Smyth Joins Surging Islanders

Ted Nolan has delivered as promised. In his first year as head coach of the New York Islanders, Nolan has his club in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 32-23-8, eight points ahead of last season's pace. The Isles, 9-2-2 in February, have won four games in a row and will look to solidify their playoff positioning tonight against the visiting St. Louis Blues.

It will be New York's first game since acquiring Ryan Smyth from Edmonton at the trade deadline. Nolan is expecting big things from his new left winger.

"A player of Ryan's caliber, it has to put you in a different place," said Nolan during a media conference call. "I think players of Ryan's character and caliber, he's not going to just make our team better, he's going to make everybody in our organization better. You add a player like that -- some good players can make the other players okay, but some great players make other people better, so I think Ryan is going to make our team a lot better."

That sentiment is shared throughout the Islander dressing room.

"I was quite pleasantly surprised myself walking into the room after we made the acquisition," said Nolan. "I mentioned to a couple guys that we got Ryan. And the excitement on their faces and the smile on their faces, they looked like six-year-old kids back in junior hockey; yeah, you've got a superstar coming to your team. They were excited as the whole organization was. I don't think there was one player on the team, and I talked to a number of people who have had the privilege of playing with him in the past, and they had nothing but great things to say."

Personally, I think everyone should take a deep breath. Let's not make Smyth into some sort of savior. He's not a superstar. He's a complimentary player. He doesn't create his own offense. He's brilliant along the boards and in front of the net, but he's not going to dominate games or singlehandedly transform the Islanders into Cup contenders.

Smyth currently has 31 goals and 53 points in 53 games, marking the first time in his 12-year career he's averaged as much as a point per game. This is only the fourth time he's cracked 30 goals, with his career-best being 39 set in 1996-97. He's never had more than 70 points in a season. The closest he's ever been to a superstar is when he shook Wayne Gretzky's hand during Oiler alumni events.

Yet to procure Smyth's services, Islander GM Garth Snow surrendered the team's 2007 first- round pick, along with prospects Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra, who were both former first- round selections.

"They're two young up-and-coming talented players for sure," said Nolan. "Nilsson, he's a very gifted player. Unfortunately, this year with our team, we had a little bit more experienced group, he didn't really get a chance, but he's going to be a fine player down the road.

"Obviously, O'Marra played with our Canada team back to back and has a gold medal, so he has some winning experience back there. I told you, in order to get someone like Ryan, you have to give up some good young prospects, and it was a good situation for him and it was great for us."

While the price tag was steep, at least the Islanders didn't have to part with anyone from their active roster. Team chemistry is tricky like the Hamburglar, and the Isles feel they've got something special cooking.

"You know, that's one of the things we looked at," said Nolan. "When we make something, that means we usually have to give up one or two players from your roster to make a trade, and sometimes that can have an effect in the dressing room. One thing I have to say about our team, we've got some real good character-type of guys on this team. They love playing with each other, they like each other, and to make a move like this with no disruption in the room, I think that's as important as getting Ryan here."

Nolan doesn't expect Smyth to have any trouble fitting in with his new teammates. The organization made it a priority to focus on bringing in gritty, character players, individuals who battle and have a history of success. With his leadership and numerous intangibles, Smyth embodies everything the team covets.

"You know, when we started talking about what we want to do here in Long Island, and Charles [Wang] gave us great position here to rebuild the organization here, and the type of player that we want is definitely a Ryan Smyth-type of player," said Nolan. "This guy is definitely going to make our team better right now, but I think he's going to make the whole organization better, as far as setting the standard about what kind of players we want. To answer your question, quite frankly, yes, Ryan Smyth exemplifies the type of player that I want."

Of course, there will be an adjustment period. Leaving Edmonton wasn't exactly easy for Smyth. He was crying more than my wife the first time I showed her my bank statement.

"Any time you're with one organization for as long as Ryan has, there's certainly going to be some -- a little bit of sadness leaving an organization like that, that he grew up with," explained Nolan. "Unfortunately, in this business, sometimes you're moved somewhere else. I personally went through a situation this past year. I love being back home, and coming down here I didn't know what to expect. But being here the last six months, I immediately fell in love with the place, the weather is nice, the people are great, and Long Island's probably one of the best kept secrets. We have water -- I mean, it's a beautiful place. I'm quite sure in time Ryan will appreciate this place as much as he appreciated Edmonton."

Yeah, who doesn't like water? I'm a big fan. I have it piped right into my house. It's nature's beverage.

How Smyth fits on the ice will work itself out in coming weeks, but Nolan realizes he's added a potent weapon to the offensive arsenal.

"We plan right now to put him with Yashin and Blake, once Yashin gets back in the lineup," revealed Nolan, counting the days until his No. 1 center returns from a knee injury. "That's another big acquisition we're going to be making. Yashin has been skating pretty well for the last couple weeks, and time will tell before he gets back in the lineup, but once he gets back, Ryan will probably play in that threesome. He'll get a lot of special-team play and he'll get a lot of key- situation play, and probably the most important thing is his demeanor and his attitude and his character inside that dressing room. We have a very strong dressing room right now with guys like Sillinger and Brendan Witt and Hill and guys we brought in in the off season. Now we add Ryan Smyth into that mix. It should be a very, very good dressing room."

With all due respect to the Smyth acquisition, perhaps the Islanders' best move at the deadline was one they didn't make. Jason Blake was rumored to be solid gone, reportedly demanding a trade after a spat with Snow earlier in the week. But cooler heads prevailed. Blake stayed on Long Island and responded with a hat trick in New York's 6-5 win over Philadelphia Tuesday.

"One thing about Jason, he wears his heart on his sleeve," said Nolan. "He competes hard. And, you know, it's been a tough week on him. Every day his name was mentioned as a possible trade and what have you. He just recently had a baby and is staying up all night. There's a lot of weight on his shoulders. And then once that three-o'clock deadline was over, he knew he was here, his baby was safe and sound at home, he walked with a whole different step and he played a great game for us."

Islander fans are hoping Smyth's arrival gives the entire team a similar shot of confidence, albeit without the crying and soggy diapers. Well, without any further crying. Nobody mention Edmonton.

Getting Smyth was a bold but risky move. It'll be difficult criticizing the trade if New York makes the playoffs and manages any sort of postseason run, at least, you know, until the unrestricted Smyth signs with a Canadian team over the summer, making anything short of a Stanley Cup a colossal failure. Giving up three first-round picks for a rental player is inviting grief. Even Snow's oversized shoulder pads won't be able to protect him from the abuse.

"We'd love to -- we'd love to do that," said Nolan in regards to re-singing Smyth, who will be seeking at least $5 million a year. "I think in time -- and a player has to feel comfortable where he's playing, and obviously with the economics and what have you, but this is a beautiful place. I mentioned to the media here last night, I mean, I look up in the rafters, and this my first year in Long Island, I look up in the rafters and I see Potvin, I see Bossy and Trottier and Gillies and the sweaters retired in the rafters; I see four banners and Stanley Cup winners, and this is a great place to play in. Hopefully we can make this Ryan's second home."

It's worth the effort. But, in the end, I'm sure Smyth will find Long Island a nice place to visit, but he wouldn't want to live there.

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