Emails & Comments

We've got some emails and comments wondering why I haven't put in my three cents about some of the other deals made at the trade deadline. Everyone figures--rightfully so--that if I have such a boring job and the time to do so, that I should comment on the player movement and what it means around the National Hockey League. Since we here at nyiforlife.com consider ourselves to be in the service industry, I am kinda surprised I didn't do it either, but here goes:

Brad Richards to Dallas: Well, Brett Hull finally got a chance to scratch his itch and make the big deal he has been probably pining for since becoming co-GM earlier this year. He probably just put a new stamp on this team for the next five or six years. Of course, he also parted with a goalie prospect in Mike Smith that many people are high on.

Richards essentially becomes the new face of the Dallas Stars since Mike Modano is beginning to fade. Brenden Morrow may be the captain, but in many ways, the Stars have to be identified with an aging Modano. That's why I like this trade. Dallas immediately becomes the consensus top challenger to defending champions Anaheim out west with Detroit (I'm not totally sold on them yet) a step behind. Still, with Sergei Zubov out and Marty Turco the goalie you're relying on in the playoffs, it ain't gonna be easy. Turco has the rep of folding in the playoffs faster than George Jetson's car-slash-briefcase. It won't be easy.

Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh: GM Ray Shero literally handed the keys to Sidney Crosby here. He got him someone to play with who is good enough to hang. Hossa is in no way a seasoned playoff performer but he is a damn good player who may take a look at his surroundings and figure he will not get anything better as an unrestricted free agent than hitching on with Crosby and Malkin for the foreseeable future.

I have a friend who argued that Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen are glue guys and that he wouldn't have traded them because he wouldn't want to mess with the team chemistry. That is just a silly statement without merit. (Yes, Sir, if you're reading this, I am calling you out on it!) Getting a guy like Hossa with a lot to prove in a competitive stretch run is a move you make for a couple of top-twelve forwards who have been playing higher than they should be not because of what they bring to the party, but because you settle on them even though they aren't suited for that. Make sense?

At the same time, Don Waddell got a pick, a prospect, and two guys who will be regulars with the Thrashers for Hossa, who already told the team he was walking in July. Not a bad deal for Atlanta given the circumstances, either.

Montreal trades Huet: Um, this trade sent off the WTF emails at work. Look, no one is saying that Cristobal Huet is the best goalie in the league, but he is pretty damn good. He was in the All-Star game. Far be it from us to question Bob Gainey on this one, but he must have a lot of confidence with Carey Price between the pipes for Montreal. Price is twenty and as we all know from the experience the Isles have had with Rick, it takes a while for the goalie to get comfortable in his own skates and confident in his game at the NHL level. Price was stellar in net for the Canadian World Junior team not too long ago and looked to be one of those kids who are almost unflappable, but the NHL is a big deal and the press in Montreal and in Canada are going to be tough if he doesn't come through; especially since the Canadiens have as good a chance of anyone to come out of the East. The lesson here is that Gainey must know something that we don't.

On the flip side, by getting Huet for a second-rounder and also acquiring Sergei Federov, the Capitals are sending a loud and clear message to their fans that they are in it to do damage. Ovechkin is reportedly "elated" to play with Federov, who was a hero of Alex's growing up in Russia. With the Southeast so competitive, this could be the tipping point for the Caps.

Finally, the Islanders' trades. I am good with the Simon move and the Bergeron move. In fact, I am still surprised that Anaheim gave up a third-rounder for him. Getting Davison for a seventh-rounder is a good move because no matter what he gives you, it only cost a seventh-rounder. (It does make me wonder about what the Isles management thinks of the guys in Bridgeport as I am sure Davison is going to be playing for the Sound Tigers at some point in the next few months.

Ultimately, signing Comrie for a year and getting Trent Hunter for the next five says more to the fans and the players than adding a guy for the playoff push would have. If the Isles don't make it to the dance this year, I don't think it will have been a futile or disastrous season. The Islanders are an evolving team right now and we all need to realize that the way things go in the league today that a team in the cellar today can challenge rather quickly.

As far as the rumors went, I hate dealing in them because it's just a fruitless exercise but I will address them like this: Komisarek yes; McCabe not at that salary; and Tanguay probably not.

Tonight the Isles are in Atlanta to play the Mighty Thrash for what seems to be the tenth time in the last month. Our boys have 67 points and Buffalo, in eighth, have 71 points. Both teams have played 64 games so far.