Building The Isles

This Islanders team does not have the talent to be good now. That said, the current approach, build from within through the draft, supplemented by free agents, as, and when appropriate, is the right approach to building a sustainable winning team (ex. Wings, Devils). Attempting to build your team via free agency has hardly ever worked (ex. Rags, Leafs, Flyers). In fact, has it ever?

This is a long process and the Isles started pretty empty. The team also needs a draft guru; Jersey, David Conte, and Detroit, Jim Nill and Ken Holland, have their guys; I'm not convinced the Isles currently have theirs. The Isles need to stick with this rebuild and in three to four years will be a good on-ice team ready to challenge for playoff success.

Isles say good to see Hillen in the lineup this weekend, he looked pretty good.

Isles Sign Thompson, Two RFA's Remain

Avoiding an arbitration hearing, the New York Islanders have signed RFA Nate Thompson to a one year, two-way contract. RFA's Jack Hillen and Blake Comeau remain unsigned.

Isles say this is a depth signing and with an improved roster, barring injuries, he'll be with the Sound Tigers for most of the year.

Free Agent Targets?

What should the Islanders do in free agency?

Isles say take a big run at Jay Bouwmeester (if he's still there), and set reasonable deal targets for Mike Komisarek, Johnny Oduya and Craig Anderson (backup plan; one year deal for Manny Fernandez).