New York Notables/Press Conference Thursday

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Updated:
Islanders website: Announced Thursday's press conference will be live steamed at 1pm.

Islanders twitter feed announced there will be a 1pm Thursday press conference with General Manager, Garth Snow and John Tavares.

NYIFC Comments:
Contract, Captaincy or both? Obviously by Tavares recent comments, he has an interest in being named captain.

Despite what will likely be great news on Tavares, what's needed even more is an announcement on Josh Bailey.

Regardless of Bailey's comments he has a decision to make.

It could well come down to accept the qualifying offer or do not play. Hopefully it's more about trying to agree on something longer.

Blake Comeau Resigns With New York/Notables

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If Charles Wang issued a press release here.

Islanders website: Announced today that Blake Comeau has agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

NYIFC Comments:
Our fans could use some positive news, and a hockey signing of a player avoiding arbitration is just that.

Twenty four goal players are not easy to find on the open market, and this organizations left wing prospect depth took a hit this summer with the loss of Jason Gregiore, along with the Bridgeport losses.

Notables:
Color make shocked the Devils took Trent Hunter in a trade, then bought him out given he passed his physical. The entire NHL passing on Hunter in waivers says a lot about how far his stock has fallen because of his injuries. I keep seeing Mark Parrish when his full-time NHL days were winding down.

These notions the Islanders are operating at a floor contradict the past before a salary floor when they were spending forty million, and last season when somehow this franchise supposedly scraping the floor traded 4.5m in salary last December?

The club easily could have kept Hunter and his cap hit instead of trading it if there was this scramble to reach a floor, especially if another injury would have insurance cover his salary.

This blog was no fan of Rolston last December, even at half that price on re-entry waivers, however he had an outstanding second half, plays all three positions, and is reportedly good for a lockeroom.

So far this summer Garth Snow replaced two players with three goals/eleven points with twenty seven goals/sixty six points.

All the one goal games, that cannot hurt.

Evgeny Nabokov, says last year, he was going through a rough time physically and mentally? Ok, fair enough.

Come to camp, quietly work hard and be the player he was two years ago.




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Would I take Heatley on the Isles? Absolutely

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson wants the situation with Dany Heatley settled and did not give him a ringing endorsement today so given the captain's comments combined with the Senators management making his trade demand public it's not a question of if but when he will be traded, Ottawa has a lot more money to pay someone who does not wish to play there and will remain a daily distraction until he departs.

I know the fans/management and a few other teams spoke out against having Heatley on their club and no doubt won no fans in Edmonton after refusing to waive his NTC to play for the Oilers.

Would Heatley waive his NTC to come here so the Canadian media and the New York media can bash him as they did Alexei Yashin unless became a Ranger so at least the Ranger fans in the limited New York hockey media can blame the Senators for his problems? Perhaps.

Bottom line Dany Heatley holds all the cards and can hold out for any team he wants and reject any trade, this was part of his contract agreement and he's entitled to force the Senators to trade him where he wants or keep paying him as long as he reports to camp which he says he will do.

As a general manager this is not all about courtesy class or signing good character people, it's about fielding a winning team and filling needs. If you recall I flat out wrote Garth Snow should claim Sean Avery and give him Nate Thompson's spot last year because it's about production and giving your team the best chance at winning.

Character players leave in UFA all the time or simply are not good enough to take a team to the next level.

Has Dany Heatley had enough of Ottawa he would be willing to play with John Tavares and could the Isles and Sens construct the kind of trade where the Isles do not give up anything significant from their future?

I don't know.

For myself, if Bryan Murray wants Heatley off the roster and is willing to deal with the Isles (and Heatley will accept such a trade) Trent Hunter is on the table with Richard Park or an Andy Sutton/Brendan Witt choice or they can have a second round pick or a Jeff Tambellini/Blake Comeau choice or perhaps one of the prospect defenders aside from deHaan but that's about it.

No first rounders or Okposo, Bailey, Tavares and I would even take Bergenheim and Nielsen off the table. If that's what Bryan Murray wants he can find another team to deal with.

If you are on Charles Wang's side of the trade you have to give back salary to balance out such a deal and know going in Heatley could want off his third NHL team at some point in the future.

Would I put Hunter, Sutton or Witt with some combination I mentioned to offset most of Heatley's salary while Bryan Murray can work a deal with Mike Comrie or sign another player? Yes.

I'm well aware of what Garth Snow thinks of Trent Hunter as he said on the NHLPA website late in July and I agree with Snow and Hunter is no doubt a class act and a big time character player who does a lot of things that do not appear on a score sheet to win a hockey game.

Having written that if there is a chance to improve on the ice and fill a need you have to take it, Hunter has had two very poor seasons offensively and off his fast start last season there was no excuse for such a falloff even with Frans Nielsen's injury.

Absolutely know going in Heatley without Alfredsson or Spezza may not be the same player coming to a roster with kids.

If Garth Snow is really interested in a Satan or inviting in Mark Parrish here it should be for Hunter's spot on right wing because that's where they fit best.

Having written this it's a risk I would take for a combination of the players I wrote about.

Would Heatley, Murray and Garth Snow agree? Stay tuned.

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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.

Hunter's spot should be in play next season

Garth Snow gave Trent Hunter a five year contract a year ago and regardless how it works out that is an excellent signing given his career to that point.

Hunter does a lot of things to help win a hockey game but those are many of the same things I will write about Richard Park, Andy Hilbert, Nate Thompson, Tim Jackman and even Dean MacAmmond. Character, hard-work, excellent team play.

After his hot start would should have been writing about a player closing in on thirty goals by now, he will not even hit twenty and they way he was going I doubt he would have done that if healthy.

In other words for the last two seasons Trent Hunter has not scored nearly enough on a team that desperately needed him to produce. It's obvious we will never see the player who was flying and had those twenty five goals in 03-04 again.

That means contract or not, his spot should not be as safe as it's tenure. This is about giving players time to develop the best version of their game, there is no excuse for this player not to produce next season.

If I were coaching I would not name him captain, if anything with Okposo as the first line right wing (who plays his shifts on the left side) and no doubt a prospect pushing for a spot if any right wings who can score are added Hunter's spot may not be the lock many feel it is if Garth Snow does resign Jackman.

I'm not going to pull punches, for their very brief looks Mike Iggulden, Jesse Joensuu and Kurtis McLean had a similar or better impact on the offense than Hunter did for a good part of this season.

If they can skate, get to high quality area's faster and get their shot off quicker they have more offensive value than Hunter.

Alexei Yashin had the kind of season Trent Hunter did for the better part of two years folks would be talking buyout. Maybe he needs a change, maybe it's the talent around him, a lot of maybe's but it's time for production or time for a change.

Jon Sim has not gotten the opportunity Hunter has this season, Scott Gordon never really found a spot for him, still when he finally started producing a little he was sent down and continues to produce.

Islander News Articles 3/8

Islanders website: Announced late Saturday night they will play the Vancouver Canucks in a pre-season game in in Terrace, British Columbia, on September 14th with general manager Garth Snow's comments.

Terrace edged out more than 7,100 entries and joins previous Kraft Hockeyville winners Roberval, QC (2008); North Bay, ON (2007); and Salmon River, NS (2006).

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Those who recall the Islanders played in the North Bay game in 2007. I sure would like to see some local games announced around New York for this team.

Newsday: Greg Logan's game coverage Sean Bergenheim, Kyle Okopso, Brent Sutter recaps New York's 7-3 win against the Devils with Trent Hunter's season ending broken ankle here.

NY Post: Mark Everson's Devil centric article included one sentence from Scott Gordon to cover the Islanders side. Jay Greenberg showed up and did an article with the usual negative theme on the Devils.

No Islander centric coverage or article for their home game.

Newsday: Eden Laikin in an article on the Lighthouse specifics again claims Wang's threat to not sign a new lease is buried deep within a portion of the report that surfaced last week was a not-so-subtle ultimatum by Wang.

Town officials have until April 28 to decide whether answers are enough on the documents submitted by Lighthouse Group, and whether the plans are ready for state and county review.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Maybe Eden Laikin only read the documents last week but even hockey fans could go right to the Lighthouse site and read what was not buried deep within a portion of the report that was submitted at the meeting and is very misleading to be called an ultimatum.

I read this as soon as it was posted on the Lighthouse website, it was not discovered last week.

Daily News: Peter Botte's coverage had more Devils quotes and content while Bergenheim received a quick paragraph with nothing from head coach Scott Gordon.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Almost a waste of our time putting up the links to this content if the best we can get is a paragraph from the home team. At least when PA Sportsticker recap is there we actually receive a descent sized article.

Newark Star Ledger: Rich Chere's Devils coverage.

AHL.com: Recap of Bridgeport vs Philadelphia Saturday which the Sound Tigers won 3-2 in a shootout after coming back down 2-0 but went 0-10 with the man advantage.

2. PHI Matsumoto, (23) , 5:09 (SH)
2. PHI Ross, (22) (Sirianni, Kane), 10:37 (PP)
3. BRI Sim, (2) (Packard, Colliton), 7:29
3. BRI Haskins, (8) (MacDonald, Smith), 12:00

10 Tyler Haskins Goal
23 Trevor Smith No Goal
71 Kurtis McLean Goal
27 Junior Lessard Goal

Kris Mayotte is the new Bridgeport goaltender at this time. Apparently Nate Lawson is out of the lineup. Peter Mannino backed up.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage of Bridgeport's shootout win against Philadelphia with blog entries.

Philadelphia Inq/Daily News: Likely last game update ever on the Phantoms who will leaving Philadelphia after this season.

Bridgeport plays at home against Hartford Sunday at 4pm.

Islanders trade Guerin for conditional pick to Pens

Updated 12:05:
The wavier claim list was announced from Tuesday, Jon Sim was not mentioned at all Miroslav Satan was not claimed. A few waivers were claimed, none by Garth Snow.

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders blog at Newsday has more speculation on Bill Guerin while Trent Hunter comments on the leadership or young players on the roster while Doug Weight speaks about his relationship with general manager Garth Snow and what's ahead for him.

Hunter's comments were from Tuesday's optional practice.

Also included is another link to live video coverage.

Sportnet feed is only for Canada, but their widget is tracking live trades.


Updated 2:45pm
Islanders website: Has details of Guerin to Pittsburgh for conditional 5th that at best can become a third round pick.


Updated 3:00pm
Mr Botta reported Sim was sent to Bridgeport and Nate Thompson was activated.

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog looks at the Guerin trade and has some classy words about him and noted the trade conditions are as follows:

The Islanders get Tampa Bay's fifth round pick from Pittsburgh for Bill Guerin. If the Penguins make the playofss, the Isles get the Penguins' fourth-round pick. If the Pens win a round and Guerin plays at least 50 percent of the games, then, the Isles get Pitt's third-round pick. That's it.


Newsday: Mr Logan also had Bill Guerin's comments from his Tsn interview upon being traded to Pittsburgh and confirmed Mr Botta's report of Sim to Bridgeport.

Daily News: Peter Botte has Bill Guerin's Tsn interview and an article on the trade deadline for New York with Sim-Thompson exchange.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Even considering the market Garth Snow did not do very well here based on how a few second rounders got passed around for plays like Recchi or the players from the Leafs.

Of course the cap prevented a lot of deals.

Best of luck to Bill Guerin moving forward.

Thanks to everyone on the live chat, nice job.

Trent Hunter out with leg injury

Newsday: Greg Logan reported in the Islanders Newsday blog Trent Hunter took warmups but suffered a lower leg injury and is somewhat skeptical after what happened with Bill Guerin being scratched Saturday.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I suppose we'll see but if I recall the NHL injury policy states a team cannot issue misleading reports or statements about injuries here with Gary Bettman's comments.

Clubs are required to announce that a player is expected to miss a game due to injury, or that he won't return to one he left early. Providing false information is prohibited, along with issuing misleading statements.

Not that tough to bring in someone else with Joensuu and Hunter did have an injury recently.

Add another game to the injury report.