SoundTigers.com: Previews tonight's game, reports prospect Jesseu Joensuu this week signed an ATO contract (amateur tryout contract) and could play as soon as the weekend for Bridgeport with assistant coach Bernie Cassell working with him.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio outlines all the players returned to Bridgeport with Jack Capuano's comments. C Ben Walter missed practice Tuesday with a grion injury.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
WHEN — Tonight, 7:05
WHERE — Wachovia Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
ON THE AIR — Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com
Kingston Whig Standard: Patrick Kennedy reports Bryan Trottier and Bill Smith will be playing in a legends game.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazettte: Dave Molinary has Sidney Crosby's comments that he wants to return against the Islanders Thursday and Brent Sutter talks about some things Al Arbour taught him about coaching.
ECHL.com: Florida Everblades Derek Damon talks of almost being signed by the Islanders after a good camp last summer but they decided not to.
Point Blank: CHris Botta in his blog wonders how come the Rangers and Devils are barely noticed in the media these days.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
I hate to break it to Mr Botta but it's been this way since before the lockout ended and long before that. Cablevision controlling and limiting the Islanders and Devils have hurt the Rangers.
When NASCAR outdoes a Ranger playoff game with Islander, Ranger and Devils fans watching to help ratings in New York by thirty eight percent there is no longer any hiding from the truth unless Barry Watkins, Al Trautwig or someone on the Cablevision payroll has to do so to keep their job.
Ranger fans in the media like Larry Brooks (between baseball articles) John Dellapina, Sam Weinman, Jay Greenberg will all be out in force selling their team come playoff time regardless if anyone notices. I would guess Mark Herrmann will be doing likewise in Newsday with Steve Zipay if the Rangers qualify. Mark Everson will keep the glass half-empty for the Devils in the Post until they win a cup and then make sure to tell the public how no one is noticing if they do win.
The Islanders few Newsday backpages are the only full backpages for any hockey in New York this season besides small snippets. Someone wins a cup it will be a story for a few days but first big Yankee-Met-Sox game comes along that's it for hockey and you can bet the baseball writers which are a huge following make up a large influence over what the editors do.
Baseball is enormous big business for the papers,the editors and that's where the advetising dollars go and what the fans want.
Eight million people will attend baseball games this year in New York.
Just a recap:
September-October:
Baseball-football with a heavy emphasis on baseball fallout from losing and gossip with tons of rumors. Knicks gossip and turmoil. Mets were a soap oprea and a huge storyline with Yankees losing division. World Series, baseball playoffs, Torre not resigned.
November-Baseball gossip/rumors signings, football, more Knicks gossip and complaining about the team losing. Hew Yankee manager announced, anything Alex Rodriguez.
December-Winter meetings, football big games and tons of media gossip. Indifference to Knicks finally settles in media, College football bowl games.
January-Football playoffs, a little less baseball unless steriods surfaces than it dominates media at all times. Anything Tiger Woods.
Februay-Superbowl, spring training dominates with tons of media in Florida.
March-More baseball rumors and gossip. March Madness college basketball, right up to opening day for baseball.
April-Baseball begins, huge storylines, Masters Golf, NFL draft, first big rivalry games. Final years at Yankee and Shea Stadium.
Anyone who does not believe me feel free to purchase a newspaper snd how much baseball and other sports content you have to see before finally finding that one small article for hockey in New York.