After agent Allan Walsh spoke out about the New York Islanders' using a three goalie system, GM Garth Snow reportedly responded by making it known Walsh's client Jaroslav Halak could be had in a trade.
In this edition of the hotstove we discuss whether the Islanders should trade/be looking to trade Halak.
Todd Cordell A lot has been made about the three goalie system in New York but I don't think the Islanders should trade Jaroslav Halak.
There is not a big market for goaltenders, and they generally can be had pretty cheap, so the Isles would be selling him for pennies on the dollar even if they find a taker.
Halak has posted a league average or better save percentage in four of the last five seasons and, while off to a somewhat slow start this year, he showed at the World Cup that he still has some gas left in the tank and is capable of stealing games.
I think Halak has a lot more value to the Islanders than anything they'd get for him in a trade and, as such, they'd be smart to hang onto him.
James Tanner I think Halak is a pretty underrated goalie, despite seeming to be injury prone. When healthy, his stats are a surprisingly good.
Since 2011-12, his expected goals-against / 60 is 2.38 and Price is 2.42.
Halak's save% over this period was .8 less than Price.
These are not insignificant differences. Small differences are what separate the great (price) from the above-average (Halak).
Looking at the stats, one can make the case that Halak is somewhere between the 7th and 15th best goalie of his generation.
If they Islanders think they have a replacement and they are cautious of the expansion draft, then sure, trade him.
But then again, Halak is a big game goalie and the Islanders only chance at a Stanley Cup this season is a bizarre playoff run by an unbeatable goalie. He might give them their best chance for that.
Peter Tessier A 3 goalie system seems like an unsustainable situation medium and long term for any team but why does Halak have to pay the price to be traded? Actually what is it about Halak that makes him expendable all the time?
Of the three goalie with the NY Islanders Halak is definitely the one putting up the lesser of the numbers and at age 31 he's likely in decline but Berube has 7 NHL games, is he ready?
Some team will likely get Halak and be quite happy with him for the short term and Garth Snow need stop capitalize on value now while it's still there. Should they trade him, yes but only if some team is willing to pay more than they should.
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