2015-2016 New York Islanders

The Toronto Maple Leafs have stockpiled veterans on tryout contracts for the upcoming season, but now you can add another well-known name via trade: Michael Grabner. The New York Islanders unloaded the speedy Austrian on the Leafs in exchange for prospects Matt Finn, Carter Verhaeghe, Chris Gibson, Taylor Beck and Tom Nilsson.

So what’s up with this trade?

From the Maple Leafs’ perspective, Grabner is a fast player with plenty of NHL experience and he can help out on the penalty kill thanks to his wheels. In a more cynical sense, the left winger – who was a healthy scratch for 13 of New York’s final 18 games, including playoffs – is on the final year of a contract that comes with a $3 million cap hit. He’s as low-risk an acquisition as you can get: If Grabner rediscovers the form that made him a 34-goal scorer in his first season with New York, then the Leafs win. If Toronto doesn’t want to re-sign the 27-year-old past this campaign, they can deal him at the deadline for a future asset (I’m going off the assumption that the Leafs will be sellers this spring; we’re all on the same page here, right?).
In the meantime, Toronto shed a net of four contracts in the swap, giving the team greater flexibility heading into training camp, which includes tryout hopefuls such as Brad Boyes, Curtis Glencross and Devin Setoguchi. NHL teams are only allowed 50 contracts at a time and the Leafs were pushing the limit before this deal.

From New York’s perspective, Grabner had tumbled down the depth chart (injuries didn’t help) and the Isles have a lot of young forwards who have earned bigger roles for this season. In return, the Isles can take a look at five prospects of varying promise.

Matt Finn is the biggest name, since the defenseman was a high second-round pick in 2012 and helped the Guelph Storm to a berth in the Memorial Cup final two years ago. But he has yet to establish himself as a two-way defender in the AHL and had just three points in 28 games for the Marlies, while also getting demoted to ECHL Orlando for eight games.

Carter Verhaeghe was the most surprising name to me, since the Niagara IceDogs center is coming off back-to-back 82-point campaigns to close out his OHL career. The kid has great offensive skills and is just beginning his pro career. I’m speculating, but perhaps he was the key to the deal for New York.

The Isles also get a goalie in Gibson (he’ll have an uphill battle against Kevin Poulin and Stephon Williams for an AHL job), stay-at-home D-man Tom Nilsson and big left winger Taylor Beck. None of the five players cracked Toronto’s top 10 in our Future Watch issue, though Finn was No. 2 the year before. The Leafs have been one of the poorest teams in Future Watch’s overall rankings for several years now.

In essence, the Leafs have more flexibility now, while the Isles ditch a $3 million cap hit and get to peruse some kids in need of a second chance. I won’t say “everybody wins,” but no one loses, that’s for sure.

Joshua Ho-Sang, one of the Islanders' most promising prospects, was late for the first day of the team's training camp Friday morning and was subsequently returned to Niagara of the Ontario League, ending the 19-year-old's training camp before it even began.

Ho-Sang was the 28th pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, a player considered to have top-10 talent who slipped late to the first round because of supposed issues with his attitude. He had a strong season in the OHL, especially after a trade to Niagara. The young forward had 14 goals and 48 assists in 49 games with the IceDogs.

Ho-Sang attended the Isles' prospect camp in July and had been at the extended prospect camp which began a week ago, working alongside fellow elite prospects Michael Dal Colle, Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock. Sources said Ho-Sang's behavior throughout his time on the Island this summer had been exemplary.

Jack Capuano had Ho-Sang working on a training-camp line with John Tavares and Anders Lee. But Ho-Sang's no-show Friday morning left only Lee and Tavares wearing white jerseys during drills, as general manager Garth Snow sent a message that no player, especially a 19-year-old, can break team rules without a severe punishment.

Islanders Name McPhee Special Advisor to the General Manager
Former Capitals GM Served 17 Seasons In Washington

BROOKLYN (September 23, 2015) – The New York Islanders announced today that George McPhee has been named Special Advisor to General Manager Garth Snow.

“George brings a tremendous amount of experience and insight to our front office,” Snow said. “His ability to evaluate players along with his managerial skills, are an asset that we’re thrilled to add to our Hockey Operations Department.”

“I’m excited to join such a storied franchise,” McPhee said. “The Islanders have a great young team and I’m looking forward to contributing in any way I can to help them get to the next level.”

McPhee served as General Manager of the Washington Capitals for 17 seasons beginning in 1997-98. The Capitals reached the playoffs 10 times during McPhee’s tenure, including six straight seasons from 2007-08 to 2012-13. Under his leadership the team claimed seven Southeast Division championships (1999-00, 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2012-13) and one President’s Trophy (2009-10). McPhee oversaw Washington’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season.

Prior to joining the Capitals, McPhee spent five seasons as the Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations, as well as Alternate Governor for the Vancouver Canucks. Throughout his tenure with the Canucks, the team had four trips to the playoffs, a division championship and a trip to the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

Internationally, McPhee was a part of the management group that helped guide Team Canada to an undefeated record and the eventual gold medal at the 2015 World Championships.

McPhee had a seven-year NHL playing career with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

The Guelph, ON native attended Bowling Green State University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, where he became one of college hockey’s most decorated players. A four-year letter-winner from 1978-82, he was the recipient of the 1982 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the top player in college hockey. His other accolades included a first-team All-CCHA selection in 1982, second-team All-CCHA honors in 1979 and 1981, and a selection as the CCHA’s Rookie of the Year in 1979. Earning a degree in business, he became the first player to be named to the CCHA All-Academic Team in three consecutive seasons.

McPhee earned his law degree from Rutgers University in 1992.