Comments on: TRUE VALUE: Brendan WittFearless, battle-tested stay-at-home dman available

By: Hale

Hale — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:51 +0000

your not getting a first round pick for witt; not with that contract or his play…bet on a mid tier prospect or a 2nd or 3 round pick…a 1 ain’t gonna happen

By: 19 Isle in NJ 22

19 Isle in NJ 22 — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:02:47 +0000

I agree with SW … I think Snow shouldn’t even offer up Witt … I think Witt coming off injury really wasn’t himself … and in the Go-Go system it was more apparent he wasn’t healthy.

I think Snow only considers an offer for Witt if it’s a deal that knocks his socks off. To me that is a 1st round pick (Or a combo including multiple players / picks) or a B- or better prospect that is stuck in a system with no room for a good young player at his position at this time.

By: Strummer's Army

Strummer's Army — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:17:34 +0000

Martinek stinks. He refuses to take the body and that results in a lot of goals against. You saw it on the Reasoner goal. He if often out of position. Bad passes. Injury prone. If I could get anything for him I would he is the Isles more overrated player.

I’d keep Sutton.
I’d trade Witt for the proper return.
Comrie, Weight, Hilbert, and Guerin are definites to go.

I’d see what I could get for Freddy Meyer, Dustin Kohn and Mark Katic. The last two are prospects with no gaurantees they will ever be an Islander. Kohn has OK size but isn’t that physical, Katic is very small and they Isles have plenty of small puck movers.

Geravis would be gone.

Pock, Sim, Tambelleni gone if there is a return out there.

By: SIR WILLIAM

SIR WILLIAM — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:37:52 +0000

Chris, My impression of Witt this year is that he came back from an injury that was not fully healed in order to help a floundering team. Thus his play suffered and his +/- was affected.
I beleive that we have seen the return of the healthy Witt over the last few weeks and that is the reason that he play has improved dramatically and that it has nothing to do with Gordon and his so called tweaking.

I watched Witt when he came back and it was obvious to anyone who ever skated that he could not push off his injured leg. Still he attempted to play through it because that’s the type of player he is.

Witt stays and the islanders will be better for it…SW

By: Westfall

Westfall — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:25:49 +0000

Interesting Stats on this topic:

Isles record w/Martinek: 10-10-1
Isles record w/o Martinek: 6-21-4

Witt’s +/- when Martinek plays: -9
Witt’s +/- when Martinek is out: -20

In the 19 games Witt and Martinek have both played this year, Witt has been even or plus in 10 of them.

The above explains some of the reasons for Witter’s reduced effectiveness this year, and also demonstrates Marty’s underrated value.

On a team where even our own GM says its hard to recruit free agents, we have a solid, shutdown veteran defenseman who is signed at a reasonable price for two more years. He has publicly stated he wants to be here. He is a leader, a warrior, and literally bleeds for this team. Why again do we want to trade this guy? If I’m the GM it better be a pretty damn good offer.

By: bcarroll25

bcarroll25 — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:23:58 +0000

i wouldn’t trade with jersey,i’d be afraid lou would take garth to the cleaners.

By: ISLESFAN999

ISLESFAN999 — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:58:29 +0000

#91 I totally agree with you. Id trade all the vets… The only problem is sutton is hurt so I would trade him next yr or this summer.

By: Dadi

Dadi — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:39:40 +0000

Keep Witty the warrior, trade Comrie &… Gordon…

By: Pete DeBenedetto

Pete DeBenedetto — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:51:15 +0000

picks and prospects….picks and prospects

witt, sutton, comrie, guerin, weight…none of them should be on this team the day after the deadline…like them all…all decent….but this rebuild needs to be 100%…not 80, not 90.

By: Strummer's Army

Strummer's Army — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:14:26 +0000

Good article Chris but I don’t want to see anymore small puck moving d-men coming this way. There are plenty of larger more physical guys equally adept at moving the puck.

By: ISLESFAN999

ISLESFAN999 — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:11:55 +0000

I would really prefer to trade Witt. He is an excellent player on a good team. We are not a good team and will not be a good team for at least 2 yrs. In two years witt will not be good. I would be happy with a #2 and a prospect or just a very good prospect.

By: 19 ISLE in NJ 22

19 ISLE in NJ 22 — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:31:21 +0000

Also … I think Brendan would really have a good shot at boosting teams to Stanley Cup Sure Shot … like .. Bruins, Sharks, Caps and Calgary.

He’d be that shut the door kinda d-man that aleady compliments a good defense corps …

As far as mid tier playoff teams … he’d help steal a few games in a 7 game playoff … and may be the difference maker to elevate their chances.