New York Islanders: Signing Cory Schneider is an intelligent move
The New York Islanders are adding some goalie depth by signing Cory Schneider.
As the New York Islanders await what is to come with their key restricted free agents in Ryan Pulock, Devon Toews (both heading to arbitration), and Mat Barzal, this team finds themselves playing the waiting game with a little under $9 million in available cap space.
However, team general manager Lou Lamoriello has made a few moves thus far, one acquiring prospect A.J. Greer from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for prospect Kyle Burroughs.
TSN insider Pierre LeBrun tweeted this out earlier today:
Hearing that the Islanders are finalizing a deal with UFA netminder Cory Schneider. There's the obvious connection there between Schneider and Isles GM Lou Lamoriello. Happy to see Schneider, 34, get a chance to continue his career. One of the good guys in the game.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 12, 2020
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It has now been reported that the team has signed 34-year old netminder Cory Schneider to aone-year deal. No details as of yet regarding the salary, as I expect it to be the league minimum or close to it, which is $700,000.
Before we even dive into his downward spiral of a career, let’s look at what this move does for the Islanders. Three days ago, the team’s AHL goaltender for the last handful of years in Christopher Gibson signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving the Islanders only three goaltenders in the organization in Semyon Varlamov, Ilya Sorokin, and Jakub Skarek.
That being said, the Islanders needed to bring in another netminder for number purposes. With the cap situation the way it is, Schneider was one of the cheaper options around.
Schneider, following being bought out by the New Jersey Devils, was not going to have many eyes on him. After seven years with the team, injuries really derailed a once-promising career.
He played in just 13 games last season, posting a 3-6-2 record, with a 3.53 GAA and a .887 SV%. Since the 2015-16 season, his play has dropped off exponentially, and with Mackenzie Blackwood coming into his own as well as Corey Crawford being signed, the team had no other option.
But you know what they say? One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I do not mean that literally, as Schneider is not trash. As long as you follow what I am saying.
When Schneider was acquired by the Devils back in 2013, Lou Lamoriello was at the helm of the Devils’ front office. Now they reunite on Long Island, as Schneider gets another chance to showcase he still has something left in the tank.
If he can find his game again under Mitch Korn and Piero Greco, Schneider may prove to be of value to this team, more than what he may be valued at right this second.. Besides being a mentor to Skarek at the AHL level, the Islanders now have an option at the NHL level IF Ilya Sorokin is not ready.
We all know that once the Russian superstar is comfortable in an NHL crease that he will be the go-to guy for head coach Barry Trotz and staff for years to come, with Semyon Varlamov mentoring him along the way under for the next three years (years remaining on Varlamov deal).
But as we saw with the New York Rangers’ top goaltending prospect in Igor Shesterkin, starting at the NHL level is not a guarantee regardless of dominant success in the KHL. Shesterkin played in 25 games for the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League before becoming the Czar of New York.
While Sorokin’s situation is different, given the fact that he has been practicing with this Islander team, taking up a roster spot during this past playoffs in Canada, it may take him some time to get accustomed to the size of the NHL rink and the gameplay as it differs quite a bit to that of the KHL.
Just how different is the ice size? The majority of KHL rinks measure out to 196.9 feet by 98.4 feet, while the NHL is 200 feet by 85 feet. Where Sorokin played his home games, at CSKA Palace, the rink measures out to 196.85 feet by 98.43 feet (yes, I did the math). That is a big difference.
The question will be if a few preseason games, as well as the practices during the time spent in the bubble and when training camp rolls around, will be enough for Sorokin to feel truly comfortable.
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The Islanders will not put Sorokin in a position to fail. If they do not believe he is ready to start at the NHL level, he will not. Plain and simple. If he needs some time in the AHL, despite me believing that will not be the case, they now have someone serviceable to backup Varlamov for a short amount of time if need be. That is why signing Schneider was an intelligent, no-risk move.