Lubomir Visnovsky looking to void trade to Islanders, files grievance through NHLPA

[doom88]

When the New York Islanders acquired defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky during the NHL Draft last month, they landed a veteran blue liner to help Mark Streit provide offense from the back. Now there's a chance he may not even show up on Long Island.

Newsday's Arthur Staple reports that Visnovsky has filed a grievance with the NHLPA claiming that his no-trade clause, which he did not invoke when he was dealt from Edmonton to Anaheim in 2010, is still valid. This is after Visnovsky gave an interview to a Slovak news outlet (via Matias Strozyk) saying that the Islanders were not on his 10-team list.

If an arbitrator rules in favor of Visnovsky, he remains with the Ducks; if not, he's an Islander entering the final year of his contract.

Visnovsky's agent, Neil Sheehy, told Staple:

"This isn't an issue with the Isles. It's a matter for the NHLPA/NHL to decide. He has a no-trade clause."

"It's not about Lubo saying he doesn't want to go to the Isles. He likes what they say. This is about establishing what's right."

If this news strikes you as odd considering it's a month after the deal, you're not alone. Two days after the trade to the Islanders, and on the heels of an interview Visnovsky gave to Hokej Portal where he said he was contemplating going to the KHL instead of Long Island, he told Staple, "This is my first choice, to play for the Islanders."

(UPDATE: Via Helene Elliott of the LA Times, the NHLPA has confirmed the grievance, noting Visnovsky filed it on June 30.)

Dominik at Lighthouse Hockey has already been down this road before with the Evgeni Nabokov situation:

For Isles fans, this is another depressing case of a veteran player not wanting to join the club. For Visnovsky, it's also a guy protecting his interests and trying to remain in southern California where he's spent 10 of his 11 seasons. (Still...maybe do this when the trade is consummated, rather than a month later, buddy?) Based on previous trades somehow erasing no-trade clauses -- something that doesn't sound fair, but it's how these have apparently gone -- I don't rate Visnovsky's chances of winning very highly. But I also don't recall another player challenging this murky (and frankly strange) area of the CBA or shadow CBA through arbitration.

While Nabokov had a rough start to his tenure with the Islanders, he seemed to like Long Island enough to sign a 1-year extension with the team in March. Visnovsky claiming his no-trade clause was still valid isn't necessarily a dig at the Islanders organization, it could just be a matter of player preference.

http://sports.yahoo....13249--nhl.html

[OccamsRazor]

@doom88

He may stay now cause Satan is coming to the Isle....

...in other news they signed Reinhart...man they will have a hell of a team in the near future...

[hf101]

Visnovsky must have heard that he has no chance of winning his arbitration hearing and decided he'd rather kill himself than play for the Islanders Islanders defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky crashed his Ferrari into a barrier head on, destroying the front of the car.According to the Islanders, Visnovsky did not suffer any serious injuries.Visnovsky is currently attempting to block a trade to the New York Islanders, claiming that the Anaheim Ducks essentially ignored his no-trade clause.Larry Brooks at the New York Post reports that Visnovsky's NHL arbitratiion court date has been scheduled for Sept. 4th

[NCFlyer10]

Just read an article from Eklund, wasn't a crazy rumor article, but stated that the trade could be nullified to the Islanders, he has a $5.7 mill cap hit for only one year, he is only a year removed form a big year, the Flyers need help on D and he may be a big help. Not sure what the Islanders gave up, but if its a draft pick or two, I say go for it. This may not even be possible if the trade does go through.

[flyerrod]

Why would they nullify a trade unless it was injury related?

[hf101]

@flyerrod

Presumably the Islanders were not on the 10 teams that Visnovsky agreed in his limited NTC.

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

@flyerrod

Presumably the Islanders were not on the 10 teams that Visnovsky agreed in his limited NTC.

There had to be something in his contract to allow the trade to go through, otherwise the league/NHLPA would not have allowed it, don't you think??

[hf101]

@AlaskaFlyerFan

I think that question maybe answered in the first post on the NJ forum. Thus I'm merging these two threads together.

[jammer2]

@AlaskaFlyerFan I'm not sure AFF, but I recall hearing that the Isles are not on the 10 teams listed as ok destinations by Vis.