Islander News Articles 1/6

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/06/2008 01:40:00 AM | | | | | | | | |
Newsday: Greg Logan reported in his blog Kyle Okposo will report to Bridgeport and likely make his pro debut Friday or Saturday with comments from Garth Snow. Details about his contract are also discussed.

Newsday: Greg Logan's post game coverage was on DiPietro's outstanding play with comments from Ted Nolan.

"That's a good offensive team," DiPietro said. "They have a lot of young, skilled players, and they did a good job of cycling down low and kept a lot of pucks in. They had the puck in our zone for a while [in overtime], and they kept moving it and moving it until the puck finally bounced over to Svatos and he made a nice shot."

"We certainly needed Ricky tonight to get this one point," Nolan said. "He was sensational. For whatever reason, we didn't have it on offense. The altitude does affect you."


Newsday: Greg Logan's other article was on Ryan Smyth, who did not talk to the media but had several players over his home for dinner. Garth Snow & Ted Nolan defended his decision to make the trade and several Islanders commented.

"I'd do the same thing," Snow said. "We made an evaluation on the players we gave up. We just felt we were better as an organization to do the deal. The first-round pick came up in our meetings that it was a very weak 2007 draft. In the middle of the round, it would be at best a third-line player or a fourth-line player."

From Ted Nolan:
"The only thing I can do is let him know how much we'd like him to stay and be part of us. He has to do what the best thing is for him and his family. He thought this would be better. You never want to fault a guy for that."

"Ultimately, we finished two points out of the sixth spot," Snow said. "All you can ask for as a player is that your management team believes in you and gives you every opportunity to win the Stanley Cup. We gave ourselves a chance."


NYI Fan Central Comments:
They did give themselves a chance, no doubt about it. At the time the trade was made the Islanders were playing some very good hockey. A lot of things went against them after that from DiPietro's injury to Simon's suspension to some replays that were the reasons the club did not finish sixth. Satan, Zednik left the club for games.

Islanders gave Buffalo a tougher series that few gave them credit for, a few things fell into place this team could easily have advanced to at least the second round.

Clearly they traded two players who were not in the long-term plans and a draft pick from a draft that was not very strong. Robert Nilsson looks like a keeper for Edmonton on that fast surface, O'Marra is an ECHL all-star.

Newsday: Greg Logan had hopefully the final update on DiPietro's pads with the goaltender, Ted Nolan and Garth Snow commenting.

"I've never seen it before," coach Ted Nolan said. "It maybe could have waited until after the game, and we live with the consequences if there was something wrong. But we didn't do anything wrong.

"Does it play with a guy's psyche? It certainly does. I've never seen it before, and hopefully, I never see it again."

"At the end of the day, Rick was not using illegal equipment," Snow said. "That's the bottom line. He didn't need to, and he never has. I'm just glad he's back into the same pads."


Denver Post/AP: Pat Graham covered the Avalanche ot win with a lot of the focus on DiPietro's pads. Bill Guerin comments on his club's effort.

"Really, they're just a pair of pads," said DiPietro, who had 37 saves. "They are just newer."

"I felt really good," said Theodore, who made only his second start in 11 games. "To be honest, he (DiPietro) played unbelievable. I am going to play the way that I can. If I do that, I can match and outplay any goalie in this league, and that's what I tried to do."

"We definitely let them skate too much," Guerin said. "They are a good, young, talented team, and we gave them a lot of room. They made the most of it. I would have liked to have seen us play, generate more offense, instead of just hanging around with a one-goal lead."

Rocky Mountain News/AP: Early Sunday Avs coverage.

Sound Tigers website: Has the recap of Bridgeport's 2-1 loss in the second of back to back games at Norfolk Saturday. Jeff Tambellini scored for Bridgeport.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio was not in Norfolk to cover the Sound Tigers loss but did blog on it and Okposo being assigned to Bridgeport along with some WJC coverage.

Virginian Pilot: Has the Admirals coverage.

Pioneer Press: Tom Powers covered the Gophers and even thought they won, the focus is still on Kyle Okposo leaving school. I'm not sure in the article if the writer is critical of Okposo or coach Don Lucia.

"We can just hope for the best for Kyle," junior defenseman R.J. Anderson said. "It's not something you'd give him grief about. Best of luck to him."


Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio previews Bridgeport vs Philadelphia Sunday.

WHEN - Today, 5:05 p.m.
WHERE - Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia
ON THE AIR - No radio; Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com