TRADING ANDY SUTTON MIGHT BE FOOLISH: Isles Need A Big Boy on Blueline
BDGallof | Mar 01, 2010 | Comments 14
Physical defensemen who block shots and have a mean-streak do not grow on trees. Ones who are relatively young and can play Scott Gordon’s uptempo system are even harder to find.
This is why it might be foolish to deal Andy Sutton and let him hit the open market this summer.
No matter who is coming up next season, they do not have that replacement no matter the buzz on Travis Hamonic who is still at least another season of development away.
If Sutton is dealt, he will be considered expendable for a defense who is hard-pressed to carry out a hit, clear a crease, or close down an offense. To me, this is why he is not expendable. The Isles defense is one of the weakest attributes, and taking away a positive attribute…if not a crutch…seems ludicrous.
If Sutton is dealt, then any lip service trying to take a playoff spot is just that. Recall how the Isles hit a slide when he was out earlier this season for a spell.
The reason he might be dealt however has to do with all the scouting they have been doing on this upcoming draft class. Once again, they are looking for the gems like Calvin de Haan that other teams might miss. That desire might make the Isles willing to take the chance of not being able resign Sutton, even if to leaves them with a gaping hole in the physical department.
If Sutton is dealt, it will be for a 1st round cost, despite rumors of 2nd rounder. For a late 2nd round pick makes it even more foolish of a deal. If Leopold can go for a 2nd rounder, might someone who is a hulking brute for a playoff bound team garner a first?
The Isles would have not been able to play last year’s draft shell game to move up without that late first rounder for Chris Campoli. Clearly they are looking to make a deal to see if they can do that once again.
Sure other players might be available. Sim for a song. Park for a 5th rounder or higher. But the only guaranteed return is Dwayne Roloson and Sutton, which is they both hit the rumormill far harder. They are the only pieces that will give the Isles what they really want…some good chips to play the draft game. So they are hitting the public rumormill because Garth is shopping them around the NHL trying to drive up a market for either.
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Filed Under: Featured • Featured Rumors • New York Islanders • Rumors
You’re a complete idiot if you think Andy F’n Sutton is worth a first round pick…get a clue. How you have the job you do is beyond me.
After Crosby’s game winner…
I have feeling Washington will give up…yes a first round pick for Sutton.
Why would you give him up for anything less?
2nd in league in blocked shots…hits!…can carry the puck…clears the crease…and jumps into offense play.
I think based on the lack of available defensemen that can play the style Sutton does, he’s worth a first to a contender taking a run at it. Jordan Leopold was worth a second round pick and Sutton would be worth less? I don’t think so. BD has this correct.
The main issue is that by holding onto Sutton we invest money into an aging defenseman who was hurt the bulk of the first two years of his three year deal. The return for Sutton will never be higher than it will be right now which is why dealing him is the right move, despite the gaping hole it leaves on the Isles blueline.
I think if Sutton goes to a team in the top 4 in either conference the return will be a first round pick, possibly with a prospect. Anything less in a market without a lot of defensemen available is unacceptable.
You just had to preface that with “Crosby’s game winner” didn’t you!
I believe Sutton, Rolli, and Biron will be shipped out.
In return… 2 first rounders, and a third.
I would like to see some of the deadweight up front moved… but there’s nothing there worthwhile.
Weight, Park, Sim, Witt etc… will be gone after this year.
Jonseuu, Martin will replace them.
deHaan, Hamonic might get a call up late in the year or get some playing time in BridgePort.
KO, Bailey, Tavares, Bergy, Schremp, MacDonald will only be better next year.
DP…. well…. I don’t know what to say…lol.
Goalie situation is now very unclear. DP is out indefinitely with ….a swelling on the knee (again)
They could still move Biron, but this might end any notion of moving Roloson.
Well I guess you can’t count on DP that’s why they drafted 2 goalies last summer. Also I guess that’s why they gave him all that playing time when he came back to see if he could handle it and he failed. I agree you need to keep Roloson for NEXT SEASON (let’s not kid ourselves this years team is way too soft to be a playoff team) and get what you can for Biron as far as Sutton goes if Snow feels he won’t be able to resign him before the summer they MUST get something back for him they can’t let him walk for nothing.
Regardless of the Dipietro injury, Snow should get whatever he can for Sutton or Rolloson… Biron can play the bulk of the remaining 19 games remaining and the team can bring someone up from Bridgeport to back up.
I say this cause the Islanders are not going to make the playoffs this year, and there will be plenty UFA goalies available on July 1st. Let’s continue the rebuild and amass as many assets as we can.
The team is still 2 years away. This year we will finish a good 10-15 points better than last year, that is what is important, continuous improvement.
Flyers placed Emery on LTIR. I think the improvement numbers from this season compared to last are a little deceiving when you take into account the amount of injuries we had last season compared to this season and the improvement in goal with Roloson other than that I think our special teams might be worse this season compared to last and we are without a doubt softer this season. I think there is hope with the young players but we need to see more consistency out of them and hopefully that will come with experience.
Sutton is definitely worth a first rounder… at least he is right now. If he doesn’t get traded at the deadline, I’m sure that Snow would give him at least a one year extension. Thing is, that he seems to be topping out in value right now. So, if the Isles are serious about selling off Sutton and Rolly, then they’re not serious about the playoffs this year, and that being the case, they should flip both of them for as much as they can get. As good as Roloson has been, there is a glut of goalies out there and another Rolly can be had over the summer. I disagree with some people that think it’s necessary to keep Roloson for a playoff run next season because of that, so if he’s worth a second or first rounder then gimme dat. Though, I will say, I do hope that Snow starts ponying up the cash this summer for some serious free agents, possibly over-paying for the right ones and all.
I agree, BD…If Suts is traded for a 2nd rounder, as Botta posted, it would be foolish…This team cant afford to get any softer than they are…
Before Edmonton offered Vanek that RFA contract, The Sabres had a 3-year contract in place with Andy Sutton. I always liked his size and shot blocking ability. I think the Islanders may want to hang on to him. Unless, they have no intention on keeping him around.
If you look at the most successful teams in this league I don’t think they change starting goalies every year I think a big key to success in this league is stability in net. It’s OK to change backups but I don’t feel you can have the attitude that you will just go out and get a new starter who is a UFA every summer I don’t think that is a winning formula. Even if you only get 1 more season out of Roloson at least it’s some stability going into next season.
Good written, it is quite unusual to read stuff that is worth reading nowadays :)