Wasted your top assets, without getting either a legit 2nd line center (biggest hole on this team and reason why the secondary scoring hasn't been there) or a top-pairing defenseman...not really good.
Wasted your top assets, without getting either a legit 2nd line center (biggest hole on this team and reason why the secondary scoring hasn't been there) or a top-pairing defenseman...not really good, that's for sure.
I'll go ahead and be the first: Milbury, is that you?
this. F-
1. You traded Nino + Strome + a 1st that will be top 7 and a 2nd for Perry. You hosed yourself. Thats insane. You basically gave up 3 top 7 picks.
2. You left a massive hole at 2nd line C
3. You signed an older D man to be the answer for top 4 minutes and Hamrlik isnt even that good.
4. Havlat is massively injury prone and Id argue that Parenteau was having the better year before Havlat got hurt.
5. Garon for Nabby? Why?
Sorry not a fan. You could just signed Parise and Suter as FA's and kept all those prospects and picks.
NASSAU COUNTY, NY- Today, in a dramatic turn of events New York Islanders owner Charles Wang announced a giant leap forward for the New York Islanders organization. The penny-pinching owner announced today that he won $1 billion dollars on a $1 scratch off that he bought in a local 7/11. In today's impromptu press conference, he stated how he was able to pay off Nassau county politicians under the table and how he was now given the get-go to build his original "masterpiece", The Lighthouse Project. "It really is Long Island politics at its best" said the cap-minimum clinging owner with a chuckle. The Coliseum will be transformed into a state-of-the-art arena providing a premier entertainment experience. With additional and expanded concourses, all new restrooms, VIP suites, larger seats, and first class concessions and restaurants, the arena will comfortably accommodate 17,500 for hockey, 18,500 for basketball and 20,000 fans for concerts. We are now open for questions.
Sorry — I think this is a short term 1-2 year plan, that would maybe make the Isles the #8 seed, and that is still a HUGE maybe.
As others have stated, you left a gigantic hole at center. You are not addressing Frans Neilsen, and are trading away a younger P.A. away for and injury prone older player.
There is also still the need for a top pair defender.
Do you really want to try and make the playoffs this year with what you have done and sacrifice the future? This is what Milbury did. He made the deals he made for short term average gain. We never became more than a bubble team.
The problem with the Islanders is not bad drafting or a lack of ability to even cultivate some players and get them to be NHL ready. The Islanders need to see some of their prospects still mature.
Nino has had a largely off year due to injury and he is still a young 19. Trading him makes little sense. Ryan Strome is in the same spot, and so is Scott Mayfield. These are players who are just entering the Islander organization, and getting their first shot at the pro life (Strome and Mayfield yet to come)
You are also dismantling the one thing that is working for the Islanders — the top unit of Moulson, Okposo and Tavares. I have no doubt in Corry Perry's skill, but there is no way I would give up 4 PRIME assets to acquire him, AND break up the top unit on top of it.
If I am GM of the Islanders, there is most likely 1 bullet in my gun at worst, 5 at most.
The only 5 assets I have that would garner any plausible interest would be P.A., Neilsen, Nabokov, Montoya and my 2012 1st round pick. My first instinct is to resign both P.A. and Neilsen (Franzie to a 4-5 year deal in the $2.5-$3 range, and a 2-3 year deal to P.A. for maybe $3). If Franz and Neilsen are getting me really good offers, maybe I move them, but the likelihood at this time is that I am never going to get the kind of defensive center of Franzie's caliber in free agency, or a 70 point guy in P.A. to sign on Long Island without a new arena in place. So my thinking is to keep them. (Id have to be getting a really good deal to move them is my point)
That leaves Nabokov, Montoya and my 1st round pick.
I have to keep one of the two goalies at a minimum. There is no point in factoring DP into any future equation for this season or beyond. He will be on the roster, play a handful of games, but that's it. He no longer impacts the on ice outcome, and right now, we need the cap hit. This means more than likely, I am re-signing Montoya if he is willing. As GM, I lock him up at least 2 and maybe 3 years in the $2 mil range. I can't see him costing much more than that. This give the Islanders a viable starter. It also means that I might be interested in moving Nabokov. But, unless the deal is right — min. 2nd round pick — I will hold him for the season. Next season we go Montoya, Poulin and Nilsson to battle for the 2 spots, carrying DP.
So now, I am more than likely down to my one bullet — the 2012 first round pick. My guess is that it will be in the 4-8 range. My desire would be to use that pick to obtain one of either a #2 C/W (he has to be able to shift to the wing as needed) OR a top pair defender. The player has to be signed a minimum of 3-4 seasons. Im less worried about the cap hit because we have the room.
My thinking is that if it is a center/wing, he can give Strome some time to mature properly, and when Strome comes in, he can slot over to the wing on the same line with Strome.
If it is a top pair defender, then I can work him in as needed.
I understand it won't be the top pick alone for a top pair defender. But the pick alone perhaps with another lower round pick could get us the center.
One word of caution — any fans who believe the Islanders are getting one of Parise, Suter, Weber in free agency is setting themselves up for MASSIVE disappointment. The ONLY way we have a shot at that kind of player is if the Islanders can manufacture a real run and get either very close, or some how IN to the top 8. It would show the core is ready to compete, and a top tier UFA will see that and see the Isles as a chance to both get paid, and win. BUT, it still leaves the security of an arena which will still turn potential top players off.
The first thing I would consider as GM, is a new coach.
I like Cappy — a lot. I think he is a good guy. But I also think we need a coach right now with a bit more jam to his overall approach. It would be GREAT to keep Cappy on board, but Im not sure he would go for it. But a guy like Crawford, Thierrien or Carlyle would bring a lot of "winning" tradition to the franchise.
The days of Hamerlik, Brewer, Havlat being top tier impact guys are done. Perry is impact, but Im not giving away my last 2 drafts for him.
However in this GM game, I am about to announce the building of a new arena
