Islanders website: Announced Tim Jackman won the Bob Nystrom award Saturday with his comments.
NYI Fan Central Comments: Sorry everyone, thought that selection would be announced the final weekend so I extended the poll, now that Jackman has won we will close to poll with the final results as follows:
Kyle Okposo 8 (20%) Frans Nielsen 3 (7%) Sean Bergenheim 3 (7%) Richard Park 2 (5%) Mark Streit 7 (17%) Andy Hilbert 1 (2%) Brendan Witt 1 (2%) Bruno Gervais 1 (2%) Josh Bailey 1 (2%) Tim Jackman 11 (27%) Other 2 (5%)
Thanks to everyone for participating, Jackman won our poll with eleven votes but everyone listed was selected by someone and this was a poll where everyone only had one option.
Newsday: John Jeansonne's article had comments from head coach Scott Gordon on Tim Jackman with the forwards comments about next season and what he did to improve his skating last summer.
The coach also reported goaltender Joey MacDonald is " all set " to return and that Doug Weight and Andy Sutton were at practice but have not been cleared to return.
NYI Fan Central Comments: I found it somewhat interesting Jackman said instead of having to prove himself to ownership, it's just to prove to the coaches and my teammates that I can do what is needed next year.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article is on Kurtis McLean's torn Achillies with his comments how it could have happened doing anything as the wall ball/soccer tradition was written about and that he faces four to six months of rehab.
NYI Fan Central Comments: He's right that it could have happened anywhere and this is a standard warm-up for a lot of players. Only problem is now do the Islanders-Sound Tigers consider resigning him this summer?
Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also has the Sound Tigers weekly and previews tonight's makeup game against Worcester at Harbor Yard despite both teams meeting Friday here with Bridgeport able to clinch their first playoff spot in two years as early as Wednesday.
Islanders website: Reports forward Tim Jackman was signed to a one year contract extension with general manager Garth Snow's comments.
Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog also repeated the general manager's comments with a few words on the signing which is a one-way contract at 550k.
NYI Fan Central Comments: No knock on Jackman who does his job well enough and improved his game a lot but on a team without a first line or even a second line, a player with a big minus rating who's at best an average middle-weight in terms of fighting who's not going to score this was a spot they should have looked to fill later.
They already have Richard Park locked up and Nate Thompson seems like a player Scott Gordon wants on his team. Then there is Andy Hilbert's future status.
With Jiggs McDonald, his wife out of Thailand and a change of government apparently ending the protesting at the airports allowing everyone to travel safely again we will return to a hockey format immediately.
My thanks to everyone for the kind e-mails of support for Mr McDonald and his family, for me it was the right thing to do with the blog until this was settled.
My special thanks to Kevin Allen for passing the news to the hockey media.
It will still be a story here at NYI Fan Central until he arrives home in Canada but we will go back immediately to a hockey centric format.
On that end something caught my attention today. ********************************************************** Ct Post : Michael Fornabaio reported in his blog Tim Jackman and Mitch Fritz were both recalled to the Islanders on Tuesday. Thomas Pock who cleared waivers on Monday is also still with the Islanders.
On Monday Mike Sillinger was officially recalled from Bridgeport, Jeremy Colliton was sent down with Jackman.
NYI Fan Central Comments: Reading between the lines seems something is up or someone got hurt. You send down two and recall three that's one too many by my math.
In effect they sent Jackman up and down in less than twenty four hours, this is not the end of last season where they are scrambling for bodies to put out a lineup and Bridgeport has a game on Wednesday.
Unless someone else got hurt in practice combined with Kyle Okposo not ready to return they have too many bodies even if Pock cleared waivers and can be assigned to Bridgeport.
If Okposo is ready to play they have two extra forwards and Bruno Gervais out of the mix with Jeff Tambellini stuck on zero goals and his father the Oilers general manager.
The numbers suggest something has to happen and I did notice the Edmonton professional media sources report here that the Oilers are poised to complete a significant trade and/or fire coach Craig MacTavish, likely this week.
We all know the Islanders historically do a lot of trades with the Oilers.
Robert Nilsson is out with an injury but Rob Schremp was recalled today here for anyone trying to get a read on the Oilers.
Aside from that nothing major but congratulations to Joey MacDonald for being named NHL third star of the month. Islanders really overworked him and he did a fantastic job regardless. Danis has to be given a few starts as things move forward now that he got some work.
Could be something or nothing but somewhat unusual on the surface unless a player is getting a seat in the stands or someone else got hurt. Tambellini played well Saturday from what I observed.
Updated: NYI Point Blank: Mr Botta reported from practice Martinek, Okposo, Thompson not skating or somewhat banged up. **************************************************** A few other updates: Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had a Monday feature on defenseman Dustin Kohn.
Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also had the Sound Tigers weekly which at the time included Thomas Pock clearing waivers, Jackman-Colliton assigned to Bridgeport, Sillinger recalled and a Q A with Sean Bentivoglio among several items and upcoming games.
Espn: Scott Burnside in an article on NHL general managers and where they came from (specifically new Leaf gm Brian Burke) credited Garth Snow for getting the Islanders in one playoff and having them in contention this year to date despite his unusual ascent to the general managers job.
Tsn.ca/NHL.com: Reports Islanders goaltender Joey MacDonald was named third start of the month by the league. MacDonald posted an 8-5-1 record with a 2.64 GAA and .916 save percentage. He led all goaltenders in games (14) minutes (842) and shots faced (439), and shared the lead in victories.
Bad News is the Sports Business Journal reports the Islanders ranked in the bottom five of the Turnkey Team Brand Index only ahead of the Knicks, Nets and Indiana Pacers here.
NYI Fan Central Comments: When I looked at this a year ago Islanders were among the top in terms of head coaches which helped improve their rating in this survey. ****************************************************************** In terms of the blog a new poll was released and the blog header tweaked to put all the players in the third jerseys as we hope Blake Comeau receives a recall but put him in the more traditional look. Brendan Witt takes a break with Mark Streit now in the picture.
DiPietro and Martinek are in their 2006 retro jersey's for now for those looking close.
Boston Globe: Fluto Shinzawa has a feature on Islanders head coach Scott Gordon with Doug Weight comments who likes playing for him:
He believes in accountability, which I think is what makes a team run. He's put a lot of responsibility on the veterans on this team to buy into that and buy into his system. He's been honest. He's been forthright. He's been very good to us.
Scott Gordon according to the writer wanted to get his Providence assistant Rob Murray to come here.
Patroit-Ledger: Bob Stern has a feature on Scott Gordon with the following from team captain Bill Guerin:
“He’s very passionate and he’s very detail oriented, but that’s what you need now,” said Guerin. “You need that in the game these days. The better coaches are the better-prepared coaches, and he’s definitely prepared for every practice, every game. He demands a lot out of us, and that’s what you want. You want a guy to push you.”
NYI Fan Central Comments: Two Newspapers that actually see the big picture with the Islanders, noted the injures and the recent record. We almost never see this kind of reporting in the local papers, just a lot more on the blown leads.
This was the best team I saw the Islanders play to date.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recaps Bridgeport's 4-1 win over Hartford with Ben Walter, head coach Jack Capuano and Yann Danis comments. Saturday's game in Worcester is previewed here which concludes Mike Sillinger's conditioning assignment.
WHEN -- Tonight, 7:05 WHERE -- DCU Center, Worcester, Mass. ON THE AIR -- Webcast and Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com RECORDS THROUGH THURSDAY -- Bridgeport 14-4-0-2; Worcester 10-8-0-0 SEASON SERIES -- Bridgeport leads, 1-0. LAST MEETING -- The Sound Tigers won 2-0 on the road Oct. 25.
Nathan Lawson had twenty eight saves. ******************************************************** Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio live blogged on the game with lineup changes.
San Antonio Express News: Has the Rampage Coverage which included Joe Callahan returning to San Antonio.
Newsday: Friday Islander Insider has Mr Logan's feature with comments from Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley about when happened years ago when they could have been drafted by the Islanders along with a few words on the Coliseum along with how good they could have been here.
The Insider also includes head coach Scott Gordon and what he needs to do as a new coach to evaluate the young players beyond statistics which also included Tim Jackman. Mr Bettman discusses the NHL outdoor game with Mr Logan's slant the Islanders were given less consideration despite the commissioner ever saying any such thing.
NYI Fan Central Comments: Oh, the agony of Newsday's coverage.
Greg Logan may be the only man in America who noted the Islanders play Spezza, Heatley and Luongo three games in a row. Last January they traveled from Minnesota to Ottawa so why not do another feature and include Gaborik too? I wonder how many times since 2002 the Islanders have played Florida-Atlanta-Ottawa in some combination of games?
Nothing like Greg Logan to come along and make our fans feel so good about things they read his work and rush right out to purchase tickets. They do not even pull this up in Toronto on the club going back to 2001-02 but of course this is about keeping perception about the club as negative as possible, not to throw in at the end of the article they are finally dedicated to a youth movement.
We know the Newsday script well by now. Mr Herrmann follows up with future franchise viability/attendance update # whatever, Neil Best comes in with the Msg limited-controlled ratings. Finally the comedy club in Mr Rieber-Baumbach take a few parting shots at something/anything about the team to make whatever fans left just not even bother anymore.
Newsday is just wonderful for Islander attendance and building their profile in the NHL community.
Other markets do not have to put up with this much less ones with limited coverage space that never talks to Radek Martinek who then become under-rated in NHL circles along with any good story about this franchise.
Ottawa and Carolina writers did some heavy lobbying for Sutter and Shannon after the hits they absorbed from Islander players. When was the last time this beat writer did any lobbying when an Islander took a questionable hit?
Newsday did not even mention Streit not being listed on the All-Star ballot. In Boston the writers were very critical for Tim Thomas omission again.
Our beat writer loves our team so much he goes out and asks players on other teams about the Coliseum's condition where Heatley did not take the bait while Spezza saw where the questions were going and backtracked taking about winning is what players look for over any facility.
I'm sure a few folks are already saying to themselves Greg Logan is absolutely right and here I go again picking on him.
Not true.
Newsday's staff did not pull this on the Rangers when they lost for seven years in a row despite all the money they threw away, meanwhile they have two playoff wins since 1997 and you never read a negative word about them.
You think Alan Hahn today is doing these kinds of features on the Knicks for their fans where they go over the history of Isiah Thomas bad moves or the football writer is bashing the Jets for all their years of struggles?
Only the New York Islanders folks.
You think George Richards in Florida slams the Panthers like this or hit the fans over the head with their failures to this degree since they last made the playoffs or bring up Luongo or Olli Jokinen being traded away for very little to this degree?
Funny but I do not see Mr Zipay talking about how the Garden is older than the Nassau Coliseum and very much a dump when it's time to talk to free agents as the front-loaded contracts are ignored by Newsday.
As for where the franchise would have been with those players last I looked Heatley, Luongo changed clubs since they were drafted while Spezza for his talent is getting a lot of criticism for his play the last few years. The Senators had a lot of infighting last spring and are not looking very good now.
Atlanta, Florida did not do a lot of winning with those players and the Islanders had missed the playoffs seven years in a row before a decision needed to be made about drafting them or improving immediately.
The agony of what might have been also is a franchise that may not have made the playoffs at all in fifteen years as opposed to four times in six years which Mr Logan would not touch along with the injury numbers which had a lot to do with last years final standings and this seasons start. Those players he called the core could easily have left for free agency by now with little or no return.
But why write about any of that when it does not stir up the fans?
This is not about telling the teams story or about today's youth, the current gm or coach and what they have been trying to do despite the teaser.
It's about running down a franchise to upset the remaining fans in an attempt to simply hope more people tune out. Mr Logan even spun perception on Gary Bettman that the Islanders were not seriously considered for an outdoor game when the commissioner did not go there at all. How many times did Mr Botta tell us the Islanders initiated the process years ago and was personally involved in the talks?
Did Mr Logan write this to discuss the youth movement too?
What's priceless is Mr Logan actually thinks this is why GM Garth Snow and coach Scott Gordon are dedicated to the development of the franchise's latest first-round picks.
Who is to say whether the Islanders would be any less desiccated to developing youth now regardless of what happened in the past? A lot of winning and losing clubs in this league are dedicated to their youth and put a lot of young players in their lineup.
Enough folks have talked about the age of the current roster too.
Bottom line I do not need fluff articles from the beat writer but this kind of constant beat down of the club is just not called for. None of this was to barely make a point the Islanders are finally heading in the right direction with youth.
Anyone wonder why the team does not want to talk with Newsday about injuries and the fans are staying away? Newsday's coverage sure does not help attendance despite the revenue given for advertising.
Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog finally gave Joey MacDonald a few words of praise along with the goaltenders comments.
Tsn.ca: Reports the Tampa Bay Lightning fired Barry Melrose on Friday with comments from new gm Brian Lawton after the new owners in October said his job was safe and hired Rick Tocchet as their new head coach.
NYI Fan Central Comments: Fear not folks, the hockey media in the US will not give them the well deserved verbal beating the Islanders receive in the national media for things Charles Wang has not come close to on his worst day. Should be interesting if the Espn crew step up and defend Melrose now who did inherit a 30th place club with a lot of flaws all the moves did not correct.
Quick Hit: No criticism of Islander President Chris Dey because he has his hands completely tied but reading the release of the agreement of a pregame with Msg President's comments was a joke about the working relationship with our team given preseason games could not be aired live on the internet.
Does the pregame include twenty minutes of High School Programming like the new Saturday format?
Newsday: Greg Logan's article is on defenseman Mark Streit, why he left Montreal to come play for New York and how he now has the role he wanted.
Updated 10:00am: Newsday: Greg Logan added an early morning blog entry with more on defenseman Mark Streit vs former Islander Marc-Andre Bergeron where head coach Scott Gordon does not see the mistakes some felt we would see with Streit on defense.
NYI Fan Central Comments: When Mr Logan wants to do a quality job he obviously is more than capable and does an outstanding job here. I only wish he would do more of this on all the players including the all-star goaltender from last year.
NY Post: Dan Martin's article is on Doug Weight who is not content just to be here to teach the young players, he has to produce and the club has to win.
Montreal Gazette: Pat Hickey's article has comments from goaltender Yann Danis who will get the start tonight against his former club as Mr Hickey also previews the game here.
Sound Tigers website: Has the recap of Bridgeport's 4-2 win in Binghampton Friday night. Tim Jackman scored the game-tying and winning goals, both coming on the power-play. Andrew MacDonald and Kurtis McLean tallied the other two goals for the Sound Tigers while Peter Mannino stopped 31 shots to earn his third win.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game recap has comments from head coach Jack Capuano, Tim Jackman and Peter Mannino along with the preview for Saturday's rematch here.
Chris Lee returned to the lineup, Jack Hillen made his Bridgeport debut. Captain Mark Wotton was scratched for the first time since January 2007. Jesse Joensuu and Pascal Morency were also scratched. Mark Parrish wore nunber thirteen, had two shots on goal and a penalty on the right wing for Bridgeport in his debut.
Blake Comeau has an assist and seven shots on goal.
Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's blog points out Bridgport again give up a lead among several items.
Press Connects: Michael Sharp has the Binghampton Senators coverage along with a blog.
