Just as another storm hit Long Island on Friday, word came the Islanders had signed two-way defense prospect Mark Flood. Put this one in the category of Ken Morrow pro scouting department “try” because the 24-year old Flood is a right-shot dman with ability that hasn’t gotten his NHL chance but will with the Islanders.
The 6-1, 200-pound former Peterborough Pete possesses some Gordo Guy skills - heady, desire to push the puck up ice, big shot on the power play. Flood played the last three seasons with the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in Albany. Last season the former 6th round of the Canadiens was 6-15-31 in 76 games with the River Rats. He had 10 goals in 53 games in ‘07-08. The NYI also signed AHL Binghamton’s Greg Mauldin, a speedy right wing with a good release who could get 20-25 goals for the Sound Tigers. Comments.
After four weeks off for Tavaresmania and the free agent un-frenzy, we jump back in with a major Lighthouse Project update because right after this holiday weekend it heats up again. Put a circle around these dates.
July 7: On Tuesday at around 10:30 am at Hempstead Town Hall, Supervisor Kate Murray and the ToH will approve the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Don’t mean to dissuade anyone from going, but it’s not exactly going to have the buzz of Tavares last Friday. If you are a supporter of the Lighthouse Project it’s more important you clear time for…
Early August (date TBD): Probably during the first week of August, the Town of Hempstead will host a massive public hearing on the arena project. Do not lump this one in with all the meetings that already happened. If you are an advocate for the Islanders and/or the Lighthouse and there’s only one day you could ever give up to show your support, this is the all-day extravaganza you must attend. The proponents need to blow away the opponents.
The parties will negotiate a location. Count out the Coliseum for fear of home-ice advantage. Somewhere on the Hofstra grounds sounds about right. Stay tuned for details in the days after the July 7 meeting.
September 22: Islanders vs. Los Angeles at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. Fascinating how that brilliant PR salvo of almost six months ago has kind of been forgotten about, don’t you think? This is a reminder that the exhibition game is actually happening. Best way to tell how Charles Wang is feeling about Lighthouse negotiations: whether he shows up in Kansas City or not.
October 3: It’s the start of the Islanders’ 2009-10 regular season and Wang’s deadline for “certainty” from the Town of Hempstead. “Just tell me ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’” Wang has said a lot.
As I wrote on May 21, there’s still almost no way the Town of Hempstead gives Wang a “yes” by October 3. Because the first six months of this year were wasted by posturing, there’s so much work to be done, and it’s impossible to imagine the ToH meeting Wang’s deadline. (By the way, whatever happened to that document of responsibilities Tom Suozzi said he would make public “10 days” after the June 5 hand-holding meeting?).
When Oct. 3 passes without any Town certainty, all eyes will be on Wang’s next move. But hey - it’s too early to be so darn cynical. Let’s see what happens July 7, and do not miss the big public hearing in early August.
Comments on the Lighthouse in this thread only. Let us know if you will show at the major hearing.
UFA discussion continues below. Again, I do not expect anything other than maybe more AHL signings today.
Class move by Billy Guerin. Instead of using his one day with the Stanley Cup this summer to bring it home to Massachusetts, he’s delivering it to a place dear to his family’s heart: Long Island.
“I have four kids, and all their friends are there,” the former Islanders captain told The Republican. “This is their turn to celebrate.”
Comments on Bill Guerin’s decision.
Point Blank on Twitter
Yep, that day went as expected. Our understanding is that the Islanders do not have any serious negotiations at this point with any NHL players. They could get in the mix for a UFA slipper or two, but we wouldn’t change those 4th of July weekend plans.
I’d love to tease you with some info that might drive hits between now and the Tavares press conference, but that would be deceitful. Count on seeing a few more fringe players in Transactions. You’ll have to excuse my use of the phrase “depth player” in earlier posts. In the old PR job, that was a euphemism for “AHL player who could get in a few games when the groin pulls and hip flexors pile up.”
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UPDATED at 1:46 pm: As we figured this morning, here comes the depth.
Islanders just sent out a press release announcing one-year, two-way contracts for the below-mentioned Scott Munroe, left wing Jeremy Reich and defenseman Brett Westgarth.
In our UFA previews we said the Islanders would sign a fringe player their pro scouts or Scott Gordon might personally believe in. Fitting that category would be Reich, the team captain in Providence last season who played 90 games for the Bruins between 2006-08. Reich is 6-1, 200 pounds and 30 years old, but get this: last season he had 21 goals and 161 penalty minutes. So there.
Westgarth is a tough stay-at-home defenseman who played for Worcester (AHL) last season.
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11:48 am: As predicted, the depth signings begin. We have confirmed a report by the reliable Andy Strickland that the Islanders have signed AHL Philadelphia goaltender Scott Munroe to a one-year contract.
We listed Munroe as a top 3-2 candidate in a post two months ago. If Rick DiPietro can’t play, Munroe is a capable backup to Dwayne Roloson. He played 56 games for the Phantoms last season, with a 31-19-4 record, 2.46 GAA and .926 save percentage. Kudos to Strickland for the scoop.
If DiPietro can play, Munroe is a lock for Bridgeport. That leaves potentially one spot for Nathan Lawson and 2009 second round pick Mikko Koskinen. This is not a problem, certainly not a problem worth thinking about on July 2.
Then again, it’s becoming more and more impossible not to see the arrivals of Roloson, Munroe and drafting of Koskinen and Anders Nilsson as a sign of how much the Islanders are counting on DiPietro.
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Islanders: Most likely candidate to be this year’s “Mark Streit signing,” whether he lands with the Islanders or not - Francois Beauchemin. He even fights a little.
Also available: Defensemen Paul Mara, Rob Scuderi and Jordan Leopold. Plus some top-end forwards the Islanders will not sign (Saku Koivu, Alexei Kovalev), one they could look at to get the puck to the kids (Alex Tanguay) and a whole bunch of gritty-gutty role players (Chad Larose, Travis Moen, Mike Grier). There could even be another depth goalie.
Eric Godard may be available in Pittsburgh. Consider it future considerations for Billy G.
If the Islanders didn’t sign an impact forward or defenseman on day one, as expected, I wouldn’t expect them to sign one on July 2. If you’re one of the folks holding out hope for a free agent goal scorer or top-4 dman, your best bet may be to see who falls through the cracks of July and into August. (Remember the summer of 2007 and the great Andy Sutton vs Dani Markov debate?).
Again, you have been warned.
A Word on the Wrecker: Love Joel Rechlicz. Big heart, great energy. Had a long talk with him after a game in April. Sincere, determined, proud. But let’s slow down a bit. The Wrecker played half last season in the ECHL and sat in the stands in Bridgeport as a healthy AHL scratch almost as many times as he suited up for the Islanders (17 games). At one point, Scott Gordon even told the press some Bridgeport depth players were up for a few meaningless end-of-Islanders season games because he wanted to respect the Sound Tigers’ run for the playoffs.
I have no doubt Rechlicz will continue to develop under his mentor, the outstanding former heavyweight Eric Cairns. But remember: he was signed last May 5 as a project, a very worthy one. Just as you would hope the Islanders would not rush the development of a goal scorer or a puck-moving defenseman, I don’t see why they would force a fighter-agitator into the lineup ahead of schedule.
Sound Tigers: The inevitable “I can’t believe they signed those guys with Tanguay still on the board” should arrive in the next day or two. That’s when the great Mike Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post will break the news that the Islanders have signed an American Leaguer or three for Bridgeport.
For Jack Capuano’s crew to win a few games next season, the Islanders are going to have to start adding pieces. One or two will be in the category of NHL “tries,” while others will be AHLers. So far, the Sound Tigers have lost their best two-way center (Jeremy Colliton, off to Europe), one of their top defensemen (Joe Callahan), their third and fourth-leading scorers (Kurtis McLean and Ben Walter) and are likely saying bon voyage to No. 1 (Mike Iggulden). They have added Tony Romano, the Long Islander by way of Peterborough and Jason Dale, a 43-point forward with Brampton as a 20-year old last season.
Expect some AHLers in the Transactions over the next week. Yup, I hear ya. No one cares. You want NHLers. Got it. Understood.
With the Day One Free Agent Frenzy over, Comment Guidelines are back on. No more than 3 posts per reader per thread, and the rest of the usual rules. Thank you.
So that everyone gets in, this is a ONE-COMMENT-PER-READER thread. Please show respect to your fellow fans.
As I tried to prepare you yesterday morning, the Islanders did not sign any forwards at the grand opening of the free agent store. As predicted later in the day, they didn’t sign any defensemen either.
We all knew the Islanders would sign a goaltender. In Dwayne Roloson, they signed a No. 1 goaltender who has played more than 60 games in two of the last three seasons and led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final. Two years of Roloson - even at 40 - is better than Craig Anderson, Ty Conklin, Scott Clemmensen and some of the other options. The difference: those guys strive to be No. 1 goalies. Roloson is one. As we await the latest update on Rick DiPietro, the Islanders at least have security for two years and a bridge to their super-sized European goalie prospects.
Today opened with a post about the annual tradition of media and fans freaking about the teams that didn’t do anything, and the ritual continued today. It’s always a bummer to see so many good hockey players go elsewhere, but I will say this: there wasn’t a single contract done today where I thought the Islanders were dumb to not bid more. Not four years at a mill each for Colton Orr, who would have been good for the NYI. Certainly not four years at two mill per for Chris Neil, who would not have been. The Islanders need a fighter who could play a bit, not a guy who doesn’t fight much and thinks he’s a player.
Still, the lack of size and intimidation on the current version of the Islanders’ roster is alarming. Actually, it’s a joke. With the increase of enforcers and bullies on just about every team in the East except the Islanders, the hole in the team’s heart, psyche and collective cojones is so gaping…well, Garth Snow must be doing something about it. There’s no way he and Scott Gordon send this lineup chockful of kids, finesse playmakers, veteran welterweight Doug Weight and 18-year old franchise player John Tavares on the ice as is.
Joel Rechlicz could become a Steve Webb agitator/folk hero, but he is not a heavyweight. Even Travis Moen, who Logie says the Islanders have not contacted, does not fully get the job done. I don’t know when Snow makes his move for protection - would probably have to be a trade now - but he will. He has to.
This is a one-comment-per-reader thread. Those looking to still mix it up with more than one can continue in the next thread.
Feel free to start the Night Shift of UFA Commentary in this thread, aka Fight Club.
6:44 pm: Just wrapped up a media conference call with Dwayne Roloson. The highlights…
On why he left Edmonton: “It was strictly the extra year. It’s the same deal we proposed to them. They didn’t want to do it. I got the deal I wanted.”
On what he has left: “I didn’t play a lot when I started, before I went to Edmonton. I don’t have the mileage some other starters have. Physically, I’m still healthy.”
On Rick DiPietro: “I have a relationship with Rick that goes back to when he was in college. We shared a goalie coach back then. We’ve met at PA meetings. We talk about everything. No matter who plays, we’re going to get along great.” Roloson added that hasn’t asked DiPietro about his health.
On playing for the rebuilding Islanders: “My mindset is to help our team win. Whether I’m playing or on the bench, I’m going to do my best to help the team.” Roloson said he thought the Islanders played well for half of last season, but the loss of DiPietro hurt.
One thing was very clear on the conference call, which included as many reporters from Edmonton as New York. No doubt by the time he throws on the Islanders uniform he’ll be well past it, but Roloson was deeply disappointed the Oilers did not give him what he wanted. “It’s a lot tougher than people might imagine,” he said.”
Comments.
Roloson talk here. All other UFA discussion continues in next thread.
The absolute right move. The best goalie they could get for the shortest term. $2.5 million a year for two years for Dwayne Roloson, who was Edmonton’s MVP last season. He will be 40 when the season starts, but keeps himself in great shape and is known for his intense focus. In his last three seasons, Roloson played 68, 43 and 63 regular season games for the Oilers.
Last night, with Edmonton still not having signed him, we listed Roloson as the top goalie available on a short-term deal. Well done by Garth Snow.
Roloson just told TSN that the second year was the stumbling block with Edmonton, that he knows Rick DiPietro and he’ll leave it up to the coaching staff to decide who’s playing how much.
Comments on signing only. UFA talk continues below.
UPDATED at 5:55 pm - Here’s a theory. Islanders were never major players for Mike Komisarek, for reasons outlined the last few days on this blog. Everyone thinks today the Islanders are going hard after him. Brian Burke doesn’t like it. Blows away Islanders for Komisarek with mega offer. Toronto offer probably two years and a few mill more than what the Islanders would have signed the LIer for. In other news, Burkie is still telling anyone who’ll listen the Islanders are drafting Duchene and trading for Vinny.
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As always, Islanders discussion only in the Comments thread.
Welcome to the opening of unrestricted free agency, a time when fans and media freak out as teams lose players or fail to sign any.
July 1, when the sky will fall in several NHL cities. “Why does that team sign everyone”? “How could they possibly have the cap space”? “Is my team going to do anything”?
Like in 2007, when the Detroit Red Wings added Brian Rafalski and a great team got greater and won the Cup. And then there was…I mean don’t forget about…uh…
Ryan Smyth to Colorado.
Todd Bertuzzi back with Burkie in Anaheim.
Chris Drury and Scott Gomez on celebrated mega-deals to the Rangers.
Michael Nylander to Edmonton, I mean Washington.
Jason Blake to his dream hockey town of Toronto.
Hammer Hamrlik at 22 million for four years to go to Montreal.
Paul Kariya to rebuilding St. Louis.
Petr Sykora, playoff healthy scratch, to Pittsburgh.
The agent for Michal Handzus and Ladislav Nagy packaging the buddies together and finding a buyer in the LA Kings.
The Islanders patching up holes with Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie, Ruslan Fedotenko and Jon Sim. And then later on, Andy Sutton. Guerin & Co. were signed to the tune of combined 2007-08 salaries of $14.4 million. What did it get them? Where did it get them?
Interesting. $14.4 million today could help you rip the savior tag off John Tavares.
Comments related to this story and any Islanders news ONLY. We’re all on TSN and nhl.com. No need to post signings by other teams. Thanks.
Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
Garth is really taking this deception thing to a new level. The PR staff just sent out a media advisory for an Introduction to John Tavares, which will be, um, in a week. Thanks for the notice!
The lead story on the official team website is on the drafting of Tavares, which if you haven’t heard happened more than 100 hours ago. The No. 2 story on the team site is about Jeff Tambellini signing autographs at the Team Store in Sunrise Mall on Wednesday.
That seals it: the Sedins, Scott Niedermayer and the Bulin Wall are on their way to Long Island!
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Scott Clemmensen…really? Besides watching him back-stop the cautious Devils in a pinch for a few months last season on MSG Plus, has anyone really looked at what the 32-year old has done in his career? Give a look and let me know if this is the man for the Islanders.
Clemmensen, who played in only 28 NHL games before his 31st birthday? Clemmensen, who was average-at-best for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL in 2007-08?
But know this: Scott is No. 2 on Greg Logan’s Top Candidates list, which is probably not by accident. It’s true - Clemmensen does have his supporters on the Islanders’ staff. Doesn’t seem to be the way to go, but it could happen.
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If the Islanders do not acquire first-rate goaltending to ride tandem or take over for Rick DiPietro, all the joy in Tavaresville will quickly fade away by the end of October. No one knows this better than Scott Gordon, who spoke fairly passionately and candidly all last season about the importance of reliable puck-stopping.
It’s okay if the Islanders want to commit to their program and their younger, mostly home-grown players. But if the team does not have confidence in its backstop, there can be a demoralizing effect from the defense to the forwards to the coaching staff and all the way through the fanbase.
Which is why this is indeed a very important week for the Islanders.
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That said, you have to wonder if Craig Anderson is a realistic target. Oh sure, they will call Anderson’s agent - count on it - but there are other issues at play here besides mutual admiration between team and goaltender.
Anderson is going to get the best contract of his career, likely somewhere between 3-5 years. The Islanders just used the first pick in the second round of the draft to select a 6-7 goaltender from Finland who turns 21 in a few weeks. If we are to take the Islanders’ statements at face value, DiPietro is going to play hockey this season.
So when you analyze how the Islanders have approached this rebuild, can we expect them to give a long-term contract to a 1-B goaltender like Anderson?
That would surprise me. Not that I nor most anyone would complain.
I think the Islanders should try to sign the best NHL goaltender they can to the shortest contract they can. The dollars for 2009-10, considering the Islanders are currently below the floor and way below the cap, are not the issue.
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Goalies in play for possible short-term deals: Dwayne Roloson (at age 40 and with his experience he could join the Snowy-Gordo-Dunny-Sudsie goalie think tank), Martin Gerber (he’s Swiss and knows Streit!), Scott Clemmensen.
Longer-term goalies: Craig Anderson, Ty Conklin (wants to settle down with this deal), Martin Biron.
“Tries”: Drew McIntyre (can’t be the only signing), Andrew Raycroft (Gordo likey), Mathieu Garon, the oft-injured and off-center Manny Fernandez.
Intriguing: Antero Niittymaki.
Yawns: Waiver wire veterans Brian Boucher, Dany Sabourin, Yann Danis, Jason LaBarbera, Curtis Sandford, Wade Dubielewicz.
Heavens, No: Manny Legace. Also, the aforementioned Clemmensen, LaBarbera and Raycroft.
Best goaltender available if they want to push for a playoff spot: Nikolai Khabibulin. Probably won’t happen, but if the Islanders want to play meaningful games in March and April…
Comments.
UPDATED at 5:50 pm - The Islanders have not, but Rich Chere reports a swap between the Islanders and Devils: Ben Walter to New Jersey for the rights to Tony Romano, a Devils’ 178th overall pick from 2006. Tony is a 5-11 center from Smithtown. The run of Long Islanders coming to Long Island begins!
Romano was 36-33-69 in 65 games with Peterborough. Walter wasn’t being brought back by the Islanders. Lou Lamoriello doesn’t have much of a history of trading young players who turn into NHLers. Even swap.
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4:00 pm - First off, a note about today’s UFA Prep stories. I want to be clear: I haven’t written, nor will I waste anyone’s time, about what I would do. The stories on the Ds and the Fs and the next one on the goalies, they are about what the Islanders are thinking, what the Islanders likely will and will not do. I’m well aware that just because the Islanders have 12 and 7 under contract, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try to get better forwards and defensemen. I’m well aware that Jay Bouwmeester is better than The Fantastic IVth, that Marian Hossa might help the Islanders win more games than Tamby.
More than unrestricted free agency, the Islanders might be in position to make themselves much better in the short and long-term by utilizing their tremendous salary cap space in deals. That’s on Garth Snow to figure it out over the next few weeks. My hunch is he has been strategizing for it.
And finally, a word about UFA scoops. Like the actual day of the trade deadline, I strongly recommend you rely on TSN (simulcast on the NHL Network), Sportsnet, Greg Logan and the message boards on July 1 and 2. To be blunt, I’m not interested in being the first to type “Islanders Sign Zanon”! a minute or two before everyone else. You guys are the hunters tomorrow. I’ll probably learn about who the Islanders have signed first by reading about it in my own Comments section. No problem with that. And by the way, I still think the Islanders are taking Tavares.
Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
UPDATED at 3:55 pm - As Twittered by the great James Mirtle, Mike Komisarek’s agent has announced that his client will test the UFA waters.
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If you really believe - or just want to believe - the Islanders are going to sign some stud free agents over the next week, then I guess you can call me an enabler. For Garth Snow, that is. Earlier today, at the risk of losing mega PB site visits during the UFA period, we warned against expectations of a major free agent forward signing.
Now it’s on to the defense! Don’t shoot the messenger.
Qualifying offers (1): The Islanders have QOed restricted free agent defenseman Jack Hillen.
Signed and Set (6): Under one-way contracts for next season and on the team are Bruno Gervais, Radek Martinek, Freddy Meyer, Mark Streit, Andy Sutton and Brendan Witt.
And There’s…(0): Just kidding. If 12th overall pick Calvin de Haan believes he probably needs another two full years of junior hockey, who are we to argue with him?
All But Gone: Thomas Pock is off to Europe - wipe away those tears, little buddies - while depth dman Joe Callahan will test the UFA waters.
July 1: With 6 defensemen on one-way contracts, Scott Gordon’s relative faith in puck-mover Jack Hillen and decent blueline prospects in Andrew McDonald and Dustin Kohn, the Islanders have their excuse reason to not sign a stud UFA defenseman.
Still, they are on a 1-for-1 hot streak with the value inking of Mark Streit last summer, prompting management to float whispers they’re looking at “another Streit-type move.” They might want to take the confidence down a notch, considering where the team finished last season with Streit.
Too bad Suffolk County’s own Mike Komisarek is not an unrestricted free agent next season. With rugged stay-at-homers Sutton (one year) and Witt (two years) still on the rolls, it’s tough to picture the rugged stay-at-homer Komisarek coming home. Oh well. Michael will just have to settle for the crazy $5 million a year long-term somewhere else.
Syosset’s Rob Scuderi would be a better value than Komisarek. Then again, the entire league watched Rob’s wonderful play on their TV screens in May and June. He’s going to get calls from at least 20 teams.
Considering the style Scott Gordon wants to play, Anaheim’s Francois Beauchemin is worth a call and an offer. He’s coming off an injury, but is also coming into his own. He’s a rare commodity in that he can move it and shoot it, and he has some bulk. Beauchemin is 29, so he wouldn’t mess up the Islanders’ rebuilding plans.
If they successfully woo Beauchemin - or surprise us with one of the top UFAs - being forced to move one of their original six like Martinek, Meyer or Sutton would not be a bad problem to have.
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My friend John Kreiser has put together an excellent top-50 UFA list for nhl.com. Sure, there are others out there beyond John’s chart, but hardly anyone who will make a significant impact. Johnny Oduya would have been nice, but Mr. Lamoriello was not going to let him get away. Oduya signed a few hours ago.
Kyle Okposo gets an invitation to U.S. Olympic summer camp.
The constant Comments harping on solid depth center Nate Thompson? Priceless. Really now, just not where the focus should be.
Comment Guidelines. UFA goalie preview up next.
Now that John Tavares is aboard, will the Islanders stay with their rebuild and development program and maintain their commitment to suckulence?
The Penguins did it for five years, whether they knew they were or not. (Boy, did Ray Shero step in it). Washington management knew darn well what they were doing. Since the Islanders or any team could never match the Penguins glorious pain of picking in the top 2 four years in a row, the Capitals are a more realistic model.
The commitment to this tear-down/rebuild should not be difficult for the Islanders, as the last few weeks would seem to illustrate. All you have to do is be one of the worst teams in the league, keep your obvious first round pick a secret, and then revel in the praise as TSN, ESPN, most of the print media and a large percentage of your fanbase hails your brilliance. Honestly, has a sports team ever received so many hosannas for coming in last and for the no-brainer drafting of a franchise player? I have been brought to my knees in awe.
So what does this all mean for the Islanders and unrestricted free agency when the doors to the store open tomorrow? Let’s take a look, starting with the men and boys up front.
FORWARDS
Qualifying offers (2): The Islanders will QO restricted free agents Blake Comeau and Nate Thompson. With no leverage, both will eventually sign two-way deals. Both will likely make the team out of camp. (Jack Hillen is the one D of note to be QOed).
Signed and Set (9, maybe 10): Under one-way contracts for next season and on the team are Sean Bergenheim, Trent Hunter, Tim Jackman, Frans Nielsen, Richard Park, Jeff Tambellini and Doug Weight. Under a one-way contract for next season and not set is Jon Sim, who it doesn’t appear will be bought out - although I can’t find Jon on the Islanders or the NHLPA websites. Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey have two years left on their Entry Level deals.
And There’s…(1): John Tavares will be signed to an Entry Level 3-year deal. He is a lock to play for the Islanders from beginning to end this season.
All But Gone: Andy Hilbert, Dean McAmmond, Mike Sillinger (take care, young friend). Jeremy Colliton and Kurtis McLean off to Europe, Mike Iggulden supposedly right behind them. Ben Walter and Mitch Fritz will be looking elsewhere.
July 1: With 13 forwards under contract - 9 on one-way deals, plus Tavares, Okposo, Comeau and Thompson - by the opening of camp and a few kids (Trevor Smith, Jesse Joenssu) knocking on the door, Garth Snow has kept expectations low for a big free agent haul. I believe him.
He’ll take a serious look at a fulltime enforcer, because it’s the right move and so he doesn’t have to hear about it anymore.
He’ll make a run at a B-level free agent with untapped upside and say his pro scouts think the new guy can develop into a top-6 forward in the right situation. If the agent for a big-time talent - Alex Tanguay and Maxim Afinogenov come to mind - want to go short-term in the hopes of a career turnaround (a la Victor Kozlov and Tom Poti), Snow would have to listen. Maybe Brian Gionta, if Lou Lamoriello walks away from him.
The best opportunity for an Islanders surprise comes if a Mike Cammalleri (39 goals) falls through the cracks in July and the Islanders are one of the few teams with the cap space and interest to sign him.
But will there be a big splash at forward? Feel free to hit this blog as much as you can on Wednesday and Thursday. However, it would be disingenous for me to lead you to believe a star forward is about to join Tavares. With another high draft pick, several contracts expiring and possibly a Lighthouse shovel in the ground, next summer would be a better time for some headline-grabbing signings.
Comments on forwards and this story only. Goaltending and defense are up next.
