Islanders make move
The New York Islanders kept their leading scorer and nabbed the guy that makes the Edmonton Oilers go.
Just minutes before the NHL trading deadline expired Tuesday afternoon, the Islanders plucked Ryan Smyth away from the Oilers after deciding to hold onto Jason Blake.
New York’s big deal trumped those made earlier in the day that sent Bill Guerin from the St. Louis Blues to the San Jose Sharks, Todd Bertuzzi from Florida to Detroit, and longtime Kings captain Mattias Norstrom from Los Angeles to Dallas.
True to form, the final dealing day of the season was busy. The 25 trades made in the final six hours before the deadline matched last year for the most active in NHL history. The 30 clubs moved 44 players, two shy of the mark set in 2003.
Islanders general manager Garth Snow is still a novice in his job after serving as the team’s backup goalie just last season, but he pulled off a trade that could propel New York into the postseason. He mulled offers for Blake, an impending unrestricted free agent this summer, and then pounced when Smyth became available when contract talks with the Oilers broke down.
“To get a player of Ryan Smyth’s character and leadership is just great,” Islanders coach Ted Nolan said. “He’s a true leader, he’s a gritty playoff performer, and he’s everything we wanted to instill in this organization.”
The price was steep for the Islanders, especially if the 31-year-old left winger, signs elsewhere after the season. Smyth leaves Edmonton after 11-plus seasons in which he grew into the heart and soul of the Oilers and less than a year after he helped the club to a surprising run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.
New York sent first-round picks Robert Nilsson (2003) and Ryan O’Marra (2005), along with the Islanders’ first-round choice in this year’s draft to Edmonton for Smyth, who has 31 goals and 53 points in 53 games this season.
While that one came as a surprise, Guerin’s departure didn’t. The rugged forward’s days in St. Louis were clearly short because of his upcoming unrestricted free-agent status, and it became clear that he wouldn’t stay once the Blues dealt Keith Tkachuk to Atlanta a few days before the deadline.
Two days earlier, the Sharks acquired veteran defenseman Craig Rivet from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Josh Gorges and their own first-round pick.
The Sharks, who entered the day tied for fifth in the Western Conference after a recent slump, sent left wing Ville Nieminen, college forward Jay Barriball and New Jersey’s first-round pick, which they acquired last year, to the rebuilding Blues.
Bertuzzi, best known for his blindside hit to the head of former Colorado player Steve Moore that drew the rugged forward a 17-month suspension, was traded by the Panthers after playing only seven games with them in an injury-plagued season.
The Panthers acquired forward Shawn Matthias and up to two conditional draft picks in the deal. If Bertuzzi signs with Detroit after this season, the Red Wings will part with one pick this year and another next year.
The Buffalo Sabres took a big step toward replenishing their injury-ravaged lineup by making four deadline-day deals. The biggest brought forward Dainius Zubrus to town from Washington.
The Sabres also dealt backup goalie Martin Biron to the Philadelphia Flyers for a second-round pick and then acquired Columbus Blue Jackets backup goalie Ty Conklin for a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Along with Zubrus, a consistent offensive forward, Buffalo also landed prospect defenseman Timo Helbling. The Sabres dealt rookie forward Jiri Novotny, who’s ready to return from a high ankle sprain, and a first-round pick to the Capitals.
The Sabres then traded a fourth-round draft pick to Nashville for minor league defenseman Mikko Lehtonen.