Kristian Huselius for Weight possible?

It's interesting, a credible media trade rumor from the professional writers for at least two publications and worth a few words.

Garth Snow's past interest in Huseluis at the trade deadline combined with Kyle Okposo in Doug Weight's powerplay spot makes this something that bears close watching.

With Comrie healthy and Sillinger, Colliton & Walter getting chances something has to give down the middle and at even strength.

Huseluis improves the left wing and gives them a top six forward and on this club a first line left wing. Adding his salary also gives something Garth Snow something folks are not talking about and that is room to subtract salary at the trade deadline because his club is too close to the cap floor at this time.

It's not as easy as moving Guerin (NTC), Comrie, and other players for second/third rounders at the deadline when you are near the cap floor, other general managers know it too.

I do not see it as a straight trade because Columbus would have to take back some salary and with so many left wings here I would have to think Snow wants to include Jon Sim for starters.

Trevor Smith, Jesse Joensuu and other left wings in Bridgeport need to get a look soon.

From a Columbus standpoint if they want out from under Huselius contract (very big if) and he is not the right fit for Scott Howson's team/Ken Hitchcock coaching it's possible.

Nikita Filatov is primarily a left wing and if recalled to Columbus would likely slide into that spot.

Columbus if they want to take a run at a playoff spot this makes sense on a lot of levels to add Weight's powerplay skill while Garth Snow tries to improve his own roster.

Comeau, Bergenheim, Tambellini play the left side with Hilbert and Sim. Since last summer we have been writing about something giving here, considering how this has played out almost anything could happen.

On the back line with Martinek/Sutton out and Pock/Gervais in Columbus may have to give Snow something for the backline or Garth Snow decides he wants more flexibility by recalling Hillen or getting out from under a defensive group all signed through at least 2010.

I have a feeling we are going to find out very soon what Garth Snow can do in the trade market.

Islander News Articles 6/29

Newsday: Greg Logan's late Saturday/early Sunday article claims several sources had Kristian Huselius as the player New York tried to trade for at the deadline last February but a pending agreement on a future contract had to be done within seven minutes which was not enough time for Huselius after Flames GM Darryl Sutter took so long to agree to trade terms despite what Mr Logan writes was an offer above market value then he will expect to see Tuesday.

The Newsday beatwriter also reports Islanders general manager Garth Snow did not comment on Huselius but did have his quote he would not be a major player when free agency begins, however he would try to make his team better if it makes sense in his overall plan which is developing the prospects on his current roster.

Mr Logan also claims an un-named agent with a high-end client among a dozen free agents did not have a single player list the Isles in his top ten destinations with quoted comments because players do not get to see the Island and all the nice places to live from the Marriott they do not wish to sign here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So several sources had this since February and Greg Logan was holding this information about his own team almost until July and still does not have an actual quote from anyone beyond his own speculation Huselius had seven minutes to reach an agreement and up root his family long-term?

Okey-dokey.

For all these source and four months you think Mr Logan would know what was headed to Calgary from New York in such a deal? Maybe that would forced a denial from the general manager and the latest potential Newsday retraction?

I wonder if Greg Logan could have found an unnamed agent to quote who would say his client likes playing here and it's a good place to live maybe starting with Mike Comrie or Rick DiPietro among several players who have signed here?

I guess that would be pushing a positive discussion about our club, cannot have that, especially at this time of year.

Or any time of year in Newsday.

Time for this to filter north to the Candian media so the other agents and pending UFA get the word.

Updated Sunday PM:
Sporting News: Ray Slover in the sporting news apparently has noticed Newsday's recent work covering the club and writes Newsday recently stamped the Isles New York's most inept team but Garth Snow shrugs it off and marches along with a youth movement. Kids' contracts are covered, suspects are weeded out and it's doubtful the Isles will throw big bucks around in a thirty team review going into free agency.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It was funny reading the free agent rumors today from clubs practically all over the NHL. Only paper that bothered with a non trade from February and gave out the perception no one wanted to sign in their market was Newsday.

THN.com: The Hockey News Daily Dish reports in it's daily dish of hockey information Greg Logan of New York Newsday writes that the Islanders likely won’t dip into the free agent market because it’s tough to lure players to Long Island.

Winnipeg Free Press: Martin Cash has a few words from Islander prospect David Toews about his training at the Total Hockey Centre.

NY Times: Jeff Z. Klein does the first Islander article in the paper since before the regular season ended on Wade Dubielewicz departure to Russia. Of course he mis reports Ted Nolan and Garth Snow disagreed about the goaltender as this information is from several weeks ago.

Hrudey, Arbour, Huselius & Mr Botta

Russia came back to defeat Canada 5-4 in overtime to win the World Championship Sunday.

Mercury News: David Pollak in an article about the next San Jose coach has former Islander Kelly Hrudey comments about Al Arbour.

Edmonton Journal: Jim Matheson speculates the Islanders will go hard after Calgary UFA forward Kristian Huselius because he does not like a lot of pressure and would be a good second line fit for them.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
As a left wing good luck finding a fit for Huselius with Bergenheim, Comeau, Sim, Tambellini and Hilbert on the roster. It may take a Satan-like contract with a no trade clause to land him also.

Isles do need the scoring but to do this a left wing has to go.
Park, Bates can also play left wing.

Where is Newsday to give us updates on our pending free agents or what moves the team could be planning? Other papers for teams all over this league are doing this to keep the fans interested. You cannot put the lack of Islander talk on the age of the Nassau Coliseum.

You can bet players and their agents look at this too when signing with a team, some need and want a spotlight.

Point Blank: Mr Botta was kind enough to respond to a series of questions I had for him on Islanders coverage.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I appreciate the time Mr Botta took to respond, that was very nice of him to go out of his way like that and he told me a few things I did not know.

I never knew writers could travel with teams because I have read stories both ways.

I was not sure if becoming a Newsday writer would be a step down or a step up from his position with the Isles, all I know was Pat Calabria joined the Isles after working for Newsday and I think Mr Botta would do a great job.

My point with asking about the Isles paying a newspaper for daily coverage/blog is Phil Mushnick in the Post told me the budget for sports department is a problem and covering the Isles is a luxury they cannot afford. So if the Isles can pay for advertising space why not just do the same for a daily article/blog and increase fan readership?

I'm not sure Mr Botta understood my point on that but if the Isles did pay a publication for coverage it goes without writing I would only want honest hockey content depending on how the club plays, nothing else and no doubt the Isles would not have it any other way themselves.

I respectfully disagree with Mr Botta on quality over quantity for Mr Logan and his lack of blogs because you can have both and we see it for other teams all the time.

I also stand by what I wrote that Mr Logan created the speculation on DiPietro using a stat based argument to create unfair perception about his play.

I had no idea Mr Logan had to fight for space in the paper for road coverage. If Mr Botta is writing these things it is not good between the Islanders and the Newsday sports editor to where the beatwriter has to push hard for additional coverage space. If that is the case Mr Logan has to be credited for his efforts but I did not see many second articles on game day during the second half, even after the superbowl was over which Mr Logan told Mr Botta was a reason for the Isles losing the second game article at the all-star weekend.

I also have to note every thing Mr Botta brought up where Mr Logan provided more coverage (Smyth, trades, playoffs) were from 2006-07. Going into 2007-08 I had a very favorable opinion of Mr Logan's Islander coverage but this season's work changed that.

To me less coverage is less coverage. The New York Islanders need every bit of daily coverage they can get.

I hope Mr Botta is correct about Cablevision/Newsday Islander coverage being enhanced but I'm skeptical because I know the history and all signs point to less Islander coverage and an outlet for Cablevision to give additional print space to properties they own. I think Mr Botta is underestimating how Msg network presents sport content which these days have Liberty games over Yankee and Met games.

I see the Dolan's Newsday version being exactly the same regardless and they could care less what anyone thinks or writes about them. Anyone who does not like it at Newsday does not have to be there.

If Mr Botta says Mr Logan's departure will be noticed with a drop in coverage or that I will not be happy I find it hard to believe. I did not see any noticable drop from John Valenti to Alan Hahn or from Mr Hahn to Mr Logan, despite changes at Newsday.

Having written that it may well be that way. Mr Botta knows a lot more than myself on these subjects which is why I asked.