New York Notables: Assistant Captains/Comeau Moving To RW

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ITV: Released interviews with Head Coach, Jack Capuano, and several of the players. The big news of the day is once again, Blake Comeau, changes postion to open the season as a right wing, despite the fact changing his position in the past has hurt his progression.

NYIFC Comments:
I saw Comeau in the video feed from Bridgeport playing right wing.

That likely means Rolston slides to left wing where he had his forty points in his final forty games a year ago vs a twenty four goal player, who's production has been very streaky at best over six months. History says, this hurts Comeau, who has struggled with this exact move made by several past coaches.

NYIFC twitter feed has notable moves on Thursday, which include assistant captains named, plus Jeremy Colliton being named Sound Tigers captain, with another menu of goal songs.

NHL.com: Has a recap of many of the ITV interviews Thursday.

Ct Post/Greenwich Times: Has Colliton's comments along with several players named as assistant captains.

Fort Erie Times: Includes a footnote that Jordan Bailey (brother of Josh Bailey) is the teams early leading scorer.

Here's NYIFC Official Vote for the permanent goal song---NOTHING BUT THE CLASSIC SIREN:

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.

Blake Comeau Resigns With New York/Notables

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If Charles Wang issued a press release here.

Islanders website: Announced today that Blake Comeau has agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

NYIFC Comments:
Our fans could use some positive news, and a hockey signing of a player avoiding arbitration is just that.

Twenty four goal players are not easy to find on the open market, and this organizations left wing prospect depth took a hit this summer with the loss of Jason Gregiore, along with the Bridgeport losses.

Notables:
Color make shocked the Devils took Trent Hunter in a trade, then bought him out given he passed his physical. The entire NHL passing on Hunter in waivers says a lot about how far his stock has fallen because of his injuries. I keep seeing Mark Parrish when his full-time NHL days were winding down.

These notions the Islanders are operating at a floor contradict the past before a salary floor when they were spending forty million, and last season when somehow this franchise supposedly scraping the floor traded 4.5m in salary last December?

The club easily could have kept Hunter and his cap hit instead of trading it if there was this scramble to reach a floor, especially if another injury would have insurance cover his salary.

This blog was no fan of Rolston last December, even at half that price on re-entry waivers, however he had an outstanding second half, plays all three positions, and is reportedly good for a lockeroom.

So far this summer Garth Snow replaced two players with three goals/eleven points with twenty seven goals/sixty six points.

All the one goal games, that cannot hurt.

Evgeny Nabokov, says last year, he was going through a rough time physically and mentally? Ok, fair enough.

Come to camp, quietly work hard and be the player he was two years ago.




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Wisniewski Goes, Hamonic Stays, Expecting Rolston or More Moves

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Folks, this season is over.

I have been writing that for quite a while.

Demote Hamonic, the only defender here, who did not have to clear waivers or trade Wisniewski heading into UFA in sixty odd days?

I liked Wisniewski, he was the closest thing the team had to Mark Streit in terms of a veteran pp point man and player who could absorb his minutes.

Bottom line James Wisniewski had zero even strength goals this season. He had only eight points at even strength and out of his twenty one points, most of them were in October. Anaheim moved him so Andy Sutton could get a two year contract to play forward.

Wisniewski was minus eighteen, Mark Eaton is minus one and has had only one negative rating game since mid November and even managed a +2 with no points Monday in a 7-2 loss.

Eaton, Jurcina, MacDonald are three of the six defenders when Martinek returns, that leaves a choice of Hamonic, Gervais and Hillen for the fifth/sixth spot.

Bottom line, Montreal's supplemental pick at 50th and a possible 5th in 2012 and Hamonic stays with MacDonald.

Streit, Eaton, Mottau, Hamonic, MacDonald are all signed for 2011-12. Hillen is an RFA and there is deHaan, Kohn, Katic and others.
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I can absolutely see Brian Rolston being claimed by Garth Snow on re-entry waivers Wednesday at 2.5m to help Tavares/young players. Well-regarded veteran who scored twenty goals last year and is very durable. He comes in with much better numbers than Guerin or Weight a few years ago.

This team desperately needs a character veteran, it's not easy to find without a front-loaded contract.

Rolston's signed for 2011-12, he is over thirty five and will get his 2.5m regardless so to sign him is a big risk. The Devils pay the other half if claimed.

Updated:
I'm aware less than two weeks ago I wrote an entry on 12/15 titled No thanks to signing Rolston I just don't see another veteran scorer who they can sign this off-season.

Also, I will admit he was more durable and productive than I had thought when I did that entry on 12/15. At five million I would not take him under any circumstances, at 2.5m given the twenty goal seasons virtually every year I would now take a chance.
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Marek Svatos re-enters the NHL via Wade Dubielewicz rules a few years ago from Europe, but is only signed for this season. For the Islanders a season going nowhere in terms of playoffs if they put in a claim. It takes Sim off that third line and down to Bridgeport but blocks Joensuu/someone else.

Updated:
New York passed, Nashville claimed him.
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Quick Hits:
Frankly I saw the Islanders play better in many of their one-goal losses, than the 9-1 combined wins over the Devils and Canadians. Scoring flash goals are fine, but they were outshot and dominated for long-stretches of both games to where, despite winning the game seemed a mismatch. It extended into Monday and Jack Capuano sounded a like lot Scott Gordon when the team was 4-1-2 about how his team was being outplayed, outworked after the Devils/Canadian games.

Monday night it caught up to them on the scoreboard. Wining 5-1 at Devils and being out-shot 35-14 does not impress me. The Islanders played far better in the first Coliseum game against Montreal where they carried the play but only had Matt Martin's goal to show from it.
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I have no idea where the Islanders go from here if Rick DiPietro's knee swelling acts up again. Nate Lawson got to sit on Bridgeport's bench Wednesday the first time he has done anything since his start here.

Too long. The three goalie system is too big a drain in Bridgeport.

If a contract cannot be done with Roloson, it's time to make a trade.
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Parenteau is outproducing Kovalchuk and on pace for 15-20 goals season with forty plus points, after Moulson obvious this gm/staff can identify talent.

Schremp has fourteen points/twenty games, Grabner eight goals. Comeau has picked up his game/scoring and Bailey looks good. Tavares is around net and had ot winner against Tampa, creating chances.

Eight losses by more than one goal/open nets all season, Frans Nielsen one even strength goal. He got his best chance of season in New Jersey and turned into Viktor Kozlov, actually taking himself to a poor angle.

Can they put defense and scoring together now?
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Wang said he's not selling, glad because reality is no one is buying this team and gutting prospect pool to spend 50-60m for mediocre UFA. Only a corporate owner can offer front-loaded contracts.

Too bad no one asked Bettman about front-loaded contracts/old buildings but he did press Wang-Snow on questions.

If you believe Jaffe-Goring was about anything other than Msg saving money on their own employees contracts you are kidding yourselves. The Islanders do what they are told or will be hidden even deeper on Dolan's network-newspaper.

Have a Happy New Year.



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Brian Rolston to New York? No Thanks

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Lou Lamoriello is still saying all the right things about his team still having a chance for the playoffs (which mean the Islanders on paper still have same chance) however reality is New Jersey, incredibly with veterans on roster, have barely been able to stay ahead of an Islander team with one win since October, and have scored less goals than New York.

That's not easy to do.

For those who don't understand the process with players over thirty five, you sign them at that age, they count against your cap until the contract ends. Brian Rolston has one more goal than Jon Sim, with a far better veteran cast of players, and happens to play the same wing as Matt Moulson, Blake Comeau. (sometimes)

Rolston is claimed (even if he goes on re-entry waivers at some point) and his cap hit is cut in half 2.5m, same thing. He quits, retires, whatever, he is paid and his contract counts against the cap, sending him to the AHL does not change this.

New York needs veteran scoring help. I do not think they need a player who cannot produce with veterans at that age on a team that's going nowhere this season that need to develop their own prospects. This team already has one player over thirty five who has not been healthy very much since December 2008 in Captain Doug Weight.

What they needed was a scoring right wing to replace Okposo, then Hunter. Garth Snow did not/was not able to sign Guerin/Satan, who would have solved nothing, or a better alternative. Parenteau/others so far have not proven to be an answer.

Maybe Snow will put in a claim if it comes down to re-entry, I don't see it and for now Lamoriello is not playing the re-entry card. Character players, well liked are all well and good, but this team needs speed, skill, size and someone to finish.

Rolston comes here and decides to retire at end of season, his cap hit counts against Islander payroll.

What do I want? To see more of Rhett Rahkshani, Joensuu, Martin, Hamonic and a look for Robin Figren. I like Frans Nielsen's defense, his offensive game at five on five simply does not lead to goals. Schremp is scoring enough to merit a spot, Bailey should be back playing his natural position, and Tavares is not going anywhere.

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Islander News Articles 6/30

Folks I actually found some professional writers in newspapers willing to include the New York Islanders in the mix for some unrestricted free agents.

Star Tribune: Michael Russo reports the Islanders are one of several teams that could have interest in Brian Rolston if Tampa Bay cannot close a deal Monday with him after the Wild traded him for a conditional draft pick.

Boston Globe: Kevin-Paul Dupont reports the Islanders are one of a few clubs who could inflate the market for Senators defenseman Wade Redden with a big contract offer.

Calgary Sun: Report Edmonton traded forward Jarret Stoll and defenceman Matt Greene to the Los Angeles Kings for Lubomir Visnovsky. The Colorado Avalanche have re-signed defencemen John-Michael Liles and Adam Foote.

Bob McKenzie reported on TSN John-Micheal Liles and Adam Foote were both resigned by the Avalanche here.

Tsn.ca: Darren Dreger reports on the top free agent defenseman.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
All quiet on the Newsday front now that they have done all they can to get out their viewpoint players do not want to sign here. Our primary paper sure is not good for business or keeping the fans talking about the Isles unless it's negative news.

We can scratch John-Michael Liles and Ryan Malone off the unrestricted free agent list for New York. Liles was in that second tier of defenders you hope could have been signed with a call from Rick DiPietro and would have helped the powerplay while Malone given Pittsburgh's cup run inflated his price and got too long a contract for me. I would expect Tampa will ink Rolston just as they did Malone (who hardly signed for a discount) but of course the either way the Tampa papers will not be telling the readers the 30th ranked club in the NHL last season no one wants to sign there.