An Insider Drops a Bombshell Islanders Trade Report...

Elliot Freedman has dropped a bombshell trade report and for once it actually includes the Islanders. We're going to discuss it on this episode of Islanders Digest. Talk now that we know that they actually are involved with Kril Mirchenko on what it will take to acquire this player and when I think it would make sense for the Islanders to make a move like this. And let me know right away in the comments if you think the Islanders should do something like this right now. For those of you who watched my previous video in the summer before we knew the Islanders were actually linked to the player just talking about if the fit made sense. Those of you who watched that video know that I am a proponent of don't make the move now, wait till the offseason until we know more about both the prospects on this team and more importantly know more about what this team is. I understand for people who want to contend right away, that's frustrating. But I've said a lot of times when it comes to all these guys available on the market. No one player makes the Islanders a contender overnight. Kril Mirchenko of all the guys we've talked about probably goes the closest. For example, I don't think the Islanders are a Jordan Cairo away from being contenders. Maybe if you add Kril Mirchenko to this team, it is a bonafide playoff team. I don't even know if I'd go that far though at this point in the Eastern Conference. Which is why I'm more on the stance of wait till the end of the year. Know what you've got and know what you're willing to lose. But I'm going to dive right in to what Elliot Friedman had to say right away. And then just go into more on what I think this would cost and why I love this player so much. Because for the record, this is not me saying don't trade for Kril Mirchenko, wait for years. I think there's a really big difference between the start of this season and the end of this season. And by the end of this video, I think that will make a lot of sense. Also, I'm sorry, this did first come out on the 10th. I've been a bit slow, but don't worry, I'm going to be on top of things. Especially tomorrow, I can't wait to watch the Islanders play that rookie game against the Flyers. We'll do a video talking about who I think stands out there. Hopefully, that's focused on Victor Eklund and maybe even Cole Eisman. Definitely, Isaiah George is going to stand out because he just does not belong in that stuff. But Elliot Friedman on Kril Mirchenko was talking about it on his first 32 Thoughts podcast of the season. So glad that's back. I missed that so much during the summer. But the Canadians have been around that. The Islanders have been around that. I'm sure there are others. And what's interesting there is he's not saying like, oh, there's been so many teams evolving. Every team is falling. And yeah, the Islanders are one of those 10 teams. Sure, I'm sure 10 teams have talked to the Columbus Blue Jackets. But this is him specifically saying the Canadians and the Islanders. These are the teams that have been the most interested in this situation. And I'm sure that can change over time. But this shows when people are talking about the Islanders and not being involved in everything. I don't think that's the case. I think they're trying to find their way to get something at a price that they're willing to pay. I think that's difficult for them because they're trying to keep these young elite assets, which I think is the right thing for them to do. But the fact they're involved in this is really interesting. And I'm going to be 100 percent honest. We talk about the Krill Marchenko sweepstakes. If I had to guess how this is going to end, I think he's going to end up going to the Montreal Canadiens for an absolute landslide. And I keep that in mind when I talk about what the Islanders would have to give up to get Krill Marchenko. You look at their prospect pool. They have two guys who I think are A-tier prospects. They'll tell you, oh, we got Reimbacher, all these guys. No. Other than their top two prospects, it would be really interesting to compare them to the Islanders' top prospects. But their top two prospects in Zurowski, in Haig, and I think it's Haig as the number one by a long shot. I am lower on Zurowski than others. Not saying that I don't think he's going to be an NHL player, but I think he's more of like a 50, 45-point, borderline second-line player who's really good on the power play as opposed to the next coming of Demidov. But, hey, we'll see who's right. I mean, not that I watch a ton of the KHL, but just what I've seen from Zurowski. I'm not all, I don't think he's the next superstar like some Montreal fans make him out to be. Still, those are two really good potential future players. Now, it is notable if one of those guys ends up getting traded for something else, right? Say they finally find that young second-line center that they want to have in the future. Because, to be honest, looking at Haig, while I love him as a prospect, I do see him as more of a wing. So that'd be interesting to see if maybe they move him for a center, things like that. If they no longer have those top guys, then I think the Islanders do have a really interesting play here. But, when it comes to Kiril Marchenko, why we're talking about top prospects is, I see some people just talking about him like he was a secondary asset. Kiril Marchenko is an absolute beast. You look at his career in the NHL, he was a second-round pick, so at first he had that 25-point season in 59 games. From there, he doubled it to 42 points in 78 games, and then he almost doubled that again, going to 704 points in 79 games. This is basically what Kiril Marchenko is at this point. He's had two straight years of 70-ish points. Now, last year he did take a bit of a step back, but when you look at his size, his power as a player, I'm not at all concerned. In fact, this is one of these guys, we talk about it a lot, I think that he would be a better player on the Islanders than he is on the Blue Jackets. Because, playing with Matt Barzell would be a better opportunity for him. I've talked about it a lot with these scorers, and some people just don't seem to understand that. I think Kiril Marchenko could realistically be an 80-85 point player for the Islanders. Somebody who could potentially score as much as 40 goals, probably closer to 30-35 a year. But, that's the type of player this is. He's a sniper, he can do a whole lot of different things. And, when you look at the young up and coming core of the New York Islanders, I think he'd be a great piece to fit in with it. Because, he is in that 25-year-old age range. This is a young player, he's 26, sorry, I was a little off there. But, this is a young player, someone that if you sign him for, it's going to be now a 7-year deal, he's going to be in his prime for all 7 of those years. Which is exactly what you want. As much as I want to build for the future with the New York Islanders, I'm not saying every player needs to be 16, 17, 18. You need some players who have varying age levels, and I think Kiril Marchenko would fit right in. What gets complicated is just what you're willing to pay. Because, like I said, sometimes people look at the points like 67 last year, and they're like, No, this is a different situation. This is just a higher caliber of player. And, maybe his contract asks make this different. It'll be really interesting to see when we find out at the end of the season what his contract asks is. Because, it is interesting to note with Kiril Marchenko, I don't think this is going to happen right now. Because, Columbus is kind of in this crazy desperate situation. As we'll talk about, I'm going to have a final Metro preview where I talk about where I think each team is going to finish. I am pretty darn high on Columbus. And, the biggest reason why is because this is an all-in year for them. If this does not go well, Zach Barensi is gone, Kiril Marchenko is gone. And, the next thing you know, a team that really hasn't had any playoff success in 25 years is going to have to do a full rebuild again. So, I don't think they want to do that. I think it's going to be a really important year for them, which makes this whole situation interesting. And, it makes me really wonder about what they would want. I don't think they want a traditional prospect package. In fact, right now, if he gets moved, the reason I think the Islanders don't have the best of shots is I think they want players to win right now that are young and talented in skills. And, the Islanders, other than Holmstrom, which I think would be in any Kiril Marchenko deal. And, I'm willing to give up. As high as I am on Holmstrom, I'm willing to give him up in this. And, maybe that changes. Maybe by the end of the season, Simon Holmstrom puts up a 25-goal, 50-assist season where I'm like, Okay, I kind of have this version of that type of player at home. But, until that happens, I'm willing to give up Holmstrom in a deal for Marchenko. The question is how much more the Islanders have that interest the Blue Jackets right now. And, I think this is a different question now and at the end of the season. At the end of the season, if it doesn't go well for the Blue Jackets, I think maybe they are more willing to have futures practice. Which is where I think it gets interesting for the New York Islanders. But, for right now, Holmstrom would be a big piece of that. And, then it gets tricky. Because, realistically, the Blue Jackets are going to want Cal Ritchie. I'm not willing to put Cal Ritchie in a trade. Especially right now. Because, I don't know what Cal Ritchie is going to be. And, I'm very high on him. Now, if he has another season where he's below a half point per game. And, even then, I would still be high on him. He is that young of a player. But, then, maybe the door opens up for him to get the Bonaparte top six guy. Or, if it shows signs that he's not going to be a center. Then, I would be more open to that. But, for now, I just don't see the Islanders as a fit. I don't even see the Canadiens as a fit right now. I think this is a situation where this is going to get put off to the end of the season. Where it becomes a different situation for the New York Islanders. Because, at the end of this season, that's the point where you're going to know where a lot of your prospects are. Some guys in rookie camp going through the season are going to surprise you. So, maybe, all of a sudden, you'll have more of a surplus in one position. A great example of this is Xavier Value. He's a player I've been really watching on the left side of the defense. But, right now, he's a name that Islander fans know that not many other people know. If he has another huge year in college, all of a sudden, you have an interesting trade chip there. Not saying that you're going to get Marchenko with a bunch of pieces that are not your core foundational guys. But, once you see more of what you have in guys like Victor Ekman. When you see what you have in guys like Paul Eisenman. You'll be better able to assess this situation. Isaiah George is actually a great example of a player who can pop off next year. And, either make it so you don't need all your defensemen. Or, you could use him as a trade chip. And, for the Islanders, what I think a Marchenko trade would look like. If it gets to the end of the season. Is based on where this team finishes in the standings. You might have a high pick, right? And, if you can kind of get Marchenko for a high pick. Plus, Holmstrom. Assuming he doesn't have a breakout season. Or, something like that. Or, even if it's a high enough pick. Where, like, you know what? You're like, you don't want to take a risk draft. And, you just want that player right there. So, like a fifth overall, say, for Marchenko. And, this is just me spitballing here. Or, something where you can trade multiple picks. Including a high pick. Then, that's something I would be interested in. Of course, once you know what that pick is, right? Part of the reason why the Islanders can't trade a first round pick now is. Who knows? That might be first overall. That would be a bad trade. It could also be 20th overall. Then, it would be a great trade, right? Like, once the end of the season comes. You have more certainty. And, that's big for the Islanders. Because, this is a team where I know right now. We're talking about transition, transition, transition. By the end of this year. I think we're going to know. At least, have a better idea. Of who of Holmstrom. Michelli. Richie. Eklund. Eisenman. You're not going to know for sure. But, you're going to have a better idea. Of who of those guys. Are going to be your top six forwards. To play along with Bo Horvat. And, Matt Barzell. In the next competitive version of this team. And, from there. You can make decisions, right? Then, you'll have a better idea. Of what this team needs. I also think. By that point in time. Adam Pellick will be traded. So, you'll have a better idea. Of what you have in your prospect pool. Perhaps, the prospect you get. For Adam Pellick. Makes somebody else expendable. So, I do think the Islanders. Are going to be a real player for this. Again, they have the money. To offer what Prilomarchenko wants. Russian players tend to like to play in New York. They have the Russian players. To entice him with that element. And, I think. It would be a really. It's too early for me to say. Like, what exactly that trade would look like. Because, there's so much variability, right? But, by this point next season. Right? For all we know. Holmstrom might be on his level. Right? It's unlikely. But, we don't know that. The ceiling for Holmstrom. In my opinion. Is a 70 point player. So, it's almost too early to talk about. What exactly this team would trade. Because, obviously. Holmstrom is a 70 point player. You're not trading a 70 point player. For an 80 point player. If it's going to cost extra pieces. Right? Then, that doesn't make sense. So, it almost feels too early. To talk about. What Prilomarchenko trade. Would look like. In the offseason. But, it makes a ton of sense. That Darsh is listening in on this. If they could get him. For Holmstrom. In a 2027. First round pick. Add a secondary prospect. I would do that in a heartbeat. Columbus wouldn't. I totally understand that. From their perspective. But, this is going to be a really interesting story. To keep an eye on. And, especially if Columbus struggles. Right? Especially if things are not going well. And, maybe if the Islanders are doing well. I think this is something. That might come back. On the trade deadline. Though, I think it's more likely. That this is going to happen. In the offseason. Where, for the record. We'll have a better gauge. On what the Montreal prospects. Look like too. Right? As much hype as there is. Around Montreal's system. If Zarovsky has a step back. In the KHL. Or, Haig doesn't have the same. Season in the NCAA. It could be a situation. Where the Islanders suddenly have more power. Over Montreal. In those negotiations. And, who knows. If they get a first round pick. For a player like Pelik. Like Romanov. Could be a situation. Where they can get a similar deal. On the table. As what they did. To get. What they got for Dobson. Right? I think that's kind of similar. For what. Kryl Marchenko. Is going to go for. Like two. High caliber assets. In terms of a prospect. Or draft caliber. And, I feel like. 16, 17 overall. Those were highly valuable picks. Especially when you knew. What was going to be available. 16 to 17. And, you look back. What that draft was. And, how good players were. Even beyond. That range. Right? It was a very good draft. It's looking like. Right? Two assets. Of that caliber. And then. An HL Rod. It could even be Heinemann again. Right? Or Michelli. We'll see. What that looks like. But, I just think. It is worth noting. And, I know. I've rambled on a bit. In this video. I think it's really interesting. That the Islanders names. Were named. In this situation. And, I'd love to know. What you think about the player. And, what would your. Trade be. Right now. Or, would you like me. Wait to see. What happens. And, reassess this. At the end. Of the season. Right? I think that's the best way. To go about this. Because, again. Two. Marchenko plays wing. We might be in a situation. By this time. Next year. Where we feel like the Islanders. Are completely set on the wings. And, the only thing they need. Is a center. So. And, then. That knowledge. It doesn't make sense. To go for a player. Like Marchenko. Again. I'm very high. On the player. But. It's just all. Things I consider. When it comes to. These trade outcomes. And, I'm really curious. To see how this ends up. Honestly. A big part of me. Is kind of. Hoping he stays. In Columbus. Just for the sake. Of the franchise. It's been such a disaster. There for so many years. You want to see them. Able to sustain. Something. But, from an Islander. Perspective. It is. Nice to know. That potentially. This could be something. Awaiting them. In the near future. But, that's going to do it. For this episode. Of Islander's Digest. Tomorrow. We'll have a video. Talking about the first. Prospect game. Hopefully, Ekland. Looks really good. In that one. And, yeah. I'm excited. To be covering the season.