| | It's difficult to determine who's telling the truth when it comes to the NHL rumor mill. But one thing is for sure: Phoenix and Philadelphia could hinder solid seasons because of the disruptions trade rumors have made. Also, take it easy on the Islanders, who are young and getting a lot of experience, even if it includes a lot of losses.
High pressure: Keith Primeau situation
Unsigned, restricted free agent Keith Primeau is at the center of a couple of controversies in Phoenix and Philadelphia. Fueling both situations is the breaking of an unwritten rule: When potential trades aren't made, they are not supposed to be discussed publicly. There's good reason for that.
Carolina owner Peter Karmanos, however, spoke openly about a deal being done with Phoenix that would have sent Primeau to the Coyotes for Keith Tkachuk. But Karmanos said he nixed the deal because Tkachuk will make too much money next season. Tkachuk doesn't want to talk about it anymore, but he's upset. He officially knows that there was something happening. Although Tkachuk knows how the NHL works and that trades happen, it's unfortunately bound to affect him.
Bobby Smith, the Coyotes' general manager, is livid -- as are the players. Although Phoenix has had a successful first half, Smith suddenly had to appease a star player. Now, you have to wonder about Tkachuk's state of mind.
For the second round of the Primeau controversy: Don Reynolds, Primeau's agent, was quoted over the weekend in Philadelphia as saying that he had a deal worked out with Flyers general manager Bobby Clarke to send Primeau to Philadelphia, but Karmanos refused that deal as well. Reynolds said Clarke wouldn't tell him which Flyers players were involved -- a smart move by Clarke. But while Clarke didn't name names, the agent said he learned that Eric Lindros was the primary player involved.
So Primeau's situation is stirring two places where teams are having strong seasons. The Coyotes and the Flyers are angry about unfinished deals going public, which is unfair to everyone involved. They now have to keep themselves glued together and avoid any lasting negative effects. Nevertheless, the situation will leave scars in both cases.
Low pressure: New York Islanders
Everybody speaks so negatively about the New York Islanders. And granted, they have the worst record in the league. But they have a solid and realistic outlook -- from coach Butch Goring on down to the players.
Goring feels the Islanders can win any given game on any given night. That is their objective, but not the only one. The Islanders are trying to develop players who have been in their minor-league system for the last few years. The Islanders realize they have an incredibly young and inexperienced team.
With the attitude Goring and his coaching staff have to offer, the Islanders are a great team for a young player, especially between the ages 18-21. They will continue to lose their share of games, but it's a positive situation for developing players at the NHL level. I like their atmosphere; the players work hard every night and are upbeat about learning to play in the NHL. That's a tremendous credit to the job Goring and his coaches are doing. The fans should show more patience.
Goring said his team will not trap. Instead, he said he wants his team to entertain and learn the game. They are playing the young players and teaching them on the fly. Most would kill for that opportunity because many young players get buried on teams and don't see much ice time.
The Islanders have some bright prospects. Goalie Roberto Luongo and winger Tim Connolly -- despite being a healthy scratch Monday night -- seem to be the primary building blocks of what the Islanders are trying to do. Goring has nothing but great things to say about Connolly. At 18, he's the youngest player in the league but already has created quite a name for himself. He has some good moves and knows how to play in his own zone. It usually takes a player until he is 22 or 23 before he really learns how to play the game two ways and can be depended on in his own end.
The Islanders have no 30-somethings with experience to lean on. Jamie Heward, 28, is their most experienced player, but he has played only 123 NHL games. Defenseman Kenny Jonsson has played the most games (365), but is only 25. Leaning on a 25-year-old player is asking an awful lot.
Losing is hard and mentally tough on players. But Goring and his staff have a handle on everything and have maintained a good frame of mind about the wins and losses. It's about trying to move ahead and make progress, and Goring feels the Islanders are.
Brian Engblom is a hockey analyst for ESPN, and he played 11 seasons in the NHL. | |
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