We are only a couple of weeks away from the trade deadline and the Islanders have some serious personnel decisions to make. We have 4 important players who are going to be Unrestricted Free Agents following the 2012/2013 Campaign (Streit, Nabby, Boyes, and Lubo). Some may say that Boyes or Lubo do not necessarily fit into the important players category because they have only been with the Isles this season but they could bring back either picks or a 2nd tier prospect if they are moved. So what do we do?

I would personally like to see Streit and Nabakov each resigned prior to the trade deadline. I think their veteran presence is necessary for the psyche of this franchise and its core of players, as well as the fan base. Streit signed here when no one else would. Granted, he was given a hell of a contract offer to lure him over here but he is a steady presence for this team and he is our captain as well. I think he still has some fuel in the tank and i would offer him a 3 year contract at just under $5 million a year. We could take a chance and ship him somewhere with the hopes that he re-signs after the season but i do not want to take that chance. However, if they cannot get him signed prior to the deadline then we have to trade him (see PA Parenteau fiasco from last year.)

Nabby should also be resigned to a two year deal and slowly start to hand the team off to Poulin over the course of those years. He is great with the media and, at least in the public eye,says all the right things which suggests he believes that this team is moving in the right direction. However, if he is not signed by the deadline, he too must be shiiped away.

Lubo and Boyes would be a nice re-sign but not a must have. The only problem would be that if we do not resign Lubo then we are in the same predicament at the trade deadline of trying to acquire a top 4 dman with an expiring contract.

Thoughts or comments on what we should do? I think the resign of at least streit and nabby would give some hope to Johnny T that we are trying to move this forward. I think it will still be difficult to attract impact free agents in the offseason but these two moves could help us find one or two key FA's while we still await the strome's, nino's and Brocks' to join us