New York Notables

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Obviously a very tough time for all hockey fans, reflecting on so many recent tragedies that also extend to events of 9/11.

Having written that hockey continues, some great news to start. Former Islander and Sound Tigers, Head Coach, Steve Stirling has returned to the ice for the Senators after his heart attack in June here.

Islanders website: reported Josh Bailey was in New York working out and made clear he wants to be a New York Islander, and expects a new contract to happen.

NYIFC Comments:
Ultimately this comes down to what Bailey's agent advises him and if the player wants to accept the Islanders offer and his agents advice. Says something so far again another quiet negotiation out of the media for Garth Snow.

That also extends to John Tavares comments about wanting to resign here. Curious he commented on captaincy, but only he knows how question was phrased. No matter how he answers that becomes a story.

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 1/12

Newsday: John Jeansonne has Bill Guerin's comments about the role of captain and how tough it's been with a team struggling badly while head coach Scott Gordon also discusses the role of captain in a teams structure.

Freddy Meyer and Rick DiPietro are out for Tuesday's game.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Bottom line if Guerin-Gordon are not on the same page, the lockeroom will be in question. Both Weight and Guerin have praised this coach repeatedly but this is a results oriented business and there is supposed to be a lot of frustration.

It's kind of funny we do not see Newsday staff do these kind of articles on the Cablevision owned Knicks virtually every other day which would hurt ticket sales and the club's perception with the public and advertisers. Guerin and Gordon's comments are fine here but the writer quips are pathetic with the old movie and Titanic references.

The writers in Atlanta, Tampa do not pull this in the local paper on the Thrashers and Lightning.

This kind of treatment only seems reserved for the New York Islanders among struggling local clubs. Former Islander beatwriter Alan Hahn was lobbing some big time softballs for Knick gm Donnie Walsh in a similar article today when the paper is not running down Stephon Marbury in a staff effort to save the company money in a future buyout.

National Post: Tom Blackwell has Mike Bossy comments on the advantages of playing at home vs the intimidation of playing in Philadelphia back during his playing career.

NY Times: Nathan Sandals in the Times hockey blog had a few words on Islander prospect David Toews scoring in a win.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabauio has Trevor Smith's comments about his callup to the Islanders, his first NHL goal and what it was like watching Bill Guerin and Doug Weight. Head coach Jack Capuano also comments.

Islander News Articles 12/10

Newsday: Mr Logan's early article on the game noted Scott Gordon separating Weight from Guerin and Mark Streit hitting a post among the goals/chances the Islanders generated.

Courier Post On-line: Chuck Gormley's game coverage.

Philadelphia Inquirer: Sam Carchidi recaps the Flyers win along with combined coverage from the Philadelphia Daily News.

Philly Burbs: Wayne Fish also has Flyers coverage.

Fighting Sioux.com: Jayson Hajdu has the latest on the North Dakota hockey team with updates on Islander prospects David Towes & Jason Gregoire.

Update also includes another Islander prospect, Jase Weslosky, stopped 51 of 55 shots last weekend against MSU, ranks second in the WCHA in save percentage (.926) and fourth in goals against average (2.32).

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the Sound Tigers Notebook.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio reported Jesse Joensuu stalked out of Sound Tigers' dressing room Tuesday morning after practice brushing past Bridgeport's media relations/game night operations director Kimber Auerbach with a teammate commenting about how mad he was.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Head coach Jack Capuano's comments say it all.

Poughkeepsie Journal: Has a few words on Long Island product Len DiCostanzo, a goalie on the first-year Eastern Professional Hockey League's Hudson Valley Bears, who was recalled for injured goaltender Nate Lawson in Bridgeport.

Will add more articles to this blog entry tomorrow.

Islander News Articles 12/3

Orillia Packet: Sara Ross reports Ken (Jiggs) and Marilyn McDonald will be flying out of Hong Kong on Wednesday at 4:20 p.m. (HKT) with the Air Canada flight due to arrive in Toronto on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. (EST). The McDonalds are expected to be in Orillia several hours after landing.
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Newsday: Marcus Henry had more from Rick DiPietro on what he is doing to get ready as he praised Joey MacDonald and his teammates while head coach Scott Gordon talked about his franchise goaltender.

FightingSioux.com: Jayson Hajdu, UND Athletic Media Relations had a few blurbs about Islander prospect Jason Gregoire and David Toews.

AP: Reports former Islander Raffi Torres is once again on the NHL injured list with the Blue Jackets.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Between Tim Connolly, Raffi Torres and Taylor Pyatt seems the Islanders top picks from that era have this ability not to be very durable or productive.

1999 Draft Class: Four First Rd Picks:
Tim Connolly, Taylor Pyatt, Branislav Mezei, Kristian Kudroc, Mattias Weinhandl, Brian Collins, Juraj Kolnik, Johan Halvardsson, Justin Mapletoft, Adam Johnson, Bjorn Melin, Radek Martinek, Brett Henning, Tyler Scott.

Sometimes going all youth fails too.

Los Angeles Times: Chris Foster reports Sean Avery has been suspended pending a hearing by the league with Dallas owner Tom Hicks saying he would have suspended him for inappropriate conduct.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Where are all the media people who unloaded on Garth Snow for being a terrible choice as gm to criticize Brett Hull who gave him all the money? I guess all the cablevision employees who got a kick out of his act last year no longer find it funny.

Nothing like a change of uniform to change a viewpoint.

Bridgeport plays at home again to the Wolfpack Wednesday at 7pm.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio previews tonight's game and the Sound Tigers four games in five day stretch with comments from head coach Jack Capuano as the injuries are updated for Bridgeport.

Islander Notables/Quick Hits

NHL.com: Brian Compton has a feature on Islander prospects David Toews and Blake Kessel with their comments along with brothers Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Black Hawks and Phil Kessel of the Boston Bruins.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Another outstanding feature from NHL.com on the teams young prospects, almost seems like the league's staff is doing more on the Isles to make up for what the media is not providing.

Parry Sound.com: Evan French has a feature on defenseman Chris Lee who will be at the Islanders NHL tryout camp in Moncton on Sept. 19 who signed an AHL contract earlier this summer.

THN: Adam Proteau of the Hockey News in a blog entry feels if European players became more fluent in English, there’s little doubt their on-ice talents would garner more mainstream attention than they do at present.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
New York Islander Fan Central feels Mr Proteau should become more fluent in other languages so he can do his job better which is report on these players, not make excuses for selective reporting.

No law that says the owners of THN cannot employ writers who can interview these players and no law the teams cannot provide writers or interpreters for supplemental coverage. It's also unfair of Mr Proteau not to credit many of these players who go out of their way to learn multiple languages which was not included in his article.

What's ironic is Mr Proteau omits Mats Sundin of Sweden speaks English perfectly well and still no one has a clue what he's doing in any language.

Quick Hits:
So our friends at Cablevision are televising all Ranger preseason games running all over North America and Europe and putting it in Newsday as exclusive content?

I guess someone from Newsday will be doing the same for Islander fans shortly announcing every Islander preseason game will be televised with Billy Jaffe and Steve Mears/Chris King providing commentary?

Sure does seem the Islanders have paid for plenty of advertising all over the sports page at the paper, some live televised game preseason games only help hockey marketing in New York.
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Not for anything I'm getting tired of Howie Rose never doing anything but the games (as soon as baseball season ends) for this club beyond going on WFAN once a year to barely talk about the team.

Someone want to tell me why Howie Rose cannot take an hour or two and blog on the Islanders changes this summer for our fans?

I think it's time the Howie Rose era comes to an end with the club, our fans deserve better than a part-time announcer who does little else beyond the games themselves.
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Nothing but good things to write about Bryan Berard as he heads to Philadelphia on a tryout contract, he stayed healthy in the second half and did a good job concentrating on his defense and cut down his mistakes and proved he can still play in this league at a high level.

The Isles powerplay problems was about the entire team and sure he made some mistakes but he hung in as best as he could on a club with a lot of injuries working against it with some basic weaknesses on the roster. I hope he sticks with Philadelphia and picks up where he left off in the second half and wish him the best of luck.

Islander/SoundTiger/Camp Notables

Islanders website: Jason Lockhart with additional reporting from John Hill had coverage from day three of prospect camp which include comments from Shea Guthrie, Peter Mannino, Ken Morrow (who's team won 5-0) and David Toews.


Canadian Press: Had comments from Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey about training camp this afternoon, about their careers, what's ahead along with the coaching change.

Newsday: Greg Logan in Newsday's Islander blog had comments from Bryan Trottier because he wanted to make sure what he said Monday about his loyalty and friendship with Ted Nolan should not be construed as a problem with Garth Snow or the organization as he went on to say how much he enjoys his role as director of player development and working with the prospects as he reiterated some things he told Frans Nielsen a year ago.

Sound Tigers.com: Highlights from day three of prospect camp include comments from Joe Pereira who is a sophomore at Boston University skating at this week's camp and today's scrimmage which team Morrow won 5-0 with Shea Guthrie scoring the game winning goal tying the series at 1-1.

Garth Snow had comments on ITV about the signings of Bergenheim, Tambellini, Walter and Jeremy Colliton along with a lot more prospect interviews.

Quick Hits:
The NY Post blog reported the Devils will open against the Isles October 10th which means the home opener against St Louis will be on October 11th.

Former Hockey reporter, now NY Post jack of all trades Jay Greenberg on the Ranger NY Post blog had a few digs at the Isles and how they cannot land a difference maker free agent despite the Rangers negotiating the same day with Mark Streit while the Rangers had to grossly overpay for what seems a declining Wade Redden and issue a limited no trade clause.

Islander News Articles 6/29

Newsday: Greg Logan's late Saturday/early Sunday article claims several sources had Kristian Huselius as the player New York tried to trade for at the deadline last February but a pending agreement on a future contract had to be done within seven minutes which was not enough time for Huselius after Flames GM Darryl Sutter took so long to agree to trade terms despite what Mr Logan writes was an offer above market value then he will expect to see Tuesday.

The Newsday beatwriter also reports Islanders general manager Garth Snow did not comment on Huselius but did have his quote he would not be a major player when free agency begins, however he would try to make his team better if it makes sense in his overall plan which is developing the prospects on his current roster.

Mr Logan also claims an un-named agent with a high-end client among a dozen free agents did not have a single player list the Isles in his top ten destinations with quoted comments because players do not get to see the Island and all the nice places to live from the Marriott they do not wish to sign here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So several sources had this since February and Greg Logan was holding this information about his own team almost until July and still does not have an actual quote from anyone beyond his own speculation Huselius had seven minutes to reach an agreement and up root his family long-term?

Okey-dokey.

For all these source and four months you think Mr Logan would know what was headed to Calgary from New York in such a deal? Maybe that would forced a denial from the general manager and the latest potential Newsday retraction?

I wonder if Greg Logan could have found an unnamed agent to quote who would say his client likes playing here and it's a good place to live maybe starting with Mike Comrie or Rick DiPietro among several players who have signed here?

I guess that would be pushing a positive discussion about our club, cannot have that, especially at this time of year.

Or any time of year in Newsday.

Time for this to filter north to the Candian media so the other agents and pending UFA get the word.

Updated Sunday PM:
Sporting News: Ray Slover in the sporting news apparently has noticed Newsday's recent work covering the club and writes Newsday recently stamped the Isles New York's most inept team but Garth Snow shrugs it off and marches along with a youth movement. Kids' contracts are covered, suspects are weeded out and it's doubtful the Isles will throw big bucks around in a thirty team review going into free agency.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It was funny reading the free agent rumors today from clubs practically all over the NHL. Only paper that bothered with a non trade from February and gave out the perception no one wanted to sign in their market was Newsday.

THN.com: The Hockey News Daily Dish reports in it's daily dish of hockey information Greg Logan of New York Newsday writes that the Islanders likely won’t dip into the free agent market because it’s tough to lure players to Long Island.

Winnipeg Free Press: Martin Cash has a few words from Islander prospect David Toews about his training at the Total Hockey Centre.

NY Times: Jeff Z. Klein does the first Islander article in the paper since before the regular season ended on Wade Dubielewicz departure to Russia. Of course he mis reports Ted Nolan and Garth Snow disagreed about the goaltender as this information is from several weeks ago.