Have you ever had an inkling or a feeling that something is going to happen to a player? Because I am having one of those today. This really bugs me, because I consider him a friend. Eric Nystrom is in line for a huge pay day. Not only is he a useful third liner, he is a great penalty killer. You want to talk about speed, he has that to burn. So where do I think would be a perfect spot for Mr. Nystrom? Right in Long Island.

I know what you are thinking: it's because his dad played in Long Island. Well, that may be true, but it is not the only reason I think that he is perfect for the Islanders. The Islanders need a leader, one who leads by example and teaches the players the meaning of the word work. Eric can also add some offense; in fact, I think his best offensive days are ahead.

Now I wanted to talk about the possibility of the Islanders trading their number one pick in the draft. I really feel the Islanders should explore this option. They have plenty of youth already. Their future is set, maybe they should start going for it now. I would ask for two prospects for the future and a player who can help them now.

If they decide not to trade their top pick, they could always go the free agent market way, the top two being Kovachuck or Marleau. This route would be more expensive, but it may bring the best results.

It just comes down to how patient the Islanders are and if they want to start winning or build. If you want my opinion, I think the Islanders should go for the win. They have built themselves a very good future, now let's work on the present.

Until next time, take care.

Randy