With Sean Bergenheim about to go to salary arbitration, I have a word of advice for the New York Islanders:

Don’t pull a Tommy Salo on this one.

For those new to the team or those who need a quick refresher on Islanders lore, Tommy Salo was a goalie for the team that made the mistake of going to salary arbitration with former team GM Mike Milbury.

The legend has it that Milbury ripped into the All-Star so badly that he reduced him to tears. Not very long after that, Salo was gone.

So I say this to the Islanders, don’t do it.

Sean Bergenheim can be a legitimate 20-goal scorer in this league and a pest the likes of the team hasn’t seen since Jason Blake. Add in the fact that he’s a happy go lucky kid and is a better skater than both Darcy Tucker and Sean Avery, this Sean can be an impact player on a young Islanders team hungry for exuberance. Screwing with him in arbitration and creating a situation where he won’t want to stay here after his contract is over would not be conducive to keeping players of his talent and youth in an Islanders uniform either.

With problems bringing in big name free agents already bogging down the franchise, I think it’s in Islanders GM Garth Snow’s best interest to refrain any comments that could raise an “eye brow or two.” Over the past two seasons, despite making a few solid trades and helping the team change it’s descending reputation in the league, he’s shown some signs of having some of Milbury’s “eat my crap” attitude, which has included pissing off both his coach and a huge portion of the college hockey community.

Sign the kid to a three-year deal and give him an opportunity to do more than provide energy and kill penalties. Sure, his game is still rough around the edges, but he has the potential to be much more than a guy on a third line.

With Ted Nolan looking like he’s going to give the youth movement the good old college try, Snow too owes it to himself to not take advantage of the talented youth on this team. While Kyle Okposo leading the charge and guys like Jeff Tambellini, Blake Comeau and Bergenheim waiting for an opportunity to prove themselves, Snow can slowly begin to change the motif on the Island, establishing young players and brining in veterans that want to be a part of something special, rather than earn a quick buck before they hang up their skates.

It all starts with treating players like Bergenheim the right way.