EXCLUSIVE: GUERIN WILL APPROVE A MOVE
For the right deal, captain will waive no-move clause
10:25 pm, NVMC - Bill Guerin may be closer to becoming the Islanders’ former captain.
Guerin will waive his no-move clause and is open to a trade from the Islanders ”under the right circumstances,” a league source has told Point Blank. Guerin and the Islanders negotiated the no-move clause when the captain signed a two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent in July of 2007.
(From the Collective Bargaining Agreement: “A no-move clause prevents the involuntary relocation of a player - whether by trade, loan or waiver claim.”)
While the source refused to divulge the parameters of an “understanding” with the Islanders, consider that Guerin is a 38-year old from Boston with a wife (whose family is from New Jersey) and four young children on Long Island. Two years ago, he was dealt from St. Louis to San Jose as a “rental” at the trade deadline. Since the no-move clause gives Guerin complete control of this life decision, we will make the leap of assuming that the Islanders captain will lean towards approving a trade to a playoff team in the East.
This would appear to open up the possibility of a deal to the following teams:
Boston
Washington
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Montreal
Rangers
Buffalo
Pittsburgh
All are short flights (or closer) from the Island. There may also be plenty of appeal to moving from the league’s 30th-place team to Original Six contenders Detroit and Chicago.
Make no mistake: by waiving the no-move for the right deal, the captain is granting his team a favor. This provides the Islanders trade possibilities for an established veteran after the team had given Guerin the contractual right to stay where he is. This is a good situation for the Islanders.
With the Islanders in a rebuilding period, Guerin’s agreement to a deal could enable the team to acquire a high draft pick or prospect. There have been no discussions between the Islanders and their captain about a contract extension.
This season Guerin leads the Islanders with 16 goals and in shots on goal with 180. He is tied for second in scoring with 35 points and has averaged 17:14 of icetime per game. He is the only Islander to play in all 61 games so far this season.
The NHL trade deadline is next Wednesday, March 4.
More on this story as news breaks. Comments.
119 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: GUERIN WILL APPROVE A MOVE
For the right deal, captain will waive no-move clause”
Please Wait
He’ll be great *piece* for someone. Would be nice to get a juicy pick AND a prospect!
Tick-tock-tick-tock
Good luck to Bill.
Hopefully we can move him.
Hopefully this works out best for everyone.
If that is true (no reason to doubt you CB) then they must have a deal close to in place. It will be very interesting to see what we get back. Will it be Guerin by himself going, or a package?
I have nothing bad to say about Guerin. But we are not likely to bring him back next year, so if we can get something for him now we are ahead of the game.
If I was Garth Snow, I would trade Guerin for a pick (2nd rounder?)or a prospect. The question in my mind is if we want him back next year as our captain?
Im happy you pointed that out, CB- if Guerin DOES move, that is him doing a favor for this organization, not the other way around.
I honestly would be happy to keep the guy and sign him for another season- but like Campoli, if it is a great offer for him I will understand.
Guerin is a true “Captain” if he waives his NTC and gets us a prospect and/or a high pick.
I still think Snow should package Guerin with Weight and do everyone good and give a playoff team a much better chance of winning a Cup and give us a really good prospect with a high pick.
No surprise here. Boston seems like the best spot for Guerin, BUT Boston is very solid right now. Do they need Guerin THAT bad?
He’s as good as gone though. No doubt he wants out & Snow will do right by his buddy & will probably bend over backwards to send Guerin where he wants. Hopefully Snow doesn’t scrafice too much value by being too accomodating though!
Thanks for the classiness, Billy.
There’s no doubt that in my mind that we will see a couple of moves by the deadline, not just one.
Thank you, Bill Guerin. You are a classy captain who we will miss.
This team will miss him if he gets traded. His leadership is invaluable to all the young players on this team. He will be hard to replace. Not all veterans have the leadership abilities Guerin does. Whatever Garth gets back it better be worth it.
I agree with post 3, something is imminently close. I doubt the Rangers are a fit partner. Jersey, Boston, Philly, all possible, especially with jersey going throwback, I’d like Vrana or Bergfors. Anyone think Weight will actually be moved?
I would welcome a trade and ANY high draft pick for Guerin. He has done a great job and HE deserves this opportunity. I would love to see him go to the NYR because we all know very well it will be a higher draft pick than if he was to go to one of the other mentioned teams.
Translation is that Guerin will be traded! Best of luck to him! I think he ends up with a team that is in panic mode! Rangers, Pitt, Buffalo or MTL. Watch Buffalo, they come to town this W/E!
I wonder if Guerin would accept a trade to the Rangers. I feel like he has really come to embrace being an Islander and I am not 100% sure he would go to Manhattan.
no more draft picks. please.
The Islanders do have some very classy players. Just this week, I thought it was very classy of Campoli (an 8th round pick) to do right by the org & get us a #1 pick in return. A lot of ‘team’ players, I tell ya!
Dalcy, I hope you realize that we are well underway a rebuild, one that will have more success if we were to gain a draft pick instead of a guerin-esque player in return. I would like to see if we could get a good prospect for him and a later-round pick… I think that would be a good exchange.
If we are going to trade Billy and I’m fine with that, then I hope we keep Doug Weight around…we really need to keep one of the two…some veteran presences is needed
Guerin and one of our second round picks for a first round pick. Anything less than that they shouldn’t make a trade. Wouldn’t be worth it.
What about trading Guerin and Weight and keeping McAmmond around? The guy grew up an Isles fan and he is a solid veteran.
Weight and Guerin have the most value.
You would have McAmmond,Park,Streit
Those guys can help bring along the youngins.
Good luck to Guerin where ever he goes(if he goes anywhere). He has been a classy professional from the start and has no doubt shown the young players what being a leader is all about.
Here is my prediction:
To Montreal:
Bill Guerin
1st round pick (SJ) 2009
To NYI:
Montreal 1st round pick 2009
D Ryan O’Byrne (yes the guy that shot the puck in the empty net.)
I understand it needs to be done, but I hope he doesn’t get traded just to be traded. I think this team will need him even in this rebuild. He might pull a Sundin and say he doesn’t want to be a rental. But I won’t get mad if we get something good in return. All the best for Billy, hopefully he can go far into the playoffs for whoever gets him
glad to hear. nyi should get a very nice return for guerin.
Weight to MTL for Laraque & a 2nd rd pick. 3rd if MTL loses in the first rd or doesn’t make the playoffs at all.
haha, I love how you want Laraque back Vukota. I should have guessed.
There is only one thing Boston could give us for Guerin and that is their first rounder. We already have their second.
If that is the case that is a good thing. There is always the fear of that player coming back to haunt if traded within your division. Although that probably won’t be the case with Guerin.
It is awesome if you can fins away to drain your conference foes of draft picks. Boston is good this year but having no picks in the first or second round would be a nice blow. They are tight against the cap as it is.
Who better to protect the kids then the champ
Interesting, but let’s not get draft pick happy. If we get a second rounder for him the prospect will have a less than 25% chance of being an NHL regular. Do you trade proven power forward, a leader and a role model in the critical years of youth development for that? I should hope not. If a second rounder is the offer, and he and his family are happy here, he should play out the remainder of his NHL days as an Islander.
not for nothing but how aboout a player for once instead of another pick. We could use a skilled forward with size who can put the biscuit in the basket
Oh man, i’d kill for Lucic. Trade Guerin and Shark’s 1st pick for Milan Lucic or even try to get Patrice Bergeron. Ah, but I don’t see Boston maing either moves. I guess their 1st round pick would be nice.
Something tells me he ends up in Montreal. I think he was in Dallas when Gainey was there also. Not quite sure what they would get in return, but it would be nice to get a player/prospect instead of just draft picks (unless it is a number 1).
Why would a team take Guerin? Are they watching the same games I am?
bergron is one hit from brett lindros, nothanks
i agree with bloodyskull… it seems to me guerin has gotten very lazy… he doesn’t go after pucks anymore and yea he doesn’t really score nemore either… 1 goal in the last, idk 20 gms… but i hope we culd get something in return for him….also why is everyone putting streits name in trade rumors… he ain’t goin nowhere… he better not
If Guerin goes to Boston I’d Want Sobotka Philly - Lupul? long shot Jersey - Bergfors/ or Vrana Washington - Bourque + Pick
Rags - Prucha/Lauri
Someone (Garth) wake up Sather and steal Sanguinetti from him!
Boston or Pitt say I. NJ has Shanahan who is basically the same player. Snow won’t deal with the Rangers. Washington doesn’t need him with Kozlov and Federov. Philly doesn’t need him either, they need a goalie. Perhaps Montreal, but I do not think so.
Pitt needs a scoring winger and really need some veteran presence. Letting Roberts and Malone go really hurt them.
Sykora and Satan are too low key. Guerrin is a good fit here.
Boston is also a good fit as they prepare to go deep into the playoffs. Guerin is great insurance at forward for them. Boston has a lot of players with histories of injuries. Billy G just may be a life saver up there……SW
SW, Pittsburgh acquired Kunitz today and Montreal has lost Wang.
I have a weird feeling Montreal is the place.
I would want to try to move Guerin to Montreal. After Lang went down, they need another power forward, and Guerin would fit perfectly.
In return, I would go after prospect PK Subban. He’s a great friend of Tavares, but from what I’ve seen of him in the WJC he has great offensive upside, and has good defensive skills as well.
He is listed at 6′, 200 lbs, so he has the size to not be pushed around in the NHL, compared to someone like Ryan Ellis, who is 5′10″.
Montreal also has very limited cap space, so the ability for us to also take salary that is unwanted would make us very appealing to Montreal.
From what I have seen, I could see Subban on the Islanders being a offensive defenseman on the second unit. I feel that he would fill the hole that Campoli was expected to fill, however he seems to have shown much more in juniors than Campoli did.
Lang not Wang. haha
I think Billy would only lift ntc for Boston,imo. Lashoff,Sobotka,Bitz[ he is a big boy w/a nice shot},Hunwick and maybe Fernandez.He would be a nice insurance policy for DP next year. The B’s will not give up any one on thier current roster unless its for Smyth,Pronger or Neidimeyer!!JMI
I think it’s Montreal too, but I think Higgins is involved in the deal as well. We’ll see. Dollar Bill has been nothing but classy since he arrived, definitely someone I’ll be rooting for in the playoffs.*
*assuming he doesn’t move about 20 miles west into Manhattan. =)
NO WAY U GET SUBBAN 4 BG!!!!!! R U KIDDEN
Thanks for bridge-gap leadership Billy G! I agree it might be wiser to keep one of them (weight) around for next year, but here’s a prediction:
to BUF to NYI
Guerin Stafford
3rd rounder 2nd rounder
to MTL to NYI
Weight Higgins
Martinek Komisarek
2nd rounder 4th rounder
to PHI to NYI
witt Lupul
mcammond 2nd rounder
This too far-fetched? haha
Or Higgins
I know Pitt got Kunitz today. Still doesn’t answer their vet leadership problem…..SW
That is good news about Guerin waiving the no-trade. It is best for all involved. He desrves to be in the playoffs and the Islanders need the assets.
Per Newsday Witt already has his meeting with the NHL tomorrow afternoon.
Interesting from Gordon in his comment about guys not being here next year.
“The one thing I stress to our players is we’re trying to build something here for next year, and I’m not going to stop coaching and trying to get our team to be better and I expect the same from all our players, but particularly the ones who are going to be here next year.”
I wouldn’t rule out Subban. The Canadians want to win NOW, and I have heard from other places that Subban is not untouchable.
Also, for Montreal to take Guerin we would need to take back salary. Honestly, I feel that Higgins would be a guy they would get rid of to clear up cap space. Guerin has 16 goals, the same number of POINTS Higgins has. I also have a question. If the Islanders agree to pay some of the salary for Guerin, does the percent of the salary they are paying go against the Islanders cap hit or still the team Guerin would be traded to?
I’d like to see him stay. I’d try to sign him for another year, if he didn’t want to stay then I guess I’d look in to a trade, for a prospect. Who knows, maybe that is what already took place prior to this article. Always respected Guerin and still will no matter where he chooses to go. Classy guy with the charity tickets and all, if he goes I hope he wins the cup.
Guerin served his purpose as a name and leader, time to move on. We haven’t had a solid team since the Tucker Submarine changed the organization. That hit cost us a serious run, from which we have never recovered until now with the right plan. We got the taste of a run and made some poor decisions, now Snowy is in the right mindset.
PUT SIM ON WAIVERS AGAIN, HE COST US A POINT TONIGHT!
You cant “pay some of the salary” for anyone under the current CBA. It cannot be done.
I’d say the leading contenders are Phil (Hartnell) Washington (unsure), Boston (Gordon would know who he wants). Dark horse is Pitt. Tangradi the kid they picked up today from Ana could be part of the return.
can we PLEASE keep a captain more then 1 year….Lately being named an isles captain means being traded that yr or the year after!
If you trade billy, weight is NOT coming back next year. UNLESS Bill comes back and signs with us over the summer. I personally think that we need prospects now more than picks. Picks are great but a second round pick could take 3 years to finally be NHL ready. I’d much rather see us get a prospect or young player that is closer to being an impact player, than having to wait for the draft and then hoping the kid developes into an NHL caliber player quickly. CB whats your take??
My hope is that he agrees to a team that is going for one of the bottom playoff spots in either conference (Carolina, Buffalo, Rangers, LA, Columbus, Edmonton, those bubble teams) and someone desperate coughs up a first rounder for him, and some of those teams are desperate to get some points right now.
If Campoli is worth a firster, I think Guerin is as well.
If it’s true, thanks Billy for being a team guy realizing your value is more important on the trading block than in the room right now.
Hunter will b the next Captain once the dust has settled.
Am I missing something here? In a lot of comment i see Guerin being sent away for a pick and a prospect? Why not include one of our million 2nd round draft picks along with Guerin to a contender looking for veteran leadership and get a good established player in return?
As CB said about Higgins, why not scoop that kid up with Guerin + a 2nd rounder? Is this completely unrealistic? It doesn’t have to be Higgins per say, but why couldn’t we get a solid return from a team that wants to win now?
What we need is a youngish proven vet that can be part of the solution for the foreseeable future?
Guys, what your missing in saying you’d like to see Guerin here another year is Snow & Gordon have decided he is not a fit. Everyone loves his leadership but they decided to move on.
They haven’t discussed any kind of extension per Botta. If they wanted him back next year that would have happened already. Instead they discussed waiving the NTC. Thankfully he was classy and both parties will benefit from him moving to a contender. I’ll be rooting for him.
I do wish Guerin, Weight and Witt would have played for us for most of their careers. Really good guys and players.
Enough with the picks, already. We need to bring some players in here for next year. Prospects are better than picks, right now. We have enough picks.
On another note, has anyone seen Comeau, lately? He’s managing to play himself into a solid 4 th liner. Good thing we don’t have enough of those……SW
Sir william i agree, Comeau has been the new comrie lately, hope he shapes up. Get some prospects for Guerin, enough with the picks already. I like what i see in Mcammond, ask him if he would re sign here. He’s a good guy to mix in with the kids, plus he has size which is what we are lacking.
CB, my heart skipped a beat with your Witt comment. We cant catch a break anywhere, DiP’s and Silly, then Doubie we couldn’t even bring back right, and now a week from the deadline, we cant trade Weight cause hes injured/martinek is questionable, and then Witt gone for the season? Lol, i’m ready to cry man.
Anyway, First time/Long time here CB, I love your website and really appreciate you taking the time to keep the faithful informed. Been an Islander fan all my life, and coming here always seems to be good news. Im really tired of hearing Newsday’s opinion articles and TFP’s mostly-off rumors (cause they’re from newspapers). Its a breath of fresh air to just get the facts, pure and simple, so we can form our own opinions on it with some expert insight.
As for the previous comment (61), I dont want prospects, this draft is going to be FULL of talent, take all the picks you can get. How would you like the trade to play out?
Vukota - I was thinking Laraque and a pick in return for Guerin would be a nice move as well. I think that would also end the Fritz discussions once and for all!
Will C. (51) - I was cursing Sim when Toskala let that goal in. Stupid Sim. If we’re going to score a late game-tying goal, I’d much rather it came from one of the youngsters from a progress standpoint.
Guerin’s willingness to waive his NTC is truly a classy move by a classy player. Lots of talk about Boston being the team most interested, even before the news broke about waiving the NTC, so I imagine there’s a deal on the table that has been presented to him already. I wonder if Billy will be traded on his own or whether another player or two are involved?
how about a 3rd from boston and either matt lashoff or matt hunwick?
Classy gesture by a class act. Good luck to you Billy wherever you end up.
I am biased because I’m a fan but I think Guerin would be terrific for several teams going deep in the play-offs. He has held back this season (can’t say I blame him..) and is pretty much the tailor made *rental* that play-off teams look for this time of year. Still the possibility that he signs back up with the Isles next season if need be. It would be nice to get an *established* player in return or stud prospect. Then again, anything would be nice because his contract is up.
Thanks for the speedy update, CB. My wife is a little unnerved that I look here before I check the weather. I guess I have my priorities.
I know pro hockey players are big people, and they understand it’s all a business, but how much would Bill Guerin’s departure effect Doug Weight? Will he be more or less inclined to re-up? Would Snow look to package them together in a sort of second tier blockbuster? Peer into the crystal ice-ball of yours, if you please!
2 Words about last nite game - KELLY KELLY - WOW!!! Can we stop knocking Sim now? The guy brings it, and has more goals in the last 4 games than Tambellini has this year
Awesome news for us. I can not wait to see what snow does the next few days. I am feeling very good now that snow will bring back some nice young players/ prospects or picks for the vets that we no longer need. I would expect for witt, guerin and weight to be traded. And possibly more!!!
Weight and Macammond plus a #3 to Montreal for Higgins and Laraque.
No more picks. I mean its going to take 3-5 years for these picks to develop. AHL prospect who can play on this team next year….
The return on Guerin will depend on how many teams are lobbying for his services. A bidding war will net us the most (which still won’t be what Isle fans might think). As for those who think Subban can be had for Guerin and a 2nd…..I have a bridge I would love to sell you.
Good for Billy Guerin… that is a true Captain.
I bet the Leafs wish Mats would have done the same for them.
I still like Billy to the Bruins for their first rounder.
How about Billy and Boston’s second to the Bruins for their first and Matt Lashoff.
TSN is posting this too - WITHOUT acknowledging Chris Botta’s report, which based on time stamps clearly showed this was CB’s scoop. Bush league stuff from TSN.
Jonsson3 - McAmmond has size? 5′11″ 190lbs.
I mentioned this in another thread, but with all the trade speculation surrounding Weight, Guerin and Witt and if they are moved, who will be looked upon to lead this team next season? Hunter and DP???
This is important. Weight’s injury really hurt the Isles rebuilding. One reason why Philly was able to rebound so quickly was b/c they got Forsberg as a mid-season rental then sent him to Nashville for some very solid pieces. We need to be able to move the Weights, Guerins and Witts of the world. While these guys are certainly no Forsberg, there aren’t too many strong commodities on this team and we need to move every one for building blocks.
CB,
I would take back either Higgins, Lupul or Prucha for any of the guys you mentioned. I would think there’s a strong possibility a trade with Boston for Guerin because of the Gordon connection.
Thank you. No, thank you Bill Guerin!
TSN=ESPN= Corporate Pigs
When I take a crap they take credit for it.
Jimmy Mac - Great call. I just looked up the stats on him. He would be a good prospect, numbers are improving each year. Looks like a young, positively developing, Big bodied great return for Guerin with a pick.
Bill Guerin is a class act. I will miss him when he leaves. I say Montreal is the most desperate of all the teams and we would net the biggest return from them. I say trade Guerin, a log jam prospect from the bridge Colliton/Walter, and SJ 1st and get Higgins here.
Isles4cups - I don’t think that’s an issue. There’ll be plenty of second-tier guys on the FA market for “leadership” (that’s how we got the three guys you mentioned) in addition to Hunter, Park, Streit, DP and whoever else ends up not getting traded.
agreed Carmine - if guerin goes to mtl then higgins has to come back to the island. make it happen Garth!
That’s a tough trade to pull off…would anyone here, if they were the Habs GM, seriously trade Higgins for Guerin? I wouldn’t.
Weight will be back and montral is absolutely heading to the playoffs. guerin and weight to montreal (lost center lang) and maybe something else for higgins and draft picks or prospects.
http://www.spectorshockey.net/ just posted Guerin news with a link to CB’sPB. Great to see BG helping Isles. I don’t exclude him and BFF Weight resigning in off-season?
UIF - Guerin for Higgins straight up no way. But Guerin, Bridge prospect and SJ 1st should pretty tempting for someone with a lot of pressure to win right now.
Why are so many people here batcrap hysterical at the thought of Higgins being here? Higgins is not a 1st liner- the numbers he has put up- while surrounded by more talent than he would be surrounded with here- are not as impressive as some of you seem to believe. Why trade our captain for even more 2nd-3rd line talent?
Pretty classy move by Guerin. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing if they got some value for the guy and then resigned him in July.
With Sim starting to show why Snow signed him in the first place you have a win-win decision coming up. He might fetch a moderate draft pick and clear his roster spot for a series of AHL call-ups next year. If not, maybe we’ll have 20 goal guy on the team next year. You have to remember that he was coming off a pretty rough leg injury this year and has done fairly well in the second half of the season.
The one thing I would like to see is the Isles try to package tambellini in one of the deals. Maybe get an AHL “D” in the package. That would open up a roster spot and give Jeff a chance at a change of scenery. It would be a pretty tough sell becasue of the year left on his contract, but stranger things have happened.
How long did it take Brendan to go from “Wittless” to “Barveheart” back to “Wittless” again. I know there are a lot of fans here, but a good number of people’s allegiance to this team (and it’s members) is as solid as wet toilet paper.
Great job CB… but I’m pretty sure the next time you post something positive about a struggling player this board will try to trade you for Higgins or Kommiserek.
Isles 316(22): I like that trade. O’byrne has scored almost as many goals this year for the Isles as Tambellini has.
UIF - There may be plenty of second-tier players available, but will they have resume’s like Weight and Guerin? Both have won a Stanley Cup, and bring great mentor ship to the young players on the current roster and coming up next year.
Mick (25): How about Weight & Guerin to MTL for O’Byrne, Laraque and Montreal’s 1st? We get an enforcer, a decent d-man and a first rounder. Not too shabby.
Carmine - But if Mtl is going for a cup this year for their whole centennial deal, getting Colliton and a pick doesn’t really help much, and for the current roster, Replacing Higgins with Guerin would seem to me to be a step back rather than forward. I’m awful at trade speculation, but maybe I could see them using Guering to swing a deal for Sergei Kostitsyn who was sent down to Hamilton and doesn’t appear to be a part of this year’s push anymore, along with a pick (probably second rounder?). Not an amazing deal, imo, but Guerin’s not exactly lighting the world on fire this season either.
Enough of the tambellini and sim for higgins and komisarek rumors. You need to give to get. we got mcAmmond and a 1st for comrie(nothing special) but we also shipped out a young backliner with some value in campoli. Teams have to WANT the players you have. This isnt NHL 09 where u can trade the 3 guys you dont like on your team and grab ovechkin
Isles4cups - I’m not sure exactly who’s going to be FA this year around the league, but I don’t think Weight and Guerin are as irreplaceable as some here do. I’m sure there’ll be some twilight-of-the-career vets with deep playoff/Stanley cup resumes who can offer pointers to young players.
It is obvious that Sim and Gordon have had a personality conflict. This has hampered Sim’s return from MAJOR knee surgery. Pretty bad when you are near the top in scoring, 1 goal away from being top five on the team, when you are logging 22nd on the team in time on the ice. I think with some more time and the realization that Sim is rehabbing, he is the leading scorer on this team. He has only been playing half as much time, plus all the games he sat out.
UIF - Fair enough.
Jethro 91 - If Snow is going to move those two players, I’d make that trade. I don’t know what kind of potential O’byrne has, but picking up another #1 along with Laraque to take care of Bailey, Okposo, Neilson, and hopefully Tavares would be a plus.
I personally would like some veteran leadership on this team next year….as long as it isn’t at the cost of a good player. Meaning I think the “youngins’ NEED veterans to learn” for the most part is nonsense. If you are good hockey player that’s it, your good. Perhaps Flash can provide leadership for a good young player?
Basically I want guys who can play hockey, I don’t care if they are on Social Security or feed from a nipple– as long as they know how to play hockey.
I think year two of the rebuild will be very similar to year one. Lots of losing with one or 2 has-beens on the roster to provide a respectable payroll number. Year 3 of the rebuild is when IMHO, Snow’s 5-6 year crash course in NHL GMing comes to close & rejoins the NHL & makes an attempt at obtaining warm bodies.
IMHO, Snow’s still reeling from the Debacle of July 2007. He was taken down hard. Experienced GM’s raided the Islander village & made off with the women & children. Garth just stood there in awe.
Your not going to get Higgins from Montreal.
They are weak down the middle right now.
They are going to give up Higgins for a rental player and draft picks.
If you could pry away their first… then be happy.
Plus I really don’t see him being a good fit in Montreal.
My money is on Boston, or Philly.
The Islander require a lot of things, however, after the #1 pick defence must be the concentration. Very thin on d. Bruno has had 4 years to develope and has not. Hillen at 23 is just out of college and has limited experience, Skinner - will not be an NHL d-man. Y’all are very thin on d.
Cruicky,
the team is thin on “D”, but you have to rememebr that they will be getting Sutton and Meyer back next year. That means that (in the current scheme) the top four spots are locked. Streit-Sutton, Witt-Marty. Hillen is going to see some solid TOI next year and Meyer and Gervais battle for the 6th spot.
That means that deals will have to be made to improve the corp. Nobody in that mix is “untouchable” except Streit… but their is nobody there that can easily be replcaced by anybody in the system… and unless they use the #1 to get hedman… it’s not getting any better in the draft.
they are going to have to address “D” concerns in July. They can make roster spots by dumping guys like Witt or Marty, but Snow should move cautiously here… With Gomez and Drury available and loads of money to spend he got crapped on in 2007. I don’t envy his position right now.
UIF… I like the idea of picking up Sergei Kostitsyn in a deal with Montreal. He has great offensive upside… can also play the point on the pp and kill penalties. Plus, he’s in Montreal’s doghouse so he may be easier to pry away. This guy has potential to be a 2nd liner with growth to first liner with the right centre. He’d look good riding shotgun with Tavares.
It seems as if Mathieu Dandenault of Montreal is asking for a trade. Can he be invovled in some sort of deal with the Isles for Geurin? Could we use him at 33 y/o? Dandenault wants out, Montreal needs Geurin…….comments?
99- Skinner was dealt to ATL
I wouldn’t mind seeing a trade with Montreal and getting a first rounder from them. However, I think that the only first rounder we could get from them is the one in 2010 which could potentially be a higher pick than their first of 09. I believe that the current owner of Montreal’s first rounder for 09 is Calgary from the Tangauy trade.
No No No. Hello everyone out there. Draft picks are all well and good but with few exceptions they are not ready to play anytime soon. Ok and Bails being the exception. Why do we need yet more kids who won’t be ready for 2-3 years. I’m willing to be patient, but have bought in to 2 years of season tickets, I would appreciate seeing some wins next year. Keep trading away the vets and you lose their mentoring on and off the ice. Get real. Unless there is a Mike Bossy or Bobby Nystrom in the draft, no more draft picks!!!!!
Helene - couldnt agree with you more -BTW -im bought into them for next year as well
Building through the draft is what wins guys. This rebuild isn’t going to take 2 or 3 years. It’s going to take 5-7.
Our Captain for their Captain…..
Billy back to Boston
Chara back to Isles
Man I love trade talks…..
Isles316, I agree that building through the draft wins, but you also need to acquire players that don’t work with other organizations and may work with you. Trades and free agency can also really help you get to where you want to go as well (Philadelphia), and it can work against you also (NYR).
I think, you need a bit of both. Drafting well will never hurt your team, as it give you the depth you need throughout the organization. Free agency and the right trades can help a team get better also (look at Striet). Signings like that help make a rebuild much less painful to watch.
Folks, NYI can use draft picks in the offseason as assets to acquire players from other teams.
At the deadline, you mainly get picks and prospects. In the offseason, aka draft day, you get NHL players by using picks.
Those picks can get NYI a RFA-to be or ‘corebuilder’ player that is already signed to a decent contract, but the trading team can’t afford or no longer has the space.
The offseason is loopy time b/c teams get excited about what they can get July 1. So, in the cap world, teams move salary for that UFA target…
Thanks for the memories Bill. See you in the summer for a 2 year contract where you’ll help groom one of the players we draft for this rental.
Does anyone think that the 2 last place teams talk to each other before the lottery draft to find out who they will take. If Atlanta says that they will be aquiring Hedman with the #1 I would tell Atlanta that if they get the #1 overall I will trade you for my #2 and a 4th round pick to will ensure that I get the chance to absolutly draft Tavares, otherwise I will give you my late 1st round as compensation. This is a very very important draft and getting Tavares is the key
A first round pick for Billy would be amazing. Remember there is a salary cap FLOOR. So much to Wang’s dismay he would have to sign some expensive vets to replace Comrie, Billy, ect anyway. So we get picks now and free agents in the summer.
Why not use your money, moveable vets and SOME of your picks to aquire properly scouted RFA kids. In the 22 - 24 range. Build your team with budding youth to be competitive now, aiming for 38 wins and a shot at the playoffs. It also seems that it takes a little longer for the kids coming out of College hockey a little longer to adapt to the NHL then the kids from Major Junior. It may be just the players I have been looking at, but it seems that way.
Dan#113 - You are 100% correct. That was Snow’s philosphy 1 year ago at this time. Which is fine IF you can get Tier 1 FA’s. The Isles will have to settle for Tier 2 & 3’s FA’s, which is one of the reasons I truly believe this year & next year will be painfully similar.
This draft is in the bag. Johnny T. is an Islander. I’ve already started to give some time & thought to the top 3-5 picks in 2010.
Guys that Should be traded:
Guerin (and don’t resign)
Weight
Witt
Martinek
Hilbert
McAmmond
Sim
I think if Higgins is coming back then we ought to worry a bit… everyone loves him around here ‘cuz he’s from LI and he tends to kill the Islanders every game. I’m forced to agree with TMC and others, he’s looked off for the whole season and there may be some issue the general public isn’t savvy to. Gainey’s no different than Snow or any other GM, he’s going to try to sell high, and Higgins’ reputation hasn’t yet fallen to match his production.
I wonder if Guerin and san#1 would be enough to pry max pacioretty from the habs
wishful thinking .
It’s just sooo funny that only one guy has played in all 61 games this year. Good luck to Billy whatever he decides/happens.