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Biron's Big Weekend: Win us a pick, Marty

Martin Biron is an NHL-caliber goaltender who finds himself in the AHL this weekend to hone his form and ideally audition for an NHL return. He is in this situation because he (or rather, his agent) were part of the two biggest misreads of the 2009 NHL free agency period: In Edmonton, somehow they formed the thesis that their goaltending needs were best answered with a big-money 4-year deal to an injury-prone and aging goaltender. In Biron's camp, the belief was that such contracts would be flowing like wine and merriment despite a flooded goalie market strongly hinting to the contrary.

Fortunately for the Islanders, Biron was available as an inexpensive fallback as insurance for aging-yet-ageless wonder Dwayne Roloson and the still-rehabbing Rick DiPietro. The other bonus was, in theory, Biron would make lovely trade bait at the deadline.

He still might. But remember that flooded goalie market? It hasn't really gotten any less so. Teams seeking goaltending insurance down the stretch have the possibility of Marty Turco's expiring contract, Kari Lehtonen's fragile physique in Atlanta, and Biron, to name a few.

It's hard to imagine two games in the AHL making a believer out of a rival NHL GM. But it's surely a much better sales job than pointing to how nimbly Biron operates the Islanders bench gate.

Star-divide


GP MIN W L GA GAA SA SV SV%PKsv% SO
2009-10 - Martin Biron 17 950 2 11 51 3.22 508 457 .900 .788 1

Bridgeport sits in 6th place in the AHL's Atlantic Division, two points behind the Hartford Junior Smurfs and five behind Portland. The Sound Tigers play at Springfield tonight and host Manchester Saturday evening. Biron says he intends to play both games and "maybe get a game with the Islanders next week."

By parachuting down to the junior squad, the affable Biron adds his character but also underlines the constant fluctuating plight of AHL squads -- always servants to their NHL masters. Biron is the second Isles goalie to drop in for conditioning this season, behind Rick DiPietro's visits before the turn of the calendar. Of course, it's not the goaltending that's the issue in Bridgeport. As Mike Fornabaio pointed out in the previous link, the Sound Tigers have managed 11 goals in their last seven games -- a very Islanders-appropriate figure at the moment. (The Islanders have managed just nine goals in their last seven games, which includes a shootout win followed by a six-game regulation losing streak.)

For Biron, this marks a return to the AHL and a return to the goalie-crowd fate that has marked much of his career: His history in the Sabres organization included (very successful) periods in Rochester from 1997-98 all the way to 2000-01. From Dominik Hasek to, heh, Roloson, to Ryan Miller and Mika Noronen, there were always one or two bodies competing for starts in the Sabres organization until Biron's trade to a desperately rebuilding Flyers team at the end of 2006-07.

Now here he is again, looking for another fit in the NHL. Some fans assume he's an automatic to fetch a 1st (ha!) or 2nd-round pick for Garth Snow, but it just isn't that easy. He hasn't played an NHL game in more than a month, and the games he has played this season have not blown anyone away.

But more importantly: The trade market depends on demand, period. Nowhere more so than at goaltender, where there are only 60 jobs in the league, 30 of which are only truly significant in emergency. As much as I hope for Biron to have an outstanding weekend in Bridgeport, I'm also hoping for a few goaltending implosions in front of nervous GMs, and maybe a few six-week injuries here and there -- not career-threatening but perhaps season-endangering -- to increase that demand.

If any of those happen, then we can hope Biron fetches Garth Snow another piece of ammo for draft flexibility. If not, well we knew the risk going in. But it was a small price to pay for goaltender insurance.

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keep him

Everyone seems to agree that Roloson has more value than Biron. Why, then, shouldn’t the focus be on moving Rollie and signing marty as the “insurance policy”? The DP/Rollie rotation doesn’t seem to be a very good fit, so why not get the best return for a short term player?

by randyboyd on Feb 5, 2010 12:22 PM EST reply actions  

Aak I cant believe how many times I have read this. (not from you personally of course)

Roloson is a 40 year old who isnt playing all that great at the moment, AND has another season on his contract. Youre not getting anything more for him than you are getting for Biron. Why doesnt anyone believe me on this lol?

Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)

by TheMetalChick on Feb 5, 2010 12:29 PM EST up reply actions  

Why?

He had a rough game last night and let in two soft goals true enough. But he had a great year and is one of the if not the most important reason(s) the Isles have been able to stay even remotely competitive. In addition, he has what, with the trade of Giguere, virtually NO other available goaltender around will have: a championship resume. He helped lead one less talented team to a Conference Finals and another to a Cup Finals. He might well have won a Cup with the latter team had he not been injured early on. He has also led Team Canada to victory. He is a money goaltender. He is worth at least a second rounder while Biron wouldn’t be likely to get more than a mid to late third rounder at this stage. Except in the unlikely event that some desperate team loses their #1 and NEEDS him enough to offer a first rounder, I would not favor trading him. Biron, on the other hand, is expendable.

by BCISLEMAN on Feb 5, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions  

The Devils

Are a perfect fit. I think the Kovy trade shows that the Devils think they can win this year. There is no way on earth that if thats the case, the Devils go into the Playoffs with Yan Danis as backup. They don’t even trust him for regular season games.

The only other goalie I can think of with the same amount of Playoff experience would be Turco, and he’s a shell of his former self. Plus if you get Biron he’s already local and settled into the area anyway.

"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."

by Mark D on Feb 5, 2010 1:18 PM EST reply actions  

interesting case you made

but Lou has already spent his #1 and he is a real miser with draft picks. Not sure he would do it.

by BCISLEMAN on Feb 5, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions  

nice package

Biron/rolo +Suttton+Sim/park to Chicago any of those with the exeption of Rolo have expiring contracts which Chi needs desperatly and the fact that all have good vet experience that would really help especially w Sutton.

for who? I dont know, but a first rnder wouldnt hurt plus Versteeg- might sound crazy but chi already has 65mill committed next yrs cap so there already 10mill over and still have to sign players to fill out rosters,

I dont know how they can get outta that jam

by steelermafia on Feb 5, 2010 2:58 PM EST reply actions  

The key thing is they don’t need to get out of that jam until summer. No need for expiring contracts attached to weaker players — they can make their run and then offload the deals after the playoffs, complete with “but this guy is a playoff veteran” to throw on to the sales pitch.

Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.

by Dominik on Feb 5, 2010 4:21 PM EST up reply actions  

agree, Dom

they might want Andy given the year he has had and that they only have 7 defenders on their roster…but as an add for a pick…not for a trade. Of course, Boilin’ Burkie might look to trade them one of his defenders for one of their forwards, but I don’t know that they’ll be interested.

by BCISLEMAN on Feb 5, 2010 4:29 PM EST up reply actions  

Don't think they would want Sim or Park

They might well want Andy, but there is a real question as to whether Garth can move him since Hillen’s injury and Hamonic’s and De Haan’s as well. he may need to think about re-signing Andy. Don’t think they will want Biron or Roly now that Huet’s game has settled done and Niemi has been solid.

by BCISLEMAN on Feb 5, 2010 3:19 PM EST reply actions  

Beating them to the bunch

Yeah I was worried TO might send Kaberle to Chi for some prospects hence shipping Sutton over b4 them

the reason I added Park and Sim is pure and simple they are guys that wouldnt hurt them but simple pure salary dumps. -basically they are screwed now but if they wait till summer there fucked for lack of a better word

by steelermafia on Feb 5, 2010 6:14 PM EST reply actions  

Dear Isles Fans

Unfortunately, nobody wants our shitty players.

Love,
League GMs

Shocking.

Oh well. Tank for Taylor Hall!

by AP77 on Feb 5, 2010 6:45 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah, they all want all of our good players

and Im thankful that Garth seems smart enough to tell em to flake off.

Love, Chris :)

Oh- and nobody is ‘tanking’ for anything. If they were, then Id hope that Garth would dump em all. These kids have self-respect and character- thank god.

Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)

by TheMetalChick on Feb 5, 2010 6:58 PM EST up reply actions  

Bridgeport VS Springfield

watch live…..
http://atdhe.net/

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 5, 2010 7:29 PM EST reply actions  

Please note…this is a Springfield radio broadcast, with video from the screen at the arena….

Emjoy!

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 5, 2010 7:31 PM EST up reply actions  

Witt & Biron are starting

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 5, 2010 7:36 PM EST up reply actions  

Aww, look at Witt out there.

by AP77 on Feb 5, 2010 7:36 PM EST up reply actions  

what a fight

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 5, 2010 7:45 PM EST reply actions  

This is almost as depressing as an Islander game

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 5, 2010 7:52 PM EST reply actions  

Trevor Smith tties the game in the 3rd, 2-2

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 5, 2010 9:48 PM EST reply actions  

After giving up two early goals, Biron is swarmed in OT and gives up the game winner to Springfield. Bridgeport had fought back, gettin one in the first and another in the third. But Just like their NHL team, the Sound Tigers could not stay out of the penalty box, and succombed to to the Falcons in OT.

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 5, 2010 10:06 PM EST reply actions  

Ryan O’Marra with the winner? That’s about right.

Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.

by Dominik on Feb 6, 2010 12:52 AM EST up reply actions  

yeppers

Move to Flushing, Queens, Charles Wang!! Get away from the insane politics of Nassua

by Martys301 on Feb 6, 2010 2:09 AM EST up reply actions  

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