pre season dealing

Why would teams with cap problems give up picks for those guys? And why would the Islanders want to get rid of them? That's why they traded for Matt Martin. Because that 4th line is so good.

WPG has almost 19 million in cap space. they could use a player like clutterbuck in their bottom six

TBL has cap problems but I am assuming that one way or another Callahans contract would be moved before this trade. as for need, TBL does not have a reliable face off man. Cizikas is a smart, defensive center who can put up 25-30 points a year.

No that is not why they brought back matt martin. if you listened to anything Lou Lam has said regarding the Bringing matt martin back it was because he was a fan favorite here, and was a great locker room presence in Toronto. Lou specifically stated that he did not know if Cizikas, Clutter and Martin would play together and the tone of his voice indicated to me that he was expecting at least one of them to be gone before the season started.

Here is what we know: Lou Brought in 3 bottom 6 players he wanted on the team: Flippula, Martin, and Komarov. We also know that that lou has committed to Nelson saying that "one way or another he (Nelson) will be on the roster". Nelson plays 2 positions, Center and LW. There is a log jam at left wing and Ladd's contract at this point is unmovable, thus nelson will play Center. that gives you 5 centers: Barzal, Nelson, Kovar, Cizikas, Flippula. one of them will be gone and cizikas is clearly the odd man out. a winger also needs to move out if/when Ho sang impresses in camp. that winger will be Clutterbuck. Now it is also possible that Ladd, who can play both sides at wing, will move to the right and nelson will move to the left wing and cizikas will stay on as fourth line center. I sincerely doubt that and believe that lou will move out the reach contracts in the bottom 6 as part of a larger strategy to make way for acquiring/ signing a top 6C at the deadline/next offseason