Now that activity in the NHL free-agent market has slowed to a crawl, it’s time for me to go into hibernation until mid-September just before training camp opens in Moncton, New Brunswick. I will return if the news demands it, but in the meantime, here are a few items to keep the discussion going through the dog days of summer:
SNOW’S QUEST FOR DEFENSE: When Sheldon Souray’s five-year deal worth $27 million with Edmonton was announced yesterday, it effectively marked the end of the free-agent frenzy in the NHL. Although the status of Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne and Nashville’s Peter Forsberg remains uncertain, the rest of the top players are gone.
As much as the Islanders would like to add another solid veteran defenseman, they weren’t going to offer Souray more than a three-year deal. Some have said Islanders GM Garth Snow overpaid for the free agents he signed, including Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie, Ruslan Fedotenko and Jonathan Sim, but their combined deals add up to $18.65 million.
Who looks more desperate than Oilers GM Kevin Lowe to pay such a premium for Souray? In February, Lowe unloaded defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to the Islanders. Now, he has replaced Bergeron’s booming slapshot on the power play with Souray’s cannon for roughly five times the cost. While Bergeron may have his lapses on defense, he’s a much faster, more mobile skater than Souray, and his minus-4 rating last season (plus-5 with the Isles) was nowhere close to Souray’s minus-28.
Under the circumstances, it’s easy to understand Snow’s reluctance to ante up the fortune Souray was seeking. Looking over the remaining pool of free agent defensemen, Danny Markov probably is the best one left. After playing with the Red Wings, he might have his heart set on landing with another guaranteed contender. Agent Jay Grossman believes Markov is undervalued after playing in the shadow of Nicklas Lidstrom. He’s a stay-at-home type, but Grossman noted that he has quarterbacked the power play for the Russian Olympic team.
If Snow isn’t sold on Markov or doesn’t want to overpay, then, he might spend much of the summer looking for the right trade for a top defenseman or waiting for a solid player to fall through the cracks as a result of the arbitration process if a team walks away from a player because of a large salary award. Toronto would love to unload defenseman Bryan McCabe, who has four years worth $28.75 million left on his deal, but even if the Maple Leafs took back salary from the Isles, it probably wouldn’t work. It seems McCabe’s contract has onerous bonus provisions that make it even more cost-prohibitive. So, it’s unlikely the former Islander will return.
Trying to guess Snow’s eventual move in this area should be a blogger’s delight for the next month or so. The recent signing of Aaron Johnson, who played 61 games with Columbus last season, was billed as a way to improve depth at AHL Bridgeport, but he might ultimately wind up on the Isles’ blue line.
TRENT HUNTER’S ARBITRATION CASE: Although Snow might be Trent Hunter’s biggest fan, it appears the Islanders are content to settle the restricted free agent’s contract in arbitration. Agent Brad Devine said negotiations for a multi-year contract have ceased, and the case is scheduled to be heard on Aug. 1. All arbitration decisions must be rendered by Aug. 6.
“It looks like arbitration is the path of least resistance to determine the numbers,” Devine said. “Just because it goes to arbitration doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be an Islander…It’s pretty obvious what is happening in unrestricted free agency. But sure, in a perfect world, he’s definitely an Islander.”
Arbitration results in a one-year deal after which Hunter would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The salary explosion that took place over the past two weeks is the obvious incentive for Hunter to put himself in position to cash in, but Snow has until next July 1 to lock him up, and unlike the negotiations with Jason Blake, both sides appear interested in getting a deal done in the future.
“Trent has never ever waivered [in his loyalty to the Isles], but the CBA has the tools to create an end result,” Devine said. “We didn’t want to pass up arbitration because it controls the term. It’s hard to give up [the possibility of] unrestricted free agency at this point.”
IT TAKES TWO TO REPLACE DANNY FLYNN: The Islanders finally got around to announcing the hiring of assistant coaches Gerard Gallant and John Chabot today as the replacements for Danny Flynn, who takes over as head coach of Moncton in the QMJHL. Assistant Dan Lacroix, who came to the Isles with head coach Ted Nolan and Flynn last season, remains on the staff.
Critics wondered if Flynn and Lacroix were up to the job because they had no previous NHL coaching experience, but they helped Nolan and the Isles reach the playoffs. Nolan followed the same pattern this time around of hiring coaches who already are familiar to him and have his trust. The only difference this time is that Gallant has three years experience as an NHL head coach at Columbus before his firing in the middle of last season.
Gallant and Chabot both have played on the same team as Nolan at some point in their careers, and they also were teammates with each other in juniors with Sherbrooke in the QMJHL. Gallant and Nolan played for the Adirondack Red Wings, Detroit’s former AHL affiliate in Glens Falls, N.Y., and Nolan and Chabot were teammates with the 1985-86 Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL. Like Nolan, Chabot also is a member of Canada’s First Nation and has been active in the aboriginal community.
SCHEDULE QUIRKS: I really don’t like the way the NHL arranged the Islanders-Rangers rivalry next season. They play the first four games by Nov. 29, which might help boost early-season attendance. But then, they don’t see each other again until March, when they play back-to-back on the 4th and the 6th. Then, they finish the season with a Thursday-Friday back-to-back on April 3-4. One back-to-back set with the Rangers in March at the height of the playoff race is enough. I’d rather see the other games spread more evenly over the course of the season.
The opening back-to-back against Buffalo is a little funky, too, because half the season series will be over before the teams really get settled. The last two Sabres games will be over by Dec. 19. Thanksgiving is a tough holiday for the Isles with a game in Montreal the day before the holiday and a back-to-back with Boston on the two days immediately after the holiday. Selfishly, I don’t like being away for New Year’s Eve in Carolina, and my experience is that the road team always is at an extreme disadvantage in those holiday games.
The longest road trip of the season follows almost immediately, starting Jan. 5 in Colorado, where the Isles meet up with Ryan Smyth. For some reason, their next stop is Edmonton, where Mike Comrie will hear it from his hometown boo birds. Then, the Isles head west to Vancouver before returning to Alberta to visit Calgary. For bettors, the lock of the year is an Islanders loss in the final game of the trip after a long flight to Ottawa, where they have a long history of futility.
Other red-letter dates include Jason Blake’s first visit to the Coliseum with Toronto on the day after Christmas, and the return of Tom Poti and Viktor Kozlov with Washington on Oct. 8 in a Columbus Day matinee. Stanley Cup champion Anaheim visits on Feb. 5, but other than the Rangers games, the most exciting games of the year for my money are the ones when Sidney Crosby and the Penguins visit on Nov. 3, Dec. 15, Feb. 26 and Mar. 24.
Two significant stretches of the schedule would appear to be in the Islanders’ favor. From Oct. 20 through Dec. 3, they play 18 games of which 12 are at home and only two road games require them to board a short flight to Pittsburgh and to Boston. The other four road games are bus trips. If they’re going to get off to a good start, this is the Isles’ opportunity to make a move in the standings. The final nine-game stretch of the season is similar in that the four road games require just one short flight to Pittsburgh along with bus trips to Philadelphia, Madison Square Garden and the Meadowlands.
AND SPEAKING OF NEW JERSEY: Many of you keep asking about the unveiling of the Islanders’ new jerseys. Three teams were permitted to display theirs at the recent NHL draft, but the rest of the league will put them on for the first time in September. Reebok won’t be able to deliver a full complement of uniforms until then. The exact date is uncertain, but the Islanders anticipate unveiling their jersey either just before they leave for training camp on Sept. 13 or just after they return on Sept. 22.
Hope you all have a great summer vacation.
Comments (831)
"it’s time for me to go into hibernation until mid-September"-----In other words - Islander fans this is pretty much our roster there will be no big moves made again this summer and we are probably a last place team again. We lost our top d-man and replaced him with the Blue Jackets 6th defenseman. No Souray, No McCabe, No Sutton, No anyone. We got Guerin and Comrie to make up for Blake, Smyth, Kozzie, and Yashin. Add one more year to our streak w/o winning a playoff series
Easy, 3914, come back from the ledge. We're not done yet. It's just Newsday is too cheap to have someone do some writing while Logan takes some vacation time.
Isles3914 - Did you read the blog, heck first part even? Logan says "I will return if the news demands it," if the isles make a trade or have a major signing he'll be back. EVeryone thought we were done July2-3rd but Snow has a plan. Why not wait till Sept to throw last place around, I'm sure you can find plenty of people to jump on the bandwagon with you.
If this team is ever going to be a serious contender, we have to develop some of our own players.I hope that Nolan gives some of the younger guys a chance to play big minutes.Bergenheim, Gervais, Tamby etc. have to become a major part of this team or we might as well not make the playoffs.Then we can use the high draft picks and hopefully get some players that will have a major impact in the future.DP is great in goal.He'll be with us for alot more years so we do have time to build a good, young team that can win the cup, not just make the playoffs. I'm glad that Garth isn't sacrificing our future for for a quick fix and signing guys to bad contracts.
Well I wrote on the opening of free agency on July 1st that losing out on Poti was the biggest loss and would hurt us the most and here we are without a top dman. Poti logged the most minutes, led the team in assists and had a great year. He seemed to like playing here and I was pretty surprised Garth did not work it out with him. Now with Souray signing with the oilers, Mccabe or Jovanowki not being options in trade scenarios we are left with a HUGE void to fill on the back line. It sounds like the yotes would trade jovo in a heartbeat to lose that salary but he will not drop his no-trade clause and Mccabe's bonus incentive laden contract on top of the base salary is scaring the isles off I dont know where Garth is going to turn to fill this spot. Here is my take on available FA dmen that are said to be possible signings by the Islanders:
1. Berard. Cant play d. He is simply a pp qb. We that type in MAB. No to Berard.
2.Ninnima. played here already and was terrible. Not the Nolan type player Garth and Ted are looking for. No to Ninnima.
3.Tanabe. played good on good teams but we are looking to replace poti spot. - player whole carreer. No to Tanabe
4. Markov. At first glance sounds like the perfect fit. Solid dman, plays tough and has skills in all areas of the ice and is a top 4 dman. was a +25 on red wings last season. However, he seems to miss 20 games a year due to injury because of the way he plays. he is only 190 lbs which probably wears down. I say is a risk when your talking about getting only 60 games a season for 3 million a year. I say no to Markov.
5. Sutton. Has great size that didnt seem to hurt him in the new nhl. Was a +8 playing in an offensive div (bolts, caps, canes). Hes physical, tough and compared to Markov is durable. Sutton sounds like the perfect replacement and the Isles should be targeting him.
Yes to Sutton
Markov missing 20 games is nothing for his kind of style... the hard nose, grinding type. I'd definitely sign him.
We need D-men. Markov,Sutton, someone has to replace Hill and Poti. Come on isles!! As much as I love Gervias/ Campoli's development, they're too small and not polished yet. Martinek is injury waiting to happen. We need a couple professional players.
What about this guy?? restricted Free Agents....
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2213&hubname=nhl-wild
If we can get Markov to come here, go for it, he sounds like an Islander. If he only plays 60 games because of injury, that's what we have depth guys in Bridgeport for. Johnson and Meyer can fill in when needed. Although, I still think a trade for someone like Boynton or Ohlund is a possibility.
per HockeyBuzz.............
Danny Markov (Buffalo, Montreal, Islanders, San Jose)
If I could go to war with one defenseman in the entire NHL I would take Danny Markov. He is a player that will battle and battle...He wants a three year deal and that scared Detroit away. He is a bit of a loose canon, but you don't want to take all of that out of him. He is nuts and will put his face in front of shots. Most people who live normal and simple lives won't do that.
we did improve a little after we got gutted but i dont even think we replaced what we lost yet. sim is an upgrade over asham, fedotenko=kozlov, guerin=a small step below blake, comrie over yashin. still have to make up for poti, smyth, even though he did not do much for us, we would have gotten in without him. IMO, we need at least one more top 6 forward and 2 D-men, a scorer and sutton or markov. then we are improved, but gotta love the grittiness. one player we all forgot about in the end who is playoff clutch is simon, he is close to coming back. look what he did for calgary in the cup finals a few years back.
Scary how the usual suspects are so devastated we lost a player they were furious at signing a year ago in Poti.
Last place? Been a long time since this team finished last, can you honestly see a Ted Nolan team with DiPietro's goaltending not being in contention?
Campoli's on the verge of signing a long-term deal with the Islanders according to the teams website.
I like Markov but anyone who wants to give Toronto back all that capspace to spend on players who can really help them for mediocre McCabe are out of their minds.
To take McCabe's contract and give Toronto cap-space
is like another club trading for Yashin three years ago. There is just no way you do that unless they offer a great deal that helps you long-term with him.
For me?
They would have to put him on waivers so we only pay part of his contract, they give up three first rounders, take Bates, Park and Meyer's contracts and give us their two top prospects for the Islanders to consider taking McCabe.
Yes, I know the Milbury club who lives to hate him are the same ones right now wanting to put Gervais, Campoli, Hunter or Bergenheim into a McCabe trade proving they are as clueless as Milbury..
Same with Javanowski who's old, overpaid, injury prone who cannot help the Islanders win.
Just be patient and wait for the right defender or develop someone who can fill the role.
Hear, hear IC. Perfect post to conclude my week in California... just signing off now before heading back to the hotel and then home to NY tomorrow. Great post, I completely agree. For the first time in many years, I feel comforted by the thought that the GM is making the decisions, because he knows a lot more than I do. Let it Snow!
Signing Danny Markov would be a perfect move and a perfect way to end our FA period...
I hope it happens!
Sometimes this blog boggles my mind that I'm embarrassed to be an Islander fan. Islander Contraction.
IC
I have thought about it, and I have changed my mind. I previously said I didn't want McCabe. And I took a shot at my fellow Isles fans who do want Caber. You guys are right. Get Caber at all costs. IC
If the Isles are looking for a defensive D-man, why not make an offer to Ossi Vaananen? I've always loved the guy, very solid and dependable. He'd certainly strengthen the defence from what it is at the moment and add some size and body.
JIsles - MAB is no PP quarterback. He's a guy you look to pass to so he can unload the shot from the point, but that is different than having the smarts to direct traffic and get the play moving up ice. That's something Berard does very well. I'd rather the Isles take a chance and sign Berard (along w/ a shut-down type like Sutton) than go after McCabe. At least with Berard, while we would be taking a chance w/ injuries, we would not be giving anything up except money (and a lot less than McCabe!) or freeing up cap space for a rival so they can improve their team through a UFA signing or trade. Plus, Berard would be A LOT cheaper and allow us to sign or trade for another center while still maintaining enough room to add salary during the season if necessary.
What do you guys think as far as center? I wouldn't mind seeing Peca come back to center a second line with Satan. Comrie, Peca, and Sillinger would be a pretty good top three combo...at least much better than what we started w/ last year (plus I feel like it would be righting a wrong - dumping Peca because of Yashin). I'd like to see them unload Bates if at all possible too.
What scares me about this blog that no one seems to be mentioning is Hunter. No way do I want to lose him to FA next summer, but in listening to his agent's comments, though he claims Hunter wants to remain an Islander, he will be testing FA next year, and we all saw what happened this year with that. Poti, Blake, and Kozlov all wanted to remain Islanders too, and look where that got us. He needs to be locked up long term before the trade deadline next year or we will be reliving the whole Blake saga over again with Hunter in Feb. Sign him!
Greg, Thanks for all the hard work this year. You've done a terrific job getting us the info in quick fashion in this Blog. Enjoy the summer and we'll look forward to your coverage of training camp in Sept. Everyone in IslandersCountry thanks you.
Webb20
SIGN PECA....
The Islanders are in big trouble!!!!!!!!!
Have the Rags been contracted due to lack of interest yet?
5,000 ISLANDER FANS AT MSG THIS YEAR OR MORE?
" YOU CAN'T BEAT US..."
100 BUCKS OF MY OWN MONEY FOR THE FIRST ISLANDER FAN TO RAISE A RETIRED DENIS POTVIN BANNER TO THE ROOF OF MSG NEXT SEASON....
SPREAD THE WORD AND LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN...
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POTVIN
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LET'S REALLY GIVE THE KNICKS FANS SOMETHING TO WHINE ABOUT NEXT SEASON..
RAG CONTRACTION..WERE NYC'S ONLY TEAM...
I agree.... Let's go to the Garden and raise the Potvin banner.
IC
Fraom:
The leftovers: Sifting through who's left
July 13, 2007
By Wes Goldstein
CBS SportsLine.com Staff
Danny Markov, D: Sheldon Souray became the last of the high-profile defensemen available this summer when he joined Edmonton on Thursday, but Markov is a good bet for teams looking for a solid second-unit guy. Markov can move the puck and is a physical force in his own end, although he tends to get injured often as a result. He'll be 31 when the season starts and Markov made $2.5 million last season with Detroit.
Michael Peca, C: A fractured tibia cost him the final 46 games of last season, so his experience with the Maple Leafs wasn't memorable. But when healthy, the veteran is still one of the better two-way centers in the league and enough of a leader to have been a captain during his career. Toronto has some interest in bringing him back, but may not be able to fit the $2.5 million it paid him last season with its cap.
Andy Sutton, D: He's flown under the radar by playing in Atlanta for the last five seasons, but Sutton is an effective, top-four defenseman who adds a lot of size to the back end. Sutton is a good shutdown type who has been around the NHL for eight seasons, and he shoots the puck well from the point. He made $1.9 million last season.
I say sign these three guys. Should be able to get them for a total cap hit of 9-10 million/yr for 2-3 years, leaving 6-7 million to sign guys like Hunter and Asham, or have cap space for a trade. Much better than trading young talent to get McCabe and an ugly contract. Tanabe hasn't done anything in 7 NHL season, why think he would start now?
Finally, I'm really impressed by the passion and lively discussion on this board. Followed TB the last few years, and they'd be lucky go get 3 or 4 posts after a blog, let alone hundreds! Looking forward to a new season!
Fraom:
The leftovers: Sifting through who's left
July 13, 2007
By Wes Goldstein
CBS SportsLine.com Staff
Danny Markov, D: Sheldon Souray became the last of the high-profile defensemen available this summer when he joined Edmonton on Thursday, but Markov is a good bet for teams looking for a solid second-unit guy. Markov can move the puck and is a physical force in his own end, although he tends to get injured often as a result. He'll be 31 when the season starts and Markov made $2.5 million last season with Detroit.
Michael Peca, C: A fractured tibia cost him the final 46 games of last season, so his experience with the Maple Leafs wasn't memorable. But when healthy, the veteran is still one of the better two-way centers in the league and enough of a leader to have been a captain during his career. Toronto has some interest in bringing him back, but may not be able to fit the $2.5 million it paid him last season with its cap.
Andy Sutton, D: He's flown under the radar by playing in Atlanta for the last five seasons, but Sutton is an effective, top-four defenseman who adds a lot of size to the back end. Sutton is a good shutdown type who has been around the NHL for eight seasons, and he shoots the puck well from the point. He made $1.9 million last season.
I say sign these three guys. Should be able to get them for a total cap hit of 9-10 million/yr for 2-3 years, leaving 6-7 million to sign guys like Hunter and Asham, or have cap space for a trade. Much better than trading young talent to get McCabe and an ugly contract. Tanabe hasn't done anything in 7 NHL season, why think he would start now?
Finally, I'm really impressed by the passion and lively discussion on this board. Followed TB the last few years, and they'd be lucky go get 3 or 4 posts after a blog, let alone hundreds! Looking forward to a new season!
do have the space to sign sutton and markov BOTH? if so, what are they waiting for? that would instantly complete a credible roster.
That's right lets Talk, Talk, Talk about what our team should be doing....But have no fear, while all the UFA's have been gobbled up at least our website went mobile!!!
If we signed Peca, I'd kill myself. Peca is an overrated piece of trash ....the man PLAYED with Darcy Tucker last year. In the "rematch" game vs. Toronto, what did he do? Nada, Webb, Godard and Scatchard did. Peca is a big mouth punk. Toronto can have his arse.
Hang the Potvin banner,but leave room for the 2008 Cup banner. So, ya imported another captain? Sad, very sad. The Islanders are weak, and their fans are total schmucks. Tools....
Hey Jim,
The Potvin banner is a stupid idea, any more than the chants of Potvin sucks...Remember that the hit on Ulf Nielsen was a clean check....With the money that the Rags spent, they have a good chance to win this year.....But we know the past....except for the 94 oilers in blue, the rags have done this before to no avail....It is true that the Isles organization has been awful the last 15+ years...But it is time to truly rebuild...otherwise I am afraid that the team will move to Nevada or Kansas....Remember the Whalers, Nordiques, Rockies....I could go on.
But I have to give the blueskirts credit. At least they try.
I am a fool with no hockey knowledge whatsoever. I add nothing to this blog. I am a moron. I know the Icelanders will contract due to lack of fan interest and the empty mausoleum. Empty seats=no money for Wang. Ranger fans will again fill up the Mausoleum when the Rangers are playing there, just like they always do. Long Island, NYC, heck, all of NY is Ranger country!
Leave me alone Icelander fans. I want to enjoy my vacation without the depressing thoughts of the horrible Icelanders.
No one touches my jersey except my best buddy Bossy. He is my real special friend and only he can touch my special jersey.
Hang those banners high from the roof of that Msg corporate dump..
Rags cannot even post a real sellout even with all those ISLANDER FANS rocking their building..
You hear that building on Kozlov's goals on FSN today, they have no fans..
Were the hockey tradition in this town, get those red-headed corporate step-children out of NYC, that's Islander Country...
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Edmonton
Oilers
1993-94
Stanley Cup
Champions
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Let's go Mets!
Again, I apologize. I am a fool. I have no hockey knowledge. Potvin is a pansy and my special friend. He only allows his special friends to touch his jersey.
Hey, stop messing with my special friend's jersey. He only lets me touch it!
I'm tired of hearing how we have to replace poti. Poti just average. he logged big minutes because of his experince, that's it. he is highly replaceable. that's the key word. nobody panic about the d until the season starts. we will be fine. just stop with all the foolish poti talk.
Hey Logan, you're not really making a case that Bergeron is better than Souray, are you? Please stop drinking the Islanders kool-aid that the club's PR staff is shoving down your throat!
For a minute, I thought this blog was going to make it to the end without any of the stupid Isles/Rags banter. I guess I was wrong.
Greg, any truth to the rumor that Steve Webb is considering a return to the Islanders? Can you find out? If not him, I think this team really needs to add an agitator similar to a George Parros or Jordin Tootoo. I'm not talking about a fighter. I'm talking about an agitator that's going to get opponents off their games and that will get the Coliseum buzzing again.
An electrical storm couldnt get the Coliseum buzzing again
For all the real hockey fans that read this.
John Ferguson passed away yesterday. For the fans who never got to see him play, he was hockey's real heavyweight champion.
He could also play the game and was a clutch playoff performer during Montreal's glory years in the sixties.
I saw him demolish the Rangers on many occasions
and he was, without a doubt, one of the fiercest competitors I have ever seen play the game.
Godspeed, John.
PS..Out of respect, maybe some of the "people" that post here can limit their comments to hockey rather than the trash they seem to revel in.
Thanks Bill. 68 is way too young. But you know what they say, "Only the Good die Young".
John Ferguson was the kind of guy any team would want. Not too many like him around any more.
And for all you Isles fans hitting the panic button. I don't think you realize how good your Rookie GM is going to be. A championship team will be the sum of many, many smart decisions. Patients Jackass, Patients.
Kevin T.
Hey Greg, what ever happened to that potential Yankee Stadium game?
It is going to be fun this year to watch the Rangers prosper while the Isles and their douchebag fans {like "rag contraction"} suffer.
Can't wait to hear STEVE SOMMERS taunt ICELANDER fans all year long.
What is even better is that this is going to be the start of a long period of Ranger dominance in the tri state area. {including last year} For once the Rangers have done it right. By concentrating on their drafting {like the devils did in their 10 year period of dominance} the Rangers have set themselves up to be a factor for years to come.
The other side of the coin is that disaster that plays at the Mausoleum. Mad Mike did a fantastic job of drafting during all the terrible years that the Asslanders had. Unfortunately for the fans, he traded away all the talent. Think about who the Islanders could have had had mike done a good job. It boggles the mind, yet it is a thing of beauty for Ranger fans.
Enjoy your empty building this year. LOL!
Rest in peace, John Ferguson, and can we PLEASE shut up about Steve Webb?
To "The Man"...
Ranger dominance? You're such a tool. Yet another Ranger fan with thisistheyearitis. Don't get your hopes up dude - teams that look good on paper are often just that.
"Can't wait to hear STEVE SOMMERS..."
And that's where I stopped reading.
Maybe Garth can make a deal to bring in a veteran goal scoring forward or sign O'Neil to a 2 year, 10 milion dollar deal.
IC
idk the man, you're not coming off as a very good person either. stick to your own blog. as for hockey, whats the latest on markov?
ive never seen John Furguson play, but from what ive read he was a truly outstanding hockey player and individual. my condolences to JFJ and his family in this dark time. RIP John Furguson
looks like we are on our way to acquire Derek Morris
anyone else notice campoli was removed from the isles roster today?
I Cannot wait for the last second of the last playoff game (assuming the Rags make the playoffs) when the Rags are eliminated from contention....Then what excuses will you guys have??????......Of course this is to be expected....No Oilers left.....and shame on the Isles for not putting a good product on the ice over the years....It will remain a mausoleum until things get better....But I do hope the Isles play great spoilers this year.....Let the games begin!!!!!!!!
Campoli is now listed on the NHLPA web site as making $600,000
right now jagr makes 8.5 in salary and it is only a 4.9 cap hit to the rangers for this year. this is because washington is paying 3.6 of his salary. next year is a team option when the rangers accept the option will the cap hit be 4.9 or 8.5. im assuming washington did not pay the team option part of the contract. anyone with insight on this let me know.
If the Islanders can acquire Derek Morris it would be a great addition. They should sign Markov as well, that would really shore up the isles defense really well. You know Martinek will get hurt so Gervais will get ice time.
We still need a scoring winger.
I think the option does not count as part of the cap hit, because I can't imagine Washington agreeing in the deal to pay that 3.6 million if the Rangers pick up Jagr's option.
Also, did anyone else notice Eklund's report that Jovanovski would waive his NTC to come to the Rangers and not to us. I say the Rangers can have him because it just makes the concentration of players eating up their cap larger. It's Sather's funeral...
As for our D situation, I think Morris would be a good pickup, as well as a guy like Markov or Ossi Vaananen. Either we can pick up a good offensive defenseman (Berard? I honestly wouldn't mind it for a cut rate...), or the defensive guys will provide protection for young offensive d-men Campoli and Gervais, in addition to MAB. In Garth I trust.
Prediction:
I've been trying to think who we could possibly trade to pick up a D-Man, as we don't have much to trade....but I'm thinking Campoli is trade bait, because we have so many Left Handed D-Men...the only righties we have are Martinke and Gervais, and Derick Morris is righty...would be perfect.
Is it possible we would negotiate a contract with Campoli and then trade him?
Would you like to trade Campoli for Morris?
I would trade Campoli for Morris...then I would sign Sutton or Markov
I think the bigger question is would Phoenix trade Morris for Campoli
We should trade Oksopo for Jovo. Maybe also trade a first rounder for Morris.
Rangers should retract tday!
Campoli signed per NHLPA.com
600k 2007-08: Likely signed the long term deal that was discussed...
http://www.nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=28282
if jagrs full contract goes against the cap next year they will have 34 million locked up in 5 players assuming they resign lundqvist to a long term 6 million per deal and rosival to a 5 mill per year(larry brooks today) that would leave 16 million to fill out the rest of their roster. and i dont see a bonafide 1st line center or a #1 defenseman on that list. bottom line if this team is not good enough they will not be able to fix it for 5 to 6 years.
DO NOT trade Okposo. I have seen him play both in the USHL and at U of MN. He is something very special, and Isles fans are in for a treat when he finally makes it to LI. He has some of the quickest hands I've ever seen, is slippery as an eel, and not afraid to mix it up. Not quite Crosby or Alex the Great, but not your average rookie, either. Reminds me of Vanik, without the size. He also played in the USHL and at the U of M. Too bad Okposo headed back to school for another year, he could have made a difference this year.
Islanders web site has been down dor an hour now
It is going to be fun this year to watch the Rangers prosper while the Isles and their douchebag fans {like "rag contraction"} suffer.
Can't wait to hear STEVE SOMMERS taunt ICELANDER fans all year long.
What is even better is that this is going to be the start of a long period of Ranger dominance in the tri state area. {including last year} For once the Rangers have done it right. By concentrating on their drafting {like the devils did in their 10 year period of dominance} the Rangers have set themselves up to be a factor for years to come.
The other side of the coin is that disaster that plays at the Mausoleum. Mad Mike did a fantastic job of drafting during all the terrible years that the Asslanders had. Unfortunately for the fans, he traded away all the talent. Think about who the Islanders could have had had mike done a good job. It boggles the mind, yet it is a thing of beauty for Ranger fans.
Enjoy your empty building this year. LOL!
Sounds like coyotes are looking to have a fire sale. Hockey buzz states that jovo will waive his no trade clause to become a ranger. Morris could be an islander or sabre by tommorrow at the earliest. I can live with Morris but we still need to sign another dman. I think we are pretty good up front with the 4 forwards we signed last week. I say trade for morris and sign sutton. pretty solid dcorp
witt-morris
sutton-martinek
gervais-mab
campoli
Let the rags sign every player in the league....They have no clue what to do and I love Sather as GM. He is giving the store away before he turns the reigns over to Messier. He will leave a mess to the Mess......