[ThePundit]

Negotiations between Islanders general manager Garth Snow and the agent for left wing Ryan Smyth should begin in another week or two, but it will rank as a major upset if the Isles sign Smyth before he has a chance to sample the NHL free-agent market on July 1.

That doesn’t mean the Islanders are out of the running for Smyth. Far from it. It just means they are likely to have a lot of competition.

Smyth’s agent, Don Meehan, played it close to the vest when asked recently about his plans to negotiate with the Islanders. “I’m going to meet with Garth Snow,” Meehan said. “We’ll arrange to meet in the near future.”

That won’t happen until after Memorial Day weekend because Snow currently is on a scouting trip. When they do meet, it’s a certainty the Islanders will top Edmonton’s last offer to Smyth before the trade deadline of a reported $25 million for five years. Just speculating, but six years for $30 million would be a ballpark starting point, and throw in an offer to be named captain.

For a 31-year-old forward with 11 full NHL seasons of mileage on him, those numbers would be fair in terms of salary and length. By the end of a deal like that, the Islanders would be paying as much for leadership as for production, as the Rangers once did with Mark Messier.

But when asked about the chances of Smyth signing with the Isles, Meehan was non-committal. “We haven’t made any decision yet,” Meehan said. “I’ll be meeting with Ryan on a series of occasions. We haven’t made that decision, and we won’t make that decision. But we will sit down and talk to the Islanders by all means.”

Meehan’s answer seemed to suggest it’s unlikely Smyth will sign until he has heard all the offers. Unless he fell in love with the Islanders in his brief stay lasting 18 regular-season games and a first-round playoff loss, it would make business sense for Smyth to see what all his options are on July 1. Most likely, he could count on serious offers from upwards of a dozen teams.

But who knows? As much as Snow, coach Ted Nolan and owner Charles Wang want Smyth, maybe their offer still will be the best in the end. Since it doesn’t appear the Islanders are going to sign 40-goal scorer Jason Blake, Smyth is the main object of their desire. If it appears he’s going elsewhere, they likely would go hard after Buffalo center Chris Drury along with the rest of the NHL.

Notes and quotes – Free agent forward Randy Robitaille already has agreed to a deal in the Russian League for next season…Kyle Okposo, the Isles’ No. 1 pick last year, reportedly has been asked by Minnesota coach Don Lucia to tell him by June 1 if he’s returning to school for his sophomore season or turning pro…The Islanders today announced they have renewed their old ECHL affiliation with the Utah Grizzlies...Unless there is any major Islanders news to report, this could be the last blog entry until sometime between the June 23 NHL draft and the July 1 free-agent period.

On the Islanders Beat: THE WAITING GAME

I don't get a good feeling about Ryan Smyth. Robtaille - no great loss. Way too soft for my liking.