Islanders website: Report goaltender Al Montoya has signed a one year/one way contract with the Islanders for the 2011-12 season along with his comments here.
NYIFC Comments:
Congratulations to Al Montoya, he earned a contract based on his strong/consistent play over an extended period. To go to Bridgeport he would now have to clear waivers.
Kevin Poulin, Mikko Koskinen are both signed for next season. Anders Nilsson has to be signed this summer (22nd birthday) or like Stefan Ridderwall will be out of the organization. In short there seems to be no immediate place for advancement and that says nothing over lingering Nabokov waiver claim being tolled or any possible change in Rick DiPietro's status.
Unless a goalie under contract decides to go home next season I do not see any spot for UFA Nate Lawson.
Islanders Website: Report Doug Weight will not play this season with his comments on possible retirement.
“I would lean more towards retirement than I would playing (again), but by no means have I made that decision,” Weight said. “I don’t want to hang on. I just want to make sure my mind’s right. I feel like that’s my right. I’ve earned it over time, to make sure that’s what I want.”
Weight continued, “When I’m on the ice, I don’t feel out of place. I owe it to my family and myself to make the right decision.”
NYIFC Comments:
Time will tell regarding what Weight decides, but the center spot here is locked up. He has not proven he can hold up and frankly his resigning was for a second year a mistake that cost the club on the ice.
Mark Katic and Dylan Reese have been recalled from loan from Bridgeport for Jurcia and Gervais both out with injury.
NYIFC Comments:
Fair to write it's going to be very tough for Jack Capuano to build anything with this many injuries mounting up on the blueline in terms of any questions about his future status. To lose MacDonald is a game changer as it was in October, as we go deeper it gets even harder to play at high level the club was for so long.
Fair to write the club could end the season as it did when it fell out of contention. Kovalchuk will play against New York on Wednesday, Parise is still a question mark but practicing.
Defense: Hamonic, Reese, Wishart, Martinek, Katic & Jack Hillen.
Defense injured: Streit, Mottau, Eaton, Jurcina, MacDonald, Gervais.
Islanders website: Had interim head coach Jack Capuano's NHL interview today.
Islanders website: Also released another prospect report which recently has been a week occurrence.
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