Replacing Martinek: What'll it be?
by Dominik on Nov 9, 2009 2:40 PM EST
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
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Print"To me, [Martinek]'s one of best kept secrets in NHL," Gordon said. GM Garth Snow agreed and wouldn't rule out a trade: "It's a big hole for us to fill. If something makes sense, we'll do it."
>>NY Post, paying a blip of home-game attention to Islanders hockey
Well yeah. Of course you wouldn't rule out a trade. When you enter a season with just seven NHL blueliners -- at least four of them no strangers to X-rays -- you're going to reach this point where a replacement of some kind is needed.
That's not to say Garth Snow's job is easy here: It's difficult to sit two quasi-NHL defensemen every night and get them enough work to be competent when you need them. If one of them is a green Jack Hillen, you get stuck wondering if all the sitting is right for his development. That's why a known depth quantity like Freddy Meyer is nice to have.
But now Hillen and Meyer are both in the lineup, and Martinek's 22:47 TOI (2:22 on the PK) per game is not. So what do you do?
The Islanders are headed on the road, where they could be an Andy Sutton shot block or a Brendan Witt awkward hit away from needing another defenseman. Bridgeport's Andrew MacDonald makes for a nice call-up in a pinch; otherwise, none of the young AHL prospects are ready for this role (the Sound Tigers have lost 5 in a row, by the way). But unless they want MacDonald up with the team as The New Meyer, a depth move seems prudent. You're not replacing Martinek -- an already busy Mark Streit and the rest split up his duties -- but you do want someone with enough upside to claim a regular role, plus enough negative leverage to accept whatever the Isles give him.
Any ideas or pet waiver gems out there? (Side Q: Would you have claimed Randy Jones and half of his $2.75 million off re-entry waivers if the injury happened then?) Any *cough* realistic trades? Remember that if you look to Europe, at this point a guy has to pass through Dubie-waivers. And if you bring up Chris Chelios, I swear ...
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it certainly wont be anything earth shattering, that’s for sure, if they traded
what is protocol with the prospects in junior? can they call them up for brief stints? is it that 9 game rule for anyone in junior?
why isn't #16 hanging in the rafters?
Yeah, we don’t have much to give, so there’s not much to get. Maybe Snow sits tight (and crosses his fingers) until a team tries to sneak someone through waivers.
For juniors, it’s not really an option until after their junior season ends, or unless they’re keeping ’em up for good.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Chris Chelios! :D
(OK- I only brought him up because Im curious what follows those ellipses there at the end lol!)
Over at the Arena the idea of trading for Aucoin was brought up last night. I just cant picture Garth trading for his former teammate. Plus, a Yotes fan mentined that Aucoin is plying good enough where they wouldnt WANT to trade him anyway.
I dont know, I just dont see Garth doing much of anything tradewise unless something (god forbid) happened to Streit, Sutton, or Witt as well. Maybe if someone was itching to dump some salary… now THAT I could see. But that isnt going to happen til later in the season (if it happens now that means the player isnt playing well and we wouldnt want him anyway lol)
Lets go Islanders...
i was tempted to bring up CC too TMC, lol, i didn’t want to get banned though :-)
why isn't #16 hanging in the rafters?
*belly laugh*
Normally when I bring up a “don’t-you-dare-mention…” it’s an open invitation for crossing me, so I’m tickled that both of you went there. Well done.
I could be talked into Chelios — on grounds of “veteran mentor yada yada mean streak yada yada” and such, plus if someone made some overwhelming case that he hasn’t, indeed, lost it.
He’s quite the divisive figure and I’d have trouble rooting for him. But I don’t think it’d ever happen, not for the Isles nor for him. It would be funny, though: If he’s dead-set on continuing in the NHL, what if his only offer is from a team like the Isles? Then what? Humbling, but beggars can’t be choosers at age 47.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Over at the Arena the idea of trading for Aucoin was brought up last night. I just cant picture Garth trading for his former teammate. Plus, a Yotes fan mentined that Aucoin is plying good enough where they wouldnt WANT to trade him anyway.
By the way, I would’ve loved Aucoin in the summer. I think WebBard mentioned him way back before the end of last year … that would’ve been a fine stopgap doing basically what he’s doing for the Yotes now.
Though I guess D-men who like to man the PP lose their mojo when they’re not on it. Although, with Weight in and out of the lineup, that’s one PP point spot he could’ve shared.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
But if we just feel like speculating...
What do you think about Andrej Meszaros?
Lets go Islanders...
Yeah, I was pretty much fishing for idle speculation, so bombs away.
Meszaros is interesting because he could be a high-risk/high-reward acquisition (in that if he met his potential, it’d be a coup). But I wasn’t high on him when the Lightning gave him that silly contract, and if now they’re not high on him either, I definitely don’t want to help them out.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
You did not mention Westgarth. Dunno if Lukowich has signed anywhere. SI is pushing the rumor that Carolina is trying to move Corvo. Everyone on the Hawk thread hates Sopel, but I do as well. Rather bring up Westgarth or MacDFonald.
actually...Lukowich is plating for the Texas Stars...
Vancouver’s AHL affiliate. We could probably get him for a song. Like him better than anything else suggested here.
Only Miss Cleo wouldn’t have. Still, he really outdid himself this time.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Berard?
Unfortunately he is playing for the KHL which means waivers. But I get the feeling that he’s less likely to get picked up then Dubie.
btw, I get bonus points for mentioning Chelios during the off season.
Here’s something to help. This is a list of all the UFAs from the off season. In The comments section is if/who they signed with, Click Here
The only two names that jump out at me are Mathieu Dandenault (Currently signed to a tryout with the Wolfpack) Aaron MacKenzie (Young player, former depth Dman for Avs) and Chris Lee (a Bridgeport player, might have signed with Pens AHL team)
Oh yeah, Dandenault. He was always useful. Wonder if he still has it, or if Ranger stench has now infected him in Hartford.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
That really sucks, I don’t think there’s any realistic way that the Isles can replace Martinek. Really it’s going to be more about getting a veteran NHL D that can play the minutes and be respectable. On that front, the Caps are carrying 8 D and have one, maybe two, prospects in the AHL that could come take NHL minutes. I suspect GMGM has been sitting on the 8 D waiting for either a) Caps injuries require him to make use of all 8 or b) another team’s injuries inflating the value for one of them. Mike Green and Jeff Schultz are not going anywhere. Tom Poti…. Tyler Sloan is basically a no-name and he’s cheap but relatively reliable. He’s not the kind of guy NYI wants. That leaves Pothier, Morrisonn, Jurcina, and Erskine. They all have different strengths and weaknesses but any of the 4 can fill in reliably. GMGM may be hesitant because a rash of injuries have hit the Caps D, but at some point he is going to have to make space for Alzner to come up this season. Keep your eyes open next time we play.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
Tom Poti…
Well played sir!
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Biron will be going back to Buffalo
They need a backup goaltender who is not named Patrick Lalime. I would say they’re probably willing to give up Tallinder, but they’re short on d-men too. So we’ll probably only get a draft pick for Biron.
Please, no Sopel. Please.
Its possible but I doubt it. Martys going to want better if he can and I think the Isles need players not picks.
Lets go Islanders...
by TheMetalChick on Nov 10, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
with the number of teams already possibly looking for goalies...
Chicago, Detroit, maybe Dallas, Marty could command a good price whether its a prospect or a pick.
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