On the New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche …
Arthur Staple: Not a surprise that the Islanders didn’t plan on having any free agents in town for a visit this week. Not in on any of the bigger names.
Arthur Staple: Guessing that John Tavares‘ camp was happy when they heard potential numbers coming out with regards to Connor McDavid‘s potential extension. Tavares’ price just increased.
Arthur Staple: Sense that for months that Tavares could be looking for eight years and north of $10 million a season. Is $12 million a crazy number for him?
Arthur Staple: Has been quiet on the trade front this week for the Islanders. The Colorado Avalanche want a top-four NHL ready defenseman and the Islanders don’t have one of those to offer any more.
Arthur Staple: The Islanders trade offer to the Avalanche for Matt Duchene last Friday was Travis Hamonic, a 1st round pick and a prospect. The Avalanche wanted much more than that. The prospect is not known, but it wasn’t Matthew Barzal.
Arthur Staple: The Islanders then decided to go a different direction. They got a high, though future return for Hamonic.
Arthur Staple: Don’t think that Islanders and Avalanche were ever really close on a Duchene trade.
B.D. Gallof: The idea that Avalanche GM Joe Sakic wanted Travis Hamonic is flawed. The Avalanche didn’t want Hamonic, they wanted a top-four defenseman under 25 years old.
B.D. Gallof: If the Avalanche really wanted Hamonic, they would have made a trade. The reason they couldn’t agree on trade is that they wanted something different.