Brian Erni of SNY writes that the New York Islanders would rather move Calvin deHaan over Travis Hamonic. No matter who stays, someone will move, and it will likely be very soon.
The countdown to June 20th and the NHL Expansion draft is nearing a close, and the ticking of the clock is getting louder. Fans collectively have but one question for General Manager Garth Snow and Islanders owners Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin:
What the hell are you guys waiting for?
While it’s always good to hear some news regarding the Isles and the trade market, these are fixes that need to be made sooner rather than later. The Islanders frankly cannot afford to keep postponing or delaying trade talks with just six days until the NHL draft.
Matt O’Leary of EliteSports writes that the Islanders continue to be the front-runners for Matt Duchene, and numerous NHL sources continue to confirm this belief.
Colorado likely will be asking for defense in return, and this a trade that can benefit both clubs tremendously both in the short term and in long term needs. Snow’s patience at the NHL trade deadline likely paid off, seeing how rough Duchene’s second half of 2016-17 was statistically. Avalanche GM Joe Sakic’s asking price should now have gone down considerably, and again, with time winding down a trade with both clubs seems nearly imminent.
Notes
The Edmonton Journal writes that Kelly Buchberger is unofficially joining the Islanders staff and evidently has made the decisions weeks in advance. Buchberger was serving with the Oilers as a player development coach.
The Islanders did NOT ask Johnny Boychuk or Andrew Ladd to waive their NMC’s, so (as expected) they will both have to be protected in the expansion draft.
John Tavares’ contract situation has no updates, as does the arena situation but the sentiment from the organization continues to be that he must be re-signed long term ASAP.
