Status Of Islander Prospects

Updates On Status' Of Some Islander Draftees:

Tony DeHart: Defense: 2010 5th Round Draft Pick (125th Overall)
Status: The Islanders chose to not extend a "bona fide" offer to DeHart, which was a needed by June 1st to retain his rights (article 8.6 of the CBA). Due to that, DeHart is no longer in the Islanders organization and he is currently an unrestricted free agent.


David Toews: Left Wing: 2008 3rd Round Draft Pick (66th Overall)
Status: When the Islanders Rookie Camp roster was released many were very surprised to not see the name, David Toews on there. Don't get me wrong he has been unimpressive every year, at every level, since being drafted, but his rights are still held by the Islanders. Well Katie Strang cleared up why he was missing as apparently "the Islanders have no intent to sign him to an NHL deal in the future."In most cases if a player is of no interest to the club and they don't want to develop him further, they will just relinquish the rights to that player, but in this case they have held his rights. That leads me to believe that they are possibly trying to move his rights for an asset, what ever that asset may be. 


Jason Gregoire: Left Wing: 2007 3rd Round Draft Pick (76th Overall)
Status: I know this happened a few days ago, but I never got around to mentioning it. Gregoire, as we all know, took advantage of that infamous "Blake Wheeler loop-hole" and became a UFA. He then signed an ELC with the Winnipeg Jets. I was really high on Gregoire so this really hurts....I guess I have a new player on my "most hated" list.


Blake Kessel: Defense: 2007 6th Round Draft Pick (166th Overall)
Status: It looks as though he will follow suit with what Gregoire did, in the aspect of signing with a team other than the Islanders through using that same loop-hole. Kessel supposedly has been in deep negotiations with at least 4 NHL teams and according to Chris Botta, the Philadelphia Flyers seem to be one of the most involved clubs.