KHL Team Plane Crash

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Bloomberg News: Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, a team that is part of the 24-team Kontinental Hockey League, has a list of the players who were killed in a team airline crash, which includes former New York Islander, assistant coach, Brad McCrimmon, former players Josef Vasicek and Alexander Karpovtsev.

Islanders website: Released a statement.

NHL.com has comments from former Islander Alexei Yashin/Evgeny Nabokov.

NYIFC Comments:
Condolences to the people/families of those who lost their lives in this horrible tragedy. To the best of my knowledge, no current/former prospects of the Islander organization are on the reported list of those who perished.

Islander News Articles 1/10

Newsday: Greg Logan had head coach Scott Gordon's repeat comments from his post-game in Calgary on playing more young players, Doug Weight for his part does not want to become a player with a lesser role as long as he is productive.


Earlier Friday:
AHL.com: Reported Yann Danis and Trevor Smith were sent to Bridgeport.

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog speculates that Trevor Smith's demotion means Frans Nielsen could be ready to return.

Friday's Islander Insider was pushed back to Saturday.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Ask me again on Tuesday if this actually matters. Danis is going to have to play in the NHL soon if DiPietro cannot so I would expect he see another start in Bridgeport.

NY Post: Dan Martin has comments from Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and Mike Sillinger on how the veterans are helping the Islander young prospects and their role.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not sure when Dan Martin got these quotes from Mike Sillinger or the players on the road trip.

Point Blank: Mr Botta had a few words from general manager Garth Snow on Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey not being named to the young stars team.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
As always I feel NYIFC readers should visit Mr Botta's outstanding blog for the comments he produces. I will only give a short overview here.

Kind of ironic the first overall pick, Steven Stamkos has one more point (14) than Okposo (13) who has played forty games was selected. Josh Bailey has only three less points than Stamkos.

The Guardian of PEI: Reports former Islanders Bryan Trottier, Bill Smith, Bob Bourne and Cliff Ronning will be part of the Oldtimers’ Hockey Challenge Monday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

Daily Gleaner: Reported on Rob Hennigar's game winning goal for his ECHL team after being send down from Bridgeport recently.

Los Angeles Times: Diane Pucin has a few words on the KHL all-star game today (telecast details inside) which will be an outdoor game in Red Square with one squad named after former Islander Alexei Yashin.

Calgary Sun: Reports former Islander assistant coach Wayne Fleming apparently quit as coach between periods for Avangard Omsk who is captained by Jaromir Jagr.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Molinary reports former Islander Ruslan Fedotenko is out four-six weeks after breaking his hand in a fight during a recent game.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Tough break for Fedotenko. I would guess Michael Terrien has about two weeks left to turn things around at best in Pittsburgh regardless of his contract. He was fired from Montreal 1/17/03 for those looking for a connection.

Sarnia Observer: Dave Paul reports on Sarnia's shootout loss. Islander prospect Mark Katic was the number one star of the game with a goal in regulation.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No trades for Sarnia involving Islander prospects at the deadline.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Bridgeport lost 4-1 at Providence Friday, Joe Callahan who scored the lone Sound Tiger goal and head coach Jack Capuano comment.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's blog does a good job breaking down the matchups and explaining where the game was lost here along with other items.

Saturday Bridgeport is home to Hartford with nothing on weather canceling the game at this time.

Providence Journal: Has coverage of Providence win against Bridgeport at home Friday.

Islander News Articles/Quick Hits 6/28

Edmond Sun: Jeff Harrison has a full feature on Islanders draft pick Matt Donovan with his comments about the draft and a few words from his father Larry Donovan, who is the head coach of the University of Oklahoma hockey team.

NY Post: Devils beatwriter Mark Everson in the generic NHL Post blog reports on Shawn Bates buyout, but more importantly reports Alexei Yashin has re-signed to play for Salavat Yulaev in the Russian league.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It should be noted the Post track record is not too good on rumors and as of today neither Elite Prospect or European Hockey confirm this. Take that for what's it's worth but it's in line with what Marc Gandler has said all along that Yashin would be off the market before 7/1 and resign in Russia if he could not find an NHL club willing to meet his price.

What else is happening?
Leaf media is all but bullying Bryan McCabe in print to agree to waive his no trade clause so the Islanders can be ripped off for his services in a deal.

Between the denials and confirmations on some player rumors someone should split the difference and have them play at a neutral site. I sure appreciate Jeremy Roenick making things easy on everyone with a quiet resigning.

Isles website put up a media summary of the folks (professional media/otherwise) who approved of their overall draft.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I saw Kevin Allen's blog the other day and it was from 6/21 so even I did not bother posting something that outdated here on him ranking the Isles third for a good draft.

I'm not blaming the Isles, they take such a beating on the p.r front regardless of what they do (starting in Newsday) almost anything that they do forces them to reach out and put together content to tell their part of the story.

One thing I will write is not one of those prospect writers would have given the Isles a good review if they did not think the club had a good draft in their professional opinion.

The media spin doctors like a Stan Fischler you take with a big grain of salt.

And the bottom line is overall they did a good job but they have taken a risk trading down because on paper Filatov and the other forwards were rated higher than Josh Bailey.

Of course in the end Islanders may be the biggest winners or losers of all. Again, ask me in three to five years when we see if they are in New York helping the club win a Stanley Cup.

Islander News Articles 6/15

Islanders website: Announced more details of the draft party next week which will include prospects Jack Hillen and Robin Figren in attendance.

Islanders website: John Hill added a draft profile of Kyle Beach very early am Sunday morning.

Newsday: Greg Logan has Alexei Yashin's agent Marc Gandler comment about his client trying to find an NHL team to play with before he takes his offer with Yaroslavl and returns to Russia and that he has spoken with Garth Snow about a possible return to the Islanders.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
How come Mr Logan did not get a comment or a no comment on Sean Bergenheim from Mr Gandler who is still his agent?

To me it's lazy to not to get a comment on Bergenheim's negotiation or force a no comment from Mr Gandler or get an update on his WC injury. This is a player who left the NHL on this agents advice for a full season so his restricted free agent status is no a small footnote. For this fan Bergenheim's contract is a far bigger story than Yashin.

What do you want me to write about Alexei Yashin?

Until an actual comment comes from Garth Snow or Ted Nolan this is a non-story and one that did not need to be featured in the paper vs the blog on the draft with the general manager's comments.

No doubt it will draw a strong reaction which seems like the intended purpose.

Mr Gandler has already said recently he wants a deal done for Alexei Yashin
soon or he's heading back to Russia before 7/1. Obviously no one is running to meet Mr Gandler's price.

Islanders could use Yashin's scoring but only for a minimal price and he will not be taking Josef Vasicek's salary to return. It's not a popularity contest here but one where you buy your prospects time by adding veterans who can produce. If Yashin's the best alternative Isles should pursue it, if not they should look elsewhere.

Having written that.....

Islanders took a step back without his scoring but if he did not fit the mantra of grit, character and heart a year ago he's not going to do it now. If you set a plan to carry a certain type of player and decide Yashin does not meet that criteria
why go back and go against what you told your fanbase was the plan?

Of course the Isles were rumored to be interested in bringing back Randy Robitaille for a third time last season.

Wake me when Garth Snow & Ted Nolan comment and say they want him back, until then this has no value at all.

Newsday: Greg Logan in Newsday's blog has Garth Snow's comments about some of the players that could be available in the draft and that he could trade up or down depending on who the staff has targeted.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Stock answers with a few comments on individual players. No gm should be giving out any strategy at this point.

Newsday's administrator is promising Mr Logan will have a live chat at Newsday on Monday at 1pm to answer questions about the draft and all things Islanders.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I don't know if anyone noticed this but myself, in the newspaper article on Gandler/Yashin, Mr Logan wrote he could not reach Garth Snow for comment, however in the blog he had the general manager's comments on everything about the draft?

Central Jersey.com: Mark Spivey reports on defenseman John Carlson with his comments who is projected to be a late first-round draft pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Enjoy the updated blog header which I think is a winner, maybe not a good idea before July 1st or the draft but I took a chance.

No room for Wayne Merrick, Gord Lane, Duane Sutter and yes I want as many pictures of the classic uniforms for the current players I can find. I'm sick of last year's uniform for a team with a such an incredible tradition. Mr Botta had it right and so do most of the older fans on the uniforms.

It's time to bring back the classic look and never again change it.

I put the ticker with the picks at the top of the blog as opposed to the draft center, as the Isles pick next week I will change the draft pick number to the name of the player selected.

Buyouts/qualfying rfa are all about to begin.

It's Sunday which means Larry Brooks of the Post has to take his obligatory shot at the New York Islanders for something/anything with his very limited space.

NHL Notables, Bergenheim, Wilson fired, Yashin

Updated 8:30pm:
Sean Bergenheim did not play in Finland's 6-3 loss vs Canada Monday.

Globe & Mail: Eric Duhatscheck reports neither Chris Osgood or Mike Riberio will be suspended by Colin Campbell after Osgood provoked Riberio into a baseball-style love tap at the end of game two which received a match penalty.

Mr Duhatschek also asks isn't everyone getting tired of talking about the 1975 Islanders or Leafs if Dallas cannot win game three?

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I'm not going to tell anyone this was a Chris Simon like hit to some one's head but my point is Riberio did go after a players chest with his stick and if the so-called precedent is to suspend for such action once again Colin Campbell only applies his personal standard of what the rules are. It sure does seem like there are different rules for different players at different times. Osgood looked like he butt-ended Riberio in the head.

The show goes on. The Stars will have their leading scorer in the lineup and the Red Wings will have their starting goalie - which is the way Colin Campbell and both teams want it.

If his name was Chris Simon he would have been made an example of again with another thirty games. If his name were Chris Pronger he would have gotten a slap on the wrist or a game and only because the media would have brought up his number of suspensions which would have influenced Campbell.

This is why it's impossible to respect Mr Campbell who seems over his head in his job. There were teams that had their seasons decided on penalties in deciding games in overtime (Washington) with the rule to call everything at all times but when the person in charge of player discipline is under that pressure with plenty of time to get it right from his office (unlike officials who have to make split-second decisions) he constantly makes up his own rules as he goes.

As for Mr Duhatschek and the 42 Leafs/75 Islanders sidebar getting tired perhaps he should give the Ranger media fans a call for the spam show selling us the thirty three year angle (42 Leafs/75 Isles) that this was the Rangers time as JP Parise and Clark Gillies were contacted at a point the series was 3-0.

Speaking of spam shows Cablevision announced it has acquired Newsday Monday here with details of the announcement. Mr Wang had a few words of praise for Charles Dolan a few days ago here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
A newspaper featuring the Cablevision agenda?

If it's run like Msg network people will be laughing at the content if Garden events receive space on the backpage over the major sports stories. Considering the Garden's sport properties lost a combined 19m in the first quarter of 2008 don't they have enough problems with what they already do own?

Not like the Isles coverage can get much worse at Newsday then what they are getting already. It will be fun reading the horror stories as long-time employees get the Marv Albert treatment for their content and shown the door. This is a media company that has restricted or turned off Islander coverage completely over a decade doing a ton of damage to local hockey ratings by restricting content.

Going to get interesting when we start seeing tons of advertising for Cablevision owned teams all over Newsday. Will the Isles even be allowed to advertise in the local paper anymore?

Ottawa Sun: Bruce Garrioch has Alexei Yashin's agents comment that he's not going to be available to sign by July 1 because he'll already be committed to going back to Russia but would like to return to the NHL if the right offer happens now.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
A Bruce Garrioch article with actual quotes from someone involved to confirm his update for once may be the bigger story? Yashin through his agent is talking himself out of the NHL forever with statements like this from his agent. Cannot have your agent tell teams sign me now or I'm not waiting.

Tsn.ca: Reports the Nashville Predators resigned RFA Martin Erat to a contract worth $31.5 million contract over seven years.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Somewhere Trent Hunter and his agent must be wondering what's going on here because even though Erat's production has improved a seven year deal for that kind of salary seems very high or Nashville is sending it's message they are not going to lose any more players like last year.

Updated 8:30pm:
Tsn.ca/several sources: Report San Jose Sharks General manager Doug Wilson (brother of Ron) today fired long-time head coach Ron Wilson.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Shows how out of touch I am with the Western Conference when I do not know the general manager is the head coaches brother or how hard it is to follow the other conference with such limited coverage? Second round of playoffs obviously not enough for Bob Wilson. I sure loved the peace and quiet of Jeremy Roenick in San Jose last season and he did a great job for them.

Time to update the fired coaches list:
Quenneville, Hartley, Hanlon, Maurice, Wilson, Paddock.

Am I missing anyone on the list? Nonis was Vancouver's general manager. Waddell is still in limbo with reports he may be back or was asked to step down.

For that matter why does Mike Keenan still have a job after what he did to his franchise goaltender in the deciding game?

Yashin vs Satan, double standard by Nolan?

I'm not going to claim to be an insider or anything. I have no idea what goes on in the Islander lockeroom, who talks or is popular among the players.

All I see is what happens during the games and to me it begs a fair question be asked and one I have been wanting to ask for a while.

If Alexei Yashin who had an outstanding start and carried the club into December two years ago scored forty percent of the offense with Jason Blake and Chris Simon on his line can be sent home for ineffective play because he was playing hurt and ineffective how come Ted Nolan did not apply the same standard to Miroslav Satan this year and force him to sit until he could be effective?

Let me refresh you to Yashin's circumstances. He injured his knee on a ninety point pace, missed a few weeks, came back early, had a good game but was injured again and clearly could not move on his knee. Anyone watching could see him in obvious pain.

Ted Nolan let him play about eighteen games where he had maybe a goal, was clearly slowed and totally ineffective before he finally sent him home and basically ran him down in the press telling everyone he would not play until he could contribute as if he had no tolerance for a player trying to play with an injury on one leg.

This year Miroslav Satan did not look good early, aside from a few brief flashes. I do not know when he specifically got hurt but after missing a game the team announcing he has an injury that should sideline him for eight weeks kept playing and for the most part was terrible. He did not contribute on the scoresheet.

So how come Ted Nolan did not apply the same standard for Satan, who has been ineffective for most of the last two seasons?

Alexei Yashin when he finally returned produced ten critical points to help the club make the playoffs and two key goals against the Rangers, one in the third period.

Someone needs to tell me what the difference is here because I'm not seeing it. Viktor Kozlov when he signed with Washington also felt there was a double-standard against his friend.

It should be noted Yashin's fifty points in fifty eight games was greater than any one player on this years roster.

If Yashin's buyout was on Ted Nolan's opinion it gives the owner fair reason to ask questions because the loss of his offense hurt the roster whether he was popular with the media or not.

Yashin & Blake's loss hurt Isles

This may be a great group of people here now and the foundation for something moving forward but nice guys finish last as the current Islander team had some fun with Jason Blake as Mark Zwolinski tells us in the Star erecting a mock plaque for him on the Islanders new wall of fame here and Tim Wharnsby in the Globe & Mail here with a sign that said he is a former forty goal scorer that gave him a good laugh.











Both Alexei Yashin and Jason Blake could have failed here this season as they did in 2005-06, that has to be written going into this.

Blake could simply have lost his ability to finish and that might have happened here while Yashin may just be a player who only plays hard for a select amount of games and with age cannot do what he used to do in his twenties without other world class players to help him.

I also cannot debate the merits of not paying Blake that kind of money in that long a contract or walking away from Alexei Yashin which seemed more about not being a quick enough healer for Ted Nolan or much of a talker to the media which won him no popularity contest with the media or public.

Having written that Islanders missed Yashin's world class shot/offensive ability, his strength on the puck in the offensive zone and Blake's ability to carry the puck on a team of players who cannot carry the puck.

On this team the veterans have been a disappointment and underachieved all season statistically. A very good case can be made many nights Bergenehim and Comeau have outworked them and that is completely unacceptable on a team supposedly based on grit, character and heart which seems why Yashin was bought out even though he likely will outscore the entire roster based on his final season where he played hurt and missed significant time with his knee injury.

Jason Blake was the hardest worker every night when he put on an Islander uniform and always did something to get his team going and that has been missing here also.

Blake is still one of the league leaders in shots, but what he did here in handling the puck gave other players room to get in position that on this years team they do not have. It's a skill that clearly is lacking on the Islander roster today and one that fits the Islanders like no other team in the NHL.

Richard Park is never going to fill that role no matter how much he's played as a top six forward as he cannot score and no matter how hard he works

It's also more than fair to say no one on this roster has a shot like Alexei Yashin. Not Mike Comrie, Bill Guerin or Miroslav Satan and all three this season have disappeared for even longer periods of games than Yashin with far less production.

Sometimes you have to look at things for what they are and in this case for year one Yashin and Blake's loss hurt the Islanders.

Ted Nolan said earlier these imports would be judged based on how they played in the second half and that's fair when you have a lot of players coming to a new team, he also talked about a merit system as his veterans went fourteen games with two or less goals.

They lost seven in a row, won six in a row and all season proved the only thing they were consistent at was being inconsistent unlike the 2006-07 club that did go from one game over five hundred record in late Jaunary and finish ten games over five hundred.

Sure a lot of good reasons can be given for why this team failed this year. You lose three hundred games to injury and play with that kind of schedule it's a very tough go and the same could have happened with Blake and Yashin.

Islander News Articles 3/13:

Newsday: Greg Logan's pre quote game summary on the Islanders loss to the Florida Panthers.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Logan wrote Jeff Tambellini saw his first his first chance to play on the top line this season as he described his play to get the puck to Richard Park who fed Guerin for his goal. Tambellini did play a game as a first line left wing with Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin as a first line left wing earlier this season.

Tambellini was sent down days later after the line struggled badly in that game and one shift where they could not get the puck out. I'm not sure Tambellini-Park-Guerin was the first line in this game either with Comrie on a line with Comeau.

Newsday: Greg Logan's other article is on the injuries with Ted Nolan getting to learn the new players and his praise for Bill Guerin and Rick DiPietro in a losing effort.

Miami Herald Palm Beach Post & Sun Sentinel : Has the Panthers coverage on their fifth straight win.

Star Phoenix: Reports A trio of players from the New York Islanders dynasties of the early 1980's will be taking part in the of the Oldtimers' Hockey Challenge Friday in Saskatoon with forwards Bobby Bourne and Brian Trottier as well as goaltender Billy Smith and a host of other members of the Legendary Hockey Heroes will be lacing up the skates against the Saskatoon Police Blues.

NHL.com: Dan Rosen has a full feature on Mike Comrie.

Ottawa Citizen:Hugh Adami reports in a full feature former Islander Alexei Yashin wants to return to the NHL next season in a long interview with his agent Marc Gandler.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recaps Bridgeport's loss and the callups with Jack Capuano's comments.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the Sound Tigers weekly on Jason Pitton's surgery and the upcoming games among several items with Jack Capuano's comments.

Press & Sun Bulletin: Michael Sharp has full coverage of Binghampton's win in Bridgeport.

Islander News Articles 2/29:

Newsday: Greg Logan recaps the Isles win with Ted Nolan's comments that it was a bad hockey game and did not like how his club fell apart but was glad they got two points. Rick DiPietro talked about Atlanta's offense and that he should have had the second goal while Hunter and Vasicek talked about their big goals and play in the win. Frans Nielsen reportedly said his x-ray looked good.

Newsday: Greg Logan disclosed in his blog after some speculation about a possible injury to Rick DiPietro he suffered a loss in his family Thursday but still decided to play against Atlanta. Speculation is he could miss a game this weekend to attend a funeral.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Condolences to Rick DiPietro and his family on his loss and highest marks to him for trying to play under very tough circumstances. Dubie will find a way to get himself ready if necessary.

Islander Insider added Friday morning here and linked to Newsday's Islander blog will feature a contrast of this year’s trade by Pittsburgh with the Islanders’ rental of Ryan Smyth, Miro Satan’s contract situation and Sean Bergenheim's development.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
With Hossa already out for a week because of a knee injury in his first game for Pittsburgh so far the edge goes to the Islanders.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Craig Custance has the recap of Atlanta's loss with Ken Klee's comments where he took the blame and credited Josef Vasicek for a good play to set up Trent Hunter for the game winner.

NY Post: Justin Terranov writes a full preview of Islanders-Rangers for next week with Dave Maloney and Bill Jaffe's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
For all the substandard coverage decisions this season this ranks near the top because it makes no sense.

Dan Martin is out writing on the PSAL, the Islanders win in Atlanta got about sixty words and the Post decides to preview games next week with a full article?

NY Times: Michel Schwirtz has a full interview with former Islander Alexei Yashin and his wife Carol Alt on players from the NHL coming back to Russian as the league builds itself to one that they hope surpasses the NHL and the preimer league.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Nothing negative or Islander-related for those curious. Congratulations to Yashin for getting married and best of luck. I miss his big shot. Too bad he never spoke up for himself or let the fans get to know more about him because it did not help him in the end. That written he never said a bad word about anyone and many players spoke well of him.

USA Today/AP: Dave Campbell in an article on efforts made to create new rules regarding college prospects leaving school has Kyle Okposo's mother who recaps why his son decided to leave school along with what seems like new quotes from Don Lucia, Garth Snow.

Bill Daly is also quoted as is former Islander Mark Parrish, who also left school early to sign with Colorado in 1997. The writer adds his personal speculation Okposo will see some games with the Islanders this season.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has Sound Tigers president Howard Saffan's comments about acquiring Colin Fretter, Jason Pitton on his season ending shoulder injury and more on the clear day roster as injury status for Bridgeport is updated.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
WHEN — Tonight, 7:05
WHERE — Wachovia Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
ON THE AIR — No radio; Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's blog updates the fallout in the Sound Tigers division from the trade deadline and how it effected teams in terms of clear day.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sorry folks, I thought lists were released the day they were due. Mr Fornabaio got everyone the advanced version but it still has to be approved by the league for their official news release.

Islander News Articles 11/18:

Newsday: Greg Logan's Sunday article is about the change in leadership since last season and what Bill Guerin brings to the locker room. He writes people from one end of the organization to the other credit the subtraction of Yashin and the addition of Guerin for creating a new sense of togetherness and purpose.

"He's been great in our locker room," said enforcer Chris Simon, who is close to Nolan and understands better than anyone what kind of leadership is required to play the coach's style. "Billy's play speaks for itself," Simon said. "He plays in the hard areas. He's not a perimeter player. When a guy plays the way he does and carries himself the way he does, everybody listens from young guys to older guys. That's a real good thing."

"The biggest thing to me was the chemistry and the camaraderie on the team, making sure everybody wanted to be there and wanted to be a part of the Islanders," Guerin said Saturday. "I think we have that. We've got a great group of guys. We support each other, and we're trying to make it like a family.

Asked what needed to change, Guerin answered quickly. "It's just a feeling," he said. "There's more a sense of unity this year than there was last year. There's not 17 guys on one page, two guys on one and one on another. Everybody's on the same page."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No direct quote from anyone regarding Alexi Yashin which is unfair if Logan is going to make such a claim on a team with so many new faces.

No doubt Guerin is a huge positive in the locker room but Guerin himself said it's what you do on the ice, the rest is just words.

Simon's comments are interesting but Guerin has been almost entirely a perimeter player all season who's offensive contribution has been one game Olaf Kolzig struggled where he took a lazy shot from long distance on a five on three that squeaked through. His only goal in front of the net was against Kevin Weekes in overtime on another players hard work. To this point Yashin's season a year ago has been better on the ice than Guerin's.

Alexei Yashin's Islanders made four of the last five playoffs, only he knows how much he wanted to be captain or what he failed to do in the job behind the scenes but it's fair to say Yashin did not have anyone like a Comrie, Guerin to work with either and he's scapegoated for not be supported. He also has to be given credit for a good statistical year from Blake, Simon and especially Viktor Kozlov.

As Blake said himself when he signed in Toronto, Yashin was expected to perform miracles. Kozlov praised Yashin when he signed in Washington also.

Let's not pull punches here either, Yashin was not good with the media and that's not going to win him points with someone who's on a deadline and needs material.

Guerin's grade as captain comes down to the club's record, not how players get along off the ice.

Newsday: Greg Logan also did a second feature on Josef Vasicek who leads the NHL in shooting percentage.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's blog has comments from Bates about his first game and the loss against Hershey.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article in the paper.

Logan blog update: Chemistry is key for Isles

Greg Logan from Newsday updated his Islander blog early Friday morning and provided some insights on Guerin, Yashin and the club with some quotes from Richard Park and Andy Hilbert on the changes.

Among the highlights:

“It will have an all-around influence on everybody from top to bottom in terms of chemistry,” veteran forward Richard Park said after a conditioning skate Thursday with several teammates and a few players from other NHL teams. “That’s a word you’ll hear a lot. We added really quality players. Every one of them brings something to the table to help us get to where we want to be.

“I’m sure a lot of fans and media were hard-pressed, wondering who was going to come in. It’s a new opportunity for the guys that have come in. Even though they’ve been around for awhile, they could play a different role, possibly a more expanded role. The bottom line is that the backbone of the organization is as strong as it’s ever been. When you have that, you’re going to have success no matter who you bring in and who leaves.”

“It’s hard to tell because we haven’t started camp, but I’ve heard great things about Billy Guerin, our newly appointed captain,” Park said. “In terms of Alexei, he was in the shadows, so to speak, that had been cast above his head for a number of years. I don’t think there’s a guy in the locker room last year that would have anything bad to say about Alexei. Things just didn’t work out; he had an injury.

“It’s not about bad-mouthing leadership in this locker room last year. The onus isn’t on one guy, and it never has been. It doesn’t matter if you have a letter on your jersey or you don’t. Everybody is a leader in their own way. If you say we’re going to have a better locker room this year, does that mean we had a bad one last year? I’m not going to say that because I was part of that locker room last year. But the guys we’ve added are very good character guys and have a lot of dignity, and we should be better off for it.”

Although Smyth was the first choice as Yashin’s replacement, Guerin’s credentials fit neatly with the Isles’ approach under Nolan. Forward Andy Hilbert said the character shown by the Isles when Yashin and DiPietro went down last season, should be enhanced by the new additions.

“When you bring a guy like Billy Guerin in, his reputation and what he’s done in the league speaks for itself,” Hilbert said. “Witter and Silly were big leaders last year. We have a great locker room. I’m just looking forward to getting to meet all the new faces. I’m a believer that chemistry in the locker room translates to the ice, and the players we brought in this year have great personalities.”

As the Isles demonstrated a year ago, preseason predictions don’t matter. It’s the chemistry in the locker room, be it combustible or coherent, that decides whether a team has the right stuff to succeed.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Seems like Alexei Yashin get's a bad wrap from everyone but the players and the organization's media. It it was it is, he received the kind of money where he was expected to do things that were not possible given the talent around him and his own overall game. His great start and solid finish in the last ten games were critical to the club making the playoffs and it says a lot he tried to play through his knee problems where he came back early and reinjured it.

In the end Yashin was bought out because of fan and media opinion combined with another Islander coach clearly not on the same page with him. I absolutely think if this were a non-playoff team and another unproven coach were in charge who did not improve the club the coach might have taken the hit. In Nolan's case the organization has a coach who get's more out of less and got a respectable season out of Yashin, but was not part of the long-term solution for the coach and what management's new template is for the kind of player they want.

Plus long-term Mr Wang will pay less for his contract then he would have if he were here playing.

Big question already is will Islander management and the fans put the same impossible expectations on Bill Guerin at this point in his career?

" Yashin needed to go where 'he's looked at like a god "

Carol Alt speaks out for Yashin's time in Ottawa like were back in 2000 or something and he's still holding out.

The two Ottawa papers will never let his holdout go.

Yashin's biggest problem is he almost never opens his mouth to defend himself or tell his story so he leaves it his agent(s) to do almost all the talking and now Alt is speaking to the press in Ottawa for him.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=e1ce4ea6-0340-421c-b63a-0e18551ac4f8