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After adding Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera to the mix yesterday, the Islanders might not be done making moves, per an impromptu Twitter Q&A session with Newsday's Arthur Staple.
Staple is a veteran beatwriter, editor and newspaper man, but he's not a fortune teller. Camp doesn't start until late September and the season until Oct. 13. That's a long time for things to change.
So while the answers don't have a whole lot of specifics (OMG, BAYLEY FOR LANDISKOGG!), they can lend a little insight into what steps the Islanders might be looking to make next.
Full threads can be found here and here. As always, we thank Arthur for his time and spending a little of his July 4th weekend answering some burning questions.
Did Someone Say Trade?!
@NYIslesTalk I think they'll add someone.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@czar0406 Probably not right away.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@JHallstein Have to see if Tampa wants to move him first, but you'd think there's no room for him there.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@bigjosh929 Some combo of Strome/Nelson/Barzal. They're looking for another wing now, not a center.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@Matt2413 Can't really see how... Too many years left, too much $ left.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@rdoud12 Maybe on JVR, doubtful on GL -- COL wants a top D-man.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@BryanLotto No, going back to AZ
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
Here's where that whole, "Camp doesn't start until late September and the season until Oct. 13" thing comes in again. Lots of teams have players they want to move. But a match between them and the Islanders might not be found.
If a team is looking for NHL-ready defensemen, the Islanders probably aren't going to be partner for them right now. And the days of them being able to take on someone else's cap problem are over. Doesn't mean things can't change. But that would require still more moves.
As for Scott Hartnell and Shane Doan, doesn't look like either is an option. Just in case you were wondering.
* * *
Free Agency Intel
@jDundon29 He said he wanted a new challenge and not to get stale... I'll take him at his word on that.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@DoctorOsty For a 7-year deal I think they wanted someone more durable and with a stronger voice in the room.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@mmmmmaaaarrrcco @DoctorOsty Ladd was a captain, albeit on a pretty so-so team... I think he's not as tied to the core so maybe he can be.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@FullMetalJack3d 21 probably after last summer. Never with 51. Just made his decision this week and wanted a change.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@joshkuperstein They offered 7 years at roughly the same total dollars. Sounds like it was his choice.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@MrL121 I think he knew all along KO was leaving... Might not be happy about FN, but he's a pro. He'll be OK.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
We'll never know for real what everyone was thinking the minute they made their free agency decisions. The negotiating tactics with Kyle Okposo might not ever make sense to us, and neither will Nielsen's more sudden defection. But it sounds like the Islanders targeted Ladd over Okposo and Nielsen felt a pull to join another team when given a choice.
* * *
Goalie Go-Round
@jacobseus They won't. It can't work again, especially with the same trio.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@trueislander22 Yes, though I could see them waiting on Jaro til after World Cup so teams see he's healthy.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@BryanGioia He's already on a plane back to Moscow, so I'd say those are long odds.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
Trading Jaroslav Halak is still a dicey idea with Jean-Francois Berube still mostly unproven. But Staple's feeling hasn't change: don't expect a three-goalie rotation this year one way or another.
* * *
Step-Parenteau?
@BillyFitzz Eberle in a trade, PAP or Justin Fontaine as a backup FA plan.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
@garik16 Funny you say that, I just mentioned PAP as a possible fallback in case there's no trade. Could see it happening for sure.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016
Old pal P.A. Parenteau had 20 goals and 21 assists last season for the Leafs, including 28 points at even strength this year (12g, 15a) and a 5v5 CF% of 53.7 (per stats.hockeyanalysis.com). He's 33 but doesn't have a ton of miles on him since he didn't establish himself later in his career with the Islanders. He wouldn't be a bad pick-up, but I'm not sure where he'd play.
Fontaine had five goals and 11 assists for Minnesota last season with a 44.9 5v5 CF%. Seemed like a good skater whenever I saw him, but who knows.
* * *
Start Planning
@SteveSep Can't do that until July 1, 2017. And they'll have more than enough cap space for him.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 2, 2016