Mark Streit is a big reason the New York
Islanders have improved, especially on defense and special teams over his 5
year tenure with the team. He has been
a valued and reliable defensemen for the most part on the Isles blue line, but
has gone from top pair to bottom pair in that time. Negotiations were set to happen early in the off season and they
have. Streit has rejected the Islanders
final contract offer, said to be a 2 year contract at around $4.75M per
year. It is rumored he wanted a 4-5
year deal north of $5.5M per season.
That kind of offer to the aging defensemen just doesn't fit with the
Islanders long term spending plan, not to mention Streit hasn't been the same
since coming off his shoulder injury last season. Going into free agency, Mark Streit is the highest scoring
defensemen available.
The obvious choice for captain is Streit's good
friend, John Tavares. Why would Streit
be paid more than an elite player like JT, who has bought into the Isles budget
plan and salary structure? Arthur
Staple notes that other than Kyle Okposo who already serves as an alternate
captain, Travis Hamonic, Frans Nielsen and Lubomir Visnovsky will most likely
be made alternate captains.
We all want the sexy or promising free agent
signing for the Islanders this summer to happen. Maybe a Patrick Elias, Mike Ribeiro, David Clarkston, Rob
Scuderi, Keith Yandle, Ian White, Jaroslav Halak, Jonathan Bernier or even
Pascal Dupuis or Bryan Bickell. Cost,
contract length and demeanor will be a major factor. And management doesn't want to mess with the character or
chemistry of this team too much.
The Islanders are in need of a top tier player
to play along side John Tavares on the first line. F, Brad Boyes unlikely to return, mostly due to his limited
success in the playoffs. The
possibility of Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Strome or Brock Nelson being able to
fill that void next season is a risk, but may be necessary if a cap deal or
salary shedding waiver pick up cant be made.
With the teams improvement, but shortcomings in the playoffs, its
obvious that a top winger, defensemen and goaltender should be in the plan, but
...
On 6/3, the BST announce goalie Kenny Reiter, D-men Dallas Jackson &
Mike Keenan agree to terms on AHL deals for 2013-14. To me that means the Isles have every intention offloading Rick
DiPietro from the system, having Kenny Reiter join Bridgeport so Kevin Poulin
or Anders Nilsson could join the team. G, Evgeni Nabokov is
likely to return as a #1A, or #1 to start the season if an upgrade cant be
found leading up to and into the season.
The Rick DiPietro for Roberto Luongo rumor should remain just that. A rumor.
It makes little sense for an exchange of goaltenders between New York
and Vancouver. While the salary
exchange might seem viable to some, why would the Islanders take a 34 year old
Luongo on their books for the long term and give up quality assets when his
play hasn't been to the level that even Vancouver expected. Reports have even surfaced that the Isles
will offer prospects or picks for a team who will take Rick DiPietro into their
organization.
Dallas Jackson and
Mike Keenan will fill two defensive roster spots for Bridgeport so developing
prospects like Calvin deHaan, Matt Donovan or Aaron Ness could compete for time
with the big club. While last season's
waiver additions, Thomas Hickey and Joe Finley did make an impression last
season.
Thomas Hickey was
very good in spots and showed solid defensive play, earning playing time during
crucial moments by the coaching staff, had some breakdowns in the
playoffs. Joe Finley has tremendous
size, but needs positional and skating work to be productive at the NHL
level. Both may figure into next years defesive
core at camp.
Isles D prospects,
Ville Pokka and Adam Pelech have done very well in their development. They are sure to figure into the future
Isles defense soon enough. Scott
Mayfield and Andrej Pedan are another piece of a solid system. Don't forget about Griffin Reinhart either.
RFA D, Travis Hamonic and F, Josh Bailey are
slated to enter negotiations soon and are thought to be in the Islanders' long
term plan. Bailey sees to have really
clicked playing with Tavares. Anders Lee, who looked good in limited
action needs work defensively at the NHL level while Jesse Joensuu may get
another look. Joensuu looked solid to
me in limited action, but needs more evaluation.
Remember, Garth Snow will wait for cap strapped teams' buy outs and
waiver wires to compliment his wish list for free agency pick ups in the off
season. The right trade will work, if it fits the teams budget and they get a
player who will fit into team chemestry.
The Isles are far less likely to way outpay other teams because their
price structure must fit their long term plan. The rebuild has been steady thus
far and B.D. Gallof has spoon fed us the proof. After last season's NHL playoffs, the Islanders showed a need for
quality NHL level free agency additions.
Hopefully, Charles Wang will start paying more for quality, but try and
understand that $10M players aren't happening, unless its short term and a
deal making buy out for another player, etc.
Even waivers will probably have more to offer this summer due to shrinking salary cap.
Trades may be held back by many teams to start. Trust that Garth Snow will do his best. He should have earned everyone's respect with what he has been
able to pull off up to this point.
Brooklyn should just make things better.
There are also two
amnesty buy outs avaialable to the Islanders if they choose to use them. It will allow them to get an illfitting
contract or under performing player off their books at a reduced cost. Not including Rick DiPietro contract, the
Islanders need to spend an additional 13M to reach the $44M NHL salary cap
floor per @capgeek. A few prospects and core pieces still need to be
resigned. I hope the Isles use whats
left and then some to take the next step as an organization and start acquiring
the real quality pieces they need to be considered elite.
Prospect pools are
not enough and this Isles team is on the clock.
And it is ticking.
Isles Notes:
Per Dmitry Chesnokov,
Former Isles head coach Ted Nolan, may be relieved of his duties as the head
coach of the Latvian national team; or may have his salary cut.
On 6/3, Former Isles
Coach, Rick Bowness has been named associate coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Islanders draft
party is June 30 at NVMC. Free tickets are available and more info is available
here. Islanders, Matt Martin, Eric
Boulton and Matt Carkner will be in attendance.
Scott Rechler &
Brett Yormark clash over Coliseum rebuild.
NHL Notes:
The NHL Competition
Commitie has agreed to visors, more
shallow nets and hybrid icing. Players who have played 26 or more NHL regular
season or playoff games will not have to wear a visor under grandfather
agreement.
No comments:
Post a Comment