Islander News Articles 10/3: Berard in limbo

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/03/2007 12:37:00 AM | | | | | | | | | | |
Greg Logan's Newsday article gives us an updated about Berard among other things.

* As of Tuesday night, general manager Garth Snow said no one has been placed on waivers for the purpose of going down to Bridgeport, and no trade is imminent. The top four defensemen clearly are Brendan Witt, Radek Martinek, Andy Sutton and Marc-Andre Bergeron. Of the remaining four -- Chris Campoli, Bruno Gervais, Aaron Johnson and Freddy Meyer -- all would have to clear waivers to go down to make room for Berard.

* Tom Laidlaw, Berard's agent, Tuesday said he talked again with Snow, and Berard is working out daily in the vicinity to stay ready.

"It's at the stage of negotiations where it's best not to say too much," Laidlaw said.



"It's still up in the air," Nolan said of the defense. "We have eight -- and possibly nine -- pretty good defensemen who can play for us. All of a sudden, every decision we're making is a tough decision, which bodes well for us."


* Asked who might play the point with Bergeron on the power play if Berard isn't signed, Nolan listed Campoli, Sutton and Martinek. But questioned about his confidence in Berard's defensive ability, Nolan sounded as though it's a matter of time before he's signed.

"He didn't play in the league as long as he has without having some kind of responsibility defensively," Nolan said of Berard. "We're not bringing him here to block shots and be gritty in front of the net. We got him to run the power play and create some offense for us."


NYI Fan Central Comments:
First time I have read Johnson and Gervais would have to clear waivers to go to the AHL. If putting them on the twenty three man list today changed their status to where they must clear waivers Snow/Nolan boxed themselves into a corner here or do have a trade brewing. Either way this club cannot go long with eight or nine defenders.

Seems like Berard is in the mix still but all bets are off and every day he is not at practice is another day he is away from the players and coaching staff. Tom Laidlaw needs to find a job for Berard and if it's not here it has to be elsewhere.

Michael Fornabaio's Ct Post blog announces the Sound Tigers roster and in a surprise Jason Pitton has been sent to Utah.

Well, it's out and it's final: Jason Pitton's starting in Utah. More than a bit surprising. (Marjamaki was said to be toward the low end of the depth chart, but I wasn't quite expecting him to be sent away; Pitton comes a bit out of left field.) And not a whole lot of comment on it, either. But it's done.

Mike Morrison has been signed and will back up. Ouellet and Mole were sent to Utah, as was just about everyone else who was still on the camp list but wasn't skating today (Jeff Dwyer, Ford, Hart, Sertich, Bourne, Haley, Haskins, Keith Johnson), except for Derek Damon (Florida Everblades). Gordie Dwyer wasn't signed.

And that leaves 13, six and two:

GOALTENDERS

33 - Mike Morrison
35 - Joey MacDonald

DEFENSEMEN

2 - Andrew MacDonald
4 - Mark Wotton
6 - Matthew Spiller
40 - Jamie Fraser
44 - Drew Fata
50 - Dustin Kohn

FORWARDS

7 - Jeff Tambellini
9 - Ben Walter
10 - Sean Bentivoglio
14 - Blake Comeau
16 - Tim Jackman
19 - Gregg Johnson
21 - Jeremy Colliton
23 - Trevor Smith
37 - Kip Brennan
39 - Steve Regier
51 - Frans Nielsen
55 - Pascal Morency
91 - Olivier Labelle

Fornabaio also has his articles on the roster decisons
here and an update on Jamie Fraser here.

Kevin Greenstein of the New York Sun that has infrequent coverage of the Islanders at best did an Islanders season preview today that reflects a lack of knowledge about the club and someone who was not in camp. The article basically discusses the player departures and how basically Comrie, Guerin will be chips to move at the trade deadline because he feels they cannot compete in this division at picked them for last a few days ago in his preview here.