Addition By Subtraction Defensively On Paper Improvement For New York

Only time will tell if the 2012-13 New York Islanders are an improved team, however on paper there is no doubt despite losing Parenteau's offense there has been addition by subtraction even if Brad Boyes does not produce, Matt Carkner is injured again or simply cannot keep up.

Of course there are some big question marks already.

That does not even address Visnovsky at home considering his KHL offer/retiring vs reporting for camp.  

So what's addition by subtraction?
For that matter what's subtraction by addition?

There has been a little of both on paper.

Does it matter? Only thing that matters is winning. 

New York Signs D Matt Carkner, RW Brad Boyes, LW Eric Boulton

Islanders website: Reports the club has come to terms with Brad Boyes, Matt Carkner with Garth Snow's comments.

Newark Star Ledger: Reports Left winger Eric Boulton, whose contract was bought out by the Devils, signed a one-year deal with the New York. 

Updated:
Islanders website: Has comments from Brad Boyes, Garth Snow and some very interesting comments from Doug Weight.

“I watched Brad score 43 and 33 goals in consecutive years,” Weight said. “I don’t care if you played in 1920 or 2012, 43 goals in this league is amazing. He was our best player in those two years in St. Louis.”

“He’s a real good kid – prepared, professional and committed,” Weight said. “And you want to have good character people that are going to have the work ethic and the professionalism that we want to start building within here.”

Niagara Gazette: Boyes discusses what went wrong in Buffalo, and why he signed with New York. 

“(They offer) a position more suitable to my style, a top-six forward, a power-play situation,” Boyes said. “Those are two things that I think are something I’ll be able to put in.”

Updated:
Islanders website has comments from Matt Carkner on why he signed with New York, along with how Snow, Doug Weight recruited him.

"I kind of knew of teams that were looking for me and I was excited to hear that they were going to be interested," Carkner said of the Isles. "I think I heard that just after 12 (p.m.) today that they were going to be sending an offer. It was good. I had a lot of different teams talking to me, and it took me a while to kind of decide and figure out what was the best fit for me. It was a little hectic, but it all worked out."   

“That’s a big factor,” Carkner said. “I was seeing my ice time kind of diminish in Ottawa, with a different coach coming in and a different style of play. I was coming off an injury as well. It just took me a while to get back to where I was, and that’s just kind of how it fell into place. I was happy to see what my options were and I think that I will fit in real well in New York with the Islanders. I am pretty excited to get a spot here.”

Islanders Senior Advisor to the General Manager and Assistant Coach Doug Weight believes that Carkner’s signing addresses a need for the organization to add some size and toughness to the blue line.

“Obviously, the first thing you think of is his toughness,” Weight said. “It’s certainly something we had to address as a team. We think there’s a big upside for Matt and not just in the toughness category. He’s hard to play against, has a solid defensive game and can win battles in the corner. He’s a good quality person and I think he can bring a lot to our defensive corps and a lot to our team. He can play the game, be a good PK guy and make us harder to play against.”

NYIFC Comments:
There was some demand for Carkner, obviously the Islanders overpaid for a player who on paper was not going to bring any offense to a club that desperately needs it nor has he been very durable.

Bottom  line for now (which can change within the hour) the strategy seems to be Okposo (Tavares wing before the injury) will go back to the spot he was playing. Boyes will be a gamble to see if he can become a scorer again but his floor will be better than Pandolfo. Parenteau got fair market value, Isles leave themselves open to legitimate second guessing if Okposo, Niederreiter, another prospect or Boyes does not produce to same level as Parenteau. 

Snow I guess is stocking up on some toughness adding, Carkner, Boulton his team needed some.

One thing for sure is the Islanders did not give Doug Weight a ceremonial title as assistant to the general manager. 

D Jon Landry has gone from Bridgeport contract to 2-way NHL contract with Islanders
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PA Parenteau signed a 16m dollar contract with Colorado, four years.

Denver Post has Parenteau's comments on the signing.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Dylan Reese to a one-year contract, two-way deal worth $600,000 at the NHL level. 

Penguins Website: Has Dylan Reese's comments.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabio has Jon Landry's comments on his first NHL contract.