Records say that, the rankings say that, and Islander play yelled at the pinwheel ceiling at Madison Square Garden on Monday: sale, sell, sell.
This was just a key moment in just two games from the deadline to prove that the teams are worth keeping together, rather than a four-point game in the rankings.
The Islanders then put out a weak 60 minutes to be blown away for the second time in a week, this time 4-0.
If that's not the message, shouting in bold block letters to Lula Moriello and nothing.
“As a group, I think we're disappointed in ourselves,” Kyle Palmieri said. “Whoever it is, what kind of message we send, we are the guys in the room that controls it. Get ready, find a way to go home tomorrow, roll in the other direction and go back.”
There was no energy or emotion from the group after Anders Lee's obvious first-term goal was overturned by offside.
They drifted for the next 48 minutes, making their seventh shutout of the season, while still 0-3 on power play.
Coach Patrick Roy's decision to go to 11 and 7 in response to the islands being pushed around the fold by Matt Lempe last week looked like a big overrection, but this had more to do with the players than with the head coach.
This was reportedly a big game.
You wouldn't have known about looking.
Brock Nelson, the fifth player in islander history to play 900 games, may be his last skate in blue and orange at his home with Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Prior to this, he was appropriately sentimental, but deliberately vague when it became his own future.
A few weeks ago in Montreal, he didn't give a direct answer to the question of what he wanted.
Even if he didn't say it, does he know the answer?
“It all depends,” Nelson said. “I think I said it there too. Everyone wants a simple answer, and it doesn't always work that way.
“I love playing here. I love playing here. I'm still playing here. I'm just worried about making a difference in the game until someone says it to me differently.”
That tense tongue slip of the past was as close as Nelson reached on Monday to offer something to read his taste.
However, this is not merely about Nelson's preferences.
It is primarily about what is best for the islanders.
And on that front, it is almost impossible to see Monday's performance as anything other than the current group's indictment.
The message was loud and clear in the garden.
Have you heard of Lamoriero?
