Chris Simon has been traded to the Minnesota Wild for a 6th round draft pick.

My reaction, as I just told Jim Baumbach - I am happy that the distraction and negative image that Simon has brought this organization is no longer our worry. Simon was not offered a contract extension and this now opens up a spot for Tambellini to play out the season with the Islanders.

Per the Islanders Website:

Simon, who was also in second season with the Islanders, played in 28 games this season scoring a goal with two assists for three points. He was signed by the Islanders as a free agent in July 2006. In 95 games with the Islanders over the two seasons, Simon scored 11 goals with 19 assists for 30 points.

Per TSN:

The Minnesota Wild added lots of toughness on Tuesday, acquiring Chris Simon from the New York Islanders for a sixth-round draft pick.

Simon has been limited to 28 games this season after serving a 30-game ban for stomping on the leg of Pittsburgh’s Jarkko Ruutu in December at Nassau Coliseum.

He joins a rugged core of Wild forwards that also includes Todd Fedoruk and Derek Boogaard.

Chris Botta just walked onto the ice and yelled up to us here in the blog box that Defenseman Rob Davison of the San Jose Sharks is now a member of the NY Islanders - for the mere price of a 7th round draft pick.

More to follow.

Per the NHLPA website:

Rob Davison started the 2005-06 National Hockey League season with the San Jose Sharks. Before spending the 2004-05 NHL lockout in Great Britain with the Cardiff Devils, Rob played in 75 NHL games with the Sharks over two years. After playing in 55 regular-season games in 2003-04, he played in five playoff games (two assists) in the Western Conference final against the Flames. He finished second on the Sharks with 92 penalty minutes. In 2002-03, he played in his first 15 NHL games and scored his first NHL goal.

At the minor-pro level, Rob has played for the Cleveland Barons and Kentucky Thoroughblades. Before turning pro, he played three seasons of major-junior hockey with the Ontario League’s North Bay Centennials. In his sophomore 1998-99 season, he was named the East’s Best Body Checker in the OHL coaches poll. After his rookie season, he was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Before playing for the Centennials, Rob played junior-B hockey for the St. Michael’s Buzzers.

More Per the Islanders Website:

The New York Islanders have acquired defenseman Rob Davison from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a seventh round draft pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

The 27-year old Davison, currently in his fifth NHL season, has played 15 games for the Sharks this season. In 176 career NHL games, the 6-3, 220-pound native of St. Catharines, ON has recorded two goals with 12 assists for 14 points. He is regarded as a tough and very reliable stay-at-home defenseman and high character player.

Davison was originally drafted by San Jose in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his entire professional career within the San Jose organization.

Just wanted to report that we have not heard ANYTHING as of yet. We watched the Islanders skate (Fedotenko WAS on the ice) as were several other players.

We went downstairs after a brief interview with Jim Baumbach of Newsday and took in the Mike Comrie press conference. We then sat in on the Ted Nolan press conference and listened to his thoughts on Comrie’s extension and tonights game against Pittsburgh. Comrie looks completely relieved compared to his interview on Islanders TV yesterday, he genuinely seems elated that he is still an Islander.

Just wanted to add that I am here with Tom Liodice from The Tiger Track, BD Gallof of Hockeybuzz and Jim Baumbach of Newsday.

Currently the Penguins are on the ice and I snapped a few pictures. As soon as we hear something, you guys will be the first to know.

Lots of moves around the league however.

Ken Dick of Okposo Net is now here, you should see how much Baumbach is busting his chops - it’s great!

Just got word that Daryl Bootland has been traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Matt Keith.

Didn’t really see this one coming, but does it mean that there is something bigger in the works?

Matt Keith’s profile on TSN

Sad to see Boots go as he was a scrappy player and he was one of the first players I got to interview, but it looks like Keith may be a bit of a better fit due to his offensive upside. Time will tell what exactly is going on here, but I will be sure to keep you updated!

Update:

Per the Islanders Website:

The New York Islanders have acquired 24-year old right wing Matt Keith from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for forward Darryl Bootland. Keith, who was with the Portland Pirates of the AHL prior to the trade, will report to the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Keith has played in 34 games with Portland this season and scored five goals and added five assists for 10 points. He has appeared in 24 career NHL games, all with the Chicago Blackhawks, over the course of three seasons. Keith has scored two goals with three assists for five points. The 6-2, 200 pond native of Edmonton, AB has spent parts of three seasons in the NHL. In 315 career games in the AHL, the Edmonton native has scored 74 goals, collected 88 assists and picked up 242 minutes in penalties. He was selected by Chicago in the second round in the 2001 NHL Draft.

The 26-year old Bootland was in his first season with in the Islanders organization. He played in four games with the Islanders and recorded an assist before being assigned to Bridgeport. With the Sound Tigers, Bootland scored two goals with eight assists for ten points in 28 games.

It figures that the one day I am not glued to my PDA because of work, I miss a trade involving the Islanders. I guess we can’t ALWAYS catch everything as it happens, right? Here is what went down;

To Boston: Petteri Nokelainen

To NY Islanders: Ben Walter and a conditional 2nd round pick in 2009

This has the potential to be a great trade for the Islanders, as Nokelainen suffered a major knee injury a few seasons ago and has yet to fully recover. He still has game left at the ripe old age of 21 years old, and should be able to provide Boston with offense if he remains healthy.

Walter, 23 - is described as a two way forward that can score big goals, so his addition should have an immediate impact in Bridgeport. I say Bridgeport because given the amount of players attending camp - I really do not see him making the Islanders out of camp.

I am definitely supportive of this player swap because Snow and Nolan are definitely building their type of team and casting away pieces left over from the Milbury years. I have heard from several sites now, that it is a shame that they are trading away all these former first rounder’s, but if you look at what they have accomplished thus far in their career compared to the players brought in, we appear slightly better off.

You can read more about both players on the Islanders Website.