It’s official; the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone, and the New York Islanders accomplished…well that’s the big question, isn’t it?
By Jeff Clutterbuck
RELATED: Think Small During The Isles Trade Deadline
Those big issues were addressed on Monday, although probably not to the degree that Islanders nation was hoping for.
Here are four reactions to Monday’s events that should provide hope, and give cause for concern as we approach the final stretch of the regular season for the Islanders.
Garth Snow Does Not Believe This Team Can Win It All
The Capitals are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the Eastern Conference, as Tampa Bay and the Rangers remain in the mix as well. The Isles face long odds in running that particular gauntlet, and from Garth Snow’s perspective, why sacrifice future potential and resources for a team that is more than just “a player” away from contending status.
Acquiring Shane Price from the Senators is a depth move, one that doesn’t radically affect the playoff picture for the Islanders. And let’s not forget that Jack Capuano has yet to demonstrably prove he is capable of taking this roster, as currently constructed, to long term success. All of these factors thrown together have to had grounded the deadline strategy for Snow.
The Islanders Would Be In The Playoffs If The Season Ended Today
Even with the Penguins picking up two points Monday evening, the Islanders entered Tuesday as the third seed in the Metropolitan Division.
If you look at the point projections provided by Micah Blake McCurdy of hockeyviz.com, the Islanders will finish the regular season very close to 100 points (98,99) which is about 5 clear of the playoff cutoff point level:
Kyle Okposo Will Not Be an Islander Next Year
Of all the things to be gleaned from Monday’s deadline, first and foremost is that barring some kind of substantial hometown discount, Kyle Okposo will not be suiting up for the New York Islanders next season. It has been oft-reported this year that Okposo is seeking a contract in the ballpark of at least $7 million per year, a price that according to reports, the Islanders are unwilling to pay.
If that is the case, then the Islanders will most likely approach Okposo’s UFA status as a win win for them this upcoming summer. On the one hand, if Okposo does decide to take a slight discount to remain with only team he has known in his professional career, then it would behoove Snow to bring him back into the fold. But if Okposo does decide there are greener pastures, then that is a $7 million buffer the team can spend on players in his place.
The Future Remains Bright
This is the good news for Islanders fans: Barzal, Pulock, Dal Colle, Ho-Sang, Mayfield, and Pelech are all still a part of the future in Brooklyn.
Years of terrible play and high draft picks have resulted in a virtual treasure trove of talented youngsters who will either be making their debuts for the Islanders within the next two years, or used a pieces to acquire the talent that would allow the franchise to take it’s place amongst the legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup.