Quick NYI Fan Central Q & A

A Question in the e-mail box....

Q: Do you think the Isles will make a big trade?

A: I have avoided topics on this subject because it's too early to tell. I have not been big on posting the odd-trade rumor here because I did promise to only use established media sources and even the rare ones posted by credible media sources are like one of ten or twenty rumors in one article with no quotes from players or executitives aside from Doug Weight which the Blues denied.

Trade market has been mostly dead this year with the cap and just a chessmatch that I see will go on until the deadline because it's fair to ask is any Eastern Conference team out of realistic contention and will that change in the next thirty odd days?

I'm guessing at best two teams from the Eastern Conferece fall off the playoff map with the Kings and another Western Conference club.

In the end as the trade deadline approaches I am going to hold to my promise to be a hundred percent correct and last to report any deals but I will pick out the most credible media sources for possible Islander trade rumors. I'm not interested in breaking the news or scoops, I want to get it right.

From our club's perspective how they do on the ice will determine direction and a month is an eternity. Isles could be making a push at second or making a run at the number fifteen spot and you can write that about a half dozen clubs at least.

I do not see Garth Snow or the hockey committee giving up another number one pick or a top prospect. I can see them adding salary for teams wanting to unload a player but I just do not see a big deal like last year. We went from the gm talking about signing Comrie, Fedotenko to silence and we have read nothing on Trent Hunter, Vasieck or Miroslav Satan.

If the Isles fall out of realitic contention, I think all bet's are off and we could see a big house-cleaning with many potential UFA to go with Guerin, Sillinger and even Brendan Witt who both are signed for next season. That's how you rebuild quickly and kind of do what the Flyers did a year ago.

Earlier this year I read a few things on Peter Forsberg wanting one more big contract which a team like the Isles may be willing to pay to have a name star.

As always I expect the trade deadline will be interesting for the Isles.