Newsday: Greg Logan's article has Rick DiPietro's comments that he has not been cleared to take shots in practice and the medical staff wants to go slow with his recovery as goaltending coach Sudarshan Maharaj comments on what can be done to get him ready.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
I may be in the minority here but if the Islanders felt Rick DiPietro would not be ready for the opener they would add an experienced NHL goaltender. For now I think they are going to be conservative and protect his long-term health which of course is the correct move as the other goaltenders get an opportunity. Flyers added a goaltender because of Antero Niittymaki's injury and I suspect we will see something along the same lines if it comes to that.
Which of course we be a problem unless that goaltender can hold the club in.
Having written this it's not that long until the opener, not for DiPietro, Sillinger or anyone else who cannot go.
What did interst me is where is Garth Snow's goaltending coach, Mike Dunham or is he working with other prospects? Seems like Sudarshan Maharaj since the tail end of last season has been back with the club in some capacity.
Newsday: Katie Strang has a feature on Brandon Sugden with his comments along with his father on the opportunity he has to compete in training camp and what it took for the league to allow this.
Islansers website: Jason Lockhart had Saturday afternoon updates on day one of camp with comments from Head Coach Scott Gordon, Doug Weight, Kyle Okposo, Bob Nystrom, Chris Campoli, Mark Streit and Chief European Scout Veli-Pekka Kautonen on 2006 Draft pick Jesse Joensuu. A second update here: has captain Bill Guerin comments on practice while Scott Gordon felt the players grasped the overall system following five straight hours of practice but like rookie camp felt there was some indecisiveness that will improve.
The Islanders new head coach also talked a lot about pushing the play in all three zones and that the players have to be conditioned in practice while learning the system and this is how practice will be all the time while not just going through the motions to learn as this is the message he wants to send to everyone in the Islanders system at all levels.
Also for the early part of camp and preseason because of players who will not be in the lineup the coach will not be working on special team until later after the first game on Tuesday or beyond.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is a very technical coach Garth Snow hired and unlike one I can recall seeing here maybe going back to Al Arbour. A lot differnt from Ted Nolan who was not known
as a systems coach.
I hope Garth Snow has his back if anyone does not want to play his system or work as hard as he wants them to, this coach will not be going through the motions and it all sounds very impressive and at the very least he has a plan for this specific roster.
The big question is can he find twenty players not only willing to buy into his system but the ability to play it?
Daily News: John Dellapina reports he is leaving the Daily News to become NHL media relations coordinator.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
I wonder if Chris Botta applied or reached out for the position? Not good news for the New York Islanders with another Ranger salesman joining his former counterpart in Frank Brown or Colin Campbell (among many for Rangers) at the league office.
Given the New York Islanders are not represented with a full time beatwriter with an blog no replacement should be hired but there is a coverage double-standard in this market when it comes to NHL hockey and a replacement was named.