Back when Buffalo was the worst team, still are, in the league, the Sabres traded a star and fan favorite in Vanek for someone not seen to be as good as him in the Islanders’ Moulson along with a a 1st rd pick in 2014 and a 2nd rd pick in 2015. At the time of the trade bewilderment beset both fans of Buffalo and players alike. Rumors were abound on what player was next to go. Not if but when the next star (Miller) was going to leave.

The Vanek/Moulson trade had a big impact on not two but three different teams. Buffalo, a team in rebuilding mode sent their star and packing for seemingly his shadow. This left Buffalonians fearful of a full rebuilding mode. Buffalo was already rebuilding. They just gave Myers a hefty paycheck a couple years ago. They acquired Ehrhoff to compliment Myers. They bolstered their ‘toughness’ with Scott and Kaleta. Let us not forget this trade, these prospects, and even the firing of Ruff for a change in guards and brining in Rolston from AHL affiliate Amerks. Buffalo was already rebuilding and transitioning from one style to another, much like the coronation of Pope Benedict XVI.

As I see it Buffalo is searching for versatility.  The trade, a bold but necessary move really positions Buffalo to be a potential playoff bound team in the 2014-2015 season.  Acquiring LaFontaine and Ted Nolan (who coached Buffalo from 1995-1997) were important steps in completing a fast rebuild of the Buffalo Sabres. Moulson will be able to grow with the core group of young players as well as provide experience to lead.  Ott really isn’t a ‘C’ type player (no offense).

As for the other team in the trade, the Islanders are now a guaranteed desperate playoff-bound team. Acquiring a star like Vanek this early in the year grants them plenty of time to learn and bond with his teammates.  [stats:  4G, 5A, +5 with Islanders in 12 games].  While 9 points in 12 games is a good ratio much more was expected of both Vanek and the Islanders. The Islanders are 4-13 with Vanek on the roster compared to 4-7 without him (OT were counted as either losses or wins).  All he has netted the Islanders are six extra losses and the loss of a probable excellent first round pick. The Islanders are not living up to the expectations of many and may have issues behind the scenes (an excellent read).  Either Vanek has yet to get used to his new team or Vanek was the brightest star in a sky with little light.

Buffalo has undergone other changes to improve themselves.  Kaleta was reassigned to the Amerks where he’ll surely never see the light of day in the NHL again, or at least in Buffalo.  They have also sent down Ristolainen and Grigorenko (bold but very smart moves as neither should be on their team) and recalled Luke Adam, Alexander Sulzer, and Brayden McNabb.

Additionally they also claimed Matt D’Agostini off waivers from Pittsburgh.  As someone who adores his Penguins take it from me that acquiring D’Agostini is a sound tactical play for Buffalo.  He is and will develop to be a solid RW, bounce between 2nd and 3rd line.  Additionally he will assert defensive duties to allow his teammates to jump into offense.  He will also go for pucks in the corner and chip in offensively as needed.  He’s a smart hockey player with good vision and all-around good play.  Buffalo, being loaded with so many offensive minded players (including D-men) desire a few good all-around good players.

What Buffalo can’t do is trade away Miller. The Sabres may be rebuilding but it only has to be a rebuild for this season, a fast rebuild. With Grigorenko now in the AHL (and Jr World Championship and Ristolainen with the Amerks as well i’ll be able to evaluate their play and potential better sitting in the stands of the War Memorial as well as freezing outside at Frozen Frontier.

At least i’ll have Ristolainen and Gauthier-Leduc’s good looks to keep me warm as I tweet at the game next Friday!

All of these players (with the exception of 39 and 16) had great moments this year. Thus, it’s actually a decision to jettison them. Keith Aucoin is a diminutive centerman who can go razzle-dazzle in the O zone and get trucked in the D zone. Think a more dedicated but less skilled Robbie Schremp. His spot is going to the Next Big Thing Brock Nelson and or Ryan ‘Rider on the’ Strome, who may actually see time together. That leaves the undersized Aucoin looking for another suitor, but he will catch on with someone. He’s a tough little hockey player. Maybe he goes back to Toronto.

Brad Boyes will buy a house somewhere thanks to what John Tavares did for him. He will have pictures in his mind of his hit that set up 91’s playoff tally or his OT winner against NJ when he signs his fat contract. Hopefully that contract won’t be with us and that house won’t be on Long Island. We can overcome one top liner that backchecks like a hippie (looking at you 26), but not 2. Besides, one of the bridge boys is taking a top 6 role next year, which leaves Brad to play for a team that loves to over pay names on the decline. Broadway or Toronto for Mr. Boyes.

Marty Reasoner, thanks for rallying the troops after game 1. That was the extent of what we got from 16 for 2 years of pay. Starting to think 16 is cursed until we do right by Pat LaFontaine. This is way too much space on Marty Reasoner.

Mr. Nabokov trotted out there 51 of 56 games for us. At his age, that’s absurd. He was a key voice in the room and helped a young team grow, but his 5 on 5 save percentage was the lowest in the league. The Professor may not be done, but he’s certainly declining. I wouldn’t be opposed to having him back on a one year deal as a backup, but we need a proven or ready to take the reins starter. Thank you and good luck, Nabby.

The Captain is being forced out by his insane salary demands and his age coupled with the fact that younger and cheaper options abound, but he was a key cog in this years postseason push. The Isles basically put 15 million on the table over 3 years and Streiter is holding out for another $5m season. Good on you, buddy, but it won’t be here. Mark Streit was a very good Islander and I wish him well in Philadelphia or wherever the hell he signs. PS: Thanks for the 4^th Rounder, Oh Captain, My Captain.

Ricky DiPietro was finally cast out of the House of Wang, sent to Ct. to find his form. That form was very, very bad. 39 is done. Rick DiPietro was the first hockey player yours truly ever considered ‘my guy’. Some of us will miss him, but his time here is done. Maybe he catches on somewhere as a backup, but I doubt it.

Thanks for the memories, good and bad, fellas. Godspeed.

IN OR OUT? Matt Moulson – 26 had another good regular season on JT’s wing, but he went through long stretches of ineffectiveness in the O-zone, and for a player with his defensive limitations, that’s deadly. He also had a Rick Nash level disappearance in the Playoffs. He is a few years older than the core of this team and entering a contract year. Does he stick around? Does he want to? Does the team want him to? This will be one of the stories of the coming Isles season.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

This season that ended with dual beats of heartbreak and optimism will be remembered here for a long time. The team on the ice took giant steps forward. Off the ice, despite their ever-present earnest efforts to be as cheap as humanly possible (Tim Thomas… really? REALLY?) the organization decided to act like a professional sports franchise. It was under the most auspicious of beginnings, the midst of another lockout, that the tide changed.

In October, it was up in the autumn air the guy we just traded a 2^nd rounder for would ever play a game here. It was undecided where the team would play in 2015. The thoughts of the Islanders having a press release to announce an MVP finalist candidate and an outdoor game were perhaps the most hilarious and psychedelic combination since Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Rick DiPietro’s contract was the albatross that was going to continue to hamper this team until we, it’s fans, or the team itself died. The Nassau Coliseum was a decrepit soulless UFO in the middle of an asphalt hellhole that would never teem with life again. The New York Islanders were a laughingstock, again. Every single hockey publication picked us to finish last in the East. Other teams might rise up from mediocrity, but not the Islanders.

And then, the news broke. There was an announcement in Brooklyn. The New York Islanders had a home. The team stealing vultures in Quebec, Seattle and Kansas City could all go to hell. The New York Islanders had a future. And that future would begin now. The long winter would end. The lockout was broken, the ice was painted, the sticks were taped, and Lubomir Visnovsky got his ass on the plane to JFK. He said that he was going to Long Island to make the playoffs. And media, they laughed. The team didn’t. The team responded to 11’s arrival by going on a tear. Then, as things go on Long Island, a move was made that made business sense, but was a hockey betrayal. Tim Thomas’ contract was acquired to insulate against a cap penalty for the sell-off of assets that could now commence if the young team faltered.

The emotionally fragile young team responded… by faltering behind a physically spent Rick DiPietro. Then Doug Weight went into an expletive laden tirade at the rink he once played on for the hated Rival as a rookie and got his young bunch focused. They stormed back (91 got the game winner that night, too). Coach Cap, emboldened by Dougie being the stick, got comfortable. The young team relaxed and went on another tear. DiPietro was jettisoned. The locker room, coincidence or not, was rocking. Soon, the barn was again as well. They came. They chanted ‘we want playoffs’, and by god, they got them. The emotional energy exerted to punch that dance card evaporated the night the deed was done as the team went 0-1-2 in their last 3. A disappointing finish to a tremendous and unexpected regular season by even the most rose-tinted glasses wearing observer (I had them at 10, sue me) left fans worried the young squad was tapped and would have nothing left for the postseason.

These fears were confirmed on the opening night with a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of the unstoppable Pittsburgh Juggernaut. And then a funny thing happened in-game, Pittsburgh jaunted out to another lead. But the team that spotted Montreal, the Rangers, The Leafs, Philly and a plethora of other teams 2-0 leads sharpened their focus, ramped up their game and drew even and then passed the Penguins squaring the series at 1. Game 3 saw tailgaters get there at 7am. There wasn’t a seat to be found.

The old House on Hempstead was ROCKING. “Aren’t you worried about the asbestos?” the fan next to my party was asked. He responded by punching the ceiling and making a wafting gesture “smells great”. The Barn reached a decibel level Islander fans long remembered and perhaps didn’t know if they’d ever hear again. The familiar thump thump THUM-THUM-THUMP of ‘Let’s Go Islanders’ shook the 4 decade old building as the teams stewed in the locker room. And then the Islanders potted 2 early ones and the building which had been as loud as it had ever been before became appreciably louder. Louder than Tonelli to Nystrom. Louder than 50 in 50. Louder than Cairns pummeling Corson.

The game, and the series didn’t go the way of the Nassaumen. However, as the last of the moral victories, they stood toe to toe with the team that seemed increasingly destined to hoist another Cup (until they came down with a nasty RASK), went 6 games, 2 of which were decided beyond regulation.

The team announced they were back. The league took notice, and determined our star was as valuable as any other, tabbing 91 as a Hart finalist and the league also noticed our team as legitimately exciting as any other, they gave us a game in Yankee Stadium (which a lot of us who cover this team still get giddy thinking about). To top it off, our maligned fan base, this woe begotten and forgotten Island tribe, this FAMILY decided to announce they too were back from the dead, risen like Lazarus after too long a slumber. Guess what? They deserved it and the praise they received for coming back, coming home. They deserved it and more. And they are still hungry for it.

Where we are now; Reasons to Believe –

This is all well and dandy. The true work begins now. The void of a captain, a top line winger as well a starting netminder for now and tomorrow must be found. The young nucleus saw what this team could be. They will be hungrier. The competition will be stiffer and ready for the Islanders. But the team and the fans are ready to take up the flag and let it fly again. The days of being mocked for being a fan of the Orange and Blue are at an end. Now the fun part has begun. For 20 years this team has been everybody’s cheap joke. Now, comes that part of the story known as payback. Now, comes that part of the story where that 35 pounds of Silver begins to bring her beautiful self back down the Jericho Turnpike. Now, the New York Islanders aren’t rebuilding. Now? Now it’s time to kick ass.

End Note: Congrats to honorary Puck Buddy @Kathygc, and her Minnesota Moose for winning their division in this weekend’s Chelsea Challenge.