This time, it's Frans Nielsen who will benefit from Garth Snow's signing spree. Four years for $2.1 million... not bad.
Here's the big part of the news, though. It's a one-way deal.
You know what that means? They're actually doing it. They're going to rebuild the right way. They're going to throw the young guys in there, and even if they lose their first 25 games, the young guys aren't going anywhere. And, dare I say it, it's about f'ing time.
A one-way deal means you can't be sent down unless you clear waivers. That's why over the last couple of years, you'd only see guys like Neilsen if someone got hurt and they needed a quick fix. Nielsen was one of the guys who performed really well in spite of his prominent role on the Port Jefferson Ferry. Not only did he hold his own in the NHL, but he averaged roughly 0.8 points per game in Bridgeport - not bad, especially considering the AHL is often even more physical than the NHL.
As much as I love all these one-year deals the Islanders are giving out, perhaps the biggest subliminal effect will be the message these deals send to the fringe players under contract - contribute, or else. Now that it's clear what direction the Islanders are going in, they will want veterans who can not only play well, but who can teach these kids something. It's going to be interesting who ends up making the team out of training camp. I've got a feeling we'll see some surprises.
While it's nice that we're seeing guys like Nielsen, Jeff Tambellini, and Sean Bergenheim receiving rewards for their hard work, it's also becoming clear that we should expect significant growing pains this year. This only makes Snow's job of finding a new coach more difficult. Not only is this new coach coming into an environment of chaos (that's the perception of our team outside of Long Island), but he's also going to be losing a ton of games in his first season. As we all know, coaches are evaluated based on wins, even if the team is making a clear youth movement. Who wants to set himself up for failure? That's a very good question.
We should also look forward to a mass exodus at the trade deadline of the veterans who won't be back next year. As the Islanders get ready to bring up the next crop of youngsters over the next year or so, the Isles will need to make room for them somehow. No better way than to rent out the veterans, get some draft picks, clear out some cap room, and get ready for 2009-10. By that time, it's possible that the Islanders will be seen as a team on the rise; a year of stability on the management front won't hurt, either. They might even be able to attract a marquee free agent or two. Even if they can't, they may have an elite goalie in Rick DiPietro and one of the game's emerging stars in Kyle Okposo, not to mention some good young players with experience and not a whole lot of aging veterans taking up roster spots. Who knows what could happen?
Either way, if you're a real Islanders fan, you have to be happy that they're finally committing to youth. I think we can all deal with a bad season in 2008-09 if it leads to bigger things in the years that follow. It certainly beats treading water and praying for the 8th seed like we've been doing for the past five years. Maybe Zach was right - there could be a bright future for this team, and it might not be all that far away. We just have to pay our dues first.
Here's the big part of the news, though. It's a one-way deal.
You know what that means? They're actually doing it. They're going to rebuild the right way. They're going to throw the young guys in there, and even if they lose their first 25 games, the young guys aren't going anywhere. And, dare I say it, it's about f'ing time.
A one-way deal means you can't be sent down unless you clear waivers. That's why over the last couple of years, you'd only see guys like Neilsen if someone got hurt and they needed a quick fix. Nielsen was one of the guys who performed really well in spite of his prominent role on the Port Jefferson Ferry. Not only did he hold his own in the NHL, but he averaged roughly 0.8 points per game in Bridgeport - not bad, especially considering the AHL is often even more physical than the NHL.
As much as I love all these one-year deals the Islanders are giving out, perhaps the biggest subliminal effect will be the message these deals send to the fringe players under contract - contribute, or else. Now that it's clear what direction the Islanders are going in, they will want veterans who can not only play well, but who can teach these kids something. It's going to be interesting who ends up making the team out of training camp. I've got a feeling we'll see some surprises.
While it's nice that we're seeing guys like Nielsen, Jeff Tambellini, and Sean Bergenheim receiving rewards for their hard work, it's also becoming clear that we should expect significant growing pains this year. This only makes Snow's job of finding a new coach more difficult. Not only is this new coach coming into an environment of chaos (that's the perception of our team outside of Long Island), but he's also going to be losing a ton of games in his first season. As we all know, coaches are evaluated based on wins, even if the team is making a clear youth movement. Who wants to set himself up for failure? That's a very good question.
We should also look forward to a mass exodus at the trade deadline of the veterans who won't be back next year. As the Islanders get ready to bring up the next crop of youngsters over the next year or so, the Isles will need to make room for them somehow. No better way than to rent out the veterans, get some draft picks, clear out some cap room, and get ready for 2009-10. By that time, it's possible that the Islanders will be seen as a team on the rise; a year of stability on the management front won't hurt, either. They might even be able to attract a marquee free agent or two. Even if they can't, they may have an elite goalie in Rick DiPietro and one of the game's emerging stars in Kyle Okposo, not to mention some good young players with experience and not a whole lot of aging veterans taking up roster spots. Who knows what could happen?
Either way, if you're a real Islanders fan, you have to be happy that they're finally committing to youth. I think we can all deal with a bad season in 2008-09 if it leads to bigger things in the years that follow. It certainly beats treading water and praying for the 8th seed like we've been doing for the past five years. Maybe Zach was right - there could be a bright future for this team, and it might not be all that far away. We just have to pay our dues first.
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