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.

Offseason Question #2:

Which of the free-agent forwards (Viktor Kozlov, Richard Zednik, Randy Robitaille and Arron Asham) does the team want to keep?

Let's take these in order:

Viktor Kozlov pretty much admitted before the season that the only reason he signed with the Islanders was because they were the only team that was interested. 25 goals later, I'd say that both player and team
probably enjoyed what they got from this season. I also believe that Kozlov's Long Island future is tied to what will happen with Alexei Yashin. Also, 25 goals might look more attractive to another team who is willing to overpay for his services. This one could go either way. He isn't a guy who should be getting more than a short-term contract for around a million or so per year. I'm guessing that someone is going to see his skill set and the 25 goals and give him about double that.

Richard Zednik was allowed to leave to be with his ailing mother during the stretch run. That says that the Islanders are committed to being a family-friendly organization. But on the other hand, does it also say
that the team did not value Zednik higher to try and get him to stay?

Best guess on my end is that the good will on the end of the Islanders will probably go a long way with Zednik. The team will probably get any benefit of the doubt if the Islanders come up with an offer close-to or similar-to another team's offer. I see him staying.


Randy Robitaille is a complex situation. I mean, the guy is an effective offensive player who seems to have forged some chemistry with Jason Blake. On the other hand, the guy is just freaking dreadful defensively. How many times did he leave guys open in the slot who scored goals against the Islanders? And in the Sabres series, it can be argued that a good number of those point shots by Brian (veinsveinsveins.com) Campbell should have been prevented by Robitaille.

On the other hand, he would be a lower-end of the payroll guy so it might make fiscal sense to bring him back for what you can probably get him for. The guy has bounced around and bounced around and bounced around the league for years. This past season was his most stable and productive one. Those reasons alone may tip him toward staying with the Islanders; but I think this one player who may be replaced by a Soundtiger like Blake Comeau or a healthy Shawn Bates. Nolan and Snow probably need someone who is a bit more responsible defensively and can chip in the odd goal here and there.

Arron Asham is a guy who has been through everything on Long Island. He showed much more offensively this season and he has that big shot. Asham is also a tough middleweight who sticks up for his teammates and played with a broken hand at the end of the season. Plus, let's never forget the levity of the afro wig the night the Islanders wore the throwback jerseys! Snow and Nolan will want to bring him back for the next season.

Let's not forget that Tom Poti is unrestricted as well. I'm hopeful that the team will be able to get something done with him in the area of two years.