As the 3 pm
trade deadline came and went today, Isles fans everywhere watched as their
struggling team and UFA Captain waited to see what changes, if any, would come.
Around noon, Greg Joyce tweeted, “Doug Weight said it seems as though the #Isles will have the
group they have now after 3pm, but expressed confidence that management would
do what’s best for the team.” So without adding a "necessary" piece by the close
of the trading deadline, what might that be?
Looking back to
Sunday, our New York Islanders acquired D Brandon Davidson from EDM for a 2019
3rd round pick. According to Arthur Staple, “Davidson makes $1.425M this year.
Even with arb, won't go up much next season. Could be a lower-cost replacement
for Hickey next year.” The Islanders need NHL-ready depth on defense,
especially the stay-at-home type. Davidson is a bottom pair NHL D that comes to
the Isles with the chance to prove himself. While it’s not a name fans wanted
to hear as an Isles trade acquisition, it’s probably a decent pick up for Garth
Snow. Per Brennan Klak, “Brandon Davidson is the perfect low maintenance 3rd
pairing D. All of his metrics are solid, great team guy, solid defensively.”
Brian Compton adds, “Guys, Jordan Eberle and Brandon Davidson for Ryan Strome
and a 3rd-round pick. Feel better?”
Brandon
Davidson has been traded twice and picked up by EDM on waivers on December 3rd.
While a member of the Candiens organization, Davidson was diagnosed with
testicular cancer in 2012 and is now in a 6-year remission. So the guy is
clearly a fighter and deserves a lot of credit for his courage off the ice. As
far as his on-ice credentials, Davidson has 20 points (8 &12) in 137 NHL
games with Edmonton and Montreal. He’s a shot blocker and isn’t afraid to play
a physical, defensive first style. So far this season, Davidson has 5 points (3
& 2) and should help the Isles make up some ground defensively.
Per Cory
Wright, “Davidson and Jordan Eberle were teammates in Regina during
the 2009-10 season, in Oklahoma City for the early part of the 2012-13 season
and in Edmonton from 2014-15 to 2016-17. The Islanders will be their
fourth stop together.” I’m assuming Eberle was asked about Davidson and got the
nod. Eberle,"Brandon is big & strong & I think he'll help us with
some net-front presence as far as keeping guys away from our goalies &
helping them see pucks. He does a mix of everything well. He can put the puck
in the net & he can defend so he should add an element back there."
Whatever the case, he will get his shot. Davidson will wear #88 for the
Islanders.
Today, the
Islanders acquire C, Chris Wagner from Anaheim for Jason Chimera. Wagner (6 & 9 for 15 pts) is a pending UFA that can bring some more shut-down to
Isles, add to PK, bring more snarl (2nd in NHL with 212 hits) and be an
addition by subtraction, replacing the slumping Chimera. Per Islanders
PR, “Wagner has already established
NHL career highs in games, assists and points, while tying his career-best six
goal output from last season.” Arthur Staple, “Chimera had been a
healthy scratch the past several games after a lost season. Had 20 goals in
16-17 after signing a two-year, $4.5-million deal.” Chimera has been a scratch
for the Isles since 2/13. Eric Hornick tweeted, “Wagner is 26 yrs old— 122nd
pick in 2010- played collegiately at Colgate. Regular for Ducks this ssn— only
F to play every gm. 6-9-15 in 64 gms.” Now that the Isles have Johnston and veteran, Wagner, they may have a nice physical presence to go along with the grit of
Cizikas and Clutterbuck’s (185 hits) game. Wagner has 28 points (16 and 12) in 159 career NHL games with the Anaheim
Ducks and Colorado Avalanche.
The Islanders
were rumored to have kicked tires on trades involving other notable players,
but nothing was within the range that GM, Garth Snow was interested in. Like
others, I understand the costs involved for impactful defenders is high, but
wanted a little more from the organization as time runs out. Especially in a
crucial season for a team that, based on the last couple of months, has lost
any real threat of doing anything in the post season if they could even make
it. I understand the current ideology of most teams is to build through the
draft and hold on to assets, but teams also add when the right player comes
along. Its all speculation anyway, but I see teams in the division and around
the league make moves and improve today while the Isles add bottom pair D and
swap under-performing grit with younger, UFA grit.
The Isles addressed D, PK and team toughness. Barring a bigger deal, I would have still liked to see them take a Johnny Oduya off waivers from Ottawa to add some
experience and depth to help offset the major struggles of the team’s defensive
scheme. The Flyers claimed Odyua. This is epecifically true in the twilight of John Tavares’
final contract year.
Like many fans, I appreciate John Tavares. He’s an elite
player and a necessary component for the Isles to continue providing
credibility to their locker room and as a destination for future free agents.
Belmont and probable Calder winner, Mathew Barzal aside, Tavares has been a
major reason for the team’s successes this year and on pace for a career year.
Even with a slump at the worst possible time, Tavares is, and should be, a
priority to bring back. Heading into the summer without a deal is a stress er I’m sure many in and out of the organization are not happy with. Even though it
wasn’t supposed to be a factor for JT, perhaps not having a new deal has made
an impact. Maybe the pressure of what happens if a deal can’t be done, has worn
on him a little. If Tavares doesn’t sign, Snow has lost a little cache for a
franchise player that would need to be moved before July 1.
I don’t even
want to speculate, but the time may have come to start considering the
worst-case scenario, especially if this borderline team falls short off playoffs
or doesn’t make it a few rounds deep once again.
# # #
Neil best wrote
an article for Newsday based on an interview with Barclay’s CEO, Brett Yormark
had with Sports Xtra. Yormark’s comments in the article made fans of the New York
Islanders hate the Barclays Center even more. Yormark said the Islanders were a
“a rent-a-team’ that never fully embraced Brooklyn — and vice versa — while
also casting doubt on the team’s planned move to a new arena near belmont park.” Yormark commented how the move to Brooklyn didn’t work and never lived
up to the hopes of Barclays management. “Their fan base
resides in Long Island. They have a great, avid fan base in Long Island.
Brooklyn just didn’t gravitate to the team as I had hoped they would. But I
think the move next year, where they’re playing 12 games back in Long Island —
and after next year we’ll probably play half the schedule, if not more [there]
— is a step in the right direction.” Yormark continued the blood boiling when
he decided to comment on the future of the organization at Belmont park site.
If it ever happens.
“Obviously,
they’re looking to build their own venue. Not sure that ever happens, but if it
does, I wish them well. But in the interim our goal was to bring them back to
Long Island, have them play as many games as they can at NYCB Live, and that’s
happening, so I’m excited about it.”
It’s well known
that the Belmont arena project will take three years or so to complete, making
the inaugural opener somewhere around the start of the 2021-22 season. Until
then, we can look forward to more uncomfortable attendance numbers and lowering
expectations in Brooklyn. The #SnowMustGo Billboards should be up this week.
Don’t be surprised if fan crowdfunding doesn’t become a thing to express rage
and disappointment by the Isles loyal fan base. The remaining time for the
Islanders and their fans in Brooklyn should be interesting.
Isles fan and
Brooklyn resident, Stephen Helldorfer tweeted this to Randi Marshall on the
Yormark news. “I’ve lived within walking distance of the @barclayscenter for the entire
time the #Isles have
been there. I know firsthand that @brettyormark
did zero to market the team here (or, and possibly more plausibly, he’s
terrible at his job.)”
Yormark has
burned the last bridge in Brooklyn and showed the fans for this season and next,
they have been and always will be considered second class at the Barclays
Center.
Isles Notes:
Per Michael
Fornabaio, “Aho, Fritz and Gibson are on AHL transactions, making them eligible
to come down any time rest of the year. No Ross Johnston, though.” Johnston is
now an NHL’er for the Islanders.
Per Brendan
Burke, “Isles would have to send Aho, Gibson, Fritz and/or Johnston down (at
least on paper) for 3pm tomorrow in order to make them eligible to return to
the AHL at any point this season.”
Per Eric
Hornick, “Complete list of players with more #NHL goals than #JT91 over last 6 seasons:
1. Ovechkin (257) 2. P Kane (182) Tavares has 181.”
2/23
Transaction: Alan Quine has been placed on IR (lower body).
Per Cory
Wright, “Bailey now has the potential to pass Bryan Trottier and be the
franchise leader in games played by the end of his next contract. 16 seasons
would be second in franchise history trailing only Billy Smith (17).”
Olympics/Mens Hockey:
Isles prospect, Illya Sorokin
wins gold medal with OAR (Russia) at 2018 Winter Olympics. OAR defeated an
inspired Team Germany by a 4-3, O.T. score. Germany's Silver finish is highest in history of their Olympic hockey program. Canada wins Bronze over Czechs.
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