I hate trade deadline day. I always have, I probably always will. Last season's deadline debacle (as some have called it) of trading NY Islanders Captain Bill Guerin seemed to be the most painful.
Guerin is a good leader. He is wonderful in the room, he is forceful on the ice, and he is entertaining with the media. This NHL veteran (drafted No. 1 in 1989 by the NJ Devils) was important, admired and appreciated. He was honest and direct and you always knew where you stood with him. He was a pleasure in Uniondale, NY.
For whatever reason, he wanted to leave. With appreciation for everything he had done for the Islanders, Garth Snow acted in good faith looking for a deal that would benefit all parties, most importantly Guerin and his family. Guerin waived his no-trade clause under the agreement that the trade would be for an eastern conference team.
Snow thought he had a fitting deal. The Islanders kept their Captain off the ice in preparation of being moved. Something went wrong and the media picked up on it and ran. The media snickers gained momentum as there were running “Guerin Trade” blogs and countless condemning articles. Who really knew what was going on? Not the media.
GM Garth Snow never gave up trying to find a deal for his Captain that would be agreeable to all parties. He found one with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was not because Guerin was not a desirable commodity. At 38, even posting a team high, but career average of 36 points, Guerin still has a scoring touch. No, the holdup was cap space and geography.
This was a painful deal for Garth Snow to make. He seemed somewhat hurt having to move the man in whom he had so much faith. Enough faith to surprise him with the Captaincy at his introduction press conference on July 9 of 2007, only one week after signing a two-year deal with the Islanders. I was there. He was surprised all right. Maybe because the Captaincy was given to him without having stepped foot in the locker room or because he was just overwhelmed by the gesture.
Bill Guerin, honored by the NY Islanders in early January for being the eighth American player to reach 400 goals in the NHL, had to be moved. The wheels had been set in motion. Snow had to move him for something, or lose him for nothing at the end of the season; a season we would all like to forget.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, with two of the most talented players in the league, were ultimately a perfect place for Guerin to land. They needed everything he brings to the ice. Garth knew he would take a huge amount of heat for the conditional fifth Round pick he received in return after making the media wait for days for their answer. But Snow is a smart man and worked stipulations into trading for Tampa Bay's original draft pick that would upgrade it to where it is today, a third rounder.
The day Guerin was finally traded; the club released this statement from their GM:
"The entire Islanders organization has the utmost respect for Bill Guerin and we sincerely thank him for his time on Long Island and as the team's captain."
I was not at the press conference where he announced the trade. A few days later, I had a chance to ask Mr. Snow about it. He had heard all the reports of the situation being "mishandled." The man I know to be sincere and honest with me was reflective.
"It really was the best deal out there, Dee. Really." Translation: This was the best I could do for both the Islanders and for Billy.
Garth doesn't lie to me. It would be like trying to lie to his mother. If he doesn't want to give me an answer, he will smile and just NOT answer. There would be silence. He will not give me the PR speech in his pocket and he will not make up something for the sake of answering.
By making this trade for Bill Guerin, he gave him another shot at the prize. The Penguins needed Billy Guerin. Billy Guerin, who assisted on a Sidney Crosby goal in his first game, needed the Penguins. Snow now needs a Captain who wants to lead a young team against the odds.
However, while the Islanders organization was criticized for this move in March, they should be commended for it today. Bill Guerin and the Pittsburgh Penguins stand on the doorstep of heading to the Stanley Cup finals. Garth Snow has an additional third round pick in a very deep draft. Talk about a "Win - Win" situation.
Good Luck Billy. Maybe that cup will have your name on it more than once.
Dee Karl
7th Woman
NYI Blog Box Crew
http://7thwoman.blogspot.com/
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