In what is turning out to be a disastrous few days....the Islanders are now in serious trouble. Let me explain....They right now have several holes to fill....and they also are under the minimum cap for this coming season.....way under......about $15 million under and the current cropo of free agents are dwindling fast. There have been rumors that the Islanders are very interested in F's Bill Guerin and Dainius Zubrus and D-man Sheldon Souray....though as of this morning....none have been signed.
In a very interesting article....Greg Logan wrote in this morning's Newsday that it seems that players are turned off but the incredibally old Nassau Veterns Memorial Coliseum.....personally I think that is a bunch of crap....there are arena's that are just as old and beat up as the NVMC....Pittsburgh for example.....think anyone would turn down an opportunity to play in Pitt?....Having Sidney Crosby and playing for Mario Lemiuex definitely makes it more palatable.
At this point the Islanders need to stop making a political issue about the arena (which needs to be replaced without a doubt)...and concentrate and bringing in a player. Start with one player and move on from there....since they need a top forward and a top defneseman.....they probably sign the best one available at this point....Sheldon Souray and Brad Stuart are the top available defenseman. Bill Guerin, Dainius Zubrus, Mike Comrie, Michael Peca, Ruslan Fedotenko, Wes Walz and Brendan Shanahan are the top forwards available. I am concerned by the fact that as players come off the board....for the prices that even I anticipated....(and last time I checked...I'm not a NHL GM)....why is Garth Snow so suprised by the money these players have been awarded so far. Rafalski went for more probably $1 million more than I anticipated....Gomez got a ridiculous deal for a guy who doesn't score.....but in retrospect....Adam Oates was an extremely good player and was only a 20 goal scorer, so the Gomez deal is not that bad. Briere, Drury, Smyth....etc all went for around what was expected. Sheldon Souray has been taking a beating in the Canadian media for his -28 he had this season.....but still scored 26 goals (btw that was more goals than all but 2 Islanders last year...Sillinger had 26 and Blake had 40). A power play with Souray and Marc-Andre Bergeron would be leathal.....throw in forwards like Satan, Tambellini, Hunter and Sillinger....and the Islander Power Play would be among the league's best. The team already has solid stay at home d-men in Radek Martinek and Brendan Witt....so adding Souray would be a good acquisition. Brad Stuart would also be a great move....as he is a better defender than Souray....but is less talented offensively as well.
As for the fowards.....Comrie is a player who has moved around alot....(Edmonton, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Ottawa) in the last 4 years....but is extremely talented and I think would prosper under Ted Nolan. Dainius Zubrus is a big bruising forward how can score and had a very good playoff....his health has always been a question....but he seems to have done a better job of staying healthy recently, the last 2 seasons he has played more than 20 games and scored more than 20 goals both years as well.
Things are looking bleak right now....I wonder what the rule is if the team doesn't spend the money necessary to hit the cap floor....at this point they need to find someone who will TAKE their money....rather than finding someone who they want to give it to.
I dont envy your job right now Garth....
More later.....I hope!
Tony
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