Two of the current bottom dwellers in the NHL are in a position to help each other greatly. The perennially rebuilding New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets, whose recent acquisition of high priced veteran talent has not exactly worked out, need to have some long and serious discussions as the NHL trade deadline nears. If the rumors, reported on SI.com and Yahoo Sports, of Rick Nash (LW) being available and willing to wave his no trade clause are true, Garth Snow and the Islanders should get into the buyers market.
New York sports history has shown that this is the time for the Islanders to make a move and accelerate the rebuilding process. In 1983, the New York Mets were not yet ready to contend when they picked up Keith Hernandez from the St. Louis Cardinals. No one can argue that making the trade for the veteran first baseman during the rebuilding years did not pay huge dividends for the Mets later in the decade.
The emergence of the Tavares, Moulson, and Okposo/Parenteau line as one of the most productive top lines (appearances at #1 & #6 on Dobber Hockey’s top scoring lines in the past 3 weeks), in the NHL shows the Islanders rebuild is on the right track. The very young and talented duo of Hamonic and MacDonald, on the blue line, give the Isles a nucleus for a very solid defensive core for years to come. The subtraction of a couple of top prospects in a Nash deal will not diminish the depth of the Islanders farm system, ranked #3 by Hockeys future, enough to change the consensus opinion that they have one of the most talent rich prospect pools in the NHL. These facts may make it attractive enough for Nash to wave his no trade clause and come to Long Island.
The benefit to the Isles, beyond adding a proven veteran goal scorer in his prime, are manifold. With a $7.8 million dollar cap hit, the team will no longer have a need for a Brian Rolston (LW) to reach the cap floor. The money spent on a productive forward will have a better chance of being recouped at the box office. Garth Snow will have a better chance of assessing the worth of Centers Josh (always improving but rarely scoring) Bailey and Frans Nielsen. Nash will give emerging star John Tavares(C) some one to split the “face of the franchise” duties with. Emerging talents, like Nino Neiderreiter (RW), will develop quicker with a veteran presence like Nash to play with. Fleet footed Left Wing Michael Grabner will give the team some scoring from the third line and lessen the repercussions to the offensive fire power when he is used in penalty kill situations.
With a veteran laden lineup the Blue Jackets are probably one of the biggest disappointments in the NHL this season. After trading last years first round and third picks for Jeff Carter (C) in 2011, Columbus does not have any blue chip prospect waiting in the wings. Although Columbus has a farm system is ranked 11th in the NHL, by Hockey’s Future, several of their top AHL forward prospects, according to Puck Daddy and Hockey’s Future among others, are not highly regarded and are considered long shots to produce at the NHL level. Rumors have persisted since Thanksgiving that the Jackets are seriously considering unloading several veterans at the up coming trade deadline.
A package built around what is likely to be a top 10 first round pick in 2012, even with Nash coming to the team, should grab the attention of Blue Jackets management. The Isles can afford to part with David Ullstrom (F) and Brock Nelson (C), for example, and not be left bereft of talent at the minor league level. Add a third rounder and Garth Snow might have a deal closer. The Islanders move a major step toward Cup contention and the Blue Jackets are well ahead of where they would have been if they had not made the Jeff Carter trade.