The Alan Hahn Project

Yes, we agree that help is needed for the struggling Islanders. Last nights Blue Jackets game even proved that further. I would agree with most of these trade offerings minus one. Unless you are trying to get on the bad side of the folks here at CHT.com you don't mention Theo's name in a trade to our team. I don't care how good of a player he is, I don't want this cancer on our team. Sometimes, I wonder, from a hockey standpoint, if Alan is really in tune with his readers. There are things I agree with, wholeheartedly, but other things that come out of Melville, I just got to shake my head and say, "He's gotta be doing it on purpose."

As the Islanders continue to stumble, bumble and fumble away precious points in the standings - with last night's embarrassing 5-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Nassau Coliseum being the latest in an alarming stretch - the call for a shakeup grows louder and louder. With the trade deadline looming 11 days from today, general manager Mike Milbury might be more inclined to make a move than he was before the Olympic break.

There are some options, though it is less likely the Islanders will be involved in a deal that includes a headliner such as Bill Guerin or Teemu Selanne, no matter how much either would help this team.

Instead, the Islanders have been focusing on defensemen such as Edmonton's Tom Poti and Tampa Bay's Pavel Kubina to bolster their overworked defense corps. Pittsburgh's Darius Kasparaitis appears to be a longshot because the Penguins are still within reach of a playoff berth and there has been some recent reports of a technicality in his contract that would affect his free-agent status this summer.

Up front, where the Islanders need to find help for center Alexei Yashin, the one name that continues to surface is Blue Jackets left wing Geoff Sanderson, whom the Islanders will see front and center tonight in Columbus. Sanderson, 30, who has posted two 40-goal and three 30-goal seasons in his career, has struggled with injuries this season and last month returned after undergoing hernia surgery in December. He makes $2.1 million this season and is a restricted free agent this summer.

In Edmonton, Oilers GM Kevin Lowe is quietly admitting a need to trade the highly skilled Poti; fans there are down on him for his soft play. Lowe also told confidants that he would consider moving struggling winger Anson Carter for the right deal. Lowe loves Brad Isbister, who is an Alberta native. Other potentially available players include Washington's Chris Simon, Buffalo's Chris Gratton and, seriously, Theo Fleury of the Rangers.

Of course, the only thing that seems certain at this point is that the Islanders are in need of a boost and that the acquisition of talent often injects life into a team. Milbury has not been making deals this season in an effort to allow the Islanders to develop. But after last night's performance, with a playoff berth far from being locked up, it appears a change would do them good.