Stomach Punch

With the Islanders, it's always one step up and two steps back.

The Islanders lost half their team over the past few hours. The one that hurts the most is the loss of Ryan Smyth. Smyth signed a five-year contract reportedly worth $31.25 million with the Colorado Avalanche. Garth Snow has offered Smyth a reported $32.5 million over five years.

So why did Smyth reject the Islanders? Well, it obviously wasn't about money. It may have been his desire to return to the Western Conference and let's face it--Colorado is a lot closer to Banff, Alberta than Long Island is.

Either way, this is a serious stomach punch for all Islanders fans. If you'll pardon me, I need to throw up in my own mouth right now. This is seriously depressing news in light of the fact that the Rangers found a way to sign both Scott Gomez and Chris Drury.

The team's only signing of the day was a three-year deal worth $3 million with tough Atlanta forward Jonathan Sim.

Jason Blake was lost as well. He went to Toronto in a five-year $20 million dollar deal. We here wish Jason well. He has so earned the right to be paid like the star he has worked so hard to become.

A couple of real head-scratching deals for former Islanders. Tom Poti lands in Washington on a four-year $14 million dollar deal. Viktor Kozlov got $5 million for two years from the Caps as well. The Caps are trying to stir up some interest in the nation's capital and seem to have overpaid for the two of them in my opinion. Kozlov scored 25 goals for the Isles but his career is speckled with maddening indifference regarding his own inherent skill.

The Florida Panthers gave rental winger Richard Zednik $3.25 million over two years as well.