Newsday: Greg Logan's article has Nikita Filatov's comments he likes the Islanders a lot and refused a new contract in Russia. Colin Wilson said New York is definitely a place he would like to go as he talked about being a teammate with former BU player Rick DiPietro and that Kyle Okposo his teammate from the World Juniors has told him nothing but good things.
Luke Schenn talked about his interview process with the Islanders as Alex Pietrangelo said the group got a tour of New York City and was pretty happy with how the meetings went and would like to be part of the Islanders rebuild. Zach Bogosian visited separately and had dinner with former Isles defenseman Eric Cairns and Ryan Jankowski and said he would try to do everything in his power to help the organization and that team win.
At the end Mr Logan had to throw in a quick dig that it looks like the Islanders cannot go wrong but we know better.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
Why ruin a great update with that at the end? If Snow screws up knock yourself out but for now spare us please.
Newsday: Katie Strang has an update on potential draft pick Jordan Nolan with his commets along with Islander coach Ted Nolan.
Los Angeles Times : Lisa Dillman reports the Los Angeles King intend to keep their second overall pick with Dean Lombardi's confirmation Thursday night that he has had offers from three teams in the last two weeks for the No. 2 pick (widely expected to be Doughty, a defenseman with the Guelph Storm). The most recent proposal came Tuesday, essentially a three-for-one deal -- a current player, a prospect and a draft choice for the pick but went to Kings ownership as he had with the other two, recommended they reject the offer and that everyone wanted to keep the selection.
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler has Thrasher's gm Don Waddell comments that he thinks we're going to get a defenseman we could have for years to come who's a special player with the writer speculating between
Zach Bogosian or Drew Doughty.
St Louis Post-Dispatch: All of Blues writer Jeremy Rutherford's Thursday articles were about defense including his speculation in a q & a with fans that he got the impression that the Blues don't think Filatov is ready.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
Nothing directly quoted from Blues management on this.
Globe & Mail: Tim Wharnsby speculates in an article about Steven Stamkos that the Kings are expected to select Guelph Storm defenceman Drew Doughty and the Atlanta Thrashers would settle for Peterborough Petes blueliner Zach Bogosian. The St. Louis Blues are believed to have their eye on Kelowna Rockets defenceman Luke Schenn, leaving Russian forward Nikita Filatov for New York in the fifth slot.
In the I'm too lazy to give a link department but check feeders:
Tsn.ca reported Toronto traded a third rounder to St Louis for Jamal Mayers.
Sportsnet claims but not confirmed Flyers could resign Jeff Carter for theee year at fifteen million.
Tsn confirms Atlanta has hired John Anderson from the Chicago Wolves as it's new head coach.
Updated Friday 10:00am
Thrasher's gm Don Waddell has denied Anderson has been hired yet as of late Thursday night in the AJC.
Michael Fornabaio reported in his Ct Post blog Steve Stirling will be coaching the
Iserlohn Roosters, a European club among several items.
The Predators reached an agreement in principle with Dan Ellis on a multi-year deal and then traded goaltender Chris Mason to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a fourth round pick in this year’s draft.
Updated 10:00 am
Eric Times: Victor Fernandez has a few words from draft eligible prospect Cullen Eddy from Mercyhurst College about the Isles who last year contacted his coach and told was told by club officials that Eddy would be chosen after they conducted a psychological test during the season and an interview a week before the draft but was not selected.
Greenwich Time: David Fierro reports Cam Atkinson of Boston College is projected to be a middle-to-late-round pick in the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft tomorrow after not being selected a year ago, the Islanders are one of several teams that have expressed interest but Washington has been the most aggressive.
Montreal Gazette: Pat Hickey has an interview with Nikita Filatov where writer speculation is he will be available to the Islanders or Columbus.