Monthly Archives: March 2010
Join us here. Thank you…CB
11:30 am - Since this blog began, I’ve written countless times about Sean Bergenheim likely fulfilling whatever potential he has somewhere else. In his time here, there have been contract hassles (one cost him a season), benchings and wildly inconsistent play. He has often been the energizer on lines. He has been a top player at times, a guy who drives his coaches bonkers at others. Still just 26, Sean could be a highly effective third-line forward on a good team. There is interest around the league in Bergenheim and the Islanders are listening. Just don’t expect too much back.
Chris Botta on Twitter
12:15 am, NVMC: When Garth Snow prepared to close up shop at his Nassau Coliseum office for the night, he’d yet to receive an offer for Dwayne Roloson that was strong enough to seriously consider.
Point Blank has learned that the best offer for Roloson as of late Tuesday night was a third round pick. Unless the proposals improve, Roloson will remain an Islander.
It makes little sense to move Roloson – arguably the Islanders’ most valuable player this season, showing no signs of slowing down at age 40 – for just a third round pick.
With more cap space than every Cup contender combined, Snow also has the option of using it to his team’s advantage. (The Cristobal Huet option I wrote about on the blog on Feb. 25 certainly has taken on a life of its own on Twitter).
My friend Elliotte Friedman of “Hockey Night in Canada” has written that the Blackhawks really want Tomas Vokoun from Florida, but Snow could benefit by giving Chicago cap relief in a separate deal.
The more complicated deals get as 3:00 pm EST approaches, the more likely they are to crater.
If a Roloson trade does not work out, the Islanders will consider their highest bids for Martin Biron. Snow will not give Roloson or Biron away.
The Islanders are planning to hit the ice for practice today at noon. There’s a chance not everyone on the current roster will make it.
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In other news, I’m told the Islanders should be able to provide an update on Rick DiPietro sometime today.
Comments.
FanHouse: Odds of Finding a Player in the 2nd Round
9:35 pm, NVMC: In his first 43 games this season, Blake Comeau had six goals. In his last three games, Comeau had six goals.
In the first 151 games of his NHL career, Comeau had no multi-goal games. He has two multi-goal games in his last two.
With their win tonight, their 26th, the Islanders have tied their win total from last season with 19 games remaining.
Chicago was not called for a penalty tonight. The last time that happened with an Islanders opponent was Nov. 17, 2006 at Tampa Bay.
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If could lead to nothing, but lots going on – primarily involving the Islanders’ goaltenders. I maybe saw half the game. Certainly saw the Hawks’ goalies. As I half-jokingly tweeted during the game, the Blackhawks cannot trade with the Islanders now. For this night, they are in a position of weakness.
Ten feet to my right, Chicago announcers Pat Foley and Steve Konroyd were raving about Dwayne Roloson from the drop of the puck. The Islanders certainly showcased him early on.
You take over the Plus/Minus tonight while I work on a few other things. Could have another post late tonight.
Mine is only regarding the trade of Andy Sutton today to Ottawa for San Jose’s second round pick.
Minus: Before you get to the game, I get a minus for my first draft of the Sutton trade post. By initially writing that the deal was a “steal” for Ottawa GM Bryan Murray, I mistakenly left the impression for a while that I thought Garth Snow was ripped off. He was not. I later changed the post from a “steal” to a “great pickup” for Murray.
Murray made an excellent acquisition for his team, of that there is no doubt. As a rental, Sutton makes the Senators’ blueline a lot more dangerous in a seven-game series against the best in the East. For a pick that should end up between 55-60th overall, that’s a no-brainer for Murray – no matter what the fans in Ottawa may think of Sutton’s ability. With Sutton healthy this season, anyone who watches Islanders games knows better.
Snow got as much as he could. He had at least two offers on the table for second round picks. Since only sure playoff teams would trade for Sutton, those deals were for picks that would land between 50th and 60th overall. The Islanders GM, rightfully so, waited as long as he could to see if he could get a little more. When those offers started to come off the table as GMs shopped elsewhere, Snow did the right thing by getting the late second for a 35-year-old defenseman he wasn’t trying to re-sign.
Florida got a higher pick for Dominic Moore because he was acquired by new Montreal GM Pierre Gauthier.
Maybe in the best-case scenario on Wednesday, Snow could have squeezed a late-second plus a fourth round pick. No big whoop that he didn’t get a sweetener. He could have been left holding the bag.
Plus: Scott Gordon to Katie Strang on Andy Sutton: “I don’t think Ottawa realizes how much of a player they got. It’s a very good acquisition for them.”
Your Plus/Minus on tonight’s game and thoughts on the trade deadline are welcomed in Comments.
1:50 pm - The Islanders have also traded Brett Westgarth to San Jose for futures.
Chris Botta on Twitter
Noon, NVMC: A league source tells Point Blank that Dwayne Roloson is at the top of the Philadelphia Flyers’ wish list to solve their goaltending troubles.
“Roloson’s number ($2.5 million) for next year is not a hindrance in the Flyers’ view,” said the source. “They’re looking at a few goalies, Marty Biron included, but Paul Holmgren is very interested in Roloson.”
The Flyers placed goalie Ray Emery on the Long Term Injury list yesterday. By waiving Riley Cote and Danny Syvret over the last week, they have created $2 million in salary cap space – plenty enough to absord Roloson’s prorated salary for this year and acquire another impact player such as Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
Other teams, including tonight’s opponent – the Chicago Blackhawks - are interested in Roloson as well. Roloson, who was superb this season until his everyday work was interrupted by the return of Rick DiPietro, starts tonight.
One thing about DiPietro’s setback: it gives Snow an honest reason to tell his fellow GMs, “I don’t need to trade a goalie. With Rick out again, I could easily stand pat.” DiPietro’s absence – per Katie Strang, the GM is meeting with the goalies doctors tonight – also gives Snow cover with his fanbase if he doesn’t make an impact move.
With the trade deadline at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, Snow is in strong position to acquire value for Roloson and Andy Sutton – his two trading chips of significance.
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Bailey – Tavares – Okposo
Moulson – Nielsen – Hunter
Comeau – Schremp – Jackman
Bergenheim – Weight – Park
Streit – Hillen
Sutton – MacDonald
Gervais – Meyer
Roloson
Biron
Since the Islanders are carrying 14 forwards – Josh Bailey and Tim Jackman came off the Injured list today - Matt Martin will stay in Bridgeport until roster spots are cleared. If Andy Sutton is traded, Dustin Kohn will re-join the Islanders. Jack Hillen is also off the Injured list.
Something to look out for. If Snow is close to a trade for Sutton this afternoon, he could opt to pull the defenseman out of the lineup. Assuming DiPietro is put on IR, Snow could get Kohn to the Coliseum on time.
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Scott Gordon on Ron Wilson’s vision for Team USA: “80-90% of what we did at the Olympics as a team is what we’re trying to do here. Obviously, we had more expereienced playersin the Olympics, but ultimately that’s what we want our team to be.”
On his team’s playoff chances, the coach said losing the third period lead to Ottawa the day before the Olympic break was a tough blow. He also said the Islanders’ “not easy schedule” presents a stiff challenge, but he’s excited to see how the team performs.
Twenty regular season games to go, starting tonight.
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Welcome back to Blackhawks announcers John Wiedeman and Steve Konroyd. John is simply one of the best pure hockey play-by-play broadcasters on the planet. Steve was incredibly kind to this young Islander News writer during my first season with the club. His class and generosity will never be forgotten.
Comments on this post and tonight’s game.
Point Blank has learned that Garth Snow has offers from at least two known teams of second round picks for Andy Sutton. However, the Islanders general manager is holding out for more before Wednesday’s 3:00 pm deadline.
As we wrote back on Feb. 11, the comparable for a Sutton deal is Pittsburgh’s acquisition of big defenseman Hal Gill from Toronto at the trade deadline two years ago. Penguins GM Ray Shero paid the price of a second and a fifth round pick. Considering Sutton’s strong play this season and knowing the difference he could make for a contender, Snow hopes to acquire at least a second and an additional draft choice.
There is one danger in holding out too long. Just today, Denis Grebeshkov and Jordan Leopold were traded for second round selections. While waiting for fair value for Sutton, the general manager has to make his suitors don’t choose to fill their blueline needs elsewhere.
With more than 36 hours to go before the deadline, Snow is right to hold out for more.
Comments on an Andy Sutton deal.
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