With Free Agency window set to open today at 12:00 p.m., the New York Islanders have been mentioned with the name of a couple free Agents, including Justin Williams.
Further to @DarrenDreger's tweet about #Isles/PHI/TB suitors for J. Williams — worth it for GS to bid higher to keep away from conf rivals?
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 30, 2017
The Islanders are not expected to be very active in free agency, but it hasn’t stopped General Manager Garth Snow from inquiring on some pending UFA’s.
There has also been a lot of buzz surrounding 23-year-old LW Alex Galchenyuk. A move from Montreal would make sense for the young 30-goal scorer, as they acquired Jonathan Drouin from the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this month.
Joe Sakic‘s Unrealistic Demands
On June 24, General Manager Garth Snow made the decision to move on from Travis Hamonic for a plethora of draft picks. It was believed at first that the picks would almost immediately be flipped for a return along the lines of a second-line center, with Matt Duchene being the likely candidate.
It is now apparent that Joe Sakic does not intend to budge on his asking price, and refused an offer from the Islanders which contained Hamonic, Michael Dal Colle, and a 1st-round draft pick.
Most insiders believe the price offered for Matt Duchene was 100% appropriate, and it’s safe to say:
Joe Sakic is ridiculously overpricing Matt Duchene, and it’s starting to irritate the forward.
Joe Sakic completely handcuffed his star center.
It’s a move that’s completely unfair to Matt Duchene, Pat Brisson, and, as a result, John Tavares. With an offer like that on the table, he’d be in a perfect spot to gain immediate defensive help with some provided spice in the 1st round draft pick, and a prospect selected 5th overall in 2014.
Joe Sakic is subjecting his star center to complete uncertainty, and in the process increasing an only-growing tension with Pat Brisson, who represents not only Duchene but the Islanders’ captain John Tavares himself.
Rookies Impress at Prospect Camp
Thursday night’s prospect camp put on a terrific display of talent that the Islanders have prepared to emerge from the pipeline.
As for prospect camp week, think fans certainly enjoyed watching Ho-Sang. Also saw reason why #Isles are really high on Parker Wotherspoon.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 30, 2017
Outside of the fresh faces with some NHL experience in Josh Ho-Sang and Anthony Beauvillier, and if you regard the two games Matt Barzal played as noteworthy, the crop of players had not seen NHL ice.
Names such as the aforementioned impressed with camp, including Eamon McAdam who had an admirable outing and despite being peppered with shots in the first parts of the game, Linus Soderstrom got some valuable experience from the staff as did the entire crop of prospects.
Other notable inclusions are Devon Toews, Mitchell Vande Sompel and Parker Wortherspoon, to name a few.
One notable player left off the roster is the defensive prospect near the top of the depth chart, Ryan Pulock.
Hopefully, not having him at camp means the Islanders finally recognize his development in the AHL is nearing an end and that he should start with the big club next season.
