With about 30 minutes to go until the NHL trade deadline passes, all is quiet in Room 6 at Nassau Coliseum, where Peter Botte of the Daily News and myself are encamped to await word from the Islanders on any further moves. Room 6 is down the hall from the Islanders locker room and is where coach Ted Nolan conducts his postgame press conferences.
Word just now came that Detroit has acquired forward Todd Bertuzzi from Florida pending the results of a physical examination. That would eliminate the team that had the second-best chance of landing Jason Blake from the Islanders.
When St. Louis traded Bill Guerin to San Jose earlier this afternoon, that was the strongest indication that the Islanders’ leading scorer wouldn’t be going anywhere. The Sharks were said to be the leading bidder for Blake last night, and they obviously have spent their ammunition, dealing both first-round picks they had in this year’s draft in deals for Guerin and Montreal defenseman Craig Rivet, as well as young defenseman Josh Gorges to the Canadiens. In the Guerin deal, the Blues got forward Ville Nieminen and the rights to University of Minnesota forward Jay Barriball, who is tied with Islanders 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo as the Golden Gophers’ leading scorer with 35 points.
Nolan wasn’t biting earlier today when asked if he expects more trades. He seemed content with the deal that brought winger Richard Zednik from Washington in time for tonight’s game against Philadelphia.
“Right now, we’re just talking to Richard about fitting in here right now,” Nolan said. “[This afternoon], there’s going to be discussions about whether we do anything or not.”
Although Zednik missed considerable time with a groin injury this season and has seen his production fall to six goals and 18 points in 32 games, Nolan seems confident of how well his new player will fit in. Not only has Zednik been longtime friends and teammates with fellow Slovakian Miro Satan, but also he played several seasons with Brendan Witt and Chris Simon in Washington.
“We did a lot of research on him,” Nolan said of Zednik. “His competitive nature and the type of guy he is, a good team guy, the way he performs in playoffs, the way he performs toward the latter part of the season. He’s very competitive. It fits in to the type of team we have. We talked to a couple of players about him in the past. Everyone had great things to say about his character. We want strong character guys who want to compete, and this guy fits right in.”
Zednik seemed happy enough to be here, saying the short trip and the fact he’s friends with three players in the locker room makes for an easy transition. As a free agent this summer, he expected the trade. The only new wrinkle for him is that he goes from playing right wing to left wing on a line with Satan and center Viktor Kozlov.
“It’s always tough when you play all season on one side, but I’ve played before on the left side,” Zednik said. “It will take a couple games to get used to that.”
Comments (18)
The news keeps getting better.. HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE LINEUP TONIGHT BLAKEY!!!!
Hey Greg, it's been 10+ minutes! We need an update on the Blake situation!
Is no news good news?
Come on Snow....still 15 minutes....make the trade! I hope it's just a late announcement.
trade the bum. We're better off without him.
No, no, no...don't trade Blake. We have *more* than enough young talent, a solid, healthy squad, and a chance at the Cup with # 55. Party on, Garth, and pass...
If Blake is in the lineup tonight, I guarantee he has a great game.......
How did Jason Blake turn into a 'bum' exactly? He gives his all, is a leader on and off the ice, and personifies the type of player Nolan wants. He doesn't want Yashin money.
Garth, trade Yashin!
face it... they never had any intention of trading him, just taking a look at what ridiculous offer might happen - but didnt bite because they never intended to lose blake. now the trade deadline hooplah will die down, season will continue, inflated values will die away and and during that time blake and the isles will reach an extension agreement - he wants to play here!
Reasons Blake is a bum:
1) He's cold to the fans.
2) He's more concerned about money than the playoff race.
3) He's a nuisance in the lockerroom.
4) He's 33 years old and his legs won't be getting any better.
A multi-year contract, are you people nuts?
Zednik could easily equal, or better, his output, especially on a line with Satan.
Please do the trade.....I find the 'trade Yashin' thing to be funny seeing how Blake's point total would be nothing without Yashin this year. Blake has already stated several times that he's going to test the UFA market so he's not signing back with us. He even was quoted in Logans article today as saying he doesn't want to be 'restricted' to a team....pathetic.
BLR-
You know nothing about the isles if you think Blake is a leader for this team
It looks like Blake will be here for the playoff rush... but that means somebody will not. I guess Nielsen is the odd man out. Hopefully they can find time to give guys like Hill, Witt and Sillinger a game off here and there. We really could have used another "D".
Oh well... LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
Well, 3:00 has passed....Here's to hoping it's just going to be a late announcement.
THANK YOU! management finally does the smart thing. can we now just concentrate on tonights two points to put us BACK in the playoff picture?
and you deadbeat rangers can actually do some good by beating montreal! dont screw it up!
probably will.....
Folks, we weren't going to get anyone for Blake that could nearly match his production over the next 20 games plus hopefully the playoffs, so let's hope that he uses the rest of the season as his free agency tryout, and wish him well on his way out.
Satan-Kozlov-Zednick
Hunter-Sillinger-Hilbert
Blake-Randy-Simon
Park-Asham-Tambellini(?)
Blake's in the line-up tonight!
Tim & 5 minutes, you don't understand the importance of subtext in a player's statement, especially one that is trying to gain leverage in contract negotiations. Blake did not say he didn't want to be "'restricted' to a team" today, but rather he said that being an unrestricted free agent is a different situation as he can sit back and watch the bidding unfold in front of him. Which is true, the tables are turned, as he has more leverage. He hasn't asked to be traded, but had to state that he wouldn't mind a trade so as not to look like an ingrate in the event Snow would trade him. Plus, if he came out and said "I want to be an Islander!" and Snow lowballs him this summer (which is possible) than he looks like a greedy liar, which is an unfair mischaracterization. Blake wants an extension and to stay on LI...his agent stated that the purported 3 pm deadline today to get an extension done was not a set deadline..those are negotiating ploys, folks.
Snow's remiss not to explore options for near-UFA Blake, whose trade value 15 minutes ago was probably the highest it'll ever be. Blake's contract value will peak this summer, so why not ham it up for a higher extension? You can't lead a team 2 yrs in a row without wanting some more cash. You're not realistic sports fans if you can't accept this as the norm today, in all sports.
He's no bum. When he hasn't been scoring, he's still been working hard and contributing (a pregnant wife may have distracted him) unlike Yashin. He's 33 and playing his best hockey of his career in the past few seasons...no reason to see him breaking down, no reason to see his points decreasing....if Snow lets him walk, the Isles will regret it, as they do with all the players they 'strategically' don't re-sign.
I bumped into Blake on two different occasions (2004, Nov. 06) and he was nice to me. Not sure where the 'cold to the fans' comment comes from. Try some tact next time, Tim.
Leadership comes in many ways...giving 110% on the ice is leadership enough. Not everyone has to chest-thump in the locker room. 5 minutes, you know little about hockey, and far less about the Islanders, if you feel Blake is not a leader on this team.