Friday Notables

One week to prospects camp, two weeks to training camp.

Sarnia Observer: Dave Borody has a few words on Islander prospects Matt Martin and Justin DiBenedetto getting in their final games before reporting to Islander prospect camp next week.

Lewiston website: Reports recently acquired Maxim Gratchev has three goals and five assist in an inter squad scrimmage.

Barrie Examiner/countless sources: Report the Atlanta Thrashers signed first-round pick Zach Bogosian to an entry- level contract, while the St. Louis Blues signed defenceman Alex Pietrangelo, the fourth overall pick in the June draft.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I would guess given Mr Botta's recent speculation on Josh Bailey signing the Islanders are working on a contract for Bailey that will be announced during or before camp for the same reasons many of the top picks are being signed to entry level deals.

Associated Press/several outlets: John Wawrow reports the KHL issued a release accusing the NHL of signing Russian players under contract negating the agreement reached earlier not to sign another leagues signed prospects with deputy commissioner Bill Daly's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It's not as easy to find out if these players signed by NHL teams were under contract to Russian clubs as easy as it would be to know Alexander Radulov had a signed contract with Nashville. Mr Daly says they were not under contract to Russian clubs while the Russians said they are.

What's clear is the Russians did not or could not stop Radulov for signing despite his Nashville contract so they redrew the line in terms of the agreement and did not want to get involved.

One thing for sure is if they cannot get together on this, a new transfer agreement with Russia involved is not looking good.

Forward Preview Pt IV: Comeau, Okposo, Nielsen

Friday we continue our early season preview of the Islander forwards with Blake Comeau, Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen.

1. Blake Comeau:
During the early part of the 2006-07 season Ted Nolan made some trips to Bridgeport and at that time felt Comeau had the best NHL potential in terms of overall hockey skills and the long-term ability to play at this level.

It turned out when his chance finally came in December last season he stepped in and looked like he belonged at this level with a solid defensive game, hard work in the corners where he was a visible player nightly who showed us exactly what Ted Nolan was talking about. By the time the season was over he was singled out by the former coach and the veteran players for his hard work and ability who even displayed an ability to throw a few big hits.

Only problem last year was Blake Comeau struggled when he was shifted to the right wing (his draft position in 2003) for a few weeks, his impact in games suffered and he looked somewhat unsure of himself but picked it back up late when shifted back to the left side.

Moving forward Comeau is a left wing with a lot of competition on that side and should be ahead of Jeff Tambellini on the depth chart to start camp but with a new coach he will have to prove himself again and will be counted on to produce more in a bigger role from the beginning on a club that needs scoring. Scott Gordon has seen Comeau play in the AHL when he was in Bridgeport.

For Garth Snow's plan to work in 2008-09 he needs a big year from Blake Comeau where he can produce twenty goals.

2. Kyle Okposo:
A lot of folks may forget if things went according to plan Kyle Okposo would be making his NHL camp debut if he stayed at Minnesota all season and then signed in the summer.

You look at a Kyle Okposo and can tell immediately he has the long-term ability to play at this level because he is visible in games already unlike so many young player who go through games and look unsure of themselves or are tentative. Okposo was creating chances or driving the net from his first game against Toronto, displayed a nice shot for his first NHL goal to beat the Devils and a big goal in the season finale, considering his age he should only get better if used properly on right wing.

It's fair to speculate the Islanders did not add a free agent right wing or resign Miroslav Satan because that will be Kyle Okposo's spot to win or lose entering camp but how will he work with Scott Gordon, who will be his center or left wing and can he produce enough at a point where it could be asking a lot are the big questions moving forward.

No lock Okposo stays with the club if he struggles early and at this point they have to look out for his best interest in the long-term.

3. Frans Nielsen:
Frans Nielsen is not an eighteen year old player or a prospect, he was selected in the same draft as Sean Bergenheim and has played among NHL players in a lot of tournaments for Denmark over the years and did not look out of place. He has had some games at this level over the last two years and had his first goal, a shootout goal and displays a good overall skill set where he is not shy about getting into the corners and working.

The Islanders gave him a four year contract and obviously feel he can help this club in the long-run. Entering 2008 but has a lot of competition for a spot at center or right wing which appears to be a fourth line spot entering camp but could improve depending on his impact in games.

Next up: The rest of the Forwards

Islander/NHL notables & Quick Hits

St Pete Times: Beatwriter Damian Cristodero has the first of a two part blog interview with former Lightning coach John Tortorella who interviewed with San Jose, Atlanta and the Islanders this summer but according to the writer were not the right fit but for now will start the season with Tsn along with former Islander Ray Ferraro.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I did not read Jim Kelly of SI making issue of Tortorella about his other interviews this summer when he was in San Jose or Atlanta?

Good luck to John Tortorella and Ray Ferraro at Tsn, I only wish the Islanders could make full time use of Ray Ferraro on television because I think he would do a fine job here.

Someone along those lines should be making the same call to Ted Nolan or Garth Snow should find a way to use his talents in this organization because there is always room for quality hockey people somewhere. Butch Goring has helped out for a few years behind the scenes and left under poor circumstances.

Pioneer Press: John Shipley has the latest from Mark Parrish who wants a chance to prove himself with another club as he talked about his role in Minnesota.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good luck to Mark Parrish but he had to know the system played in Minnesota going in when he signed his contract and should not make excuses for his struggles. Parrish is not a first-line answer if Guerin gets hurt or if Okposo struggles to where he does not earn a roster spot. With Hunter locked in for five years Parrish has no spot on right wing here but it's likely tempting to his former teammate turned gm.

Cbcsports.ca/several outlets: Report former Islander Brad Isbister has signed a one year/two way contract with the Senators.

ECHL.com: Has Kevin Colley's comments from his press conference Thursday as he was named head coach of the Utah Grizzlies.

Quick Hits:
* Trevor Linden will have his number retired by the Canucks this season.

* Mats Sundin is still making up his mind whether he will play anywhere.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No problem at all here for me when any player is not sure if he wants to play anymore. After all the years of wear they have every right to do what's best for them. I perfer that to someone who takes another teams offer and clearly stayed a year too long.

NYI Fan Central back in Season Mode

Next week will be a very busy time so I decided to pick today to roll out the new blog redesign and put back our traditional look as opposed to the opening of camp.

Outside of a few minor tweaks this is close to the final product and like the new prospects blog I think it's something everyone will enjoy.

One of the big new changes was a triple-column blog design so more items can be featured with less clutter. Another was the return of the labels so folks can link and find information. The old setup had so many tags I could not post tags any longer because the list ran longer than the page.

A new feeder tag was also added to each post along with the book marks so many of those old subscribe widgets could be deleted.

Eventually when games begin I will add in the scoreboard.

This season there will also be more live chat blogs during some games.

Thanks again to everyone.

Islander News Articles 9/3

Newsday: Katie Strang has an interview with Rick DiPietro regarding his health from last season through the summer and whether he will be at a hundred percent for the season opener, also a few words about Scott Gordon and how much he wants to play this season.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
What's never brought up is how well DiPietro played after the all-star break, how his surgically repaired hip reportedly had no problems all season nor did he suffer any concussions. I did not read all these things about his health when he returned for the playoffs against Buffalo last summer despite having surgery after the series.

One other huge difference no one has written about is DiPietro will have a lot more breaks in the schedule during the second half this season unlike last year where the club did not see one three day break after December aside from the ASG which is why all this talk about locking him into a set schedule now makes little sense just like it would for any other starter.

You can bet the folks in the media who have problems with DiPietro will make sure to always point out the downside first because part of this is about his relationship with the media and his contract.

You see the negative parts about Brodeur played up in the media as soon as he struggles but when he does well we read how under-rated he is or it's outright ignored. When Henrik Lundqvist plays with a family member sick he is praised or given excuses for mediocre play over a few months but when DiPietro suffers a loss in his family he is portrayed as a selfish player regardless of what he does.

Barrie Examiner: Ian Schantz speculates Tomas Marcinko will not be back with Barrie because he's signed by the Islanders.

Guerin, Weight, Colley, Wang & Expectations

NHL.com: Adam Kimmelman has a preview of the Islanders season where he looks at the offense, defense, goaltending and makes comparisions with last year's club and the coaching change.

Sporting News: Craig Custance has an article with captain Bill Guerin's comments about the expectations for the veterans on the club, the push for a playoff spot along with Doug Weight as the writer notes the nine players over age thirty and questions are they working in prospects or playing to win now?

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Islanders have nine players over thirty but the players with the long-term commitments are on defense in Streit, Martinek, Witt, Sutton.

Sillinger, Weight, Guerin are all in the final year of their contracts.
Sim and Richard Park have two year remaining on their contract.

On weak part here was linking to a Scott Burnside ranking from 7/25 from Mr Custance.

At least someone from a media outlet outside of Newsday picked up the telephone and got some comments.

NHL.com: Dan Rosen reports on the NHL media tour through the New York area which includes Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro.

Salt Lake Tribune: Maggie Thach reports former Islander and Sound Tiger Kevin Colley will be the Utah Grizzlies' new head coach taking over for Jason Christie, who recently announced he will take a job as an assistant coach for the AHL's reigning Calder Cup Champion Chicago Wolves.

A news conference to announce the new coach will be held at the E Center on Thursday at 1 p.m.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Notable because an assistant coach who just completed his first season will take over as head coach at age twenty nine. Chicago Wolves new coach (John Anderson was hired by Atlanta) so his replacement took a long time to hire an assistant.

Best of luck to Kevin Colley of course and Jason Kristie with the Chicago Wolves.

Quick Hits:
* Not taking sides but Sam Wyly yearly goes to court in what is nothing less than a yearly personal vendetta against Charles Wang that goes back to a proxy fight back in 2001. Last October Newsday reported a federal judge turned down his appeal and had some strong words for Mr Wyly here.

Of course that did not make it into Newsday's sports blog to make up for a lack of hockey information which is where fair questions have to be asked.

* Funny reading an article out of Toronto where the writer was happy to get anything to be rid of Bryan McCabe. I'd perfer Van Ryan and the cap space than the fourth and McCabe with that contract.

* Best of luck to Wade Flaherty who after a 19-year professional career, has ended his playing career in North America to join the Shanghai Sharks of Asia League Ice Hockey.

Tuesday Notables

Media Blog: Cory Witt in the Islanders media blog had a nice surprise, the numbers most of the prospects will wear in training camp.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
And just like that we can update the prospects blog with the numbers of the Bridgeport players. No point listing Josh Bailey's number because if he plays for New York it could change again.

Mark Wotton and another player have the number four, aside from Kurtis Foster who is more a Utah player all the numbers should be correct. Jesse Joensuu changed numbers from his one game last season, Colliton will again wear John Tonelli's twenty seven.

Islanders website: Jonathan Morvay reports on Islander prospect Kirill Petrov at the four nations tournament with Islanders Chief European Scout Vellu-Pekka Kautonen comments. Former Islander Sergei Nemchinov was coach of the team.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This article will be linked on the prospect blog in a special section for reference as will all updates like this.

Canadian Press/several outlets: Report Predators forward Alexandre Radulov has been suspended by the club without pay with general manager David Poile's comments.

Mike Van Ryan was traded to Toronto for Bryan McCabe and a fourth round draft pick as the saga finally ends, amazing anyone took that contract for anything.

SI.com: Darren Eliot has a few words on the new coaches with some speculation at how the transition will work for Scott Gordon with last year's assistant coaches.

Updated 10:30pm:
Newsday apparently want to make sure despite the lack of hockey blogs about the club we have the latest regarding old news on team owner Charles Wang here with a link to a news article on a sports blog.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is kind of a sad joke Newsday posted this on the Islander blog and just another example of the lack of professionalism at the paper. It belongs in the business section or the news section but apparently because of the lack of hockey information they throw us this to stir up the fans against the club once again?

Funny, I did not see negative articles about the countless lawsuits against the Dolans or the Garden posted on the Rangers blog?

Windsor Star: Jim Parker reports Islanders first round pick Josh Bailey came to camp briefly last week, but didn't scrimmage and returned to New York Thursday at the team's request even though the Islanders don't open camp for another 10 days.

Forward Preview Pt III: Park, Hilbert, Bergenheim

Tuesday we begin part three of our forward review with Richard Park, Andy Hilbert and Sean Bergenheim.

1. Andy Hilbert:
What can be written now that was not written a year ago about Andy Hilbert?

He can play defense, skates well and works hard which has kept him on the roster to this point but what he cannot do is finish.

He's had two years to follow up what he did in Pittsburgh but to this point has proven offensively he does not belong in a teams top nine forwards if you need a goal on one of the lowest scoring clubs in the NHL last year that just lost over forty goals. A third period where he missed a wide open net against the Rangers to date best sums up his Islander career in terms of his offensive play.

He played some center when Mike Sillinger went down and did not do a bad job, he also played some left wing on the first line with Guerin and Comrie and was visible with his effort but overall he is the wrong player for this team at this time on paper based on his Islander career to this point.

What's new is he has a coach who knows him from Providence in Scott Gordon. It's fair to write with Bergenheim, Comeau, Tambellini and Sim on the left and a host of third and fourth line centers (Sillinger, Nielsen, Walter, Park) even with his contract he has an uphill battle to keep a roster spot.

Andy Hilbert has a year left on his contract, I think he needs a dominating camp and some injuries to other forwards or I think he's in a trade or on waivers. On a team with limited offense his overall solid skating and defense is a luxury they cannot afford.

2. Richard Park:
It's going to be interesting to see what the coaching change does to Richard Park's status on this roster where he won over Ted Nolan and the fans with his effort.

He signed a two year extension so he will have a role but unlike last year I cannot see Scott Gordon playing him as Ted Nolan did because outside of his shorthanded play, skating and defense he simply cannot score enough to play in this club's top nine forwards. We saw it last season despite some timely scoring early but not nearly enough over eighty two games.

It's only a matter of when before his twenty-thirty game scoreless streak hits which has marked his career.

It's tough to see a spot for Richard Park here on paper but he will have one because of his contract.

I cannot see him on left wing for the same reasons as Hilbert. If Sillinger is healthy do you keep Nielsen from a roster spot for Park to play fourth line center to say nothing of Colliton or Walter?

So where do you play Park until an injury hits? Fourth line right wing where you want an enforcer or some marginal offensive upside like a Jackman or perhaps Joel Rechlicz for a game where you need a fighter dressed?

Park like Hilbert has a ton of character and grit to his game and will go through a wall for his team, but again he's not going to score and has no business being on the point for a powerplay.

This was a player who signed here on a tryout contract for a lot of reasons, the biggest one from here is his lack of scoring.

Plenty of questions, few answers.

3. Sean Bergenheim:
Bergenheim came back to the NHL last season off a years holdout, had to win over a new coach again and not only did that but was one of the few forwards who had a visible nightly impact where he was one of the hardest working forwards who created offense or powerplays by his ability to get into the dirty area's of the ice.

Few of the forwards even talk about him as a prospect because he plays like a veteran but many credited him for his effort at the end of the season, he is signed for the next two years.

Bergenheim's going to have to start all over again by continuing to do the same things under Scott Gordon because the left side is stacked with competition and unlike last year he's going to have to make strides in his ability to finish chances for goals and curb his temper which led to some good moments but also some penalties because of poor discipline or he could drop on the depth chart depending on how Tambellini, Comeau or Sim do.

Special teams play was solid for his limited looks, technically he has the hockey sense to make plays and elevate his game when needed and it's a skill that separates an NHL player from an AHL player. It will be interesting to see if a system change bring more offense out of Bergenheim, which has been the question since he was drafted in 2002 but I see him no lower than a third line left wing starting camp but that means someone plays fourth line and less minutes.

Hopefully an apparent injury at the World Championships is behind him.

I do not see Islander management changing him to a center given the depth at that position or the right side with Figren signed.

Next Up: Comeau, Okposo, Nielsen

Islander News Articles 9/2

Sarnia Observer: Dave Borody reports Islander prospect Justin DiBenedetto had two goals in a pre-season game against the London Knights.

Miami Herald: George Richard has the latest on the Bryan McCabe to Florida deal which will likely be announced today for Mike Van Ryn and draft picks exchanging hands.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had a few blog updates and reports Russ Moyer will be invited to Islanders training camp.

Mr Fornabaio also had a few words on Brandon Sugden and the article in the Post-Standard by Lindsay Kramer a few days ago about him not being allowed to tryout with the Islanders because he retired and three clubs voted to uphold the rule he must stay retired here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not much to write on any of this, a bit bush league on the rules regarding Sudgen considering he was playing in the same league Claude LaPointe was in and considering his father's condition this is a rule that needs to be looked at but he did retire on Syracuse which was not fair to them either.

I know nothing about Russ Moyer.

I guess the Panthers add some salary so Toronto can save money against the cap but this seems like a terrible move for Florida unless Toronto is sending a first round draft pick to the Panthers.

NYI Fan Central Update:
Major changes to the blog.....

We now have a second blog called NYI FAN CENTRAL PROSPECTS which is a brand new blog you can link to from the main page HERE and on the top of the blog tabs.

All Prospect, Bridgeport, Utah and Odessa Jackalopes sections have been transferred to that page and some new sections have been added like the Islanders Draft Central from June & July Prospect Camp Highlights.

The widget for all Junior League feeds and college has also been added to NYI Fan Central Prospects.

No blogs entries will be posted on that page, no comments permitted but it will have it's own special and unique look. This will clear up the clutter on the sidebar of this blog and help the pages load faster with a much better look I think everyone is going to like a lot.

As always all Prospect News, Sound Tiger updates and the World Junior Championships will have all News updates posted here.

This new blog is basically the sidebar for what used to be here but with a much better look.

Many changes to New York Islander Fan Central itself, some feeders moved or deleted because we had plenty of ways to subscribe already and a few things repeated in too many places are gone. Some scaled down features added back in like the standings and 08-09 schedule and a new look in terms of the graphics and presentation.

I think folks will also like the changes to this blog a lot also as we head toward the full rollout of the new features when training camp begins.

Any questions as always feel free to drop an e-mail.

Islander Notables/NYI Fan Central Update

Point Blank: Mr Botta had a blog update where he says Newsday will providing more Islander, Ranger and NHL coverage in the paper.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sounds nice, reads well but the Rangers should not be covered at all in Newsday for the same reasons the city editors do not cover the Islanders. If anything Newsday's editors should see the problems with the city papers and double-up on Islander coverage by using the Rangers space in the paper, eliminating all of their coverage.

What Mr Botta should be writing about is this little footnote below Steve Zipay's Rangers blog because that sums it up best about Newsday's increased coverage:

Think Long Island is really Rangers country? Prove it by visiting Steve Zipay's Rangers blog.

The circumstances are a joke considering the sports section is dominated by Islander advertising, so is the coverage and lack of blogs about our team.

No team in the US hockey markets has worse Newspaper coverage than the New York Islanders.

Dallas Morning News: Mike Heika previews the Eastern Conference and lists the Islanders fourteenth writing they appear ready to go with youth, yet they signed Doug Weight?

Mr Heika listed the Devils first or fighting for first based on Brodeur and signing Bobby (older than Weight) Holik.

Quick Hits:
* The Times has a feature on John Davidson of the Blues by media writer Richard Sandomir but did not send a reporter to Scott Gordon's press conference? Comical.

* Islanders have had a few website updates on Rick DiPietro at the NHL team store among other things.

* Tampa's new ownership must be clueless or worse giving up a first round pick for Andrej Meszaros who's a good defender but not equal to the value of a potential lottery pick in another great draft. If Garth Snow gave up his draft pick next summer for this he would be rightful crucified.

Also good for former Islander assistant Jeff Jackson of Notre Dame for blasting Lightning ownership for eliminating a prospect tournament in Tampa.

* Hopefully in a day or two we can stop talking about any Bryan McCabe updates.

NYI Fan Central Update:
Some necessary blog tweaking to make the page load faster with the new prospect center getting priority:

I'm considering opening a second NYI Fan Central Prospects blog for our prospect section.

* Schedule widget pulled for now which is available in several spots.
* NYI Fan Central Widget deleted, if you want it drop me an e-mail.
* Free agent section deleted, will return for trade deadline.
* Widget for junior prospect news deleted, prospect section and slow page loading with advertising not what I was looking for as Newsgator made some changes.

* Some blog header tweaking putting in Duane Sutter and pulling out Brent Sutter as were going for a core of the four centric look. Josh Bailey takes Jeremy Colliton's spot for now, Radek Martinek has his third jersey picture back and as soon as we can classic jersey pics for Nielsen, Tambellini, Bergenheim, Comeau they will be added.

* A core of the four header has been designed for special occasions and will be rolled out when appropriate.

* When camp opens our classic color-scheme with scoreboards, standings will return.

Thinking of Mississippi Sea Wolves

Some may not recall but a few years ago the Islanders signed an affiliation agreement with the Mississippi Sea Wolves in the ECHL, Steve Stirling at the time had a few words and the Islanders issued a release here.

Within days Biloxi suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina, resulting in extensive damage to the team’s home arena, including flood damage to team offices, locker rooms as well as the ice-making equipment, two Zambonis and had to suspend operations for two full seasons resuming play in 2007-08.

Unfortunately the Islanders former affiliate looks to be in the path of Hurricane Gustav as the club's website has posted a notice along with what preparations they have made here that the staff has left.

Folks, if you are going to pull for one minor league hockey franchise in your life this is the one that really could use your support today even if it's only a hopeful thought or two along with the thousands of people who will go through this again.

Thank You