deHaan Injury Hurts NYI Playoff Chances Unless Snow Acts

---

29th in goals allowed, and now they lose their 3rd best defender to another shoulder injury that seemed well behind him in his past, his body grew out since then, and he was durable.

The scoring is going to dry up, they have to win low-scoring games, one bad week can put this team last in the conference given the usual domination by teams in this division, and the Devils absolutely not going away.

deHaan is a left defender, who likely just lost huge in his upcoming UFA.

So now the options are clear if another defender does not go down which is likely given Boychuk's history, and Hickey having his issues.

de Haan Avoids Arbitration Resigns

#Isles Transaction: Calvin de Haan has agreed to terms on a one-year deal. pic.twitter.com/7gO6KmfqT8

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) August 2, 2017

Updated: deHaan comments:  nhl.com

NYIFC Comments: 
This is not a good circumstance. deHaan will hit UFA next summer, and likely be testing the market given this outcome.

If he has a good season, he will receive a big raise from another team, if the Islanders struggle, expect a trade.

He had a lot of good things to say about this team given his interview.

---

New York Resigns Calvin deHaan & Casey Cizikas.. Kabanov Waivers/Buyout

Islanders website reports Calvin deHahn has been signed to a three year contract extension.  & Casey Cizikas has signed a two year extension.

#ISLES TRANSACTION: The Islanders have placed Kirill Kabanov on unconditional waivers - http://t.co/wFGBTHv6AI
— NYIslanders (@NYIslanders) July 15, 2014

NYIFC Comments:
Nice job by Snow/agents locking up deHaan, Cizikas.

Comments about Kabanov on twitter feed, never got past first season wrist injury. 

---

Anders Lee & Aaron Ness Resigned

#ISLES TRANSACTIONS: Anders Lee and Aaron Ness accept their qualifying offers from the Islanders - http://t.co/4iBldWvc3H
— NYIslanders (@NYIslanders) July 11, 2014

---

Capuano Should Be Feeling Pressure For His Job

As coaches like to say you can always control your effort win or lose.

The New York Islanders are a losing hockey team, expect things to get even far worse in December with the competitive part of the season coming to an end in terms of any playoff expectations. 

A coaching change does not alter that reality. 

Is Jack Capuano responsible for the holes on defense costing them most games? No.
The collective weaknesses on the roster? No.
The injuries? No.
The lack of production from Regin, Bouchard? No, because they did not come here as consistent players who produced for Ottawa/Minnesota.


The handling of the lineup, of who dresses vs who sits? Absolutely.
The obvious drop in performance of some of his top players? (Grabner, Bailey) No doubt.
Penalty killing? No.
Faceoffs? Mixed, because some of the centers who took face offs are no longer here.   
Is this overall roster working hard for this coaching staff? Yes.
Does the work reflect a direction where something is being built to sustain a winning team? No. 

Of course you look at the Devils collective defenders, who is out for them, but play consistent low scoring games against top teams it's not unreasonable to ask why this  defense has struggled since the season opener?  The Devils lost Bryce Salvador, Anton Volchenkov, and their team with a younger defense play/win many low scoring games.

That's how you survive eighty two games. (granted it collapsed a year ago for the Devils)

Jack Capuano should be feeling  pressure on that small fact alone.

Most opposing coaches don't even feel the need to play their top goaltender against this roster.

Who Sent Down Matt Donovan?
That could have been the coach or general manager, but going by game reaction that seems to be on Capuano, who is always rolling out Matt Carkner for mistakes above his ability, that lead to goals against without the exact same reaction from management. 

Capuano was not Donovan's coach in Bridgeport, the players that come up are no longer his past prospects. 
 
Too bad Capuano has not seemed to notice Donovan was paired with Aaron Ness last season, and despite the 2012-13 Sound Tigers being  twenty ninth in goals against, Donovan was a plus fourteen with solid offensive numbers. (Ness minus ten)

Why not just dress both together for a bunch of games when it's obvious Carkner will keep making the same mistakes? Carkner's not a physical player clearing the crease or can do much beyond a fight by appointment?  

Capuano tried Donovan with Hickey often, with Carkner far too often. 

Martinek now makes a bad read or two a game, it's obvious why management was so reluctant to bring him back or sign in a league desperate for defenders.   

Either way it's a huge mistake sending down  Donovan given the breakdowns that lead to goals behind MacDonald/Hamonic, as they constantly wear down in games with all these extra minutes.

Both are making several mistakes of their own, and looking dangerously close to getting hurt far too often.
Hamonic has concussion issues, MacDonald is always playing off blocking a shot where he's hurting. 

Capuano must feel enormous pressure extending their minutes.

Donovan's demotion reflects very poorly on Jack Capuano, who's going to have many more prospects coming if he remains head coach. 

So What's The Answer? 
There is no real answer until Reinhart, Pulock, Donovan or the other defensive prospects in Bridgeport get at least three years of NHL experience. There was a problem here from day one defensively with Visnovsky, Strait healthy on this defense. The defenders they need now are not available in trade for any NHL franchise beyond being a rental at an enormous price.

The answer for now is who's obviously not part of the solution which begins with Martinek/Carkner mistakes. One should be the seventh defender/spot starter, nothing else.

The other should go on waivers/become the veteran in Bridgeport. 

The best current alternative would be the following:
Hamonic-MacDonald
Hickey-deHaan
Donovan-Ness

At least you put six skating defenders together with some offensive/defensively ability who will make mistakes, but gain experience as a unit.

It worked a few years ago for a few months with an excellent second half.

I'm skeptical Visnovsky can return the same player if at all off a concussion at his age. Brian Strait will help this defense when healthy. 

Calvin deHaan:
Absolutely time for a long look after he's finally stayed healthy for over a month.

Expecting Nothing Special From New York

I kind of laugh when some are complaining about the Islanders power-play going 0-30/something.  

This is not the 1980's. 

A power play at thirty percent levels off, which was never a good mix of distributed scoring that was sustainable to begin with. Even successful teams don't operate at that number any longer for a season with the equipment goaltenders/players wear. 


Entering Matt Moulson's final game against Philadelphia the unit had ten goals (one 5-3 perimeter goal against Phoenix from Tavares) but was operating at 30.3 percent, while getting virtually nothing from it's defenders.  


Overall the numbers were more anomaly then fact, nothing built to last. Expecting Nielsen or Okposo to keep up their offensive pace was/is not realistic based on their career trends.

Bottom line until this team leans how to win low scoring games, and play some defense, it has no chance. 

Twenty nine other teams are always looking for quality defenders. That kind of player is only available as a pending UFA rental if they waive a NTC/NVC because all of them have this clause.  

Garth Snow's experienced enough by now, and has seen this movie here with Steve Staios, Mike Mottau, Mark Eaton & Milan Jurcina. The team played better without them  because the defense was faster.

Calvin deHaan Season Ending Shoulder Surgery

Sound Tigers twitter & Ct Post: Reports Calvin deHaan will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season with a dislocated left shoulder

deHaan's had a long history of shoulder injuries and surgery on his left shoulder.

NYIFC Comments: 
Devastating for deHaan, who has had shoulder issues since juniors, devastating for the New York Islanders.

deHaan was this franchises best short term bet to play in the NHL, he was their 2008 12th overall draft selection, who almost made the team in his first camp.

Bridgeport needed him, however New York needed him more to finally become a full time NHL player, that will not happen in 2012-13.

With the exception of Griffin Reinhart, deHaan on paper was the better rated prospect to Aaron Ness, Matt Donovan who were drafted later.

As long as the lockout continues Bridgeport has the short-term depth, however make no mistake deHaan needed to be in New York playing at the NHL level if a CBA agreement was reached.

NHLPA Rejected Proposal/Notables

USA Today: Released an updated 10/21 article with some details of the NHLPA proposal. 

NHLPA Website: As of Sunday PM has not put their complete offers with all specifics on their website.

NYIFC Comments:
I wanted folks to have both sides complete offers to judge for themselves. Obviously media involved is far to biased in most cases to extreme.

For myself, it's insulting defending corporate owners who created this problem with a history of their teams as stand alone businesses not being profitable.

Comcast sending the Flyers money to front-load contracts does not mean the Flyers are profitable.

Cablevision sending Msg Network 140m dollars does not mean the Rangers are profitable here in 2010.

Chicago Tribune: Rocky Wirtz needing his other businesses to make Hawks payroll in 2010 on cash calls does not mean the Hawks make money by themselves.

On the other side of this NHL players making 2.5m on avg receiving massive front-loaded deals many with NTC/NMC have hardly been treated unfairly.

Zach Parise got his ten million dollar signing bonus already here  plus the players are owed their 2011-12 escrow payments from last CBA.

All the rhetoric aside, if the NHL offer guarantees full contracts signed in the last CBA with no rollbacks the NHLPA should be willing to accept that with a 50/50 revenue split if it means the players get some of that money later as opposed to sooner. 

The players should not have to forfeit one penny of binding agreements this time around.

I'm sorry to write my impression of Donald Fehr is he was too slow to get started and seems very comfortable with letting Bettman have another lockout on his resume.

Fehr has his resume too that includes baseball losing a world series on his watch, competitive balance in terms of payroll was ruined under his tenure.

He was not hired to make owners pay players less, it's not his problem that owners overspend or find loopholes that them to make these offers.
*****************************************
There is no Sunday update on a possible injury to Calvin deHaan from game at WBS.

New York Lose Rookie Game/Rakhshani/Notables

Tweet

New York lost it's opening rookie game to Boston 8-5 Monday night, it was a 3-3 game entering the third, before Boston made it 6-3 very quickly.

Islanders website: Jack Capuano/Calvin deHaan comment on loss, also ITV video from head coach here along with Strome, Niederreiter and Kabanov.

Rhett Rakhshani sustained a concussion in the first period, he had a concussion in January and missed five games (during his callup) so something to watch very closely.

New York Notables/Prospect Camp/NIFA Meeting Updated 7/14

Tweet

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio is reporting UFA Jeremy Colliton will return on a two-way contract. Confirmed by Sound Tigers website.

Updated 1pm:
Writing the NIFA meeting will be live here Thursday at 4pm may not be correct.

NIFA meetings are archived for viewing. It may have been a bit presumptuous on NYIFC part, that automatically (like Nassau) the NIFA meeting would also been shown live at 4pm via live web cast.

We apologize in advance if the meeting is not live-streamed at 4pm.

NIFA will be Meeting 7/14/2011 at 4pm from Charles Wang's Marriott Hotel, where they are expected to comment on the Coliseum referendum in their agenda.

Like Nassau County all NIFA meetings can be seen with no media spin. NIFA had it's Jan-April meeting (likely others) at the Marriott, so there is nothing to be read into that.

Many past NIFA meetings are available for viewing, most are only a few minutes with none of the debate/lobbying you see in County meeting process.

NYIFC 8.1.11 section (right sidebar bottom of page) has all available information, including all Stadium/Arena referendum outcomes since 1990.
*******************************************
New York Islander Fan Central twitter on side-bars & special section set up for rookie camp, has had plenty of coverage.

7/13: ITV had video interviews with Ryan Strome, Calvin deHaan, Anders Nilsson, among others.

7/16 ITV: will show Blue vs White Live Saturday at 7pm.

NYIFC Comments:
Only expectation I have from prospect camp is no players are injured. The Devils, Adam Larsson, and several prospects have sustained injuries in their camp this week here.

Eric Boguniecki : signed by Bridgeport as as assistant to new Head Coach, Brent Thompson.

NYIFC Comments:
This is somewhat of a surprise given the club has a lot of folks, who have had brief appearances on the Sound Tigers bench, Matt Bertani was retained as an assistant.

Seems management felt a need to add a second assistant or Thompson was permitted his own hire?
**********************************
New York Notables:
1. Funny how Charles Wang is spending the same forty million he was before there was a cap floor or ceiling, and not one person writes about it? Roloson/Wisniewski were traded with no replacements and the New York Islanders did not go below the floor, which means they were at least four million above it.

But why go there?

2. It's already 7/13, how dare the Islanders not sign Bryan McCabe for three million, Alexei Kovalev/Zherdev for another two million and subject us to actually seeing if Calvin deHaan, Nino Niederreiter can make the club out of camp?

At least replace Godard and Mike Rupp? We have no one to stand up for John Tavares. (wrong Atlantic team and era)

2A. It's not 1998-2008 for Bryan McCabe or Kovalev anymore. The right wings in the system may be a lot better than Zherdev now. Kyle Okposo will likely be back with Tavares and Moulson on the first line, with Parenteau going down a line or two.

3. How are the Islanders going to compete with a defense that has Eric Brewer, MA Bergeron, Bruno Gervais and Matt Gilroy?

3A. Victor Hedman is a very good player, spare me about the rest being better than the Islanders or most other teams at this time.

4. Make an offer sheet (insert star player name) what are they waiting for?

4A. Matched.
End of story.
**********************************
How Low Can You Go Department:
1. I watched the Nassau County meeting Monday which included spending four million dollars in repairs to the Nassau Coliseum, it quickly and quietly passed, but those needing to create a story out of nothing (beyond selling themselves) did what they do best for their own selfish purposes.

1A. Not like the Nassau Coliseum had to cancel an Islanders home game because of asbestos issues, but those same folks would not dare write one word on that and retain a credential.

1B. Instead let's interview some former players to whole-heartedly, without question and from a completely honest place support the Islanders staying, while in the background, it's kept as negative as possible in the owners paper, which contributed greatly to the teams attendance/coverage issues since they started pulling games off television in 1998.

1C. What's next the Islanders refused their Metro Ice Challenge Winnings, or a pregame a few years ago because their TV partner is so wonderful? That the Islanders do not even want preseason games televised/or preseason specials? That the team does not even want our great partners to be burdened with live web-casted preseason games to help interest? Just place all the games on an insulting channel named for Madison Square Garden and hold the HD/ratings, while spamming Msg teams across every telecast.

1D. Anyone have a bridge to nowhere to sell cheap beyond the one going up at a renovated Msg? This end game is all about October 2015, quietly riding in as the good guy while saving hundreds of millions.

Since 1998, the history reflects the truth.

2. PHWA President, Kevin Allen, has no answers on what to do with blogger vs writer credentials issue here beyond letting the teams decide or who vouches for individuals in markets where there is less coverage?

I personally like Kevin Allen's work, but his answer seems to be pass the buck or stay above it as association president. Perhaps he's too smart to take a stand?

3. Beyond comical the same article reports the NY Times, does not allow it's hockey writers to vote for NHL awards? You may recall this was the same publication demanding transparency last November on Islanders media policies? NYIFC called out this hypocrisy once again on April 5th.

4. Yes folks, it's 2011. Hockey information has regressed so much we have comedy sideshows playing insiders on teams finances, with select professional media outlets so cheap and lazy they use them as actual resources.

Then those same publications, call out the teams for not spending enough?

4A. Where's X-Ice when you need them with long memories of Islanders earliest website versions.

5. Maybe we can get some of these comedy sideshow kiddies to publish the salaries of all the professional North American hockey writers? Then we can see which editors, publishers, and owners are the real hockey coverage problem?

5A. Will be fun to see the NY Post calling out Rupert Murdoch (NEVER), which needs to save a little money these days, firing Larry Brooks/Mark Everson and replacing them with AP coverage which would be a dramatic improvement for New York hockey credibility at the Post.

6. Let's end on a good note-Type the words Fort Neverlose into Google maps.
****************************
Quick note to NYIFC twitter readers, please only subscribe to the NYIFC twitter feed if you have an interest in hockey, sports, Islanders, ect.

Personal advertising is not permitted under any circumstances, this is a non-profit site.

Thank You.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page New York Islander Fan Central RSS/not Twitter.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

Crossroads For DiPietro, Lawson, Capuano

Tweet

It's crossroads time, the point where players show us whether they can keep a spot or it's time for others to get a chance.

Contract or not this is Rick DiPietro's crossroads moment.

Management has put the team back in his hands as the full-time starter. The Islanders have won recently with goaltending making far too many saves, while being outplayed/outshot but scoring timely goals they could not produce earlier.

Bottom line DiPietro has to stay healthy, he must provide the steady play Dwayne Roloson has and he cannot surrender the soft goal/mistake he has this season (including the huge one against Pittsburgh) trying to do too much.

He has to be the goalie he was in the second half of a lost 2005-06 season, this is his crossroads moment, whether he wins or lose is not as big a story as if he can keep this team in games with his play.
*****
Nate Lawson this season has not started enough this season to be effective, he was also injured.

This is Nate Lawson's crossroads moment, he is here because he has played well the last two seasons for Bridgeport in a straight split of games so he is used to sitting and playing one game a week. Koskinen's hip injury last year helped him fall back into a 50/50 split.

What's yet to be determined is can he be effective starting a stretch of games?
The Islanders did not use top picks on goaltenders so an un-drafted spot starter claims a full time NHL job unless he is flat out great and leaves management no choice.

Lawson has to prove himself when he plays that he can perform at this level. Kevin Poulin, Mikko Koskinen, Anders Nilsson are waiting for their chance maybe as soon as next season, or if DiPietro does not hold up, this season.
*****
Make no mistake, standings aside this is Jack Capuano's crossroads with many of his AHL prospects on this team. He's out-gunned, out-manned, on a team with far too many injuries and with an interim tag, if the recent streak continues and the team makes a run at a playoff spot, he's given management a reason to remove the interim tag and retain him as head coach.

It's not a very fair place to put Capuano in to prove himself, however he was not given the interim job based on Bridgeport's struggles this season, which have turned under Pat Bingham.
*****
Notables:
*Islanders look like they have something to work with at center given how well Casey Cizikas has performed at WJC. He has to be signed by 6/1.

Brock Nelson vs Cizikas/deHaan Monday at WJC semi-finals.

Ty Wishart's Interview Sunday during Sound Tigers game.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

Real Development vs Surviving A Season

Tweet

I keep getting the same comments, the New York Islanders have been rebuilding/developing for years, then comes the no playoff wins since 93 mantra.

This is simply not true.

My response to this always is when they were making four playoffs in six years, that was not developing. They did have some prospects who could contribute at this level, however most did not make it.

The verdict is in on the drafts from 2002-2005, outside of Blake Comeau, Frans Nielsen or Bruno Gervais, it's not looking very good in terms of impact players in New York or around the NHL.

In Ted Nolan's final year when they lost a league leading 402 man games to injury or a league leading 582 in 08-09 that was not developing.

Those seasons (especially 08-09) were about finding enough healthy bodies to fill out a lineup with Tim Jackman playing five games in five days for the Islanders and Sound Tigers. In 07-08, the injuries hit hardest the final month so they stayed in contention to a degree.

Last year with only 250 man games lost to injury, that was more about development, the proof was in the improvement in the standings, and the wins against all of the top teams.

This year ended before it got a chance to start in many ways, it's very much like 08-09 now even with the scoring problems surfacing early, and the reality check that many of the past picks/some via trade (Nielsen, Comeau, Hunter, Tambellini) did not step up and produce at a time they had to for this to have a chance.

I don't see 2010-11 as developing, as much as I see it as again surviving a season.

That may happen along the way but Travis Hamonic is here because practically every single defender has been out or injured/suspended or playing hurt.

The hard, bitter truth is Florida never got there with development, and a decade later are still working through it. Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago took close to a decade, and a lot of steps backwards along the way. St Louis, Columbus, Nashville and many other franchises could still go either way.

One year, one eighteen point improvement, sandwiched between three years decimated with injury is not real development or giving a plan a chance. It's not even the start of real development/improvement until these players not only produce at this level, but learn to win, and have a healthy supporting cast to help them.

Right now this is only surviving a season, and seeing what some of these kids can do.
******************
Glendale stepped up and invested in saving the Coyotes franchise, for better or worse their new owner (when approved) will be willing to bleed millions for likely a decade plus.

Nassau/TOH are not giving Charles Wang (or Scott Rechler) the time of day for free, Wang and/or Rechler are paying Smg 17m for what some claim are a gift.

The clock is ticking.
*****************
To the best of my knowledge, it's Calvin deHaan, Casey Cizikas, Brock Nelson, Nino Niederreiter representing New York at the WJC starting Dec 26th.

New York Islander Fan Central RSS/not Twitter.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

Islander Notables

Tweet

The twitter box will be re-posted 12pm Saturday.

Islanders website reported, Rick DiPietro will start against Dallas Saturday.

AP: Has comments from Gordon, most of the players on start of Islanders season.

NYIFC Comments:
When it's written by Ira Podell, you can bank on some negative background commentary from him, the quotes from team are what's relevant, not his viewpoint, even if it's positive.

NYIFC Comments:
Does not seem to be Scott Gordon's style to announce a starter this far in advance, DiPietro's start against Dallas last season has no relevance. From what I could gather in limited bodies of work, Roloson faced more pressure and arguably played better, but DiPietro beat the Devils with their top line.

Two games vs daily practices for weeks. Only the coach/staff know.
*********************
Cablevision/Msg/Newsday media spin doctor, Neil Best claims former Ranger/Islander Patrick Flatley will be labeled an Islander as Butch Goring's replacement analyst on MSG's hockey program, who will only work about half their shows.

NYIFC Comments:
So in effect Goring's role in the stands at the Coliseum during home games has been eliminated, his full-time job in Msg studio has been replaced by a former Ranger/Islander and he will only be there part time. This around the time Denis Potvin was reportedly without a job?

To be fair maybe Msg did contact Potvin.

So it's official. Msg will cut costs/content on the New York Islanders in the studio, during games in the stands, and despite being at home for training camp for the first time thirteen years Msg did not even produce a single minute of content.

It says a great deal a game in Quebec can be seen on internet, but not one from the Coliseum or Prudential Arena from our so-called partners.

Goring was not permitted to cover anything from Coliseum on television/radio or internet during pre-season (no internet games were even allowed on tape delay) nor was a show even produced for the club/or the Devils entering the new season for the first time in memory, while the Dolan's teams/games are spammed day and night.

Billy Jaffe's full-time contract was eliminated.

Bottom line hopefully a few folks can still read between the WiFi lines Cablevision is installing at the Coliseum as to how little control the New York Islanders/New Jersey Devils/Buffalo Sabres have as Msg's " partners " in any kind of coverage agreement.
**************
Islanders website: Also reported a radio agreement with WRHU 88.7 FM, Radio Hofstra University, to broadcast games throughout the 2010-11 NHL season. Former color commentator, Chris King will move over to the play-by-play position and various Hofstra broadcast students will have the opportunity to serve as the color analysts and sideline reporters.

NYIFC Comments:
I need professional media confirmation to know if Msg has final approval of the Islanders radio rights, with any station anywhere before I can go further. This may be the only place Msg would allow them to have a radio agreement, or they have no say in any radio agreement at all. Hofstra has college games to air for football and basketball. This contradicts the past when the Islanders appeared on Bloomberg, ESPN 1050, and the recent Islander radio network.

I did not research if Buffalo is going only with simulcast as they did a year ago, or have an expanded radio agreement or whether Msg controls approval rights to this.

Updated:
Ken Belson of the NY Times, informed me he was told by Islanders and MSG, approval by the Garden is only regarding television broadcasts, not a radio deal.
**************
Do I care whether Rex Ryan, Darryl Strawberry, Michael Strahan, other past Jet QB's or Tom Suozzi drops the opening night puck? No.

The lack of credible print/internet coverage has done a good job driving folks away, regardless.
**************
News Durham Region: Report Calvin deHaan was named captain of the Generals, with coach Chris DePiero's comments who's team also has Islander draft pick, Tony DeHart.
**************
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio breaks down the Islanders roster.

NYIFC Comments:
The Ct Post staff kindly responded Friday night with a Rss link to Mr Fornabaio's newspaper coverage here which will appear on blog sidebar in media section.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page New York Islander Fan Central RSS/not Twitter.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

New York Releases 23 Man Roster-Niederreiter In/deHaan/Martin Out

Tweet

Islanders website: Well before the 3pm deadline announced it's 23-man roster for opening night, which included Calvin deHaan going to back to juniors, Matt Martin to Bridgeport, while Nate Lawson was placed on injured list with Rob Schremp, Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit.

Nino Niederreiter got the call from Garth Snow he will receive his opportunity, along with Michael Grabner and PA Parenteau. Jon Sim & Trevor Gillies are among the thirteen forwards, the club has nine games to make a final determination because beyond that it's New York or juniors.

"It's a great feeling," said Niederreiter, who skated on a line with Doug Weight and Josh Bailey on Wednesday morning. "I was waiting for a call to (Isles GM) Garth (Snow), and I got to know that I'm on the team. I'm really happy about it."

NHL.com: Brian Compton had Michael Grabner's first NY comments where he agreed with his Florida's general manager's assessman of his play and discussed his opportunity here. Head coach, Scott Gordon commented on the plan for Grabner with New York.

These were the line combination's at practice before final cut:
Forwards
91 John Tavares - 57 Blake Comeau - 15 PA Parenteau
26 Matt Moulson - 51 Frans Nielsen - 7 Trent Hunter
12 Josh Bailey - 93 Doug Weight - 25 Nino Niederreiter
17 Matt Martin - 28 Zenon Konopka - 16 Jon Sim
14 Trevor Gillies & 40 Michael Grabner

Defensemen
3 Calvin de Haan
4 Mark Eaton
38 Jack Hillen
8 Bruno Gervais
47 Andrew MacDonald
27 Milan Jurcina
24 Radek Martinek
10 Mike Mottau
20 James Wisniewski

Goaltenders
39 Rick DiPietro
30 Dwayne Roloson

Long Term Injured Reserve:
21 Kyle Okposo
2 Mark Streit
44 Rob Schremp
52 Nathan Lawson

Tavares-Comeau was most likely a misprint.

NYIFC Comments:
Shocked Niederreiter was kept for now? No, because we have seen this trend before but again this player is almost a full year young than Tavares-Bailey when they secured spots at this level, he did not have a dominating camp offensively. Parenteau did not have a good statistical preseason in few games.

Doug Weight for now will see an elevated role apparently.

Again it must be noted waiver claims, trades could happen at any time. Today was a deadline to reach twenty three players or less by 3pm. Disappointing Calvin deHaan was not retained, but the defensive depth is in Bridgeport to fill possible injuries, next summer they have to work in both deHaan and Hamonic along with others.

Matt Martin could be back sooner than later, but did not require waivers. For now Bridgeport has an answer to it's three man goaltender problem with Nate Lawson here on what is listed as long-term injured reserve, however he did skate.

NHL Notables:
Oddly, Edmonton received permission to send Sheldon Souray to the Washington Capitals AHL affiliate which is the Hershey Bears here but is not seen as the precursor to a trade.

Souray's best chance at being claimed would come in a recall waiver which will likely happen when injuries start piling up around league.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the latest on what these moves mean for Bridgeport,

Nate Lawson is out two weeks with a knee injury here.

To the best of my knowledge, Ryan Parent/Jeff Tambellini and all players placed on waivers have cleared. Cablevision's AHL payroll has three players making around ten million dollars including their summer signings.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

Calvin deHaan's First Comments, Mark Wotton Signed, World Championship Exhibition Results

Ottawa Citizen: Don Campbell has Calvin deHaan's, comments upon signing his first professional contract that will be announced on Wednesday, and what's ahead going into 2010-11.

NYIFC Comments:
Ottawa Citizen had the first comments and not Newsday? This is a first rounder, selected 12th overall in the draft.

deHaan received a maximum contract allowed under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, with a base salary of $900,000 a season and bonuses of up to $600,000 per season, meaning the contract could be worth $4.5 million.
************************************************************
USA Wins Exhibition:
Kyle Okposo per twitter page, had two goals in Tuesday's 3-1 exhibition game win against France, and was named first star of game. John Tavares, had an assist, and a penalty in Canada's 4-1 win against host Germany.

Islanders Authorized: Reports Bridgeport Captain, Mark Wotton has been resigned to a one-year AHL contract for 2010-11.

NYIFC Comments:
Good news for Wotton, perhaps not good news for Brendan Witt in terms of staying in Bridgeport?



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Share |

New Background USA Camp Ends

Saturday 8/15 Final game at Lake Placid Team USA won 6-0 with Aaron Ness and
Matt Donovan against Russian Isles prospect Anton Klementyev.

Camp concluded Saturday.

Team USA Page (above) provided camp updates and box scores of these games.

Katie Strang in Islanders Newsday blog (Rss still down for all blogs at Newsday) had
assistant gm Ryan Jankowski's comments on Ness-Donovan.

Hockey Canada.ca: Had their Developmental Camp last week which included Travis
Hamonic and Calvin deHaan.

It took a full year but finally the page borders are perfectly centered and extend
to the top of the blog.

New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

New York Islander Fan Central Audio-Podcast Homepage