[ThePundit]

RYAN SMYTH AN ISLANDER

Bulletin: The Islanders are putting the finishing touches on a deal for Edmonton captain Ryan Smyth. In exchange, the Oilers will receive former Islanders’ first-round draft picks Ryan O’Marra and Robert Nilsson plus the Islanders’ first-round pick this year.

On the Islanders Beat: RYAN SMYTH AN ISLANDER

Yes!!!!

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Why on earth would Smith wanna play for the Islanders?...why would Edmonton jettison him?

[ThePundit]

Smith is going to be a free agent this summer and Edmonton couldn't sign him.

Edmonton is rebuilding. They traded a pretty good player to the Islanders in Marc Andre Bergeron to the Islanders last week.

[blueandwhite]

I'm stunned.
I am stunned.
I'm outside with my kids, playing street hockey, when a neighbour comes out with his kids and starts talking to me about the day and the trades and I think I'm on top of it all, i was on NHL dot com till almost 330, so I'm in the know.
And he tells me one of my most favourite players just got cut loose from the team he's been on for 12 years and now he is an ISLANDER.
I don't want to offend, Pundit, but, crap that totally stinks.
I love Ryan Smyth. Whether he would agree to terms or not with the Oilers? they owed him whatever it took. he rocks. he is the best in my book, the ultimate hockey player.
I think the Oilers are nuts, i think the islanders are very lucky and I'm-
sulking.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I'm stunned.
I am stunned.
I'm outside with my kids, playing street hockey, when a neighbour comes out with his kids and starts talking to me about the day and the trades and I think I'm on top of it all, i was on NHL dot com till almost 330, so I'm in the know.
And he tells me one of my most favourite players just got cut loose from the team he's been on for 12 years and now he is an ISLANDER.
I don't want to offend, Pundit, but, crap that totally stinks.
I love Ryan Smyth. Whether he would agree to terms or not with the Oilers? they owed him whatever it took. he rocks. he is the best in my book, the ultimate hockey player.
I think the Oilers are nuts, i think the islanders are very lucky and I'm-
sulking.

I stopped reading at "I was outside playing street hockey"...visions of a female version of Darcy Tucker pushing little kids around flashed before me...

Oh and yeah, Smyth is no Islander...no...this is all bad for hockey.

[blueandwhite]

I'm not TOO rough with them.
heehee.
But this is Canada, after all.

[ThePundit]

Snow really went out on the limb because Smyth is an unrestricted free agent. So to give up 3 first round picks is rolling the dice. But, what the heck - let's go for it now!!! There's no reason for the Islanders not to win at least one round in the playoffs. Hopefully, they can avoid Devils until the semis.

[ThePundit]

Here's how the deal went down:

Negotiations between Ryan Smyth and agent Don Meehan with Edmonton for a contract extension broke down 20 minutes before the 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. Ten minutes later, the Islanders called their shocking deal with the Oilers in to league headquarters, a team official said.

The attorney on the other end of the phone expected something minor, and when he heard Smyth’s name, his reaction was, well, the exact words of surprise can’t be repeated in a family blog. Smyth is an icon in Edmonton, and his loss sent shock waves across Canada, especially since it came on Mark Messier Night for the Oilers.

Their announcement of the deal was almost funereal in that a release had to be composed that included the proper tributes to Smyth’s years of service. Hockey Night in Canada immediately dispatched a TV crew to Long Island to cover Smyth’s arrival late tomorrow night.

Despite the 10-minute turnaround between the breakdown of contract negotiations and the trade with the islanders, the groundwork was laid over the weekend when Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe, anticipating the worst, called around the league to see what might be available. Like everyone else, the Oilers asked for Islanders 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo, but general manager Garth Snow ruled him off limits long ago.

Still, the Islanders’ offer of former first-round picks Robert Nilsson and Ryan O’Marra along with this year’s first-round pick was too good to turn down. When the call came from the Oilers, Snow called owner Charles Wang and received quick approval to do the deal. When it had to, the Islanders’ committee was able to move quickly.

Of course, Snow understands the risk he’s taking with a player who will be a free agent on July 1. Although he wouldn’t commit to anything yesterday, it’s obvious the Islanders would not have given up so much if they weren’t prepared to offer something close to the five-year deal for $25 million that Smyth reportedly was seeking.

Said Snow: “I think Ryan Smyth is everything that Teddy and I and Charles, when we have conversations of what it’s like to be an Islander, this is the type of player that we want to represent Long Island.”

That tells you right there that they will make every effort to sign Smyth long-term.

On the Islanders Beat: HOW THE SMYTH DEAL WENT DOWN

[blueandwhite]

hey thanks for that.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Snow will bankrupt the Islanders yet...

[blueandwhite]

this is totally lame, but Snow is probably the hottest GM around. Face wise.
he's pretty hot, GM wise too, after yesterday.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

this is totally lame, but Snow is probably the hottest GM around. Face wise.
he's pretty hot, GM wise too, after yesterday.

Oh, this from the girl that objects to hockey having cheerleaders huh?...well, he doesn't do much for me...

[blueandwhite]

it was just an observation.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

it was just an observation.

I was thinking it was more of a day time fantasy...but sure...we can file it under observation...

[MJHMarc]

I liked Garth Snow in the net, but he is just impressive these days.

I've heard and read about this athlete, but never saw him play.

I'm sure I will, now.