Okposo will start Bridgeport Playoffs/Notables

Islanders/Sound Tigers websites & Point Blank/Mr Botta & Ct Post Michael Fornabaio in the Sound Tigers blog all report Kyle Okposo will play the opening two games for Bridgeport Friday and Saturday at the Coliseum against WBS Pens before likely departing for the World Championships.

Mr Fornabaio's report had details on today's practice.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Some players like Craig Anderson Florida turned down team USA's invitation to participate which winger David Booth also may do here. Scott Gordon is expected to leave Sunday to be on head coach Ron Wilson's staff for team USA and with Bridgeport already having enough injuries (Comeau-McLean-Colliton) on their clear day list they have enough latitude so Kyle Okposo or other players can play for Bridgeport at this time.

Having written that if Jeremy Colliton (or Kurtis McLean for example) did return they would have to play which is the significance of the clear-day list.
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Point Blank/Mr Botta: Had an excellent interview with Hall of Fame Islander general manager Bill Torrey on the draft he selected Denis Potvin and the top players in this years class.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
In my estimation the greatest New York sports executive in history for his class, grace and character combined with ability. The chemistry he had with Al Arbour is unmatched anywhere in professional sports.

Having written that Bill Torrey made the wrong call on Dave Chyzowski (and a few other top picks) but he went by the consensus draft board which is what you have to do regardless how it played out.

This is why I would have no problem if Snow drafted John Tavares or Victor Hedman and they did turn out to be a draft bust.

My point is be conventional.
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ECHL.com: Announced today Islander prospect Rob Hennigar was named the CCM ECHL Rookie of the Month for March lead the league with 17 assists and 23 points in 13 games to help Utah qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
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Newsday for now has not had an Islander blog update on Okposo which could bring more fans to Friday-Saturday games as they advertise on the Isles website but Jim Baumbach here has his latest reason to write the Islanders are a joke on his own behalf while the Cablevision owned team does not even give Steve Zipay any information at all here when they suffer an injury.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Call me cynical but I do not respect coverage double-standards. If the paper covers both teams exactly the same there is no problem here and if Mr Baumbach wrote the Rangers were a joke for announcing nothing on Drury I would respect that standard.

Lets see Jim Baumbach call out his employers teams for doing far less than Charles Wang or Garth Snow who has been far more accessible to Greg Logan and Newsday staff than James Dolan or Glen Sather has been to Newsday for years.


Updated 6:04pm:
Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog had player reaction on what they think the team needs in the draft as Trent Hunter, Mark Streit & Brendan Witt comments on that and the clubs needs. Head coach Scott Gordon also comments on the injuries and the lack of scoring while general manager Garth Snow was quoted on those subjects as he talked about what his priority is as general manager.

Mr Logan said he will have more from the general manager after tonight's lottery in a 9pm press conference among several items included in this entry.

Islander News Articles 3/19

The New York Islanders were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday with Carolina's win against New Jersey.

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog had more from head coach Scott Gordon and Peter Mannino on his win against Chicago in his first game he got to start. Also reported, Joey MacDonald was headed back to the doctor and for now his status for the weekend is in question which could mean another start for Mannino.

It should be noted Newsday also had a brief video of today's practice.

NHL.com: Lindsay Krammer has Jon Sim's comments about playing in Bridgeport and what's ahead.

Point Blank: Mr Botta had comments from Doug Weight about signing with the Islanders beyond this season.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
As always I will provide only a small portion of Mr Botta's work here because you should visit Point Blank.

I like Doug Weight but Islanders either need a top one or two center (Marian Gaborik, Brian Gionta) who can produce at even strength or someone who understands this team will be about it's young players getting the best chances from day one next season. Only Weight knows if that's for him but given his comments in January he sounded like a man not willing to give up his spot and made his case in the media that for me came off more like an ultimatum.

Is Doug Weight willing to be played here like he was in Anaheim if others beat him out for a spot? If I'm coaching Bailey, Nielsen and Tavares if drafted/signed are my three centers down the middle. I'm not changing anyone's spot for Doug Weight and if Scott Gordon is giving Kyle Okposo the left wing powerplay point he should be there over Weight from day one.

Mike Sillinger also sounds like a man who wants to continue his career as a New York Islander and is another center who can win some faceoffs which this roster needs.

Then there is Colliton, Walter and some other players who decisions need to be made on.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had comments from head coach Jack Capuano, Ben Walter and the teams trainers on how Bridgeport played finished 22 games in 38 days Sunday, going 14-5-0-3 to move from 11 points out of first place to one point back. Trainer John Sullo is quoted in the article with the beatwriter also crediting strength and conditioning coaches Chris Schwarz and Jesse Demers.

Tuesday Notables/Lighthouse/NYIFC

National Post/several outlets: Report Sidney Crosby left practice Tuesday with a sore groin but is still listed as
probable against the Islanders.

NHL.com: Adam Schwartz has a feature on the line of Blake Comeau, Josh Bailey & Kyle Okposo with comments from Islander head coach Scott Gordon.




Mr Botta has been live blogging from this mornings Lighthouse meetings over at Point Blank which has wrapped up, as always visit Mr Botta's blog for specifics.

If Mr Wang-Rechler does speak to the business/sports media we will have those comments.

Only Newsday knows who is covering practice and if Mr Logan or someone else is traveling to Pittsburgh today or tomorrow.
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What I can tell everyone is our trade deadline section is coming together with key live radio/trade tracker links. I will be adding more to this section in the coming days but these sites are usually the most reliable with correct information.

The two radio links in Canada usually go hockey all day at the deadline and both last year seemed to report all trades quickly and accurately.

I will add in a few more crawls to the page for updated trades.

If a live blog is done here on 3/4 it will be announced a day before on the fly because I'm just not sure I will be around, everyone is welcome to join in if we do have one.

If we do a live blog here it will be from 1pm-4pm. Last year I had a great time doing all the shows and this blog but between the shows, the blog and the game afterward it was too much.

There is no game this time.


NYIFC does not do the trade rumor/gossip game from amateur sites/blogs, we only go with professional media sources for the few rumors on potential trades that are posted here. As always dead last and a hundred percent correct is my unwritten rule with reported trades.
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The Ct Post apparently is adding mega-sports content or at least took questions on media at the paper. Two gentlemen named Ted Tompkins and Jeff Busrtraan were kind enough to get together, answer my question and create what I have wanted for several years.

A Bridgeport Sound Tiger news article feed listed here which will take time to fill in because it's brand new.

I have already added the new feed on the left side of this blog where all media updates go (including Mr Fornabaio's blog) and to the Sound Tiger section of the prospects blog on the other page.

At time time I'm not sure If I will continue to add Sound Tiger articles now to the daily articles being that we now have a feed that does the work. I'm not sure how many read the out of town coverage links.

I likely will.

NYIFC Update/A few more words on prospects

Still fixing up the bells and whistles aka feeds for NYIFC, most things you click on now should give you the updated correct feeds. I'm still working on the crawl for the top of the page.

I would strongly suggest updating your bookmarks or links because if you continue visiting here through newyorkislanderfancentral.blogspot.com you will keep being asked to redirect or at some point blogger may stop doing that entirely and provide a dead link.

Lose the blogspot.

My thanks to Cory Witt from the Islanders for quickly fixing the re-direct in the blog box page, my profile on the site at some point (along with others) should be updated.

I did tell Mr Witt I have not decided on doing NYIFC beyond this season. I do tend to feel now that Mr Botta has a team sponsored blog that is excellent, the blog box may not be as necessary as it was two summers ago.

Blog box or not, I will do what I have done for a decade, whether I continue doing NYIFC beyond the season will be about what I decide to do next and nothing else.

Regardless all I can do is thank the Islanders for including me and hope my contribution helped them which was my only intention when I signed up. Based on the media and private response I know NYIFC has made a positive difference.

I promise I have made no decision at this time. I can go in any direction with content and format here.

Also my thanks to Mr Botta at Point Blank for linking to NYIFC for the Queens story despite others also providing him with it.

Point Blank: Mr Botta this morning also had an interesting entry on all the failed prospects and feels nothing will be coming from Bridgeport that will make a difference next season.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
The question for me has to be asked when you see Bergenheim making his moves to the net why is he not getting his chance beyond the fourth line, why was Comeau is Bridgeport?

I do not see Andy Hilbert making this moves.

I did my entry yesterday and made these points. I do not see Comeau-Bergenheim or even Tambellini as failed prospects but ones who at least this year have been mismanaged to a degree. Kyle Okposo is on left wing during powerplays for reasons I frankly do not see, especially when Scott Gordon said playing him as a left wing earlier with Guerin and Weight was a mistake.

Nine games to the trade deadline for those scoring at home.

Sorry Mr Botta, Our fans should always respond

Point Blank: Mr Botta makes a entry our fans should not write or respond to items like Steve Simmons article in the Toronto Sun because it gives the writer more page views which helps him with his editor.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
I think I'm starting to understand how come the Islanders all these years sat back and let their perception take a huge beating in the media with virtually no response which is how we got to where we are today.

I have no idea what part Mr Botta played in that and you have to pick your spots, but you don't sit back and ignore something when it's unfair. It's this kind of philosophy that got a Long Island label stamped on a New York team far too often that put the team in a bad spot today and limited it's fan base.

You have to stand up and hit back. A lot of articles on the Islanders are negative but fair, many others are not.

For that matter where is Cory Witt to do a little hitting back as he has done recently on a few items? If he can do it for the Avalanche he can do it for the team he works for.

Larry Brooks takes shots his shots at the Islanders viability and local presence but because he feels the Islanders should receive revenue sharing he's done a good article?

Is this how far things have fallen we give thanks for insults?

Nonsense.

Mr Brooks knows who owns Islanders marketing on television, he knows they do not get a fair shake in his Newspaper, if he wants to talk about the Islanders viability he should start at his editor's doorstep and the double-standards they set.

This is the same Larry Brooks who reported in 2006 Mike Bossy (and Bryan Trottier) were not attending the 25th anniversary without compensation, a few weeks later he had to do a retraction where he blamed his staff for giving him incorrect information.

Then he ignored the event entirely despite covering that team in 1980.

Mr Botta told folks over the summer when it came to Newsday when Mr Rieber/Mr Baumbach would write things just to stir up Islander fans to ignore them.

Mr Botta would pick his spots in his old job ripping Newsday/Alan Hahn/Glen Healy when the former goaltender starting ripping Yashin's personal life.

My point is you cannot just pick your spots, one day tell folks ignore and the next hit back.

Our fans should always respond when they think something is not fair or correct long and loud. This is how you show these writers they cannot get away with misinformation or things that are not fair, that our fans are passionate about this team and will not let misinformation or outright poor journalism pass.

Perhaps Mr Botta does not see it but the more you sit back and take it, the further the media will go until you do respond.

By then perception is created and it leads to more articles along the same lines.

Islander Notables

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his blog reports all three goaltenders were in Bridgeport at practice.

This means no recall of Yann Danis (or another goaltender) at this time. With Bridgeport having a rematch with Hartford Wednesday it could mean Danis starts Wednesday and is recalled to start Thursday-Saturday.

After this five game stretch at home, Islanders have an eight day break and then roughly nine weeks of games until the end of the season.

Point Blank: Mr Botta reports on practice (Newsday already has Steve Zipay's Ranger blog from practice) with head coach Scott Gordon telling him Nate Thompson and Frans Nielsen will play Tuesday with a focus on the young players getting more powerplay time.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is where ITV and the website has really let us down this year far too often. No practice report, no video of the coaches press conference with the media. Last year
Ted Nolan was on ITV no matter how tough it got virtually every day, Chris King and Steve Mears had ten-fifteen minutes of practice video.

This year between the sub par pre-post game articles and this it's been far worse.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann has some praise for the Devils who apparently will sign Brendan Shanahan but of course gets out his real message which is to talk about the Devils attendance and their viability in this hockey market playing their system.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
He never takes these kids of digs at the Rangers. Not now, not when they were the biggest laughingstock in hockey. What does the Devils signing Shanahan have to do with their attendance or viability?

What Mr Herrmann will have no part of it's it's practically just as bad for the Rangers whether he wants to acknowledge it or not with their viability and a defensive system that Brent Sutter's Devils do not play. I expect it will not be good Wednesday morning from Mark Herrmann whether the Islanders win or lose if he covers the game but we'll hope for some fair coverage.

Newsday: Neil Best did not tell us the New York number for the winter classic which was below top ten in markets but eleven days later Nielsen/NBC/Cablevision finally found a Ranger angle for the outdoor game by pointing out NBC said the Jan. 1 Winter Classic was watched by an average of 4.4 million viewers, making it the most-viewed NHL regular-season game since 5.4 million saw the Flyers and Rangers play on NBC on Feb. 23, 1975.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
No shock Neil Best would want no part of including game six of the 1980 finals between the Islanders and Flyers had a 4.4/17 rating here and was the highest rated hockey game on broadcast television for decades.

Game one of the Wings-Flyers final generated a 4.0 rating equal, that series overall was seen in 6.3 million homes here as the official rating number for that four game sweep which featured Garth Snow seeing action for Philadelphia.

Islander News Articles 1/10

Newsday: Greg Logan had head coach Scott Gordon's repeat comments from his post-game in Calgary on playing more young players, Doug Weight for his part does not want to become a player with a lesser role as long as he is productive.


Earlier Friday:
AHL.com: Reported Yann Danis and Trevor Smith were sent to Bridgeport.

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog speculates that Trevor Smith's demotion means Frans Nielsen could be ready to return.

Friday's Islander Insider was pushed back to Saturday.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Ask me again on Tuesday if this actually matters. Danis is going to have to play in the NHL soon if DiPietro cannot so I would expect he see another start in Bridgeport.

NY Post: Dan Martin has comments from Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and Mike Sillinger on how the veterans are helping the Islander young prospects and their role.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not sure when Dan Martin got these quotes from Mike Sillinger or the players on the road trip.

Point Blank: Mr Botta had a few words from general manager Garth Snow on Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey not being named to the young stars team.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
As always I feel NYIFC readers should visit Mr Botta's outstanding blog for the comments he produces. I will only give a short overview here.

Kind of ironic the first overall pick, Steven Stamkos has one more point (14) than Okposo (13) who has played forty games was selected. Josh Bailey has only three less points than Stamkos.

The Guardian of PEI: Reports former Islanders Bryan Trottier, Bill Smith, Bob Bourne and Cliff Ronning will be part of the Oldtimers’ Hockey Challenge Monday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

Daily Gleaner: Reported on Rob Hennigar's game winning goal for his ECHL team after being send down from Bridgeport recently.

Los Angeles Times: Diane Pucin has a few words on the KHL all-star game today (telecast details inside) which will be an outdoor game in Red Square with one squad named after former Islander Alexei Yashin.

Calgary Sun: Reports former Islander assistant coach Wayne Fleming apparently quit as coach between periods for Avangard Omsk who is captained by Jaromir Jagr.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Molinary reports former Islander Ruslan Fedotenko is out four-six weeks after breaking his hand in a fight during a recent game.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Tough break for Fedotenko. I would guess Michael Terrien has about two weeks left to turn things around at best in Pittsburgh regardless of his contract. He was fired from Montreal 1/17/03 for those looking for a connection.

Sarnia Observer: Dave Paul reports on Sarnia's shootout loss. Islander prospect Mark Katic was the number one star of the game with a goal in regulation.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No trades for Sarnia involving Islander prospects at the deadline.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Bridgeport lost 4-1 at Providence Friday, Joe Callahan who scored the lone Sound Tiger goal and head coach Jack Capuano comment.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's blog does a good job breaking down the matchups and explaining where the game was lost here along with other items.

Saturday Bridgeport is home to Hartford with nothing on weather canceling the game at this time.

Providence Journal: Has coverage of Providence win against Bridgeport at home Friday.

Clarification from Mr Botta

In my blog entry regarding Mr Botta on Wednesday I wrote goaltender Rick DiPietro should shut things down for the year regardless and based my comments upon his January 2nd entry of Point Blank here where at one point he wrote the following:

Seriously, is there any case for playing DiPietro more than just every other game for the rest of the way?

Really, what would be the point of him playing any more - to get back in the playoff race, 14 points out of 8th place and with six teams between the Islanders and Pittsburgh?

Mr Botta was kind enough to contact me and clarify he meant that his line on the Islander goaltender is that, at most, he should play every other game.

NYIFC apologizes to Mr Botta for this misinterpretation and thanks him for the clarification.