Islanders General Manager Garth Snow wasted no time and was on the phone one minute after the ban on speaking with UFAs was lifted. This shows his willingness to be aggressive in his efforts to improve his team.
However, the early bird doesn't always get the worm. But hey -- it's a start.
Landing Halak was a good move, trading a 5th round pick for Boyle's rights was a gamble that sadly didn't pay off. Oh well. nothing ventured nothing gained. Not a big deal. Now when Boyle's agent is fielding other offers, he knows what the Islanders were willing to fork over.
Free Agency has sometime's been called the "silly season" by the likes of Brian Burke. Big contracts for no-so-big stars with long terms just to beat out other teams. Some of these moves resulted in the compliance buy-out clause in the CBA. As the salary cap goes up, so does the stupidity.
The Islanders have an abundance of cap room, but are not willing to pay stupid money just to snag a player. Nor are many of these UFAs even willing to take the truck-loads of cash from the Isles giving them very polite "Thanks, but no thanks" answers.
So here we are today. Draft Day 2014. The Isles still hold the fifth overall pick as so far no announcement has been made that another team was willing to offer a trade good enough for it. As the clock ticks down tonight at the Draft Party and the broadcast is on the big screen, we will either be shocked that a trade is made on the floor or surprised at which young hopeful the Isles will draft.
It's a crapshoot either way.
Will Garth part with Josh Bailey and the fifth rounder for a high-priced player with two or three years left on his contract? Will he surprise everyone and deal Michael Grabner without so much as a blink? Will he cause an audible gasp at the Uniondale draft party by dealing away both Bailey and Okposo? Doubt it.
But I didn't even look at the youngsters in this season's draft because after I hoped, and hoped for Nino Niedereiter to be drafted by the Isles and actually got my wish, the result has left me a little bitter.
No, no. I will leave all the expectations of 18-year-olds to the experts.
Whatever happens today -- I'm sure it will be a surprise. I have learned to keep my expectations low in order to garner that reaction.
See you at in Uniondale.