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Koivula Recalled

More Relocated Games? Third Arena?

Maybe Wilpon told Bettman if MLB, can move Tampa games to Montreal, Nassau games can be moved to Quebec. That's three screen caps, on 7/16-10/6-now showing drop in games at both buildings. If it's true (and we have seen games moved on two weeks notice) Scott Malkin may have had enough of losing money in front of thousands of empty Nassau seats he can't give away with his 76 million dollar payroll, and NHL decided to let them move games to a third arena.
Jon Ledecky said 9/25/19 on video moving games to Nassau doubled season tickets, they just offered ssn ticket holders a free ticket to Arizona or Flyers game, and are announcing crowds around 9-10,000 fans that are clearly lower, with countless secondary market tickets available on game-day under ten dollars. Make of that what you will, same as Snow-Weight sat next to Ledecky, and went to World Championships, while NHL/Malkin were contacting Leafs about Lamoriello. Games have already been moved on two weeks notice.

Lamoriello: Injury Updates

Not getting lazy on header. No Dobson home blue image wearing current number (no third jersey's used here) so site will use whites at home a bit. Wahlstrom now has his NHL number wearing both uniforms, and it's Ho-Sang's former number so no Ho-Sang. Simon Holmstrom/Otto Koivula are the plan to be split on the headers wearing NHL camp numbers.

Six Straight Mediocre Wins/Notables

All wins are important, but there is winning that's built for the long run vs how they got to eight over in November-Dec 2017-18, while the roof was clearly caving in around them winning every game 6-5, and people did not care as long as they won. Like Buffalo last season, how you play goes beyond finding ways to win early.
Is that the case now? No, however, Barry Trotz, understands, and is mostly not satisfied with his team playing in spurts or outplayed as both goalies give them a chance to win.
Off the ice on 9/25 Ledecky said moving games to Nassau doubled the season ticket base, they gave away free tickets to ssn ticket holders, and the Coliseum was still half filled at best (and has been every game) also with tickets under ten dollars available, as usual that LI crew has been a joke in terms of fan support.
Travis Williams is going back to Pittsburgh for a baseball role with Pirates, and received more coverage than Barzal since he was drafted by Newsday, who largely checked out on NYI with Dolan's arena under construction, and the cost-cutting continuing by Pat Dolan via Debbie Kranek.
So our owners need someone else to run the business ops. Lamoriello does it in his late seventies, who's not been seen much, or they promote from within. Bottom line they go to Dolan's arena, and draw like this, the franchise will be re-located, and our owners are going to lose between 20-50 million this season. They need to go back to NYC, and stay at Barclay's to grow their fan base that is stronger there. Belmont is for Dolan, and his cronies like Oakview-Leiweke-Azoff, and Wilpon has a huge stake in this, he was not sitting there for his health. As Richard Browne said NYI are a 41 day tenant.
As for Ho-Sang, he can sit in Toronto until he's eligible for UFA in 2-3 years, unless the return is equal to his draft potential. He signed a contract, he can't even go to Europe.

New York Notables

Not the best of starts (nor was last season) with one regulation win, and clearly players struggling or hurt. Far from the team that worked the opposition into the ice so far, and no secondary scoring. Looks like goaltending split, with Varlamov finally giving them a solid start vs Florida.
Nice they held Blues to 23 shots, but Bennington does let up soft goals, and Boychuk's play was a miracle to keep the puck in.
Disappointed Ho Sang did not go to AHL, it's reasons like this why he cleared waivers, and perhaps cost himself a job with Eberle out. Says a lot when Wahlstrom takes his NHL number.
Lee has to be more than Mark Parrish, he was for years who scored with his skating, not parked in front of goal.
Dal Colle has never played RW, that kind of move is going to take time with Bailey on left wing, and Ladd practicing/Bellows in AHL.
Wrote a ton on twitter about pathetic attendance in Nassau, do see going to Dolan's Belmont as end of the franchise in this market when they go there to the same attendance. They needed to stay in NYC. These owners are spending 76 million, we got our answer, it was never winning, who owned the team or the payroll, just a market the NHL should want gone because they can's sellout 41 games under any circumstances or spend what many losing markets do for tickets.
Dolan's getting his Belmont gift from Cuomo, he wants the NHL map set back to 1971, he lost that chance in 2013, he'll likely get it with his AHL team at Belmont in the future.
Trotz seems a bit detached, this man has coached more than Al Arbour, his press conferences shorter, but his message solid. (the ones Msg does not heavily edit)
Like the powerplay, not the pk, but it's early. Clock should be ticking louder on Brassard if Koivula is his competition.
Loved Nassau video on ice, but building was not retrenched during renovation, and players are falling.
Two games until 10/24, time to get healthy, beat the team they won against in regulation.
As for attendance, really think NHL should move all weeknight Nassau games to Quebec, unless they get 13,000 full season tickets sold by 1/1/20. Keeping all Barclay's games. These owners are doing everything to keep this going, if MLB can do this, so can NHL. If our fans won't show up for these owners, why throw 76 million out the window to play in front of crowds of kids, with true attendance around 7-8,000.
Been writing about Nassau's failed attendance here since 2011, and nothing's changed since 1989.
NHL is a revenue generating business, it's time this fan base pulls it's weight, or other people should have the priviledge of a team.
You love these owners so much, they are doing everything possible, they are not being thanked for their efforts, and they are going to lose in my estimation about 40 million dollars playing in Nassau in front of empty sections. Why bother?
Ok, for now they keep playing hockey.
Northwell Health has Msg ads all over practice facility, and a prime Msg/Ranger sponsor. Naming rights?
Dolan's media gets very quiet when things venture near Msg involvement or all arena partners having to sign a lease, Newsday will never show the public. Don't count on any 2021 opening at this pace either.

New York Preview

Ok, time for short/honest version.
The most you can write about an NHL team entering a season is they are good enough to be in playoff contention, that's where the 2019-2020 New York Islanders start.
There will be ups/downs/likely more injuries, we'll know about Varlamov when we know. Some players will produce more, others less. Last year was the perfect ascent to a playoff spot, textbook. Having written that an expansion team made one final, another dead last in NHL on 1/2/19 won the cup.
There are times where it's reasonable to take the teams temperature, many do it daily/hourly for their resume. Not necessary.
Team did a video showing Coliseum ice plants, never imaged before. Great job.

New York Final Roster-All Waivers Clear..

Welcome to NHL Noah Dobson.