Islander News Articles 10/25:

Newsday: John Jeansonne kicks off the early Thursday articles with an update on Marc Andre Bergeron who is once again paired with Andy Sutton. The Lights went out at Ice Works and Ted Nolan kept the club skating.

"There's a reason I was pulled out. It's early and I was trying to do too much. You just have to [forget about the damaging errors when he last played four games ago]. If I let that get into my head, it's a problem."

Windsor Star: Reports Mike Bossy Thursday Night will be inducted into the the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Toronto.

Long Island Exchange:Joe Pietaro had an early season update on the Islanders start compared to the Rangers and Devils with comments from Ted Nolan and Chris Campoli.

Canadian Press: Reports former Islander Joel Bouchard signed a twenty five game tryout contract with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.

Going back to Wednesday Morning NY Sun: Kevin Greenstein did one of his infrequent updates on the New York Islanders. Unfortunately his Islander updates do not link to a feeder I can carry on the blog page but the updates are always an excellent read when you get past some peripheral mis information as he had today with the so-called exodus of Poti and Jason Blake.

The surprising Islanders have posted a 5–3 record thus far, proving to be far better on the ice than they appeared on paper. While it's easy to give deserved credit to the goal-scorers and star goaltender Rick DiPietro, the truth of the matter is that these Islanders are succeeding because they're playing in the mold of their head coach. Nolan's work ethic has rubbed off on his team. As long as the Isles keep playing this hard, they are going to be a very dangerous — if improbable — playoff contender.

AHL.com
Reported Sound Tigers lost 4-3 at Lowell Wednesday and lost a 2-1 lead entering the third as they again found themselves down two men as Lowell scored the 4-2 goal on an expiring power play before captain Mark Wotton scored the final goal of the game.

Joey MacDonald returned to the net with twenty nine saves, Jeff Tambellini had two assist as did Ben Walter. Steve Regier and Jamie Fraser had the other Bridgeport goals.

Ct Post: Also had the game recap article with comments from Jack Capuano on his club.

"I thought we had it under control," coach Jack Capuano said. "They're a good team. You know what? They got momentum. They had a couple of breaks, and the momentum changed."

"The guys battled to the end, but some guys have got to battle a little harder,"

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio updated his blog on the Sound Tigers loss at Lowell.

Lowell Sun: Provides the Lowell Devils AHL team coverage.

Columbus Dispatch: Tom Reed has an outstanding article on former Islander teammates Michael Peca and Jason Blake.

"Jason was like the head of the snake (on the Islanders)," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. "If you didn't get to him, you didn't get to them. He would just run amok."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
What lull in the schedule again? Seems like a ton of things Islander-related happening to me the last few days.

Islander News Articles 10/3: Berard in limbo

Greg Logan's Newsday article gives us an updated about Berard among other things.

* As of Tuesday night, general manager Garth Snow said no one has been placed on waivers for the purpose of going down to Bridgeport, and no trade is imminent. The top four defensemen clearly are Brendan Witt, Radek Martinek, Andy Sutton and Marc-Andre Bergeron. Of the remaining four -- Chris Campoli, Bruno Gervais, Aaron Johnson and Freddy Meyer -- all would have to clear waivers to go down to make room for Berard.

* Tom Laidlaw, Berard's agent, Tuesday said he talked again with Snow, and Berard is working out daily in the vicinity to stay ready.

"It's at the stage of negotiations where it's best not to say too much," Laidlaw said.

"It's still up in the air," Nolan said of the defense. "We have eight -- and possibly nine -- pretty good defensemen who can play for us. All of a sudden, every decision we're making is a tough decision, which bodes well for us."

* Asked who might play the point with Bergeron on the power play if Berard isn't signed, Nolan listed Campoli, Sutton and Martinek. But questioned about his confidence in Berard's defensive ability, Nolan sounded as though it's a matter of time before he's signed.

"He didn't play in the league as long as he has without having some kind of responsibility defensively," Nolan said of Berard. "We're not bringing him here to block shots and be gritty in front of the net. We got him to run the power play and create some offense for us."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
First time I have read Johnson and Gervais would have to clear waivers to go to the AHL. If putting them on the twenty three man list today changed their status to where they must clear waivers Snow/Nolan boxed themselves into a corner here or do have a trade brewing. Either way this club cannot go long with eight or nine defenders.

Seems like Berard is in the mix still but all bets are off and every day he is not at practice is another day he is away from the players and coaching staff. Tom Laidlaw needs to find a job for Berard and if it's not here it has to be elsewhere.

Michael Fornabaio's Ct Post blog announces the Sound Tigers roster and in a surprise Jason Pitton has been sent to Utah.

Well, it's out and it's final: Jason Pitton's starting in Utah. More than a bit surprising. (Marjamaki was said to be toward the low end of the depth chart, but I wasn't quite expecting him to be sent away; Pitton comes a bit out of left field.) And not a whole lot of comment on it, either. But it's done.

Mike Morrison has been signed and will back up. Ouellet and Mole were sent to Utah, as was just about everyone else who was still on the camp list but wasn't skating today (Jeff Dwyer, Ford, Hart, Sertich, Bourne, Haley, Haskins, Keith Johnson), except for Derek Damon (Florida Everblades). Gordie Dwyer wasn't signed.

And that leaves 13, six and two:

GOALTENDERS

33 - Mike Morrison
35 - Joey MacDonald

DEFENSEMEN

2 - Andrew MacDonald
4 - Mark Wotton
6 - Matthew Spiller
40 - Jamie Fraser
44 - Drew Fata
50 - Dustin Kohn

FORWARDS

7 - Jeff Tambellini
9 - Ben Walter
10 - Sean Bentivoglio
14 - Blake Comeau
16 - Tim Jackman
19 - Gregg Johnson
21 - Jeremy Colliton
23 - Trevor Smith
37 - Kip Brennan
39 - Steve Regier
51 - Frans Nielsen
55 - Pascal Morency
91 - Olivier Labelle

Fornabaio also has his articles on the roster decisons
here and an update on Jamie Fraser here.

Kevin Greenstein of the New York Sun that has infrequent coverage of the Islanders at best did an Islanders season preview today that reflects a lack of knowledge about the club and someone who was not in camp. The article basically discusses the player departures and how basically Comrie, Guerin will be chips to move at the trade deadline because he feels they cannot compete in this division at picked them for last a few days ago in his preview here.

Let the very early summer grades begin for Isles

Kevin Greenstein of the very under rated NYSun checks in with the first review and grade of the Islanders summer to date here.

As always it is far better than the Post which never replaced Evan Grossman and instead gives us Devils beatwriter Mark Everson updates or the Times (rare Dave Caldwell updates) and Daily News. (rare Peter Botte updates)


NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Among the highlights:

But Snow was persistent with his pursuit of second-tier free agents, and as a result, the Isles' prospects for 2007–08 now look far better. He inked 36-year-old power forward Bill Guerin to a two-year, $9 million deal, and promptly bestowed the captaincy upon the respected veteran.

Snow also brought playmaking center Mike Comrie aboard, a move that could pay huge dividends. Comrie hasn't drawn rave reviews from teammates and management at his previous stops, but he has tremendous talent. Because he's playing on a one-year, $3.38 million contract — and for no-nonsense head coach Ted Nolan — it's probable that he'll be on his best behavior with the Isles, making this a very prudent signing.

Two gritty wingers, Ruslan Fedotenko and Jon Sim, were also added, and should fit right into Nolan's system. What the Isles lack in elite-level talent, they should make up in gumption and tenacity. Nolan's club will again be difficult to play against, and with only $35 million committed under the cap, they will have plenty of room to make a big splash via trade.

And of course, they will once again have top-notch netminder Rick DiPietro between the pipes. Last year at this time, Snow and the Isles were ridiculed for signing DiPietro to a 15-year, $67.5 million deal. But in the wake of this summer's spending spree, DiPietro's annual $4.5 million cap cost is shaping up to be one of the league's biggest bargains … just as we said it would be.

Snow has responded well to the myriad challenges he's faced since taking over as GM, and he's got the Isles in surprisingly good shape given the departures of Smyth, Blake, Poti, et al.

Off-Season Grade: B-