Michael Grabner Traded, Bernier Signed

Grabner Traded, Bernier Signed

 The New York Islanders announced today that Steve Bernier has agreed to terms on a one-year/way contract.

The New York Islanders have traded Michael Grabner to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Taylor Beck, Matthew Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe.

Beck, a 24-year-old forward, appeared in 62 National Hockey League games last season with the Nashville Predators, scoring sixteen points (eight goals, eight assists). Nashville selected the St. Catherines, ON, native in the third round (70th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Finn, 21, was Toronto’s second round pick (35th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. The Toronto, ON, native spent his first professional season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League last season, recording a goal and two assists in 28 games. The defenseman led the Guelph Storm to an Ontario Hockey League Championship in 2013-14, while posting a league-best plus-57 mark.

Gibson is a 22-year-old goaltender from Karkkila, Finland. In 45 AHL games with the Marlies last season, he posted a 24-17-3 record with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. The Los Angeles Kings selected Gibson in the second round (49th overall) of the 2011 Draft.

Nilsson, 22, played 44 AHL games with Toronto last season during his first year in North America. The defenseman from Mora, Sweden, was Toronto’s fourth-round selection (100th overall) in the 2011 Draft.

Verhaeghe, a 20-year-old forward from Toronto, served as captain of the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League last season. The Maple Leaf’s third-round (82nd overall) selection in the 2013 Draft, Verhaeghe won gold with Team Canada at the 2013 Under-18 World Junior Championships.

NYIFC Comments:  
Fair or not, injuries or not, Grabner was not producing and was going to make five million dollars this season who may well have been in the press box, and likely would have cleared waivers. I know nothing about the players acquired, but do know Bernier outproduced Grabner, and the saving could go to retain players who need to be resigned.

For one I noticed Alan Quine's production and wondered what more he has to prove in the AHL? 

Of course Grabner is a very likable/popular player with the fans. He will be missed but my biggest memory was the thirty games he failed to score healthy which sunk the 2013-14 season.

Thanks to the @NYIslanders for the opportunity and the last 5yrs and the fans for all their support..on to a new chapter now #LeafsNation✈️

— Michael Grabner (@grabs40) September 17, 2015

Weight Wins King Clancy, NHL Schedule 2pm Thursday

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Islanders website: Report former Captain, Doug Weight, was announced as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy recipient, awarded to the player that best displays exceptional leadership qualities and commitment to their community.

Michael Grabner, did not win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year here.

The NHL schedule will be released Thursday at 2pm.







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NYIFC LATEST TWITTER UPDATES-Grabner Five Year Contract

All Google/Blogger issues have been resolved, all Wednesday messages restored in order and time frame intended.


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Boston 3, New York 2

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Michael Grabner passed Bryan Trottier for second in rookie scoring with the New York Islanders which was a record set in 1975-76.

NYIFC game review of Boston 3, New York 2.

New Jersey winning/New York loss means club cannot finish higher than 26th overall in the NHL, meaning they will be part of next week's lottery. Things still too tight regarding Ottawa and Florida regarding 27th/28th overall, although at the moment Ottawa has a slight edge for 26th because of ROW.

The way the standings are breaking between New York and Florida if Panthers gain two points and tie Islanders, the ROW could be tied, that would make the tie-breaker head to head points. Florida lost a game in a shootout to give them point advantage in season series 2-1-1 vs Islanders 2-2.

Sportsnet.ca: Ian Mendes has an excellent interview about his first season working with New York Islanders Stanley Cup Captain, Denis Potvin.

Ct Post/Stamford Advocate: Michael Fornabaio has more on latest changes in Bridgeport with includes Alex O'Neil from training camp getting an opportunity.



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New York 7, Buffalo 6, Grabner Hat-Trick, Wishart 1st.....Snow Owns Mario

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If only New York was in some kind of realistic playoff contention.

Not a good game at all five on five and Koskinen finally struggled, but sixteen goals in two games, nineteen in three, and three fantastic wins in four days, where they had to work very hard. They just beat a hot, rest team at home and a very good goaltender.

This is not a league where even the best teams play many high scoring games.

That's 2-0 at Buffalo.

Michael Grabner has just been amazing and getting more confident in several area's of the ice, and obviously is making a run at Calder, player of week month, and whatever else is out there, and Okposo is just getting started even with Nielsen unable to finish at even strength. Comeau was not on the list of players practicing Saturday, apparently he was ready and had a nice backhand goal. Tavares another, Moulson looked hurt in second and that could linger. Wishart got his first, Jurcina a big pp goal?

Remember those blog entries on defenders not scoring a while back or five goals on season. MacDonald and Hamonic keep rolling along and improving.

Stick to Nielsen's face no call? MacDonald's play to stop breakaway down 4-2 was robbery.

Al Montoya, far from perfect, but his first NHL win for New York, still cannot find a quote from him which is approaching Freddy Meyer like proportions going from NY-PHOENIX-back, with no interview.
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As for the media side show Mario Lemieux obviously has a selective memory and really did not need to go there and let the league handle the process. Not the first time he has done this when he does not get things his way, and his silence regarding his own players/coaches transgressions to control themselves speak volumes.

Sure Lemieux should stick up for his team, but he wants to call out league, he should face consequences.

Snow for his part stuck up for his team (Al Arbour/Denis Potvin were pleased and they know better than Lemieux) and Garth Snow sounded off like a professional executive, who asked the same questions this blog did, along with Howie Rose about the Pens not controlling their players.

Sure he had a little creative tap-dancing spinning Gillies actions.

Even Mario's former teammate, Rob Brown, had some criticism of Matt Cooke today out of Canadian media here.

Snow should be proud of his players, and respectful of the process with his comments to the public. Charles Wang should not say a word.

New York Hockey getting some media coverage, with friends like Newsday, we need no enemies. Larry Brooks must be very upset the Islanders are getting far more media play, than Cablevision's team to unleash his latest blind-unreasoning assault with no quotes from anyone to support his silly claims, but par for course from him.

Not like Post is covering New York Islander hockey games.

This even forced NY Times, Dave Caldwell, to even include score of Sunday's road win in another rare article.

Islanders website already has post-game up with player comments.

Of course the game now becomes who has the most friends/media of each side defend the other. Hopefully for the New York side, they are done.

Oh well, on to Ottawa and perhaps a player of week for Grabner? He's heading toward the top ten in NHL scoring.

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

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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.



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