New York Notables

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Nothing ground-breaking for this time, the good news is prospect camp opens Friday/Saturday. New York prospects play Boston's prospects at the Coliseum in eight days.

With that New York Notables.

New York Notables/Players On The Clock

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Blake Comeau signing for over two million is a nice raise, but far below market value for players with back to back twenty goal seasons.
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Our plan for a top four defender?
Let Calvin deHaan play here and win the Calder next season, making a run at the Norris.

Absolutely want to see Mark Katic's skating get a full look here.
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With prospect camp opening September 9th, that is likely the time the club has to complete a new contract with Josh Bailey, with Charles Wang's rule looming on players not signed by opening of camp.

The owner/gm do not need another headache, but it's complicated. Bailey saw what Okposo received, his agent will want the same, perhaps not back-loaded?

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When Garth Snow is quoted in a professional newspaper as saying he made an offer to Alexei Yashin, there is something to discuss here, not before.

Mark Gandler comes off like a used-car salesman every year, Yashin deserves better from his agent.
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* If there is a crush of teams competing for Blake Kessel's services, I guess we missed it?

* Graduated prospects Brian Day/Shane Sims, both have 8/15 deadlines to sign professional contracts with the Islanders or they are available to any team.

* Getting late for Jack Hillen as well.
* Nothing about Dustin Kohn/Mark Wotton.
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Because again we are being asked. Regarding NYIFC in 2011-12, all that can be guaranteed is the domain is paid until October, the arena circumstances have never played any part of NYIFC future, it never will.

Beyond that nothing will be written on this subject moving forward until it's decided to renew the domain for another year. If not, NYIFC will simply disappear.




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Clarification on Kessel/Gregoire Signing Deadlines

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Just to clarify an error on this, the deadlines for Blake Kessel/Jason Gregoire to be signed are thirty days after they submitted letters intending to turn professional.

There are no compensatory draft selections awarded to the Islanders because they are not first round selections.

This is the rule under which Blake Wheeler left Phoenix and the loophole both players opted out under here.

Under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, any player who does not remain a college player through the graduation of his applicable class, must submit a letter stating his intention to turn professional. Upon submission of that letter, the drafting club shall have 30 days to sign the player. If the player and team cannot reach an agreement within that 30 day period, the player becomes a free agent. Wheeler submitted his letter of intention to turn professional on May 8.

THN.com & several outlets in 2008 reported Wheeler's date of UFA was 6/8/2008.

This means both Gregoire and Kessel have different signing deadlines that are not exactly clear (but cannot be 6/1/2011 unless they filed 5/1/2011) because there is nothing out there definitive from professional media on what date they actually submitted a letter.

News of Jason Gregoire's departure broke on 5/18 which by that date would mean on June 17th, he must be signed.

Blake Kessel news was from 5/24 so if he filed at that time or a few days earlier his deadline would be around 6/23 or a day or two earlier.

Until we know the specific filing dates, it's unclear what date they submitted letters to start any thirty day period. NYIFC earlier comments of a 7/1 deadline would not be correct in any instance.

Casey Cizikas deadline is 5/31, he will play for the Memorial Cup Championship on Sunday.




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5/24 (now 5/31) Only One Of Many Critical Steps For New York

Updated 2:15
Apparently this must be in legislature for seven days before any vote can be taken so change all dates to 5/31.

UNH Wildcats: Report Islander prospect Blake Kessel has decided to forego his senior season to play professionally. Kessel was a sixth-round pick in the 2007 National Hockey League entry draft.

Updated:
NYIFC Comments:
To best of my knowledge he can also go UFA thirty days after submitting a letter declaring his intention to turn professional via Blake Wheeler route. Is his pro cache that good or are the Islanders going to announce his signing?

To correct an earlier tweet or blog, only first round picks signing elsewhere via Blake Wheeler rule bring a compensatory pick. Gregiore, Kessel sign elsewhere after thirty days Islanders receive nothing as compensation.

Cablevision's Newspaper gave George J. Marlin, a director of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority Authority three pages Monday night to write about these projects basically not making money.
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Regarding Monday's events at the Coliseum color me apathetic, but less so than our so-called television partner and Newspaper carrier.

Islanders used their only media resource available that they own and that was the teams website.

Ironic to learn Tom Gulotta's 1996-98 Goodwill Games Swimming Pool that could have bought out Smg long ago needs another thirty million or so of repairs.

We are all going through these machinations on 5/24 (the 31st Anniversary of New York's First Stanley Cup) 5/31 and perhaps later on August 1st because Ed Mangano would not put himself on the line for the New York Islanders.

NYIFC 5/11 entry Press Conference Over: Mangano Takes Easy Way Out On NYI Future no point being repetitive.

Mangano if he was doing his job could have saved Wang and/or taxpayers election money, a ton of drama and future rallies, by simply announcing that he, Wang, Legislators, NIFA, TOH, Nassau were meeting until an agreement was hammered out even if it meant locking everyone in a room.

That's how it's going to play out if it clears Tuesday, August 1st and the legislature a second time in August begging the question why not just get to that point now because the Coliseum must be renovated or replaced.

I believe that's how it will go even if 5/31 legislature vote fails or at some future point.

Tuesday Charles Wang, Garth Snow are expected to speak, if the vote fails on 5/31
you can bet Wang finally will be forced to play hardball as was done in Edmonton, Pittsburgh and issue threats.

Our fans are going to have to deal with that and I suspect Wang will be forced not to pull punches.

My take is it's sad our fans again have to be dragged to more rallies, they are tired and worn down from this fight between meetings, focus groups, rallies for well over a decade.

Ed Mangano made it necessary to take this route.
You can bet Charles Wang is tired too.

If it does fail 5/31 I expect (after a lot of yelling) an eventual agreement will be done without a referendum at some future point, but even if there is an approval on 5/31 for an August vote we will all get a good idea how many legislators were ready to kill this at step one.

NHL.com reports Doug Weight will have an 11am press conference on Thursday, where it's likely he will announce his retirement.

NYIFC Comments:
I don't wish to minimize Doug Weight's announcement at this time with comment.





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Blake Kessel Named Alternate Captain At UNH For 2011-12

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THNonline.com: Report Islander prospect Blake Kessel was named an alternate captain in 2011-12 for the University of New Hampshire as he enters his junior season.

Mississauga.com: Islander prospect Casey Cizikas comments on his upcoming series while Kirill Kabanov has had a great playoff for Lewiston here.

NYIFC Comments:
Some will recall Kessel was considering an offer recently to turn professional and sign with the Islanders. He can still turn professional and sign but this likely means he has decided to remain in school or this would not be announced.

Oshawa was eliminated from playoff contention. Calvin deHaan is signed, Tony Dehart has to be signed by next summer, however he is older and has seen a brief AHL stint before he was drafted.
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Misc:
Thrilled Grabner got past some writers vendetta's and will be a Calder finalist, my honest viewpoint is Jeff Skinner was the best rookie over six months and Grabner's assist total will hurt vs a player who is a more complete player at a younger age.

Sure Michael Grabner can win, he's dynamic and shows speed like no player in NHL and produced with a center/right wing that barely scored at even strength, what he did was amazing and few games he did not produce great chances in the second half.

I do believe Grabner will be a close second based on assist and the six month body of work and that's no knock on Grabner, who if he puts together six months like this next season will be MVP favorite and be over fifty goals.

Of course I'm hoping Grabner wins.
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Most entertaining thing about new Comcast-Versus-NBC contract will be watching Flyers owner Ed Snider (Comcast) vs Dick Ebersol (NBC-Cablevision/Msg past ties) in a battle of massive ego's where Comcast has final say of how much the Flyers will be packaged and sold as America's NHL team. This was how they already were part of an outdoor game in Boston despite being mediocre overall. Ebersol's need to take over everything (Google Jay Leno vs Conan O'Brien) to get a good idea of what he is about and NYIFC archives has plenty on Ebersol and his past Msg connections.

Comcast and Ebersol are already fighting over next Olympics which is prime Ebersol territory. Snider is now Ebersol's boss with Sam Flood marching to beat of both.

Prediction-Ebersol will be gone sooner than later.

Of course Ed Snider/Flyers/Comcast/NBC merger money is paying the league this two billion which few will note.

Aside from that, it's an incredible financial victory NHL/Bettman and the league owners who no one would pay a few years ago to put on national television and took the risk to dump Espn who treated hockey like Msg hides Islanders/Devils. It will benefit the New York Islanders who will make more revenue off of it.

In term of on-air coverage, Ebersol will not permit Msg local competition to appear on NBC, he would not allow a Devils playoff game on a few years ago. For that to happen Snider's Flyers have to be involved.

National ratings for NY hockey have been horrible regular season and playoffs, among the worst of all markets because of baseball's enormous draw year-round. The media does not need hockey beyond Dolan's newspaper and Knick ad revenue.

Bottom line if you want to hurt another teams ratings, don't watch their games and give them a double or triple rating.

Why do you think hockey playoffs go to Msg+ and Knicks regular season is on Msg? If Islanders/Devils were still playing it would well hidden Msg2+2.
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I'm putting this out there not because of media spin out of Canada, but the way the NHL Board of Governors does things when a league is in the rare horrible circumstance of running a franchise. If the Coyotes do not have a viable owner and financing by the point a new schedule is announced they will be moving by next season.

No chance the NHL is going to run/carry/operate/finance a franchise for a second straight season. No chance the City of Glendale is going to pay the NHL another 25m guarantee to offset losses for another year while league looks for owners again.

I feel terrible for their fans and the spin coming out of Canada to take away their franchise which literally drives away people from going to games and no doubt hurts the club in these playoffs. The Arizona Republic cannot outwork Canadian media or their perception machine.

All the talk/articles/spin aside. A approved sale has to happen now before league sits down to create a schedule or the clock runs out in Glendale.



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Islander Notables/Quick Hits

No Saturday morning articles, will let feeders do the work that now include Sound Tiger game articles.

The Islander-Boston pregame will automatically post at 10am.

Boston Globe: Fluto Shinzawa in the Bruins blog reports Stephane Yelle made it through Friday's practice but was doubtful for tomorrow's game against the Islanders. If Yelle can't play, Byron Bitz would center the fourth line again. Yelle was one of the last players off the ice.

Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien also praised Scott Gordon for doing a good job with a young tean.

Boston Bruins website: John Bishop had several updates on Friday's practice.

Daily News: Elliot Olshansky's feature is on Islander prospect Shane Simms with a few words in the summary on Blake Kessel.

* I did read the Daily News Story the other day on the Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows and the Islanders but did not post it here because we had this update back in early December Sports Business Journal where Don Muret in an article about the USTA putting a retractable roof on the Tennis Stadium in Flushing had comments from Danny Zausner, managing director of the U.S. Tennis Association who did a little speculation about the Islanders and Nets in a multipurpose facility that seats over twenty thousand.

Unless Charles Wang tells us he's willing to negotiate with Queens there is no story. This was nothing different than what was posted three months ago.

* How nice of Newsday to do an Islander Insider for the first time in over a month.

I saw the article but just did not feel like posting it. At the very least Mr Logan owed our fans an explanation why our so called " expanded " coverage was cut for a web feature that does not appear in the print edition of the paper for weeks on end.

Meanwhile his counterpart is working as hard as he can for his beat with constant updates.

Maybe next time I will post it, if there is a next time.

* Looks like Dick Ebersol-Cablevision (James Dolan) & Comcast (Ed Snider)connection will be bullying hockey fans into watching their teams on NBC regardless of poor market ratings. Like the playoffs a few years ago the Rangers are producing lower ratings in New York than NASCAR & other sports here.

I wonder how much of that New York rating Islander and Devils fans should take credit for? I would bet at least 1/3. Good thing baseball has not started up.

When I see all the teams on Dick Ebersol's telecast, I will watch NBC. Until that point I have no use for NBC and hockey.

Cablevision-Newsday era begins/NHL Notables

Something a few days old but very much related to the New York Islanders and that's the paper creating their perception and what motivates them.

Newsday: James Madore reports the circus at Cablevision owned Newsday has officially ended for now with a dispute between editor John Mancini/several editors and owner Cablevision Systems Corp over rumors about coverage of the lawsuit against Eddy Curry of the Knicks; Mancini declined to comment when asked whether Knick coverage sparked the dispute but did confirm threats of firing or quitting were involved after he returned to work with others who were absent for days.

NY Times & NY Post: Earlier has the articles without the spin from Newsday that tells a more complete story.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This can officially be bookmarked as the day Cablevision took full control of sports reporting at Newsday even though the sale closed last summer.

This is the same newspaper demanding transparency of the Islanders regarding it's Lighthouse Project, team and management contracts, injuries and creates virtually all perception of our franchise but when it involved the Knicks there is a problem for the papers ownership?

Where is Mr Baumbach, Rieber, Herrmann, Jeansonne, Staple, Zipay or Logan to jump all over Charles and James Dolan or to question this papers viability like they do with Charles Wang, Chris Dey or Garth Snow at every opportunity?

Funny how Neil Best did not touch this with a ten foot pole when he interviewed Msg President Michael Bair about Islander coverage.

Act as if does not apply when it comes to the owners of this paper apparently and that makes what they present about our team questionable.

More and more I am going to suggest to NYIFC readers look past the writer viewpoint and just go by what's quoted from players/team officials when I see something questionable about our team.

Tsn.ca/several sources: Report the NHLPA has elected not to re-open collective bargaining agreement meaning the current CBA will run for the next two seasons.

Tsn.ca: Also reports Ottawa goaltender Martin Gerber cleared re-entry waivers for anyone wondering if Garth Snow might put in a claim for more depth.

Daily News: Eliot Olshansky has another excellent prospect review on David Toews and Blake Kessel that notes Shea Guthrie was this week's ECAC Hockey Player of the Week, scoring two goals in a win at Yale, then assisted on two more, including the game-winner against Brown University the following night.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Simply put another excellent article by Mr Olshansky that is given more space than the local game reports. The coverage varies from Islanders to Devils to Rangers but the quality and depth pf information is excellent.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio sets up Bridgeport's game tonight in Portland and reports Blake Comeau sent to the AHL
looks like a said paper transaction.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
I would be fascinated to read the explanation from the Islanders if Andy Hilbert being taken off injured reserve meant a Comeau demotion for real.

Islander News Articles 1/5

Updated:
Newsday: Greg Logan's article is on Mike Comrie's latest return to Edmonton (second as an Islander) and the booing from the fans that comes with it from his time as an Oiler. Comrie comments on playing with Kyle Okposo/Blake Comeau, his health and his future along with his relationship with management.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sounds like a man who wants to stay and be part of things long-term. At his age when healthy his offense will not be easy to replace. Nothing would surprise me here whether he is resigned or traded.

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog had an interview with Richard Park who is now the third forward to hit double digits in goals. Park in the interview says the club is trying to build some good habits and that regardless of results what can be controlled is the teams work ethic and playing right until the end, staying positive and building confidence from the effort. Park feels this is a better club than the one that lost in Boston last month and that they are here to win games.

Mr Logan speculates it would be wise to hang onto Park past the trade deadline and that he is mentally strong enough to handle what is ahead regardless if a Bill Guerin is traded.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Park's been outstanding and brings so much not on a scoresheet to a team and without his huge goals the last weekend of 2007 the Islanders do not make the playoffs. If the team had size, scoring and a top six unit Park makes sense as part of this roster long-term on the fourth line who can be spotted on other lines. He's done outstanding here on every level and been a much better big game player than I have given him credit for.

I would guess he is not going anywhere.

Having written this if I were general manager I would have to move him at the deadline. His career trends do not lie and if Garth Snow is expecting him to become the next Jason Blake that is not likely. Last December he went on a scoring run, beat Washington in overtime and then went thirty plus games without a goal.

As a checking forward this club must get younger, bigger and develop more consistent skilled scorers for it's top lines. This is why they signed Figren, Joensuu, Marcinko and have a lot of other prospects who will push out veterans or prospects.

Richard Park is signed for next season.


Quick word on Sunday morning coverage:
Post-game comments from Scott Gordon & the players did not make it into game story, just a written recap. Not much time for a recap to make the printed version of the paper with the late start time. Good job by Mr Logan to have a recap written while many other teams games do not have an article from the West coast the next day.

ITV had the coaches press conference.

Edmonton Sun & Edmonton Journal: Have the latest on the Oilers entering Monday's game against the Islanders.

Union Leader: Ed Klajman has Blake Kessel's comments on his WJC experience despite not winning a medal as the reporter noted he lead the US in plus/minus entering Sunday's game.

National Post: Had an article on both WJC games Sunday noting Jyri Niemi's goal against Germany.