DEADLINE!!!

Yes, it's been 12 days since my last post, I apologize, day to day life and college life have...pulled away from watching prospects.

Not to worry Isles Fans, Today will be a quick post on the NHL trade deadline and the Isles...just my two cents.

First up I believe the earth shattering moves by the Islanders have already been made: James Wisniewski and Dwayne Roloson being traded for picks (a 2nd and 5th from MTL) and D-man Ty Wishart respectively; as well as the suddenly white hot Al Montoya coming from Phoenix for a 6th round pick this year. Montoya's WAY over-producing at a .940 SV% and a 1.89 GAA, but he's stabilized the goalie situation, playing on top of his world and allowing for Mikko Koskinen to develop more at AHL, can't really lose there.

So are there still players that can be moved; certainly, is there a strong likelihood anyone is traded; I'm not sure.

Last year Garth Snow made one move from his NHL Roster was sending D-man Andy Sutton for a second round pick from Ottawa which he would later turn into UND Freshman and huge Center Brock Nelson at the 2010 Entry draft. Snow also made one Minor league deal swapping Center Greg Moore for Defenseman Dylan Reese (who gets a lot of un-needed hate in my opinion, but he's had a rough rough season). So last year was a relatively quiet though anxiety filled deadline.

This year is much different, blue chip trade piece Matt Moulson (who I love, I started calling him "Mighty Matt" last season and if you ever see me at Nassau Coliseum I tend to wear a customized 26 Jersey with "Mighty Matt" on the back) was signed to a well deserved three year contract extension effectively taking him off the market. Potential trade chip and Moulson Linemate PA Parenteau (who should NOT be on the top line next season, but more on that much later) was also extended cheaply for next year so he becomes a trade piece next year. So without Moulson and Parenteau, who's left to potentially be dealt?

First and foremost: Radek Martinek. Radek's been a career long Islander and has seen the best of times and the rebuild equally...albeit a majority of that time in a suit from the press-box or rehabbing an injury. Radek's one of the most underrated Defensemen around, he plays his zone fantastically and while he leaves a lot to be desired offensively, Radek plays good when healthy. Considering more offensively minded D men have netted strong returns for their teams, Radek should be able to command a 2nd rounder at the very very least. Now, Martinek is currently dinged up so he may stick around by virtue of his health.

Rob Schremp: The Isles have let it be known that Schremp is available according to Chris Botta's Islanders Point Blank, with his less than amazing stats this season it sounds like the Isles will pretty much dump him for anything. Which certainly makes sense, if you read my Twitter stream the Schremp-Bailey-Comeau line is the bane of my existence some nights. now if a western team offered pretty much anything then i have no bones trading Schremp out west, if it's an Eastern team, you gotta try to jack the price. Personally, I wonder how Schremp would respond to another coach if the Isles hire a new coach in the off-season (I'm not Capuano's biggest fan but he's done well with the lack of tools at his disposal). Also if the deadline comes and goes and Schremp is still an Islander, this is going to sound like a crazy idea but I would move Schremp to the top line, not that he deserves it, but as a way to simply break up the third line. swapping PA and Schremp would be a way to possibly get Schremp going and end on a high note to either offer a new contract or make him more appealing prior to June 30th.

Zenon Konopka is the guy Isles fans don't want traded, and I am in this camp. However, if Snow is shopping Konopka it had better be to the Western conference playoff teams as a defensive zone face off specialist and try to start a bidding war. If you can and a Western GM completely losses his mind and offers a crazy good package (it's really too bad that the Flames don't have Darryl Sutter at the helm) then you have to seriously consider trading Konopka. There's NOTHING wrong with poking around and seeing what's available for a guy like Konopka. If that sort of thing doesn't happen, well keep and extend the man. The offense isn't a concern from your 4th line and if it was, give the 4th line more than 11 minutes a game. I don't believe he'll be traded unless management gets an offer they can't refuse and the Fans would laud. Konopka's done so much more for this team than simply his 219 PIM and 1 G, there's no denying that.

Personally, I think of those three you'll only see Martinek moved if he plays tomorrow night against Washington. If he doesn't, he's likely staying.

While there's other players I would love to see traded, Bruno Gervais (he's just a horrible Defensemen, his improvement this year has been from god-awful scratch to "you know he's almost an alright 8th man who's starting only because there's NO ONE left") who doesn't fit next year with our injured D corps returning. I'd also love to see Blake Comeau moved. He's just too damned inconsistent to justify the hope that he can be a set 20+ G guy on the third line who can hit. He's obsessed with the wrap around and going backhand, which is absurd because he has one of the most powerful slapshots on the team and NEVER uses it. Also with the influx of forwards on their way, getting something for Blake now will be a lot better than not tendering him a contract and seeing him walk freely just like the still inconsistent Sean Bergenheim and Jeff Tambellini.

So if there's anyone else to be moved it'll be Martinek (most likely if he plays tomorrow it's to show he's healthy for an inquiring team). There's arguments for the other 4 players I mentioned, but Schremp and Konopka will likely stay in my mind as will Gervais and Comeau (annoyingly).

There's always a chance that Garth also swings a minor league trade or two, but I doubt it seeing it as B-Port is essentially held together right now by scotch tape and first grade glue sticks (Bridgeport's play in February has also left little to write about aside from DiBenedetto and the back on track David Ullstrom).

UPDATE: This morning the Isles waived Goalie Nate Lawson and Forward Rob Schremp. They'll stack around until Monday unless a team claims one or both. This appears to be a roster flexibility move, and the Isles may put a claim on any of the three Goalies also waived today: Curtis McIllhenny, Pascal LeClaire (the Canadian Rick DiPietro) and Ty Conklin (who the Isles should ABSOLUTELY claim). Not sure if this is indicative of a trade, but figured it should be mentioned as I'm talking about the big squad with this post.

Feel free to lambast me in the comments, and I promise more timely updates soon.