The Bill Guerin Trade Saga

I firmly believe that Bill Guerin will be traded before Wednesday's NHL trade deadline. Of this I am certain. The big question on the minds of Islanders and NHL fans is where exactly will the captain be traded? If you are a fan you are already very familiar with the situation. Guerin is pulled from the Islanders lineup Saturday night, minutes before the Isles faced off against the Sabres. Everyone immediately assumes, for good reason, that Guerin has been pulled because he has been traded. We all expected word about the trade to come down during the game, immediately following the game, or at the absolute latest, Sunday morning. Since that time numerous sources and countless numbers of fans have been trying to guess where Guerin will be traded to. Yet a quick peak at newyorkislanders.com reveals that Guerin is still a member of the Isles. Jesse Joensuu has been recalled from Bridgeport to play for the Islanders tonight in Guerin's absence. It is clear Guerin has played his last game for the Isles.

My take is that the deal that the Islanders felt they were close to having on Saturday night fell apart. Maybe because the team backed out. Maybe because other teams have entered the bidding. I don't buy the idea that the Islanders have bungled this ordeal by pulling Guerin from the lineup without trading him yet. They never came out and said "We are trading Bill Guerin." They simply removed him from the lineup so that he doesn't get hurt. As their most valuable trading asset at this time you really can't fault them. The last thing they need is for him to get hurt before they can trade him. I fully expect this deal, along with the other deals that I am hoping they make, to go down to Wednesday's deadline. It behooves them to wait it out and get other, desperate teams involved. Garth Snow will have done well for himself if he can spin Guerin off for a 2nd round pick and a grade B prospect. He will have done even better if he can expand the deal to include other trade assets in order for him to get the Islanders a third first round pick in this year's deep draft. Stay tuned...

-Brian