Brandon Sugden Update/Notables

Toronto Sun: Joe Warmington reports NHL deputy comissioner Bill Daly called Brandon Sugden and said he would contact the teams that voted against his return and see what could be done but made no promises as the groundswell of support increases.

The Star:Mark Zwolinski's article today apparently only had the story before Bill Daly's call that he was going to drive to New York but intends to play in the AHL if the rule stands.

Point Blank: Mr Botta's update links to the background of this story and today's article that Bill Daly called Brandon Sudgen.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I hope Brandon Sugden gets reinstated, I'm not sure if he should be signed by the Islanders and who's job will he take because for him to play here someone has to go but I hope he can attend camp.

Vancouver Sun/several outlets: Dave Stubbs reports the Canadians trade with Chicago for Robert Lang means they are out of the mix for free agent center Mats Sundin with Montreal gm Bob Gainey's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sure would be nice to read if the Islanders are in that mix for Sundin or will we only read about how he does not want to sign here out of Newsday?

I guess no one reported Lang is older than Doug Weight by about a month.

Newsday claims Sportswatch columnist Neil Best on the top of his blog advertises he leaves no stone unturned as he brings you news and commentary on the world of sports media.

He lobbies for expanded Ranger radio coverage on LI but when the Islanders announce a new radio deal that limits them he does multiple blog updates and an article on the Yankees and ignores it entirely?

How quickly can you say double-standard?

Mr Best at least admits on his blog he is a long-time Ranger fan but there is no excuse for ignoring this if he has time for all these other media updates. He did get Howie Rose comments from a baseball article and wrote he will be covering Islander hockey as the Mets season is over.

Newsday has the Sunday pics up from Scott Gordon's interview but no article. I did not see it in early edition in New York today either but I will never purchase Newsday under it's new ownership and barely purchased it last season.

Times & Transcript: Yvon Gauvin has a primer from Moncton on training camp with The City of Moncton planning a welcoming barbecue for the team on Sept. 21 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Ian Fowler, the city's general manager for Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Culture & Warren Frizzell, camp co-ordinator comment.

Islander/NHL notables & Quick Hits

St Pete Times: Beatwriter Damian Cristodero has the first of a two part blog interview with former Lightning coach John Tortorella who interviewed with San Jose, Atlanta and the Islanders this summer but according to the writer were not the right fit but for now will start the season with Tsn along with former Islander Ray Ferraro.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I did not read Jim Kelly of SI making issue of Tortorella about his other interviews this summer when he was in San Jose or Atlanta?

Good luck to John Tortorella and Ray Ferraro at Tsn, I only wish the Islanders could make full time use of Ray Ferraro on television because I think he would do a fine job here.

Someone along those lines should be making the same call to Ted Nolan or Garth Snow should find a way to use his talents in this organization because there is always room for quality hockey people somewhere. Butch Goring has helped out for a few years behind the scenes and left under poor circumstances.

Pioneer Press: John Shipley has the latest from Mark Parrish who wants a chance to prove himself with another club as he talked about his role in Minnesota.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good luck to Mark Parrish but he had to know the system played in Minnesota going in when he signed his contract and should not make excuses for his struggles. Parrish is not a first-line answer if Guerin gets hurt or if Okposo struggles to where he does not earn a roster spot. With Hunter locked in for five years Parrish has no spot on right wing here but it's likely tempting to his former teammate turned gm.

Cbcsports.ca/several outlets: Report former Islander Brad Isbister has signed a one year/two way contract with the Senators.

ECHL.com: Has Kevin Colley's comments from his press conference Thursday as he was named head coach of the Utah Grizzlies.

Quick Hits:
* Trevor Linden will have his number retired by the Canucks this season.

* Mats Sundin is still making up his mind whether he will play anywhere.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No problem at all here for me when any player is not sure if he wants to play anymore. After all the years of wear they have every right to do what's best for them. I perfer that to someone who takes another teams offer and clearly stayed a year too long.

New York in the Sundin-Schneider mix/Notables

Tsn.ca: Darren Dreger describes the Islanders as a dark horse team in the mix for Leafs unrestricted free agent Mats Sundin claiming general manager Garth Snow has been persistant to keep his team in the mix.

Mr Dreger also speculates the Islanders have an interest in bringing back Mathieu Schneider.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
These things are what they are until Sundin and Schneider's agents confirm or deny the Isles involvement unless Garth Snow actually has something to say and he is very unlikely to do so.

Considering the Isles have a lot of depth at center I would think if Sundin did sign here Mike Sillinger or Mike Comrie would be traded unless Sillinger does not intend to return or unable to.

On defense six defenders (not including Jack Hillen) are under contract for at least the next two years so do not bet on Schneider returning for his second go around with New York because he's not a durable player and not in line with what this team is advertising with a youth movement if it plans to give Campoli, Gervais or Hillen an opportunity among others.

Let's just hope if Mr Logan (or another Newsday reporter) writes about Sundin signing somewhere when they come around to mentioning the Islanders possible involvement make sure to include whether the Islanders offered a front-loaded contract
here with bonus money which the Islander beatwriter failed to do last summer instead of waving the everyone wants to be Ranger pom poms (as Larry Brooks did claiming it was not about the economics) and only providing the public the part of the story that would stir up Islander fans omitting that a corporate team is better suited to offer a front-loaded contract and an advantage the CBA did not take into account.

Of course Garth Snow made it very easy for Greg Logan to omit that part when he's bringing up the Coliseum as an issue but it's still something our beatwriter should have made clear if he's talking about the Islanders offering those players similar contracts.

Don't think for a second front-loaded contracts and bonus money are not a big deal to a free agent because by the final years of that agreement they can be bought out and lose a big part of the money they signed for (see Alexei Yashin) if you need any proof.

Cory Witt in his Islander media blog posted a very classy letter from blog boxer Jon Jordan announcing he will not be part of the program next season here with his reasons.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
NYI Fan Central wishes Mr Jordan the best of luck moving forward with his writing career and will continue to carry his work in our blog box feeder here at NYI Fan Central because of the outstanding quality and content.

Islander/NHL Notables: Crawford out

CBC.ca: Report former Kings coach Marc Crawford will be joining Hockey Night in Canada next season with his comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I guess Crawford can be taken off the Isles coaching list based on this or it will be a very short run at HNIC.

Edmonton Oilers: Have announced Kevin Lowe has been promoted to President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers and has named former Islander Steve Tambellini as the team’s new General Manager.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So Jeff Tambellini's father is now an NHL general manager. He must have been on the outs in Vancouver to let him become gm of a rival team in the same division unless Lowe is what John Davidson is to St Louis with gm Larry Pleau basically a step below.

Somewhere Brian Burke is either laughing or unhappy. Would not shock me if the new Oilers ownership is kicking Lowe upstairs too.

National Post: Michael Traikos has Mats Sundin's agent, J.P Barry's comments on the saga to sign the long time Leaf.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mercifully the professional media sources have kept his name away from the Isles, perfect fit for the Rangers to sign another veteran declining for big money with a front-loaded Cablevision contract which will not make the local papers. I guess Roberto Luongo and twenty million is not enough to get his to sign in Vancouver.

Canadian Press: Report unrestricted Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Jaroslav Modry signed a two-year contract with Czech club HC Liberec.

Daily News: John Dellapina reports through Czech newspapers two time Ranger Peter Nedved will be invited to camp for a tryout.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I'm surprised Messier did not call up already and try and to get his spot back for five million a year with the captaincy. Funny, I did not read about how old Nedved was compared to Doug Weight who must be fifty years old from some of the reports about him.

Nedved for those wondering both players were born in 1971. Weight in January, Nedved in December. Holik is oldest of the three.

Canadian Press/several sources: Report Scotty Bowman has agreed to become the senior advisor of hockey operations for the Chicago BlackHawks after six years with Detroit as a consultant, joining his son Stan who is the Blackhawks assistant GM.

Quick Hits:
The Isles website reported Doug Weight will appear from the signed unrestricted free agent witness protection program and be on hand for Islander fans August 9th at the next team shareholders meeting as we finally get to hear something from him.

Islander News Articles 3/17:

Newsday: Greg Logan reports on Kyle Okposo's callup with comments from his Bridgeport teammate Ben Walter.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has a few words on what Okposo's recall means for Bridgeport in their playoff drive with speculation on who could be returned to the AHL.

Mississauga News: Gary McCarthy reports defense Alex Pietrangelo of the Niagara IceDogs is currently ranked among the top five players in the Ontario Hockey League in an interview.

Edmonton Sun: Cary Castagna has a full interview with Bryan Trottier on how he stays healthy, all the legends games he plays, how he relishes his job with the Islanders and plans that he is not ruling out a return to coaching.

Toronto Sun: Mike Zeisberger reports Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov will not play against the Islanders Tuesday.

Star Tribune: Michael Russo has Chris Simon's comments Sunday that he was treated unfair by Colin Campbell and will be speaking to his agent about this matter with the writer speculating there could be legal action.