WEIGHT YEARNS TO BE BACK, AND HAS EARNED IT
Believes Islanders can make playoffs next season
The Islanders have completed the painful process of learning which players fit or don’t fit the program, which players are on board (and on the board) for Rebuild Year 2. Perhaps now is the time to re-up one greybeard playmaker for leadership, ability and continuity.
Doug Weight has resumed skating, with a goal of playing the final 7 or 8 games of this season. If it were completely his call, the games would not be his last in an Islanders uniform.
“Let’s put it this way: there’s nothing that’s making me run from Long Island,” Weight told us with a smile after practice on Wednesday. “I love it here and I love this organization and the guys on the team. There’s nothing I’d like more than to get something done for next season.”
“Something,” of course, is a one-year contract. Like the Islanders, Weight has the option of seeing what the July 1 opening of unrestricted free agency brings. But the first choice of the 38-year old center is to finalize a deal - the sooner the better.
“This is not a case of seeing if the grass is greener on July 1,” Weight said. “I know what we have here with the Islanders and I’m very excited about it. With a lot more health and whatever changes management makes, this team can go from the bottom of the league to the playoffs next season. I truly believe that.
“I can’t tell you how much I’d kill to be in the playoffs next season in an Islanders uniform. This place has come to mean a lot to me. They gave me a chance last summer to prove I had something left, and we proved it together. I’m going to play next season, and I hope it’s here.”
As does Weight protege Josh Bailey, who’s too young to openly campaign for a player’s return but is not hesitant to share how much the veteran’s tutelage has helped him. Ironically, we first cornered Bailey about this subject on game night on Feb. 28, about an hour before Bill Guerin took his Islanders uniform off for the last time. It was for a story we never wrote about the leadership of potential tradees Guerin, Weight and Brendan Witt.
“Dougie’s been amazing for me,” Bailey said then. “Every day I learn something from him. At practices, on the bench during games, he always has some positive input that will stay with me for my whole career.”
With Guerin, Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli gone, it would make sense for the Islanders to have Weight as a veteran leader at center while Brendan Witt and Mark Streit return on the blueline. Through the rocky moments in this challenging season, Weight has been respected by the press and heralded by management, coaching staff and most importantly his teammates for being a pro’s pro.
The depth chart at center next season minus Weight is Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen, Nate Thompson and - a huge maybe - John Tavares or Matt Duchene. (Dean McAmmond is UFA). That blend of skill and (lack of) experience is swell if you’re Boston University. The Islanders need a veteran presence in the middle. They also need someone with poise on the bench and on the power play.
Could the Islanders find a veteran who’s closer to 30 than 40? Possibly, but you never know if a free agent is going to be a prize or a bad apple. The coaching staff already knows the player they have in Doug Weight. Better yet, the kids like Bailey and Nielsen already know the man they have in Doug Weight.
125 Responses to “WEIGHT YEARNS TO BE BACK, AND HAS EARNED IT
Believes Islanders can make playoffs next season”
Please Wait
I think the man has earned his pull, and I would love to see him back in the orange and blue next year.
It is so refreshing to hear of someone that “wants to be an Islander”. I think management would be crazy to not bring him back. In fact…….maybe as a captain.
i think it depends on the one year contract he wants, it won’t be as lucrative as this years one-year deal he’ll be one year older and his best years are certinly behind him,i think he can help BUT WHATS THE COST
I really enjoy Weight the player and the person. I wouldn’t mind seeing him back.
If Tavares is the pick can you really bring him back? Tavares, Bailey, Nielsen, and Weight? I’m not oppossed to it at all but which of those three top young centers is going to be getting 4th line minutes? Is it Weight? Is he agreeable to that? I mean you could roll 4 lines easier but as we are all seeing during the winning streak the more the youngsters play the better this team does.
I guess I am trying to say either way I’m fine with it.
I would love to see Weight back in an Islander uniform next season. He brought his “A” game night after night on the ice and has been an excellent role model for the kids breaking into the league both on and off the ice. His comment about killing to make the playoffs with this team next year is refreshing. He is exactly the type of player every fan should want on this team, particularly one that will be in year two of the rebuild.
I would not complain if Doug Weight returned next season. I’m glad that he’s behind this rebuild, and is so optimistic about the islander’s playoffs hopes for next season.
On a side note, I wouldn’t mind seeing McAmmond return if there is a spot for him. If not, good luck to him in his future.
I think another year of Weight would be a long term positive for the organization. It takes the pressure off of Bailey, Nielsen, and (hopefully) Tavares to be the man. Tavares (hopefully) would probably benefit by playing wing for 1 year next to Weight. What a great learning experience that would be for a very young player.
If the Isles get Tavares (a long shot no better than 50/50) he could always play wing for his first season couldn’t he? Didn’t Crosby play wing when he first came up? I’d personally love to have Weight back for one more year. great playmaker and great influence.
Id like to see Weight back. I’m glad he’s not bitter over the entire Guerin fiasco, knowing how close he is to Bill. Let’s hope Weight’s play this year, while healthy, wasn’t only because he was happy to be playing with Guerin.
Done deal: bring him back. Class act and a great leader for young players, particularly Bailey and Neilsen (and hopefully Tavares) to learn from.
I would love to see doug back next season.. a class act and someone who would be a great model around the youngsters..
Since we couldn’t get a pick for the guy keep him on another year! Get rid of Thompson and we are good down the middle, especially if we are lucky enough to get Taveras! I know Gordon will be hurt and all but besides faceoffs there really is no reason for Thompson to be here. Imagine IF we had Weight, Neilson, Bailey, and Taveras! That could be some formidable lines there!
Stick John Tavares on wing if we take him. Bring back Dougy and give Tavares a real playmaker to work with.
Get it done Garth
What Jethro (#10) said.
He was having a great year. Let’s see him do it again… sans the injury. Bring him back Garth.
people people please remember we are the islanders. we wont get tavares. that kind of stuff doesnt happen to us.
doug is the man. i really hope that he’s back. great guy on and off the ice. having a highly respected guy like weight continue to talk about nyi like this may open up eyes around the league about this franchise and area. get in done garth.
Show Thompson the door. Cant score adds NOTHING physically. Kinda reminds me alot of Jon Sim.
I’ve gone back and forth on whether Weight should be back but after reading his comments I say bring him back for another season. He could help with the transition of the young guys to being a competative hockey team, much like Eddie Westfall did in the early years of this franchise when the first began experiencing some success.
I would sign him. I doubt the Islanders find a more talented center in the free agent market that wants to sign on here. Hopefully one more year of Weight will give Bailey the time he needs to step into the big role.
Personally I dont care what they pay him either. We are nowhere close to the cap floor and we probably wont be signing too many players.
I would also try to convern Neilsen into a wing. He is too small to play center in this league.
Simply no reason not to get this done. Having Weight an Islander for next season would improve the ability to land a big name free agent (in my opinion). He provides a level of respectability that might otherwise be missing.
ok bailey will be the 2nd line center and nielsen will be the 3rd line center next year…so this means weight is going to be our “1st line” center which might affect us drafting john tavares…i dont want management to not draft tavares and draft hedman instead because they’re brining weight back.
Isles99 - resigning Doug Weight will have no pull on the Islanders drafting John Tavaers. If it did….we have alot more problems with our GM and scouts they we can imagaine.
I say bring back Weight regardless of whether or not the Isles land a future star center in the draft. No matter what the Isles need a respected, talented and experienced “grey beard” up front. Weight isn’t only a mentor … he’s a productive player who shows he has a heart for the team and Long Island.
I think since Bailey will be 20 years old next fall that the Isles can send him down to the Bridge to get more ice time and fine tune his game “IF” need be … but … since Weight can play the point on the PP … I don’t see an issue with ice time. Lots to consider … but I think the Isles should sign him no matter how the lottery ball bounces in April.
You don’t sign players cause they want to play here,you sign them cause they can help your hockey club,if Weight can stay healthy then sign him BUT HE WON’T GET WHAT HE GOT THIS YEAR FOR A SALARY and you only sign him if he can help our club,sounds like some of you want to sign him cause he wants to be here (WRONG ANSWER)
I agree Tim. Post 18 the funny thing is Jon Sim is a much better/productive player than Thompson. The only reason Thompson is here is because of Gordon. Thompson has nothing to offer besides a decent faceoff percentage. I know its an important part of the game but you can’t keep a player with 2 points for the season for faceoffs, its actually pretty absurd.
If we keep Weight, draft Tavares and sign Matt Gilroy, we can have three players with jersey numbers in the 90’s! Somehow, I find that pretty cool. Maybe we’ll trade for Michael Nylander to continue the theme.
If they think Weight is that important to Bailey, then fine. I just doubt Weight can repeat this seasons stats without getting hurt again.
i say keep the vet who can skate, make plays, plays point on the pp (put okoposo in the slot or in front), scores goals, and wants to stay. team is young, keep the “grey beard”! Give him an “A”, Streit an “A” and Witt an “A”. Save the C for Okoposo or Bailey 2 yrs down the road. If he stays healthy great if not….more time for the young fellas.
He’s dead weight… don’t do it. Don’t sign anyone over 25. What kind of youth movement is this anyways??
he has got to go…park, hunter n witt are great leaders and enough is enough about needing a old time vet on the ice…let the kids play
Ummm….there is NO team, even one that goes through a youth movement, without ANY older players….
That’s the kind of youth movement it is. The right one. That’s why management is paid to run the team, and we’re not. I’m pretty sure they know better than us.
Doug Weight was just what the doctor ordered this year. But when you finish the bottle of antibiotics there are no refills.
I’d love to have Weight back next year, no complaints here if he re-signs.
BUT:
1. Nielsen may just become a very good second line center or a capable first liner (long shot).
2. Bailey seems to be stuck in nuetral right now, but with ice time and patience I think we all feel he is going to be something.
3. Will Colliton get the 20-40 games he needs to prove he can play in the NHL, or will he be stuck behind Thompson for ever.
4. Then there is Thompson. RFA and a Gordon favorite.
5. Whether it was addition by subtraction or not, we added McAmmond and got BETTER.
6. Iggy, Smith, Joensuu… their NHL TOI would all be affected by re-signing Weight.
7. Doug Weight was more valuable as a PP playmaker from that rover position than he was as a regular shift center in the GoGo system. Can anybody really say they’d rather see him in that role again.
This will be a tough decision for Garth and Gordon… I now have confidence that they will make the right one.
CB- Any chance that Dough Weight lobbies for Kyle Okposo to make team USA for the WC?? Not that Kyle can’t make the team on his own merits … but it doesn’t hurt to have a respected alum of Team USA to put in a good word.
All successful teams have a mix of young players and vets. Keep weight and have him help us with our power play and leadership next year. This is primarily a young team that has never really been tested in critical games yet. We need a veteran presence to keep the team from being too tight, especially down the stretch when games will matter for a playoff spot.
Does anyone know what the magic number is to clinch last?
bring him back if management thinks they really have a chance of the playoffs next. much harder decision if they don’t think they have a shot….
1984 - Magic #’s
Tampa = 20
Atlanta, Phoenix & Colorado = 17
I say sign him up, he wants to be here, he puts up the points, he is a veteran leader, he always has a positive outlook, he can joke it up with the refs and hey…he is friggin Dougie Weight for cryin out loud!
I think you won’t see anything “locked up” until the season is over and the Islanders know where they’ll be drafting. If they’re drafting #1 and plan on taking Tavares, there may not be room for Weight, unless Nielsen becomes the 4th line center. If they’re at 2 or 3, and would be drafting Hedman or Duchene, perhaps Weight would be a good fit for next season.
agree 100% with #6,
I say sign him for one more. Bailey and Nielsen will both benefit from him being here.
Besides, you all have to agree Weight plays the system well… I’m just saying
who knows what will be happening at the draft, i truly feel snow will be moving up in that draft so a player on the roster may be on his way out that day
I’d love to see Dougie back with the team next year!! Does it get crowded?…maybe but its worth it in the long run. We’ve seen some young guys get a taste at the end of this year. Now they know what it’ll take to stay. Sprinkle in one or two FA’s and Tavares and definitely make a serious offer to McAmmond and yes I agree with Weight, They can make it to the playoffs!!
He’s good for our powerplay…keep him. Move Okposo down low and let him score some goals.
comment # 16: hasnt felt that feeling of change, i know my fellow isles fans feel that change, every game i watch on centre ice, the kids look like upset boys in o10, just like the vintage jersey stands for pride,respect and the start of “fort never lose”
I must say- I do love that Doug wants to be here… but the reason I want him back for another year is that he is a fine player and an excellent role model for the Isles young players.
i would say if we get tavares and weight comes back, theyll put weight with tavares on the wing to ease him in.. let weight worry bout faceoffs, let the kid do the scoring…
I enjoyed watching Weight all year and I hope to see him back next year.
You know I would really like to see Weight back. He is a great guy, a true leader, you can hear it in the way he speaks. Great role model for the kids and he is great on the PP. He was in the top 5 in points on the PP when he got injured and so was Streit. Keep those two together and we will have a great PP next year and just look at the teams in the league who are in the top 10 on the PP. Don’t forget; if the team were to surprise everyone and compete for a playoff spot, we would all be crying for Garth Snow to trade for a guy like Weight at the trade deadline in order to provide the kids with a leader who has won the cup and who can play on the PP and score almost a point a game. Get it done Garth !
Dougie Weight????
Nice guy, had a decent season… 38 years old.
I think I pass… if we get Tavarses.
Comeau Nielsen KO
Bergy Bailey Tavarses
Tambs Park Hunter
Hilbert McAmmond Jackman
Streit Sutton
Witt Gervais
Martinek Hillen
Ricky
Danis
I say sign Weight. If they have to, they can move him to wing to make room for Tavares. They are pretty thin on the left wing anyway.
CB could post a story about anyone or anything in hockey, and 2 out of 3 posts in response will somehow mention John Tavares. I would like to see the kid drafted as much as the next guy, but this has spun out of control. Best case scenario, there’s a less than 1 in 2 chance he’s an Islander people. You are setting yourselves up to be devastated here. And Victor Hedman or Matt Duchesne will start his Isles career by having to win over a disappointed and resentful fan base, which will be completely unfair.
Taveras is a center and would probably bump Mccammond or Park to the wing IMO.
Well said Scott D.
Contrary to popular thought on this site I doubt very much Duschene is going third overall.
bring em back
I am all for doug weight being back next year. I say trade park and bring back weight.
I still pass if we get Hedman..lol.
I can think of better ways to spend 3-4 million dollaes than on Doug Weight.
How about Franzen, Cammi, Moss, Leopold, or Komi.
#55 - Just curious at what # do you think Duschene will be drafted?
Guys Hilbert and McAmmond are UFA’s and the Franz is not a #1 center.You need someone like Weight to help the rebuild.
Good job Scott D. #52
And am I the only guy that thinks Sutton should be wearing a ski mask when pay day rolls around.I guess as long as there is a salary cap floor a #4 d-man will make 3 mill per.
Duschene #3 or 4. Either him or Magnus.
Weight is not a #1 centre either.
Scott (52) with the win, I feel the same way myself.
Absolutely re-sign Weight. His leadership and teaching has been invaluable to the Nielsen, Bailey and the other kids. Bottom line, he should be resigned because he was by far the best center on the Team, and probably will be next year even if they get Taveres.
Taveres as the #1 center would be suicide.
Weight, Bailey, Nielsen, Taveres, in that (theoretical) order.
Bring him back for a year…keep him in the organization after he retires…he’s a good hockey person.
Tavares is so not a lock…I just imagine watching that stupid Lottery show and watching the #29 team become the #1 team right before my eyes….no thanks….It’ll be him, Hedman, or that Parvi_harvi-Warvi dude.
Just sign Weight and let’s get to the draft already.
Yay! Why CAN’T you have an old salt at the helm? Especially if he has the heart of a happy kid. I am so glad to see this article and I hope he’s back and healthy next year. Thanks for writing this CB, you made my night.
Wow, I’m gushing…
Great post CB. I agree with you and several other posters. We should bring back Weight because: 1) the guy can still play good hockey, especially on the pp, 2) he provides solid leadership during the rebuild, 3) we know he has a great attitude, and 4) we need to reach the cap floor next season.
I also agree that the draft has absolutely no impact on our decision to keep Weight. It would be a disaster to have Tavares/Duchene centering the first-line next year. Scott D also makes a great point. We likely are not getting Tavares, and people should stop getting their hopes up. Hedman and Duchene may turn out to be better players anyway. Tavares is not Crosby/Ovechkin, so lets stop perpetuating this myth from the Canadian media machine.
# 61 Your right.On most teams Weight isn’t a #1 center.But 35 points in 44 games prior to the injury makes him a #1 on the Isles this year.The Franz has 25 in 47 and Bailey has 20 in 56.And You cant take into account players that arent here.The Franz and Bailey will get better and their point production will increase.They need to worry about coming into the 09-10 season bigger otherwise they will find themselves on the wing.
You have to love this guy, and I would support his return 100% to this team. They definitely need him, and if he wants to be a part of the team it seems like a no brainer. Hopefully we see Weight next year.
4 million on Weight is a waste.
Throw money @ some young studs.
I say bring Weight back… no matter what they’ll figure something out. Neilsen will not be a 4th line center.
I think the board is a missing a major part of the debate, mainly what roster spot is weight filing if brought back. Based on his potential production and great attitude bringing him back should not be out of the question.
The question is now who’s expendable-mainly park or hunter? There really isnt room for weight hunter and park when there are kids who need more valuable ice time-such as junessu(sorry sp) and iggy just to name a few.(and you know thompson’s going to be in play)-so the questions not just weight, but about 3 or 4 spots on the roster-so if we bring weight back who goes, park, hunter or both?(for the record im w/ both)
Weight isn’t taking Park’s or Hunter’s spots. They fulfill different roles and both will be back next season.
Joensuu and Iggulden are not locks for next year. Iggulden especially. I don’t think he will ever skate well enough to make it on a NHL roster on a regular basis.
Nice guy, Nice career. But if we draft a center, Tavares, Duschenne, or Kane, we are creating quite a log jam at center for playing time. i don’t see him back. I also continue to be amazed how everyone dismisses Iggy. I may have missed it, but I didn’t even see his name mentioned till post#71. the guy comes up for a cup of coffee and gets 5 points in 6 games! Has great size, seems to have a scoring knack. CB Does he have any shot at ever playing for this team?
Iggy is a UFA, we probably wont sign him.
SIGN HIM!
CB you think that IF (IF!!) the Isles draft Tavares he’ll join the team right away? A lot of people seem to think that will jam up the center depth chart, but there’s no guarantee he’s going to join the team right away.
Stamkos isn’t exactly tearing it up right now in Tampa… maybe some AHL time would have worked?
ok,centers, baily, neilson, weight, tavares, who am i leaving out?
chris botta, the islander. GO chris
Staten Islander:
Park and Thompson (and sometimes Hilbert). All can play wing as well.
One year, give it to him.
if wang would spend some money we could get a couple first line players who score 80 points via free agency.. u could still play the young guys… we could be a force next year if dp is healthy and the above happened
An important note about the salary is that while Doug took up $4.5m to the cap, a lot of that was in bonuses that (due to the injury situation) he probably hasn’t realized. Since this could have been the last year of the current CBA, all potential bonuses counted towards this year’s cap. Next year, all bonuses will be tallied at the end of the year and applied towards the 2010-2011 cap, not the 09-10. That means that giving Weight an identical contract for next season will cost the Islanders about $1.5m, not $4.5m.
Seems like a no-brainer. He wants to stay, he’s affordable, and he still has value. Sign him and see how the chips fall in training camp next year. If one of the young guys outplays him for a spot, then he can be traded or otherwise dealt with. This isn’t a Fedotenko or Satan that’ll coast through their contract, putting up some production but mainly acting like a road block to the advancement of younger, potentially better players.
To those fixated on the center position, I’d like to point out that John Tavares’ bread and butter is scoring goals. He is not a Weight, Bailey, Nielsen playmaking type. That is not to say he can’t make plays, it’s just that he’s a goalscorer first. I see no reason why he couldn’t play on Weight’s wing if the Islanders were lucky enough to draft him. Any other forward the Islanders might draft with, say, the third overall pick is not going to push out a player of Doug Weight’s quality and experience.
Count me in among those who want Weight to re-up. I’ve actually been a fan of Doug Weight since he first entered the league almost 20 years ago, and finally he’s playing for the right team too.
I also want to point out that this little kid Iggulden is a massive two years younger than the apparently now too old Trent Hunter.
People also need to stop confusing age with ability. NHL is not a developmental league. Rebuilding in the NHL doesn’t mean a roster full of kids, it means that you introduce young players in key positions and develop a core. This is actually much easier than perpetuating success by seamlessly replacing old stars by new ones like the Wings have done when evolving from the Yzerman era into the Datsyuk/Zetterberg era. This is exactly why you can’t just bin the vets and go with kids only. The impact of the vets — possibly even veteran grinders like Draper — on the development of players like Datsyuk and Zetterberg has been of immeasurable importance.
The aim for any rebuilding team is to develop a winning team. With the wrong mix and too much emphasis on age over ability you end up rebuilding a losing team and going back to square one.
Personally I think Bailey should be in the minors for the first 20-40 games of the season. There is a place for Weight and then traded to a contender. Is anyone at all with me on that one. Bailey need some development time.
As many have already said, when a legitimate NHL player actually wants to play here, the Isles need to jump. Weight isn’t going to cost much and he’s already proven that he has more quality hockey left in him.
for the record i will not be upset if we have to settle for hedman…but if we do get tavares who is to say that he will make the team??? and do we need to rush him if he is not ready??
Keep him. Its not like he’s dead “weight”. He was excellent on the PP, and still can skate. Love his enthusiasm, his class and his skills. And if the Islanders are lucky enough to draft Taveras, he can help him also. Wayne Merrick played on the fourth line a long time in the cup years. Its not like Bailey, Taveras, (if hes here) and Neilsen are the second coming yet. Weight is asking for prob one year. 1 year, I say DEFINATELY
My main beef with hunter at this point is that as much as i have revered his time on the island, i don’t see how he is a fit in go-go’s system. A slow footed grinder hardly seems like a player for the system; and not to mention the fact that his physical style constantly lands him on the IR.
When ted nolan was still here i thought hunter was a key component, but now not so much-and we can obviously win and kill penalties w/out him, so why hold on to him if we can move him?
Weight’s contract was for 1.75m.Seems like a bargain to me.His bonuses brought it up to 4.5m.
Itwould be a great move to add a guy with as much leadership and knowledge of the game as Weights,and throw in the fact that he can give you 45-60 points on the season for under 2m.Especially one that wants to be here,and has a history with the team and system.
Bailey and the Franz need as much help as they can get.They are not ready for top line minutes nor have they earned them.
Is it possible to stop talking about John Tavares like he’s on the team already? Figuring out line combos already? Gimme a break.
Chances are we’re all in for some heartache come Draft Day. As usual.
It is too early to tell if he should be re-signed or not…All will depend on how draft day goes down. If the Isles draft Tavares, then the Isles should not resign Weight…reason…who out of Bailey, Tavares, Neilson, and Weight….who would play 4th line minutes…you cannot do that to either Nielson, Bailey or Tavares… and I highly doubt that Weight would take kindly to that as well….Having Weight back at center could potentially cause more problems than benefits….We do not know how his knee will respond yet…and we need to wait until Draft Day…to make this kind of a judgement call…
With the amount of injuries we have - signing Doug Weight at a reasonable contract is good. Reasons why:
* If we need to sign a veteran to reach the “floor” - why not him to a one year deal? Just have to pay a reasonable fee - will allow others to judge what that might be.
* Provides leadership for our guys.
* Power Play quarterback along with Streit.
* The guy you put on the ice to win a faceoff with 20 seconds left in regulation in your own zone
* Should the situation present itself next year ( and I am hopeful we are in it than out of it next trade deadline) can move him for an asset at the deadline.
* One year commitment only
* WHEN injuries happen - won’t have problem dressing him. If he is injured -then we have the Thompson’s and Collitons of the world in our organization
If I am the GM is sign him.
If I am the coach - would confer with my GM and decide upon the role and how to use him to transition the other guys into the system and give us the best chance to WIN ( yes, I want to WIN next year - but LOSE this year ! )a playoff berth and win a series. That would be my goal.
Pat
I guess we’ll Weight and see. nyuk nyuk
As I’ve written before, whether a 38-year old forward comes back or not, it has absolutely nothing to do with whom the Islanders take with their top-3 pick in June.
And yes, as some of you have pointed out, Weight is eligible for a contract that is very cap-friendly: lower base salary, with bonuses that count toward the cap. Just like he signed this year, helping the Islanders reach the salary cap floor…CB
The problem is fellow Isles fans want everyone to play. But we can’t ice six lines to do so. In the story about Colliton earlier this season, most of the posts wanted to see him, too. Then we all want to see Smith, then we all want to re-sign McAmmond because he’s a fan, then we all want to re-sign Weight, etc. There just are not enough roster spots for all the people we want to see. Do we want to use the available spots to see players like Smith and Colliton who are buried at the Bridge, or do we want to bring back the UFA vets like Weight and McAmmond? We can’t do both.
Resign him. If the situation arises where we have too many centers he can play wing no problem. Didn’t he do that a little bit this year when he was on a line with Comrie and Guerin?
Good morning CB,
I would have to disagree with you and your statement (95). Who they will draft will have a definate impact on who they sign after July 1 and whether Weight will figure in their plans for next season. The Isles have tons of cap space available and need not worry about cap friendly hits for one year deals. I would rather see a vet winger myself, if they get Tavares than another center… I maintain that draft day will determine alot as to where they will head in regards to signing players for next season. I guess we all have our opinions and we shall all see how this will play out in the long run.
Does anybody else agree with this math? If the Isles finish last, they have a 48.2% chance of winning the lottery. But the odds of getting Tavares would then be the 48.2%, plus Tampa Bay’s chance, whatever that turns out to be, since if the Bolts win it’s likely they pick Hedman.
Just wonderin’……
I think Dougie’s getting a bit senile. Playoffs, Playoffs? You’re talkin about the Playoffs?
Let’s re-sign him to the league minimum $450K. Hopefully he will think the year is 1987 and that $450K is actually a helluva a lot of money!! (Which it still is to us lay folk, but not to a professional athlete).
One last entry before work.
I would try to sign a young top free agent, or even trade for one before I consider resigning Weight.
He should be a last resort.
We have bigger needs LW and Dmen.
We need a top line guy.
Do you really think he will produce with less minutes, on a 3rd line.
Finally a piece of good news concerning the team from Uniondale. Yay!
I figured Weight would scoot out of town now that Guerin jumped ship. But Dougie wants to re-up. Nice.
Love all the intangibles that Weight brings to the table. He needs to be resigned for at least 1 season.
Hunter couldn’t score when he was playing for Nolan. Sure he hit and etc. but he didn’t start scoring again until Overspeed :-). Nolan did not have a system. He might have started with one but he didn’t have the fortitude to stick with it. He ran a slow pseudotrap garbage system. Hunter only “fit” the system because he is a slower skater. Hunter is a great fit for Gordon’s system because he is a finisher. He doesn’t have to be speedy to chip in.
Weight on the other hand has speed and if his goal production slows down, you will watch his assists increase. Keep him!
Everyone PLEASE stop making up fantasy lines and playing GM on paper.
Think of the injuries this year and the continued rebuild and ask yourselves if having a center who wants to be here - as classy, experienced, productive and talented as Doug Weight would benefit our youth for just 1 more season (with an outside chance of moving him at next years deadline) is worth it.
To me it’s a resounding YES. Whether he are fortunate enough to land Tavares or not, we need the depth and experience. IMO, I hope Snow works on a deal now. His positive influence on everyone and his constant “forward thinking” is what we need best example is his comment
“…this team can go from the bottom of the league to the playoffs next season. I truly believe that.
“I can’t tell you how much I’d kill to be in the playoffs next season in an Islanders uniform. This place has come to mean a lot to me. They gave me a chance last summer to prove I had something left, and we proved it together. I’m going to play next season, and I hope it’s here.”
there’s some guys who just the right things for the sake of saying them. Not Doug Weight. This guy is as genuine as they come.
the word “leader” is thrown around a lot in sports and not being a part of the team makes it hard for fans to know when it’s legit or not. based on how guys like bailey talk about him, it’s pretty clear that weight is a bona fide leader. and his level of passion about wanting to be a part of what’s going on here is not something we’ve heard a lot from everyone. it makes him even more valuable to this team in particular. even a youth movement can’t be all kids. and the guy can still play. (some might qualify that with “when healthy” but that’s an automatic caviat for most of this team.) more so than other vets we’ve seen come and go, i really hope they find a way to bring weight back.
I’ve been saying all along, Dougie Weight is the most “classiest and positive” player with the media and about the Islanders than I have ever witnessed…Bailey said he always has something positive to say on the bench as well…I would love to have him back for a couple more years…Weight has been nothing but a pleasure to have here especially after all the complaining from other vets.
LOL, Tom with the smile today, another pleasant surprise!
Let’s keep in mind that Weight is still a capable veteran who WANTS to be here. Sometimes, just throwing $$ at a big name free agent is just hiring a mercenery. Ask the Rangers. Bring him back and maybe try and sign a vet with cup experience (Cole) to further mentor and push the young-ins. Lastly, do not worry about the Taveduchjaarvi, adding any of these players will be great for us.
Some are saying there will be too many centers on this team with the re-signing of Weight. These players play the forward position, which means they can play on the wings as well.
One had mentioned that Weight would be to this group what Ed Westfall was to the Islanders in the early years and I could not agree more. I was a little too young (4 1/2) to remember the 1974-75 season, but Westfall has a very good season with 25 goals & 31 assists and had an outstanding playoffs with 5 goals & 10 assists.
My vote is Weight stays on the Island, regardless who is drafted in June.
Blockness (103) Regarding Hunter, he had his second-best goal total, 20, in 2006-07, and his second-best point total, 41, in 2007-08. Take a guess who was coach for those two years. His best year for both goals and points was that great run in 2003-04 (25, 51).
I’ve never understood the Nolan bashing. He took our team, predicted to finish 30th, into the playoffs in a Cinderella, feel-good season. That fiend!
Why can’t we be happy about the positives of the present while respecting the accomplishments of people who have come and gone?
I understand CB that whether Weight is signed or not doesn’t affect the draft. I don’t envy Snow in that decision with so much to consider. If he is brought back then its nice to imagine whom he might play along side. I think there is a lot more upside to signing him one more year. He has shown this past season that he has more left in the tank and that he is a player that makes the others around him better.
There are a few posts on here that have Neilsen slotted as a first line center. I love Franz, but lets be serious: he’s not a first line player. He’s probably going to top out as a very good third-line center.
I know because we haven’t had one around here since Pierre Turgeon that many people probably forget what a true #1 center is. You want a point-per-game out of a first line center and I don’t see Franz ever getting to that point. Same goes for Bailey. I know everyone loves him, but objectively, I don’t think he’ll ever top out at more than a good second line center.
#81, you are right, but might we be better to give him more money up front to keep that from happening? Next year we aren’t going to be anywhere near the cap, but the following year we should be a more competitive team and maybe we will want a bit more cap space.
Regardless, I am all for bringing him back. Those arguing that we have too many centres, to me that is even more reason to bring him back since all those guys need someone to learn from. Ice time problems can be dealt with by moving guys to wing if needed, and don’t forget that players get injured all the time… look at this season.
Priest (113) and others - We can move centers to the wing, but which “kids” sit for that to happen? It’s not a matter of too many centers, imo, but a matter of too few roster spots. Yes, Weight is probably a better player than guys we have waiting in the wings, but why even have those guys in the system if they’re not going to play in deference to vets? Or maybe other vets get moved. But one way or another, roster spots will need to be cleared. If Weight is re-signed, who gets traded/not re-signed/stuck at the Bridge again?
Jimmy (81): Wang would love to throw money at UFA’s, the problem is, none of the desirable ones want his money. Whether Isles’ fans like it or not, there is an obvious stigmatism about signing with the Islanders, whether its because of the building or the front office impressions. Nobody wants to sign here, and that was evident during the summer of ‘07, when the Isles struck out in free agency.
Hopefully, the signing of Streit will start to get UFA’s interested in Long Island, because the Isles are going to need a few to compliment the young players if the Isles are going to compete in the near future.
is it only me, or did Weight look slow and quick to tire? Does’nt fit our team, IMO
Anyone want to look up who the UFA are this season who would be worth the look?
Doug Weight knows that if the Isles don’t resign him… then he has to retire.
I can’t see any other team signing him.
So as much as he is saying all the right things about the Isles… he has a good thing going right now. Good Pay, A home already here, kids going to school here. His best buddy is living here for now. I wouldn’t want to leave either.
I think Doug Weight is a great guy, great teammate, etc…etc…
But use the 4 million on someone who will play on the top line.
In my opinion: not signing Dougie is going to be a big mistake (unless we sign a UFA who’s much better then him). Becouse we still rebuilding we need veterans like Weight for the leadership and expirience. Look at the way the kids lookig up to the guy. His playmaking ability is huge. His presents on powerplay is unquestional. He is the only one who moves his feet and the puck on PPs to make things happen. And, trust me, he’s going to give everything he got to make the Team better on and off the ice. How you could not want the guy like Doug in your lineup?!
Hey Jethro…
I understand that, but the only way the free agents will come here is if we have a solid team that can compete to be in the playoffs.
We have a good core right now. If we can’t sign any good young free agents, then throw your money away. But at least try that’s all I ask…lol.
As for the post about Fantasy GM’s… We all want to be a GM. It is a great job. You get to mold your team your way.
I think some of us could probably do a better job than a few GM’s that come to mind…lol.
In the end it doesn’t matter if Dougie stays or goes… we we all be here next year cheering.
How silly it is for people to think that the decision to bring back an experienced, quality player like Weight should be predicated, in any part, on whether or not they draft Tavares.
If the organization has learned any lessons this year, they should be 1)not to rush a prospect to the NHL and 2) Injuries will greatly effect your daily roster.
Tavares (or whomever they draft) should be developed at the proper level irrespective of who is on the NHL roster. Even if they drafted Tavares and decided he belonged in the NHL next year, do you think maybe we could find some room for Weight at the expense of Nate Thompson?
In addition, even if they “take a chance” on Weight and have 5 or 6 centers, what are the odds on any given night that more than 4 will be healthy enough to play?
I would sign Weight without hesitation so long as a reasonable financial accomodation can be reached.
It feels good to be wanted for once, lol…
I think most Isles fans are flattered because its been a while since a respected veteran high character/skilled guy like Weight wanted to actually resign here…As much as I loved Nolan he was unable to keep his players after their 1 year contracts expired…Most used us as a audition for other teams.
Sign Weight, not only because he wants to be here but because he earned it.
To me this is a no-brainer.
1) Wants to play here
2) Protege to Bailey
3) Still has good hockey left in him.
This is how you build goodwill with the players. Garth needs to seize as many opportunities like this as possible.
Yes to that. Give him a couple million to stay another year and train the youngsters. If he has another good year and isn’t injured we could flip him at the deadline for a box of Cracker Jacks and give him a chance to win the cup again with someone else.
#120 wow