Saturday notables/quick hits

Point Blank: Mr Botta had a very interesting blog about how clubs sometimes make sure to point out in team press releases that a coach/player could have signed anywhere but decided to pick x team and felt it speaks poorly of your franchise that you even had to bring it up as he singled out Jacques Martin's hiring of a new head coach in Florida and did not like when he had to do it with the Islanders but maintained that it was the truth.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I agree with Mr Botta here to a point but a lot of times the media will bring this out themselves pointing out how many teams were interested in a player. We saw this with Jack Hillen and Rob Hennigar recently. By contrast we also see a lot of media write about how players will not play in a certain market so when a team does break through with a signing they do try and make it clear they wanted to be here over other teams so it sends a message to the fans as well as other players and their agents that this is a misconception.

If the media will not sell a team to the public and free agents that organization has to take every edge they can get.

Toronto Sun: Mike Zeisberger has the usual rumblings Bryan McCabe would waive his no trade clause to play for the Islanders as gm Cliff Fletcher comments on the trade market and the state of his team but not McCabe to the Isles.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If I had a dollar for every time the Toronto media tried to get Bryan McCabe out of Toronto and back to the Isles to get his big contract and poor defensive play off the roster....

Bottom line he has a no-trade clause, if he's bought out he can sign anywhere.

I'm a little concerned Garth Snow after misreading the market on Bergeron and leaving his backline short a big shot after winning six games in a row traded someone early when he could have moved him after the season and gotten the same return and kept his depth.

That's a sign of inexperience or someone who at the very least misread the market for one of his own assets begging the question if he misread the market on his own player how will he do with players from other organizations?

The Sault Star: Peter Rucci reports the Soo Greyhounds acquired left-winger Jordan Nolan from the Windsor Spitfires Friday.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good for Jordan Nolan. I saw some speeches Ted Nolan gave this week, if it's not Islander/hockey related, I'm not going to do a blog on most of them.

Ottawa Sun: Chris Stevenson has new Senators coach Craig Hartsburg's comments that playing in the 81 finals against the Islanders with the Minnesota North Stars was his career highlight.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Another coach who has not been on a bench in a long time being hired by a team, it almost seems like Bryan Murray wanted another coach he could work with and not someone who could get the most out of his players. John Paddock was considered a good players coach for a long time.

Of course I remember the 81 finals and Hartsburg. Game one and those two shorthanded goals by the Isles on one powerplay were incredible.

Quick Hits:
Every year we see articles about big trades before or at the draft, since the Mike Milbury show in 2000-2001 that has not been the practice so I'm skeptical.

Personally I think we will see what we saw at the trade deadline, first rounders are off limits in a draft with this quality unless a franchise player comes in return.

Someone wants to say a first rounder can be moved for Olli Jokinen that makes sense but of course it does not make any sense for the Islanders to do this because he demanded a trade from them in 2000 and spoke about it last season and we all know the Isles need to add franchise prospects.

A Sillinger or Guerin could go for a second rounder but if you do that you have better have a player of equal ability ready to sign on July 1st to take their spot this time.

Lets hope Greg Logan graces us with some Islander updates before the draft. Steve Zipay had three in three days begging the question how some can defend the lack of updates because he does longer updates?

Less to me is less.

Live interactive blogging here during the draft

Were about one week away from the 2008 Entry Draft for the Islanders.

Some of you have asked me about the little grey box on the side of the blog and what a live interactive blog is being that the box has been there now for well over a month?

So how does this work?

Basically I will start a blog that will include a chat box which will appear where everyone can type in real time about the draft or anything Islanders I can set up live polls and some some other fun things but in essence it's a chat box and a running live blog for everyone that requires no registration.

Could go boom or bust, especially with the first night being only for the first round which could mean one pick and little else Islander-related. The start time for the 6/20 live blog is 6:45pm and for day two Saturday with nine picks I have scheduled the live blog to begin at 9:45am.

I hope some of my readers will be here and be a part of this. I can promise I will do all I can to provide a good blog with a ton of updates for everyone. I will be adding in more feeds to the top of the blog so we get as many updates as possible.

Anyway my thanks to everyone and hope to talk with you next Friday and Saturday.

Side note:
I'm running into some family circumstances but unless something goes seriously wrong in that department I do plan to having the scheduled live interactive blogs here at NYI Fan Central next Friday and Saturday.

NYI Fan Central Final Review: Bruno Gervais

This NYI Fan Central final review is the last one. Bruno Gervais, come on down.

Entering 2007-08:
Bruno Gervais had a lot of injury problems in the second half of 2006-07, he returned during the Buffalo series and if anyone watched game five saw a player stepping up and playing desperate hockey who led by example. His rush at Buffalo's goal in game five was as good as it gets. His goal earlier in the series was key in the Isles game two win.

Watching that I expected him to really come in and step it up in 2007-08 on offense.

2007-08:
Basically in 07-08 early I saw a defender who's defensive game got even better, he seemed very tough to beat one on one and was an excellent fit in the system. At the twenty game mark I compared him with a young Kenny Morrow in that he simply did not beat himself and had the ability to win the puck and move it out of high quality areas. Not flashy, but very effective.

His offensive game was virtually non-exsistant, whether it be by team system or just not enough opportunity but at this point he should be doing more and forcing the staff to give him more minutes with his play on offense. Given he led the AHL in scoring by defenders for a time and had three goals as a rookie more was expected in that regard but it seemed a by-product of a roster that was simply not very good offensively nor did he receive a lot of powerplay time or make much of it when he did.

Having written that he made an excellent partner with Chris Campoli again until his season ended in January with shoulder problems. Gervais would play with anyone and usually made the pairing effective with his solid defensive game.

The core of the four weekend ended Gervais season between a shoulder injury combined with a concussion problem that lingered.

Moving forward:
Garth Snow said he intends to qualify Bruno Gervais, he is well regarded by the organization but having written that he is also the kind of player other teams want in trades. With Hillen, Campoli, Meyer, Witt, Sutton, Martinek all under contract a tough choice will be coming sooner or later. It's likely Gervais receives a contract similar to Campoli and they are left together but anything can happen.

Final Grade:
I gave him an A at the twenty game mark, his defensive play is good and only getting better. This is a prospect who has an offensive game and the organization needs him to show it a lot more than he has. I do not see a durability issue with Gervais, the hit he took against Florida could have injured anyone.

My final grade for Gervais is a B. He can be trusted in any defensive situtation to do a solid job.

Jason Blake wins Masterson, radio notables

Globe & Mail: Reports former New York Islander Jason Blake won the Masterson at the NHL awards Thursday with his earlier comments about being traded.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Congratulations to Jason Blake, he may no longer wear an Islander uniform but all fans should be rooting for him in his battle with Cancer.

Mike Bossy helped present the Calder, Billy Smith the Vezina to Martin Brodeur.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Greatest money goalie of all time and Martin Brodeur on the same stage, worth watching just for that.

Islesnation.com: With Steven & Pete who do an outstanding internet radio show are back with manager Tony Stabile letting me know the program will not only be on the air next week for the draft but all three will be doing the show live from the Coliseum. I will let them give you the details themselves on their site after a meeting with the Isles and congratulate them.

Tony's blog will be featured here at New York Islander Fan Central permanently where the radio show is listed and will include all his latest updates with a new one on the upcoming NHL draft that is an excellent read.

Also congratulatons to Alex and Steve from Hockey Night on LI after doing an excellent show last Saturday with Shawn P. Roarke from NHL.com who will have Matt Ebbs, who is the General Manager of International Scouting Services with in depth reports on the upcoming NHL Draft this coming Saturday June 14 @ 3:30 PM EST here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Both shows do an outstanding job. Been my pleasure to appear as a guest on both and hope they keep up the great work.

Note-Sorry folks for listing Alex at Islesnation last night.

A request that Mr Botta keep blogging

As most who read Mr Botta's Point Blank blog already know he has decided to stop doing his blog on July 7th.

I can only speak for myself here but would like to share my experience in this department being that I shut down Islanders-Sound Tigers a few years ago after seven years where I picked a date and stuck to what I said I would do.

It was a tough decision but I was tired at the time with a very busy schedule and I felt if I could not do things to the standard I set over the years I did not want it to continue because I would not like the quality of the product I presented.

In the beginning I needed the time off, did not miss all the time it took to do updates or follow things but after a while you see something go on regarding the Isles or hockey in general and find you have no place to discuss it and there is a void and you question that decision.

You find that you miss it more than you thought and just love talking hockey with everyone which brings you back to the reasons you started a mailing list in the first place.

Mr Botta will do what he's going to do. He was part of the Isles for twenty years and did not blog until last season so everyone's circumstances are different. My impression is he enjoyed writing about hockey, connecting with the fans and will miss it as I did when I stopped sooner than he thinks.

What I discovered looking back is at the time I should have kept things going a little differently to fit my schedule better and not been so strict about it.

I guess this is my little request/story to Mr Botta and I hope it's something if he takes the time to read and will consider before he stops blogging on 7/7.

For those wondering if this is about loyality because of the blog box I can tell you I never met the man and this has nothing to do with that.

For me it just seems he enjoys talking Islanders and it's something that makes the experience of being a fan better because of his knowledge and passion for what he writes about.

I hope he reconsiders and keeps blogging past July 7th or maybe takes some time off and picks it up at a later date.

No reason for not keeping your options open. I learned from experience a few years ago about this.

Islander Notables

Islanders website: Media relations coordinator Cory Witt announced the club will have a blog called NYI Voices for the teams media voices in Billy Jaffe, Chris King, Steve Mears and Howie Rose. The The NYI Voices blog will be written by the broadcasters themselves and fans can also expect to hear from special guests such as Islanders Hall of Fame broadcaster Jiggs McDonald among others.

NYI Voices: Already has an update from Jiggs McDonald after earlier updates from Steve Mears.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Fantastic idea. I brought up the Msg blogs where Mr Rose, Jaffe, and Deb Placey were blogging so infrequently with no feeder last season it was simply not worth paying attention earlier this year. I'm not sure Mr Rose did any updates beyond his WFAN appearance.

NYI Fan Central added a link for this to the professional media blogs currently listed here and in the news widget below it.

NYI Fan Central also has a separate widget feeder that links to all current thirteen members of the Islanders blog box (and is the only blog doing this) so you can get the excellent work from those folks as well.

I think by now folks understand for me it is important to separate the professional media from the amateur bloggers who are not accredited members of the professional hockey writers association. It would not be honest of me to pass my blog or views off as something professional to the readers here. I'm not an insider, have no interest in scoops or inside information nor is my blog being done in that manner.

This is kind of the old-fashion way of doing things at a point it seems websites need hockey content and many will add anything that catches attention from anywhere, but it's not my way because the question next becomes where do you draw the line?


Norther Light: Scott Haddow reports Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves head coach Peter Michelutti Jr. won the Joe Drago Coach of the Year Award, beating out former New York Islanders coach Al Arbour who is quotes as saying he was honoured for even being mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Arbour.

Final note-Hopefully the same Islander fans booing Jason Blake earlier this year at the Coliseum will be rooting for him to win the Masterson tonight at the NHL awards ceremony.

Does Guerin still fit Isles roster?

Today's question of the day is where does Bill Guerin fit this roster and should Garth Snow look to move him despite what reaction that could bring from Mike Comrie, Mike Sillinger and Brendan Witt?

I know the Islanders have done a lot on his off-ice activities to help people.

Obviously this is only a hockey issue and I'm not even going to go as far to make any discussion about his leadership because I'm not in the lockeroom and he has been praised top to bottom by management for that aspect of his job.

The significant question I have regarding Bill Guerin is where does he fit on this roster?

He clearly should not be a first line right ring at this point in his career, he does not have the speed or durability for that nor can he produce to the level needed.

Kyle Okposo may not even be ready for the NHL but if he makes the club (and I guess he will) do you make him your first line right wing and is that in his best interest? I would guess no and think even the second line is pushing it if you are asking for NHL second line production but they have no choice.

Trent Hunter until he produces more cannot play first or second line, he is signed for the next five years.

You want to make the point Okposo does not make the club and Guerin plays second line right wing and drops to third line if Hunter outproduces him that makes sense and fits but this seems a long shot given Okposo's draft class is mostly in the NHL at this point.

I guess Okposo can be the fourth line right wing but I'm not sure that is in his best interest as opposed to Bridgeport, that works for Guerin and Hunter as they can play second and third line but Jackman, Rechlicz for starers seem a better fit for that role and the left side/center do not have a current slot for an enforcer.

Have I even made a case for signing an UFA at right wing who can play the first line or the chance the club revisits signing Satan and what that means?

So what option does that leave other than for Ted Nolan to play Bill Guerin as a first line right wing where he obviously does not belong.

Bill Guerin at his best right now is a descent fit on a second line, on a higher scoring club is a perfect third line right wing where others can get him the puck.

So where does that leave Garth Snow and the New York Islanders?

Constructing Isles depth chart

I thought today would be a good day to pull back the depth chart and take a look at the organization before the draft.

UFA will not be included, only RFA.

Of course all prospects will be included, I'm not going to rank them for a depth chart but just fill things out based by position:

Left Wing--------------Center------------------Right Wing
Sean Bergenheim--------Mike Comrie-------------Bill Guerin
Blake Comeau-----------Mike Sillinger----------Trent Hunter
Jon Sim----------------Richard Park------------Kyle Okposo
Jeff Tambellini--------Andy Hilbert------------Tim Jackman
Jesse Joensuu----------Shawn Bates-------------Joel Rechlicz
Steve Regier-----------Jeremy Colliton---------Matt Keith C/RW
Sean Bentivoglio-------Frans Nielsen-----------Robin Figren
Jason Pitton-----------Ben Walter--------------Shea Guthrie
Masi Marjamaki---------Rob Hennigar------------Brian Day
Tomas Marcinko---------Trevor Smith------------Rhett Rakhshani
Maxim Gratchev---------Luciano Aquino----------Igor Volkov
Jason Gregiore---------Doug Rogers
Kim Johansson----------Evgeni Tunik
Troy Matilla

Defenders:
Aaron Johnson
Bruno Gervais
Chris Campoli
Radek Martinek
Andy Sutton
Brendan Witt
Freddy Meyer
Dustin Kohn
Jack Hillen
Andrew MacDonald
Mark Wotton
Jamie Fraser
Drew Fata
Mark Katic
Blake Kessel
Simon Lacroix
Tyrell Mason
Shane Simms
Alexei Stonkus
Emile Axelsson

Goaltenders:
Rick DiPietro
Joey MacDonald
Mike Mole
Stephan Ridderwall
Jase Weslosky

NYI Fan Central Final Review: Freddy Meyer

Today's NYI Fan Central review is on defenseman Freddy Meyer and his wild ride in 2007-08 which I'm not sure has precedent.

Entering 2007-08:
Entering 2007-08 there were a lot of tough questions to be asked of Freddy Meyer.

Garth Snow traded for him from Philadelphia in 2006-07 and never really was healthy long enough to get a good idea what he could do beyond a good rookie season with Philadelphia. To be fair he hung in with hand problems as long as he could before shutting it down late in the season. He was praised by the club for playing with the injury as long as he did.

2007-08:
Having written all that Freddy Meyer was clearly on the outside looking in entering training camp with nine spots for six defenders. Once Bryan Berard was finally signed it seemed someone was going to go and sure enough it was Meyer placed on waivers who was claimed by Phoenix who demoted him to the AHL.

This is where things got kind of strange. Isles situation suddenly changed on defense with players starting to get hurt or were ineffective. Phoenix put him on
re-entry waivers, Garth Snow claimed him back at a percentage of his contract and the Coyotes had to pay for someone they never gave a chance to play.

It took a while for him after that to finally get a chance from the Isles. He got little press when he left and it was barely a footnote he was reacquired.

He finally stepped into Islander the lineup in early December and we got to see the healthy version of Freddy Meyer, who was not the scorer he was as a rookie with Philadelphia but someone who adapted well to Ted Nolan's system and looked like a stopper on defense. He won the puck in the corners, made the safe, smart play to get the puck out of the slot and held his position well.

He never was scratched again.

Here is where things got even more strange.

As quickly as he was placed on waivers, Garth Snow just as quickly signed him to a two year contract extension and both sides never looked back after only a few weeks of solid play. His two goals were critical in the Isles six game winning streak in February and on a club deep in negative player ratings, Meyer finished with a plus six.

Moving forward:
It was about as strange a season as it gets for Freddy Meyer but next year he enters camp with his two year extension and a spot in the top six if healthy. Isles need his offensive game to improve but would likely more than settle for the same steady defense he gave them last year.

Final Grade:
I cannot hold it against him not being played by the staff or placing him on waivers, he came back and did an excellent job when he got a chance and did it with a lot of adversity on the backline with a very poor offense. Ted Nolan put his name in the lineup every game after he returned and he earned his spot.

Freddy Meyer receives an A for overcoming a ton of adversity and showing what he can do for a club when healthy and given a chance. It was not flashy but it was impressive.

And it was one heck of a wild ride.

Islander/Sound Tiger News Articles 6/11

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his Sound Tigers blog among several items lists important deadlines and early schedule of some Islander-Sound Tiger related events moving forward.

June 20-21: NHL draft
June 25: Tender qualifying offers to Group II free agents by 5 p.m.
July 1: Free Agency begins.
July 14: Prospect camp at Syosset
Sept. 12: Rookie camp opens (tentative)
Sept. 19: Training camp opens

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Usual excellent work by Mr Fornabaio. We now know when July rookie camp begins as well as a much later start to training camp this year. We also now have a date and a time for a deadline for qualifying to restricted free agents.

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: Sal Maiorana has an interview with Islanders goaltending coach Mike Dunham about his latest golfing venture.

Note:
Mr Witt & Mr Botta's blog feeds seem to be working again here, both have some excellent features on the upcoming draft.

Star Tribune: Michael Russo's blog on the Wild has the early reaction from Marc-Andre Bergeron on being traded to the Wild among other things which also notes a Blake Wheeler signing cannot be announced until July 1st.

Hot Tuesday update

Newsday: Katie Strang has an interview with Kyle Okposo and Garth Snow's comments about the young prospect.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No doubt both were interviewed during last weeks business club event when Snow and Okposo were together.

Islanders website: Reviewed the picks the club will have in the upcoming draft.

1st Round: #5
2nd Round: #36, #53 (Ana to Edm to NYI)
3rd Round: #66, #73 (Edm to NYI to Edm to Ana to NYI)
4th Round: #96
5th Round: #126, #148 (Phi to NYI)
6th Round: #156, #175 (Min to NYI)

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Phoenix was awarded the 35th pick as compensation for losing the rights to Blake Wheeler recently so the Isles move back a selection. There may be more picks added as compensation so that could change again before June 20th.

Sudbury Star: Harold Carmichael reports Islander coach Al Arbour has been nominated for Joe Drago coach of the year award at the 40th Annual House of Kin Sports Celebrity Dinner and Awards Wednesday night.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Unless Al Arbour is being nominated for his win against Pittsburgh this season it seems late in the day for him only to be nominated now for his accomplishments, but impossible to know how this work.

J.D News, Jacksonville NC: Gregory Bond has former Islander Ed Westphal's comments about NHL salary and the struggle for some clubs to keep up.

SI: Darren Eliot reports on the goalie equipment working group which will meet Wednesday in Toronto and include Garth Snow and Rick DiPietro.

Lots of old updates on this one from March when this was announced here.

Updated 7:46pm:
Tsn.ca: Reports Anaheim traded the rights to former Islander defender Marc-Andre Bergeron to Minnesota for a third round pick.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So Anaheim was able to unload Bergeron, got it's third round pick back and added depth for their playoff drive while Garth Snow obviously was concerned he would be stuck with him so he dealt him at the deadline and made the offensive part of his back line weaker subtracting the club's best powerplay point shot at a time they had just won six in a row and had nothing on the backline to replace Bergeron's shot?

Not one of Garth Snow's best moments today. Not saying Bergeron's shot would have made the difference by itself but the year before they desperately needed to add a shot and decided on Bergeron and he helped. This year they took a step back to where they were before that trade and left themselves weaker when they could have waited and gotten the same pick from the Wild.

Tsn.ca: Reports former Islander Trevor Linden will announce his retirement on Wednesday.

Kings website/several media outlets: Report Marc Crawford has been fired by the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday with comments from general manager Dean Lombardi.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I remember two years ago how many Islander fans were furious the club did not hire Lombardi and Crawford. It begs the question if ownership believes in Lombardi's development/prospect plan why did they not support the coach who had to take the pains to coach under those circumstances?

Dean Lombardi sure left him hanging a long time or someone was just fired he really is interested in?

Monday afternoon update

Bloomberg News/Several sources: James Callan reports JumpTV will combine with NeuLion to increase sports programming with Charles Wang purchasing ten million dollars in stock. The purchase will give the Toronto based company access to National Hockey League games, the International Fight League, with television shows from China and the Philippines.

Newsday: Mark Harrington has more on the deal with a statement from Mr Wang.

Fox Business News: Has more details of the agreement.

Globe & Mail: Grant Robinson also had details.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Anything that helps the New York Islanders television exposure is a good idea. Mr Wang's company was a big part of ITV which the entire league used. It says a lot to the detractors who after a full decade of losing money owning a hockey team who could still think he's only in this for a land purchase that he spends ten million to increase sports programming?

Yahoo Sports.com: Ross McKeon placed the Islanders 27th in his NHL power rankings this week and wrote the Islanders bungled negotiations with Wade Dubielewicz.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
All due respect to Mr McKeon, I know he's doing a paragraph on thirty teams but unless he was with Garth Snow and Wade Dubielewicz agent he has no idea what was offered or rejected.

I did notice Joey MacDonald will be making an appearance on LI at a team event later this summer in the Trent Hunter appearance update but all the players listed are subject to change. The Isles are likely moving on without Dubielewicz but to write anyone bungled anything without being in the negotiations or a quote from someone saying that's what happened is not fair.

Dubie at this point should be looking for a chance to be a starter.

Windsor Star/countless articles: Michael Traikos reports the Maple Leafs have an agreement with former Sharks Ron Wilson to become the new head coach that will be made official tuesday as former Islanders Jason Blake & Bryan McCabe are mentioned by the writer but not interim gm Cliff Fletcher.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I wonder if the Toronto media can complain enough to get Brian Burke out of his job as Ducks gm if that's what he wishes to do or if Cliff Fletcher stays the interim figure head for Richard Peddie the next year?

If Leafs do buy out Blake or McCabe they can do so within the next week.

No way do I see Burke taking marching orders from Richard Peddie or anyone. I do not think Ron Wilson will take anything from Mr Peddie either.

Islanders website: Has a profile of prospect Tyler Myers from Friday which I already added to the draft center.

Quick note-I'm not sure why Mr Botta/Mr Witt's blogs are not updating on the feeders here. It could be a blogger issue or something they did with their feeds. For now just click the links to their site for updates.

NYI Fan Central Final Review: Tim Jackman

We are down to the final reviews this week on the New York Islanders for the
2007-08 season this week which will include Bruno Gervais & Freddy Meyer.

Today's review is on right wing Tim Jackman, the final forward to be reviewed.

Entering 2007-08:
What can I write about Tim Jackman entering last summer? I knew his name and that he was somewhat of a journeyman player who played very limited games on three other teams. I did not expect to see him in the NHL for many games at all as an Islander but this was a former second rounder at an age where it's a good gamble to sign him in terms of the NHL.

He got his best NHL opportunity last season.

2007-08:
Tim Jackman is one of those players who makes you look at the AHL vs the NHL and how different both leagues are in terms of speed and skill and how big a jump it is from one league to the other. In Bridgeport Jackman is a top six forward who can take over a game. In the NHL he's a fringe player for the fourth line who does not generate many chances with his limited ice-time. That may be a bit unfair but to this date Jackman has not forced a team to give him a top six forward spot for any amount of games.

Having written that Jackman worked hard in his thirty plus games here even if it's not reflective in the stats, giving the team energy and hard work in his shifts with the presence of an player who will defend his teammates. He was not a liability on the ice and did a solid job in all three zones with good hockey sense.

This was one of the taxi-squard players at the end of the season, playing five games in five days as he would go from New York to Bridgeport and back depending on which club had a game as they scrambled to fill out a lineup. I have never seen something like that but Jackman hung in and did a fine job under those circumstances displaying a lot of composure and maturity in his game.

Moving forward:
Jackman got a well-earned one year extension by the club, I expect he will get a look as fourth line right wing but Joel Rechlicz also is a right wing with a three year two-way contract who will also provide competition for that spot among several potential players.

Either way Jackman will fit in somewhere, whether it be New York or Bridgeport. It
does not seem feasible he can the play right wing spot on New York's top three lines with Guerin, Hunter and perhaps Okposo nor would his lack of NHL scoring be a good fit for that role unless his NHL offensive game improves dramatically in camp. I'm not sure he solves the enforcer problem on the roster and on this team more is required than just a pure fighter.

He sure looks like a goal-scorer in the AHL, if he could ever play that game at this level Islanders would have themselves a top six right wing.

Final Grade:
Jackman did a solid overall job in 07-08 in New York. He worked hard and did everything the club asked of him and was a good fit for his limited minutes. Jackman gets a solid B for his performance last season.

A few notables for Sunday

I only took one day off and I added in the final preview on Tim Jackman which was scheduled to be released here.

Monday and Tuesday will be very busy next week, I will not have time for early updates either day beyond pre-scheduled automated blogs.

Time & Transcript: Gerard McLaughlin on Saturday reported Moncton will play it's only preseason home game against the Islander rookies Sept. 22.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
For those putting together a pre-season schedule:
New York vs Florida, Sept 27th at Summerside.
New York vs Boston, Sept 23th at Moncton.
New York Rookies vs UNB Sept 24th at the Aitken University Centre.
New York Rookies vs Moncton Sept 22 at Moncton Coliseum.

One thing for sure, the Isles pre-season and regular season will be beginning a little later this year unless they have no intention of playing any preseson games in the tri-state area before opening night. Isles were done playing in NB by Sept 19th in 2007, pre-season ended on Sept 30th after several games in the New York area or in Bridgeport/AHL affiliates.

For those wondering Rangers opening in Europe means they will be not be around for a preseason game. Prudential Center should be open for business and my guess is a game at Harbor Yard could be possible.

Of course no law against another day game with all the school kids at the Coliseum, good way to market to the kids. No law against two or three home preseason games at the Coliseum.
________________________________________________________________
The Blake Wheeler sweepstakes started Sunday. Isles should have no reservations making an offer with Kyle Okposo on the telephone. Of course both play right wing but Wheeler was drafted two years before Okposo.

Funny thing is if Isles did sign Wheeler he would likely take Okposo's spot next season as a second line right wing. Guerin and Hunter are not left wingers and with Comeau, Bergenheim, Sim and Tambellini on that side there is no spot for them.

________________________________________________________________
No shock in the paper that does not have the financial luxury to cover the Isles properly with a professional writer and a blog on Sunday Larry Brooks decided to take his usual dig at Rick DiPietro and Garth Snow about Chris Osgood being the most successful goaltender of the Charles Wang era to open his Ranger-centric feature?

Larry Brooks ever consider if he covered hockey better all these years when they gave him more space he would not be reduced to reporting on baseball while the important US hockey markets never have to send their hockey writers to another sport in summer?

Boston Globe had a five part article today, several major hockey markets had full coverage today with the draft and free agency approaching.

Hope you enjoyed what you help create for hockey fans in New York Mr Brooks?
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NY Times has all these professional writers around to blog, why not let one of them cover the New York Islanders exclusively and provide a dedicated blog? Do they really think feature articles on selling equipment or this SI type coverage that has been a total failure for two years is helping hockey in this market when the finals
ratings for New York are coming in at 24th and 36th among US cities?

The European league coverage is more dedicated than the New York coverage. It is interesting the paper fills in articles with blogs from fans which seems to be a growing practice for papers who need hockey filler to make up for lack of content.
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I did a little looking back and I have to ask how come Newsday's Mark Herrmann did a Ranger playoff features raving about Jagr here defending his poor season/problems through his career, then when the Rangers were losing in five did not write about how they took a step back and barely qualified, that they spent 90m on two centers that could barely play with Jagr?

I did not see these features on Yashin when he had his good playoff against Toronto nor did he ever refuse to participate in shootouts and I did not see him defended by Mr Herrman when he was hurt in the playoffs for the Isles?

If Garth Snow added 90m in forwards and he had Jagr's poor season guys like Mr
Herrmann would be lining up to rip him but he has a good game in a series his club trails 3-0 and we get a feature that reads like someone who's more fan than beatwriter?

What happened the day the Rangers were eliminated?

Mr Herrmann did a feature completely ignoring the loss about a family from California who were die-hard Ranger fans who left the house with them losing which prevented an accident. He then made sure to point out the former LI family were not Islander fans here.


It sure would be nice if a few of these reporters simply dropped the pretense and said what teams they were fans of going into an article. This way when Mr Herrmann is selling one team and putting down another we can figure out whether to take it seriously?

I did not see any articles from Mr Herrmann last spring when the Isles were eliminated in the same five games about a family of Islander fans in another market
instead of articles calling for changes?

Sorry folks, I think these are very fair questions to ask.

Of course with Cablevision coming in to run Newsday this may become the standard for hockey viewpoints in the paper. Good article for the resume Mr Herrmann.
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The Islanders resigned Campoli for three years last 7/16 for those perhaps looking for a time line on Gervais or other RFA. These things seem to get done in bunches.
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Buyout time is coming soon in the NHL with the date around 6/15. I highly doubt the Isles will go that way with Hilbert or Bates because between waives and trades they could help fill out a deal.

Of course the Islanders could keep and play both if healthy. That would create one heck of a numbers game with the prospects.
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Nothing updated on an outdoor game folks. Don't let Cablevision and NBC keep the Isles out of this one, contact the Mayor's office and demand the Isles are included or no construction be done on the current Yankee Stadium and the game shipped out of town.

If there is a game in New York the Isles have to be in it at all cost for the future of the franchise on a lot of levels, including the Lighthouse. If Mr Ebersol does not like that let him take his coverage elsewhere.

Do you part and send a quick e-mail. Mr Bloomberg will not give Cablevsion the time of day but he may do it for the New York Islanders.