Islander News Articles 12/28

Will add to this blog entry tomorrow morning with more articles as available.

Newsday: Greg Logan's early recap credited the teams strong defensive play and pointed out they played a part of the second shorthanded for over five minutes but only trailed by one entering the third period.

Head coach Scott Gordon, Mike Comrie, Kyle Okposo discussed the Islanders effort in coming back to tie the game.

Newsday: Mr Logan's second article was mostly a repeat of his blog on Bill Guerin in the future along with Scott Gordon's comments about Rick DiPietro likely being sore but he had not spoken with him. Mr Logan speculated on a possible trade to Columbus for Weight and reported the Blue Jackets had a scout in Buffalo.

Star Tribune: Michael Russo wrote Saturday afternoon with Derick Brassard out for the season in Columbus because of a shoulder injury, the Blue Jackets are reportedly inquiring about the Islanders' Doug Weight.

That rumor seems to be what was floated in the Columbus Dispatch blog Saturday here in sports columnist Michael Arace's shared blog.

Columbus Dispatch: Tom Reed reported the Dispatch has learned the Jackets have been in trade talks with six or seven teams. Gm Howson would not confirm a total.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
We'll see when Weight gets close to returning if anything comes of this but it's interesting. Islanders put a lot of effort into Weight's countdown only two points short but if Garth Snow feels this improves his club it's something he has to do even if Bill Guerin is not thrilled.

I do not think Kyle Okposo was in his spot on the powerplay the way you would spot someone when there is an injury.

It has to be noted Columbus also has a forward Garth Snow tried to trade for last spring in Kristian Huselius here who has a club-worst minus-9 rating (ten goals) and fewer assists (11) than defenseman Mike Commodore (13).

Kristian Huselius is signed to a four-year, $19- million contract.

Hilbert is a left wing who is out, Sim cleared waivers but Trevor Smith is also a left wing. Columbus would have to take back some salary to make this work.

Buffalo News: Has John Vogl's coverage.

AHL.com: Reports the Sound Tigers lost 5-4 at WBS Pens Saturday. Peter Mannino had nineteen saves in net.

1. BRI Smith, (17) (Skinner, McLean), 5:54 (PP)
1. WBS Taffe, (15) (Stone, D'Aversa), 6:45
1. BRI Skinner, (1) (Hillen, Walter), 9:03 (PP)
1. WBS Taffe, (16) (Engelland, Stone), 19:04
2. BRI Smith, (18) (Iggulden, McLean), 19:10 (PP)
3. WBS Johnson, (2) (Letestu, Cashman), 2:25
3. WBS Minard, (23) (Stone, Taffe), 2:48
3. BRI Pitton, (1) (Hillen, Haskins), 11:23 (SH)
3. WBS Minard, (24) (Taffe, Pesonen), 11:29 (PP)

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the recap of Bridgeport's 5-4 regulation loss to WBS Pens on Saturday with comments from head coach Jack Capuano, who did not feel his team created enough but credited his goaltender. Brett Skinner and Trevor Smith also talk about a game Bridgeport was outscored 4-0 at even strength but had three on the powerplay.

A separate feature was done on local prospect Jaime Sifers of the Toronto Maple Leafs by Mr Fornabaio here.

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Covers the Penguins along with Citizens Voice here.

Bridgeport is off until next Friday.

Islander Notables/Quick Hits

Islanders website: Kimber Auerbach has a feature on two of the players general manager Garth Snow's signed this summer in goaltender Peter Mannino, defenseman Brett Skinner with their comments and their link back to winning a National Championship in Denver.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It should be very interesting to see how things play out with Skinner and Mannino, especially Skinner to start things being he was signed from Scott Gordon's Providence Bruins in June where his former coach had to have some opinion about not
resigning him. I'm somewhat surprised they did not have a comment from Skinner on Scott Gordon but this feature may well be from mini-camp and pre-scheduled for a Sunday in August.

If I'm correct Skinner was drafted by Vancouver, traded to Anaheim and then traded to Boston last September.

My guess is Peter Mannino takes the same track Dubielewicz did at Bridgeport and competes with Joey MacDonald or Yann Danis. I'm not completely sold MacDonald has a lock on the backup spot entering camp or that Danis could not win it from him.

Quick Hits:
I will have more on my conversation with Professional Hockey Writers Association President Kevin Allen this week. I saw something today I wish I had seen a week ago before I spoke with him because I would have loved to ask for his take about it.

A Newspaper site called Michigan Live (Mlive.com) carries a freelance amateur hockey writer's blog in their newspaper site which today ripped the Boston Globe's Kevin-Paul Dupont for an article the writer felt was owner-friendly and felt Mr Dupont talks out of both sides of his mouth with regard to the CBA when it comes to NHL's Board of Governors, Jeremy Jacobs who owns the Boston Bruins.

The writer provided a lot of links to articles that supported his claims.

I guess some newspaper are allowing freelance amateur writers space to do hockey blogs in their newspapers begging the question why isn't the Times, News or Post doing this for the New York Islanders to supplement the coverage they are not providing for our hockey team?

No folks, this is not about me lobbing for my blog to be posted in one of those papers. I'm simply asking aloud for anyone with a blog/journal/whatever if a Michigan based publication where hockey has far more media presence does a paper in this market do the same thing?

Islander News Articles 7/4

Newsday: Mr Logan has an interview with Mark Streit who felt good about the Islanders situation. He is quoted as saying he liked the team, loved the city and it was an easy decision for him and always liked playing at the Coliseum when he came in with Montreal and is excited to be here.

Streit also said he is not really a forward, but did it for Montreal because it was his role but describes himself as a heart-and-soul defenseman who feels he can help the team more as a defenseman with his ability and can play a good role on the powerplay as an offensive defenseman because that's what he does best. He also felt in Guy Caboneau's defensive rotation he was unable to get comfortable playing two positions and that only playing defense will improve his game at both ends of the ice.

In addition the new defender feels one of his strengths is to make the first quick breakout pass, then follow up the play or rush the puck and make a play. That he's a pretty good skater, sees the ice pretty well and loves to play that kind of game with skating and passing and supporting the forwards.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Impressive stuff, I do not think I have seen an interview like that where almost all of it is the player unplugged about his game. Nice job by Mr Logan letting Streit speak to the fans about what his game is all about.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports on all the Sound Tigers signings on Thursday with comments from team President Howard Saffan with the discussion centered on Brent Skinner and Kurtis McLean.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
My appologies for the mistake on spelling Howard Saffan's name for quite a while.

Many websites had it as Saffin, I did some reseach on this today and apparently have been making an error on this one for a while. I went back and researched his hiring with Bridgeport.

A few more early updates tomorrow but unless a major move does happen involving the Isles that will essentially be it for the weekend.

Updated 9:30am:
News9.com: David Hunt has a few words on the Islandes signing of goaltender Peter Mannino with comments from DU head coach George Gwozdecky.

NY Post: Larry Brooks has Jagr with a few choice words for Mike Milbury as he departs team Cablevision (at least so they claim today).

NYI Fan Central Comments:
You can bet if Yashin had become part of Cablevision on ice the Ranger spindoctors would be protecting him against outside media every chance they could get.

All about the laundry folks, always is.

My thanks to everyone once again for a great week here at NYI Fan Central.

Skinner signed: 7/4 New York notables

Updated 1:30pm
In the notables department Tsn.ca reports here the Pittsburgh Penguins has verbally agreed to deals with forwards Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko with both one-year contracts, with Satan earning $3.5 million next year and Fedotenko $2.5 million.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
My thanks to both Satan and Fedotenko for playing hurt and for both being class acts while wearing a New York Islander uniform and best of luck in Pittsburgh when they are not playing our team. Unfortunately neither were able to produce enough with Satan struggling for the better part of two seasons under Ted Nolan.

Still, Satan had some very memorable goals against the Pens on Al Arbour night and the game he got to overtime against the Devils, to be centered by Malkin and Crosby will only help their careers.

Updated 12:30pm:
Newsday: Greg Logan updated the Islanders Newsday blog and corrected an error on how many one-way contract he reported but again notes the few spots on the current roster if any more players are signed.

He also notes the two way qualifying offers to most of the prospects and that Tambellini, Gervais, Walter and Colliton all would have to clear waivers on the way down to the AHL if they were assigned to Bridgeport and that Frans Nielsen was qualified on a two-way contract for 30 more NHL games.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Logan edits and updates his blog entries, I would check back to see if he clarifies some of this, including what Nielsen's thirty game qualifer means being that he is one of the oldest prospects.

I was not aware Jeremy Colliton had to clear waivers if he signed a two way contract considering how few games he has played in the NHL but his age could be a factor and he was drafted in 2003. I have read some conflicting information about this.

My guess is Mr Fornabaio will see Mr Logan's blog and fill in some details but a good job to bring us some information on this because it will determine some decisions as to who goes down vs who cannot go without waivers.

Sound Tigers.com: Announce the signings of center Mike Iggulden and defenseman Brett Skinner to one-year,
two-way contracts.

Mike Iggulden was profiled yesterday and in the Ct Post today.

Brent Skinner spent last season with the Providence Bruins and posted the best numbers of his career last season scoring seven goals and 40 assists for 47 points. The 25 year-old has played three seasons in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, Portland Pirates, and Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights totaling 17 goals and 73 assists for 90 points. Prior to his AHL career, Skinner played three seasons with the University of Denver winning two National Championships in 2004 and 2005.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Brent Skinner's profile from AHL.com is posted here obviously there is seemingly no room on the current New York roster for Skinner or Iggulden unless they force someone out in a trade.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has been keeping a depth chart of players under contract to New York/Bridgeport for next season.

BST
G--Yann Danis, Peter Mannino
D--Jamie Fraser, Jack Hillen, Dustin Kohn, Andrew MacDonald, Mark Wotton (V), Andy Sertich, Brent Skinner, Chris Lee
LW--Sean Bentivoglio, Jesse Joensuu, Jason Pitton, Kurtis McLean, Mitch Fritz
C--Micheal Haley, Tyler Haskins, Rob Hennigar, Tomas Marcinko, Trevor Smith
RW--Mike Iggulden, Tim Jackman (V), Joel Rechlicz

I added everyone to the to the list as of 3:30pm 7/3

I have been updating the sidebar with the roster changes as players come and go, with Drew Fata deleted.