Quiet Day In Islander Country As Only One Deal Is Made

Today, as I predicted, was a quiet day in Islander Country, as the NHL trade deadline came and went. Radek Martinek, Doug Weight, Brendan Witt, Andy Hilbert, and others will all remain on the Long Island, with Weight and Hilbert set to become free agents at season's end.

The only deal the Isles made before the deadline was acquiring a conditional draft pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Bill Guerin, which as it stands now, would be a fifth-round pick. 

If the Pens make the playoffs it becomes a fourth-rounder, and if the Pens win a playoff series it becomes a third-rounder.

This trade ends days of speculation that Guerin would be traded after being taken out of the lineup after warm-ups Saturday night.

I was initially disappointed with the trade, but after hearing that most GM's (except Glen Sather it seems) were unwilling to trade draft picks in what is supposed to be a very deep upcoming draft in June 2009, they got what they could for him.

I was also content the Isles at least got something in return for Guerin, especially after how this whole fiasco unfolded. It became clear that Guerin would not sign an extension, so it was better to get something for him then let him walk for nothing when the season ends.  

It also could have been a potentially awkward remaining 19 games for Guerin after being held out of two games, and being left in limbo with what was going on regarding his future for days if he remained an Islander. 

Many Islander fans may be disappointed that there was no fire sale on the Island today. Don't be though. There just was not a big market out there for most of these players. 

With guys like Witt and Martinek still under contract for next season, there is no point to move them for less then what they are worth, especially when both are healthy and when paired together, they are a very effective shutdown defensive pair.

Martinek, Witt, and Streit can all be a leading veteran presence to help stabilize the blue line next season.

You also have to take into account that the Isles were somewhat handicapped by the cap floor, especially after trading Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli ten days ago. 

Unless the Isles were going to make a trade that was bringing salary back on, there was only so much they could do today without going under the cap floor.   

Also, Snow did manage to get an extra first-rounder for Chris Campoli, which was an absolute steal.  Don't expect Snow to hold onto that pick either. 

Look for it to be packaged with one of the second-rounders to move up somewhere between picks 10 and 20 on draft day.

Overall, I am going to give Garth Snow a B on his two deadline trades. As I said, he stole an extra first-rounder for Campoli and added and extra pick for Guerin.

He also did not deal off anyone signed next season for under their value, just for the sake of making a deal.

So now we are left to see how the remainder of the season plays out, and where this team will end up picking in the draft. The next big day for Snow and the Isles is the night of the lottery when the order of the teams picking in the draft is made.