With the NHL trade deadline just four days away, the Islanders took one of their key pending free agents off the market this evening when they reached agreement with forward Trent Hunter on a five-year contract extension worth $10 million. As a two-way power forward who has shown a scoring touch in the past, Hunter had attracted interest from other playoff contenders, but general manager Garth Snow made a long-term commitment to a player he wanted as part of the Islanders core group.
It was a significant move because of the message it sends to other Isles in line to become free agents this summer that now is the time to decide if their future is on Long Island. No one wanted that more than Hunter, who is in his fourth full season with the Islanders.
“We definitely wanted to stay here,” Hunter said. “I talked it over lots with my wife, Teri. We decided this is where we want to be. Snowy knew that, and my agent knew that. I was excited to hear the news today. We were looking for a longer term, and now, we’ll be here for a long time.”
Following last season, Snow described Hunter as the “quintessential Islander” because of his hard-working nature and his dedication to the team. That assessment didn’t change even though Hunter’s goal production has dropped off to just eight so far this season.
“Trent is 27 years old and would have been one of the youngest unrestricted free agents out there,” Snow said. “Most important, he brings to our team and our fan base exactly what we’re looking for in a New York Islander. He was one of our best players in the playoff series last year. Everyone knows he’ll finish every check, and I think he’s going to regain his scoring touch.”
Hunter now has a longer deal than any other Islander with the exception of goaltender Rick DiPietro, who is in the second season of a 15-year deal. So, he becomes one of the pillars of the contender Snow is trying to build.
“The big thing for us is that Snowy has made it clear our main focus is on winning the Stanley Cup,” DiPietro said tonight. “They felt Trent is a big piece. I feel great for Trent and his family. I know it’s been his goal to stay on Long Island.”
Comments (148)
I broke this 1st ...gotcha Greg ;-)
Wow we'll be BURIED in stanley cups in no time now, just watch.
I have maligned Hunter all year long.
Nevertheless I am heartened by this signing.
Trent Hunter's commitment to the organization as well as the reciprocal committment sends out a solid message to the hockey world. The Islander's are serious about bringing a cup back to Long Island.
With that out of the way,
TRENT, can you do something about this abysmal shots to goals percentage, PLEASE??
Bye Bye Satan.
TRENT HUNTER, ISLANDER FOR LIFE..
Great news. Now let's lock up Comrie.
Fantastic signing!!
Now, any truth to the rumour that Hunter is involved in a deal with Toronto? Sending Hunter,MAB and a pick for McCabe?
Please say it's bogus!!!
And...
I STRONGLY endorse chanting the goal scorer's name after a goal. Similarly, I have no issues with a YOU SUCK to the opposing goalie either.
ANYTHING to make the old barn more of a snakepit than a horse biffy.
NOW HURRY UP AND START DOING IT BEFORE ZIPAY'S MOB READS THIS AND PLANTS THE SEED IN THE GARDEN!!!
And from the previous blog.....
Thanks JP for your kind words.......
"Headliner"??.......... somewhere in between Sinatra and the sweaty insulation of an old baseball cap, I hope?
Or closer to the guy who pours the powder on the mirror and razor cuts it for Lohan and Spears?? (hmm...I could do that).
Kristie,
I SERIOUSLY DOUBT that Hunter would now be involved in any serious talks with Toronto right now.
Toronto is OVERSTACKED with onerous long term contracts, and the idea of bringing ANOTHER guy in with a 5 year contract might result in the Air Canada Center being torched.
In fact, I would say that Trent Hunter is now OFF the possible trade list completely.
An EIGHT goal scorer with a 5 year- 10 million contract?
What are we NUTS????
(actually that's not bad....2 million a year?--It'll look really good if Hunter starts poppin for 25-30 goals a year---PLEASE??).
"TRENT, can you do something about this abysmal shots to goals percentage, PLEASE??"
If it gets any lower (.046), he's gonna put Baseball's Mendoza Line (.198) out of business and replace it with The Hunter Line as the paradigm for statistical incompetency.
Am I the only one who hates this deal? The guy's been in the league for five years now and I think his skating has somehow gotten worse. The only hits he makes are on the boards, and half the time he misses and the resulting noise is him hitting the boards (or the windows, according to our team spokesretard) by himself. He's too dang slow to hit anyone open ice. He's a huge (female anatomy) when it comes to scrums, just like the rest of this team.
I have a feeling DP agrees with me judging by his quote, "“THEY felt Trent is a big piece." Apparently DP does not.
Next up, Chris Simon, two year deal as a player and then a spot behind the bench with Teddy boy.
Hunter??? GREAT! can you hear the sarcasm? 505 is right.... what are we out of our minds giving two mil a year to a waste of space on forward who is on track for barely 15 goals this season? lets face it since his rookie season he has been a bust - here i was hoping we would dump this piece of dead weight for some draft picks before tuesday - hey maybe we can lock up a bunch of 15 goal scorers at 2 mil a year and score less goals than we have this season! yeah!!!! that sounds like a standard islanders strategy.... jeez. you know its a sad day when a team with the lowest goal production in the league is psyched about "locking up" such an "established" scorer with all of 8 goals this season....... and i agree with purgatory except i bet next we lock up simon with a ten year 30 million dollar deal because him and teddy are such great buddies.... its a disgrace we even give him a job in the NHL and now lets collect long term deals on average players.... yeah!!!
5 years at $10M is not a bad deal for either party.
1- It shows the Islanders commitment to a player that YES has had his problems this season ... but has the ability to be a 20 goal guy ... and hustles.
2- His contract will not be hard to move down the road. He is still a respected player around the league.
3- He is one of those kind of players that has the ability to be an impact player. With some good offensive support around him, and him not having to police opposition's top lines ... he may start putting up 20 goal seasons again.
I'm going to give this deal a "golf clap" for now. It remains to be seen if Trent can perform his part of the deal in the form of production.
Great move by Snow to lock Hunter up -- he's a true heart-and-soul player who never takes a shift off. Congratulations, Trent, you deserve it.
Above was not me...My wanna be who is too scared to use his rag sign on.......I posted my feelings on the previous post.
Hunter is the type of player that will be a GOD SEND when the team developes into more of a contender. He is a good guy to have and it is short dough. I like the signing. He hits, he hustles, and he is young.
If this team had a true top line no one would notice that Hunter is not a scoring machine. We would say he leads the NHL in hits and plays his a^^ off every night.
Kreativ are you new ?? My mind is going so I am not sure....505 is the 3o day rule in effect or can I fire at someone elses opinion????? :)
505...I am on my way in the blizzard to the Long Wharf to beat the bag out of Zippay. As TREASURER, please take some of the funds and drive to bean town to bail me out.
Logan...Newsday better be giving you that type of cash....Jeez, Long wharf is huge $$$....No more crying poverty from you guys.
For those who do not get what I am talking about, I went to the Rangers blog to see who my new admirer is (figure out who posts when) and there is a story on how the Ranger reporter is stuck in Boston.....Few of the boys from Southie should do the trick. :)
Steady, he leads the league in hits all the time because the Islanders employ inept Islanders homers as their statisticians. You watch any other team and tell me he's truly a top hitter in the league. Hunter is credited for hits when he smacks his ass into the boards.
And not all of us sit on newsday.com and Islanders message boards every day and make message board buddies. So lay off "new" posters you dork.
The 30 day rule only applies to new posters who impress you with the first post you see written by them. If you LIKE their 1st post, you have to wait 30 days before flaming them.
It's on page 278, paragraph 4 of Troy's (whatever happened to him?) Blogging Rules of Order, (as compiled by 19isles).
Fire away Oracle.
Well ... if people want to come on here and make comments ... they have to expect to find critique ... I don't get all huffy when someone doesn't agree with mine. Everyone has their opinions... and a right to them. I'm not going to knock people for having a negative opinion of the Hunter deal ... I myself received it with a luke warm opinion. However I can't shred it as the worst deal the Islanders have made. Hunter is a safe bet ... and as the cap expands .. the $2M isn't going to hurt the Isles ..... and to make a post that insinuates that DP wasn't thrilled is purely semantics on how it is read...... When DP was also quoted saying this.
Rick DiPietro: "No one deserves a deal like this more than Hunts. I've come through the system with him in Bridgeport and on Long Island and Trent works so hard and cares so much. He's one of those guys you're proud to be teammates with. That the organization showed such a strong commitment to Hunts says a lot about the Islanders. This is great news for our team and our fans."
True .. it may be PR ... BS ... who knows. I do know that Hunter isn't a pure goal scorer .. and may never be. I also know that he works really hard at performing the role that Nolan asks of him, and a coach can't ask anything more.
I do hope that this new deal inspires Trent to work on his game more ... and as the Nystrom award winner follow Nystrom's example.
I understand fan's frustration with not putting together a true contender ... but that takes time ... and a whole lot of other things. I'm willing to see how Trent finishes up this season before I really have any critique or praise for this deal.
19Isles
"I understand fan's frustration with not putting together a true contender"
Any team that makes the playoffs is a "true" contender.
And it is TRUE to say the all too often higher rated teams in the playoffs fall by the wayside just as quickly as 6, 7 and 8 seeds.
Be true to your school!!!
Hey "Isles Purgatory" I got all the fiends and family I need. None of them like to talk hockey like the people on this board...So be a MAN...Tell me your real post and let's have a hockey talk.
Didn't think so.
By the way..."Dork???" I have not heard that word since 74. Who now is the dork ?????
505...Thanks for reminding me of the by laws....I will be watching.
19...good post....I do not think DP would say something like that if he did not mean it.....Hunter is a good player and deserves it...It is not big money folks....
Upon further review...
"If it gets any lower (.046), he's gonna put Baseball's Mendoza Line (.198) out of business and replace it with The Hunter Line as the paradigm for statistical incompetency."..........
Hunter is currently in little danger of replacing "The Mendoza Line" for statistical incompetence.
There is ONE other player in the NHL who has a worse shots to goals percentage, coming in at .042%. (based on NHL players who have taken 170 shots or more this year).
All hail "The Blake Line" as the current measuring rod of NHL incompetency. (Yes, THAT Blake).
Honestly guys, I don't know what to think as I'm sitting here at home with all my friends unwilling to go out because of the snow....On first shake I wasn't too thrilled about it, but then I happened to go over to the Hockeybuzz board to see what people said over there. Fans from 6 or 7 other teams are hailing this as a fantastic signing and saying they'd love to have a guy like Hunter on the team.
I think I'm coming around to Steady the Oracle's view on this one - Hunter is a great heart-and-soul guy that any Cup winner would want. And honestly, I liked the deal a lot more when I heard how small the annual salary figure was. This will give the Isles flexibility under the cap and permit movement down the road if the need is there.
I'm interested to see how this plays out with the rest of the UFA's....If Satan really built a home here, we might have some issues with him waiving the no-trade...Hopefully he's sold on it, and nobody said we couldn't try to possibly bring him back next year at a lower price.
And kudos to Garth for locking up a player who said repeatedly that he WANTED to be here. You can't put a price on desire.
I hope one of the stipulations of the contract is that he learns how to fight in the off season. Someone his size who wants to play physical should be able to get into a fight once in a while and handle himself better than Comrie does which is not the case right now.
Congrats Hunts. Another reminder for those of you with seasonal memory disorder...
There is not a bigger contributor to this team's success last year, who is here this year... besides #39. #39 is wrapped up for 13 more years. Hunter will be in blue and orane for five more years. Hopefully within those five years he's skating around with canada's favorite beer mug.
IMO hunter gets 2.5+ if he's on teh market in July... This is a good move by Snow.
I'm with JP on this one. Hunter, like DP, took less money to stay, and if Hunters numbers go up, he's a steal.
I would really like to see who he will be paired with when the deadline is over and we have the rest of this year. I wouldnt be surprised if we saw an extra motivation ala blake from last year.
Hunter needs to bulk up and become more willing to pay the price in front of the net....this team sorely needs that presence in front of the net, and Hunter would score 30 goals from that position.
I'm gonna go out on an unsteady limb here......
20 games left?
Hunter scores 10 goals over the last 20.
I don't know the guy, never met the guy, have only heard him speak a few times........but his demeanor on the ice speaks to me as someone who is very introspective and and possibly "over cerebral" about his game.
If that's possible for a hockey player.
Based on the comments he made about the signing, how happy he is to stay on the Island and how happy his WIFE was to stay here,......I wonder if Trent hasn't been pressing a little all year?
Trying TOO hard to score goals?
Now that he's got a contract and security.........
STOP THE PRESSES, I just googled his name. His B'day and and mine are side by side. HE'S A CANCER.
Cancers MUST feel secure, especially at home, in order to SUCCEED.
Hunter's got security.....
LOOK OUT THE REST OF THE SEASON.
HUNTER'S GONNA BE A MACHINE.....
505
I'm going to put you on a pedistal a little.
You have to be one of the most colorful, informative bloggers on here. I always look forward to reading your posts, because at many times we are thinking the same thought, and you're humor is original, and can be an absolute laugh.
Watch Hunter really pick up his game.
Gervais is back in the lineup and Fata was sent back down.
I'm with 19 Isles. While I'm not certain how this will work out over five years, this is exactly the type of the deal that fits within the evolving management requirements of the new CBA--lock a core group of guys up for several years at a relatively modest annual price, but with uncertain value. This may be too tautological, but the teams that can swing the most effective deals like this are the ones that are most likely to succeed to over the long haul.
One thing about watching TB last night was seeing a team with St. Louis, Lacavelier (sp?), Richards, and Prospal--and also seeing a team that was last in the Conference. On more than one occasion this season, I've looked at teams come into the NVMC with names that made my eyes bulge, but then saw that team struggle, evidently because the other pieces of the puzzle evidently did not fit. It's just hard to fit those piees with a cap.
For all of Hunter's problems this season, and his skating weakness, he generally plays the game very well and is far more creative on offense than people give him credit. I'm with others in wishing he'd go to the net more, but as mentioned several threads back, perhaps he's the one who need someone to get in front for him, because he can work the corners and half boards and get the puck to the front.
And if things don't work exactly as planned here, his salary in three to five years will not be so dramatically high that he can't be moved to where he might be a better fit.
When you got a guy who is willing to stay here five years when we otherwise seem to have to overpay to get anyone else to come, right now I think the deal is a plus.
Steady, going back to the last thread, I was one of the folks booing Simon last night--for all of the many reasons provided.
While I definitely don't agree with Nolan on this, I think I understand his perspective--especially as someone who was blackballed from the league for 10 years--despite his obvious ability.
Nonetheless, having gotten rid of my Michael Strahan jersey when he could barely remember his kids vitals during his divorce trial, I am offering the Oracle my Chris Simon autographed jersey given to me for reupping my season tickets. All it is doing is sitting in my closet gathering dust.
Send me your home address at isles322@yahoo.com--and your son can wear it on the pond and intimidate all the young chowder heads!
Peace,
Well thanks netminder....
A LITTLE?
There's only one THING that needs to be put on a pedestal around here-- AT ALL......and a STEADY pedestal at that!
And maybe we'll all get a chance to take a sip out of it.
(Especially after Logan uses his influence to get Wang's box for our banquet). ;)
Props to Fata...he did well in his short stint.
Speaks well for next year.....AGAIN.
Ya can never have too many D-men in the system.
To be honest i'm not going to put STEADY on a pedistal yet, because the winning streak is still strong, and his is still growing getting taller.
Oh what news do you have oh great Oracle!!!??
Great deal, congrats Garth! I thought the deal would be 10 million for 3 years, but it's for five. Good job! We have a decent player locked for five years and if he doesn't do a good job, he is still tradeable... Excellent!
Ok netminder,
Trying to sneak one past me? First I thought you misspelled it, then you used it again......
Pedistal???
You wanna put me on a small footrest?
I googled the word (how did we ever survive without google?)
Here's what I got...
"The Pedistal program was designed to meet the needs of multi-tasking minimalists who desire an edge on achieving better posture and improving their athletic abilities."
So Steady and I are scatter-brained MINIMALISTS with bad posture and poor "athleticism"? (I cringe when announcers use that word).
A pox on you!!!
May the next puck that comes toward the net you mind you in the crease!!
EDIT LAST POST ICON alert!!
"Strike" you in the crease.
505 said ~ "Any team that makes the playoffs is a "true" contender.
And it is TRUE to say the all too often higher rated teams in the playoffs fall by the wayside just as quickly as 6, 7 and 8 seeds."
True enough 505 ... any team in the playoffs truely contends for the cup.... my insinuation was to imply that the word "true" in that case was to have a team that was a power house .. that had a significantly better chance to reach the cup finals and win the cup.
I remember seeing a stat back in 2004 when the Isles were playing Tampa in the first round .... that in the past 30+ years at that point ... which goes back to I believe was when the Bruins won in the early 70s (They only counted from when the Isles were in the league... I'm sure it went back beyond that time) ... that the top 4 seeded teams had a 75% chance of making it to the Conference Finals ... and 80 something % chance of appearing in the Finals.
True ... sometimes a #1 seeded team has had in the past choked on an 8th seed ... but we also know that 8th seeded victor over the past 5 years wasn't an Islander team.
My point was ... the Islanders are no where near the elite status, nor have they been since the mid 80s. The Islanders in the playoffs and in the conference finals was almost automatic for 10 seasons ... 1975 - 1984 ...except for gagging on Toronto in 78. We became accostomed to a high elite standard.
They were infact "true" contenders.
I'll conceed that a true contender is any team that qualifies for the playoffs.... however ... I'm looking for more than that... I want the Isles to be a team that is considered a "power house contender" ... A team like the Av's, Dallas, Detroit and Devils of the late 90's early 2000's ... 100+ point a season perenial contenders.
That should clear things up.
MINIMALISTS--AKA lazy bastards
505 and Steady my sincere apologizes
Pedestal is the correct spelling!!!!
I cannot understand why there have been so many negative remarks about the signing of Hunter. True he isn't blowing the doors off the score sheet this season ... however he's a good all around player. How often is it that a player actually wants to stay on Long Island and publicly states how happy he is with the organization and the fans on Long Island.
I keep hearing how he's such a great guy on the team and a positive locker room presence. 505 brought up a great point ... he might have been pressing too hard since it is a contract year. I do hope that if the Isles are in the finals that pressing too hard doesn't have a negative impact on his play.
505 .. BTW ... you bringing up astrology factoids is kind of stepping into Steady's relm of mystical and psychic phenomena. Is there something you are hiding from us? Do you have the gift too .... because if you do ... then I'm holding you to your prediction of Trent getting 10 goals in the final 20 games.
Oh .. and great observation 505 ... Drew Fata did a great job while up here .... another hidden gem perhaps?
Well ... tomorrow is a long day ... so I'll keep this surprisingly short and hit the rack. Youth game to asst. coach, Isles @ The Rock and my own game in the evening. So bandwidth on this blog will be in great supply with me othewise occupied.
Enjoy the rest of your evening guys / gals ... and have a great Sat.
Netminder.
"505 and Steady my sincere apologizes"
Ok cool,
And btw thanks......
I just ordered a pedistal off of the website.
You are a pisser 505...and I am glad we had the chance to meet! And also glad you got the air time during the Avs game so the rest of the folks on here could get a glimpse of your persona in the (virtual) flesh . Lastly, I'll take one of those plane tickets for the party...you rock!
And on Hunter: if people could get past the fact he didn't turn into a 2nd line 25 goal scorer and realize we just signed one of the best 3rd liners in the league at 2 MIL PER in a SALARY CAP ERA...this is a great signing. $2M per for 15 goals, a ton of hits, and a guy that plays hard on every shift is a bargain, not something to b!tch about. I am not gonna do the research cause I just don't have the energy right now, but I would love to see some stats for guys in Hunters similar position, both salary and role-wise. I am sure there are some backup goalies that sit on the bench all year that make at least that much. In fact, I think some guys jock straps make more than that these days...
Kudos to Snow for understanding the concept of a core and what it means to stabilizing a franchise. I don't think it is just a cheezy plug for this new Core of the Four promotional stuff. IMO, he is sending a clear signal that he is a "builder" and for the guys there, if you want to get on board, now is the time. I like his moxy, maybe even his bullheadedness at times, and if that trickles down to his players, I think this team is being built with a passionate commitment to winning. I just hope he isn't wearing rose colored glasses and thinking that he should bring all these UFAs back...as has been said many times, this team, as is, is not built for the long haul in the playoffs without miracles from DP.
And kudos on the cap friendly deals...Snow is really managing that well. To be able to pretty much have an upperhand, an ability to be the highest bidder, will always give us a shot at landing a differnce-maker. WIth a solid coach, all-star goalie, solid, youthful D, and some interesting offensive prospects, this place starts to look okay when the MONEY gets bigger. And, please don't forget that Snow has a business degree, and any GM needs to get a start somewhere. I am not in Steady's camp on this one: just like the kids on this team, I think Snow just needs a little more ice time before anyone can judge his true value.
But the key to it all:
The Lighthouse. Really need a "new" barn/facilities to help us snag top tier talent.
Thanks to those of you on the Island that are getting involved. For whatever it is worth, I am an environmental planner, and would be more than willing to contribute my time however I can to help wade through any concerns regarding the sprawl and its effects, any ideas on alternative approaches to alleviate the concerns, and make sure Wang lives up to his word to produce an environmentally friendly experience (go ahead and unload your tree hugger jokes now).
Wow, I am spent - 19 Isles, I don't know how you do it man...sounds like you got a pretty busy life, and you still have the energy to type the posts you do.
D-money -- As I've mentioned on here before, Nick and I are involved with a citizen group advocating for approval of the Lighthouse Project. It would definitely be valuable to have input from an environmental planner. Would you be willing to post an email address at which I could contact you offline?
Thanks...
KH.
First of all.....
" post an email address at which I could contact you offline?"
How does that work?
Is contacting someone at their e-mail address "offline" some kind of new Al Gore project?
Is he making a late bid for the Democratic nod?
Anyway......
Try
Dmoney@donteatbeavers.com
AND...
I don't like this idea KH.
NO D-MONEY
I can see it now, a D-money influenced eco-friendly "green or red" Lighthouse Project -- complete with a 2 acre chile plantation in the middle of Uniondale.
YOU'LL RUIN EVERY DELI within a 5 square mile square radius of the project!!
Every Wendy's on LI will have to spend millions changing their menus from "chili" to "chile".
The new Coliseum will call itself "The House of Pain", and it will have NOTHING to do with what happens on the ice!!
You wanna talk about REAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT??
Ten years from now, you''ll be washing down raw clams harvested outside the Seaford Wastewater Plant with a quart of milk!!!
Don't do it KH, it just ain't right.
Other than that----great post D-money.
LOL... 505, you're too late to stop the inexorable march of history. The Lighthouse has already declared itself "Long Island's largest LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design], environmentally friendly project." And the project is presently undergoing NY State Environmental Quality Review Act review. So D-Money could help us understand those issues.
By the way, wouldn't the clams able to thrive in the effluent of the Seaford Wastewater Plant be mutated and large enough to wash ME down with a quart of milk?
Merrick~
I sent you an e mail just now. Very kind of you, I will add it to my collection. Next time the team comes to Boston I will get it signed by him (if still on the team :) ) After he scores his BIG GOAL for us, I will send it back to you if you would like ;) !!!
Now that you have my e mail address, the cat is out of the bag why I use "steady".....Not that it was any big secret.... :) :) :)
Speaking of which, is anyone in MASS next weekend? I am doing all I can to get to NY for the day game on Saturday, and then rush home Sunday morning.
On Sunday is the Lowell Devils VS. Kyle Okpos~Tamby and the Bridgeport Tigers....There is a warm up game with the Boston All-Stars (Cam Neely, Jim Craig, etc.) After both games you can bring your kids on the ice to skate !!!!!!
I have like 10 people going and still have 5 more tickets if anyone wants them!!!! Very fun event and skating too boot. Also an autograph session...I am personally going for Jim Craig and Kyles for my kids jersey!!!! Oh and my new Simon jersey ;) ;)
Thanks again Merrick!
The Hunter signing is great news. Granted he is not scoring a lot, nor is he the fastest skater, but he is one of those guys whose overall value is immeasurable, He is a great teammate and his committment to the franchise and the Island are a positive signal to the fans also. And, when this team in is a position to contend for the cup, do not be surprised to see Hunts put in some big goals.
Posted by Steady | February
Hunter is the type of player that will be a GOD SEND when the team developes into more of a contender.
exactly.
1pm ..... 1pm ........ Snowed in...... Fire ripping.....Beers cracked at noon.....Hockey night(day) in Lynnfield.
A win and they will move up into the top 8. Either the Rangers or Sabres need to lose in regulation....They are playing each other tonight at 7pm.
1pm.....Make it SEVEN .... Turn me back into a pumpkin.
LET'S GET TWO TODAY BOYS............TAKE TWO !!!
YAH GOTTA BELIEVE !!!!!!!!!!!!
March 10, 1980
• New York Islanders obtain Butch Goring from Los Angeles for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis
On the eve of the 1980 trade deadline, New York Islanders GM Bill Torrey got the ball rolling with a blockbuster deal that helped bring four straight championships to New York. Butch Goring came to Long Island as a noted two-way player with great leadership ability. The Islanders were unbeaten in their last 12 regular-season games before Goring led by example in the spring. He posted 19 points in 21 playoff games as the Isles won their first Cup. He would stick around for three more Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy in 1981.
Congratulations Trent Hunter, you earned it. I'm happy to have him for another 5 years. You can complain about his speed and his tendency to miss the net this year but you can never say Trent Hunter didn't show up or give anything less than 110%.
The Islanders love guys who can provide leadership and that is an important element on any team. Trent Hunter has come up through Bridgeport and has played 4 years with the Islanders. He knows what it takes to play here. It is important to have home grown leadership for your young guys in the system (Comeau, Bergenheim, Neilson, Gervais and eventually Tambs, Colliton and others). Trent Hunter leads by example and fits the mold of a Nolan type player.
Trent Hunter==Paul O'Neill
Suck it up Met's fans.
Different personalities (O'Neill was kinda hotheaded), but both were/are all business and PURE TEAM in their approach.
Neither is/was an outstanding star in their field, but both are/were integral parts cogs inthe wheels.
Just a thought.
Agreed with that - and Steady, I have to say that I read that ESPN article too and it's an utter abomination that the Goring trade was only listed as the 6th-best deadline deal of all time. As someone else correctly pointed out on that site, that was the ONLY trade that led to 4 straight championships, and to actually put those other one-and-done trades above that is simply ridiculous. Even the Ranger trades, which led to a Cup and then 10 years of futility, were above it! The guy who wrote that piece needs multiple clues...
At least NHL.com has the Goring deal at the top of the list for "notable deals involving Stanley Cup Champs".
The whole ESPN scenario of putting the Goring deal at NBR 6 lends credence to my theory on why the NHL failed to capitalize on the "hockey euphoria" that captured the nation following the 1980 Olympics and vault hockey into a number 3 spot among popular sports.
The Islanders following it up with 4 Stanley Cups, ruined any chances the NHL had of getting the proper media respect and coverage at the time.
Simple as this may sound, NYC IS the media. The media in NYC were/is/are dominated with Ranger diehards who HATED the Islanders. Hence, lukewarm (at best) coverage for the NHL.
If the Rangers had won 4 in a row back then, we'd be watching hockey on ESPN every night.
If any team OTHER than the Islanders had won 4 in row, we'd be watching hockey in ESPN a coupla nights a week.
By the time the Isles reign ended, the euphoria for hockey in this country drifted away.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Posted by Islander505 | February 23, 2008 10:46 Trent Hunter==Paul O'Neill
o'neill had better offensive stats - but in terms of heart, grit, smarts and all around solid play - i like the comparison.
how bout this one?
mariano rivera and martin brodeur
Posted by Islander505 | February 23, 2008 10:46
Trent Hunter==Paul O'Neill
o'neill had better offensive stats - but in terms of heart, grit, smarts and all around solid play - i like the comparison.
how bout this one?
mariano rivera and martin brodeur
Who's Brodeur?
you'll find out in about an hour 505
Mariano Rivera=Dubie
Based SOLELY on one game last March, and one poke check SAVE.
Nick...I was in a hurry and meant to add that I got that from ESPN...I laughed my a^^ off that they had the Rangers getting Matteau hire ranked....Did he ever play again ?????
Goring was the best deadline trade ever....Lead to 4 cups and the best team in USA HISTORY......PERIOD !!!!
Now back to the present....TWO POINTS AT THE ROCK !!!
It is noon.....kshhhhhhhhhh.....Beer just cracked!
Steady
Noon?
Whaddya got? Some kinda Blue Law in that household?
Those hops have been suffocating since you woke up.
GIVE 'EM SOME AIR!!!
good play by bergeron.....bad luck
see the look by DP ??? Guys do not like MAB....Whole situation was DP's fault....Trying to do to much in front of Brodeur. He owes the team one.
Simon playing well.....Isles as a whole being out hustled, out hit, out scored.......Martinek best player on the Isles.
Sports comparisons:
Penningtons arm in a gail force wind and Comries shot on a perfect sheet of ice.
sillinger out for year - hip surgery in Colorado this week
Two bad break goals (Meyer made a mistake), Isles get a bad break on Satan/Meyer chance.
Isles started the game SHOOTING the puck, not so much later-back to old ways,
Comeau GETS RUN AGAIN---WHERE'S SIMON?
penalties,penalties,penalties....
Gotta play a better period than that, although Devils look sharp.
GOTTA MAKE THE BREAKS GO YOUR WAY BOYS!!!!
Rob
Link?
505...Simon chirped at Asham (which FSNY pointed out) after the Comeau hit...I would LOVE to see that fight.
If I could sign on the dotted line for a point in todays game I would. Just do not like the feel of it. Two periods left to turn me into a pumpkin....Come on guys, this is a HUGE ONE !!!!
http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230379&hubname=nhl
GD POWERLESS PLAY!!!
SHOOT THE PUCK!!
Gervais gets runs by Clarkson...WHERE'S SIMON???