Category Archives: New York Islanders
Islanders to go into full sell mode
The impact on the Islanders is immediate. Any hopes of clawing back into the playoff race are shot. The Islanders entered the Olympic break 3-6-1 in their past 10 games, 12 points behind Detroit — a team that has played two fewer games — for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The playoff hopes were probably toast regardless, but the Islanders started 2014 with eight wins in their first 10 games. They will also come out of the break with games against Toronto, New Jersey, Florida, Winnipeg and Edmonton, not exactly a murderer’s row. The trio of Thomas Vanek, Tavares and Kyle Okposo is as lethal a line as there is in the NHL. Only two other lines (the David Krejci and Jonathan Toews lines) have produced more than their 33 goals this season.
Now it’s likely that Okposo will be the only one of those three on the ice for the Islanders when New York plays the Oilers after the trade deadline on March 5.
If he wasn’t already, GM Garth Snow has to go into complete sell mode.
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/craig-custance/post?id=1319
Islanders’ MacDonald on block after rejecting $16M offer
The offer was there, it was rejected, and now Andrew MacDonald has to start contemplating life in the NHL with a team other than the Islanders.
About a month and a half ago, the top-four defenseman turned down a four-year contract worth $16 million, The Post has learned. So now, as the Olympic roster freeze approaches on Friday at 3 p.m., and the March 5 trade deadline nears, Islanders general manager Garth Snow is set to deal MacDonald to the highest bidder.
Rumblings: Will Vanek be moved soon?
Among the teams keeping tabs on the Vanek situation are the Los Angeles Kings, although a source Tuesday suggested he might not be their top target. My guess is that would be Matt Moulson, although as reported before, Sam Gagner and Mike Cammalleri are also options for L.A.
The latest on Thomas Vanek
Thomas Vanek is nearing a decision, according to his agent. Which means the Islanders are nearing a decision on whether Vanek, their big early-season acquisition, will be on the move again before the March 5 trade deadline.
Vanek would re-sign with Isles ‘even if they traded me’
Thomas Vanek has enjoyed Long Island so much that — even if the Isles dealt him at the deadline — he’d consider re-signing there if he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.
Yes, that’s right.
Garth Snow mulls changes as Islanders try to right ship
“We’re looking at all our options,” he told Newsday on Sunday.
“Obviously, we have some key players not performing at a high enough level.
Peter Laviolette a candidate if Isles fire Jack Capuano
The New York Islanders are in the midst of a terrible season and are currently dealing with an eight-game losing streak. That is likely making head coach Jack Capuano’s seat quite toasty. According to Chris Botta of Sports Business Journal, if the Isles were to make a move, Peter Laviolette would be a top candidate to replace Capuano.
Tavares, Vanek click, but Isles still need goalie
In the past week or so, Snow has watched Thomas Vanek strike a strong chemistry with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo on the Isles’ top line, which must have been exactly what he envisioned when he sent Matt Moulson, plus first- and second-round draft picks to the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 27 in exchange for the Austrian sniper. But as the losses mount on Long Island, we can’t help but wonder if watching Vanek and Co. go to work on opposition goalies is only serving to remind Snow what his team’s biggest need is—and was all along—somebody who can stop the puck.
Possible trade options for the Islanders
Given his team’s 2-10-2 skid, there’s room to add just about anywhere, but here are a few names that have been mentioned around the league as trade bait and where, based on conversations with several people across the NHL, the Isles might stand in trade talks:
Ryan Miller wanted on Long Island?
The New York Islanders haven’t lived up to the expectations they made for themselves after pushing the Pittsburgh Penguins to the limit with a seven-game series last spring.
That has GM Garth Snow working the phones.
Maybe Isles should trade for Michael Del Zotto
The Islanders are in trouble on defense — bigger trouble now that Thomas Hickey, one of the few remaining reliable defensemen, is likely out.
The Rangers need to make a change and want Michael Del Zotto to be the one moving out.
Here is a not-so-modest, but sensible, proposal: A real trade between the Isles and Rangers.
New York Islanders GM working the phones
Islanders general manager Garth Snow has had his usual trade discussions with his fellow GMs around the league, but there aren’t many reasonable prices for usable defensemen. Having already surrendered next June’s first-round pick (provided it is not a top-10 selection; in that case, the Islanders can defer it to 2015) in the deal that brought in Thomas Vanek, the Islanders don’t have any big chips to offer for a defenseman who might be available.
Islanders and Predators possible landing sports for Hiller
On Thursday, Anaheim activated Viktor Fasth from his AHL conditioning stint. At the same time, the Ducks assigned Frederik Andersen to Norfolk. During his brief NHL audition, Andersen proved his AHL apprenticeship doesn’t have to be much longer. The 24-year-old went 6-1-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .943 save percentage while sharing the net with Jonas Hiller.