Whenever a trade looks too good to be true, it’s a good idea to check your pockets. But if Islanders general manager Garth Snow checks his pockets after trading defenseman Alexei Zhitnik to Philadelphia for defenseman Fred Meyer and a conditional draft pick, he’ll find the franchise is more than $8.6 million richer. Not to mention younger and faster on defense.
That’s approximately the difference between what was left on Zhitnik’s contract, which runs through the 2008-09 campaign at $3.5 million per year, and what the Islanders owe Meyer, whose two-year deal for $525,000 per year runs through next season. Now, consider that Zhitnik totaled 29 points in 59 games last season compared to Meyer’s 27 points in 57 games. Everything was equal except the money and the numbers on their birth certificates, which say Zhitnik is 34 and Meyer turns 26 on Jan. 4.
The numbers may not measure the intangibles Zhitnik provided. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren wanted Zhitnik for the experience and know-how he can provide for a young defensive corps. But the Islanders can get those same intangibles from Brendan Witt and Sean Hill. What they need is more speed on defense and maybe fewer hooking penalties and less time on the penalty-kill.
Down the road, there’s no telling how valuable the draft pick might become. It’s a third-round pick this June, but if Snow chooses to wait a year, it becomes a second-round pick in 2008. So, if Meyer doesn’t turn out to be an adequate replacement for Zhitnik, wait a few years and the pick might turn into a quality player.
Of course, the big thing is how Snow uses the extra $2 million in salary-cap space he just cleared this season to go about $4 million under the cap. When it was suggested the Islanders’ need more scoring power to keep up with the loaded leaders in the Eastern Conference, Snow said, “I agree. Are we actively pursuing anything? The answer is no, but I recognize we do need secondary scoring. It seems our first line has been scoring most of our goals, and that’s not good enough. But we believe in the guys in the locker room, and they’ll figure it out.”
One thing that might be harder to figure out is who will play once Meyer recovers from a minor back injury. The four veterans, Witt, Hill, Tom Poti and Radek Martinek appear locked in. Coach Ted Nolan loves the way Bruno Gervais is developing, and it’s obvious by the way he is playing more aggressively in the offensive zone that Gervais is growing more comfortable.
Snow said a major reason for the trade was to make room on the roster to bring Chris Campoli up from Bridgeport. But Snow also said, “I have no intention of sending Freddy Meyer to Bridgeport. But you’re asking me to read what’s going to happen and who’s going to play well a week from now. The players who can help us win hockey games are the players who are going to be in the lineup…Who knows? Freddy Meyer AND Campoli may be in the lineup. That’s a coaching question.”
Nolan doesn’t like the idea of rotating an extra defenseman into the lineup to help with certain matchups or to get him some ice time. But obviously, someone is going to have to sit in the press box or go (back?) to Bridgeport. Stay tuned.
Comments (13)
I think this was a good trade. Zhitnik was making way too much money for what he was doing for this team - which was taking hooking penalties every other shift. Clearing that cap space and aquiring a younger speedier D-man was nice. We shall see who plays when Meyer is healthy. Hopefully they will be able to pick up another scorer to help out the top line.
I like how gritty Hill is but he also takes way too many hooking penalties. He seems to be too slow and out of position for the new NHL. That being said, I do like how he's not afraid to play the body ...
Bring back some spunk to this team...Bring back STEVE WEBB! It's been said here before and its obvious that there is a posse of Islanders fans who want number 20 back in an Islanders sweater! Lets make this team fun to watch again.
Steve Webb is long retired.
I understand the guy became a mini-folk hero, however...he, like Cairns and Godard, weren't really getting it done in the new NHL.
That said, Kevin Colley was the closest thing we had to Steve Webb and unfortunately his career was cut short.
enough with steve webb already people. wasn't he doing blogs on newsday.com a while ago?
campoli, pack your bags for the bridge again when meyer is ready to go.
Garth Snow and the Committee score on this one. Someone wake Milbury up and give him a cookie.
Great trade, Zhitnik was becoming a liability the past few weeks on defense. He looks to have lost a step.
If we get an offensive player with the cap space we cleared this could be a better trade than Milbury ever made.
...not that it would be very hard to top any of Milbury's moves.
i like the trade alot, but meyers going to need to earn it. campoli's been playing well.
its going to be interesting to see who they might pick up - but let's be sure to take care of Blake and show him we're committed so he can focus on the remainder of the season. blake is the backbone of this organization and should be in an isles jersey until he retires.
another win at the garden, loving it. time to take back first place.
The last thing the Islanders should do is pour all there new money into giving Jason Blake a ridiculous contract he does not deserve. He's already 33 years old and has just over 100 career goals, HE IS NOT A BIG TIME PLAYER. Granted he's have a great year this year but he's not likely to get any better then where he is now, more likely worse as he gets older and he is not the kind of guy you build your team around. Yashin was suppose to be that guy but it didnt' work out. I'm not saying lose Blake but don't give him a huge contract you'd give to a top star. A 3 year deal is more then enough for a 33 going on 34 year old winger who before this year never scored 30 goals.
Now the real tough decisions are starting to be made for now and the future. Can Ted, Garth and company make the smart moves by using their good young players now while still trading some of their assets for the "specialists" Ted claims to need? The Islander faithful have this group under a microscope now so let's watch carefully to see what they can really do.
We could trade Over the Hill or Dim Witt and still see no dramatic downside to our defence. They're both short term useful veterans of the old NHL but the speed and rule changes make them totally out of place for the long term. Move one of them, Bates or Simon and one of the Bridgeport prospects for a player Ted really needs. Then we play it out with the acquistion, Tambellini, Gervais, Campoli and Meyer.
Edgar: we need to see the slow footed, no point producing plodders on defence packing their bags. Campoli adds that badly missing part of our defensive game. He should be out there with a stay at home/offensively challenged partner strictly to add an offensive transition to our game.