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The Islanders have re-signed Nabokov to a 1 year deal, signed free agent Peter Regin from Ottawa and Pierre arc Bouchard from Minnesota, and added Cal Clutterbuck at the trade deadline in exchange for disgruntled prospect Nino Niedereitter. They still have to sign RFAs especially Bailey, Clutterbuck and Hamonic but should have plenty of cash left. I expect they want to keep UFA Brad Boyes as well.
Nabokov is always at risk of sliding as he get even older but I don't think he was a problem last year. You can't upgrade everywhere at once so the Isles will just have to hold their ground in net.
Bouchard is a good hockey player, he just gets injured all the time. He can add some scoring for them and if he does get injured they at least have experience from last season of scoring an abundance of goals.
Adding Clutterbuck is just like cloning Matt Martin. Martin is one of those guys who registers hits on every shift so the Isles have added another physical edge to their forward group.
Regin is just a fourth liner.
If their GM is able to spend the remaining cap space on a top 4 defenceman then the Isles can put an A+ grade on this year's free agency period. Either way they look like a good team for next season and I think they are well in with a shot of making the playoffs in "Division D".
Plus they have Strome and Reinhart as top prospects and whilst it may be too early for both, if one of them was to make the roster that would be a huge plus.
Nabokov is always at risk of sliding as he get even older but I don't think he was a problem last year. You can't upgrade everywhere at once so the Isles will just have to hold their ground in net.
Bouchard is a good hockey player, he just gets injured all the time. He can add some scoring for them and if he does get injured they at least have experience from last season of scoring an abundance of goals.
Adding Clutterbuck is just like cloning Matt Martin. Martin is one of those guys who registers hits on every shift so the Isles have added another physical edge to their forward group.
Regin is just a fourth liner.
If their GM is able to spend the remaining cap space on a top 4 defenceman then the Isles can put an A+ grade on this year's free agency period. Either way they look like a good team for next season and I think they are well in with a shot of making the playoffs in "Division D".
Plus they have Strome and Reinhart as top prospects and whilst it may be too early for both, if one of them was to make the roster that would be a huge plus.