PA would have been a nice placeholder until Nino, Strome, Kirill, Anders and others were ready. GS has said he will try to bring in a bonafide 2nd line ctr. Grigo is the only one fitting that description in the draft who is at all likely to be NHL-ready. Were I to guess, I’d say Isles would be more likely to go for FF or Gally…or perhaps trade the pick for Stastny or a package incl FOJT Sam Gagner.

If Strome is ready, he could fill PA’s role. Otherwise, Grabs and Bails would be 2nd liners w/ the new center and Frans would center a 3rd line consisting of some combo of Ullstrom, Joensuu or a FA. Reasoner would center perhaps MattyMarts and Cizikas. I’m not assuming any of our prospects will be NHL-ready.

Parenteau:
He has been out from under for two years. He has made the most of his NHL opportunity, but it came late for him. He needs to take advantage of as much money as he can make in a relatively small window. He has a window of possibly 6 years. I’d think he’d want close to $30M for those 6 years any way he can get it. He’s going to have to get to 7/1/12 as a UFA to do that.

Bottom Line:
I think the business relationship between Snow and PAP’s agent is a good one. If that is true, you’d have to believe that Snow will be offered a matching option on a certain date (maybe 7/1 because other GM’s won’t want to be jerked around… this isn’t the first rodeo).
So.. most likely Montreal offers him $20M for 4 years, and the Isles let him go. That is not a negative for either party… Parenteau will help Montreal(or where-ever he goes). The big differences here between PAP and Blake are:
1. Blake was sidetracked by a battle with cancer. He wasn’t going to put up 40 each year, but he wasn’t on a path to decline that rapidly if healthy.
Parenteau is still in his physical prime. There is no reason for either side to expect a decline within a thre year window.

2. There was a lot of speculation that Blake would have signed for a more modest sum in January 2007… and the “committee” couldn’t reach a consensus… hence the mass exodus that summer. It wasn’t just Jason looking for greener pastures.
Snow is pulling the strings all by himself. He has a plan(we hope), and he is managing it without being manipulated by agents and the press. His rules are on the CBA which give him the control of 20 indentured servants. He is building a core of sub 27-year olds so he can limit his dealings with the absurdity of free agency.

3. The Islanders wanted to get younger and take advantage of the CBA. It looks like they wanted a core of veterans which they failed to nurture on their own, and then move to the draft… but they had no draft picks that year. Again… poor management by committee.
As I stated in #2, Snow has a plan… it will hit speed bumps like this… Parenteau will make the Islanders better, faster… but his draft picks should make them better, LONGER!

I see why the Isles may let him walk, but it sounds to me like its a case of the Isles rather go pay what P.A. would fetch on the market to someone with more of a name. Not for nothing, but even Islander fans dont pick up on him too much, which is sad.

I think hes mostly a second line/awesome depth guy. The most I would toss at him is 2.5 mil a year on a max of 3 years.

Regardless, hes a worker, and a likable guy. I wish him luck. Heck, bring him to the Hawks! (Sorry, had to add that)

Haha, good line!