16 goals, 41 points, $4.5 million. That’s like a half a million bucks a goal right there.

Ok, I’m done with this post. Oh, wait, this site prides itself on being more than just a simple rant. Even though I think whatever I have to say after that first line isn’t going to convey how poorly Miroslav Satan played this season, I think I’ll still give it a whirl.

Coming off of a 35-goal season with the Islanders in 2006, I expected Miroslav Satan to continue to put up similar numbers and be a driving force in the team’s offense. However, over the past two seasons, Satan hasn’t been the same player and has consistently become far less lethal a shooter as he used to be. His play making skills, which were always sharp, but extremely underrated [49 assists in 2002] having been too solid either on the Island, making him perhaps the highest paid fourth liner in Islanders history. That is, next to Alexei Yashin.

At times, it felt like the only reason why he was in the lineup was to score during the shoot out, which was always solid in. However, with his offensive game dipping and players like Andy Hilbert, Richard Park and Sean Bergenheim establishing themselves as solid penalty killers with the team, Satan lost even more value as a player and is basically no longer needed on this team. At any rate, Satan should have easily had 25 goals this season. He played with a streaky Joe Vasicek and an energizer bunny in Sean Bergenheim, who have him a ton of space on the ice. The only problem was Miro couldn’t finish. Because of that the Isles were stuck with him during the trading deadline like a broken toy on Christmas.

If he had any value to this team, the Isles would have either done one of two things this trading deadline. One, is just like Trent Hunter and Freddy Meyer, they would have resigned him. Two, they would traded him to team where they know they could have gotten someone that could fill his shoes. However, none of that happened because Satan had no worth on the market. This offseason, expect the Islanders to either let him walk or offer him either 2/3 of half of what he was making this season. Shocked and pissed off at the Islanders low balling, he’ll go to another team and sign a three-year deal where he’ll score 20 goals a season before retiring.

Make no mistake about it, his days as a top-tier forward are over. If the Isles are smart, they either part ways with him now or pay him third line money. In the end, it’s up to them, but I think the effortless play he exhibited over the last half of the season showed just how much he wants to be a part of this team.