Assuming, for the sake of argument, that there is a season, what is going on with Vis. On the one hand, he has filed the grievance and everyone who is not an Isles’ fan including O’Brien believes that means he doesn’t want to play for the Isles.

On the other hand, Vis has several times affirmed that he’ll play for the Isles and that the grievance s directed at Anaheim and not the Isles. This sounds contradictry, but maybe it isn’t. Maybe if Vis wins, he’ll play for the Isles but have his NTC intact in the event the Isles are out of contention at the deadline and want to move him. Vis would thenbe able to control his own destiny and dictate a move to, say, the Red Wings or Vancouver.

My hunch is that the season will be delayed by a couple of months–which might work out well given how the Isles have fared in October and November the last few years–and Vis will be an Islander. If Boyes and Vis contribute as I hope and the goaltending is decent, the Isles might return to the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. We’ll see.

http://www.sportmentary.com/2012/08/like-greedy-pigs-who-overeat-nhl-nhlpas.html