Ones Who Walk Away: Islanders Free Agent/Rental Exits in the Snow Era
by Dominik on Jul 12, 2011 1:31 PM EDT
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
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PrintLooking at the post-Islanders trajectory of Andy Sutton and Freddy Meyer, and the Tallonacious financial windfall that blessed Sean Bergenheim mid-honeymoon, we're getting a better picture of how the Islanders under Garth Snow are approaching pending free agents.
In the cap era, you want to buy low, sell high -- but perhaps as importantly, you want to avoid buying high for long term, which can tie yourself to expensive commitments that erode your future flexibility. That affects restricted free agents, too -- as their second and third contracts are right where their asking price goes up from "bargain" ELC rates to "Danger: Proceed with caution" RFA raises.
Over the past few summer free agency periods and spring trade deadlines, the Islanders have steadfastly avoided lengthy extensions to older pending unrestricted free agents. Meanwhile, RFAs who were deemed unworthy of "core" status have been allowed to leave. Older UFAs like Andy Sutton and Dwayne Roloson were flipped for parts, others like Radek Martinek and Zenon Konopka were allowed to walk after not fetching a satisfying return on the rental market, and RFAs like Bergenheim and Jack Hillen have been left unqualified, making them UFAs.
Several of these decisions were reasonably debated at the time. Sutton and Freddy Meyer had good seasons in their final stints as Islanders. But for the most part, the post-Islanders path of these players -- whether via decline or giant raises -- has shown their release to be solid decisions.
| Player | Role/Context | Departure | Postscript |
| Chris Campoli | Homegrown, 4/5 D with higher view of self | Traded by request | Traded by OTT, headed to arbitration w/ CHI |
| Mike Comrie | Extended once, one-year deal. Battled hip injuries | Dumped to OTT | From OTT to EDM to PIT, with little success |
| Dean MacAmmond | Extra in Comrie/Campoli trade, played well | Allowed to walk as UFA | One decent year for NJD. Out of NHL last year |
| Sean Bergenheim | Good energy/checker, weird relationship with team | Not qualified | Excelled at minimum wage with TBL, now overpaid by FLA |
| Andy Sutton | Solid stay-at-home worked well w/ Hillen, but injuries always a concern | Traded as rental for 2nd pick | Flatlined (injury-aided) with ANA, traded to EDM |
| Freddy Meyer | Quietly effective depth D-man | Allowed to walk as UFA | Signed in ATL, had injuries, now signed in Europe |
| Richard Park | Effective and versatile checker/faceoff guy | Declined two-way offer | Took three-year deal in Switzerland |
| Dwayne Roloson | Effective old man of the crease | Flipped for likely top 6 D man | Excelled for TBL in playoffs; re-signed there |
| James Wisniewski | Acquired on clearance for likely 1-year rental | Disappointed, flipped to MTL for 2nd and 5th | Rebounded in MTL, parlayed it into massive overpayment with CBJ |
| Rob Schremp | Steady improvement; injuries hurt; role undefined | Waived, claimed by ATL but not used much | ATL/WPG did not qualify him |
| Radek Martinek | Longtime, homegrown D-man plagued by injuries | Allowed to walk as UFA | 1-year veteran deal in CBJ |
| Zenon Konopka |
Faceoff specialist and pugilist |
Allowed to walk as UFA | Signed with OTT 1-year, $700k |
| Jack Hillen | Mobile puck-mover, undersized D | Not qualified | Still a UFA as of July 12 |
The positive spin here would be that the Islanders have generally cut bait at the right time (Sutton, Meyer, Comrie) while avoiding overpayments to RFAs (Campoli, Bergenheim) who didn't fit the long-term picture, and in one case avoiding the overpayment that was coming for Wisniewski.
The negative spin would be that, when you don't have outstanding players, of course they're going to fade after you let them go.
Both spins have merit. But in terms of asset management, the Islanders have taken low-risk gambles (Schremp, Wisniewski, Michael Grabner, P.A. Parenteau, Matt Moulson, Comrie) and made the right decisions on which ones to keep around and which ones to concede as sunk costs. Doug Weight's injuries kept him from being effective for more than a few weeks in any season, but the Islanders never committed much risk toward him and certainly valued the "extras" he brought around their young roster.
Careful Asset Management
Moulson and Parenteau each turned good years into one-year extensions, Moulson following that up with another good year earning a longer contract. Grabner is a special case, displaying enough in one season to garner a long-term deal at a good price as an RFA.
Schremp is a talent who commands strong, opposing opinions, but regardless his fit on the Island was always going to require a steeper evolution for him, and it may be telling that a third weak team has given up on him.
Players like Martinek, Park, Sutton may have had something more to give, but in most instances it's been clear the Islanders were being careful asset managers, and that's why they haven't been burned in several seasons.
Meanwhile, the Islanders' longer-term bets have been on steady raises to Grabner and Kyle Okposo, as well as bargain values to key players Frans Nielsen and Andrew MacDonald. If they keep this up and avoid multiple large risks on boom-or-bust players, they will be in good shape as the rebuild moves along.
This isn't exactly rocket science, but it does require discipline and patience and, in the case of Martinek, Park, and Konopka, difficult decisions on well-liked players.
Of course, the longer fans wait for a smart yet slow rebuild to mature, the more antsy they get for a big splash like some of the frankly foolish contracts that get passed out by other teams each summer. The so called "next step" plunge, which may or may not pay off in a case like the Christian Ehrhoff gamble.
Therein lies the temptation, and therein lies the risk...
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Taking the draft out of the equation, Garth’s “minor” moves look good overall. Very good, perhaps?
And drafting has been pretty good, especially in 2008 with a very promising group: Hamonic (2nd round), Poulin (5th round!), Matt Martin (also 5th round!), Petrov (3rd), Bailey (9th overall), Donovan (4th), Ullstrom (4th), DiBenedetto, Spurgeon (6th, now on Wild, 53 games played last season). That could easily end up being 3 forwards, 2 defensemen, and a goalie all as NHLers AFTER the 2nd round (doesn’t count Hamonic and Bailey). If Garth and company’s drafting record averages out to anything close to that, Islanders will be good for a long, long time.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 12, 2011 2:13 PM EDT reply actions
You forgot about Nate Thompson
On a minimum two-way deal with the Islanders, was allowed to walk. Now has a 2 year $900k/yr deal with Tampa. Has become a very effective 3rd line power wing. I think you can put him in the category of one of the good ones that got away and could have been kept on the roster at a minimum salary.
Yeah but
He was a waiver wire pick-up off the Bruins, its not like the isles had drafted him or traded for him or anything.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 12, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Same with Schremp, Meyer, Moulson and Grabner. Schremp and Meyer still count as ones that went away.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
It is the same as Shremp and Grabner, not Moulson and FMIV.
Meyer was originally signed by us- then we waived him and later took him back off waivers.
Moulson was not on waivers, we signed him as a FA.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 12, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Half right, Moulson was a free no asset given up, Meyers was eventually a waiver pick up.
The category I was thinking of was guys the Islanders did not give up any assets to pick up.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Half right, Moulson was a free no asset given up, Meyers was eventually a waiver pick up.
Full right actually lol- you pointed out Meyers was eventually a waiver pick-up, but I had already said:
Meyer was originally signed by us- then we waived him and later took him back off waivers.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 12, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Meyer, if memory serves...
… was the comeback for Zhitnick (to Flyers)… Z eventually went to the thrashers for Braydon Coburn….
… Meyer was part of a soup line full of defensemen that eventually got the team to the playoffs…. even after the exodus which included Poti they let him go… to PHO… where he spent all of 5 games before he was waived and became an Islander again. He was one of the players that improved under Gordon and was a full blown contributor at the end of last season… then… once again allowed to walk.
Like Sutton who was one of the other few who seemed to progress and produce under Gordon, he was allowed to find greener pastures. Unfortunately for him Islander karma followed him to ATl and he got Thrasher head.
So Meyer doesn’t really fit into any one category… he was traded for, waived, picked up on waivers and allowed to walk… he was ok.. really bad… and pretty good all in three seasons. And now he’s gone… He’s listed as a Jet… but I don’t think that’s true.
Lighthouse Hockey: We have plenty of fog to guide our ships home through... we just need a HOME after 2015.
Don't forget to vote "YES" on Aug 1st!!!
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
was the comeback for Zhitnick (to Flyers)…
But didnt we sign him after that?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 12, 2011 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
It's more important to note that Meyer and Sutton improved during contract years.
That’s always a skeptical sign. Anyone can look awesome the year that they need another contract, then disappear into crap after that.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Jul 13, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I heard NHL players statistically play quite a bit better
….during contract years. Anyone have a link to hard evidence for that?
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 13, 2011 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions
And Dust 'n Bones
I mean Dustin Kohn. And Biron…and Pock…
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jul 12, 2011 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
damn
I wish I COULD forget Pock.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Didn't forget about him, just see Thompson as an interchangeable part
He was fine (and overly berated) as an Islander. He’s found a nice role with TBL, but not one where I’d call it a mistake or even debatable to let him walk.
But yeah, in any case this wasn’t intended to be comprehensive, but rather a general sampling of who has been allowed to walk. (Including Comrie is a reach, and perhaps too easy a decision, but certainly Comrie arrived and stuck around in the hopes of generating a long-term NHL deal from someone.)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Oh, and to clarify
The post isn’t intended as a “Wow were these all great decisions!” theorem. Rather, I think we have a picture of the kind of decisions their making: Money/commitment-wise, it’s risk averse in that:
- they aren’t committing big raises to debatable RFAs,
- they aren’t re-signing aging/injury-prone UFAs to big money, and
- they’re not falling prey to guys with an average history (Meyer, Sutton) who happened to have better years during their walk years.
They fell into hoping Weight would be healthy, but there appear to be extra reasons for making that low-cost gamble. Grabner is maybe a guy who shined in his free agent year, but it’s hard to look at last season and not think he’s broken out to a pretty important level.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I don't care if Thompson became a 20goal scorer, letting him go was the right move.
Now Jackman, he could have been a useful 4th liner.
I'd have to agree
…that Jackman was better than Thompson when he was here. But I don’t know that Jackman would add anything to the current lineup.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 12, 2011 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Jackman is useless. Martin and Haley are both upgrades over Jackman.
Jackman brought energy, but little in the way of skill. I loved his accidental goals, though.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Jul 13, 2011 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Jackman's corsi and production beg to differ with you.
He could be useful on the 4th line and is a better 2-way player then Martin and Haley right now. I expect Martin to become better then him, but I’m not sure Haley will become a better hockey player then Jackman.
by OzzyFan on Jul 13, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I understand some of the moves, but a couple don't makes sense(or so far).
-Letting Hillen walk could be a huge mistake “unless” garth finds a legit top 4 d-man to replace him within the depth chart.
-Letting Park walk was confusing/offering him a 2-way deal instead of a 1-way. He had a tough last season playing with Jackman and Thompson a lot, but he was still a good defensive bottom 6er, came cheap, and can put up very nice offensive numbers for a bottom 6er. We could have used him last year.
-Meyer was another one. He accepted a 6-8th man d-role in ATL, why didn’t we offer him a contract? He was a solid depth NHL d-man that didn’t cost a lot, brought some nice physicality, and decent/good 2-way play for a depth d-man.
Some thoughts...
On Hillen: not sure why he isn’t re-signed or signed anywhere. He might be back later in the summer. He has a lot of promise, but the team isn’t worse off without him. I’d say his loss has a neutral effect on the team considering the kids pounding at the door to take his place.
On Park: he was consistently used ineffectually (PP anyone?). That’s not Park’s fault, but the Isles, especially at this point in time, have a good number of possible penalty killers. We could have 3-4 PK lines with the strong defensive play from our current group of forwards. I didn’t think Park fit with Gordon’s system and that was his downfall on the Island. If Garth was building a Capt. Jack team at the time, Park probably would have remained. Ultimately, his loss isn’t costly to the team.
On Meyer: we have plenty of possible 6-8th defensemen. While Meyer looked good in his contract year, that’s it. He didn’t look particularly exceptional prior to that. Everyone does this best when their contract is coming up. Meyer was unnecessary considering the Reeses, Gervais’, Kohns, Mottaus, etc. that we have now. We can argue whether Meyer is better or worse than Reese (for example), but I think we can agree that we don’t need to stockpile 6-8th d-men.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
I would've liked to keep Park, but not without reservation
If a one-year, one-way deal would’ve done it, I’d have definitely favored it. Not sure if Park was looking for a longer term as a condition for staying.
Either way, I’d file him and Meyer under “didn’t need to cut, but understandable why they were careful.” Meyer more because of frequent injuries and the strong possibility that his good play was an anomaly.
Hillen is who I’d want to keep the most, but even there you have a crowd of bodies. Personally won’t call it a huge mistake, but possibly a risk if no upgrades are added and if the trio of hip injuries (Eaton/Mottau/AMac) have trouble coming back.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Yeah, I can understand that. It's just that I don't like the cuts without replacements thing.
The hillen loss would look really bad if Garth doesn’t get a replacement. Hillen was a decent top 4 d-man before that jaw injury and has shown sizable flashes of good top 4 play this past year. That’s why I’m expecting Garth to land something worth while to replace Hillen like that.
But I can definitely see possible reasons, but not agree with the Park and Meyer cuts.
Letting Jackman walk though, that hurt. He was a good 4th liner in the nhl and has the ability to be a great 4th liner(maybe even a 3rd liner).
Three reasons why it was a blessing in disguise...
Park would have played bottom six RW/C if he’d have stayed. I don’ tthink they give Park a one-way and go out and get Konopka. Also they are a step behind in finding out what Joensuu can bring… which was very little… The team definitely needed Zeke this past year. I don’t believe that is true for next year.
Before the season we had a similar conversation (or maybe it was earlier in the season) and I agreed that having Park would have benefitted them, especially after Weight went down. But looking back, I think it actually helped them get to the next level(we’ll see). But I do miss Richard Park… he was a damn good hockey player.
Geneve line… 47-15-19… Those would have been nice numbers for 70 NHL games(2008-09 numbers) in a bottom six role.
Lighthouse Hockey: We have plenty of fog to guide our ships home through... we just need a HOME after 2015.
Don't forget to vote "YES" on Aug 1st!!!
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
It sure seems that way
In my perfect world, you keep Park for the faceoffs and Jackman for the losing of fights the same way Zeke loses them.
But i do buy into the ambiguous qualities Zeke apparently brought to the team this past season. Hell, I go kicking and screaming in protest about how important fighting ever is, yet there they go suddenly showing some spine again, which I’m sure Konopka was a big part of (even if it was overzealous). And I agree they don’t need him for that again. If they cannot sustain a display of spine without the fourth-line faceoff fighter, then they’ve got deeper problems within. Hail, hail, Reasoner.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Reasoner is now part of TEH CORE!
See how easy, not even a game played and he is an untouchable. Can we come up with the anti-thesis of the scapewagon? Someone that we praise even if they are in no way involved in the success of the team?
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
I still blame
…Scott Lachance for goals that bounce off of Islanders’ skates.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 14, 2011 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions
LOL!!!
And I blame Claude Lapointe whenever an Islander misses on a breakaway!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 14, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
No, No, No - these are scapewagons we need a safewagon.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
I blame Dick Tarnstrom for every turnover at the offensive blue line
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Keeping Mottau/Eaton over Hillen was a mistake
Mottau is still battling an eye problem and is coming off hip sugery. He was never any good to begin with, even before the injuries.
Eaton is a so-so defenseman. Better than Mottau, but definitely on the downside of his career. And coming back from hip surgery he is never going to be faster than he was before the surgery, which wasn’t very fast to begin with.
Hillen was gaining momentum, had increasing offensive numbers 21 and 22 points the last two years. Had great Blocked Shots, Give-aways and Take-aways statistics and very respectable plus/minus numbers, given the fact NumbNuts (DP) was in net way too often and the Isles scores fewer than 2.75 goals per game the last 2 seasons. Big mistake not trying to find a deal with him over these other two guys.
by jbranny on Jul 12, 2011 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Unfortunately, you can't buy out Mottau if he is injured.
Eaton may have value if he is not injured, but I too like Hillen more than Eaton, Mottau, Reese, Katic and neutral on Jurcina. Like Bergie last year, I like to keep what I’m familiar with and therefore familiar with the system, but not bridge jumping because he was let go.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Seems like that decision was made last summer
When the former two were given two-year contracts. I wondered at the time if that was a condition on them agreeing to sign, and if it would end up pushing out a Hillen. Hamonic’s emergence may have been more significant. The desire for veterans after striking out on Martin/Hamhuis and losing Streit may have initiated panic there.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Mottau was a definite reaction to losing Streit
Who knew Hamonic would play as well as he would? I would venture to guess he wouldn’t have been as good if he started the season in the NHL. Eaton would not have signed for less than two years and for good reason.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Agreed on all points
So…back to Caddyshack references it is then.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
which is nice.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
But still...
The Isles will have a hard time getting to the cap. You would think it would have made sense to sign Hillen for $750k-1.0M for a year or two given all the uncertainty with our D-Corps and their proclivity for incuring injuries. If there were too many contracts eventually, waive Mottau or Eaton or send down Wishart. Oh well…we will have to wait to see how this one turns out.
Now…“How bout a Fresca? Hmm…Hmm…”
i don't think getting to the cap floor is even an issue
there are numerous ways to circumvent the cap
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jul 12, 2011 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
The Isles will have a hard time getting to the cap.
I do not think this is true.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 12, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
The RFAs will
…bring the Isles most of the way to the cap floor: Bailey, Comeau, Haley, and Wishart. Then probably Isles trade a pick (and maybe prospect) for a player who has at least some value but is overpaid. Not sure who that might be, but there are players out there who are scheduled to be overpaid for the next 2 or 3 seasons. Isles just want to make sure they’re not stuck with a dud.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 13, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
If the Isles...
…can trade some picks and a ton of cap space for an NHL Vet minute muncher, can they dump the remains of Eaton’s $3M contract whether they are contending at the deadline or not.
Trade 2nd rounder for a better defender where cap space is key to the deal.
Get back 3rd rounder while trading apathetic seasoned playoff veteran to contender… maybe send him back to Pittsburg… good god… when people thought that $3M was crazy for Comeau I guess they didn’t take into account the traffic cone that Eaton will be for that kind of money.
Maybe they can get him to replace Bob on Bob’s commercials… "hi this is mark eaton, and I know recliners… or is that decliners…whatever… "
Lighthouse Hockey: We have plenty of fog to guide our ships home through... we just need a HOME after 2015.
Don't forget to vote "YES" on Aug 1st!!!
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
Successful Teams Do a Good Job of "Scouting" Their Own Players and Prospects
No matter what sport you’re talking about, teams have consistent success if they’re good at “scouting” their own players and prospects, meaning that they know who to keep and who to trade, release or let walk.
You’re not always going to get it right when you scout free agent pros and potential draft picks. That’s to be expected since those players are not under your control. But you should always make sure you know what you have in your own system. Look at Florida. Because they didn’t properly evaluate Grabner – based on nothing more than a slow training camp! – it cost them a very valuable contributer.
by rmblifn on Jul 12, 2011 7:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Another great post by "The Domber"
Man, Garth will prove to be a very savy GM as long as he follows through…If he could just find a few missing pieces then we would be ready to make some noise…I hope he has something up his sleeve…If he doesn’t then its not savy, its just excuses… Enough excuses…The time is now to address weaknesses!!!
If he doesn't have something up his sleeve
He needs to change his shirt. Because we need 8-10 million in salary to get to the floor. He might hocus-pocus 4-5 million, but we need another 3-5 million dollar player.
This IS the year.
One thing we should have learned about Garth at this point is that he never lets anyone see his hand.
I don’t worry about whatever million the Isles need because Garth makes it happen despite the fan speculation and agitation.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Jul 13, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Kif - in the game of chess
…you must never let your opponent see your pieces.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Snow is keeping the right players and getting rid of the ones he should. So he’s the anti-Mike Milbury.
by ou812jay8 on Jul 12, 2011 9:28 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I agree Garth has been able to cut bait on the moves that didn't pan out
and manage to get something for most of them. He has gotten two thumbs up in that respect. I’d go out and find another thumb to be able to give him up if he could find a taker for Trent Hunter, Rick DiPietro and their contracts.
I'm the only RFA to get a qualifying offer worth less than the year before
No one is taking the garbage just because fans want to see them go.
Hunter and DP will be Islanders for the remainder of their contracts. That’s it.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Jul 13, 2011 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Hunter and DP will be Islanders for the remainder of their contracts or until retirement. I think that’s it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 13, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
and i agree
I'm the only RFA to get a qualifying offer worth less than the year before
by Chris McNally on Jul 13, 2011 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Hunter isnt retiring. He has like 2 seasons left on his contract. DP maybe since he has 1 million seasons left.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Jul 13, 2011 11:08 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Trent will not retire if he can play
We will see. He was pretty F’ed up last season.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 13, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
I'm the only RFA to get a qualifying offer worth less than the year before
by Chris McNally on Jul 13, 2011 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Here!
Chris, I’ll give you one of my thumbs if it means Isles found a taker for Rick.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 13, 2011 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
There's two months of free agency left before training camp starts
We didn’t get James Wisniewski until July 30th of last year I believe, so people need to chill the fuck out. Who knows, we could get another waiver wire pick-up ala Grabner sometime in September. I’m sure Garth is not finished building up this roster, but with people freaking out and saying “OMG WE GOTTA GET SCOTT HANNAN RIGHT NOW!!!!”, just relax. Cap-strapped teams WILL need to fix their problems before the season starts, and whether that’s in July, August, or September, I’m sure Garth will find exactly what he’s looking for.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Jul 13, 2011 1:16 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
But....but.....but....
People are going CRAZY!!! SIGN HANNANZ FORZ 20 YEARZ AT 87 MILLIONZ!
In Garth we trust. This is the first year I’m more excited then worried for the season in a long time. Now, lets just all play safe in our scrimmage games and not check each other accidentally, mkay?
Proud to root for the Jets, Mets, and Islanders!!!
by CharlieIsles on Jul 13, 2011 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I'm in favor of two-hand touch scrimmages
If they can find a way
by sayvillelax94 on Jul 13, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I love that Snow is supposed to be "aggressive" to get to the cap floor...
When the exact thing you want is for your trade partner to be the aggressive (read: desperate) one in the transaction.
The Wisniewski example is perfect. And if there is an exposed, overpaid asset out there who he should be chasing RIGHT NOW instead of in August when other GMs start to sweat, I’d like to hear who that target is.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I partially agree
Even if Garth is the aggressor, he shouldn’t come off as being desperate. There are more teams against the ceiling than the floor (5 to 2?). I guess this is your point, huh, that the other 5 teams should be the aggressors?… The bad thing is there are 20 or so teams neither against the ceiling nor the floor. These teams seem more likely to trade with ceiling teams than floor teams, unless there is an owner out there who wants to trim some salary.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 14, 2011 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Cap ceiling teams
I think one thing we learned last summer with the Chicago’s selloff is that the cap-ceiling teams can still command a lot on the trade market — where I though they’d be in a desperate position, but Atlanta and friends stepped up to pay decent return.
So yeah, I’m definitely worried that the right deal won’t be out there, or that teams will choose to trade with someone other than the Islanders. But mainly my point (which I got into in today’s Bits post) is that the timing isn’t right to go all desperate.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jul 14, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Haste makes Waste
After the mad UFA scramble the Iceman, Snow, seems to be picking his spots on who he wants to add to the team via trade. There are a number of cap challenged teams that may need to unload an asset and Snow seems to be playing a waiting game.
Players I think would be a nice fit – Boyes, Green, and Coburn would be nice pick ups.
Then what do we do with Mottau and Eaton?
Putting a team together is not very easy.
Yeah, as much as I'd love Snow's job
There’s no way I’d want Snow’s job. Not easy balancing all this crap — and here we’re just talking about the roster and contracts, ignoring the personalities and many other areas.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jul 14, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
