A VERY GOOD REASON TO WEIGHT
Why the NYI are saving Doug’s deal for later
Prior to the opening of unrestricted free agency, Garth Snow strategically let it slip that the Islanders were bringing back Doug Weight for another season. Although today is July 16 and a deal has not been made official, there’s little reason to think the general manager has changed his mind.
Snow’s reasoning is as smart as it is simple. The Islanders captain is not going anywhere else. Over the last two years, Weight maybe has not become an extension of management, but he has become part of the fabric of the organization. His family hosted John Tavares and Matt Moulson at their house for the entire 2009-10 season. Weight has a strong relationship with both Snow and Islanders owner Charles Wang. In the on-going battle for free agents, Weight is an asset as a well-respected recruiter.
The Islanders will easily reach the salary cap floor, even if they don’t sign another second or third-shelf unrestricted free agent between now and the start of the 2010-11 season. However, there has been no rush to finalize every detail of Doug’s deal. When Snow has completed the rest of his business this offseason – including Moulson’s scheduled arbitration case and the inevitable “dropping lines in the water” for the still-available-and-getting-scared-stickless UFAs – the Islanders can utilize Weight’s bonus-laden contract to satisfy any remaining salary cap needs.
Players over the age of 35 who sign a one-year contract can have performance bonuses included in their contracts. As he did last season, Doug Weight will have a few performance bonuses in his 2010-11 contract with the Islanders.
Comments related this post are welcomed.
104 Responses to A VERY GOOD REASON TO WEIGHT
Why the NYI are saving Doug’s deal for later
-
jimfromStjames says:
Too Cool, I could read every site out there & never get a whiff of info like this. I’ts kind of like having a cousin who works for the team…
Thanks, CB.
The Chicken Little should listen to this man!!! The sky is not falling!
-
john says:
Weight-Konopka-Martin
I guess I could live with that!!
But my major problem with this team is that they made the fans believe that they were going to significantly improve the team, and if they meant Eaton, Jurcina, Konopka and Paranteau, I’m not buying!!!
This team must make shrewd deals over the next 6 weeks to convince me that they arent lottery-bound again.
-
Mike R. says:
So he is an overpaid babysitter?
-
19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Thank you for posting this CB … It’s something that has been buzzing around the country for the past few weeks.
It makes sense for Snow and Weight to ride out the free agency wave … This way Garth can customize the contract to fit within the cap floor.
As far as Doug goes … He’s happy on Long Island …. and he makes himself as captain of the team a very important cog for the organization on that level. The fact that a well respected player in the NHL talks up the Islanders can’t hurt bot him or the organization.
Doug Weight obviously has life after hockey … and this resume building chapter of his career may go a long way. Maybe even with the Islanders when he hangs ‘em up.
-
BM says:
Pathetic
-
Pathetic, the Islanders using Weight to reach the cap floor has to be a new low for any NHL team. I certainly hope that Tavares, Bailey, Okposo, Petrov, Kabanov, Nino, and our Defense prospects all turn into super stars that demand millions and millions and then Garth looks like a genius for “leaving so much cap space open”. But for now, it looks to me as if Wang wants to keep this team at the very minimum. If Garth was telling the truth in trying to be a playoff contender this year… it’s going to have to be based on unbelievable production from kids with small contracts.
-
Eric says:
I get the fact that he’s Snow’s tool to get to the cap floor… but who the hell has this guy recruited? Mark Eaton? If so… maybe not such an asset that way.
-
Brad says:
Is he going to be named assistant GM right before camp
-
Nyslefan says:
Getting to the cap floor by overpaying Doug Weight? I think I’m going to be sick…
-
Tom says:
Brad he very well might be. Trottier & Jankowski were fired for a reason, maybe Doug Weight is the heir apparent to The Committee. Hey if keeping Doug raises the Isles chances of obtaining even a quasi-NHL Dman he’s worth it.
-
Madchef says:
Well TIm you may have made a point even though you were being negative. At least if we keep all this space open when all our young help gets time to redo their contract we will have money to sign them. As for Weight I am glad to have him back, I was not a proponent at first but understand his value and actually think he can have a good season if he is truly healthy.
-
Vas says:
What a shyster move.
-
Bryan says:
so we will give weight 5 million dollars in posssible bonus’ that he wont reach so we cheat our way to the cap floor? sounds like another exciting season ahead.
-
matt says:
i think it is smart what garth is doing but at the same time i think its crazy that doug is out best shot to get new players to come here. im all for keeping him one more here however considering he is very close with tavares
-
Never witnessed a Cup says:
I haven’t witnessed many classier guys in the sport. I hope he stays in the org.
-
dlk says:
My “rebuttal”:
1. Doug Weight would seem to be little more than an overpaid babysitter.
2. Weight’s presence here does not seem to have influenced any free-agent of real significance to sign here.
3. Holding off on a contract so you can overload it with bonuses as a means of hitting the cap floor is reprehensible. -
Staten Islander says:
I actually like having him around to mentor the kids. I just wish he were younger. That said, it wasn’t a great free agent pool this year for picking up scoring and some of the guys left, you wouldn’t want to throw huge deals at anyway. I’m ok with this.
-
felix says:
kinda agree on the sense that holding the contract to make sure the cap is reached is a teensey weensey okay hugely emabarrasing.
imagine if we did not have the over 4 mil yahsin cap hit. what would we have done? given weight a 8 million dollar salary as a send off to retirement?
-
Dan says:
waste of money. id rather overpay someone who will produce more than him
-
Islebethere4u says:
Still too far to the cap floor to just be talking up Weight and a coup;e of FA’s they want to retain. Unless there’s some shrewd wheeling and dealing, it’ll still take a lot IMHO to do that. Frolov? Gagne? Too many D men to keep around. I think somethings coming before long. But that’s just me. Keep up the good work Doug.
-
Vic says:
Chris,
First off, I would like to thank you for all the insight that you provide. Secondly, I am a Doug Weight supporter for alot of different reasons.I agree that it may be a very thrifty and well-thought out manuever by Snow to hold off with Dougie’s contract, but geez with a bonus-laden contract how much could he possibly pay him? I do hope that Doug can cash in on his deal, which means he would have a solid season, but are the Isles gonna pump-up his deal to potentially reach the cap floor?They have other alternatives to meet the cap floor.I’ve been a fan from 1976 and don’t mind being patient, but Chris let’s be honest, I know it’s only July 16, but today we are still a lottery team. The cupboard is full of some real nice prospects but a couple of more vets short-term would work wonders ie: Dominic Moore(PK), Raffi(grit 2nd liner on our team) and a D-man preferably not named Andy “career year” Sutton. Thanks again. -
i like weight for the reasons written in the post. i wonder if the players weighed in on this, if they would have to say the same,if not more…
being our captain i’m not sure, he’ll have to be healthy. but def a fan of weight’s on many levels.
still need to sign someone though…someone who can score.
-
Phil says:
overpaid. washed up. let someone else lead. want to make him an ambassador? go ahead. don’t waste a roster spot though with him.
-
I don’t think Garth is using Weight to reach the cap floor … Garth needs Weight as insurance to hit the cap floor … and that is what’s troubling.
Garth made huge offers the first day of free agency … and was rejected. Plain and simple. Not Garth’s choice he has to do this … he has no choice but to resort to this.
Call it reprehensible … but it’s not against the rules. Just like it’s not against the rules for a team to go a certain % over the cap when signing players during free agency … just as long as they are under the cap ceiling by opening night. Those are the rules… and Garth and other GM’s are within their right to do it.
Garth may have a chance to deal with some teams over the cap during exhibition season.
-
McLovin21 says:
And the gong show rolls on
-
bossy22 says:
There was a lot of talk last year that the team got along really well. That could be the work of weight. Having a calming presence in the dressing room with things don’t go right for a young team is pefect. It’s only a one year deal and I believe he still has enough in the tank to contribute.
-
mm30 says:
CHEAP!
-
JSExpress says:
Yikes… I hope the organization is able to bring some talent in (via FA or trade) that will help with the “rebuild” (God, I am growing to hate that term), get us closer to the cap floor, and perhaps most importantly, put some butts in seats. I feel as though Wang and Snow have habitually overlooked this final piece. No offense, but fans are not going to shell out their hard-earned money to see Mark Eaton or Milan Jurcina. Dems da facts.
-
isles72 says:
I believe I recently read somewhere that once a player cannot realistically achieve the determined bonus numbers in his contract that the bonus cannot be used as the cap hit
-
Isle Be Damned says:
I think it’s shady the way they’re working his deal. Say they want to give him 1.5 for the season, but they’re 3.5 below the cap. So now they’re going to give him 3.5? it makes no sense.
Beyond that as much as I like Weight as a leader and as a person, he can’t stay on the ice anymore. I much rather would have seen them go with say Paul Kariya or John Madden or any other # of veterans to provide leadership At least those guys can still play a bit.
-
ken says:
this is just a creative way to get to the cap floor, its very embarrasing. weight will basically get paid $10M if he scores 100 goals… obviously he wont score 100 goals, we won’t have to pay $10M, but the cap hit will be $10M. Very dissapointing to me.
-
isles711 says:
It’s always the same for me. Glass half full or half empty. For many here, it’s ALWAYS half empty. Today. I’m in a crappy mood, so I’ll join the whingers (British slang for complainers ) and add my 2 cents.
To not be able to reach the cap floor without giving Weight an overloaded contract with bonuses he will never reach is a joke. You’re telling me that we can’t sign ANYONE else who will actually contribute, and then give Weight what he’s actually worth ??
I repeat what others have already said: PATHETIC. -
Matt says:
SELL THE TEAM
-
Irish Isle says:
So in essence, Garth is going ot bonus-up Weight’s contract to reach the floor?
Can the NHLPA say anything about it?
-
#25 you are right about the free agents 100%. But what about the Hawks unloading all of that talent and Snow not getting anything done! I don’t know if he had talks but the point is in the end he did NOT get anything done! SAME ROSTER SAME RESULTS!
-
mark p says:
He is a recruiter? Who exactly has he recruited the last 2 years?
Off the Ice Doug seems like an asset, but should we be more concerned with finding a veteren player who helps us ON THE ICE.
Asst Coach-Maybe-4th line center….better served elsewhere. -
Spartiarti RVC says:
People really have to stop Weight bashing. The guy is great for team. He is cheap option with incentive based contract. Stop judging the guy b/c he got hurt end of 2009 season and had shorten 09-10 season as well.
When healthy, Doug Weight average about 0.75 points per game.Also lets not forget difference between top ranked team and bottom ranked team is GOOD PP. Our PP was clearly better when he was in lineup.
Dougie Weight makes our team better when Healthy, he alone would not be reason why we miss playoffs.
In order to contend, we need Tavares score over 30-40. Can Okposo, Bailey, Comeau and Hunter chip in 20 goals or more.
You have 5-6 guys with 20 goals or more, with good PP and Good goaltending and that there is different between playoffs or early summer Tee time. -
EAF says:
wow! that’s the way to sell the season tickets! there is no way I will renew mine.
-
Terry says:
Chrysler Plant here we come!!!!
-
niko1677 says:
What a joke…what are they gonna do next year when Yashin’s cap hit is cut in half? Oh wait, maybe they can resign Konopka for $4M per to get to the cap floor. And btw, the Isles have over $28 Million in cap room which is more than enough to sign Kovy and resign Tavares, Bailey and Okposo if they become $7M/yr players. Give me a break.
-
albatros says:
Somebody explain to me how the Islanders have gotten any better through this year’s free agency sham. For God’s sake, at least resign Andy Sutton …..
-
Hishutzi Skorz says:
So the more and better calibre players he helps recruit, the less he gets?
-
Kevin says:
Make him a assistant coach or a scout. Clearly his playing days are over. The “C” needs to go to Streit this season. Lets move on with the youth Garth.
-
Rob76 says:
Sometimes i am embarrassed to be an Islander fan
-
Tony says:
Do the bonuses include one for playing more than 10 games?
-
dose says:
i was hoping by now for SOME spending on real improvment as a sign of impending resolution on the team’s future. we haven’t seen it, which i think means the holding pattern is still in effect because no resolution is close, or the owner simply has given up.
-
doc says:
Wow…! Why all the hatred to Doug Weight? He’s not going to get a $10,000,000 contract next year… lighten up people. He was playing with 1 and a 1/4 arms last year and had 16 points in like 35 games…
-
27Tonelli says:
Overpaid useless Bum !
-
jeff says:
Never thought I’d say this, but sell to the Wilpons already!
-
Tony F. says:
Who else is going to provide the leadership and mentoring to the likes of Tavares and others? It helps to have an advisor like him on the team even if he doesn’t score 20 goals, heck I still wish we had Mike Silinger. I know this has nothing to do with this post but are we ever going to learn what went down with R. Jankowski?
-
IsleBeSeeingYou says:
Might solve the cap floor gap, but does nothing for their ever widening credibility gap.
-
Stumpy32 says:
I’m a bit confused as to what his role really is. I have no doubt that he’s a leader on the team…when he’s playing. But if he’s not going to just hang it up and be a coach, then when he’s injured, does he show up for games? He certainly can’t be on the bench, and keeping a well-paid guy around that will clog up minutes for a younger player on a team that will likely be, at best, average, just to reach the cap floor…well, let me just say that I’m glad I gave up my season tix in ’06. Good lord. If he wants to be a coach…great, I’d take him right now. But c’mon…if we’re going to overpay a guy near the end to essentially be a babysitter/coach/etc., why not move heaven and earth (i.e. our cap space) for Modano, who still has something left in the tank?
-
Weight is a classy guy, and I’ve always liked him, but he’s largely finished as a productive player. It’d just be nice to have mentoring and leadership from someone with some righteous ice time still left in the tank instead of 4th line dregs who have nowhere else to go. If it smells like poo, feels like poo, and tastes like poo…etc.
-
Ricardolikland says:
Only isle fans that are left are fans of minor league players n fans who don’t get angry at losing
-
upstatebackstop87 says:
Guys! Stop complaining! Our beloved hockey club will be more competitive this year. we may miss the postseason again but not by much. Snow has a good plan, its slow as hell but it WILL work! In the mean time go enjoy one of our great baseball clubs! see you guys in october
-
Healy says:
I am waiting for the actual puck to drop on opening night before going crazy. Remember everyone sounding off on Petrov when a thirdhand soundbite about honoring his obligations got blown out of proportion about the bad attitude he had? Wait til we get some more facts. Free agency is NOT closed. Each offseason Garth has not made a large splash, but has made valued pickups (Streit, Shremp, Moulson, Roloson). There are still players out there. Isn’t it a bit early to assume that Weight is being used JUST to reach the floor?
I get why there is so much negativety surrounding this team. The ONLY way to cure it is to clearly embrace the fans and have a winning run. Seems we a ways from being very competitive and the PR department of the Isles is sorely lacking, I get it. I just wish we’d all take a moment and think it through.
-
Matthew Dillner says:
Doug Weight represents what sports and this young team can all take a lesson from. Hard Work, leadership and playing for the right reasons. I haven’t seen an Islander captain, who has been so oft injured, exude this much class and generate this much respect.
A leader and I am proud he is an Islander. We need a guy like this on our team, even if his greatest asset is off the ice.
Thanks Dougie
-MD -
Dack1972 says:
Are guys kidding me!!!! Snow is genius…he has a plan people. We have one the best young core of players in the league that are growing together. Weight is a stable rock for these guys. When a healthy weight was in the line up at the begining of the year the team was playing well. Everyone wants Snow to sign all of these free agents (which there’re not too many talented ones i’d want). Snow is leaving enough cap room to sign Kyle, Tavares, Bailey, etc….. in the near future. I’ve been an isles fan since 1978 yes it’s hard to wait for a winning team but be patient it is comming.
-
PotvinRocks says:
I don’t think the comments are a reflection on the Weight, but it is concerning the manipulation of the salary cap floor. I guess it’s no different than all those long term contracts that we see. I would rather see them try to improve themselves with the cap floor but I do understand that they want to give some young guys a chance to make the team. Nino, Petrov, Martin, Ullstrum, Donovan, and Hamonic over Kariya or Lee Stepnik. I get it. Elliotte Freedman and others can complain about the move but it’s no different from Chicago’s Hossa signing or Philly’s Pronger signing. Just opposite reasoning. At least Weight can feel good about the fact that the Islanders can’t afford to trade him during the season.
-
savvy says:
Does anyone have any real numbers regarding the islanders’ team salary, because I keep hearing different numbers, such as 7-10 million under the cap. And since doug was gonna sign for less than a mil, then why not use that money to entice kovulchuk with a larger contract anyway?
-
Dinerboss says:
I agree with #38 Spartiarti rvc.solid goaltending,good defence,and timely goal scoring,will give us a chance at the playoffs, ( if we stay healthy).I’m sure Snow will tinker with the roster from now till the start of the year through signings or trades.remember there will be alot of players avaliable due to teams in need to get under the cap.for example Philly signed Carcillo and there up over the cap,so someone will be let go(unprotected) or traded, for them to get under the cap.this team will be better this year I’m sure of it.
-
P.S the Stanley cup is never won in July!!!
-
rb says:
Wow, it’s mostly, negative, negative, negative.
We’re sitting on young core/prospect base of Tavares, Bailey, Okposo, DeHaan, Hamonic, Petrov, Kabanov, Niedereitter, Donovan, Koskinen, Nilson, etc., etc. and all people want to do is complain.
Would you rather Snow go drop $7 million a year on some middling free agent, like Minnesota just did with Koivu or Chicago did with Campbell and Huet? So when players hit their stride the team would be carved up like the Blackhawks because of poor salary management?
-
cahoward28 says:
The fifth worst team in the league (could’ve been 4th or 3rd going into the last game) replaces Andy Sutton off a career year with Mark Eaton and Milan Jurcina, the three best teams in the division all get better or don’t need to and we’re going to compete for the playoffs? We’re a 43 year old goalies injury away from the #1 pick in my book. I love Garth’s vision for the future, I do. But don’t feed me the BS that we’re going to be a playoff team next year with this current makeup. So much has to fall right with nothing going wrong for us to even be in competition at the trade deadline next year as of today. I’m just so sick of rooting against the Isles in March, I was very hopeful that this past year would’ve been the last time. Now I’m thinking it’s going to happen again and i’m not too psyched about it.
-
Ron says:
Party on Wang! Party on Garth!
-
Hoguefanclub says:
Sell the team Wanger.
-
NoManIsAnIslander says:
Wang to fans: Let them eat cupcakes.
-
isles4life says:
who knows what will happen this year maybe tavares will pull a steve stamkos and be one of the top goal scorers (vert doubtful). okposo will be better, bailey could get better. blake looked real good after the olympic break. and (dont bash me)dp could be fully healed and back to his full glory. all im saying is who knows what will happen with the young guys who played last season.
-
JD says:
I don’t know what you guys want from Garth and Wang. The team can’t draw any big time free agents here due to the building and our clouded future. We have some decent prospects that need time to get here and if Wang sells who is going to buy this team and keep it here. I am sure there are plenty of wealthy Canadian businessmen who would love to buy our team and move it to Canada. Until we go out there and have a playoff season, maybe then more fans will come back and potential free agents will have a different view of our team. Maybe thats what we need to get a new arena either here or Queens. Until that happens, creative ways to get to the cap floor isn’t going to change.
-
Bob says:
Thank God we still have almost $8 million tied up with Yashin and Witt this season, or I don’t know what Garth would do. He may actually have to spend on a real free agent next season when Yashin’s pay goes to $2 million and Witt’s $3 million comes off the books (just to get to the cap floor!).
-
Orange&Blue says:
Weight didnt really have a chance to help the kids on the ice last year but he certainly helped off it. It is a no-brainer bringing back a healthy Doug Weight. For the PP alone, he will help the team a great deal.
I just wish Garth would go out and sign a 1 veteran forward between 28-32 years who can put the puck in the net and pair him with Tavares. Preferably American or Canadian. Stempniak is a guy that comes to mind. This guy knows how to bury the puck. How many times did we see guys on this team no capitalize on great passes from Tavares? It happened many many times! Enough to cost Tavares the Calder.
Did some Youtubeing of Konopka. Didnt really see him play much. This guy is a brawler. He will fight anyone and he is one tough SOB. Glad he is in orange and blue.
-
sean says:
Do people realize That no big name free agents want to play here. Garth can throw money at them and still not get a player. Ryan smyth is an example. We can thank big Murray for her plan
-
Al S. says:
There are a lot of people who post on this blog that will get to heaven and complain about how bright it is
I’d rather have more young players in the line up then settle for a bunch of middle of the road free agents. That being said you do need some positive veteran presence to help and develop these kids and Weight seems to fit that mold perfectly, low cost, wants to be here, cares about the team, did not want to be traded as a rental player to a contending team. This year is another developmental year, let the kids play and watch them learn and grow. If things break right we may be able to contend for a playoff spot this year, definitely by next year and then the following year we should be in a position to compete for a cup hopefully. I like the long term plan and the patience being shown by management, for a team that doesn’t have a lot of financial resources this is the way to go. -
Savvy, here are some figures for you from capgeek:
cap is 59.4M
cap floor is 43.4M
Current NYI cap hit is $35M based on 18 players so they are $8.4M from cap floor without including the resigning of Schremp, Moulson and Weight. So they should be able to easily get to the cap floor between these 3 contracts, plus the additional contract they would need to add to get to the 22 player roster.Hope that helps.
-
IslanderFAN says:
Unbelieveable how some of you complaint everytime with each Islanders news!!
-
Adam says:
thank you Sean (#66) for being a voice of reason. That is what I always tell my friends when we argue about free agents. Get it through your heads, people! Just because the Islanders have money to throw at players does not mean those players want to take it. Unfortunately, until we get a new arena, we will be forced to overpay for middle of the road free agents and cross our fingers they will pan out. Streit was that type of gamble and it worked. But let’s be honest, in most cases, it won’t work out like that.
-
sth says:
having doug weight around as a coach makes sense. not a player anymore, he’s done. it’s sad, but it happens. the isles aren’t getting anyone, we just have to live with it. either jump ship or don’t. i’ve accepted we’ll suck for another few years until this team moves off the island.
-
Snow and company are rebuilding the isles from bottom up,kinda like Torrey did,through the draft,and he will sprinkle a few veterens here and there,once the team starts to win more consistently that’s when the high priced free agents will want to come here.snow has it alot harder than Torrey did to build a winner.patience the team will turnaround.all we should do is support the team, and it’s young players.Isles are not leaving NY,and with the amount of youth ( talent) we have were in better shape than we’ve been in a long long time!
-
Jersey Steve says:
Weights a good guy, if he can stay healthy, it’ll help the guys on the ice. I’m not saying he should have ten million in bonuses lol. IDK what he’ll get, but seriously who cares. This has nothing to do with saving money. It’s all about looking at the big picture. Isles have a bunch of guys to sign next year. Bailey and Okposo being two big ones hopefully. Everyones hoping for a 25 to 35 goal season for okposo and Bailey to hit 20 goals and 50 to 60 points. Take a cap hit that may be overpaying for the one year and then next year you have all the options in the world. Do it up Doug
-
LouD says:
Let me get this straight. The team obviously has a deal with Doug and doug looks to have agreed in being patient with the contract while they get their ducks in a row. He’s fine with it and Garth is doing what he can (what he’s allowed to do) under Wangs watch. Didn’t really think anything bad of this story at all. Then I started reading the posts and I should’ve figured people would find EVERY SINGLE NEGATIVE ANGLE they possibly could in order to berate the team and players. The only thing harder than being a fan is having to listen to the constant stream of negativity that other fans bring to the table. I would recommend to anyone that wants to put themselves in a deep state of depression to read the comments section of pointblank.
-
John from Atl says:
Snow has made few mistakes since taking over but, his biggest has been what he has stated about the playoffs and not making them last year or that they plan to make the playoffs this coming year. They won’t.
Signing Weight is a good move to make the cap floor. He is respected in the young locker room and will probable get injured and not take too much ice time away from the kids. Once the yound core’s contracts come due the payroll should increase.
The Isles are heading into year 3 of at least a 5 year rebuild. The 2008-09 season was rock bottom. Each year after that the team should be better than the year before.
Maybe a playoff “contender” in 2011-12 when more of the prospect make the team. All the UFA signed this year will be gone when the rebuild is done in 2-3 years. And so will Weight.
Be patient. At least the days of hoping for them to lose are over. -
I know this rebild is a hard thing to go through. ESP since we have had one good season since like 93. At the same time i think we have to give it one more season before we start spending a bunch on free agents. I more then anyone wants to win but i think our toung talent is not to the point where it needs to be yet. Is it hard to sit here and wait year after year? yes it is but for the first time in a long time i think we are having good drafts and going about it the right way. Dont blame Snow for this he inheritied this mess from “He who shall not be named”
-
Agreed with #74. It still amazes me that people are suprised that we can’t sign the big name free agents. The Islanders were the 6th worst team in the league last season and these free agents are signing with cup contenders. 1+1 DOES equal 2. Doug Weight could promise the world to free agents but he can’t promise a very young team will be contending for a cup. That’s where the Islanders lose out.
-
thepolishprince says:
I’m not upset Weight was brought back for one more year but not on a hocus pocus contract to help get us to the floor. if Snow is really done for the offseason I don’t see us competing for the 7th or 8th spot next spring.
-
Joe says:
Like the guy but this is pretty dumb
-
Jim Clark says: Doug Weight helped the Rangers win a cup in 1994 by being traded for Esa Tikkanen a year earlier. He was injured in the 2006 Stanley Cup finals when Carolina won a Stanley Cup, no doubt due to his great leadership. In two years on the Island, he’s played 89 games and scored 11 goals. The Islanders finished 30th and 26th with him.
I suppose housing and mentoring Taveras and other young players is an attribute. But an awful lot of why teams win is because of what they do on the ice. Perhaps Weight is a useful placeholder until the Snow slow and steady rebuild plan produces a bountiful crop.
Someday I’ll go to Huntington and check out the Islanders new official cupcake.
-
Baz says:
I think they are definitely grooming him for some kind of management role. His playing days really should be done, but he’s C-L-A-S-S all the way and just a really smart guy. And Wang loves that.
-
raul17 says:
So I guess this makes it offial, Richard Park will not be here. He was one of the few who played Islander hockey.
-
mb says:
Boy am I glad the Islanders are not getting my money this year. I gave up 4 season tickets and will not be back unil ownership proves that they are willing to put money into this team. Did you also hear how the Casino could be put on hold for a couple of years? A group in CT has decided to fight the Shinnecocks since they would loose gambling revenue. Now what does Wang & company do? there goes another year or two or three. also heard that getting financing for a casino will be much more difficult as some other indian casinos are having trouble repaying loans.
-
shlo says:
Be patient boys. You forgot what rebuilding means. We’ll suck for 2 or 3 more years, be a lottery team for a couple of years. We’ll talk than.There will be no quick fix up, no instant gratification, just slow and steady improvement.
-
How many people here believe that if Garth Snow and Co. piled $8 million bucks in center ice … and said to the top 10 UFA players in the league on June 30th … “That there is a bonus … The first one to NVMC to sign with the Islanders… I will load up $8 Million extra a year in attainable bonuses for the life of the contract if you sign a $5M a year guaranteed contract of up to 7 years.” … How many plane tickets to Republic airport would be purchased by those top 10 FA’s in a race to be the first to grab the prize?
Answer – The same as the # of Cups the Islanders have won the last 25 years.
Don’t get on Snow for not being able to seal the deal with these FA’s. The one person who has been a road block to the Isles’ shot at success isn’t even associated with hockey. Clue: She’s a goat lover.
-
mike says:
He is staying low to the floor for the years to come. When Tavares, KO, Hamonic, DeHann need to get paid. Look at the Blackhawks! They just got torn up and split up! Why? Because they had no room under the cap! The Hawks will not repeat because of this! You need to have cash on hand to pay the big guns. And in a few years, we’re going to have the big guns. This team will be amazing when these kids are in their mid 20′s. Wait and see, trust me!
-
Onesinceforty says:
I think this “get to the floor” business should have been handled differently. I say whatever money you needed to get to the lowest allowable level (that alone is pathetic) should be used to choose a young player the team believes in and give them an extension. This has been done with Mac and Nielsen. Maybe you think Bailey or Okposo is a core player so you lock him up a little early to favorable terms. This would be much more logical long term and accomplish the goal of getting to the bottom. God, I hate how that sounds and feels but it is what it is for now. Weight probably could probably have been signed for much less.
-
Lee says:
Weight hit the lotto by coming here. Wonder if they are going to give him one of those giant checks to show off his $10 million
-
Wow, are you guys depressing! Weight is getting a 1 yr contract. Considering we will probably have at least 4 or 5 rookies in the line-up, that is a good thing. They are obviously grooming him for a management position (Janks, Trots), post playing career. Right now, we have very little respect around the league, maybe with dougie, even if we can’t sign free agents, at least we will be able to keep our own.
-
Darren says:
Whew hooh!!!!!!CUP here we come.The one post wanting Modano can forget it.He’s said he will not play for a team he’s not comfortable on.He needs to personally know several players.Plus this guy,in my opinion, is a cancer.Very selfish player.I think Garth needs to sign(if @ all possible) 2 of the 3 remaining top FA’s.Let the kids develop in minors already for @ least 2-3 yrs.There is a realistic possibility for the Isles to add 3 proven 20+ scorers w/o breaking the bank.If they don’t add now then they never will.Next years draft class is considered weak so c’mon Garth what the hell is the reward for finishing in the bottom 5 again.Weight to me @ this point in his career brings nothing to the table.I thought the Isles drafted “high character” players and if so why the hell is DeadWeight getting credit for his off-ice mentoring.That would be like me adopting a student @ Harvard and claiming he/she got their smarts from me!!!Get real people and get busy Garth!!Too many teams are way ahead of where the Isles are @.I see a 10th place team @ best in the conf.Maybe Garth was on to something when he suggested that playoff lottery thing!!OH BOY….go isles.
-
ralf says:
I think people are severely overestimating the value of Doug Weight, if they need him as an “adviser” pay him as one and give the roster spot to someone who might actually play and contribute, and as for leadership and mentoring, what the heck is the coaching staff for? dumb move IMO.
-
Al L says:
There is no reason to knock Doug Weight here. I’d love to see him remain apart of this Organization. There is significant reason to blast their behavior and current Operation,however. Only in Islanderland can a Cap workaround to inflate and book intangible payroll be pursued,where every other Organization is seeking to deflate Book payroll,while tangibly increasing it. As an Islanders fan since their inception,I also find this embarrassing tactic a poor representation of sincere investing and nothing less than deceitfully reprehensible!!!
-
Wizard of Isles says:
Let’s think this through as it’s only the middle of July. Some teams still need to clear cap space and the Isles will be in position to acquire another player to reach the cap floor. Garth will add a player that will ‘fit’ with the team if someone on the trade market comes at the right price. No reason to hinder future cap flexibility in year 3 of rebuild. Let’s go Isles!
-
beatlebailey says:
Big fan of Weight on the 4th line and team leader. This is not something to be upset about. Great guy and great influence on the young guys…if he doesnt take a shift he is worth the contract as a defacto asst coach
-
B says:
Like what they’re doing…were gona be a good team soon
-
BringBackNyles says:
Doug are you ready to grow up and be GM or do you want a 15 year Ricky special?
-
Is there another team in the league that has a problem reaching the salary floor? What a sad joke we’ve become.
That makes total sense.