citrin@ucbvax.ARPA (Wayne Citrin) (12/03/84)
I just heard that the Islanders traded Rollie Melanson to the North Stars. (News travels slowly out here.) Does anyone else out there think this was a bad move? Melanson is as good a goalie as Smith, but he has many good years ahead of him, while Smith will retire in a few years. I can understand them wanting to give Kelly Hrudey more ice time, but I think Smith should have been the one to go (even though he is playing excellent hockey now). Perhaps the Islanders have another hot young goalie in the minors whom I don't know about. Also, the North Stars gave the Islanders their first round draft pick (Isles' choice of 1985 or 1986) which may have been hard to turn down. Wayne Citrin (ucbvax!citrin)
jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) (12/05/84)
It's nice to see some discussion of NHL trades in this news group. Here
are my views of the Melanson trade:
I too was surprised that Melanson was the one to go. I can think of a couple
of possible reasons, though: They may figure that they need an experienced
goalie on the team to help develop Hrudey's skills. Melanson has been around
about 4 years, but maybe they figure that's not enough for your most exper-
ienced goalie. Smith has proven himself in pressure situations, and even
though he had a few problems in the 1984 playoffs, they may figure he's got
a couple of good years left, and they may need his experience in the playoffs.
Melanson, on the other hand, has had very little playoff experience, and when
he did get to play in the playoffs, he wasn't terribly impressive. You can't
really blame him though. He was used as the number one goalie all season,
only to be benched when they playoffs rolled around, so he wasn't in the
right frame of mind when he did get his chance. Maybe because of that, he
asked to be traded. Also, because he is regarded as one of the best young
goalies in the league, they could get a lot more for him on the trade market.
Minnesota is having a terrible season, so their first draft choice will
probably be pretty good. I can't see any of the weaker teams, the ones with
the best first-round draft choices, giving up that much for a player of Billy
Smith's age. The Islanders may have an important role for Smith after his
playing days are over, and they may have decided that Melanson doesn't have
the stuff to fill Billy's pads, but given the right opportunity, Hrudey still
might.
Frankly, I'm a little bit surprised that Minnesota went for it, especially
since they're a team that has always placed paramount importance on first-round
draft choices, usually making trades to pick up an extra pick or to get
themselves and earlier pick. I guess they figure their young goalie,
Don Beaupre is not living up to his potential and probably never will,
and that with Melanson they'll get back near the top of the standings
where they belong, so their first draft choice won't be worth as much
much as it appears to be now. Despite their recent downslide, they probably
figure they're not too far from being a contender, and a contender needs
strong goaltending, whatever it costs.
--
Jeff Richardson, DCIEM, Toronto (416) 635-2073
{linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd}!utcsrgv!dciem!jeff
{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!dciem!jeffdnj@security.UUCP (Dave Juitt) (12/06/84)
Now I am far from being an Islanders fan but in this case I believe they made the right move. Hrudly is an excellent goalie, he deserves a chance for more ice time. As far as sending Smith instead of Rollie, Billy has to be the toughest money goalie I've ever seen. When the Islanders finally start playing hockey, usually somewhere around March, Billy Smith is all set to go. Dave Juitt ----- ----- UUCP: ..linus!security!dnj ARPA: dnj@mitre-bedford He missed the tag, he missed the tag...
goun@cadlac.DEC (Roger H. Goun) (12/06/84)
There were several good reasons for the Islanders to trade Melanson:
The three-goalie system had to go. It created friction, and gave each goalie
too little playing time to remain in his best playing form.
Smith is the "money goalie." Trading him would substantially reduce the
Isles chances of revenging their loss of the Cup. His aggressiveness often
perks up the team when they are ahead in a game and in danger of falling
into a defensive shell. Though I'm not in Bill Torrey's head, I believe that
as long as Smith feels like playing, and plays well, he'll have a place on
the team.
Kelly Hrudey is a comer. He seems to be a little better each time I see him
start. His puck handling, once weak, is getting better. The team seems to
want to win for him. Giving him more opportunity to play can only improve
him.
Melanson, on the other hand, was expendable. Though occasionally brilliant,
he is inconsistent, and has always had trouble handling the puck, especially
behind the net. Though I enjoyed watching him, he made me nervous.
Finally there was the first round draft choice from Minnesota. The Islanders
were built on the draft; they must continue to take shrewd advantage of
draft choices, especially now that some of their stars are becoming "aging
veterans."
Sign me,
An Islander fan in exile,
Roger Goun
ARPA: goun%cadlac.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
UUCP: {allegra, decvax, ihnp4, ucbvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-cadlac!goun
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Tel: (617) 689-1675kaufman@uiucdcs.UUCP (12/07/84)
Re: Melanson to Minnesota A very descriptive article on the deal was in this week's Sporting News. Among its statements: Bill Torrey was talking trade with Lou Nanne for months, but Nanne wasn't convinced his team needed a goaltender. Beaupre and Meloche have each been better in the past; recent performances could have been attributed to extended slumps. The last straw came, however, when Nanne saw the North Stars lose 6-1 to the Islanders in a gane in which Beaupre (I think) was caught out of position several times, resulting in easy goals. Nanne decided at that point to make the deal. The Islanders have the choice of the North Stars' #1 pick in either the 1985 or 1986 draft - unless Minnesota fails to make the playoffs this year. In that case, they'd have to take the 1986 pick. If Minnesota does make the playoffs, the Islanders don't have to say which pick they're taking until the Stars' #1 pick actually comes up in the draft. Thus, they can scout the remaining talent and decide whether they find an immediate pick necessary. Ken Kaufman (uiucdcs!kaufman)