The contracts we're seeing handed out today are borderline assinine. Clowes contract is a joke. As for the trade, unless you were willing to part with Strome, Nelson and a 1st, there was no need to pull the trigger.
This team will be better simply by adding more of our prospectsto the mix. Bouchard and Clutterbuck are solid additions. More importently, we're doing this without over committing financially.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

thank god another voice of reason.

Scuderi and Ryan could have brought this team to the next level. JT needs a better supporting cast, Ryan would have been perfect....even Seguin would have made sense. We need another scoring punch on the top six.....and Snow should still want another threat on defense...Im still hopeful he has a trade in the works.
- BattleLevel

I can understand not giving up a lot for Ryan because he can walk in two years. Scuderi was a UFA. Even if he did not work out, the Isles have plenty of Cap room it would not hurt them.

Scuderi and Ryan could have brought this team to the next level. JT needs a better supporting cast, Ryan would have been perfect....even Seguin would have made sense. We need another scoring punch on the top six.....and Snow should still want another threat on defense...Im still hopeful he has a trade in the works.
- BattleLevel

And when Ryan leaves to join the Flyers while Scuderi is a minus 50 and ready to retire, we could watch Strome outscore them elsewhere. No thanks. I wanted Ryan but knew the cost would be too much.

Yykeaner17yY

And when Ryan leaves to join the Flyers while Scuderi is a minus 50 and ready to retire, we could watch Strome outscore them elsewhere. No thanks. I wanted Ryan but knew the cost would be too much.

Yykeaner17yY
- keaner17

agreed. If they were willing to take Kabanov, Ness and a 1st, I'd be all in. I didn't even like moving Nino and he's a spoilt brat.

I can understand not giving up a lot for Ryan because he can walk in two years. Scuderi was a UFA. Even if he did not work out, the Isles have plenty of Cap room it would not hurt them.
- ses111

Problem is, Scuderi wanted to go to Pittsburgh. Despite our improvement, we're still not viewed as a championship destination for free agents like Pittsburgh

Xxkeaner17xX

Problem is, Scuderi wanted to go to Pittsburgh. Despite our improvement, we're still not viewed as a championship destination for free agents like Pittsburgh

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Probably right keaner. He would have been a great mentor to guys like Hammer and Reinhart. I hope the Isles at least made an honest effort.

I love the spirit from Travis but let us see the team built of last year and win a playoff round first.
- ses111

He's a future A.

From reading Gallof on twitter we were in trying to get Ryan but Ottowa had the offer Anaheim was looking for. While I would like to get marquis players I don't want to give up all of our young talent doing it. Building competition and depth outways a hired gun. Just look at all of the players the rangers have brought in and it didn't pan out.

The contracts we're seeing handed out today are borderline assinine. Clowes contract is a joke. As for the trade, unless you were willing to part with Strome, Nelson and a 1st, there was no need to pull the trigger.
This team will be better simply by adding more of our prospectsto the mix. Bouchard and Clutterbuck are solid additions. More importently, we're doing this without over committing financially.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Keaner I'm going to save this until January when the Islanders are out of the playoffs and you want Snow's and Capuano's head...

He's a future A.

From reading Gallof on twitter we were in trying to get Ryan but Ottowa had the offer Anaheim was looking for. While I would like to get marquis players I don't want to give up all of our young talent doing it. Building competition and depth outways a hired gun. Just look at all of the players the rangers have brought in and it didn't pan out.
- special_k1074

I agree about not giving up all the young talent. I have not gotten on Snow for not getting Ryan. Snow has to be right on these prospects though. He has to hope the team can make the playoffs again. Calls for his head will be coming in crazy if they take a step back this year and miss the playoffs.

He's a future A.

From reading Gallof on twitter we were in trying to get Ryan but Ottowa had the offer Anaheim was looking for. While I would like to get marquis players I don't want to give up all of our young talent doing it. Building competition and depth outways a hired gun. Just look at all of the players the rangers have brought in and it didn't pan out.
- special_k1074

the other difference over the past 5-6 years is that the number of teams resigning their best players has increased and each UFA period gets weaker and weaker as far as available talent, and because there is so little, the prices get higher and higher.

Looking at teams like the Kings and the Hawks, I'd hate for us to eventually be a contender and be strapped with some of the salary cap issues they've had, and be forced to move some of our players to stay under the cap. Our owner is a wingnut and not willing to spend, but it's helping us keep a lot of cap space for future. If Strome, Nelson and Reinhart for example all end up as quality players, we'll be thankful we can keep them with this available cap space down the road.

I get that people wanted to see something done to improve the team in the way of a big name, but the dollars, term and names going today are not a smart option.

We'd have to seriously overpay to compete and the talent available simply isn't worth it. We may see a trade or two over the summer but I'm comfortable not making these big signings because of the anchor of a contract that's coming with each one.

The contracts we're seeing handed out today are borderline assinine. Clowes contract is a joke. As for the trade, unless you were willing to part with Strome, Nelson and a 1st, there was no need to pull the trigger.
This team will be better simply by adding more of our prospectsto the mix. Bouchard and Clutterbuck are solid additions. More importently, we're doing this without over committing financially.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I agree but alot of the frustration comes because they feel JT deserves a star wing immediately but those come at a very high price and without guarantee.

Clowe signing may seem strange because he signed at same price as Clarkson but Lou likes players in Clowes style and Sather couldn't afford him. NJ has a good track record with vets plus Kovy is alot older than JT so they have a different makeup.

I'm more interested in seeing how the young forwards pan out before I dump them for vets, especially ones not interested in being here.

Keaner I'm going to save this until January when the Islanders are out of the playoffs and you want Snow's and Capuano's head...
- kear20

Always possible, but honestly if I were gm I'd probably be doing the same today. I think we're a better team with Bouchard and Clutterbuck than Boyes and Reasoner. We're set up very well for next year which is a much better free agent group. Meanwhile the Flyers and pens are selling their souls.

Xxkeaner17xX

In today's Hockey News about Islanders...so pretty recent:

Hi Adam, My question is about the Islanders and players that seem to get sent there with what seems to be no initial desire to actually play there (I'm thinking of Lubomir Visnovsky and Evgeni Nabokov, amongst others) - yet they end up playing and contributing. Is it a case of them being professional and having a desire to play to the best of their ability, or is it management convincing them that "the island" a good place to play? Thanks.
Adam Kuypers, Elmvale, Ont.

Hi Adam,

It’s tough to speak for individual players, but here’s what I’ve been told by agents: because of the Islanders’ terrible facilities and status as a budget (read: non-spending-to-the-cap-ceiling) team, players are averse to joining the franchise when they first arrive.

However, once they settle into the community and realize what an incredible lifestyle they and their families can enjoy in the greater New York City area, those same players go from disgruntled to gruntled in relatively short order. With the team moving to Brooklyn in the next couple years, the recruiting/keeping processes should get much easier.

Always possible, but honestly if I were gm I'd probably be doing the same today. I think we're a better team with Bouchard and Clutterbuck than Boyes and Reasoner. We're set up very well for next year which is a much better free agent group. Meanwhile the Flyers and pens are selling their souls.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

But the cap is going up which means you'll be going up against the big guys. I would have gone after Scuderi ($3.5 million/ 3 year deal is a steal for Pitt), the defense will struggle...two years away before some of the prospects are ready. Now that Ryan is off the table...I'd make a push for Grabovsky...I don't think playoffs are in the cards next year...

Yes, we have the assets, just not the person who can get the deal done.
This is how team's do business in this league.
Garth is not smarter than everyone. And it shows.

Looking forward to tomorrow's big news of Josh Bailey resigning.
- jmo16

honest question... do you want to trade strome nelson and griff? would you have traded strome cizikas and a 1 for bobby ryan?

I agree about not giving up all the young talent. I have not gotten on Snow for not getting Ryan. Snow has to be right on these prospects though. He has to hope the team can make the playoffs again. Calls for his head will be coming in crazy if they take a step back this year and miss the playoffs.
- ses111

That's the thing there are no guarantees with young talent in any sport. One thing Garth had going for him is locking up his core players for bargain prices. I don't read other gms doing that.

But the cap is going up which means you'll be going up against the big guys. I would have gone after Scuderi ($3.5 million/ 3 year deal is a steal for Pitt), the defense will struggle...two years away before some of the prospects are ready. Now that Ryan is off the table...I'd make a push for Grabovsky...I don't think playoffs are in the cards next year...
- kear20

I'm not sure I'd call Scuderi's contract a steal. It's about the going rate for a defensive defenseman.

But the cap is going up which means you'll be going up against the big guys. I would have gone after Scuderi ($3.5 million/ 3 year deal is a steal for Pitt), the defense will struggle...two years away before some of the prospects are ready. Now that Ryan is off the table...I'd make a push for Grabovsky...I don't think playoffs are in the cards next year...
- kear20

That is the problem. The Cap is going up and teams like the Rangers will be back in. The Isles young prospects are going to have to put this team over the top. The future is on Strome,Nelson, Reinhart, and maybe Poulin or Nilsson.

Sporting News NHL @sn_nhl
Travis Hamonic's 7-year deal with Isles is uncommonly wise

That's the thing there are no guarantees with young talent in any sport. One thing Garth had going for him is locking up his core players for bargain prices. I don't read other gms doing that.
- special_k1074

No question if the core continues to improve and the propsects like Stome live up to the hype, Snow is golden. If not he will be gone soon after Brooklyn.

well, we didn't lose any pics or prospects so all in all a good day. I would like if Snow added a defenseman on the backend (maybe Whitney). Good to see Hamonic locked up, love his passion!!!

Hopefully we see Nabby and Poulin split the season - would love to see Poulin step up and grab the number one job and solidify our biggest void.

I thought Hamonic wanted to play closer to home?

honest question... do you want to trade strome nelson and griff? would you have traded strome cizikas and a 1 for bobby ryan?
- NYI78

They are all prospects...don't know if they are going to pan out...the Islanders have at least 5 or 6 defensive prospects (Reinhart, Pedan, Mayfield, deHaan, this year's #1 pick)...they could have included one and maybe Nelson for Ryan...

well, we didn't lose any pics or prospects so all in all a good day. I would like if Snow added a defenseman on the backend (maybe Whitney). Good to see Hamonic locked up, love his passion!!!

Hopefully we see Nabby and Poulin split the season - would love to see Poulin step up and grab the number one job and solidify our biggest void.
- Mr.Black

Poulin needs to be given every chance to grab the #1 spot. He cannot play one bad game and then sit for weeks.

I'm not sure I'd call Scuderi's contract a steal. It's about the going rate for a defensive defenseman.
- eichiefs9

Would you have signed Scuderi to a 3 year 13.5 million contract if you were Snow?