As
the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline fizzled out, your New York Islanders made a pair of
moves that went under the radar to most NHL fans. It wasn’t Mikkel Boedker as the rumors would
lead you to believe or even former Isle, PA Parenteau, for whom Toronto wanted
a 2nd round pick. They did acquire Shane
Prince and a 7th round pick from the Ottawa Senators for the Isles 3rd
round selection in 2016.
The
23 year old forward has 12 points (3 & 9) on the season so far in 42 NHL games. “In 2014-15, he led the Binghamton Senators
in scoring with 65 points (28 goals, 37 assists) in 72 American Hockey League
games.” The native New Yorker from
Rochester and former 2nd round selection (61st overall)
in the 2011 NHL Draft, saw top minutes in his AHL career, totaling 148 points
(67 & 81) in 206 games and had a successful junior career with the Ottawa 67’s
and Kitchener Rangers.
@ShanePrince18 made his
feelings known on Twitter: “Beyond excited to be a member of the @NYIslanders !! Thanks to Ottawa for
everything the last few years.” Prince may
realize that he is on a team that just might have a plan that differs from the
underuse he went through with the Sens.
He will wear #11 for the Islanders and should see action against the
Vancouver Canucks tonight. The team is
in 3rd place within the Metro with a 33-20-7 record with 73 pts good
for 7th in the eastern conference.
They
also made a minor-league move by trading, F Taylor Beck to COL for F Marc-Andre
Cliche. Cliche was drafted by the New
York Rangers, 56th overall in the 2nd round of the 2011
NHL Entry Draft. He has 6 & 13 for
19 points in 38 games with the San Antonio Rampage. He will wear #26 for the BST.
The
trend of over payment at trade deadline and draft has always blown me away. While
the Isles are a work in progress, they are certainly not desperate enough to
panic and hemorrhage draft picks or assets for rental players with big names
who don’t fit their scheme. The trading
of a player like Shane Prince has made the Ottawa fans and members of the blogosphere
angry. When you are a fan of the team
that acquires said player, sit back and think on that. It means the player may have more to offer
than goals and assists.
The
Isles are big into a player’s statistical numerical rating and many feel Prince
is an underused and talented asset to add depth to the NHL level
Islanders. He wasn’t acquired with the
intention to enhance the roster in Bridgeport.
B.D. Gallof wrote an informative piece on Prince and after reading it,
you are helped to understand the move in a lot of detail. After taking some time on the deal, I am
reminded of the way Garth Snow does things.
Season after season, he shows a methodical persistence to his plan and
the team has improved because of it.
Some
fans are still angry that this is the Isles line up that the team will have the
opportunity to take into the playoffs.
They watch as other teams trade for big name players and make attractive
moves that they wanted their team to make.
I get it. But I have learned that
my fandom through the years doesn’t mean I know all the details or the real
metrics of a trade. For better or worse,
we get to sit back and watch our talented team sink or swim and go into the
first summer of new ownership. Both Snow
and Capuano are sure to be measured on not just their progression up until now,
but how the season will finish. I won’t
tell you that I am confident that the team is sure to go far, but I am still
looking forward to see what happens. Call
me a homer, but I am not ready to count them out in the first round. The offense has its moments, the special
teams are awesome, the defense is very good and the goaltending is as good as
it’s been in a long time. Let’s see how the team goes into to the stretch. I know there won’t be any shortage of fans
ready to grab the pitch forks and torches on the way to Brooklyn.
Isles
Notes:
Pulock
on playing his first NHL game with the NYI (vs Oilers): "It's a dream as a
kid to one day play in the NHL. Today's the day and it's exciting."
Pulock
was sent down to the BST as a paper move to be sure he is eligible for the AHL
playoffs, but has since been “recalled” by New York.
Thomas
Greiss leads the NHL with a .930 Sv%.
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