More on Neil Smith's Islander contract

Daily News: Peter Botte's game article on Thursday was mostly about new details on Neil Smith's contract that were first reported in the Globe and Mail here in an earlier blog posting.

Mr Botte reports:
Smith appeared reticent about working without autonomy within Wang's hierarchy and, inexplicably, never signed his agreed-upon three-year contract worth roughly $2.1 million.

Smith and Wang agreed to allow NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to serve as the mediator/arbitrator in the compensation case that has stretched over 16 months.

"I can't talk about this because it hasn't been resolved yet," Smith said last night.

One NHL official said Smith's lawyers argued that Smith "didn't know what he was getting into" in taking the "committee" job, although the Isles countered that Wang's outline of the job was well documented from the outset.

According to one source, Bettman recently informed Smith that his contract is not "enforceable," and that he likely will be entitled to a settlement estimated to be worth "between zero and 40 days' pay."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
The other day I wrote if Mr Wang introduced him as the gm he should be entitled to some compensation.

That written how come Neil Smith did not sign his contract or understand things would be done by committee. Anyone who watched that press conference saw Mr Wang say several times it would be a hockey committee and took many questions on the subject.

Neil Smith deserves compensation but only for the time he did work which clearly is not going to amount to much. I wonder if Mr Wang will simply give him more money so there are no hard feelings but this is one of those times there could be hard feelings on both sides, only the folks involved know.

To his credit Mr Smith on SNY doing hockey analysis has not used his spotlight to make his contract a public issue and has done a fair job when the Islanders come up under tough circumstances and been a class act as always.

This is another mark against Neil Smith that has kept him out of jobs in this league
in a fraternity of owners who do stick together on some things whether they are right or wrong. Not sure how much consulting Mr Smith does for Dallas but he has not been on Versus or any broadcast I know of outside of SNY.

It's too bad because as part of Wang's committee Mike Sillinger and Brendan Witt did sign here. Sillinger did make it clear Smith was a reason he agreed to a contract.

Finally, all due respect Mr Botte, you need a blog at the Daily News for the Islanders and should be asking Leon Carter to set one up for additional coverage like this.

Two paragrahps as game coverage in the newspaper is not acceptable and tells us nothing. Anyone following this story knew about it three days ago when the Globe and Mail broke it, post game article should not take a step back for it.

Islander News Articles 11/11:

Newsday: Greg Logan has the coverage on Islanders 2-1 win over the Devils Saturday with comments from Satan, Devils coach Brent Sutter

"It's the first time I've been in that position on the power play this season," Satan said. "Those are plays I'm used to. It felt like my office. I was very comfortable there, so it wasn't that hard. I'm sure everybody would like to be there, and I'm no exception. That's the fun time to be out there.

"We passed it around for awhile and heard some impatient noise from the crowd, but it worked out perfectly. It came right to me."

Newsday: Logan also had an article on Freddy Meyer claimed on re-entry waivers, an injury update and more from Satan on his sticks.

NY Times: Dave Caldwell makes a rare Coliseum appearance to cover both sides where Brodeur, Satan and Brent Sutter are quoted. Brodeur did not get his five hundredth win Saturday.

“Whether it’s legitimate or not, it’s still a 1-1 game at the time,” Sutter said. “It’s tough. You can’t lose hockey games that way.”

NY Post: Devils beat writer Mark Everson covered the game for both sides at the Post with comments from Rick DiPietro and several players.

"We didn't panic. We got that power play and we capitalized. We had to be equally patient as the Devils tonight," Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro said. "We're playing well and getting consistent effort."

"It was a [bleeping] terrible call. There's no way around it," the Devils' Zach Parise said.

"I don't think he needed to call that," Jay Pandolfo said

Daily News: Peter Botte provided coverage of the Islanders win with quotes from Satan, Brodeur and Sutter, a brief update on Bill Guerin is given.

Newark Star Ledger Jeremy Cothran & Noth Jersey.com/Bergen Record: Tom Gulitti has the Devils centric coverage on Satuday's game.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article is centered around the teams toughness and how it's an element the Sound Tigers lacked last season.

Hershey Bears at Bridgeport Sound Tigers
WHEN — Today, 4 p.m.
WHERE — Arena at Harbor Yard
ON THE AIR — No radio; Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com

Ottawa Sun: Bruce Garrioch in his weekly rumors section (which is extensive) mentions the writer this summer Adam Proteau of THN callling the Fedntenko signing the worst of all free agent signings and brings up his production as proof the Islanders must be satisfied. Garrioch also claims sources say general manager Garth Snow is quietly working on a long-term extension for Fedotenko.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Don't read too much into Garrioch rumors or speculation folks, even if it's potentially good news. Garrioch puts countless rumors from sources in his weekly article and most are not true.

Don't worry gang Newsday has a Sunday writer to address NHL features like this.

Forgot, it's Ranger beatwriter Steve Zipay who mostly provides Ranger centric information in the Islanders primary paper.

Islander News Articles 11/3:

Newsday: Mark Herrmann has highlights on Al Arbour's press conference and how the current teams feels about him coaching them Saturday.

"Well, he coached one of the dynasties," Guerin said of Arbour after practice Friday at Nassau Coliseum. "There are not too many coaches out there you can compare to Vince Lombardi, but he's one of them."

As his news conference went along, the coach seemed more and more like the old Arbour. He joked that he hadn't read the contract. Snow said, "Trust me," to which Arbour replied, "I've heard that one before."

When it was mentioned that one of his former players called him a father figure, Arbour cracked, "Well, he didn't say that in those days, I tell you that. They called me all kinds of names in those days. I was very hard on some of the players, for one reason. I wanted to bring the best out of them."

NY Times: Legendary writer during the Islander dynasty era George Vecsey came out for Al Arbour's press conference and does an outstanding article.

“I wanted to be Guy Lafleur or Mike Bossy,” said Nystrom, who is still affiliated with the Islanders. “Al would talk to me quietly and tell me what he expected. He was a psychologist. We would practice three-on-two endlessly because Al wanted to cut down on our goals allowed. We might not always do it right, but we knew what he wanted.”

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Yes everyone, believe it or not this is the kind of daily coverage we used to get at the New York Times for our hockey games. Vecsey called the Islanders the greatest team of it's generation back when they were winning the Stanley Cup and his work was at a level far above anyhing today. I only hope the Times let's him go cover the game tonight.

Daily News: Peter Botte makes a rare appearance today in the Daily News to cover the press conference.

" I'm sure I'll be a nervous wreck," Arbour said after watching his new assistant, Isles coach Ted Nolan, run practice yesterday. "I know Ted better do a good job (tonight) or I'll be on his back. ... Whatever they want me to do, I'll do. I'm hoping to have a good time."

"It's going to be an exciting time, an honor for all of us to get a chance to play for such a legend in the game," DiPietro said. "But this is a real two points. There's consequence to this game, so our main focus has to be Pittsburgh."

NY Post: Larry Brooks who was Islander beatwriter in 1980 showed up and covered the press conference.

"I don't understand the game today," said Arbour, who turned 75 Thursday and was surely underestimating himself. "I can't believe what I'm seeing."

"It's a no-name team, but it has a lot of character," said the Coach, accompanied on the trip to what he called, "home," by his wife, Claire. "They play hard every night."

Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Shelly Anderson has Pens coach Michel Therrien's classy words about Al Arbour. Ryan Whitney was held out of practice with a groin injury.

"He had such a good career and was such a great coach," said Therrien, who hopes to meet Arbour. "I remember the first time I coached against Scotty Bowman, that was something special to me because I grew up watching him. And watching Al Arbour win all those Stanley Cups, to see him behind the bench is going to be special."

Cbs Sportsline: Wes Goldstein has an excellent feature on Al Arbour.

"That first year he came in, we knocked off 100 goals against as a team," said Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin. "We had allowed the most goals ever by a team in its inaugural season, but he had a system and a style of play that made us responsible, and ultimately it was a major reason for all our success."

"He took over that team when they were starting out and brought it up to the level of a champion," former Islanders captain and current New Jersey Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "You can't understate the role he played there."

Newsday: Bob Glauber reports Islanders owner Charles Wang is interested in purchasing a team in the new UFL Football league that could play at Hofstra University starting next August.

NY Daily News: In the latest Ranger defeat and humiliation in court John Dellapina reports the Islanders were one of three teams to vote to keep control of their website.

Sound Tigers Website: Reports on Bridgeport's 5-2 loss at Binghampton Friday night. Blake Comeau and Frans Nielsen had the Sound Tiger goals.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports in his blog Ben Walter will be called up to likely replace Sean Bergenheim in the Islander lineup Saturday and writes about the loss to Binghampton.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage is on the Sound Tigers getting lot's of shots but not finishing, second round pick Dustin Kohn and Gregg Johnson were scratched as Joe Rullier made his debut.

It's just a funk that — it's tough for us," Capuano said. "You can't fault the effort. You can't fault the way we played."

Press & Sun Bulletin: Has the Binghampton Senator's coverage.