger and a smidge faster. Furthermore, this give Ehlers a change of scenery given that he never got to play with a legitimate 1C/2C for last season, hence why they traded for Hayes at the deadline in the first place. On a side nugget, I also think Trouba will be used as leverage to finally get their 2C they've most desired. I also threw in the 2nd pick so the Jets have some compensation for trading their first round pick for a player they're most likely going to let go anyways.
Now, onto the next need the Islanders have, and that's 3C. My trade idea involves trading one of our good prospects who has potential to be a middle-pair, and at worst(though not likely), Mitch Vande-Sompel and some picks for Nick Bonino and their 4th. A few reason for this. 1. Because Nashville has multiple 4ths and can afford to use one in this trade. For the Islanders, the extra picks are just as a cushion for Nashville incase Vande-Sompel becomes at most a bottom pair D when they have room for him after Subban's contract expires.
Now, you're going to ask me this, "why would Nashville trade Bonino in the first place when they're contending!?" My answer is this: cap relief so they can make room for the one guy that we've ALSO been in trade talks for since 2016: Matt Duchene. They have no income tax there, a larger cup window than Columbus given that they're DEFINITELY losing Panarin and Bobrovsky and probably Dzingel as well. Duchene is also a music man and Nashville is the music city. Furthermore, for those who speculate that Turris would be the better player for Nashville to trade just because he had one massive down year, I don't think they'd do that. His history doesn't show a sign of regression and also, I'll bet his foot injury he suffered earlier hampered him over the course of the 2nd half of last season. I expect him to be back to a 50 point average guy next season, especially since opposing teams are going to be scheming more towards Johansen and Duchene.
Now, for the Islanders, we get a more mobile version of Filppula in the case of Bonino. Very decent on faceoffs, has term left, has played for cup contending teams before, kills penalties and is durable.
Keep in mind, how those defensive pairs look, especially in the bottom pair, is NOT how I envision it will look by the end of the season. Defensemen get hurt, it's just the nature of the game. They're on the ice more and block much more shots. This opens up playing time for Aho and/or Dobson - who I think WILL make the team this upcoming season. Like Toews, their play will make it very difficult for Trotz to sit them once the injured defensemen get healthy.
I also think Lehner will get slightly longer term for 2 reasons. 1, because he loves it here and the fans. 2. Lou was the one GM who gave Lehner a chance in the first place and that means something. He's also only 27. With Greco and Korn coaching him, I think he'll be fine.
With Beauvillier, I think he's in a similar situation that Pelech was in 2 years ago. We still don't know his maximum potential yet because he'll only be turning 22 this year and collectively, the team was coached more defensively so they could get back to their roots of understanding 200 ft hockey. This 4-year term, like Pelech's, puts Beauvillier in a low-risk high reward situation. It also gives him an opportunity for a bigger cash-in down the road.
With Lee, I see this as a middle-ground deal between him and Lou. Sheehy wants Lee to get 7 years. Lou wants 5. Both compromise and he gets 6 years. However, ideally and realistically, I see the first 2 years of his deal being a NMC, next 2 being a NTC, and the last 2 being a modified NTC. It gives Lee security and Lou some flexibility in Lee's last 2 years.
As far as forward line combos are, I used tape and analytics mainly for the top 2 lines. Beau and Barzy together is a no-brainer. Lee, Nelson, and Bailey actually had success whenever they were together, except for the road game vs. the Sens. Bailey and Lee have also very good chemistry together and Nelson, being the interior C, can get more scoring chances in the slot area when other teams are scheming for Lee and Bailey together. Dal Colle projects right now as a middle 6 forward and with Bonino and Komarov. The 4th line I expect to look like that on RW to start the season given the injury recovery process for Clutterbuck(also why I put Beauvillier on the first PK).
Do I envision this as a cup-winning roster? Not yet(mainly due to the long-term development for Dobson. Mark my words, he will be the 2nd coming of Roman Josi), but I do envision them either making it to the ECF or losing in a game 7 in the ECSF with this roster for the 2019-20 season.'
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