You want to pay a Mark Eaton, Anton Volchenkov (at five million) or bring back Andy Sutton so Travis Hamonic or Calvin deHaan, have no shot to make this team out of camp?
I do not.
NYIFC Entry 6/27/10
Which is why amateur fan bloggers, like myself are not NHL general managers.
I cannot go against what I wrote only a few days ago, just because the Islanders signed Mark Eaton for two years today.
I hope I turn out to be wrong.
Of course, I can understand why these signings were made.
Eaton gives me the impression (right or wrong) of someone who will never be better than the player he has been in Pittsburgh, just like many players who are very good with one club (Derek Morris/Czerkawski) and seemingly out of place anywhere else.
I thought he was older, so that is a positive.
The Islanders absolutely needed some size, and got it from a championship level team with a player familiar with this division. He has been more durable than Andy Sutton recently, but this was not a contest between them because I did not want Sutton back either, who I thought did a very good job here, when healthy.
On the defensive front Eaton is a twenty minute player, who is steady, and makes the safe/smart play. With the new rules on head-shots the first thing I thought of was Sutton's high hits, and new intent rules. I don't know what Eaton brings in this department.
We'll see.
As for the rest of the defense, the group is bigger. Adding Milan Jurcina, who took less money than he made in Washington or Columbus. He also brings skill, but inconsistency, regardless of whether Scott Gordon has worked with him.
The way I see things, you cannot add Hamonic plus deHaan both in the same year, so one had to be added this year, the other, the next.
At least if stated plan is to make the playoffs now.
There is already someone who played over twenty five minutes a game who will start his first full season here in Andrew MacDonald, plus perhaps Dustin Kohn/Dylan Reese, and Jack Hillen is very young.
The depth chart got filled quickly pending some trades.
Streit-Martinek-Gervais-MacDonald-Hillen-Jurcina-Eaton
Kohn-Reese-Katic-Klementyev-Tony DeHart-Witt-Wotton plus.
In my viewpoint they needed to a spot open for Hamonic.
If things stand as is there is no room for some very talented prospects, and obviously Hamonic is no lightweight in the hitting department, plus has an offensive upside.
That's what Garth Snow said he needed, some size with some offensive upside, if he could not sign a player who does both in free agency, or a trade, he needs to promote it from within.
I really do not have much to write about PA Parenteau, he got the same one-way contract as a year ago, but has some grit/scoring, and may well win a job here.
If he goes to Bridgeport, he has to clear waivers. If he plays here as a right wing there goes the spot with Hunter-Okposo-Weight on right side, pending a trade of Hunter.
I know absolutely nothing about Konopka beyond what I read the last few hours. He is no AHL callup, but a full time NHL player, obviously he has no problem dropping the gloves.
If he can win some faceoffs/kill penalties/fights by appointment plus respond to hits on Tavares, Bailey or Okposo, that's good because the division no doubt got tougher with some signings, and the Isles needed another player in that department.
Still, he's likely not going to skate often with Tavares/Okposo, they still have to fight their own battles.
Michael Fornabaio reported he saw an article Snow was outbid by Tampa for him two years ago, plus he got a two year contract from Tampa, but that was a very short sighted ownership during their short tenure.
Once again, the problem is roster spots look locked tight on paper, unless the gm has a trade or two.
Garth Snow's scoring is still very suspect, that is a very small/inexperienced center spot,still with no spot available for Josh Bailey in his natural/drafted position.
Updated Forward Depth Chart:
Moulson-Tavares-Okposo
Bailey-Schremp-Hunter
Comeau-Nielsen-Parenteau
Gillies-Konopka-Weight
Martin, Joensuu, Figren, Petrov, Kabanov, Niederreiter, Marcinko,Rakhshani, DiBenedetto, Ullstrom, and a lot of players I likely missed.
Trevor Smith/Greg Mauldin signed with Anaheim and Colorado Friday.
We'll see what the weekend brings, if anything.
Truco Daily Sports: New York Islander Hall of Famer, Denis Potvin, and current defender Andrew MacDonald were in Annapolis Valley to speak at a fund-raising banquet for the Acadia Axemen hockey club.
NYIFC Comments:
Good article on Potvin and MacDonald.
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