Time to rebuild!
Posted 6:21 PM ET | Comments 9
Here the Isles and their fans are on 2/10/08, in the same situation they have basically been in for the past 5 years; should they make a run for 8th again and then lose or trade away some assets to improve the prospect pool? Time to make some trades and here is why. 1.) The fans are not buying into this team, 2.) This team is going nowhere except possibly another 1st round exit, and 3.) The only way to change this trend is to rebuild within. So here are the players the Isles have to trade: Comrie, Satan, Fedentenko, Vasicek, and Hunter are in their walk years. The Isles could also trade Sillinger, Witt, Bergeron, and Guerin who have 1 more year on their contracts. In exchange, the Isles should get back picks and prospects.
The Isles have some decent prospects already, with Bergenheim, Comeau, Gervais, Tambellini, Okposo, Neilson, Figren, Rakhshani, Marcinko, Kohn, MacDonald, and Ridderwall. The Isles also have youth in Campoli and DiPietro. If the Isles can add a couple of legit prospects and get the #1 pick in Stamkos (or even the 2 or 3) they will have a good foundation to build around. I would also not be upset to see us finish in the lottery next year too, as I dream of having either Hedman or Tavares on board.
It will take more patience to go this route, but clearly the franchise would be better over the long haul if they did this. With a new building coming into the picture, 3 years from now the Isles would be set to compete for the next 10 years! And finally the pain of the average Isles fan would turn into joy!
The Isles have some decent prospects already, with Bergenheim, Comeau, Gervais, Tambellini, Okposo, Neilson, Figren, Rakhshani, Marcinko, Kohn, MacDonald, and Ridderwall. The Isles also have youth in Campoli and DiPietro. If the Isles can add a couple of legit prospects and get the #1 pick in Stamkos (or even the 2 or 3) they will have a good foundation to build around. I would also not be upset to see us finish in the lottery next year too, as I dream of having either Hedman or Tavares on board.
It will take more patience to go this route, but clearly the franchise would be better over the long haul if they did this. With a new building coming into the picture, 3 years from now the Isles would be set to compete for the next 10 years! And finally the pain of the average Isles fan would turn into joy!
If you think the Islanders should trade Hunter, how about Tanguay for Hunter, Tambellini and a pick? We could throw in one of our center or defence prospects to sweeten the deal, since your prospect pool is weak in those categories?
I would think that the Isles would want picks. Tanguay is a good player but hardly the type that Nolan likes. Plus his salary is highly inflated. I would think the Isles would pass on that one, but I am not making the decisions
The Islanders have resembled expansion for many years. The team has dishonored the four Cups with uniform changes and no Stanley Cup personnel presence in the organization. Neil Smith would have been an asset. Wong should sign the checks and let qualified hockey staff make the decisions.
The Pens getting Witt would make me very happy...
I would actually welcome Tavares going to the Island. It would suck for 6 games a year, but your team deserves some good luck for a change.
goaleo, while Neil Smith would have been a good acquisition providing he was willing to play the committee game. Wang is spending the money, so of course he has a say but the reality is that most teams run by signings and drafts through a commitee. I also notice that Smith has not landed anywhere else yet, so something has to give. But this franchise is not the same one from prior to 2000, it just has had a weak plan that seems to be corrected now
Islanders won't get a top pick, maybe 4-5 at best.
goaleo: no stanley cup presence: Bossy, Trots, Morrow. you know nothing.your team is an embarrassments to the NHL 4 cups in like 100yrs and 3 of them came in a 6 team league. You brought this upon yourself. Then there was the 72 million dollar payroll that equaled no playoffs. And our team has still dominated you for the last two years with no big names. And we never had to buy a cup.I apologize to the real and die hard ranger fans , this guy is embarrassment to your fan base as every team has these types of fans I have nothing against Ranger fans except when you make a comment just to make a comment. Resembled expansion? rebuilding.....can't wait to KO comes in the league
Peterg, the isles are right there at the bottom with Edm, LA, TB, Tor,