Trading Places: Shane Prince Acquired

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 7^th round pick from the Ottawa Senators for the Isles 3^rd 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 2^nd round selection (61^st 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 3^rd place within the Metro with a 33-20-7 record with 73 pts good for 7^th 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, 56^th overall in the 2^nd 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%.