Islanders Trade Rumors

"If the Islanders' monthlong search for a head coach were a beauty contest, it just reached the stage when the finalists must answer a question that .reveals something about their personality and, of course, their desire for world peace. Considering the internal tension between general manager Garth Snow and former coach Ted Nolan last season, nothing is more important than establishing a peaceful working relationship at the top to move forward. After a painstaking interview process in which he spoke with eight known candidates and .contacted a few others, an NHL source indicated Snow has narrowed his list to three finalists. Former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley, former Toronto coach Paul ..."

"The first round of interviews for the Islanders' head-coaching vacancy should be completed by Tuesday, and then, general manager Garth Snow can take the next step toward naming a replacement for Ted Nolan. Former Los Angeles Kings coach Marc Crawford and current Islanders assistant Gerard Gallant are among the final candidates expected to be interviewed over the next three days, according to an NHL source. Crawford has a previous connection to Snow, who played for him during Crawford's first two seasons as head coach in Vancouver from midway through the 1998-99 season to 1999-2000, Snow's last season with the Canucks. Former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley, who also has interviewed for the job, ..."

"Cross one prominent name off the list of candidates for the Islanders' head-coaching vacancy. Former Colorado coach Joel Quenneville apparently committed to take a year off from coaching before the Isles' job opened up, and he's sticking with that plan, according to an NHL source. Although Quenneville's third season with the Avalanche ended with a playoff berth, general manager Francois Giguere decided not to extend his contract after the Avs were swept in the second round by eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit. With a winning record in each of his 11 NHL seasons, including parts of eight seasons in St. Louis, his name immediately shot to the top of the list for several coaching ..."

"Mike Sullivan and Scott Gordon aren't exactly marquee names in the NHL, but the next two candidates scheduled to interview for the Islanders' head-coaching vacancy this week might be the best fit for general manager Garth Snow's long-term plan to build with youthful prospects and the draft. Sullivan sits down today with Snow, who spent yesterday interviewing former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella, who had Sullivan as an assistant coach last season. In keeping with the "small world" theme, Gordon, who was Sullivan's assistant with AHL Providence and replaced him as head coach at the end of the 2002-03 season, will meet with Snow on Wednesday. Candidates on Snow's list who have not yet ..."

"BOB Hartley, fired by the Thrashers for, among other transgressions, his failure to use young players (cough, cough, Braydon Coburn), is interviewing for the Islanders' head-coaching job, and what's wrong with this picture? John Tortorella, who will have his pick of jobs once coaches of contenders begin going down this winter, is talking today to the Islanders about their vacancy, and what's that all about? This is the time for the Islanders to go young behind the bench just as they're committed to going young on the ice. This is the time for CEO Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow to not only accept, but to embrace the proposition that bottoming out into a favorable Entry Draft lottery ..."

"Former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley is scheduled to meet with Islanders general manager Garth Snow about the head coaching vacancy on Wednesday, according to an NHL source. Hartley will be the second candidate to interview, but he and Snow won’t have to waste time with any get-to-know-you formalities. Hartley once coached Snow at Cornwall in the AHL, and the two have maintained a good friendship ever since to the point of exchanging fairly regular e-mail messages. There’s little doubt Hartley meets Snow’s criteria for a coach in terms of discipline and providing structure and technical expertise. But the major question for Hartley is whether he has the patience for a long-term development ..."

"Former Toronto coach Paul Maurice has the pole position in the interview process to determine the successor to Ted Nolan as coach of the Islanders. According to an NHL source, Maurice is expected to meet with general manager Garth Snow Monday. The list of confirmed Islanders coaching candidates now numbers seven. Besides Maurice, the list includes former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella and his assistant, Mike Sullivan, both of whom have received permission from the Lightning to interview. Snow still is waiting for approval to interview former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley and current Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon in Boston's organization. Former Colorado coach Joel Quenneville is a free ..."

"Joel Quenneville is the man Snow should hire. He is fresh off a three-year stint with the Avalanche, having gone 131-92-23 but let go because his team was swept out of the second round by the Cup-bound Red Wings. Losing in the second round is no indictment around here. Quenneville did coach a banged-up, patched-together roster to a first-round win, something no Islanders coach has done since Arbour did it in 1993. He is known to be a teacher, defensive specialist and friend of Barry Trotz, the Predators coach whose longtime partnership with his general manager is the model Snow wants to replicate. Quenneville was the NHL coach of the year with the Blues in 2000, three years after Nolan ..."

"No successor is in place, but Snow said he plans to begin a search for a replacement "as soon as possible." Three logical candidates who figure to be on the list include Paul Maurice, John Tortorella and Bob Hartley. Those three were fired last season by Toronto, Tampa Bay and Atlanta, respectively. There is a strong connection between Snow and Hartley, who once coached the Isles' GM. Former Islanders stars Bryan Trottier, who is now executive director of player development, and Butch Goring, who is a part-time television commentator, are not expected to join the list of candidates, and neither is Jack Capuano, who coaches the team's AHL affiliate in Bridgeport."

"Two months away from the start of training camp, the job status of Islanders coach Ted Nolan remains in serious doubt. The question of whether general manager Garth Snow and Nolan can continue to work together has been brewing since the middle of last season, but their tug-of-war over the direction of the franchise might be coming to a head. When Nolan shows up for rookie minicamp Monday, he and Snow will be face to face for the first time since the NHL draft in June. Contacted recently at the hockey camp he runs in Ontario, Nolan was asked if he's confident he will be coaching the Islanders when training camp begins in mid-September. "I'm confident in my ability to coach," Nolan ..."

"League sources say the Senators are among a group of teams interested in UFA Islanders W Miroslav Satan. He made $4.5 million last season, but will likely have to take a pay cut after scoring only 16 goals last season. Satan, who had scored at least 22 goals each season in the 10 years previous to last one, is in that second tier of forwards that's going to have to wait until a day or two to get a deal done. If he wants in the $3.5 million per season range, that could take the Senators out of the running."

"If the Isles target a veteran, it's more likely to be at center, where they can use an experienced playmaker for young wingers Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Jeff Tambellini. Anaheim's Doug Weight, who played with Isles captain Bill Guerin in Edmonton, would make sense, and Vancouver's Brendan Morrison also might fit the bill. Some Islanders fans might hope Snow goes after a restricted free agent with an offer sheet, but the cost in draft picks would run counter to his building plans."

"The opening bell will sound on Canada Day Tuesday, marking the start of the NHL's free-agent season. Here's a look at some of the players who will be most coveted by NHL general managers."

"When one door closes, another one opens. The only problem for former Islanders goaltender Wade Dubielewicz is that the door to his future is located halfway around the world. On the other hand, Door No. 2 will pay him much more than what he would have received to remain in the Islanders’ organization. Agent Kurt Overhardt, who represents Dubielewicz, confirmed reports his client has signed to play with AK Kazan in the new Russian Continental League that is starting up this season. Overhardt declined to discuss specific terms of the deal, but it’s likely his client will make several times what he did after taxes on the $500,000 contract he received from the Islanders last season."

"If the desire to spend money were all it takes to build a successful team through free agency, Islanders general manager Garth Snow has the resources to do that. But as he learned in the free-agent market last July 1 and again at the Feb. 26 trade deadline, convincing players to come to Long Island is a tough sell even when the money is right...it's clear his experiences with free agency influenced his decision to stockpile 13 picks in the recent NHL draft to rebuild the Islanders from the ground up. The free-agent market opens Tuesday, but Snow said: "We're not going to be major players on July 1. We're going to kick tires, and we'll try to make our team better if it makes sense in our ..."

"Among his free-agent pursuits on July 1, Fletcher will need to find a backup to replace Raycroft should the team buy him out. Alex Auld of the Boston Bruins or Wade Dubielewicz of the New York Islanders are possibilities. Scott Clemmensen won't be offered a contract."

"McCabe dodges the bullet largely because the salary cap hit would be too prohibitive to buy him out. The Leafs would be stuck for about $3 million (all figures U.S.) a year for the next three years and $1.6 million a year for an additional three years if they bought out McCabe. The Islanders are said to be interested in McCabe if he waives his no-movement clause, but agent Ian Pulver says his client wants to remain with the Maple Leafs. "Believe it or not, Bryan likes it in Toronto," said Pulver."

"If often-criticized defenceman Bryan McCabe is a potential victim of the imminent Maple Leafs housecleaning as is expected, it likely will not come via the buyout route. That was the word yesterday from Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher, who is aware that McCabe's average salary of $5.75 million US translates to a hefty cap hit (almost $3-million per season for six years) in the event the Leafs attempted to buy him out. The more logical way to go is to trade the veteran defenceman, the belief being that McCabe might waive the no-movement clause in his contract in order to go to a preferable destination such as the New York Islanders. The McCabes spend their off-seasons ..."

"Snow naturally wouldn't commit to whether he will hold on to the selection, but said that he is "taking all calls" in regards to the draft - as well as in other matters. That includes calls from Alexei Yashin's agent, Mark Gandler. The Isles famously bought out Yashin's contract a year ago and Snow didn't sound enthused about his possible return to the Island. "As a general manager, you talk to all agents of players who are unrestricted free agents," Snow said. "Alexei is a great person and a great player and we wish him the best." As for Bill Guerin, who had shoulder surgery last month, Snow said he is "great" and is expected to be healthy for training camp"

"One year ago at this time, the Islanders made the stunning announcement of their decision to buy out the final four years of controversial captain Alexei Yashin's 10-year contract. Now, Yashin's return on a one-year contract next season is under discussion, but general manager Garth Snow and owner Charles Wang so far have balked at their former star's asking price."

"Yankee Stadium's status as one of the front-runners to host the NHL's next outdoor game could be in jeopardy, Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday. "There is some construction going on, which may impact us," he said. "There are some winterization issues because it's an older stadium. As I sit here today, I don't know whether or not they can be resolved."...Bettman said he received a letter from Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell asking the league to look into playing a Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers game at Penn State's football stadium. An announcement could come by early next month, Bettman said."

"Neither Wang nor Snow was happy with Nolan when he expressed some concern near the end of the season about going into the final year of his three-year contract without an extension. But when Snow was asked if there's any reason to believe Nolan won't return, he said, "I don't see any reason. He's our coach."Snow said he expects to sit down with Nolan within the next week to discuss the past season and what lies ahead."

"Although Snow and Nolan both may have signed off on all personnel decisions, they certainly weren't always in agreement. Wang said their differences make for healthy debate. But approaching the final season of his three-year contract, Nolan recently expressed concern that no extension has been offered, putting him in the position of a lame duck and raising questions about the organization's commitment to him."

"Nevertheless, there is considerable doubt within the organization about whether Nolan is the right man to coach a team that will be stocked next season with youngsters. Owner Charles Wang will meet with general manager Garth Snow and perhaps others on the hockey committee to discuss whether Nolan has the combination of patience and teaching ability that will allow the kids to grow."

"As for McCabe, he once again was asked about the possibility of leaving during off-season housecleaning. Various reports suggest the Leafs will try to move him to the Islanders, since his off-season home is on Long Island."

"If Tortorella gets bounced in the off-season, and that's a strong possibility with Tampa's ownership changing hands, he won't be out of work long. It's believed the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators are ready to at least speak to Tortorella if he becomes available."

"If there's one major question about an Islanders season that has come apart at the seams largely because of an injury list numbering 11 players, it's where coach Ted Nolan stands with the organization. Nearing the end of the second season of his three-year deal, the club has yet to approach him about a contract extension that would put an end to speculation about his "lame duck" status for next season."

"Islanders coach Ted Nolan has a year left on his contract - he, unlike Neil Smith, actually signed his agreement with owner Charles Wang - so there is little chance he will be dismissed this summer even given the recent clashes with Rick DiPietro."

"However Satan, who has 14 goals and 21 assists this season, has a no-trade clause, making it unclear whether he would allow a potential deal to go through."

"The Rangers believe they're a playoff team. But they're hardly secure enough in the standings - or loaded with so much future cap space - to trade high picks and prized prospects for a short-term rental or long-term contract... The Isles can't afford to trade more draft picks and prospects from a cupboard that already is thin and GM Garth Snow will spend much of today trying to sign centers Mike Comrie and Josef Vasicek to new contracts."

"The Wings, in the midst of a 1-7-1 slump, need some scoring punch. They are reportedly interested in former Wing Sergei Fedorov, now with Columbus. Among other possibilities are Marian Hossa (Atlanta), Mike Comrie (N.Y. Islanders) and Ladislav Nagy (Los Angeles)."

"That's why Snow is trying to sign Mike Comrie to an extension, though we're told No. 89 seems to be overestimating his value. If the Islanders can't lock him up by Tuesday, chances are he'll be gone at the deadline. There are six weeks to go. Comrie might go. If Miro Satan waives his no-trade, he'll probably go."

"Ruslan Fedotenko scored his sixth goal in nine games in yesterday's 4-2 loss to the Devils, but he's one of several Isles forwards who could be bait at Tuesday's NHL trade deadline because he's in the final year of his contract. The Islanders signed his linemate, Trent Hunter, to a five-year extension Friday night, but Fedotenko said his situation remains unresolved."

"The ChicagoBlackhawks have discussed dealing centre Tuomo Ruutu to the Pittsburgh Penguins. - The Florida Panthers have told teams they'd rather not give up captain Olli Jokinen because they remain in the playoff hunt in the Southeast Division. There's talk Florida might bring in Los Angeles left winger Ladislav Nagy. - The New York Islanders are trying to re-sign centre Mike Comrie, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. GM Garth Snow said he has been pleased with Comrie's play and the two sides are looking at a long-term contract."

"There's a belief the New York Islanders have held talks with the Leafs to bring back Bryan McCabe, who would have to waive his no-trade clause ... While the Montreal has been linked to Mats Sundin, sources say they're a bigger player for Marian Hossa or Flames' Alex Tanguay."

"Despite an off season in which he has scored only eight goals, Trent Hunter often has been cited by coach Ted Nolan and general manager Garth Snow as an example of hard work and team-first play. Still, that lack of production has been a deterrent in contract talks with the free-agent-to-be approaching the Feb. 26 trade deadline."

"More than a dozen NHL scouts have watched the Islanders' past two games, with Toronto's Mats Sundin and Atlanta's Marian Hossa among the biggest names said to be available before the Feb. 26 trade deadline. It looks less likely that GM Garth Snow will be tempted to pawn off his own players at the deadline, as several potential trade pieces have rallied to keep the Isles firmly in the mix in the Eastern Conference with three straight wins following a seven-game winless streak."

"This season, Waddell is probably a seller. Atlanta’s Marian Hossa, one of the premier wings in the league, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Waddell faces the quandary of holding on to Hossa for a tight playoff race or dealing him at the deadline to avoid losing him for nothing. Buffalo (defenseman Brian Campbell), the Islanders (forward Miroslav Satan) and Tampa Bay (forward Vaclav Prospal) are in the same situation."

"If Howson is a buyer, here are two names to keep in mind: Mike Comrie of the New York Islanders and Vaclav Prospal of Tampa Bay, both unrestricted free agents this summer. Comrie would cost more than Prospal -- and the Islanders aren't out of it yet -- but neither would require fully mortgaging the Jackets' future."

"Scouts from 13 NHL teams attended Thursday night's Leafs-Islanders game, and while it's safe to assume the majority were drawn by the possible availability of Toronto captain Mats Sundin, the Isles also have some assets that will be desirable to playoff contenders at the Feb. 26 trade deadline. Chief among them is Satan, who is in the final year of his contract but has a no-trade clause."

"If the Islanders are going to get back in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the time to start is against Philadelphia tonight at Nassau Coliseum. Coach Ted Nolan reminded his team yesterday morning that the NHL trade deadline is two weeks from today, and it's possible some players could be on the move if the Islanders aren't headed north in the standings."

"It's that bit about 'the future' that holds the key to which way Snow is leaning. His team is falling out of contention and he's sitting at the GM poker table with a full house of free-agent-to-be forwards, including Miroslav Satan, Mike Comrie, Ruslan Fedotenko, Josef Vasicek, Chris Simon (eligible to come off suspension Feb. 21) and Trent Hunter (restricted free agent). Power-play specialist Marc-Andre Bergeron found his way back into the lineup Saturday against the Wild in what could be seen as showcasing."

"After playing for 12 N.H.L. teams since his debut in the league in October 1990, center Mike Sillinger says he hopes he will still be a member of the Islanders when the league’s trade deadline passes at 3 p.m. Feb. 26."

"Unless something really bizarre happens, they probably still will be in the hunt for a playoff spot by late February, so they are better candidates to be buyers rather than sellers. And unless one of the core players gets injured, the team will almost surely still be in the market for scoring punch. Who isn't?"

"With the Senators needing to land a top-six forward before the deadline and because Mike Comrie is working on a one year-deal, it was suggested to the Islanders C that he might be their man -- again. "I come with baggage," joked Comrie. Maybe, but girlfriend Hillary Duff is one fine piece of Samsonite."

"The Isles expect to sign 2006 first-rounder Kyle Okposo - who has spurred a sniping match between GM Garth Snow and Univ. of Minnesota coach Don Lucia by bolting the Golden Gophers midway through his sophomore season - to an entry-level deal (capped at $850,000 per) soon after the holiday roster freeze is lifted on Friday."

"Indications are the Ducks might move a defenseman such as Francois Beauchemin, Mathieu Schneider or Sean O'Donnell. Because of their offensive problems, the Isles could use help at left wing or center, but the defending Cup champion Ducks already have been shut out six times this season and can't afford to part with Chris Kunitz or Andy McDonald."