Update: The Islanders have traded Andrew MacDonald to the Flyers for a third rounder in 2014 and a second rounder in 2015. For a player struggling horribly this season that is a good return getting the second round pick in a very deep 2015 draft. ===========================================================
On the eve of the trade deadline the New York Islanders and a couple of future New York Islanders are in Winnipeg to take on the Jets tonight. It will be the final game in an Islanders’ uniform for defenseman Andrew Macdonald and forward Thomas Vanek. As for the rest of the team I have been told that anyone that is not deemed part of the core is being shopped and this includes Josh Bailey. It remains to be seen if the Islanders can find anyone to take a bad contract of a struggling player but the fact that Bailey is being shopped show me how desperate the Islanders are to get a resolution with him. I have also been told that if there are no takers at the deadline a compliance buyout is possible.
But let us focus on what we know right now and that surrounds the most movable pieces on the team; Thomas Vanek and Andrew MacDonald. Numerous teams are in on Vanek with the Kings and the Ducks being the leaders in the clubhouse to attain the Austrian’s services. This is exactly what Garth Snow needs; he needed two teams that are rivals to bid for the same player. It is conceivable that one team will raise their offer to keep Vanek from going to their arch rival. If Snow can come out of the Vanek trade with the likes of a John Gibson, Tyler Toffoli or Tanner Pearson that would have to be considered a win. I wouldn’t even ask for three pieces in return. Give me an A level NHL ready prospect and a number one and we can call it a day on Vanek. Without question the Islanders will get a first rounder for Vanek it is just a question of the level of the other players they receive in return. Two teams fighting over the same player is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Andrew Macdonald is another story. The Capitals, Bruins and Sharks have all expressed interest in the unrestricted free agent. At worse the Islanders will get a second round pick for MacDonald but from what I have been told they may be able to get a pick and a player because there is simply no market for defenseman. There are simply so few available that a team may bump up its offer to secure a guy that can log serious minutes.
Right now though we are in a holding pattern; the calm before the storm. The Islanders will make out ok tomorrow it is just a matter of how well they are able to do. If they can address the goalie situation and or add a young top six forward I think we would all be happy. Until then check in often to hockey buzz as I will have my make shift war room ready to go and I will be constantly updating the Islanders thread all day tomorrow. As always for more on all things hockey please follow me on twitter and Instagram at @DanDanNoodles78.