13 Days to NHL Trade Deadline: New York Islanders Must Keep Eye on Next Year
by Dominik on Feb 14, 2012 4:07 PM EST
in Big Picture Musings
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PrintThe Feb. 27 NHL trade deadline is now under two weeks away, and while there's been no movement yet, teams are quite busy outlining their options, gameplanning different scenarios.
For the Islanders, that means continuing to send signals -- for now -- to the locker room that they are in a playoff push, which is just as well: Despite the long odds, that only makes sense from a people management perspective. Don't pop the balloon for players asked to show up every day, train all summer, and commit their peak years to a team that has been bottom five the last four seasons.
But more deeply within the bowels of Nassau Coliseum, that means planning for next year. The far more realistic position on Feb. 27 is as a seller.
That's due to their place in the standing but also to having several pieces on the roster that are not part of the future. (In addition, P.A. Parenteau may or may not be part. Most likely, there is a happy middle between what he could fetch on the trade market and what he demands to re-sign now. The two pressure points in that discussion may force movement toward the middle.)
The majority of that "not the future" section is on the blueline and the bottom six: Pending UFA defensemen Steve Staios, Mike Mottau, Mark Eaton and Milan Jurcina will not all be retained, and possibly (hopefully?) none of them will.
At forward, aside from the Parenteau question, Marty Reasoner is signed through next season, but ex-Devils Brian Rolston and Jay Pandolfo should not return. They should sincerely consider whether Nino Niederreiter, unable to get non-rehab AHL time this year, might be best served by some Bridgeport time next season once he's freed from the shackles of the CHL-or-NHL arrangement.
Even in goal, the Islanders are riding Evgeni Nabokov, but both he and Al Montoya are pending free agents and the Isles will likely need at least one veteran in their crease next year.
There will be promotions from within but also the possibility of additions from without.
Of course, the problem with the hopes for additions from without is ... summer is unpredictable. The market that appears to exist now will progressively shrink on the way to July, and the Islanders remain a sub-premium (to use a euphemism from resort and car sales) destination for the free agent names who remain.
What If The UFA Market Disappears? What If They Won't Come?
Three weeks ago we had a nice FanPost outlining possible July targets on defense -- the free agents and trade targets who would replace today's Staios & Co. Since then, of course, Tim Gleason has re-signed in Carolina and today Johnny Boychuk has re-upped with the Bruins. Rats.
There is also the much-debated question of what it takes for the Islanders to land a really big fish on the open market. Scratch Ryan Suter's name off your dreams: If he's iffy about re-signing on a low-spending perennial playoff team in Nashville, he's not going to leave that comfort for a low-spending team that hasn't seen the playoffs since 2007.
But even the less glamorous targets, the question of how much overpayment is required -- and whether it's smart still persists. Fans rightly debate whether it's just GM and agent talk or something more, but here is a familiar tale from a reporter who doesn't tend to parrot company lines without stating them as such. Elliotte Friedman's most recent 30 Thoughts for CBC, talking about when clubs get reputations (such as Winnipeg and the soap opera surrounding Evander Kane at times this year)
Players talk. They ask each other what it's like to live in each city. The great, the good, the bad and the ugly. Make no mistake, this is ugly. You can see Claude Noel's exasperation as he's forced to defend his best scorer.
During the preseason, Nashville players marveled at the enthusiasm of Jets fans during an exhibition game. Now, the question is: "What's going on up there?"
You never want to give players a reason to say "No" to your city. Ask Edmonton, which suffered from the reaction to Chris Pronger's trade request. Ask Montreal, which has all sorts of problems attracting players (especially French ones) because of the white-hot scrutiny on the team. Think Randy Cunneyworth's treatment made the city a more desirable place to play?
Ask the Islanders, who basically wrote blank cheques to Dan Hamhuis, Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek two summers ago, only to have all three take less money elsewhere. It's hard to shake that label once you get it.
We do not know which players have chosen what reasons to reject which cities. We do know there are patterns with teams that consistently make offers and continue to strike out. (It's said that was one reason Montreal bit the bullet and took Scott Gomez's contract via trade. Again, it's all debatable and there's lots of hearsay. But where there's smoke, there may at least be some kindling.)
That's why the time is nearing -- if it's not quite this spring, then this summer -- to at least explore the market for prospect swaps and reallocation from their forward prospect depth to some defensemen ready to contribute now.
Right now, before trade deadline decisions are consummated, the Islanders can afford to continue their ostensible playoff push for the players who are going to be here year after year or might be swayed to stay. But they also need to think about next year. For the blueline, that means figuring out what they have -- in Aaron Ness, in Wishart -- and determining what they need. (That's why so many fans clamor for a promotion, and actual deployment, of players like Wishart, who is scratched for tonight's game.) To say nothing of what their chances are for adding the solutions to what they need, once identified.
On the flipside, it's impossible to say nor quantify what the excitement of a player like John Tavares can do for goodwill and for changing perceptions. Players like him repeatedly communicate what they like about the franchise and why they've committed long term.
Eight points and several teams out, the playoff chase can continue for now. But the time is near for promotions and for finding out how ready some young prospects are for next year. You might think this is crazy, but -- imagine this -- the Islanders might even discover those kids are better than the veterans they're using now.
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So many players who have played here talk about how great the organization is and how they feel at home and they love the area. Do we think that is just public speak and what they say in private to other players is different? The interview with JT on Puck Daddy the other day praised the organzation talked about how great LI is. He, along with Moulson, Okposo, Grabner, and Nielsen all felt the same. Hell, DP must have thought LI is the greatest place in the world to commit himself to 15 years.
Just Win Baby
I think the area has very little to actually do with it. If the team is successful, makes the playoffs on a regular basis, FA’s will come calling. Turning us down right now and using the excuse of the facilities is bull shit. Michalyk and Martin signing in Shittsburg was because of Crosby and the team they have assembled, hard as that is to say. I would sign there for less money too, three seasons ago. Now, I think we are very close to turning the corner, and we have a very bright star in JT91. Just a little more patience is needed.
I don't think it's the area, it's all of the factors that contribute to reputation
That entails team history (i.e. last 17 years), arena impressions, punchlines, PR hits (crazy owner! backup goalie GM!), and of course the chance to join an alternative contender or team that can/will spend much more.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Exactly...
Players that were born from 1990 on, only know the Islanders as a laughingstock, Mickey Mouse organization. We have to change perceptions out there by winning. If they still don’t come after that, well then trades are the only available options.
by Isle in Topanga on Feb 14, 2012 7:28 PM EST up reply actions
Garth says he has no constraints but I have a feeling he's at the salary floor for a reason...
other than the excuse Garth gives us…
OK, you win
It’s the Illuminati!
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
by mikb on Feb 14, 2012 11:27 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I disagree
I think the area has very little to actually do with it. If the team is successful, makes the playoffs on a regular basis, FA’s will come calling. Turning us down right now and using the excuse of the facilities is bull shit.
I know for a fact that the environment of which you work matters…When I was job hunting and I walked into a full glass building with water falls in the lobby and what not, that would be a selling point…I was like “I could picture myself coming here to work every day”…I imagine its even more so for a pro-sports athlete…If I could play on a winning team and have all the facilities, hot tubs, state of the art gym, saunas, pools, the whole nine yards, I would prefer that than to play for a winning team with shitty facilities and with nothing special to offer and to give the extra comforts…
Nabokov and Parenteau
If you give them final offers this week and they turn you down which option do you take
1. Trade both for picks and/or prospect
2. Keep both and worry about resigning them/replacing them in the off season
I understand both are different situations
But, Parentaeu is not going to resign and he will take the highest amount in the off season. he basically has said it himself
Nabokov is at an age where he wants to win now and the Islanders are realistically 2-4 years away from any type of cup contention.
Any thoughts?
Where did Parenteau say he was going to bolt for the highest offer?
Because I’ve read in multiple stories in two languages that he wants to remain an Islander and just wants a long term contract since it’ll be his only shot at one.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Feb 14, 2012 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The thing is though, the isles will give him their best offer now. Why would they wait a couple months?
And if they don’t give him what he wants and he refuses to sign you trade him. If he turns down the offer now, why would he accept the same offer in a couple months? That’s why it’s smart to move him before we lose him for nothing. And this goes especially for PAP because he is playing like a top 30 nhl offensive forward and could bring back a really solid return.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
He was quoted in Newsday
“This contract is going to be my only big one left,” Parenteau told Newsday recently. “I want to make sure I’ll be paid at my value. Having said that, I love it here and I’ve said all along I’d love to stay here.”
It’s great that he loves the Islanders, but from his own mouth it sounds like the highest bidder will win
by Mulligan on Feb 14, 2012 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He told French media he'd like to stay, and values term over money
He’s simply not going to know what the highest offer is this month, so either they reach an agreement with a compromise of salary and term, or he takes his chances, gets traded, then goes for the highest bidder.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Feb 14, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
He's not saying he will go to the highest bidder
He wants what he should be worth. If he gets that he would theoretically turn down an overpay to leave.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
Keep Parenteau
I think he wants to stay here and be a part of something special. He just wants to be paid, and who could blame him. I would not trade him unless he turned down a rediculous offer, like 5 years for 20 million. (I wouldn’t go that high, but if that’s not enough, he’s gone.)
Nabokov won’t sign here next year at all. If there was any hope of that I think it would have gotten done. Trade him. Hey, if Montoya gets a good haul, trade him, too. I’d like Al to be up here with Poulin doing the Billy-Chico thing for a year or two, but if the haul is good, KP can start.
If we can get prospects and high picks, these picks can be packaged for the one or two really gamebreaking picks to make the Islanders a contender for a while. We’re not that far away really.
Trade for who?
There was a great post earlier this week that made a play for Ekman-Larsson?? from Phoenix. This is what we need to look at, not trading for more picks. I do not believe the islanders need to stockpile more picks. Picks are always good but not really what the isles need. The farm system is recovering and looking good, according to the experts.
What the isles really need is some young, to middle age, defenseman and maybe another young, to middle-aged, goal scorer, similar to Ruutu from Carolina, (I have hopes that this becomes Nino) but get someone that has scored 20 goals for 3 years in a row to put on the 2nd line that will work the corners like Moulson and Okposo and the isles may not need to promote from within early.
Currently Parenteau is better than the isles can get on the free agent market and he is also better than having a kid in the lineup (see Nino or just about anyone else as a rookie). They should resign Parenteau and then look to trade some of the prospects to get the additional players they need to be a serious contender.
But martyind's point is, that if PAPs demands are unrealistic or too high for Garth to bite on, trade him for something instead of losing him for nothing.
I’m sure everyone would like PAP to stay here affordably for another few years, but it might not be realistic.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
If Garth has no $$$ constrictions hew should make it happen
Unless hes asking for something ridiculous…Pay him what you gave KO…Hes even been more productive…
U guys are forgetting about the Giant Gorilla in the room...
cough, DP, coughm cough…
Geez, now you're just baiting, aren't you?
I’m getting under cover before the counterassault. Y’alls have fun!
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
by mikb on Feb 14, 2012 11:29 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Gotta sign Parenteau
Even if they have to overpay for him now, it will be far less than what he’d cost on the free agent market.
Everyone used to say Tavares made Parenteau better. Maybe so, but now that Parenteau is on the second line, it is so clear that he makes everyone else better. He is such a smart passer (see how he cooly waited behind the net at the end of the Jets game for someone (Martin) to appear and gave him a perfect pass). His value to the team is enormous. If only we had players not named Tavares or Moulson who could put the puck in the net, PAP would have 10 more assists.
by Uwe43 on Feb 15, 2012 1:14 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If you can't get them to sign by the deadline, you trade them.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
by garik16 on Feb 14, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly. You are negotiating with them now as you would on July 1st, only difference is you have 1st dibs and already know what they want and you give your best offer.
They turn it down, trade them to the highest bidder(or in Nabby’s case, the highest NTC waiving bidder).
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
That is the scenario, full stop.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I disagree...
If all u can get is a 3rd or 4th rounder for Nabby then its stupids to trade him, IMHO…
by KO21 on Feb 14, 2012 8:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Isles not there yet.
While the team has made progress and JT has given them some needed good press, I still don’t think the Islanders are high on most UFA list of teams. Other than the “Show Me The Money” thinking of the average UFA; there is “Can I win a Stanley Cup with this team?”. How much more ice time will I get?" ’Who will I get to play with?:
I would think Garth can wait until the day or so before the trade deadline to make a decision on trading PAP (if he can’t be resigned) or Nabokov if they are clearly out of the playoff mix.
I am of the opinion that Nabokov, while he may be having fun this year, will not resign with the Isles for next year, unless the money and the other options don’t panout.
I would like to see him trade a Vet Dman or two for some extra picks. This way Garth can make trades at the draft to move up. I would also like to see them play Wishart so, Garth can see if he’s worth resigning and if he can be part of the solution on defense for next year.
Re: PAP: He will be 29 next month, so he’s not exactly part of the youth movement. He is probable in the prime of his career, meaning I don’t think he’ll get any better than he is currently playing. A three or four year deal may make sense. I’d perfer three years. If he demands five, I would take the risk of losing him and wait him out. Let him test the market and then try to resign him in July. I’m not sure how much they would get for a rental of PAP. A 2nd round pick? I don’t think it would be worth the bad press the trade would create.
It’s much more important for Garth to work on next year’s defense and who the #1 goalie is. This team is in dire need of another top Defenseman and legitimate #1 goalie.
Get to work Garth.
I normally think trade-and-bring-back scenarios are pipe dreams
But if he won’t re-sign and they do trade him, I suppose a bad spring (a repeat of his Ranger experience?) could get him to reconsider over the summer.
This will be the most interesting negotiation yet of the Snow era, because it’s a player who would definitely provide serious value next year, not one who is almost a no-brainer to dump for picks.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
PAP would probably bring back at least a 2nd rounder.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
by garik16 on Feb 14, 2012 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Top 30 offensive forward should bring back a nice return if it comes to it :-).
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
I agree.....
We have some good prospects at goal, but all of them are question marks if you are talking about a goalie on a play-off team.next season ditto with a D. What I don’t understand is calling up Wishart – dragging him to Winnipeg and then scratching him, and letting Staios, Eaton, Mottau and co. play!
sucks to see boychuk re-sign w the b's...
gotta keep looking at all resources to land some quality d-men.
"Redemption? Sure. But in the end, he's just another dead rat in a garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant."
Who to Trade
Agree with the fact that first of all we should be sellers and also that we need to figure out what exactly we have with these young guys down in BPT and here. The problem I think the team runs into is what to do with all the vets (i.e. rolston, pandolfo, staios) that we’re 99.99% sure we don’t want back. Its not like most teams are going to want these guys, especially if they’re not producing/getting scratched on a team that is in our position.
Also, I think PAP is looking for a deal in the 3.5-4.5/yr for 4-5 years. He said it himself it’s his last chance so Garth should try and get a better idea of what exactly PAP and his agent want and then act accordingly. While the older vets might not get much, a playoff team would prob. give up a 2nd round pick for him to set up their goal-scorers. Nabby is a little more difficult to deal with, especially with the Montoya question lingering and Nabby’s age.
Get what you can with you have got
At this point, as much as I hate to say it, the isles are probably not going to be able leapfrog the teams ahead of them to squeak in to the playoffs. With that said, we also have to be realistic in the way we approach free agency for the upcoming year. In house, we have PAP who, in my opinion, must be signed to a multi-year deal as soon as possible. He has played well and I would offer him a deal of 3 years at $3 million per year. We are never going to get a similar point producer to sign here as a free agent from another team. I think that it a fair and equitable deal.
We also have Nabby, who has been one of the better goaltenders on the island in recent memory. Unless we get a first rounder AND a young forward, I believe we have to resign him. He is not young but we might be able to sign him to a a 1 or 2 year deal at about $2 million per year. DP is done, Montoya is unproven, and Poulin needs one more year in the minors before we give him the reigns. Nabby gives us some credibility in goal.
Withe the other vets, I would get whatever I can for them. Eaton may fetch a 4/5 rounder, Staios maybe too. Jurcina will get us nothing and forget about Mottou. Up front, Rolston, Pandolfo, and maybe even Reasoner may fetch us a 4/5 rounder or a prospect. None of the aforementioned will be re-signed anyway. At that point, maybe Garth can wrap a couple of 4 or 5 round draft picks for a 3rd or prospects down the road.
Only time will tell, well the next 2 weeks, but we don’t exactly have a great track record with free agents coming our way. Re-signing the guys who have played well in the orange and blue may prove to be a worthy investment to show some free agents the possibility that the ISland may not be such a bad place to play.
I sort of agree
Jurcina will have some value. I don’t think much of him, but I don’t really have a vote. I would guess he’s bring a 4th. Oddly, I see a team like Vancouver gettting him for depth, so maybe we get our 4th round pick back. My guess on Staios is a 5th or 6th, Eaton a 4th or 5th, and Pandolfo might get us another Cody Rosen pick. But that’s all better than nothing.
Time to watch Rangers Bruins till the Isles gm starts!
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Nabby- they have to trade him…like any good business move you gotta sell high and his value is as high right now then it will ever be…he’s not part of our long term plans and people forget how well Montoya was playing before his injury…
Pap – take the next week to negotiate a contract with him and if we can agree on a 3 to 4 year deal at a reasonable price do it otherwise you gotta move him…just like w nabby u gotta sell high and pap is value is highest it’s ever been and that value can’t be lost w no return
by reid4788 on Feb 14, 2012 7:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions
The problem is even his "high" value may not be that high
The goalie market in particular is pretty depressed. Everyone can use a good defenseman. Everyone can use a good forward. Not many teams are itching for a debatable goalie upgrade.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
chicago
what about a team like chicago…emery and crawford havent played strongly this season and they are a team that is very deep in defensemen a position we are clearly lacking in…hopefully to replace some of our “veteran” defensemen such as staios or eaton that have no business being in the league
It's possible
They of course say they aren’t shopping for a goalie the same way Snow says he’s not shopping Nabokov. Chicago also had a similar crease crisis in 2010, but stuck with Huet and Niemi anyway rather than take Biron.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
wonder if Detroit or Van would give up A D man for Pap and Nabby
low budget salaries, wings have scoring centres for Pap. A physical 3rd pairing D man under contract for 3 years.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Feb 14, 2012 7:33 PM EST reply actions
a 3rd pairing D Man? Uh no.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
Whatever happens...
It’s bad business to lose assets for nothing.
If we stipulate that there’s no playoffs this year, do we want to make it to 9th place using old retreads like Staios, Jurcina, Eaton, Pandolfo, Rolston (there are a lot, aren’t they?) or land in 11th and give the Wisharts, Nesses, deHaans, Donovans, Cizikases of the world (whomever is healthy) a chance to get some experience? (I may be missing a few, but I am not being specific on which players to call up.) So, why not get what we can for some of these guys, even if it’s a 4th or 5th pick? (For Nabby and PAP, if traded, it would be considerably more; I do not advocate selling low, just to market.)
I remember a few years ago we lost Federtenko and Satan (same spelling, different pronunciation from my ex-wife’s name) for nothing and a few other guys had the same fate. Last year it was Konopka. Gotta’ get SOMETHING for the assets you let go if you know they’re not coming back.
by martylnd on Feb 14, 2012 7:50 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Playoffs? You want to talk about playoffs?
Here’s my take. Forget about who the Isles have to jump over. IMO they need to garner at least 90 points to make it. That means going something like 16 – 7 – 4 in the last 27 games. It’s possible, but not probable. I agree with those of you who say play the guys who project as future NHLers now. Sit or trade the guys who won’t be here next year . Let’s get a glimpse at what progress Strome/Donovan/Czikas/DeHaan have made. We already know Rakhshani/Dibo/Colliton are not the answer we’re looking for. And for God’s sake resolve how we get rid of the albatross DP
by Rumpelstiltskin on Feb 14, 2012 8:35 PM EST reply actions
Strome can't play, he's stuck in teh CHL
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
CHL
Don’t juniors get a 9 game NHL trial pass?
by Rumpelstiltskin on Feb 14, 2012 9:58 PM EST up reply actions
Not at this end of the season
You can keep them for as long as you want at the beginning of the season (9 games is just the max before their ELC kicks in), but once you send them back, they’re back in juniors until their junior season is over.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
CHL
Don’t juniors get a 9 game trial pass?
by Rumpelstiltskin on Feb 14, 2012 9:20 PM EST reply actions
I offer my first born...
…if you take Rolston.
Yes The Islanders should keep next year in mind (signing PA and Nabokov would help that as well). But, there is a legitimate chance/opportunity to make the playoffs yet this year. However great that chance is, it is definitely there and I think for the current team, for all that it continues to work hard to get to and for the fans, following that chance and seeing if somehow they might make it happen yet is the most important current consideration. Look at the standings, they are now 6 points from 8th and have games yet in hand over the Jets and even the Senators who are in 6th or 7th, I think their ‘farm system;’ has the hopes of next year along with the developing players we have now. Trying yet to get to the playoffs will help this current team to continue the development they have been making – my opinion.
Six more games before the deadline though too
We’ll see where they’re at as that day arrives.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
How insane would it be if they were within a point or two of the playoffs at the deadline?
I don’t see Garth as the panicky MUST OVERPAY NOW sort, but the fever pitch on these boards could give us a contact high.
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
Agreed
I think that as much as Snow needs to “think of next season” with the trade deadline looming, that puts a greater emphasis on the GM to re-sign PAP and Nabokov. Quite simply, they both have overperformed even their minimum expectations and deserve to be back for next season. PAP should get Moulson money and Nabokov deserves a nice 2-year $4.5 million extension. The team just looks so confident with Nabokov in net, he gives them a chance to win every night. I want the Isles to bring back Montoya as well, but not at the expense of Nabokov – the guy is a proven NHL goaltender and has been nothing but solid since the debacle of last year.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Feb 15, 2012 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
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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.
