New York Islanders: I Predicted Seidenberg, But not Hindenburg

The New York Islanders acquired Dennis Seidenberg today, as everyone knew they would. Well, maybe not everyone. But let’s be honest we knew Garth Snow was going to do something like this.

How would all New York Islanders fans have known that?  Well, that’s simple. Exactly one month ago today I was able to deduce it from the patterns of Garth’s transactions in other years.

Here’s what I wrote, on Aug 28th of this year, right here on Eyes On Isles:

"There’s been another Garth pattern. He likes to acquire one aging depth defenseman each year who is a little short on vowel sounds. Martinek…Wisniewski… Visnovsky… Jurcina…Zidlicky.Kris Russell is way too western-sounding to satisfy the pattern. Probably also too good to qualify as depth. Same for Kyle Quincey. I think Dennis Seidenberg might be the guy this year.The actual name is quite a bit softer on the tongue, but that is no reason he couldn’t provide quality veteran presence in the number 7 or 8 defender role combined with the European flavor Snow craves in that spot."

And since the prediction included a very specific notion that Seidenberg was to be signed as a depth player, I think the implication is that all the conspiracy theories running around your head are simply fahrvergnügen.

They didn’t sign the guy to fill in for the defender they are trading for Kucherov or Gaudreau. Seriously, can you imagine any GM saying, “Sure, we would like Johnny Hockey on Tavares’ wing, but not till we sign a 35-year-old journeyman defender?”

What’s This All About?

This isn’t a move necessitated by Boychuck having to miss nine months. Because in that case, they’d rather use Pelech in the spot.

And they clearly didn’t pick him up so he could be expansion fodder. He only has a one-year contract, so he wouldn’t be eligible.

And yet I have already read each of those far-fetched notions somewhere on line within the first hour of the deal being announced.

Here’s what the guy really is. A veteran, good enough to play well in the WCOH’s non-physical, short term environment.

He once was a solid second pair guy. But now?  Now he’s a 35-year-old, who was good enough to pair with Roman Josi this week and make the World Cup finals according to his coach.  But that same coach, Ralph Kreuger, also called him “A depth player who could probably still play in the NHL”.  Not high praise.

Dennis Seidenberg played well the past two weeks, but not the past two years a regular for Boston. His regular season advanced stats are pretty dreadful.

He’s won a cup, but he was just bought out by the Bruins this spring.

Next: Which Rookie Isles Will Make the Team?

My next brilliant prediction? He will be just fine in that Zidlicky role for 32 games, even scoring a goal this year, before he retires.

One more prediction – anyone reading this will be watching game two of the World Cup finals a little more closely.