Islander-Sound Tiger NHL Notables

AHL.com: Reported Joel Rechlicz was returned to Bridgeport but a lot of these have been paper transactions.

Point Blank: Mr Botta has an exclusive interview with defenseman Jack Hillen.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Islander Prospect Kevin Poulin is in Bridgeport, with Matt Martin, Justin DiBenedetto to Bridgeport also from the Sarnia Sting possible soon.

Mr Fornabaio apparently is not allowed to say much on Bridgeport's relocation to New York for playoff games but I will let his words speak for themselves.

Newsday: Greg Logan had an Islander Insider on Rechlicz who may stay down in Bridgeport because Sean Bergenheim could be activated among several subjects with a team comparison to the Detroit Red Wings.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Logan does a nice job telling us about the Wings success and how old and run down their facility is, he does even better informing us owner Mike Ilitch receives all the things Smg receives today instead of Charles Wang.

What he fails to point out in his comparisons is the Wings for years were spending anywhere from sixty to eighty million on team payroll that set them up for their current reputation as a model franchise to attract players.

Mr Logan also failed to note the Wings have had attendance problems deep into the playoffs here and reportedly going into the lockout needed to make the finals simply to break even financially here.

The thing about NHL revenue no one writes about is if you spend 120m to generate 100m as a return that is generating a lot of revenue but it's still losing money and plenty of it which no one writes at all in these worthless estimated team financial evaluations.

For billion dollar companies who happen to own sports teams as a sidebar it's a smart risk to take that advantage but it eventually erodes the financial system.

This is what clearly is going on with Dallas and Colorado who could finally not buy their way out of a bad season or sustain their spending with the later maybe qualifying for revenue sharing here.

The Montreal Canadians have had financial problems too despite any revenue they generate here they have had a history of losing money even being a team that was not spending 80m a year on payroll before the lockout.

Islander News Articles 3/25

Newsday: John Jeansonne has comments from Islanders head coach Scott Gordon where he compares coaching in Providence his first year to this level, how he feels the club has improved from the first half despite a second half with no playoff expectations and credited them for playing competitive hockey with adversity as he also discussed the veterans.

Newsday: Eden Laikin recaps Tuesday's meetings where Charles Wang says he has yet to secure funding for the ten year project because zoning has not been approved as different opinions are given from commercial real estate experts as to whether Mr Wang-Rechler could ever raise that kind of revenue for something of this size.

Newsday: Eden Laikin has more from Charles Wang where he talks about his " out " clause at the end of the process if Nassau County does not approve the project, makes clear enough the exhibition game in KC was not a subtle move and even though he wants the team to stay where it is and is not negotiating with anyone, he has to keep his options open.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sure seems like Newsday staff is keeping the KC angle in play going to the group of people in that market for reaction. This could save Cablevision hundreds of millions in television rights fees and eliminate the Ranger competition so they can expand their market, it is absolutely in Cablevision-Msg's best financial interest the New York Islanders relocate.

As for Mr Wang he said about what I expected which were comments made before the meeting (important to remember) and Tuesday's approval but bottom line if this is approved by TOH there is a good chance it will be approved again by Nassau. If not Mr Wang has his out on the lease (120 days after TOH approval if Nassau does not negotiate a new lease) but that is a long shot and makes clear enough the team belongs here and is not looking to sell or move.

Seems like Newsday overplayed relocation angle here a lot. Mr Wang's shot across the bow was at Nassau County, not TOH.

If TOH turns down project the lease remains in effect until 2015 with no out.

I want to see how he is going to get this kind of long-term financing, that's the miracle of this project yet to be seen.

Newday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog defends his publications coverage of the hearings despite the articles posting late (8:40pm-10:00pm) for a morning meeting that ended 1pm (after a second full day of virtually non-stop blanket Ranger coverage) and for a second straight day the beatwriter also makes clear powerful interests in Canada also see the Isles as a potential target despite no such reports at this time as he questions the potential problems of financing.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is the second time Mr Logan has made clear there are interest in Canada for this team but does not tell us who or where? I have read this nowhere. If he has the scoop is he saving it because once again he sure ignored reminding us Queens was absolutely interested which Newsday did not break the story on?

I don't want to hit Newsday too hard on this but that meeting was in the morning and wrapped by 1pm, the LIBN has the recap within a few hours, Newsday took seven hours plus to have articles posted, the headline was a bit misleading and did not tell the entire story.

I was not at the meeting so it's not my place to comment as to whether the writer
was fair or not with the percentage of Islander fan influence in the hearing.

Oh yes, print edition at this time:
Rangers 3, Islanders 0 (apparently Mr Jeansonne's article for now is not included)
Mr Zipay, Herrmann, Staple and Katie Strang updates.
Three blog updates from Mr Zipay.

Greg Logan zero.

Islanders website: Had a few words from owner Charles Wang on Tuesday's meeting.

Islanders website: Has some very interesting quotes from head coach Scott Gordon at the IBC meeting.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
As a rule I would never post this but second time in a week Scott Gordon went to the board to explain his coaching, first he did it with Mr Botta, now the IBC members.

I like it a lot and hope he does it more so fans can understand his coaching and what he's trying to do. I'm hoping he can win me over and that does not come with wins and losses but his concepts. I want to discover why so many felt he would make an excellent head coach long before the Islanders hired him.
********************************************************
Mike Comrie has scored a first period goal in his return to Ottawa, Chris Campoli a third period assist in a Senators victory.

Fox Sports.com: Peter Schrager has an interesting feature on Denis Potvin hitting Ulf Nilsson and the genesis of " Potvin's Cups chant " with a lot of media reaction on the rivalry from one Gregory Logan of Newsday, Len Berman, Phil Mushnick, Scott Ferrall. George Vecsey's article is referenced from the Times the other day, Denis Potvin is again quoted with fan reaction on both sides.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I think what caught my attention here was how many of the media folks commenting are so out of touch with today's rivalry and hockey in general. The Potvin chants at Msg are lukewarm these days at best.

Ranger fans say it's tradition, Islander fans say it's jealously. Put my on the side of jealously but I'm obviously biased here but I remember when and how it gained momentum which was with New York winning the Stanley Cup in 1980, 81, 82, 83 and Islander chants about 1940 which humiliated the Rangers across North America.

Article would have been better without fan reaction but I guess not much hockey media left to talk about it from that era.

Mr Logan had the following:
"The games between these two teams always are still the most intense of the season, And yes, the fans still hate each other. Just check the back-and-forth arguments on the blogs that are infuriating because they have no end."

Boston Herald/New Bedford Standard Times: Mick Colageo has Denis Potvin's comments on the trade of Butch Goring to the Islanders and what he told them that meant a lot to the players at the time.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from head coach Jack Capuano, Andrew MacDonald and Joel Rechlicz as well as the Albany River Rats who make their first trip along with Sound Tigers weekly here and game preview here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
The XML feeds from the Ct Post work with Mr Fornabaio's newspaper articles now on our sidebar.

Anyone with a blog/website and wants the Ct Post feed drop me an-email and I'll be glad to give it to you.

Islander News Articles 2/20

Newsday: Greg Logan's game coverage of the Islanders 6-2 loss against Carolina with head coach Scott Gordon's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No second article, no extra blogs, no Islander Insider last week. Islanders had their worst loss in a while but I did not see that theme when the Cablevision owned team lost 10-2 in Newsday.

NY Post: Dan Martin was permitted to cover Thursday's game where Mark Streit was critical of his teams performance with head coach Scott Gordon's comments.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Larry Brooks in his Ranger-centric article shows no class at all with an insult of Yann Danis who has played well for this team. Considering Mr Brooks does not apply the same standard to Henrik Lundqvist who has been pulled in several poor performances he is not showing much professionalism here.

Daily News: Peter Botte was given six short paragraphs which had head coach Scott Gordon and Mark Streit's comments on the loss to Carolina.

Daily News: Mr Botte did have an Islander centric article after the Ranger game on Wednesday that I did not see posted, most of it was about Streit and why he decided on signing with the Islanders last summer with Bergenheim's comments about the dangerous hit against him.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If I'm going to be fair in my blogging of the Daily News coverage of our team I also have to point out when I am wrong claiming no writer was dispatched to the Garden to do an Islander centric article when Mr Botte did cover that game on Wednesday.

NHL.com: John Kreiser has a feature on Islanders captain Bill Guerin.

Newsobserver.com: Chip Alexander's game coverage includes several blog entries on Albany River Rats which is Canes minor league affiliate.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Albany used to be Devils affiliate for those confused.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from Joel Rechlicz, head coach Jack Capuano regarding the bus accident involving Albany River Rats.

Friday's game has been rescheduled.

Islander News Articles 10/3

Newsday: Greg Logan has Josh Bailey's comments on signing with New York and elaborates a bit on when he got hurt in camp and what's ahead while general manager Garth Snow is asked about developing Bailey because several veterans are in the final year of their contract.

Windsor Star: Jim Parker has comments from Josh Bailey and Spitfire coach Bob Boughner on the Islander first round pick signing his first professional contract who credited his players hard work while Bailey talks about what he's going to do with that first check.

NY Post: Dan Martin's limited space article touches on Bailey's signing but also has head coach Scott Gordon's comments about Rick DiPietro possibility starting Monday against Florida and did confirm Andy Sutton had surgery but not details or timetable.

Note-The News had a small AP article on Bailey signing, if the Times posted a footnote in it's European Coverage-Ranger blog I did not bother looking.

Pioneer Press: John Shipley has comments from former Islander defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron who has had three fights in three exhibition games and sports two black eyes and about a dozen stitches on the bridge of his nose. He comments he was not really happy with the way everything went last year, and that it was just a weird year where he did not have any excitement in his game.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Best of luck to Bergeron moving forward. Some of his bombs from the point produced a lot of big wins down the stretch in 2006-07 and last season. No way this club makes the playoffs in 06-07 without that shot and as poor as the powerplay was with him here the point produced virtually nothing down the stretch after he left when Richard Park and Miroslav Satan looking completely lost on the point.

Globe & Mail: Sean Gordon & David Shoalts with reports from Stephen Brunt and Allan Maki have an update detailing the Nashville Predators have
has defaulted on a $40-million loan that raises new questions about the franchise's viability.

NY Post: Justin Terranova has comments from former Islander commentator Joe Micheletti in a Ranger-centric interview where he is asked about the split between Garth Snow and Ted Nolan.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article is on the Rechlicz brothers in Joel who is signed with the club to a three year contract with younger brother Marc skating with him against Albany in their exhibition opener.

Head coach Jack Capuano comments on both as Bridgeport is set to play out it's preseason with three games in three days starting Friday night at 7pm at Ice Pavilion against Hartford.

Prospect Camp Highlights Day Four

Islanders website: Jason Lockhart, John Hill and Jason Remsbecker recap day four of prospect camp with Team Morrow winning the scrimmage game 5-3 highlighted by comments from Bryan Trottier, Blake Comeau, Jesse Joensuu, David Ullstrom, Joel Rechlicz and Trevor Smith.

Islanders website: Allison Chen has a feature on prospect Doug Rogers.

Sound Tigers website: Features a full interview with Kyle Okposo as he talks about his experience last season and what's ahead.

NYI Fan Central Notables/WC update

Sorry folks, looks like the blogger monster shut things down for a day or so with some problems.

From what I understand one of the new blogger feeder widgets was the problem for a lot of folks but being that I had a feeder for all those websites anyway I deleted it.

Along those lines the page may load slowly but for now it appears to be back which is what matters.

The comments in Joel Rechlicz topic got caught up in what happened and were lost as I attempted to approve them on Thursday so the wrecker apparently lived up to his nickname.

I deleted/reposted the thread but the comments I could not recover. If the same folks want to again repost what they had to say of course I will approve it.

I did push back some blogs I had scheduled for the next few days so they would be released at a point everyone can read them when hopefully things are back to a hundred percent.

Just wanted to update everyone on why you have not been able to access the page and of course thank everyone.

As for the important hockey-related items:

IIHF.com: John Sanful reports Finland needed a sixty one shot effort to win again at the WC Friday in their 2-1 win against Latvia.

Note-Sean Bergenheim had no stats, only played three minutes and did not see the ice in the third period after seeing a little more than a minute in the first two periods. He was not the only forward benched but he has not been seeing many minutes at the WC so far.

Finland's next game is Sunday against team USA.

It goes without saying Mr Botta's blog will continue here as long as he decides to write updates which seems to be 7/7 according to his update. I hope folks contact his blog and ask he keep it going permanently because obviously he loves hockey and what he has to say is always worth reading.

The Edmonton Sun had some comments from the Oil Kings on Robin Figren.

Katie Strang in Newsday's blog is promising a feature.

Mr Fornabaio in the Ct Post has been updating his blog on the AHL playoffs and some other things.

I did update the draft center with the latest update today from the Islanders website.

Of course by now everyone knows Toronto fired Paul Maurice.

Espn.com: Scott Burnside reports the Thrashers are about to ask gm Don Wadell to step down.

Denver Post: Adrian Dater reports Joel Quenneville will not be returning as coach of the Colorado Avalanche with comments from the former coach and and general manager Francois Giguere.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Can anyone imagine if Charles Wang or Garth Snow decided to do this. Quenneville was not hired by this general manager, he was hired by former gm Pierre Lacroix.

For those scoring at home: Dave Nonis, Bob Hartley, Joel Quenneville, Glen Hanlon and Paul Maurice are among the name coaches currently looking for work.

Islanders sign Joel Rechlicz

Islanders website: Announced the signing of right wing Joel Rechlicz to a three year entry level contract with Garth Snow's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Given the general managers comments it could be an NHL or an AHL signing depending on how he plays but three years for a non-scoring winger seems excessive. My guess is it effects Kip Brennan or Tim Jackman's status more than anyone. I would have liked to have seen Ted Nolan's comments on this.