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New York Islanders Roundtable: Good Return for Halak

Nov 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) stops a shot in front of Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) and New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey (14) during the third period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) stops a shot in front of Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) and New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey (14) during the third period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 1, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Valeri Nichushkin (43) skates against the St. Louis Blues during game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. The Blues win 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Valeri Nichushkin (43) skates against the St. Louis Blues during game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. The Blues win 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Farrell Hirsch

A good return for Halak? It would be good for him to return to the third round of playoffs this spring. It would be good for him to return to being a dependable reliable starter.  It would be good for him to return to the form he showed in the World Cup last month.  

As far as what would be palatable in a trade, I think the Isles should look big picture.  Nobody is going to knowingly hand you what you need in return for Halak — a star player. 

So either go with the slightly less impossible theory of packaging Halak with something valuable (de Haan, Lee, draft picks) to get a first line player, OR think of what asset he could return that might have value to a team with an all-star to unload. 

So for instance, if Dallas offered Nichushkin and Oleksiak and a goalie as a salary dump, I’d consider that. 

The Isles are worse in the short run. But maybe Nichushkin has value to a rebuilding team. Maybe Oleksiak makes trading a defender easier.  I don’t see any reasonable “good return” in the short run.  So a “good return” is one that would hopefully fuel a better move in the near future.

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