New York Notables

All NYI RFA (including Kirill Petrov) were qualified per Ct Post on 6/27 with exception of Justin Vaive & James Wright, who become UFA.
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Ilya Sorokin was photographed at the opening day of mini-camp.

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New York Signs G Thomas Greiss, Kirill Petrov One Year ELC, Hickey Extension

#Isles Transaction: Thomas Greiss has agreed to terms on a two-year deal. pic.twitter.com/OuXLEXT89e

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) July 1, 2015

#Isles Transaction: 2008 Draft Pick Kirill Petrov Agrees to Entry-Level Contract → http://t.co/070ez9tsLR pic.twitter.com/F8Mon5pPJ9

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) July 1, 2015

#Isles Transaction: @thomas_hickey14 agrees to terms on a three-year contract → http://t.co/UdCxW9B7c9 pic.twitter.com/vNSVlaDLBG

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) July 1, 2015

NYIFC Comments:
Not a fan of Greiss, and especially at two years. Would have preferred Raimo or waiting to see who could become available.

Petrov/Hickey were announced/expected earlier. Petrov ELC is one year because of his age.

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Kirill Petvov Signs With New York/Victor Crus-Rydberg Update

Championat.com via sport.business-gazeta.ru: Has reported the New York Islanders have signed Kirill Petrov to a one year ELC at 850k. 

From what I read, could not tell if a one-way or two way contract. 

Petrov was the Islanders 3rd round pick in the 2008 entry draft who could not come to terms with Ak Bars

Career Stats Ak Bars
 
NYIFC Comments:
Our long national nightmare is over or about to begin. A one year deal suggest nothing is guaranteed, and if he does not make the team would go through waivers and play his one season in Bridgeport if he decided to report there.

Even by KHL standards, the numbers are hardly dominating. 

Obviously Ak Bars decided to move on after having him under contract for years.
At 25, and his size, we'll see.

Someone on the current NHL/AHL roster just lost a job. 
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Long story short, likely got it wrong on Victor Crus Rydberg needing to be signed by 5/31/15. Apparently because he was drafted as a European player by the Islanders, despite going directly to the OHL, his signing window is four years in the new cba aka Linus Soderstrom, not two.

Rydberg signed in SEL on 5/5/15.
His correct NHL signing deadline should be 5/31/17 for the same reason Soderstrom is 5/31/18.

#isles Correction: If Victor Crus Rydberg was considered a European player when drafted by NYI before he went to OHL they retain his rights.

— NYI Fan Central (@nyifancentral) June 1, 2015

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Expressen.se Expands on Johan Sundstrom's comments that he wants to remain with the Islanders but wants an answer this week. (likely Wednesday) 

NYIFC Comments:
The only answer Garth Snow is required to give must be by 6/29/15 to qualify Sundstrom, retaining his NHL rights. Sundstrom is free to sign in Europe even if qualified at any time.

If Sundstrom is expecting an NHL guaranteed contract based on his statistical season/injuries, I expect he will not be resigned. If wants a commitment from Snow he'll be qualified, that is one the organization should give to him for 2015-16.

The question is does Sundstrom want to ride buses in the AHL for another season?

If Sundstrom accepts a qualifying offer he will be back with the organization for 2015-16. 

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New York Notables: Contract Status

The sidebar at NYIFC has contract status for all New York Islander UFA/RFA, along with the college players who must be signed.

The prospect blog is updated with the contract status of all players in the teams system entering 2012-13. Qualifying offers must be made by 6/25/2012.

College Prospects graduating must be signed by 8/15/2012 which on paper include Troy Mattila from 2006 & Corey Trivino.

To be clear, John Persson playing on an ATO (amateur tryout contract) with Bridgeport does not mean the Islanders are required to sign him before 6/1/2013 because he is a 2011 draft pick.

The New York Islanders have no selections from the 2010 draft remaining who must be signed by 6/1/12.

Because of no transfer agreement with Russia/KHL, we cannot provide where Kirill Petrov stands in terms of his NHL status or contractual rights the New York Islanders would have over another NHL organization.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had comments from Garth Snow, Brent Thompson, and the players regarding Bridgeport's season plus what's ahead.

Rhett Rakhshani, Mikko Koskinen, Justin DiBenedetto, Tomas Marcinko, Mark Katic, & Ty Wishart are among many important restricted free agents who require qualifying offers by 6/25/2012.

Players not signed who were qualified like Jesse Joensuu a year ago will require another qualifying offer, which is how the Isles retained Jeremy Colliton's rights as he played in Europe.

Yury Alexandrov, signed in KHL for 2012-13 also requires a qualifying offer to retain his rights.

What's Next For New York? Decisions/More Changes

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Appears Islanders made a subtle tweak to their helmet design. The pics from Saskatoon/Philadelphia both show the Islanders in home blue uniform, wearing helmets with the team logo, the scripted word Islanders replaced.


AK Bars website: Report Islander prospect Kirill Petrov has been traded to
Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk for a draft pick.

NYIFC Comments:
Will make appropriate changes to prospect blog, means nothing in terms of coming to North America at this time, but perhaps will give him a better opportunity to play.

Former draft pick Dmitry Altaryev is with this team.
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All summer long I have been writing about a possible trade/transaction coming from Garth Snow, I do believe the Mike Mottau acquisition will force a trade on the backline, just as it would have done before Mark Streit was injured.

I put virtually no stock in preseason game results. Even if the club traveled to China it would have been playing NHL teams four games ahead of the Islanders Wednesday, fine tuning their starting lineups, while the games for this team would be their first against NHL competition.

The Steve Stirling Islanders had a 7-0 preseason one year, they were blown out opening night. Play competitive, show you can score or create quality chances, and display some defensive chemistry. If that works it will be developed as the season progresses.

Having written this we have to see which changes are made for the New Jersey game on Friday because there is little opportunity for what is considered the opening night lineup to work together in NHL game situations. With Weight-Nielsen not playing there is a big disadvantage because chemistry only comes from playing hockey games. The Saturday split-squad contests again forces veterans that should be together to go play on a secondary team.

After Saturday, changes will be coming. Could be some dramatic ones. Most of the tryout players will be departing quietly. I do not see an NHL roster spot for Jed Ortmeyer or Dean McAmmond.

Speculation:
If a scoring winger is not brought in it would not shock me to see someone make the club over Nino Niederreiter among Rhett Rakhshani, Jesse Joensuu or another player.

I have little doubt David Ullstrom is making a future run at Frans Nielsen's roster spot, that could keep him around into the season if Nielsen cannot play.

Calvin deHaan in two camps, simply stands out offensively. It's not just the goals/skating the last two years but his level of offensive ability. Even a Jack Hillen's spot may not be guaranteed long-term if this continues.

I know size/toughness is a good thing, and Eaton is not a Sutton-type of hitter, but where does Mike Mottau fit this roster because he is inconsistent, but always dressed for New Jersey. Almost seems like this is Jurcina's spot being upgraded which was not guaranteed.

Personally, I would treat Radek Martinek as if he is at his best and not do a thing but play in him in the top four, they need his defensive game.

If I'm coaching Wisniewski, MacDonald, deHaan are three of my four powerplay points. The days of Doug Weight back there should be over, Okposo will not be there for a long time and not be in that role if it were my call.

I do believe by next Saturday there is a fair chance another veteran scoring forward will be brought in, with teams unloading players. I do expect Garth Snow and Scott Gordon will have some very hard choices to make.



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New York Will Ice Veterans In Saskatoon vs Calgary on 9/29

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Montreal Gazette: Cory Wolfe has comments from General Mangager Garth Snow, on veteran lineup that will represent New York in Saskatoon, against the Calgary Flames on 9/29 at Credit Union Center, along with Rick DiPietro's progress to date.

Comments from the General Manager:
On the game in Saskatoon on 9/29:

“We consider our game in Saskatoon a home game and we’re going to put on a good show for the fans.”

“We were always going to play one of our home games in Saskatoon, just because of the positive experience that we had there last year.”

“With the way we were embraced in the community, I’d like to think that we won over some fans in Saskatoon because I know we’re big fans of going back there.”

On Goaltender Rick DiPietro:

“He’s been doing great, He’s been skating with a bunch of our players who have come here early either to train or get their kids in school. He has looked really sharp.”

“He can just go out and play and not have any physical issues.”
“To say that he’s excited would be an understatement.”

NYIFC Comments:
What's notable here is the Saskatoon/Calgary game, although scheduled long ago as part of the canceled China trip, is a split squad contest, with the Islanders also playing in Philadelphia the same night.

The other split-squad contest is in Quebec on 10/2, with the Coliseum exhibition against New Jersey where historically the majority of the opening night lineup participates.

Sure, the gm could be selling the Saskatoon game a bit to help lagging ticket sales for a one-day event, which is far different than a full camp a year ago.

We'll see who participates when 9/29 comes along, one group will make a much shorter trip.

As for Rick DiPietro on 2/25 he told the NY Daily News his leg/body felt good.

Three days later his knee issues resurfaced in practice that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Snow's comments on this (even DiPietro's) are good news, but until DiPietro can stay healthy in the long-term, it means nothing.

Notables:
Ak Bars Official Website: Translated to English will give you up to date team announcements/play of Kirill Petrov, no sources required.

Twitter updates today have article/analysis on Sporting News, Islander preview by Flyer centric-writer, Chuck Gormley.

Mr Gormley writes the Islanders got what they paid for in free agency, and mostly discusses how the club did not keep up with it's Atlantic counter-parts, despite New York finishing only fourteen goals behind the Flyers a year ago. He also did not bother noting his fellow Sporting News writer, Craig Custance entry on Islander/ Kovalchuk negotiations just days ago, where agent Jay Grossman's comments contradict him entirely, but still wrote New York made a lucrative offer to Kovalchuk in the $100 million range.

According to Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, no such offer was ever made.

Beyond that a lot of old, stock quotes.

Mr Gormley was correct on one thing, Islander fans got what they paid for, a free article so sloppy/lazy he still owes us a refund.



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Time Running Out For Kirill Petrov Buyout/Contract With Islanders

2008 draft pick Kirill Petrov was at prospect camp in July, however unless a deal is worked out very soon between Petrov, his agent and Ak Bars it is unlikely he will be in North America this season with New York or Bridgeport.

In the end Petrov has a signed contract and a guaranteed income, Ak Bars is under no obligation to buy him out, nor are the Islanders obligated to pay a KHL team to release him, and then give him an NHL or AHL contract.

His agent's job is to look out for his client, which may not include walking away from a binding agreement. No doubt Petrov and his agent also have taken a good look at the roster depth on the Islanders, and his realistic chances at winning an opening night roster spot.

Ak Bars owns his rights, like any NHL player under contract they could easily trade him to another KHL club, or demote him to their junior club as their did earlier last season when he was sent to Neftyanik Almetievsk.

Of course, we have no idea if Petrov is paid less in Russian juniors, as many North American players are when sent to the AHL.

There are also a lot of signed prospects in Bridgeport under contract who have played every game of their agreement in the Islanders system, those player agents will be looking closely at any possible negotiations.

Petrov has played only fourteen regular season games the last two years for Ak Bars here, he was sent down to the development team for a short time before the WJC a year ago where he played seven games.

Some folks may recall when Robin Figren signed, the agreement was he would play the first year of his Islander contract in the SEL, before coming to North America last season. It was never announced (to my knowledge) if the Islanders or his SEL team paid his salary for year one of that contract.

In the past the European deadline for players to sign or reach agreements was July or August 15th. With no transfer agreement involving KHL, plus given Alexander Radulov left Nashville with a signed NHL contract, there are no enforceable rules beyond a verbal agreement that was not honored, with the IHL having no real authority over an independent league to prohibit anyone from participating.

When Jiri Hudler left Detroit to sign in KHL last summer in early July, Shawn McBride, the KHL's North American spokesman had the following:

"There's been a gentleman's agreement in place to not pursue situations like Radulov but this is a different situation," McBride said. "As a result of there not being a formal transfer agreement there are not bylaws or any binding legal parameters that have been outlined."

Having written this the KHL season opens September 8th, with Petrov's Ak Bars squad.

Training camp will for them likely opens in about two weeks. From what I could understand Ak Bars exhibition schedule opens around August 22nd.

This may well go beyond what the Islanders can do because this player is not a free agent. Only Ak Bars knows what it intends to do.

Bottom line a decision has to be reached soon.
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The Telegram: Calvin deHaan, had a few words on his shoulder injury as team Canada's development camp at  Mile One Centre in St. John’s.

Prospect Casey Cizikas is part of roster also.
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Jyri Niemi on Television Sunday

Tsn.ca: Reports Islander Prospect Jyri Niemi will be on Tsn2 Sunday at 7pm when Finland faces Canada in a WJC tuneup. .

Note-I had no box score for Canada-Sweden to see if David Ullstrom played in the hyped Tavares-Hedman contest Friday, his name was not in the game summary.

Only question for the moment seems to be if Kirill Petrov is a go for team Russia.

I have seen some things that he is on the roster but not sure he will play.

Team Russia plays against Kazakhstan Sunday night at GM Center in Oshawa
here in their first camp game.

I will see if Oshawa papers have something on the game Monday.

Team USA with Blake Kessel has it's first game Sunday against Latvia at K-Rock Centre
here.

I have been adding WJC pages and blogs from NHL.com to the WJC section.