[ThePundit]

Boy is this a dicey situation. How can the Islanders trade Blake for prospects, if they're making a playoff run. They should just keep him and try to re-sign him in the off season?

With 20 games left in the Eastern Conference playoff race, could one of the hottest teams in the NHL trade its leading scorer? The Islanders have made a habit of defying convention this season, and general manager Garth Snow might do it again by dealing Jason Blake before the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Blake scored his career-high 29th goal in a 3-2 win over Montreal Saturday at the Coliseum that put the Islanders in a tie with the Canadiens for the eighth playoff spot in the conference, and he leads the Islanders in goals and points (52). But five top Western Conference teams are bidding to acquire Blake, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Although Snow has not actively shopped Blake, the hustling 33-year-old winger is a hot commodity because he has not signed a contract extension and is eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1. As of last night, the source said, Snow was in the process of considering offers from Nashville, Vancouver, Detroit, San Jose and Dallas. The Islanders would not trade Blake to an Eastern Conference rival.

Snow previously indicated he plans to be a buyer at the trade deadline and that he is looking for offensive help. So it would be a major risk for the Islanders' playoff hopes if he decides to trade Blake. At the same time, Blake has only five goals in his past 23 games after scoring 24 goals in the first 39 games.

Bids coming in for Blake - Newsday.com

[MJHMarc]

He does take a lot of shots per game (6? usually).

I like him a lot, but I can't control this.