I'm thinking the Islanders give us their pick this year

[OpIv37]

I just don't see how anyone at 5 is worth the risk of missing out on McDavid.

[YardRat]

It would be a wise move on their part.

When is the deadline for the decision?

[Ginger Vitis]

When is the deadline for the decision?

June 1st..

[OpIv37]

On a related note, anyone think Vanek re-signs with them?

[Ginger Vitis]

The Islanders have 6 weeks to speculate/wonder if Michael Dal Colle will make it to 5.. Because Dal Colle and Tavares on the same line would be a match made in heaven.. A lot of depends on how muck they like Nikolaj Ehlers and Nick Ritchie.. If they don't think Dal Colle gets past Calgary @4 and they're not that enamored of Ehlers or Ritchie that increases the likelihood The Isles would give the Sabres the 5th pick

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On a related note, anyone think Vanek re-signs with them?

Not likely..

[The Jokeman]

On a related note, anyone think Vanek re-signs with them?

With the Canadians? I doubt it unless they goes deep into the playoffs.

[OpIv37]

With the Canadians? I doubt it unless they goes deep into the playoffs.

I forgot he got moved at the deadline.

So what exactly did the Islanders gain from that trade?

**** we all knew the Sabres would suck and this year was all about prepping for the future. The Islanders apparently hoped Vanek would get them over the hump but all that happened was that they gave up a lot for him and now have a very difficult decision about that first round pick. That decision-making is just bad on an epic level.

[The Jokeman]

I forgot he got moved at the deadline.

So what exactly did the Islanders gain from that trade?

**** we all knew the Sabres would suck and this year was all about prepping for the future. The Islanders apparently hoped Vanek would get them over the hump but all that happened was that they gave up a lot for him and now have a very difficult decision about that first round pick. That decision-making is just bad on an epic level.

New York Islanders traded Thomas Vanek and a conditional 5th round selection in 2014 to the Montreal Canadiens for Sebastian Collberg and a conditional 2nd round selection in 2014.

[OpIv37]

New York Islanders traded Thomas Vanek and a conditional 5th round selection in 2014 to the Montreal Canadiens for Sebastian Collberg and a conditional 2nd round selection in 2014.

But the gave up Moulson and a first. That's a net loss by far.

[The Jokeman]

But the gave up Moulson and a first. That's a net loss by far. Actually they gave up Moulson, a 1st and a 2nd. Toss in we got Minnesota's 2nd in 2014 and 2016 for Moulson and McCormick.

Or simplified:

Sabres gained Torey Mitchell, Islanders 1st in 2014 or 2015, Minnesota's 2nd in 2014, Islanders 2nd in 2015, Minnesota's 2nd in 2016.
Sabres lost Vanek/Moulson and Cody McCormick.

Islanders gained Sebastian Collberg and a conditional 2nd round selection in 2014.
Islanders lost Moulson/Vanek, 1st in 2014 or 2015, conditional 5th round conditional in 2014 and a 2nd rounder in 2015.

Canadians gained Vanek.
Canadians lost Sebastian Collberg and 2014 conditional 5th rounder.

Minnesota gained Moulson and McCormick.
Minnesota lost Torrey Mitchell, a 2nd round selection in 2014 and a 2nd round selection in 2016.

Of course both Vanek and Moulson are both UFAs after the season so Montreal and Minnesota might lose more yet the heavy rumor is Vanek will sign in Minnesota and Moulson might rejoin the Islanders. The Sabres will also not have Vanek's salary against the cap next year. I'm hoping we use it to try and lure Paul Paul Stastny but that might be a pipe dream.

[JATMtheJATM]

everything ive read suggests the isles will toll the pick.

[GreedoII]

I just don't see how anyone at 5 is worth the risk of missing out on McDavid.

Agreed. The only scenario is if they won the 1st pick and they would keep it, but Murray may have tried to get that pick I think if they did by giving back that 1st to them and a little extra like some 2nd rounders.

[chernobylwraiths]

They would be stupid to give us the pick this year. Anyone who thinks they will automatically be epic bad next year is fooling themselves. Hell, they could get a rookie who turns out great and pairs with Tavares to make an unbelievable line. You can never automatically assume a team will be bad.

[GreedoII]

They would be stupid to give us the pick this year. Anyone who thinks they will automatically be epic bad next year is fooling themselves. Hell, they could get a rookie who turns out great and pairs with Tavares to make an unbelievable line. You can never automatically assume a team will be bad.

Not unless you have a dope like Snow building a team

[jimmifli]

They would be stupid to give us the pick this year. Anyone who thinks they will automatically be epic bad next year is fooling themselves. Hell, they could get a rookie who turns out great and pairs with Tavares to make an unbelievable line. You can never automatically assume a team will be bad.
But look at that division:

The Pens aren't getting worse, sure they're not going far in the playoffs with MAF but regular season MAF is only50% MAF. He doesn't go full MAF until it counts.
The Rangers are getting better, King Henri is still the best goalie in the NHL and their D is outstanding.
The Flyers have missed the playoffs twice in the last 17 years. After starting as the worse team in the NHL they've been one of the best.
The BJ's are pretty good and improving
The Caps have a lot more talent than the Isles. JT is really good, but is he better than Ovi?
The devils lead the league in OT appearances, turn a few into wins and they're a playoff team.

I have a hard time seeing them get past any of those teams. I just don't see a playoff team. And the only difference between the 4th worst team and the 10th worst team is how early in the season they quit.

They've got just as good a chance to be worse as they do to be better.

[Skooby]

Bold prediction but why would they show their expectations to be worse than ~85% of the league in the standings? Add in the fact that having the worst record (& least amount of goals in a regular season ever) doesn't necessarily translate into the first pick in the draft (which will be McDavid).

[swiper]

Hope Smoke (https://twitter.com/Hope_Smoke/status/456204682336030720): Sabres GM Tim Murray: ”At the trade deadline I did suggest a deal with Bryan and it just didn’t work out. I think we both have the ability to make a deal” … ”We may still end up making that same trade down the line.” …”Bryan may have (https://twitter.com/Hope_Smoke/status/456205320277086208) won that trade off the bat because he was getting a guy who could make an impact right away…” … ”…whereas down the road (https://twitter.com/Hope_Smoke/status/456205376090697729) when he’s drinking a beer three or four years later these couple of players would be good for me”



Hope Smoke (https://twitter.com/Hope_Smoke/status/456202204589068288): Tim Murray: ”I would love two top 6 picks this year. That would push us farther in the rebuild I have no idea what the Isles are going to do”

[JATMtheJATM]

per a bleacher report alert to my android cellular phone, sources say the isles will keep their pick this year and toll the first to next year.

[tampabay25690]

per a bleacher report alert to my android cellular phone, sources say the isles will keep their pick this year and toll the first to next year.

Islanders where keeping the pick all along!!

[Skooby]

Islanders where keeping the pick all along!!

I now have another reason to root against the Islanders next year.

[JATMtheJATM]

I know they were keeping it,

[swiper]

It makes sense for them (Islanders) to do this.

[tampabay25690]

I now have another reason to root against the Islanders next year.

Sabres have known for a while the islanders were keeping pick...
It's funny how TM said he has no clue what they will do...smoke screen for media

[Skooby]

Sabres have known for a while the islanders were keeping pick...
It's funny how TM said he has no clue what they will do...smoke screen for media

So a DuH what moment, LOL.

[Dr. Lecter]

This report has to be wrong.

Because we know it is impossible that Op was wrong...........

[trapezeus]

there was an interesting article over weekend where they said the islanders are in a no win situation with their fans. and one desperate move would be to trade this year's pick to get an impact player, and then hope they can out perform with this player (i.e. making the vanek trade again!) and then hand the sabres a more meaningless pick.

Personally, i don't know who's mojo is worse. The sabres or islanders. part of me thinks if the islanders try to finangle a way to make the team better next year simply to not give up another high pick, they'll get screwed immediately. but with a buffalo franchise we could very well watch the islanders with the cup next year.

[jimmifli]

there was an interesting article over weekend where they said the islanders are in a no win situation with their fans. and one desperate move would be to trade this year's pick to get an impact player, and then hope they can out perform with this player (i.e. making the vanek trade again!) and then hand the sabres a more meaningless pick.

Personally, i don't know who's mojo is worse. The sabres or islanders. part of me thinks if the islanders try to finangle a way to make the team better next year simply to not give up another high pick, they'll get screwed immediately. but with a buffalo franchise we could very well watch the islanders with the cup next year.
They aren't a playoff team in that division. They aren't even close.

They might be close to being close. But even that's a stretch.

[trapezeus]

i agree with you, but it's another wrinkle. The Isle, simply for optics sake, would rather leverage their future right now (again!) simply as a way to gift wrap a 1st overall pick to the sabres.

If they can trade 5 this year to a team that is cash strapped and thinking, "let's rebuild, but retool quickly", they may be willing to move a big name and salary to the isle for that pick.

Get back a healthy tavares and pair him with a big name forward, it might be all it takes to go from worst to 8th worst. which to the isle is all they need to save face in front of fans. To give us a ball that can't turn into mcdavid.

that says quite a bit as to how low the islanders are right now.

[Ginger Vitis]

It is not just about McDavid.. The Islanders will still have egg on their face if they give the Sabres the 5th or 6th pick next year..