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We are now halfway through the first round of Garth Madness. Here's a first round recap of the Scott Gordon region
(1) Berube Debacle defeated (8) Blake Comeau waived
(2) No Taylor Hall defeated (7) Jon Sim signing
(3) Jaroslav Halak waived defeated (6) Ryan Strome to AHL
(5) Sebastian Collberg defeated (4) Thomas Greiss Extension
(1) Deadline Duds vs (8) Sean Bergenheim Saga
Deadline Duds
Snow came out the winner of the 2007 trade deadline acquiring Ryan Smyth. “Captain Canada” opted to sign in Colorado once free agency begun. Perhaps that move scared off Snow from being buyers at the deadline. As the Islanders were battling back from a horrible start of last season, Snow did nothing to help his team at the deadline. The previous two deadlines brought Shane Prince, Taylor Beck and Tyler Kennedy to the Islanders, moves that were not impactful by any means. This deadline, as the Islanders were hovering around the playoffs, Snow acquired Brandon Davidson and Chris Wagner, two players who were waived over the past year.
I fall for it every deadline, thinking the GM will finally break this endless cycle of mediocrity. Shame on me
Sean Bergenheim Saga
When Charles Wang had majority ownership of the team, he implemented a rule that if a player was not signed at the start of training camp, the player doesn’t play the season. Back in 2005, forward Mark Parrish signed his one-year qualifying offer on the eve of training camp. Parrish scored 24 goals in 2003-04 before the 2004-05 season was cancelled due to the lockout. It would have been interesting if Wang was steadfast with the rule in regards to Parrish. Wang had to enforce the rule at the start of the 2006 training camp. Forward Sean Bergenheim, the 2002 first-round pick, and new general manager Garth Snow could not agree on a new deal. Bergenheim had four goals and five assists in 28 games. On the way out the door, Bergenheim’s camp said how he was insulted by a pair of deals Snow offered. Possibly accompanying this sour relationship was that Bergenheim and Snow got into a scrap the previous camp when Snow was still an active player.
Bergenheim spent the 2006-07 season in the Swedish Hockey League. He kissed and made up with the Islanders a year later. He never became the offensive talent the Isles envisioned when he was drafted, instead he was becoming a two-way third-line forward. Naturally he would enjoy he most success after leaving the Island. Bergenheim scored nine goals in Tampa Bay’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011.
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(2) Cal Clutterbuck Extension vs (7) Casey Cizikas Extension
Garth was channeling his inner Oprah here, “you get a five-year deal and you get a five-year deal.”
The best fourth line in hockey became the most expensive as both Clutterbuck and Cizikas got five-year extensions. If Clutterbuck did hit the open market, I doubt there was going to be a general manager who was giving him that money and definitely not that term. Although the Cizikas extension is not as egregious as Clutterbuck’s. Cal is 30 years old and still has four years left at a $3.5M cap hit. A brutal number considering Clutterbuck has never played 80 games in a season. The older he gets and the way he plays, it’s unlikely he will ever reach it. The wear and tear on Clutterbuck’s body by the time he reaches the back-end of the contract could be substantial. A buyout could be possible.
The ceiling is a little higher for Cizikas, perhaps by just a floor. If the team fails to find a third-line center, Cizikas could likely fill that role. It would be the only way to justify his contract.
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(3) Nino for Cal vs (6) Zero Head Coaching experience
Nino for Cal
Nino Niederreiter is the poster boy on how not to develop a prospect. The fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft became the youngest player in the history of the Islanders when he made his debut. He played nine games before being returned to the WHL. He spent the entire 2011-12 season with the Islanders mostly to get his contract to the salary cap floor. He played the entire season playing on the fourth line with Marty Reasoner and Jay Pandolfo, not exactly offensive giants. Nino would score one goal in 55 games.
During the 2012-13 lockout, Nino lit up Bridgeport, scoring 28 goals. Once the lockout ended, Niederreiter was not invited to Islanders training camp and asked for a trade as a result. Snow claimed that there weren’t any issues with Nino, “All conversations with players remain private, but I will say that Nino has never told me that he's unhappy.” Having Nino spend the season in Bridgeport seemed like an ok decision. But the fact that he didn’t even get a chance to make the Islanders in 2013 bothered me. The damage was done.
He was traded to Minnesota at the 2013 Draft for Cal Clutterbuck. This was the response to the draft at the time.
Ray Ferraro: "Niederreiter’s upside is a lot bigger. I mean, to me, this is a no-brainer. They traded Cal Clutterbuck for a first-round pick. They got the fifth overall pick, a potential goal scorer, for a bowling ball. I don’t mean that as disrespect to Cal. But they traded a goal scorer for a guy that hits."
Pierre McGuire: "I have no problem with Cal Clutterbuck. He’s a useful player. He played junior with Tavares, so there’s chemistry there. But Nino Niederreiter, his upside is gigantic. You’re not talking about an eight-to-12 goal scorer. You’re talking about a guy who can score 20 to 30. Tremendous talent."
As much as it hard to admit. Pierre was dead on. Nino is on pace for his fourth-straight 20-goal season while Cal still hits.
(6) Zero Head Coaching Experience
The Islanders have had 16 head coaches in their history (four in their first 20 years, 12 since). Out of all 16, just six had previous NHL head coaching experience. None of the six were hired by Snow. Ted Nolan had coached the Buffalo Sabres prior to becoming the Isles head coach but was hired before Snow took office. That relationship last two seasons. There were plenty of solid candidates available, all with NHL head coaching experience.
How many coaches should a general manager get to hired?
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(4) Chad Johnson Signing vs (5) Jason Chimera Signing
Chad Johnson Signing
Snow thought he had his goalie situation handled when he acquired Jaroslav Halak via trade and later signed Chad Johnson to a two-year contract. Johnson, like Thomas Greiss, bounced around before having a career season in Boston. In 2013-14, Johnson went 17-4-3, with a 2.10 GAA and a .925 save pct.
It simply did not work out on the Island for Johnson. In 17 games, Johnson went 8-8-1, with a 3.08 GAA and .889 save pct. Snow shipped him out at the 2015 deadline for Michal Neuvirth.
Naturally he bounced back with two solid seasons in Buffalo and Calgary.
Jason Chimera signing
July 1, 2016 was the end of an era when Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin all left via free agency and the beginning of a new error when Snow signed Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera.
Chimera, who signed a two-year, $4.5M deal, somehow found himself on the first line on opening night last season. Like Ladd, Chimera went goalless in his first 12 games. He finished strong to post his second-straight 20-goal season. This season was an absolute disaster for Chimera, two goals and nine assists in 58 games, and his 43.6% 5v5CF is among the worst in the NHL. Doug Weight finally opened his eyes and scratched the forward. He was shipped out to Anaheim at the trade deadline.
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