All signs point to Islanders winger Jason Blake hitting the Unrestricted Free Agency market July 1st, and if this year follows suit....he wont last long.
Blake is still bent on his 5 year $18 million demands, and GM Garth Snow is still not buying. Blake who is to turn 35 before training camp isn't giving any hometown discounts and seems to be put off by the fact that the Islanders seem more concerned with the prospects of signing Ryan Smyth than giving him his ridiculous contract. Snow offered a 3 year $9 million deal just before the trading deadline that Blake turned down.
The Islanders are in a tough position, as Blake is an fan favorite....but the team should not overpay and make another long term mistake like they did with Alexei Yashin. Personally....if they are going to give out another $4-$5 million per year deal....i'd much rather they give it to a Scott Gomez or someone who hasn't reached their 34th birthday. I like Jason Blake....but as we saw in the playoffs....he is not a player who the Isles can't live without. With youngsters Jeff Tambellini, Sean Bergenheim and the recently signed Sean Bentivoglio all on the horizon, they should all be considered younger cheaper versions of a Blake type player and who can come in and produce immediately.
Speaking of Bentivoglio....he will be at the Islanders Prospect training camp at the end of June. He has been described as a player who leaves it all on the ice. I have an email in to Jeffery Bausch, who writes for hockey futures.com about Islanders prospects to get some background info on Bentivoglio and Trevor Smith who signed with the Isles late in the season and played with Bridegeport during the playoffs. As soon as I have a response...I'll post another blog.
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1 comment:
Hey tony, thanks for the comment. Your blog is solid as well. it will be an exciting offseason, the isles are in the mixer with blake and smyth, ill talk to you later
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