Sat 12:37 pm: Of course, while I'm out shopping the Islanders announce they have placed both Rob Schremp and Nate Lawson on waivers. According to Mr. Point Blank, there were no takers in the Rob Schremp sale the Islanders were running. Therefore, on waivers he goes. Nate Lawson will still be on the bench tonight backing up Al Montoya and according to Katie Strang, Schremp could still play for the Islanders until Monday. Although, I don't know who much either would want to contribute at this point.

Now, if there are no takers, it's Bridgeport bound I assume. From my personal standpoint, that's what I'm hoping for. Stay in the stystem and see how they do down there. Rob is a great guy with tremendous talent. The problem was not living up to his potential when given the opportunity.

There is a big social media night tonight at the coliseum, therefore I will not be on HockeyBuzz until post game or tomorrow (cue the cheering HB hater crowd.) However, I will be hanging out on the Rookie & The Reporter live chat from the Coliseum. News will break there first tonight as it is the Islanders PR staff anyway.

The blog can be accessed directly from the main page on the Islander website. Join in, but BE NICE!

Later!
Sat 8:53 am: Just read that the Rangers beat the Caps 6 - 0 which will only make them really angry heading into the Coliseum. So, don't forget to wear white tonight even if you're on your couch. They need all the positive energy they can get if they are going to #WhiteOutTheRed tonight.


Fri 7:45 pm:Just received now, after waiting all day, Radek Martinek is day-to-day with a lower body injury. (Like we didn't know that would happen.)

Milan Jurcina is out 1 - 2 weeks with a groin injury.

Look for Mark Katic to remain in the line-up for now, but it is difficult to win without the big body of Milan Jurcina. That statistic makes his agent very happy.

More later tonight. I'm writing.

10:12 pm: And here it is.

While I do hate it, I will hate it less this year as I will not have to sit cowering in my office wondering if my favorite Islander would be shipped off without so much as a "Gee, thanks."

Nope. Not this year. With so many injuries this season, this is not the team we thought would be playing out the year. One by one, the injuries mounted that changed the line-up. That's why this year doesn't worry me. The kids that have played so hard are the ones that the Islanders had intentions of building with so they are not likely to be traded away at this point.

I remember hearing Brian Burke say something like this about trade deadline day, "If you don't love your team in March, you didn't do a very good job in August."

With the playoffs all but mathematically impossible, there is no reason for the Islanders to look for rental players or big name/big money players right now. The only players that would make sense are young, high character talent with one or two years left on their contracts. Is that something you find in March? Or is that something you find when you go shopping in June? I am guessing free agency is where the Islanders will make their (relatively) big moves.

The Islanders have also done very well on the waiver wire and through undrafted college players which makes the most financial sense.

So, Monday will be very boring for Islander fans as they watch teams chasing playoff hopes try to improve their team for the short haul while the Islanders look to the future.

I made the bold move of reaching out to Garth Snow this morning to see if there was any information I could get from him. (The term "tighter than a clam's ass comes to mind.) But I did walk away with the following:

1) There is a good possibility that someone on the roster will play their last game as an Islander on Saturday if the offer is good enough. My guess: Rob Schremp.
I hate saying that because I really like Rob. But right now, he's become a bit of a spare part. A nice shiny spare part. Could it have been Radek, as the rumors mentioned during the week? Sure. But if the injury they are saying is keeping him out day-to-day is real, then he's probably off the table. If it isn't real -- wow.... sneaky.

2) With the depleted defense corps on both rosters, the Islanders will probably make a depth signing or two on defense even before Monday. Don't get your hopes up. "depth move" means reading it and saying "who?" and then they get on a ferry to B-port.

3) There is nothing any GM can offer up to the Islanders for them to give up their 1st round draft pick. That high draft pick will be put in their back pocket and dangled around closer to June.

So, Islander fans, turn on TSN.ca or NHL.com come Monday and watch all the other teams wheel and deal. (It's a holiday in Canada, right?) The Islanders GM will be in his office quietly rebuilding Bridgeport. Or at least -- that's how I see it.

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