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Welcome to OPENING NIGHT or Opening Night for the 2011-12 New York Islanders, depending on how you view the first game.
NYIFC goes with Opening Night.
Last season's 4-1-2, first place start became 5-18-3, so those putting huge stock in how a season begins, or media who were hyping the club early last season after Tavares beat Toronto in overtime, simply got selective amnesia a year later, as no one wrote about that this summer.
Just as few wrote about the injuries in previews, no one touched on the subject of man games lost to injury three of the last four years, however folks who follow the team here understand this.
As for New York Islander Fan Central, we will be sticking to the game plan released recently for the 2011-12 season here but felt an obligation to set everyone up as best as possible to begin the 2011-12 season, so a great deal was put into preseason for our readers.
Now we go into periodic updates, some by blog entries, others via twitter. Game by game updates for all eight two games (including a reduced eighty for Bridgeport) are a thing of the past, even in twitter format.
Our thoughts have been expressed endlessly on several subjects, now we will see how things play out on/off the ice.
Thank You and enjoy the 2011-12 hockey season for the New York Islanders, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and our teams prospects.
NYIFC prospect blog is an excellent resource to follow the upcoming players.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Florida at New York OPENING NIGHT or Opening Night
New York Islander Fan Central | 10/08/2011 07:10:00 AM
Thursday, October 6, 2011
New York Notables: Assistant Captains/Comeau Moving To RW
New York Islander Fan Central | 10/06/2011 06:17:00 PM
Blake Comeau
Brian Rolston
Jack Capuano
Jeremy Colliton
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ITV: Released interviews with Head Coach, Jack Capuano, and several of the players. The big news of the day is once again, Blake Comeau, changes postion to open the season as a right wing, despite the fact changing his position in the past has hurt his progression.
NYIFC Comments:
I saw Comeau in the video feed from Bridgeport playing right wing.
That likely means Rolston slides to left wing where he had his forty points in his final forty games a year ago vs a twenty four goal player, who's production has been very streaky at best over six months. History says, this hurts Comeau, who has struggled with this exact move made by several past coaches.
NYIFC twitter feed has notable moves on Thursday, which include assistant captains named, plus Jeremy Colliton being named Sound Tigers captain, with another menu of goal songs.
NHL.com: Has a recap of many of the ITV interviews Thursday.
Ct Post/Greenwich Times: Has Colliton's comments along with several players named as assistant captains.
Fort Erie Times: Includes a footnote that Jordan Bailey (brother of Josh Bailey) is the teams early leading scorer.
Here's NYIFC Official Vote for the permanent goal song---NOTHING BUT THE CLASSIC SIREN:
ITV: Released interviews with Head Coach, Jack Capuano, and several of the players. The big news of the day is once again, Blake Comeau, changes postion to open the season as a right wing, despite the fact changing his position in the past has hurt his progression.
NYIFC Comments:
I saw Comeau in the video feed from Bridgeport playing right wing.
That likely means Rolston slides to left wing where he had his forty points in his final forty games a year ago vs a twenty four goal player, who's production has been very streaky at best over six months. History says, this hurts Comeau, who has struggled with this exact move made by several past coaches.
NYIFC twitter feed has notable moves on Thursday, which include assistant captains named, plus Jeremy Colliton being named Sound Tigers captain, with another menu of goal songs.
NHL.com: Has a recap of many of the ITV interviews Thursday.
Ct Post/Greenwich Times: Has Colliton's comments along with several players named as assistant captains.
Fort Erie Times: Includes a footnote that Jordan Bailey (brother of Josh Bailey) is the teams early leading scorer.
Here's NYIFC Official Vote for the permanent goal song---NOTHING BUT THE CLASSIC SIREN:
Prediction In 2011-12 For New York? From Stanley Cup To 15th
New York Islander Fan Central | 10/06/2011 03:28:00 PM
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In many past years I would put the New York Islanders in the final playoff seed or last year, the pick was anywhere from second to fifteenth.
Other years:
2007-2008: Sixth Place
2008-2009: Sixth Place
This year we are going to go with a novel idea, and it's not based on doing a lazy preview, however one based on not only the New York Islanders, but the Eastern Conference/entire NHL.
The New York Islanders in 2011-12 could finish anywhere from first to fifteenth.
In many past years I would put the New York Islanders in the final playoff seed or last year, the pick was anywhere from second to fifteenth.
Other years:
2007-2008: Sixth Place
2008-2009: Sixth Place
This year we are going to go with a novel idea, and it's not based on doing a lazy preview, however one based on not only the New York Islanders, but the Eastern Conference/entire NHL.
The New York Islanders in 2011-12 could finish anywhere from first to fifteenth.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
New York Announces 23 Man Roster: Strome Staying For Now
New York Islander Fan Central | 10/05/2011 03:20:00 PM
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Islanders website: Announced it's twenty three man roster. Trevor Frischmon and Dylan Reese have been assigned to Bridgeport, Kirill Kabanov has been returned to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Forwards (13)
Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, Michael Grabner, Matt Martin, Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo, Jay Pandolfo, PA Parenteau, Marty Reasoner, Brian Rolston, Ryan Strome and John Tavares
Defensemen (7)
Mark Eaton, Travis Hamonic, Milan Jurcina, Andrew MacDonald, Mike Mottau, Steve Staios and Mark Streit
Goalies (3)
Rick DiPietro, Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov
Jeremy Colliton, Trevor Gillies, Mark Katic, Nino Niederreiter and Rhett Rakhshani are all listed on the team’s injured reserve list.
NYIFC Comments:
Strome and Niederreiter are likely tied together, however given practice lines, Parenteau, Okposo and Rolston are the right wingers with Pandolfo. After nine games off IR for Niederreiter, nine games for Strome, we will get our answers.
Notable is Jurcina is on active roster. As players come off injured reserve, expect some players to go to Bridgeport, but Katic is likely season, Rakhshani longer term.
Gillies, if injured, will likely be spotted, teams are not permitted to falsely list specific injuries per NHL rules beyond lower/upper body.
Ct Post: Going back to an earlier article from Michael Fornabaio, Tomas Marcinko could play in Bridgeport, if he wanted, so his contract is not NHL or Europe only.
Teams generally do not carry twenty three skaters for long.
Blair Betts is a center for those who wanted him claimed to play right wing.
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Hofstra Chronicle: Reports the teams radio contract is expected to continue for 2011-12, with an announcement Friday.
NYIFC Comments:
Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz treats the New York Islanders like the enemy, and seems very willing to let any mixed use development go next to his university per his lukewarm referendum comments back in May here and virtually no university support for their neighbor of forty years.
Islanders website: Announced it's twenty three man roster. Trevor Frischmon and Dylan Reese have been assigned to Bridgeport, Kirill Kabanov has been returned to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Forwards (13)
Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, Michael Grabner, Matt Martin, Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo, Jay Pandolfo, PA Parenteau, Marty Reasoner, Brian Rolston, Ryan Strome and John Tavares
Defensemen (7)
Mark Eaton, Travis Hamonic, Milan Jurcina, Andrew MacDonald, Mike Mottau, Steve Staios and Mark Streit
Goalies (3)
Rick DiPietro, Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov
Jeremy Colliton, Trevor Gillies, Mark Katic, Nino Niederreiter and Rhett Rakhshani are all listed on the team’s injured reserve list.
NYIFC Comments:
Strome and Niederreiter are likely tied together, however given practice lines, Parenteau, Okposo and Rolston are the right wingers with Pandolfo. After nine games off IR for Niederreiter, nine games for Strome, we will get our answers.
Notable is Jurcina is on active roster. As players come off injured reserve, expect some players to go to Bridgeport, but Katic is likely season, Rakhshani longer term.
Gillies, if injured, will likely be spotted, teams are not permitted to falsely list specific injuries per NHL rules beyond lower/upper body.
Ct Post: Going back to an earlier article from Michael Fornabaio, Tomas Marcinko could play in Bridgeport, if he wanted, so his contract is not NHL or Europe only.
Teams generally do not carry twenty three skaters for long.
Blair Betts is a center for those who wanted him claimed to play right wing.
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Hofstra Chronicle: Reports the teams radio contract is expected to continue for 2011-12, with an announcement Friday.
NYIFC Comments:
Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz treats the New York Islanders like the enemy, and seems very willing to let any mixed use development go next to his university per his lukewarm referendum comments back in May here and virtually no university support for their neighbor of forty years.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
New York Signs Ryan Strome, Jay Pandolfo
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Islanders website: Reports Ryan Strome has signed an entry level contract with his comments. General manager, Garth Snow, also is quoted on the signing here.
Islanders website: Announced the signing of Jay Pandolfo with his comments, to a one year deal.
NYIFC Comments:
Strome was an inevitable signing, I would be shocked if he is not sent back to his junior team on Wednesday, given he has not been practicing with the top lines at his natural position of center. The club has it's four centers, with Niederreiter and Rolston the right wings for the top three lines.
Not a big fan of the Pandolfo signing, I would be mildly disappointed if he was given a one-way contract, given he was a former AHL signing. Bottom line when you get past everything the question is can a fourth line of Gillies/Martin-Reasoner-Pandolfo, be a plus line?
Winning fights by appointment, sending messages are fine/necessary at times, but a team needs to outscore it's opposition along with playing quality defense.
A fourth line that has to be hidden after a goal, who's tone-setting ceiling, is to come out of a shift even, is not going to produce enough to help an offense.
Ultimately all it does is eat minutes.
Islanders website: Reports Ryan Strome has signed an entry level contract with his comments. General manager, Garth Snow, also is quoted on the signing here.
Islanders website: Announced the signing of Jay Pandolfo with his comments, to a one year deal.
NYIFC Comments:
Strome was an inevitable signing, I would be shocked if he is not sent back to his junior team on Wednesday, given he has not been practicing with the top lines at his natural position of center. The club has it's four centers, with Niederreiter and Rolston the right wings for the top three lines.
Not a big fan of the Pandolfo signing, I would be mildly disappointed if he was given a one-way contract, given he was a former AHL signing. Bottom line when you get past everything the question is can a fourth line of Gillies/Martin-Reasoner-Pandolfo, be a plus line?
Winning fights by appointment, sending messages are fine/necessary at times, but a team needs to outscore it's opposition along with playing quality defense.
A fourth line that has to be hidden after a goal, who's tone-setting ceiling, is to come out of a shift even, is not going to produce enough to help an offense.
Ultimately all it does is eat minutes.
Monday, October 3, 2011
New York Notables: Update on Willets Point
New York Islander Fan Central | 10/03/2011 02:52:00 PM
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Updated:
Nino Niederreiter and Trevor Gillies have been placed on injured reserve retroactive to September 30th, while Jack Capuano addresses remaining cuts here before decision day on Wednesday. Jay Pandolfo, Trevor Frischmon both comment.
Islanders website: Earlier twitter feed/NYIFC had the lines at practice.
Niederreiter did not participate, Rolston did on right wing, with Bailey/Comeau while Parenteau was on the first line right wing spot with Moulson/Tavares.
Ct Post: Reports center, Chris Langkow is in on a tryout contract. Mark Katic, Rhett Rakhshani and Jeremy Colliton, all on NHL injured reserve, are in Bridgeport.
NYIFC Comments:
Kabanov has to go to the Montreal Junior/re-branded team (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)or stay with the Islanders, he is not eligible to play in Bridgeport, same for Ryan Strome. (who is not signed)
A few players with the Islanders are likely headed down to make the final cut which will likely include Trevor Frischmon/Dylan Reese, who have already cleared waivers.
As out twitter feed wrote earlier, if Jay Pandolfo is practicing on a fourth line with Reasoner/Martin, expect a signing of Pandolfo or some other kind of transaction/trade/signing.
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Crains New York: Reported among the early bidders for Willets Point, there was speculation, Charles Wang, was asked to partner with a developer, however at this time is nothing can be confirmed based on lack of direct comments.
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Winnipeg Free Press: Assigned Jason Gregiore to the AHL.
Updated:
Nino Niederreiter and Trevor Gillies have been placed on injured reserve retroactive to September 30th, while Jack Capuano addresses remaining cuts here before decision day on Wednesday. Jay Pandolfo, Trevor Frischmon both comment.
Islanders website: Earlier twitter feed/NYIFC had the lines at practice.
Niederreiter did not participate, Rolston did on right wing, with Bailey/Comeau while Parenteau was on the first line right wing spot with Moulson/Tavares.
Ct Post: Reports center, Chris Langkow is in on a tryout contract. Mark Katic, Rhett Rakhshani and Jeremy Colliton, all on NHL injured reserve, are in Bridgeport.
NYIFC Comments:
Kabanov has to go to the Montreal Junior/re-branded team (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)or stay with the Islanders, he is not eligible to play in Bridgeport, same for Ryan Strome. (who is not signed)
A few players with the Islanders are likely headed down to make the final cut which will likely include Trevor Frischmon/Dylan Reese, who have already cleared waivers.
As out twitter feed wrote earlier, if Jay Pandolfo is practicing on a fourth line with Reasoner/Martin, expect a signing of Pandolfo or some other kind of transaction/trade/signing.
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Crains New York: Reported among the early bidders for Willets Point, there was speculation, Charles Wang, was asked to partner with a developer, however at this time is nothing can be confirmed based on lack of direct comments.
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Winnipeg Free Press: Assigned Jason Gregiore to the AHL.
Staios, Eaton, Mottau, Jurcina And Injuries A Concern
New York Islander Fan Central | 10/03/2011 03:53:00 AM
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I would have taken Bryan McCabe over Steve Staios. Of course, my choice would have been Calvin deHaan, Ty Wishart over both with Mark Katic. This could also put Matt Donovan or Aaron Ness in the picture earlier.
Steve Staios is not a good payoff for a summer of waiting to wind up with a very limited, injury prone veteran.
Radek Martinek is clearly an excellent player to skate the puck out of the defensive zone, even without the new rules on hits to the head/boarding, Martinek would have been the better choice over Staios. Arguably, you could make the point Jack Hillen and Bruno Gervais also better.
Simply put you put all those veterans (Mottau/Eaton) off long injuries with Streit, coming off a year without playing, who looked perfect in all three preseason games, Hamonic and a returning from a six month injury, Andrew MacDonald, there is something to be very concerned about beyond all three goaltenders injury concerns.
Big, slow, injury prone (or coming off injury) and no big hitters, in general, is not good way to start an offensive rush or clear the defensive zone.
Mottau, Eaton were not injury prone prior to last season, neither was Streit, so this could work, however nothing a substitute for games, so rust had to be expected.
You could see some standing around or slow reactions from Eaton/Mottau in preseason.
Jurcina is always a concern in these departments.
Still, on paper, it's not very impressive at the moment.
I would have taken Bryan McCabe over Steve Staios. Of course, my choice would have been Calvin deHaan, Ty Wishart over both with Mark Katic. This could also put Matt Donovan or Aaron Ness in the picture earlier.
Steve Staios is not a good payoff for a summer of waiting to wind up with a very limited, injury prone veteran.
Radek Martinek is clearly an excellent player to skate the puck out of the defensive zone, even without the new rules on hits to the head/boarding, Martinek would have been the better choice over Staios. Arguably, you could make the point Jack Hillen and Bruno Gervais also better.
Simply put you put all those veterans (Mottau/Eaton) off long injuries with Streit, coming off a year without playing, who looked perfect in all three preseason games, Hamonic and a returning from a six month injury, Andrew MacDonald, there is something to be very concerned about beyond all three goaltenders injury concerns.
Big, slow, injury prone (or coming off injury) and no big hitters, in general, is not good way to start an offensive rush or clear the defensive zone.
Mottau, Eaton were not injury prone prior to last season, neither was Streit, so this could work, however nothing a substitute for games, so rust had to be expected.
You could see some standing around or slow reactions from Eaton/Mottau in preseason.
Jurcina is always a concern in these departments.
Still, on paper, it's not very impressive at the moment.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
New York Makes It's First Cuts
New York Islander Fan Central | 10/02/2011 07:50:00 PM
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Islanders website: Announced Sunday, Michael Haley, Sean Backman, Casey Cizikas, Justin DiBenedetto, Brett Gallant, Tomas Marcinko, Tyler McNeely, Tony Romano, David Ullstrom and Tim Wallace, along with defensemen Calvin de Haan, Matt Donovan, Anton Klementyev, Aaron Ness, Benn Olson and Ty Wishart, Mikko Koskinen, Anders Nilsson and Kevin Poulin, have all been assigned to Bridgeport.
Islanders website: With changes are still carrying extra forwards, defenders that for now include Niederreiter, Strome, Pandolfo, Frischmon, Kabanov, with Dylan Reese as the eighth defender, but give out the complete depth chart for now, including injured reserve.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports the group sent to Bridgeport will begin practice at Webster Bank Arena Monday, under new head coach, Brent Thompson.
NYIFC Comments:
We have to see how this plays out but twenty eight is likely already less Trevor Frischmon, Reese already having cleared waivers, Kabanov and Strome likely ticketed for juniors.
Given rule changes for hitting from behind vs age/durability, Steve Staios is a downgrade from Radek Martinek by a lot.
Haley is a mild surprise which could mean well mean Pandolfo receives a contract, or some other transaction is coming. Obviously still a lot to work out to get down to twenty three players.
Tsn.ca: Report on several players on waivers, including former Islander, Ryan O'Marra.
Islanders website: Announced Sunday, Michael Haley, Sean Backman, Casey Cizikas, Justin DiBenedetto, Brett Gallant, Tomas Marcinko, Tyler McNeely, Tony Romano, David Ullstrom and Tim Wallace, along with defensemen Calvin de Haan, Matt Donovan, Anton Klementyev, Aaron Ness, Benn Olson and Ty Wishart, Mikko Koskinen, Anders Nilsson and Kevin Poulin, have all been assigned to Bridgeport.
Islanders website: With changes are still carrying extra forwards, defenders that for now include Niederreiter, Strome, Pandolfo, Frischmon, Kabanov, with Dylan Reese as the eighth defender, but give out the complete depth chart for now, including injured reserve.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports the group sent to Bridgeport will begin practice at Webster Bank Arena Monday, under new head coach, Brent Thompson.
NYIFC Comments:
We have to see how this plays out but twenty eight is likely already less Trevor Frischmon, Reese already having cleared waivers, Kabanov and Strome likely ticketed for juniors.
Given rule changes for hitting from behind vs age/durability, Steve Staios is a downgrade from Radek Martinek by a lot.
Haley is a mild surprise which could mean well mean Pandolfo receives a contract, or some other transaction is coming. Obviously still a lot to work out to get down to twenty three players.
Tsn.ca: Report on several players on waivers, including former Islander, Ryan O'Marra.
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