In the last thread, I mentioned Hjalmarsson as a trade possibility based on the rumblings the Hawk's blogger said he has heard. If he's indeed being shopped for sake of cap relief so they can chase a bigger fish, the Isles certainly have some cheap assets they could move for him, and he'd certainly be a better stay-at-home d-man option than our in-house choices. He might make a good d-partner for Streit, and he's still only 25.
- UIF

I just hope We get one of these Many names being discussed.. just one via trade, FA, or whatever.

You see here is the issue.... I started this big pissing match. At no time did I call him a "great player" or a "Human Wrecking ball". What I said is I was upset to see him go to Europe b/c he was getting better each year. He would always come up and play well for a game or 2... HIT PEOPLE, Score, crash the net, etc. Then he would disappear.... His last year was his best IMO. I thought he would be "hungry" b/c he would understand that this was his last shot.. .LAST YEAR. Instead of having him on our (and this is important) 4th LINE.. with Haley etc. we ended up with Pando, and Wallace... that was my point. Never did I see him on a line with JT.

Everything is not as Black and White as u guys put it... guys are not superstars or frackin suk... there are lots and lots of Grey in there..
- niteislander

XxNYIxX

I just hope We get one of these Many names being discussed.. just one via trade, FA, or whatever.
- niteislander

Agreed. There has to be better options than what we got stuck with this past season.

then if you know how i ment it... why are you implying i threatened you?

Kind of implies you dont... No?


XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

If you tell someone to go jump off a ledge/bridge thats a figure of speech. If you tell someone to and combine it with pushing them yourself that is perceived as a threat. There is no metaphorical aspect to it.

Agreed. There has to be better options than what we got stuck with this past season.
- UIF

There will be. The question is will Snow be capable/smart enough to get some of them?

I saw that...the Islanders should throw in their #3 draft pick and Reasoner and get both Hjalmarsson and Stalberg...
- kear20

Ha, we'd be fleecing them if that was the deal. Not sure what it would take to get Hjalmarsson, but if it's a salary dump for the Hawks, I can't imagine the price being too much for the Isles to swing. I guess it would depend on how many teams show interest and what they're offering, but I can't see it costing the Isles a core roster player or top-flight prospect like Strome or Nino. Mid-range prospect and a 2nd or 3rd maybe? There's a Hawks fan that's been posting here lately...maybe he could give us a better idea on what the Hawks might be looking for if he's waded this deep into the current thread.

What I really did not want with JJ is someone else being able to give him one last shot b/c of his showing in the worlds... At the very least the Isles get one more look at OUR draft pick.
- niteislander

The funny thing is I'm not even upset about them signing him. It's when people are over joyed with the idea like he is going to be some game changer is when it becomes funny.

Ha, we'd be fleecing them if that was the deal. Not sure what it would take to get Hjalmarsson, but if it's a salary dump for the Hawks, I can't imagine the price being too much for the Isles to swing. I guess it would depend on how many teams show interest and what they're offering, but I can't see it costing the Isles a core roster player or top-flight prospect like Strome or Nino. Mid-range prospect and a 2nd or 3rd maybe? There's a Hawks fan that's been posting here lately...maybe he could give us a better idea on what the Hawks might be looking for if he's waded this deep into the current thread.
- UIF

That covers every prospect we have minus Strome and maybe DeHaan.

There will be. The question is will Snow be capable/smart enough to get some of them?
- Cptmjl

We are talking about GArth Snow right???? I mean do you even have to ask that question

The funny thing is I'm not even upset about them signing him. It's when people are over joyed with the idea like he is going to be some game changer is when it becomes funny.
- Cptmjl

I dont know I think the Islanders did just fine without him. He was not even missed. Why they brought him back is beyond me but it seems GArth is already putting up the white flag for free agency

We are talking about GArth Snow right???? I mean do you even have to ask that question
- kasperrko

I don't know? The way some people talk about him on here you'd think he was up for the Nobel prize let alone doing an admirable job as GM.

I dont know I think the Islanders did just fine without him. He was not even missed. Why they brought him back is beyond me but it seems GArth is already putting up the white flag for free agency
- kasperrko

What you're saying is they sucked with or without him I'm guessing?

I've been thinking about the PAP situation. I dont believe we will sign him. I dont believe we had any intention of signing him for the money PAP wanted and Snow wasnt willing to set a president by giving him away for what was offered.

In retrospect. Or as some of us here on HB suggested. Getting something is better than getting nothing. Keeping him for the Big Playoff push was Fools Gold at best. Anyone following the team knew you either had to be a wide eyed fool or an idiot to think the Isles had a chance of making the PO's.

So then why did we keep him, knowing that we will lose him?


Good question!

Thanks for asking.

There can be only one correct answer. Snow feels he can use the money that would have been spent on PAP to get someone who will do more to improve the Islanders then PAP.

Simple. Makes sense right.

Well check out the UFA right wings available this yr. Is there any that are better or equal to PAP? I dont think so. Maybe there is a diamond in the rough that I am unaware of.

So, could it be that Snow will use that money to entice the UFA "D" man we so desperately need? Thats a possibility. There are several out there that could help.

Or Snow plans on dipping into our talent pool and making a major trade.

So as bad as it may look right now. Maybe not signing PAP. Will improve the team in the long run.

The only other alternative. And its not an option that anyone will like. Is Snow fills the roster with retreads and washed up vets like he did last yr and spins the same old story to the fans. You know the story.

Lets hope this summer will be different. I hope so. I see a little glimmer of hope that it will be. But then again. I felt this way last summer and look what happened.
- SCLI

The only bright news I can find to possibly prevent this from happening is that now that he's signed so many of the younger guys to contracts there are only so many roster spots left. There's not enough roster space left to only sign enough of the 1 -2 million dollar a year Pandolfo/Staios types to reach the floor. In my mind there has to be at least 1 big money signing. And I can't believe that Wang is the kind of business man thats going to be willing to pay a guy like Thomas to not play.

I dont know I think the Islanders did just fine without him. He was not even missed. Why they brought him back is beyond me but it seems GArth is already putting up the white flag for free agency
- kasperrko

Not going to lie, I have the same fear.

The only bright news I can find to possibly prevent this from happening is that now that he's signed so many of the younger guys to contracts there are only so many roster spots left. There's not enough roster space left to only sign enough of the 1 -2 million dollar a year Pandolfo/Staios types to reach the floor. In my mind there has to be at least 1 big money signing. And I can't believe that Wang is the kind of business man thats going to be willing to pay a guy like Thomas to not play.
- PeteM

Lets hope not.

The only bright news I can find to possibly prevent this from happening is that now that he's signed so many of the younger guys to contracts there are only so many roster spots left. There's not enough roster space left to only sign enough of the 1 -2 million dollar a year Pandolfo/Staios types to reach the floor. In my mind there has to be at least 1 big money signing. And I can't believe that Wang is the kind of business man thats going to be willing to pay a guy like Thomas to not play.
- PeteM

If they get Thomas, he doesn't pay him... it just counts against our cap.

No money changes hands at all... we aren't paying him to not play... we are taking his rights so that we can add 5 million to our cap hit.

XxNYIxX

Yup top pick here we come. That line up is not scaring anyone. I am getting ready for another very long season
- kasperrko

WE KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!

I was actually upset when JJ went to Europe last year. He only played a few games for us but really looked solid. He is a big kid, can hit, has very good hands. I was excited to see him (and Haley, Donovan, Ullstrom, etc.) play for the big club. He was one of the many disappointents I had with the team they went with starting the season.

I promise you all that JJ will have more goals this year than Nino last year.
- niteislander

Talk about setting the bar high!

Ha, we'd be fleecing them if that was the deal. Not sure what it would take to get Hjalmarsson, but if it's a salary dump for the Hawks, I can't imagine the price being too much for the Isles to swing. I guess it would depend on how many teams show interest and what they're offering, but I can't see it costing the Isles a core roster player or top-flight prospect like Strome or Nino. Mid-range prospect and a 2nd or 3rd maybe? There's a Hawks fan that's been posting here lately...maybe he could give us a better idea on what the Hawks might be looking for if he's waded this deep into the current thread.
- UIF

I wrote to the Hawks blogger John Jaekel (sp) and he said he heard the Islanders made an underwhelming trade proposal for Kane. He said the Hawks are looking to get rid of Hjalmarsson...my offer of a 3rd rd pick and Reasoner (Hawks like him) for Hjalmarrson and Stalberg might work....didn't know if the Hawks and Islanders were talking though...

WE KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!
- LetsGoIsles

Where? Because you have a couple kids you drafted playing that shouldn't be playing yet? what does this mean? How does our roster show progress?
- Cptmjl

you cant figure this one out or just being difficult?

I dont know I think the Islanders did just fine without him. He was not even missed. Why they brought him back is beyond me but it seems GArth is already putting up the white flag for free agency
- kasperrko

Because we own his rights.. he's one of our prospects.. how is us resigning one of our own prospects Garth putting up the white flag???

XxNYIxX

Not going to lie, I have the same fear.
- Cptmjl

He will throw money at some big free agent he will turn us down and go elsewhere, Snow ill say they tried, Wang will blame the arena, and then sign some cast offs that are at the end of there career. Happens every year around here. We all have high hopes for free agency and trades when nothing happens we wait to see which guys get released before teams set there roster to see who we can grab, when that goes by we just wait and see who the Islanders will get rid of by the trading deadline when they are irrelevant again

If they get Thomas, he doesn't pay him... it just counts against our cap.

No money changes hands at all... we aren't paying him to not play... we are taking his rights so that we can add 5 million to our cap hit.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

which would be ridiculous and should not be allowed and if they do that they can kiss more of the fan base goodbye!

He will throw money at some big free agent he will turn us down and go elsewhere, Snow ill say they tried, Wang will blame the arena, and then sign some cast offs that are at the end of there career. Happens every year around here. We all have high hopes for free agency and trades when nothing happens we wait to see which guys get released before teams set there roster to see who we can grab, when that goes by we just wait and see who the Islanders will get rid of by the trading deadline when they are irrelevant again
- kasperrko

It is cyclical at this point, I have to agree. Hopefully they break this pattern this off season, I'm certainly not holding my breath.