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New York Islanders: The Day That Garth Stood Still

By Farrell Hirsch
May 6, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (21) reacts against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of game four of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (21) reacts against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of game four of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall (4) skates with the puck in third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Edmonton Oilers bet the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall (4) skates with the puck in third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Edmonton Oilers bet the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Taylor Hall

Headline: “The Islanders today gave up Travis Hamonic, one of the great foot soldiers in team history.  Hamonic is known league-wide as the guy you want next to you in the foxhole when the playoff wars begin. But Taylor Hall, playing next to John Tavares, is a laser-guided nuclear missile.”

There are some supposed leaks out there that the Islanders offer was better than Adam Larsson, but didn’t include Hamonic, or even Pulock. I doubt that.

It’s hard to think of a trade for Hall that wouldn’t include Hamonic. A right-handed defenseman with a favorable cap hit, who not two months ago wanted to be traded out West.

But value is in the eye of the beholder. And what the Isles were offering Edmonton didn’t meet their valuation for the trade to go ahead. It’s not that Larsson met the market value for Hall. But for Edmonton he gave them what they wanted.

Just looking at that trade you can’t help but think that swapping in Hamonic instead of Larsson makes more sense. For both franchises even.

Maybe the Isles could have taken a flyer on Yakupov? Maybe they still will.

Next: Steven Stamkos

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