Opening action in the 2008 NHL free-agent market is tame by comparison to last summer’s money grab. Once you get past the re-signings, the only major domino to fall at this point has been forward Radim Vrbata, who signed a three-year deal worth a reported $9 million with Tampa Bay, a team under exciting new ownership that is loading up with the talent necessary to return to Stanley Cup contention.
The price for Vrbata, who scored 27 goals last season, is basically what Islanders general manager Garth Snow offered to Jason Blake last season before he signed with Toronto for $20 million over five years. There’s no word at this point on whether Snow bid for Vrbata or not, but it would be disappointing if he didn’t make a competitive offer.
As of 4:00 p.m. today, it’s fair to say the Islanders have had preliminary discussions with two of their primary targets, defenseman Ron Hainsey and center Doug Weight. It’s possible something could get done with the 37-year-old Weight because he’s viewed by the Isles as a veteran who could make a difference in the development of the young wingers in the organization.
Hainsey, 27, is in a much different situation. It might be in his best interest to wait and see how much Brian Campbell receives because that contract likely will set the market for offensive defensemen. Once Campbell is off the market, many teams will turn to Hainsey as the solution for their power play. Judging by the four-year deal worth $14 million that defenseman Jeff Finger received from Toronto, the price for Hainsey coud be high. Finger’s deal equals the one former Islander Tom Poti received from Washington a year ago.
One other thing to watch over the next week or so is the trade market. Anaheim, Calgary, Dallas and Edmonton are among teams trying to clear cap space. They could place players on waivers or deal them for prospects and picks.
Having read most of the comments on the blog reflecting on what happened to the Islanders in last year’s free agent market, I’d like to add my two cents. In hindsight, Snow might have lucked out when Ryan Smyth chose to sign with Colorado, which will overpay him in his declining years. But I always will defend Snow’s reasons for trading for Smyth at the deadline in February.
The Isles were sixth in the Eastern Conference at the time and in the middle of their best month of the season. They gave up Robert Nilsson, a winger with a decent NHL upside, and Ryan O’Marra and a 2007 first-round pick. O’Marra hasn’t shown anything special, and the pick came in a relatively weak draft. The Smyth deal looked great until goaltender Rick DiPietro suffered two concussions that changed everything. Snow couldn’t have planned for that.
The Islanders were in a different position at this February’s trade deadline, and Snow did his best to secure a chance to negotiate with Calgary’s Kristian Huselius in an attempt to sign him long-term. He wasn’t going to surrender picks in a great draft or top prospects. But if you look around at the rest of the league, other GMs rented players, just as Snow did the previous season. Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero rented Marian Hossa, who likely will sign elsewhere. The Penguins reached the Stanley Cup Finals, so, it worked out better for them. But the bottom line is that Shero probably will lose Hossa after failing to keep Ryan Malone because of the offer to Hossa and their plans to sign Evgeni Malkin long-term.
Did Shero make a bad move? No, not any more than Snow did by trading for Smyth. They took their best shot when they thought the time was right.
Comments (33)
The big names are still out there.
That's interesting because last year most were signed in the first two hours last year.
Time will tell
Today will be another tough day like last years was.
For a few fleeting moments while waiting for the 4th pick to be made, and once it was, I was almost certain that the “right” thing would be done for once, instead of taking some kind of idiotic, progressive, new-way-to-do-it path that the more observant of those around here will notice just never, ever works. It doesn’t work in the draft, it doesn’t work hiring goalies as GMs, it doesn’t work giving out 15-year deals. If it did work, you’d see other teams doing it. But you don’t.
At the very least, I think Garth lied. He said he would take the best player available. He didn’t do that. And for once, for just one time, we could have gotten a player that might have been worth watching in an islander uniform. A player with skill. A player that can score goals. A player that might possibly have made that Islanders ticket worth more than the paper it was printed on. But hey, this guy only has SKILL, he has no GRIT. So, what good could he possibly do here? Score 50 goals? From that perspective, I see what Garth was out to do. Who needs a 50 goal scorer when you can have 5 guys that score 10 goals each?! You see, it’s simple math, and it makes perfect sense, if you run the New York Islanders.
But, if you’re an intelligent human being, trying to build a competitive hockey team, it makes as much sense as hiring a goalie to be your GM. Someone was good enough to notice that Pittsburgh, despite the fact that they sucked and their arena was about as bad as they get, managed to get real players to come to their team and got very competitive very quickly and made it to the Cup finals. An astute observation, to be sure. But you would also do well to notice that they got some players, one by the name of CROSBY, and one by the name of MALKIN. You know what happened then? They got instant credibility. People wanted to play there, because they knew there was skill and a future there. It didn’t take a new arena. Nobody cared about the arena. They cared about playing with skill and winning hockey games. The arena deal came after the team did well. It took SKILL to bring more SKILL, and that, folks, is why this team is again and again a perennial failure.
We could have had some SKILL. We could have cut the nonsense when the season was in the crapper with 30 games to go, and taken a real, honest shot at rebuilding, which at the time I saw clearly and advocated quite vocally. But, that would have been LOSING CULTURE, right? Putting all the kids in and not worrying about how many games we won? Trying to draft high, remember? And so, instead of a pick like STAMKOS, who would have immediately given our franchise some credibility and attracted other skilled players to play with him, we end up with only the 5th pick, and in spite of that could have had a potentially franchise offensive player, for which the need this team has cannot be overstated. Yet, we pissed it away on GRIT and some smallish defenseman, and a Russian who may or may not decide to play in the NHL. Sounds like a great deal to me. I mean, if they team this guy Bailey played on had a player die, and he played there, he’s pretty much a lock to lead the team to a cup, right? He’s automatically the guy that we want because he obviously has GRIT. Well, at least there’s that. Reality will be more likely something on the order of 15 goals and 20 assists for a(nother) purely mediocre 3rd line center. But, don’t underestimate the GRIT. We’ve seen quite well how far that can take a team.
Another reason you don’t do this is because, like it or not, you’ve got FOUR MORE YEARS!!! of drafting with picks like these. Yes, the team will be that bad. Why not just relax and take the sure thing? What’s the rush to stockpile prospects all of a sudden? You can reserve one pick per season (not your first pick) for the next four years to do something stupid with. The rest, you have to make the same obvious choices that anyone else would. That idea makes way too much sense for this teams progressive nature.
About all these amassed picks, and everyone ooh, look at zetteberg or whichever Detroit player you like that overachieves from a late round pick, you really think you’ve got that kind of hockey braintrust making the draft decisions here? Do you really believe one of these picks is going to be the hope diamond in the rough? These players are the exception, not the rule. You’re talking about 5 players in thousands. You want to give up the (league-perception) offensive sure thing for that chance? I hope you do, because that’s what happened. To think this team could even consider the success Detroit has had in the draft is laughable.
By the way, when this team gets its ass kicked up and down the ice all year long, is that going to be LOSING CULTURE? If not, how and why is it any different from last year? Why was I able to see this coming so long before anyone else, especially the GM? Is it because I am smarter than he? I am, but that really is no excuse. I’m very interested in seeing how this will be spun and fed to the fans. ISLANDER COUNTRY! HEART! GRIT! EXCITEMENT! BS. Here it is people: 75 points next season, maximum. And Rick gets injured again just to make it that far. I’ll take the first five people to offer me a c-note on that.
Someone wrote a few nice diatribes on the “Lighthouse” and why it was necessary, and they wrote about CAPITALISM and FREE MARKET. It was something to tune of, of course Wang needs and should have his mall and condos and whatever else, this is a CAPITALIST society we live in, and he should exploit the FREE MARKET and make all the money he wants. That’s fine, but don’t try and make that connection to having a competitive hockey team, because that’s a crock. A hockey team is a PRODUCT and if your PRODUCT is substandard, it will be a failure in a capitalist market. A competitive hockey team is not based on retail sales at the mall, or how many of the coop units are rented at top dollar. It’s based on SKILL and GOALS and WINS. If you want to start on the path to that kind of team, you do it by drafting SKILL and not GRIT. This team needs nothing more than some skill and the end of the SMG lease, and it would be PLENTLY profitable if it won some games. I don’t go to the coliseum to shop, or to live, I go there to see HOCKEY. And if the hockey sucks, I don’t go. I’m absolutely certain I’m not alone. A source in whom I trust believes this project is THREE YEARS FROM APPROVAL. That’s way longer than I’ve got to hang around with my fingers crossed, for something I don’t believe is necessary, anyhow.
But, back to the draft. Tell me, if this draft, which was known to be so deep, was going to be the turning point for this team, why did we have to forsake the single most highly skilled player we could have taken? Why not have traded for more picks at the deadline? Nobody has any issue with this?
And why, if the Leafs were so incredibly high on Schenn, so sure that he was made of the stuff you build franchises around, didn’t we just take him? He’s good enough to build the Leafs around, but not the Islanders? Do you people really believe that garth and wangs idiot crew are smarter and more draft savvy than the team the Leafs have working for them? Hes a GOALTENDER for gods sake, not a GM. Was nothing learned from the Zach Parise debacle? Nothing at all?
It doesn’t bother anyone that there was almost no interest in this guy Bailey at all, when compared to the known quantity of skill in Filatov that we could have chosen?
I wonder exactly how that happens. Is it because the owner is just too stupid to admit he knows nothing about hockey, as a game or as a business, and his ego forces him to continue on despite the long list of failures? Is it the lack of ability to look around and see how other successful teams get to be that way? I’ll just never understand it, I guess.
It was written that now the Isles draft will be judged by the names Bailey and Trivino and Ness. You better believe Filatov is in there too, because if he turns into a stud, garth should be fired. He won’t, because the owner is a tool that evidently values his ego over a winning hockey team. But that’s the way it should be.
This guy Bailey had damn well better be the greatest center this team has had since Bryan Trottier. Really. In fact, even better than that.
My problem is I hate losing. I really do. I despise failure and losing hockey and stupid management decisions that seem to happen year after year after year. I’m tired of losing. I’m tired of seeing the same garbage hockey every year. I’m also tired of being embarrassed. That’s what being an Islander fan has become to me, a complete embarrassment. A mockery of a joke. You see, I believe the jersey you wear says something about you. Some people think that wearing the colors of a losing team makes you a true fan. For some, that may be. But for me, at this point, after all I’ve seen over the last two decades, it’s just an embarrassment. And for better or for worse, I think my patience with feeling that way will finally run out with this season.
So what I figure on is this: I see only two possible outcomes for this coming season that will carry my interest over to the next. One is qualifying for the playoffs, and winning a minimum of four games. The other is the first overall draft pick and Tavares in an islander jersey. Anything other than that, and I will become a full-time advocate for the dissolution or move of the team to anywhere but here. And it is with a very heavy heart that I will do so, in much the same way, I think, as taking a beloved old family pet to the doctor to be put down. It just becomes time after awhile. There’s only so much suffering that can be endured before one loses one’s dignity. And to me, the loss of dignity is the greatest injustice against this once proud franchise. 20 straight years of futility and losing is an indignity that I find unendurable.
As a small postscript, and in the interest of maintaining perspective, I will show just one more card. During the 1980s, I had two not immediate but close family members in the employ of the New York Islanders. As a result, I was fortunate enough to be fairly close (for a fan) to the team during that time. And, I can tell you firsthand that the way things are done now is a far, far cry from the way they were done then.
P.S. Don’t hold your collective breaths on the free agent thing this year. There are no players of consequence on their way here, believe me.
P.P.S. Doug Weight?
I’d laugh if I weren’t already crying.
Regards,
Frei
Dough Weight??? No thanks. Didn't we just unload all of the dead weight here? And now they want to bring DeadWeight back. Get real here, Snow........Sir William
Rolston post from previous thread seems to be bogus. No surprise there.
Greg, I am with you regarding the Smyth trade. You can't control injuries and most times it's the healthiest teams that go deep in the playoffs. I would like to add that from the point that we traded for Smyth it seems that the injury bug bit and kept biting into and throughout last season. Starting with Simm in game 2 of the season and the list continued to grow from there.
Geezus Frei.....have you been enrolled in the 19Isles School of Writing while you've been missing for the last 3 months or so?
Frei, interesting you mentioned the Lighthouse being 3 years away, because nobody I've spoken to at the County or the Town level thinks so. I've heard a year to a year and a half for environmental review, and this fall begins public comments and preliminary lease negotiations. Therefore, if this is solid information, could you please tell us:
1. How this person would be privy to such information (you don't, of course, have to name them...it's a practice of mine as long as it's an on-the-record conversation).
2. The factors that would contribute to such a delay.
3. Why those factors are unavoidable.
I look forward to your perspective.
You have got to be kidding me - Doug Weight has been done for 3 years....they better not sign him....if they do it better be a 1 year Deal for under a Million....I would Rather Sign Brendan Morrison to a 2 or 3 year deal
Hainsey would be a good Pick up - but I wouldn't go more than 3 years for 11Mil...I they strike out with Hainsey, they will probably try to trade for McCabe or someone else.
Frei - i dont know if you saw it or not but i had the rant comment on his last post that mentioned about pittsburgh and how incredibly depressing it is to root for a franchise that is run by Clowns, and is more proud of coining a phrase "grit, character and heart" instead of winning games. A real franchise doesnt characterize everything they do by talking aboug GRIT and CHARACTER and HEART - wasnt it Mariano Duncan on the Yankees that by the way won 4 Titles in 5 years that said "We play today, We win today"? - you would never hear Steinbrenner talk about or do the things Wang does - all i have to say about your post on this thread is I couldnt agree with you more - and if i ever met with you in person it would be such an interesting conversation b/c you are on the money. And to Nick and all the people that sit here and tell me i'm wrong for wanting this team to do what it takes to get big names and over pay if necessary - you guys want to Rebuild with draft picks, HELLO???? OUR LEADING SCORER THIS YEAR HAD 49 F'N POINTS - 49 - THATS IS COMPLETELY EMBARASSING. Also we havent won a playoff series in 15 YEARS - that is even more embarassing than our leading scorer having 49 points - but like Frei said its ok b/c comrie has HEART, HILLARY DUFF AND OF COURSE GRIT. It hurts that today so many fans are going to be excited that they landed player A or player B - but the Islanders fans wont be able to feel what that is like. Instead we want to reunite the 1996 US hockey team by having Weight join his old and gritty friend Guerin and maybe Rolston - but its ok b/c i bet Wang would trade next years first round pick for 137 signatures on the LIghthouse Petition
From previous thread ...
AZS said ~ "So, much like the UFA's the "fans" don't want to be at the NVMC until they're close to a winner also ..."
That is a great point AZS .... think about it ... we as fans in general ... want a new arena ... and star players on the team to lore us to NVMC ... or else we'll do something else with out entertainment dollar ...
Well ... the same thing goes for the top FA's ... why should they join the Isles when they have no prior loyalty to the team ... when the Isles' own fans don't even want to go?
Is this really a chicken or the egg situation???
What came first? ... the Super Star or the Fans?
Rob, you're always welcome to your opinion, but from my personal perspective you're not welcome to twist my words. My take is that THIS YEAR'S team is too far from contention to go for the biggest free agents out there, and I would rather wait a year or 2, reap another high draft pick, and see what we have, so we can THEN go and plug the holes with the big free agents. I think there is a time and a place to sign the huge free agents, and this isn't it....Abandoning the last rebuild and opening up the checkbook got us Yashin.
And 19Isles, I couldn't agree more. I usually make it to about 10 games a year, and I intend to continue that tradition. Other fans choose to vote with their feet and walk away...that's fine. However, it doesn't send a good message since everyone who's available today that you're screaming the team should acquire remembers playing in front of 5000 at the NVMC and wondering why they would ever want to be part of that.
I agree that the Smyth trade was the right move to make. How many Islander fans complain that the team doesn't do enough to win now? Well, that was an example of them going for it, which was a great idea in a weak East. It didn't work out; that's life.
There are plenty of smart buys the Islanders could get - but they're going to have to pay a little more than they would to get guys to come to Long Island. The Isles have plenty of cap room; they could (and SHOULD) end up with at least three quality, not washed-up players.
http://www.nyhockeyrivalry.com
Some how i'm not surprised about the Islanders going after Weight.
19Isles: I think we talked about him signing here, but didn't like the idea because he was old, and did not follow with the youth movement. Been trying to find that post, but ironically, can't find it.
Weight, if signed, will follow Geurin, and Sillinger out the door for draft picks at the end of the year if we are out of contention. By then, the Islanders will have a better look at the development of their young players on this years team, and can purge out the rest of the veterans.
Definitely not against signing Weight so there is someone that can not only mentor, but PUSH the kids. Yeah, we have plenty of 2nd/3rd line centers, but we are not going to spend big on a 1st line center (that will be Bailey's spot to take/lose in the coming years), and Weight will at least provide some competition for Nielsen and Walter.
Also, he will provide competition for Comrie. Remember, MC Toe Drag started great last year - maybe because he had something to prove. So, maybe signing Weight forces Comrie to prove that of the two 2nd line centers, he should get the 1st line minutes.
All in all, a slow day today. I guess no one wants to set the bar with the marginal players, so we're gonna have to wait until someone gets stupid and actually signs Campbell et al to a ridiculous contract. Just glad that it won't be the Isles...right?
Nick I'm afraid I have nothing so concrete as to hand over to you for investigation.
A gentleman I know, who I run into periodically at social functions, is an attorney for the nassau county DA, and a pretty big islander fan. When I say I know him, I know his face and his name. We almost always chat about the team when we meet. Last time we spoke, I mentioned to him that it was supposed to be a year before necessary approvals (what I thought you were advertising) were in place and work would begin. He just kind of gave me an incredulous look and said don't hold your breath for that. I asked him why and he said he just didn't think it could happen in that time frame, there were too many variables still in play, and three years would be more realistic. I think he mentioned that the review process would take longer than expected, and that sometimes things that come out of those reviews can lead to issues that weren't apparent at the outset. He might have called a year a "series of best-case scenarios" which didn't seem likely to happen, in his opinion.
He could be full of it for all I know, but if he is, he goes far out of his way to seem like he knows what he's talking about. And he definitely knows the islanders, in a rainman kind of way. He could probably tell you the goal scorers in any playoff game in any year the isles won the cup. Its kind of scary to see it in person.
I'm not saying he's right, and I didn't say anything he mentioned is "unavoidable", as you put it, but he knows a lot more than I do, and is a lot closer to the process than I am.
Couldn't agree with you more Nick .... what gets lost in some people's venom is rationality and accuracy .. like blaming Snow for DPs 15 year contract... Snow didn't broker that ... it was Wanger ... ill advised as much as I like DP .. NOBODY ... especially a goalie that hasn't won ONE playoff series deserves a 15 year contract .... in retrospect ... his $4.5M is already a bargain for an All Star goalie .... but ... his injuries put pressure on his contract ... and he better just kick back to a 60 game a year schedule ... at most.
One other thing I've noticed that has clouded the minds of some people on here that post nothing but venom ... they keep saying things like .... "Snow is crazy and so are we if we think the Isles can build a team through the draft " ... Who ever said that the Isles were going to soley rely on the draft to re-build the team??? I've heard on MANY occasion that the Isles were going to build by.... SMART Drafting (check ... think they did a good job in 08) ... Developing a Core (check ... they seem committed to the kids with promise) .... Free Agency ( TBD .... the team isn't able to attract UFA Superstars at this point) .... the team will be ready when these UFAs see the fan base line up behind the team ... and deafen their ears when they play against the Isles .... then they'll take notice ... and want to be a part of the winner .... these players want to be as much a part of a winner ... as the fans want to be part of a winner .... but they are not going to come to Long Island if they have a shot at a team that has a high probability at going for the cup now.
I also am sick and tired of hearing about Filatov and Schenn ... WTF have they done in their short careers except have the talking heads of TSN praise them up and down like Miley Cirus at a Disney concert???!!!!
They have proved nothing .... until then ... Filatov is Ryan O'Marra ... and Schenn is Scott LaChance ... I'll grant ya this much .... Bailey is in the same boat as them ... he's done nothing yet ... so maybe he'll be Taylor Pyatt... only time will tell for these kids ... so give it a break.
------------------------------------
Doug Weight??? No thanks ... he was a great player ... but ... next please.
I'm one of the few that probably feels the Isles should stand pat this UFA day. I don't think it's in their best interest to plug up roster spots with aging vets. Considering that with this rebuild we also have to find a way to move Park and Hilbert at some point.
The only way it makes sense to sign any of these UFAs is if you flat out plan on trading them at the deadline for picks. As much as we've grabbed at the draft the team still needs another one like this minus the trading down.
I pretty well expect Witt and Comrie to be dealt at this years deadline. If the Isles sign some of these UFAs I would expect some major roster maneuverings at this years deadline. No way do they hang on to these guys and allow them to walk for nothing.
Not at this stage of the game.
Question???
Why does the link on the ISLANDERS page that lores you to check out free agency info end up LINKING you to Zippy's blog????
Really now.... come on ... Greg ... you gotta out leg this guy ... he's loring Isles fans to his Rag site.
FYI: 6:24 PM: New Jersey signs UFA forward Brian Rolston to a four year deal worth $20-million.
http://www.okposo.blogspot.com/
Hainsey and Hueslies are still out there. Getting both would add enough to make this roster competitive..........Sir William
Tallon in Chicago is crazy to pay Campbell that much. I guess that he forgot about his other big D Man signing, Adrian Aucoin.
How well did that work out?,,,,,,,,,Sir William
Also interesting that Tank, Satan and Joe V have not been picked up yet,,,,,,,,,,,Sir William
Hear hear, Frei. I'm with you 100 percent...at least what I read. I'll admit I skimmed through some of it.
Just thought i'd keep everyone informed on all the other teams activities while we make sure to put a net in every drive way - via newyorkislanders.com GRRRRRRRRRRRR BTW I wouldnt of minded have Ty Conklin as DP's backup for $700K like the red wings did today this is bananas im going to sleep let me know when this is over
6:42PM Toronto Maple Leafs sign UFA forward Niklas Hagman to a four-year contract worth $12 million
6:42PM New York Rangers re-sign UFA defenceman Michael Rozsival to a four-year deal worth $20 million
6:34PM Vancouver Canucks sign UFA forward Darcy Hordichuk to a two-year deal
6:33PM Philadelphia Flyers sign UFA forward Nate Raduns to a one-year deal
6:32PM Philadelphia Flyers sign UFA forward Glen Metropolit to a two-year deal
6:24PM New Jersey signs UFA forward Brian Rolston to a four year deal worth $20-million
6:15PM New York Rangers sign UFA forward Patrick Rissmiller to an undisclosed deal
6:06PM Philadelphia signs UFA defenceman Ossi Vaananen to a one year deal worth $1-million
6:01PM Columbus signs UFA defenceman Mike Commodore to a 5 year deal worth $18.75-million
5:40PM Chicago signs UFA defenceman Brian Campbell to an 8 year deal worth $56.8-million
5:04PM Buffalo signs UFA goaltender Patrick Lalime to a 2 year deal worth $2-million
4:27PM Ottawa signs UFA goaltender Alex Auld to a 2 year deal worth $2-million
4:14PM Tampa Bay signs UFA goaltender Olaf Kolzig to a 1 year deal worth $1.5-million (plus bonuses).
4:02PM Colorado signs UFA forward Darcy Tucker to a 2 year deal worth $4.5-million
3:49PM Vancouver signs RFA forward David Backes to an offer sheet, 3 years $7.5-million. St. Louis has seven days to match or accept a 2nd round draft pick as compensation.
3:43PM Chicago signs UFA goaltender Cristobal Huet (undisclosed)
3:41PM Florida signs UFA forward Cory Stillman to a 3 year deal worth $10.6-million
3:40PM NY Rangers sign UFA forward Aaron Voros (undisclosed)
3:40PM Pittsburgh signs UFA forward Eric Godard to a 3 year deal (undisclosed)
3:38PM Tampa Bay signs UFA forward Adam Hall to a 3 year deal worth $1.8-million
3:24PM Toronto signs UFA goaltender Curtis Joseph to a 1 year deal worth $700,000
3:24PM Toronto signs UFA defenceman Jeff Finger to a 4 year deal worth $3.5-million a season
3:09PM Phoenix signs UFA forward Todd Fedoruk to a 3 year deal (undisclosed)
3:07PM Detroit signs UFA goaltender Ty Conklin to a 1 year deal worth $750,000
3:07PM Montreal re-signs RFA forward Andrei Kostitsyn to a 3 year deal worth $3.25-million a season
3:03PM Colorado signs UFA goaltender Andrew Raycroft to a 1 year deal worth $800,000
2:53PM Washington signs UFA goaltender Jose Theodore to a 2 year deal (undisclosed)
2:50PM Phoenix signs UFA defenceman Kurt Sauer to a 4 year deal worth an average of $1.75-million a year
2:02PM Pittsburgh Penguins re-sign UFA defenceman Mark Eaton to a 2 year deal worth $2-million
1:58PM Minnesota Wild sign UFA forward Andrew Brunette to 3 year deal worth $7-million.
1:33PM Vancouver signs RFA forward Kyle Wellwood to a 1 year deal worth $997,500.
12:55PM Boston signs UFA forward Blake Wheeler to an entry-level contract.
12:52PM Lightning sign UFA forward Radim Vrbata to a $9-million, three-year contract.
12:04PM Anaheim re-sign forward Corey Perry to a five-year deal worth $26.625-million which will average $5.325-million a year.
11:58AM Pittsburgh Penguins sign forward Pascal Dupuis to a three-year deal which will average $1.4-million per year.
11:58AM Detroit Red Wings and veteran defenseman Brad Stuart have agreed to terms on a 4 year contract that averages 3.75 per year.
11:35AM New Jersey re-signs forwards Jay Pandolfo (3 years, $7.5-million) David Clarkson (undisclosed) and Barry Tallackson (undisclosed). Declines option on forward Sergei Brylin.
10:21AM New Jersey agrees to terms with defenceman Bryce Salvador to a four-year deal worth $11.6 million (average of $2.9 million per season).
8:45AM Washington re-signs defenceman Mike Green to a four-year deal worth $21 million (average of $5.25 million per season).
Doug Weight....ARE YOU PEOPLE FREAKING KIDDING ME ??? Another guy no one else wants? Another guy to come get one last paycheck?
All those that say "They can unload him at the deadline"....Oh yea....Same way they unloaded Satan, Vas, Guerin, etc.etc......
5 Years ago maybe....My God I will go balistic....This will prove my point the BOBBLEHEADS have no plan, no idea, no brains, etc. etc. etc......
If they sign Doug Weight you are all going to get real tired of me, b/c I will post FIRE SNOW ~ SELL THE TEAM until my fingers bleed......
***Why didn't we go after Rosi ??? Vrvbata???? ****
McCabe for Toronto's 1st round in 2009
Just wanted to say I also agree with Frei, and I read the whole post. I am very disappointed with this franchise.
I also feel too many people give Snow too much credit/grief. He is more of a yes man than Milbury. I seriously doubt any original thought comes out of him. I blame Wang all the way. He may have saved the team, but he is also destroying it.
You want to call that venom, consider this. Spouting the company line is venom to me.
Redden signed with the Rangers....Sir William
I hate them, but Rangers have had a SMART and active day.....While Snow bobbles and Wang plays with his grand kids !!!
I know .... Be patient.... I hoped and prayed I would be wrong with my clear vision this time....
It is 7:49pm..... THE ORACLE LIVES !!!
Allow me to compliment Newsday and Logan for the bang up job they did today. Up to the minute coverage, reports from the Isles HQ and lots of rumours all day. Fantastic !
Great to see a column devoted to a trade that happened over a year ago on the day when the rest of the NHL is exploding with signings and trades.
Newsday,,,as local as local news gets........Sir William
Thanks for the update, Frei. Dave Denenberg from the Nassau Legislature told me a year to a year and a half for the SEQRA process since they're doing everything they can to fast-track it. If it's on the higher edge of that, we won't see ground-breaking in July of 2009 as the project has been saying all along. I don't know what the answer is, and I know the previous pace of projects on Long Island isn't a reason to be optimistic. However, I expect/hope to see it completed before the end of 2009, with work starting soon after.
As for Redden, I think he's an awful signing from the Rags...yet another guy paid double what he's worth.
ok everyone stay calm the players that left we all knew were not coming here. The players that were in play for us are still out there and would help tremendously. Hainsy, Huselius and Ryder are all still out there. Lets Go Garth get these guys on the island. Also dont forget trades. If Boston goes Max on Hossa that means they will undoubtedly have to make a trade. This could be good for the islandes. Plus if we are to make a deal for McCabe Toronto has to throw in another player in order for us to take on that contract. We can still make moves this summer.
Lets go Islanders.
Mark Streit is an Islander
5 years/$20.5 Million
Ah dammit Logan scooped me