On the Islanders Beat

HOLY CRAP !!!
NIIIIIIIICE

Holy Shnikee! Hate to see Nielsen go, but great pick-up.

SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!

All-in on this year, then? I can't imagine re-signing Smyth. This is a steep price, especially if O'Marra pans out, but Smyth is the real deal for sure.

SNOW for PREZ !
MIKE WHO ???

WOW! That's a lot to give up but what a great player to get.

Smyth is ALL heart

Wow....I love Ryan Smyth, though I wish we hadn't given up so much

Welcome to Long Island, Captain Canada!

Hopefully the minor details involve them locking up Smith. If they do, great trade!!!

I'm nervous - i hope this gets finalized soon , my ulcer cant take this

What is Smyth's contract status? I'd hate to give up that package for a player that can walk away after this season.

Smyth isn't Captain.... maybe they meant Jason Smith

Steeeep price to pay. No question Smyth is a heart an soul guy who you need. But oft injured now, and Omara will pan out eventually and you can't overlook Nilssons offensive talent. I dunno, good for now, bad later

I just read today that the Oilers had resigned Smyth to a contract extension...heres the link:

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NHL&id=447

Love this deal, Edmonton and the Isles are definitely kindred-spirit franchises. Got to sign Smyth for the long term however because the price was WAY too high for a monthlong rental.

If this is true, excellent move by Garth. Smyth is a grossly underrated forward with excellent leadership skills and work ethic. He's a great fit on the Island and will thrive. As someone said earlier, Mike who??

Now... do they deal Blake as well? Can they keep them both?

Great find by SRB... If that is the case, great move. Did not realize he had 32 goals this year. Fits the Nolan mold! I love it... As an Islander fan you have to be thrilled that this team was buying at the deadline and picked up a superstar.

Welcome to the Island Ryan, you'll be loved!

Nice move! Not all of these #1 picks will pan out...I'm glad we're keeping Okposo. A scorer, a power forward, a leader, all wrapped in one...

Neil Smith who?

Nonononononono...

NEVER TRADE YOUR #1 DRAFT PICKS... Didn't anyone ever learn anythng from Bill Torrey? C'mon, Garth...

Horrible.

Mortgage our WHOLE future.

This year has a weak draft pool which is why you see a lot of teams trading their #1 pick

this is one of the dumbest trades i've ever seen. how can you trade one of your top prospects and a first rounder for a 30-goal scorer free agent when you have zero chance of winning the cup.

I still like the overall prospects of this deal...Snow is going for broke, and as I said a few days ago Smyth fits perfectly with our team concept.

Also, Anonymous, Smyth captains Team Canada at the Olympics and World Championships and such, hence the nickname "Captain Canada"

Oiler fans are crying on Eklunds site
They are all saying Isles stole the show

If you checked the link posted above, the Oilers might have signed him prior to the trade. Anytime you add someone like Smyth, you have a chance at the cup. I like the deal. I didn't want to give up O'Marra though.

blake-yashin-smyth
satan-kozlov-zednik
hunter-sillinger-hilbert
simon-park-asham/robitaille

look at these lines. WOW!!!
lets make a run at the cup NOW

HE IS SIGNED FOR 5 years as of this morning. GREAT TRADE

Gosh, some fans will never be happy.

The Isles always seems to have great drafts, but in the last 10 yrs we've only had a few 1st rounders that matured into real players: Luongo, DiPietro, Brewer...for all we've heard about the young crop of Bergenheim, Nilsson, Nokelainen, and O'Mara, they haven't yet matured and haven't yet produced. Not a bad trade if these guys take another 3 yrs to mature...

I don't mind rolling the dice and improving the squad without sacrificing the chemistry.

I'm just not getting that warm fuzzy feeling. I really would have liked to see Nilsson as an Islander...

What's this mean for Blake then???

Make a run this year, fortify the D over the summer and there is a CUP on the island by 2009 with this line-up.

Nilsson is a solid but not great player. Who knows about O'Marra. Smyth will help the Islanders NOW, which is when they need it and in the future. Keeping Okposo was far more important than keeping Nilsson or O'Marra.

Great move. Nielsen is no Crosby. O'Mara has potential, but Blake is gone this summer so Smyth will be sign for $5 Mil. I take Smyth over Blake anyday.

Does anyone know how this puts us with cap space next year? I know we had some room to work with (re: the Zhitnik & York deals) but hopefully we didn't totally fill it up with the Bergeron, Smyth, and Zednik deals. Hmm....

As much as I'd hate to see Nilsson and O'Marra go, I'd do it in a eartbeat for Smyth...assuming he re-signs.

i don't think the oilers are winners here at all, but the isles gave up too much. they may win the cup this year, but it's a long shot, i think any realistic islander fan would admit. in fact, it's far more likely that the isles might end up with smyth for 25 games and have surrenedered three good young players. for what?

I ask you Islander fans, who do you want to see wearing the C, Yashin or Smyth, then think of ways to make it happen.

I dont see it happening.But we shall see. Let's worry about beating up on the broad street biatches!

but why on earth would smyth sign? he's gonna test the market -- that's almost a sure thing. so the isles could have bid on him like anyone else.

prelude to the yashin buyout...

I FEEL SICK. THIS IS HORRIBLE. WHAT IS SNOW THINKING? HE BETTER BE SIGNED LONG TERM AND NOT A RENTAL!!!!!
----
TSN:
The two-year, $7 million US contract Smyth signed in 2005 expires after this season, when he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency.

It remains possible, therefore, that Smyth could re-sign with the Oilers in the summer – assuming today's trade didn't sour his thoughts on the prospect of a return...

I trust Nolan, see how they do for the rest of season, what kind of splash they make in the playoffs and then maybe he will want to stay with us, players love playing for Nolan after all, he makes it fun. I read somewhere before that Nilson was just not a Nolan type of player, hence he didnt crack the line up.

This makes no sense. Even the dead-end Rangers picked up a great prospect. Why are we giving them up. Are we gonna win the Cup this year?

Garth's World, Garth's World, Excellent!

Forget Wayne, Garth is a star!
Wow...

Think it's obvious that this is the end for Blake and Snow intends to resign Smyth. He's made some savvy moves thus far, and he didn't give up this high a price not to resign him. Give him the benefit of the doubt.

It will come out in the wash, but I believe this deal was not done on a "rental premise." Smyth will be on the Island for a while along with Blake. As for Yashin, I believe he is down the road.

Islanders over Philly by 4 goals tonight!!!!!!!!

Heh heh heh:

The Commentator at foxsports.com calls the trade "a kick in the guts of [the Oilers'] fans":

Even better: the Oilers are honoring Messier tonight. Take that, Mess!

And the guy "gives full marks to rookie GM Garth Snow."

Go Isles!

this is great. garth u are the best. I love you garth!!!!!!

SMYTH will be a UFA. He may decide he hates the LIE and take a better offer which Snow cannot control. This is a bad business risk.

Ryan Smyth isn't the captain. Was it Jason Smith that was dealt?

i think this puts the isles in a great spot for the playoff. but i think it was a dumb move longterm. no way smyth signs. and blake is gonna test the market as well. even if you buy out yashin, i think we still take a big cap hit.

I'll take Smyth over Blake any day, similar point totals, and his leadership skills are better for sure.

I hate to mortgage the future like that.

The Isles still need help on D before they can make a serious cup run, anyway. But to trade away three #1 picks, including two of their top prospects (thank God they at least held onto Okposo) seems like too much to me.

The Oilers will be getting two excellent young players. Nilsson and O'Marra both have great offensive skills.

Looks official!!

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2007/02/27/3673369-cp.html

awful. it's not a question of smyth OR blake. both odf them will be unrestricted free agents.

Smyth is often dubbed Captain Canada because he has represented his country on the ice so many times at the world Championship tournament.

It's being reported that the Oilers resigned Smyth for 5 years at 22.5 million before the trade. Not sure if this is entirely accurate. I like Smyth but Nilsson will make us pay for this trade in the future.

Not sure Smyth will like coming from a Hockey Town like Edmonton to Long Island? Rememeber what happened with Ninimma?

TSN says there was no deal. why would edmonton trade him if there was a deal.

If anyone thinks that Nilsson or O'Marra will turn into half the player Smyth is, you're insane. Smyth is instantly the best player the isles have had in years. I'd be shocked if some kind of contract extension isnt being worked out already if that 5 year deal from yesterday is not true already.

You hate to think they gave up that much for a rental player. Would still have liked to see Blake get moved while he's so overvalued

TSN hosts are saying that GMs are calling them in shock saying "Ryan Smyth was available?". Adding that "they would have paid a premimum for him".

What a pick up!

islanders website is "shut down." can anyone else get on? Any official news?

isles acquire sandish ozolinsh and 3 kegs of miller lite for future considerations.

Ninnima is NO Ryan Smyth

Islanders fans, we HAVE to give Snowy the benefit of the doubt on this deal. Wang and Milbury may be stupid, but Snowy has really done well as a GM. He wouldn't have given away so much for Smyth if it wasn't expected Smyth would sign with the team at the end of the year. Look at the trades made over the past few days, this just may be the biggest in terms of who each side gave up. Guerin, Tkachuk, et al weren't traded for players of Nilsson's or O'Marra's potential calibre.

C'mon, let's enjoy the rest of this fantastic season and see where the chips fall with Smyth. Certainly we will have the resources to sign either he or Blake, I think it will be Smyth, what's more I predict he will be OUR captain until he retires.

Niinimaa was weak and scared...Smyth is more of the real deal.

Yeah, Newsday got it wrong: Ryan Smyth got traded, but Jason Smith is the captain.

oooh, maybe he'll whip Yashin into shape.

How many trades have we made with Edmonton in the last few years? 10?

ESPN says Smyth and Edmonton could not reach agreement on a deal, that is why the trade took place. Okay, Charles, pull out your Wang, I mean wallet, and sign this guy.

Ok boys, its "All-In". We win it this year, atleast make the Finals, or this all sucked. I am very excited about this year now, but next year is real trouble.

"All-In!!!" yells Snow as he stands up from the table. Something tells me the rest of the league will "call".

Are you kiding? Snow has done nothing -- he didn't even hire Nolan, who is the person we really should thank this season. Trading three first round picks for a rental is not always a bad idea. But for this team it is.

ESPN.com is reporting that Smyth & the Oilers never reached a deal ... that is why he was traded. I hope the hold-up in details on the trade is that the Isles are putting the finishing touches on a deal with Smyth. Otherwise three 1st round picks for a 1 month rental is a lot to give up.

Mad Dog on WFAN said we just traded for Ryan Miller. Schmuck.

PS, Teams aren't allowed to contact the player to set up a deal before a trade. And it makes no sense for Smyth to sign with the Isles when he can hit the free market. Plus, it makes little sense for the Isles, because 5.5 is a lot of money for Smyth when there are younger unrestricted free agents out there.

Fourcupsin4yearsnot60years--

Are you forgetting there wasn't even supposed to BE a "this year?" Everyone was picking the Isles to be the basement dwellers in the Eastern Conference, and guess what, the team is one of the hottest in the NHL and will be very dangerous if they make it to the postseason--like the Canucks in '93 or last year's Oil. Also, likely the best chance of any of the recent Islanders teams to win the first-round series. "Next year" is what it is. Whether or not the Isles have a good season depends a lot more on DP than any individual forward or defenceman.

And no one has mentioned that the Rangers did NOTHING to improve what is a much worse squad than the Islanders, on paper AND on the ice. So we can all take comfort in that.

Folks, ponder this - we not only kept Blake but added a star in Ryan Smyth. Super work, Garth. I hate to lose O'Marra, but he was still a few years away. As for Nilsson, his game isn't exactly gritty and it's been clear that Nolan's never been his biggest fan. (That we should have drafted Zach Parise is another story.)

Ugh. He's not signed. That's a lot to give up for an UFA. Now we need to sign Blake and Smyth this summer.

Barry Melrose was asked on espn.com which team came out on top today and he answered "I like what the Islanders did, getting Ryan Smyth. You got Zednik yesterday and Ryan today. I've got to think that the Islanders will get in the playoffs. People don't know what Smyth getting traded is like for Edmonton. It's like the Yankees trading Jeter."

har har: Barry the Mullet called the Oilers trading Smyth like the Yankees trading Jeter!

A bit of a stretch, but a compliment!

Think of the players we can (probably will) lose at the end of this season:

Smyth
Blake
Kozlov
Zednik
Poti
Hill
Dunham

As well as:
Asham
Simon
Robitaille
Bouchard

Its ALL IN this season!!

Because of Wang's management by committee style, Ted Nolan has as much say in this as Snow and Wang do. And, I have complete faith in Ted. It is not yet announced but there HAS to be a contract extension in place. Simply put, this deal CANNOT be for a rental. A bubble team does not mortgage its future for a one-month rental. Ted is not that stupid and we have to patient for another hour or so until we get more info.

The Rangers did nothing -- though they got great prospect for Dupuis -- because they can't. They have nothing worth selling and they could not pull off off a Smyth type deal because they're not going to make the playoffs. But the Isles were in a pretty good position. They could have gotten something a lot cheaper to help instead of mortgaging such a bg chunk of the future.

Typical - the Islanders are nothing more than a professional farm team supplying young underperforming players to the entire NHL who go on to become superb NHL palyers

THIS TEAM HAS BEEN PLAYING THE "NEXT YEAR" GAME FOR TOO LONG NOW ITS ABOUT TIME WE GOT AGGRESSIVE AND WENT OUT AND MADE THE BEST TRADE ALL YEAR. I KNOW GIVING UP O MARRA AND NILLSON IS A LOT BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD IN THE PAST AND IT HASNT TAKEN US NOWHERE!!!!

WOW

we're not going to sign blake or smyth unless we overpay. smyth was a hero in edmonton, he's not going to come here and just sign. he's gonna test the market

Let's all remember what helps teams sign UFAs other than just money... a commitment to winning. Seems to me that's what the Isles have shown this past week.

If they gel even more as a team and buy out Yashin, it could be an interesting summer -- a decent amount of cap room and a proven reason why guys will come play on the Island -- Nolan!

An interesting aside is the economic impact of the trades aside from player salaries. More wins, more stars, and going deep in the playoffs equals more gate proceeds this year, more season tickets next year, and helps get us a new arena. Now... of the brain-trust can just get us out of the SMG deal.

Understood Matt, does the fact the we are overachieveing at this point mean this is a good trade or bad one? All I know is, I am really looking forward to the playoffs this year. Maybe, just maybe, we can make some serious noise. But, by giving away 3 1st round prosects and a 1st and 2nd round pick over the last few days, for a bunch of guys who will most likely be pure rent-a-players, if we don't atleast get to the Conference Finals, or maybe the Cup Finals, this will all be disappointing.

ICE-Landers are the 1995-2003 Rangers, LOLLLLL

Didn't know about the chance to talk - I know some sports do allow it once the trade is in place. Anyway, a guy can hope right? Thanks.
As for hitting the FA market - I agree it can make more sense to wait, unless he gets hurt or something. Also, if the right deal is in place, many guys would take it (i.e 20+ mil now from the Isles, vs ? later). Lastly, the deal I originally saw was 5 yrs 22.5mil, which comes to 4.5mil per year. That may be worth it. Its a lot less money then Yashin for the more production & leadership.

man, you know sometimes isles fans are so delusional. we're fghting for the 8th spot. we're not an elite team. we just happen to have some hard working guys and a great coach. i think we'll make the playoffs maybe even hit the 6th spot, but in the long run it makes no sense.

All of you who think Snow is an idiot and that we mortgaged the future are morons.

We gave up no one from our current roster and got a top-line scorer with great character. Nilsson can't score and O'Marra is average at best. It is a weak draft. This deal is a no brainer. The Isles just made the deal of the day and we might be more than one and done this year!

The Isles do it again. One stupid move after the next. Trade three top young players for a rental. Maybe they can sign Smyth to a 12-year 6 mil per contract. He's only 31.

By the way jack they traded only two young players. Also only one of them shows any potential.

Smyth's agent just said that he never spoke with Isles and that Smyth will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. So what was the point of this?

He said this on TSN.

And we did keep Okposo which is HUGE.

Sorry -- Two young players and a first rounder. I hope Smyth just falls in love Northport and signs.

Fourcups-

At this point, I'm so happy the Islanders are making moves to WIN that I can forgive myself some short-sightedness. Only time will tell if this is a good deal or a bad deal but look--except for Bates' penalty shot against Toronto this has been basically 23 years of suffering for me, and for the Islanders they have been the joke of the NHL too long. This team, from the GM to the coach to the goalie to the players is made up of people who want to win and win NOW. As a fan, how can I not respect that?

You have to respect it..even though things may turn out for the worse which im sure us islander fans are used to by now.......you just have to take a shot.Look at Carolina, Tampa, Calgary, EDMONTON! Nobody ever thought they would do anything in the playoffs...it takes a lot of heart which is what this team has.....(besides yash)

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2007/02/27/3673369-cp.html has been pulled. Has there been an official announcement from either team yet?

PEOPLE, SHUT UP ALREADY.

YOU DONT GIVE 3 1ST ROUND PICKS AWAY FOR A RENTAL.

NYI ARE SIGNING THIS GUY LONG TERM, SHUT UP ALREADY!!!!!!!!!

It's here:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Trades/2007/02/27/3673369-cp.html

After reading alll of these comments i still cant decide wether i like this or not. It would probly depend on wether we can sign him or not. My heads pretty much spinning right now. This was soo unexpected.

I am shocked at this. What was Kevin Lowe thinking?

However Smyth will be an Oiler once again.

Nice to see the Islanders make a move to try and improve for the playoffs. Only time will tell if he resigns and what will become of the prospects and the pick. For the time being as an Islander fan I have to support the move and hope for the best.

Haha. i cant even get onto the isles website. I think theres too many people trying to get there.

TSN had the Agent on a few minutes ago and he said Smyth will become a unrestricted Free Agent this summer. So I doubt they'll resign him unless they win the Cup.

Isles still haven't updated the webpage with info on the trade...

Hopefully Smyth will have is visa in order by Thursday.

I'm a Blues fan, and would have loved to take the haul Garth gave the Oil. However, neither Guerin or Tkachuk compare with Ryan Smyth at this stage of their respective careers. Nielsson has to show a lot to prove he's not a bust, and O'Marra can only dream of being a Smyth- if he turns out to be more than a third line grinder, that is. Given the Sabres injuries, the Isles could do some damage.

So let me get this straight: The Islanders, who are NOT even assured a playoff spot, give up 3 First Round Picks for a good player that has never scored more than 36 goals in a season, or gotten more than 70 points, that is 31 years old, and is an Unrestricted Free Agent at the end of the year. Furthermore, the people on this Blog somehow view this as the missing piece to the puzzle. Games are won on the ice, not on paper. While Ryan Smyth is a heart and soul player, there is no guarantee that he'll return here next year, or that his presence will even guarantee that the Isles will even get into the playoffs. Yes the Isles are a gritty bunch that have proven themsleves to be resilient. I think mortgaging the future is a great risk. Remember Bryan McCabe, Zdeno Chara, Roberto Luongo and TOdd Bertuzzi. They were all 1st or 2nd round draft choices that flourished elsewhere. Let's hop O'Marra, Nillson, and next years top pick don't make Garth look REALLY bad here...

smyth will re-sign in edmonton this summer and garth snow will be reading help wanted ads

Hey all, I live in Edmonton, and there are alot of people upset about Ryan Smyth being traded, I am not one of them, maybe you should also know, that he turned down 5.4 million from the oilers and he wanted a No Trade Clause as well, and if the Islanders do sign him, do you want a 36 year old Ryan Smyth making 5.5 million on your team at the downside of his career especially with the style of hockey he plays, he has had in the 12 years he was here only 4, 30 goal seasons and has only played the entire 82 game season 4 times as well, on any other good team other than the oilers or your team he would be at best a second or third line player, plus the fact that he does not make anyone around him better, it is vice versa, the players that surround him make Ryan Smyth, yeah he was the so called heart and soul of the oilers, but how many playoff, playoff rounds and stanley cups has the so called heart and soul won for Edmonton, last year it was more pronger, roloson, horcoff and pisani then Smyth... good luck in trying to resign him, rumor in edmonton is that the oilers might trade two of their three picks to tampa bay at the draft for Lecavalier, oh, and since Robert Nillson's dad Kent is a scout for the oilers I am sure he will do well here, and the oilers are big on Ryan O'Marra and will be at camp next year, and they believe that he will make the team next year and maybe Nillson will as well, matter of fact, Schremp and Nillson hit if off in their first game together at Wilks/Barre three points I believe for both of them. And if you think that it is going to take O'Marra three years to make it to the NHL you are wrong, that guy has great skill, and a great shot and he hits like a truck,,, I look forward to seeing him in Oilers silks

Sometimes there is more to a man than what is on his stat sheet.

You can't measure passion for the game, a willingness to do whatever it takes to win and a deep sense of appreciation for where he is in stats.

Smyth is a human being first with strengths and weaknesses like the rest of us. Do his teamates make him better? Of course. I think it is ignorant to say he doesn't make them better though. That is what a team is all about. Ryan Smyth understands that it takes more than one or even the first line to win. My hope is that the Oilers realize that and work together to put the team back together and give it all they got.

That's what Ryan would do.

RYAN SMYTH WAS MADE FOR THE OILERS AND THEN THEY JUST TRADED HIM SO OILERS ARE GOING TO GET HIM BACK.

VISIT MY BLOG AT
WWW.OILERSWILLWIN.BLOGSPOT.COM AND YOU WILL SEE WHO'S THE BEST

SMYTH SIGNS 8 YEAR DEAL.BREAKING NEWS!!!! MAY 12 12:07 AM

Funny when a person looks back after all is said & done. You see how predictions were way off base; critical decisions should have gone the other way etc. The Oilers sure look to have came out on the winning end of the Smyttie deal six months later, Two former 1st round prospects & the Isles 1st round pick in the 2007 Draft for renting Smyth for 23 games. WOW
Then again maybe the Oil should have never traded him after all & let him retire an Oiler...Guess we'll have to wait a while longer to see how that one plays out.

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