NYI Fan Central Live Interactive Blog 7pm

I will keep updating the NHL threads and the Isles thread if something breaks but this will be our official blog for the chat which will go live at 7pm.

7/1 Free Agency/Completed Deals

Ok, here we go.

Signings/trades many moves determine what general managers feel they can sign which players.

Will keep updating here as moves filter in.
TIME (ET) TRANSACTION

9:58PM Boston sign forward Michael Ryder to a 3-year deal worth $12 million

9:50PM Rangers re-signed goaltender Steve Valiquette (undisclosed)

8:06PM New York Islanders sign defenceman Mark Streit to a five-year contract worth $20.5 million

7:59PM Minnesota sign forward Craig Weller to a two-year contract worth $600,000 a season

7:44PM Tampa Bay Lightning sign forward David Koci to a one-year, two-way deal worth $525,000 in the NHL, $100,000 in the minors

7:37PM Rangers sign UFA defenceman Wade Redden to a six-year contract worth $39 million

7:18PM New Jersey Devils sign UFA forward Bobby Holik to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million

6:42PM Toronto Maple Leafs sign UFA forward Niklas Hagman to a four-year contract worth $12 million

6:42PM Rangers re-sign UFA defenceman Michael Rozsiva to a four-year deal
worth $20 million

New Jersey resigned Barry Tallackson & David Clarkson

6:34PM Vancouver Canucks sign UFA forward Darcy Hordichuk to a two-year deal

6:33PM Philadelphia Flyers sign UFA forward Nate Raduns to a one-year

6:32PM Philadelphia Flyers sign UFA forward Glen Metropolit to a two-year deal

6:24PM New Jersey signs UFA forward Brian Rolston to a four year deal worth $20-million

6:15PM New York Rangers sign UFA forward Patrick Rissmiller to an undisclosed deal

6:06PM Philadelphia signs UFA defenceman Ossi Vaananen to a one year deal worth
$1-million

6:01PM Columbus signs UFA defenceman Mike Commodore to a 5 year deal worth $18.75-million

5:40PM Chicago signs UFA defenceman Brian Campbell to an 8 year deal worth $56.8-million

5:04PM Buffalo signs UFA goaltender Patrick Lalime to a 2 year deal worth $2-million

4:27PM Ottawa signs UFA goaltender Alex Auld to a 2 year deal worth $1-million

4:14PM Tampa Bay signs UFA goaltender Olaf Kolzig to a 1 year deal worth $1.5-million (plus bonuses)

4:02PM Colorado signs UFA forward Darcy Tucker to a 2 year deal worth $4.5-million

3:49PM Vancouver signs RFA forward David Backes to an offer sheet, 3 years
$7.5-million. St. Louis has seven days to match or accept a 2nd round draft pick as compensation.

3:43PM Chicago signs UFA goaltender Cristobal Huet (undisclosed)

3:41PM Florida signs UFA forward Cory Stillman to a 3 year deal worth $10.6-million
3:40PM NY Rangers sign UFA forward Aaron Voros (undisclosed)

3:40PM Pittsburgh signs UFA forward Eric Godard to a 3 year deal (undisclosed)

3:38PM Tampa Bay signs UFA forward Adam Hall to a 3 year deal worth $1.8-million

3:24PM Toronto signs UFA goaltender Curtis Joseph to a 1 year deal worth $700,000

3:24PM Toronto signs UFA defenceman Jeff Finger to a 4 year deal worth $3.5-million a season

Note-Who the heck is Jeff Finger? I guess this means McCabe will be forced to stay home given their blueline?

3:09PM Phoenix signs UFA forward Todd Fedoruk to a 3 year deal (undisclosed)

3:07PM Detroit signs UFA G Ty Conklin to a 1 year deal worth $750,000

3:07PM Montreal re-signs RFA forward Andrei Kostitsyn to a 3 year deal worth
$3.25-million a season

3:03PM Colorado signs UFA G Andrew Raycroft to a 1 year deal worth $800,000

2:53PM Washington signs UFA G Jose Theodore to a 2 year deal (undisclosed)

2:50PM Phoenix signs UFA D Kurt Sauer to a 4 year deal (undisclosed)

2:02PM Pittsburgh Penguins re-sign UFA D Mark Eaton to a 2 year deal worth $2-million

1:58PM Minnesota Wild sign UFA forward Andrew Brunette (undisclosed)

1:33PM Vancouver signs RFA forward Kyle Wellwood to a 1 year deal worth $997,500.

12:55PM Boston signs UFA forward Blake Wheeler to an entry-level contract.

12:42 pm Radim Vrbata signs with Tampa Bay Avg. yearly value:
$3 million Length of contract: TBD

Carolina resigned Anton Babchuk after playing in Europe.

12:07 PM Curtis Joseph signs a deal with the Leafs.

12:04PM Anaheim re-sign forward Corey Perry to a five-year deal worth $26.625-million which will average $5.325-million a year.

11:58AM Pittsburgh Penguins sign forward Pascal Dupuis to a three-year deal which will average $1.4-million per year.

11:58AM Detroit Red Wings and veteran defenseman Brad Stuart have agreed to terms on a 4 year contract that averages 3.75 per year.

11:35AM New Jersey re-signs forwards Jay Pandolfo (undisclosed) David Calrkson (undisclosed) and Barry Tallackson (undisclosed). Declines option on forward Sergei Brylin.

10:21AM New Jersey agrees to terms with defenceman Bryce Salvador to a four-year deal worth $11.6 million (average of $2.9 million per season).

8:45AM Washington re-signs defenceman Mike Green to a four-year deal worth $21 million (average of $5.25 million per season).
*********************************************************
Trades:
Sportsnet.ca -- The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired Patrik Hersley and left wing Ned Lukacevic from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenseman Denis Gauthier and their second round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the teams announced Tuesday.
********************************************************
Nashville trades defenceman Marek Zidlicky to Minnesota for prospect Ryan Jones from Miami of Ohio and a second round pick.
********************************************************
The Oilers have traded left winger Raffi Torres to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for 21-year-old centre Gilbert Brule, and sent defenceman Joni Pitkanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for winger Erik Cole.
********************************************************
The Calgary Flames have acquired restricted free agent forward Rene Bourque from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.
********************************************************

Islander News Articles 7/1

First off my thanks at the NHL for moving the start of free agency to 12pm as opposed to midnight.

Newsday: Greg Logan has Garth Snow's comments that he just does not want to bring in older players that would force some young players to Bridgeport and that he wants to give the young players an opportunity to come into training camp and earn their spot. The gm also said if some of the young players perform at the level they finished at last season, it won't be an issue but that he has to strike a balance between veterans and young players. He also was quoted that many clubs in this league win with a young roster and does not buy it will be a season of losing and learning.

The gm was asked about offer sheets to group II players but said it's not something he's looking at but will never say never.

Mr Logan for his part speculated about a dozen or so players and added although Garth Snow might bid on a high-end goal scorer such as Marian Hossa it would be a long shot to sign him, but he might add an experienced veteran who could mentor young kids who will be playing to take some pressure off them. He also notes an opening at center and mentions Doug Weight because he played with Bill Guerin in Edmonton.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I hope like the draft no one expected Garth Snow to tell us his exact plan. We will see if he is interested in bidding on any unrestricted free agents today and in the days ahead by his actions but it seems he needs one player up front and one on the backline unless he expects his current roster to replace the forty goals that seem to be departing in Satan, Fedotenko and Vasicek up front to go with Berard and even Bergeron who was moved at the deadline.

As for Mr Logan he did a lot of speculation on players after reminding us who left last July 1st (when the Isles decided not to resign them) and had a few names I did not have on my list and some good ones. He did correctly ask Snow if his comments about prospects mean a season of losing and learning which the general manager did not buy but could turn out that way and has to be written.

Note:
Mark Everson reported on the Devils, Larry Brooks reported on the Rangers like he draws a second salary from Cablevision. New York Islanders did not have one word written about them going into the first day of free agency. The Daily News was it's usual Islander no-show with coverage. It is hysterical reading Mr Brooks defend Jagr for the same things he used to bash Alexei Yashin for, even after Jagr admitted he picked his spots last season.

Good news is Mr Brooks was so busy playing rotisserie Rangers he did not have space to bash the Isles. Although it does beg the question why did the Post interview Snow before the draft and not before free agency?

Point Blank: Mr Botta writes in his blog the Islanders will sign Doug Weight within the next two weeks and makes a case for why he should be added to the team. He also has another blog about why the club should make a run at UFA Brian Campbell.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not much else to add if Mr Botta says the club will sign Doug Weight within two weeks and writes it as if it's a done deal.

I'm not a big fan of the move at all because he did not have a good season last year and is the kind of player who needs talent around him to generate his numbers at this point in his career. Contrary to Mr Botta's perspective he just does not seem like the correct center to ride shotgun for Mike Comrie next season if your plan is to work in prospects or go with franchise talents to replace veterans.

If your going to sign Weight it begs the question why not just give Vasicek another contract extension because he is younger and outproduced him a year ago?

Brian Campbell I gave my comments on yesterday, not much else to add other than Mr Botta is going all out as usual and whether I agree or disagree with the blogs I sure appreciate the hard work and effort.

Tsn.ca: Bob McKenzie reports because the current cba is only four years until the NHLPA decides whether to extend it for two more years it will be tougher for teams to include bonus money in contract offers because it would have to count against this years salary cap.

Kukla's Corner: Paul Kukla's site from the NHL has a list of all outlets to watch/listen to free agency coverage on Tuesday.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I picked out the two free radio/webcast outlets and put them on the sidebar for everyone to access. Many of these other outlets require pay subscriptions (XM) or to this point have not provided a live feed like Tsn who will only be on television for a limited time because of Wimbledon.

Note:
My thanks to the folks over at Kukla's Korner who were kind enough to add tonight's live chat here to their list of hockey-related events. Anyone who is having a live blog (I know Tony Stabile at Islesnation.com) is having one around 12pm or 1pm feel free to contract them and ask it be included and as always Tony will do a great job.

NHL Network here is scheduled to show XM radio from 12-2pm, with Tsn's free agency show scheduled from 5-6pm & 7-8pm.

Note-If anyone has anything free for folks to access on live radio/webcast please respond and tell me so everyone has some access.

Boston Globe: Kevin-Paul Dupont reports former Islander Petteri Nokelainen, agreed to terms with the Bruins on a two-year contract that will pay him an average of $850,000 per season according to a league source.

Courier Post: Chuck Gormley speculates among a bunch of players listed the Flyers could have an interest in Bryan Berard.

Times & Transcript: Neil Hodge reports the Russian Federation is threatening some of its best young players if they come to North America and don't make the NHL next season, they will be suspended from playing for Russian national teams for four years with Nikita Filatov's quoted comments in an article that mentions Islander pick Kirill Petrov but also has a few words on this from former Islander assistant coach, Danny Flynn.

Journal News: Rick Carpiniello in a sports uppdate takes a little shot at Garth Snow asking that somebody tell Islanders GM Garth Snow that the object of the NHL draft isn't to see how long you can go without making a pick.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Journal News with writers like Andrew Gross used to give the Isles the same amount of coverage the News and Post do now. Mr Carpiniello always was good for a few cheapshots at the Isles and always seemed a big time Ranger homer.

CBS Sportsline: Wes Goldstein apparently has done a lot of his reading in Newsday as he reports the Nassau Coliseum is why free agents will not take the Islanders money in a thirty team review heading into free agency where this is the only NHL club that had this written about them.

Medford Local/Transcript: Christopher Hurley has a few comments from former Medford High hockey coach Charlie Driscoll, who coached Bates while with the Mustangs on his being bought out by the Islanders.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has a blog update and is promising more for Tuesday.

Finally:
I wanted to add a poll for today but blogger has been having problems with this feature.

Tuesday's plan at NYI Fan Central

I think the blog is in good shape in terms of updates for Tuesday.

I have the NHL crawler set up as a ticker, the free agent tracker links seem to update enough to include the Greentree/Ramholt trade and the Rostislav Olesz signing for six years today. Of course the media section in the lower portion of the blog includes virtually every major site in North America that has a feed or links to them if these sites do not have it covered.

For myself I will do the early Islander updates, if I'm correct UFA begins at noon or midnight? I have some other work to do but also have the NHL network for tomorrow so I should be ready as things happen.

Unless it's a major signing or Islander centric I will let the feeds do the work for me and not post a seperate blog.

At 7pm we will have the live interactive blog for everyone wanting to talk Islanders for as long as it goes. Of course everyone is welcome to participate nor is any registration required.

Hope to speak with everyone on Tuesday.

Other Notables:
Islanders website reported prospects Blake Kessel and Aaron Ness will be part of team USA heading Lake Placid from August 3rd in the United States Junior Development Team Camp with assistant general manager Ryan Jankowski's comments. Prospects Jyri Niemi (Finland) and David Ullstrom (Sweden) will travel to upstate New York with their respective countries.

Josh Bailey (2008, 1st round), Travis Hamonic (2008, 2nd round), Mark Katic (selected in 2007 in the third round), Jared Spurgeon (2008, 6th round) and Corey Trivino (2008, 2nd round) last week were invited to attend the Canadian Junior Development Camp in Ottawa from July 25-29.

Point Blank: Mr Botta has four new updates about free agency today on several players.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
That is a blog that should not be ending on 7/7, cannot keep writing that enough.

Newsday hurting Islanders perception

Since we have nothing from Newsday to talk about today like all the major hockey centric markets that do not have Yankees-Mets all over the paper I thought NYI Fan Central would have a little fun and see if other teams writers were reporting no one wanted to sign with those clubs as hard as Newsday/Greg Logan has pushed this viewpoint since Garth Snow last summer talked about the lockeroom area after the first day of free agency?

Of course for those who recall the actual article this was one issue with some free agents after the gm was shutout on day one of free agency despite Garth Snow making up for it quickly signing Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie, Andy Sutton, Ruslan Fedotenko, Josef Vasicek, shortly after those comments and Brendan Witt, Mike Sillinger, Tom Poti ect signing the previous year.

Now we have Kristian Huselius not being able to sign within seven minutes as more proof free agents want to come to New York.

What gets lost in all the negativity and spin is going back through team history in unrestricted free agency it's more than fair to write the last two summers have been the clubs best ever compared to the days Mike Stapleton or one of the Ferraro twins were all Mike Milbury could find using his corporate bicycle.

If no one wants to sign with the New York Islanders as Newsday pushes on the fans as often as possible after four playoffs in six years of course there must be a lot of team beatwriters printing the same thing about those teams being that many of them have not even approached the Isles marginal success on the ice?

I thought I would take a look.....

Lets start with the Buffalo News because here no doubt John Vogl or Bucky Gleason (if he still updates on a regular basis) somewhere will tell us that after the team lost almost all its star UFA players last summer and missed the playoffs this year the Sabres as a signing destination is about as attractive today as the old Buffalo Aud which is now set for demolition to begin in October 2008?

Nope.

Carolina Hurricanes beatwriter Luke DeCock in the News observer after an epic collapse where they failed to make the playoffs that here would never have been forgotten come July 1st here must be telling his readers it's highly unlikely anyone would be interested in signing with the Canes?

Sorry, not quite.


How about the Los Angeles Kings, a team that made it's management changes the same summer Charles Wang hired two general managers and Ted Nolan, who already fired Marc Crawford and seem no closer to contention? Surely Eric Stephens or Lisa Dillman will report to it's readers no one will want to sign and be part of a club like that here.

Afraid not.

Ok, so no doubt the Atlanta Thrashers who traded Marian Hossa when they could not apparently resign him, had a terrible season from beginning to end with Bob Hartley's firing who just hired the Isles AHL counterpart to Steve Stirling in John Anderson will not be an attractive destination for free agents as Mike Knobler will report here especially especially after Don Waddell took an even bigger gamble than Garth Snow when he traded for Keith Tkachuk and lost Braydon Coburn?

Nope. Mr Kobler even apologized to his readers for only a few days off from blogging while our newspaper blogger................back on topic.

All right, so in Florida there is absolutely no doubt after Olli Jokinen had to be traded to Phoenix and with years of the prospect movement plan not producing a single playoff spot since the Clinton administration with a general manager/coach tandem who has done a terrible job (Jacques Martin) who just hired an inexperience coach (Peter Deboer) that just bought out Jozef Stumpel beatwriter Brian Biggane
here must be telling his readers signs have been posted for future generations warning fans no one will sign with the Panthers at any point much less come July 1st 2008?

Sorry, not here.

In fact, Mr Biggane reported a few days ago in his blog former Leaf Wade Belak was trying to get Mats Sundin to come down and work on his tan year round here and sign with the Panthers.

All right, so Steve Gorten in the Sun-Sentinel broke the bad news to Panther fans here because Mr Biggane did not have the heart to right?

Wrong.

Our friends in Columbus who signed Michael Peca last summer who have never seen a playoff game and even were criticized a little for drafting Nikita Filatov who just had Adam Foote escape from Columbus quicker than Kurt Russell absolutely would have beat reporters Aaron Portzline, Tom Reed, and columnist Michael Arace telling Blue Jacket fans in the paper/blog here here that there is no chance any major free agents will be signing with Columbus on July 1st, right?

Wrong again.

All right, here's one team for sure, the one that just lost one of it's owners who did his John Spano impersonation and has been a club rumored to leave for several years and had to give away some of it's players to Philadelphia a year ago
here absolutely no doubt John Glennon told his readers given the circumstances unrestricted free agents will not be signing to play for the Nashville Predators any time soon?

No dice.

So there we have it folks, lots of clubs, all with some very tough circumstances on and off the ice and not one of those beatwriters have been pushing on the public the view point no one wants to sign there. In fact, I could not find anything this week where anyone came close to making that point.

Only our friends at Newsday.

It just begs the question what's going on at Newsday with their coverage of the New York Islanders?

Wonder if Mr Wang sent in the check for advertising at Newsday early for all the staffs good job keeping people away?

Updated 10:30am
It looks like I found another beatwriter in North America who will say their club is not an easy sell to free agents here as Ed Willes in the Vancouver Province reports.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Of course you can bet Mr Willes does not do articles like this as often as Newsday.

Islander News Articles 6/29

Newsday: Greg Logan's late Saturday/early Sunday article claims several sources had Kristian Huselius as the player New York tried to trade for at the deadline last February but a pending agreement on a future contract had to be done within seven minutes which was not enough time for Huselius after Flames GM Darryl Sutter took so long to agree to trade terms despite what Mr Logan writes was an offer above market value then he will expect to see Tuesday.

The Newsday beatwriter also reports Islanders general manager Garth Snow did not comment on Huselius but did have his quote he would not be a major player when free agency begins, however he would try to make his team better if it makes sense in his overall plan which is developing the prospects on his current roster.

Mr Logan also claims an un-named agent with a high-end client among a dozen free agents did not have a single player list the Isles in his top ten destinations with quoted comments because players do not get to see the Island and all the nice places to live from the Marriott they do not wish to sign here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So several sources had this since February and Greg Logan was holding this information about his own team almost until July and still does not have an actual quote from anyone beyond his own speculation Huselius had seven minutes to reach an agreement and up root his family long-term?

Okey-dokey.

For all these source and four months you think Mr Logan would know what was headed to Calgary from New York in such a deal? Maybe that would forced a denial from the general manager and the latest potential Newsday retraction?

I wonder if Greg Logan could have found an unnamed agent to quote who would say his client likes playing here and it's a good place to live maybe starting with Mike Comrie or Rick DiPietro among several players who have signed here?

I guess that would be pushing a positive discussion about our club, cannot have that, especially at this time of year.

Or any time of year in Newsday.

Time for this to filter north to the Candian media so the other agents and pending UFA get the word.

Updated Sunday PM:
Sporting News: Ray Slover in the sporting news apparently has noticed Newsday's recent work covering the club and writes Newsday recently stamped the Isles New York's most inept team but Garth Snow shrugs it off and marches along with a youth movement. Kids' contracts are covered, suspects are weeded out and it's doubtful the Isles will throw big bucks around in a thirty team review going into free agency.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It was funny reading the free agent rumors today from clubs practically all over the NHL. Only paper that bothered with a non trade from February and gave out the perception no one wanted to sign in their market was Newsday.

THN.com: The Hockey News Daily Dish reports in it's daily dish of hockey information Greg Logan of New York Newsday writes that the Islanders likely won’t dip into the free agent market because it’s tough to lure players to Long Island.

Winnipeg Free Press: Martin Cash has a few words from Islander prospect David Toews about his training at the Total Hockey Centre.

NY Times: Jeff Z. Klein does the first Islander article in the paper since before the regular season ended on Wade Dubielewicz departure to Russia. Of course he mis reports Ted Nolan and Garth Snow disagreed about the goaltender as this information is from several weeks ago.

NHL Friday Notables

Canadian Press/several articles: Report on a series of buyouts/waivers and resignings on Friday.

Islander centric beyond Bates a quiet day for the club unless you want to include Eric Nystrom resigning with Calgary and a Todd Bertuzzi buyout in Anaheim.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I am working on a special section for UFA for 7/1 so everyone can link to the major sites reporting free agent signings and who is available. At this time blogger is having a few issues with this feature.

Here is Tsn.ca general list of restricted and unrestricted free agents that does not seem to update but just a reference starting point.

Updated:
I also added in the NHL.com news feed as a crawler to follow the rumors/signings, not perfect and has some repeats but all of them do.

NHL.com: Adam Kimelman has a recap of the Islanders season with a lot of old comments dating back to the regular season but what seems like a few fresh ones from mixed in. Rick DiPietro, Mike Comrie, Ted Nolan are among several players who give their thoughts on what happened with a look ahead.

Sprinkling in UFA?

Have to be honest here folks, I have not been into the rumor or speculation game regarding most of the UFA who will be available come 7/1 because it's the usual suspects being named as the clubs they are going to and considering the tampering rules no club can speak to any potential free agent without permission so as usual there is not much to this.

Also the professional writers on many levels are doing a poor job with the speculation and rumor game.

A lot of fancy, little or no fact.

New York Islanders roster as set up does not allow for such a signing (beyond maybe a first/second line center without a Bailey signing) unless they make trades that involve veterans or prospects.

I cannot see a prospect being moved unless Snow just does not see a roster spot here for that player as in Nokelainen last August.

On the veteran front a trade does not seem likely either given Snow said Guerin will be on the team and Mike Comrie was given a contract extension, sure a Jon Sim could be moved but with two years left on his contract coming off that injury why would another club take that chance until he proves himself productive?

I guess Garth Snow could move a Mike Sillinger but he's coming off a significant injury. If he did sign a UFA center on 7/1 that could put him at a disadvantage when it comes to a trade of a Mike Sillinger.

Of course an Andy Hilbert could go, but even with his subtraction why not give a prospect that job?

For what this is worth an organization that signed rw Joel Rechlicz and gave rw Tim Jackman a two way contract extension does not seem likely to play both in Bridgeport.

Colliton and Nielsen were drafted in 2002/03, Walter has waited a long time for a chance, Tambellini too.

Defense we went through the other day. Six full time defenders are signed who played significant roles last season. Martinek, Campoli, Meyer, Sutton are all signed for more than a year. Witt has a year left, Gervais is restricted and qualified.

You sign a Wade Redden or Brian Campbell someone has to go from that group or last years regular becomes this years scratches.

Point Blank: Mr Botta has a very funny lead in to some of what I have been writing regarding UFA and what will happen regarding the media off the usual Espn Scott Burnside speculation.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Always seems like Mr Burnside updates based on what cities have Espn Zones among his criteria. We all know our version of New York does not fall among his favorites.