Islander-Sound Tiger Notables

Aside from some minor tweaking to the sidebars on occasion for the WC and Bridgeport playoffs, the final hockey update.

The active page crawl on top has been removed.

Islanders Website: Has General Manager Garth Snow's XM Radio appearance from 4/16 archived for those who wish to listen.

Tsn.ca: Scott Cullen has the off-season game plan for the Islanders where he does a complete look at the organization, the draft and their needs moving forward as he speculates fowards like Marty Reasoner or Radek Dvorak might be of some interest and it could also be worth taking a shot at Tomas Kopecky or Maxim Afinogenov with Johnny Oduya, Ville Koistinen, Dennis Seidenberg or Francois Beauchemin on the backline with Mikael Tellqvist, Scott Clemmensen, Stephen Valiquette or Martin Gerber as possible backups/alternatives to Rick DiPietro if they choose to look outside the organization in goal.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Aside from not listing the man games lost to injury this was done reasonably well but did skip some prospects in Bridgeport or any of the recent signings out of Sarnia.

Good timing to close out NYIFC Islander coverage.

Swiss Info.ch: Has the roster for Team Switzerland which includes Mark Streit of the Islanders.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Links to this papers WC coverage and the Swiss Hockey Federation who are the host county this year have been added to the WC section on the sidebar.

Columbus Dispatch: Bob Hunter reports Islander assistant coach, Gerard Gallant who is currently an assistant to gm Garth Snow, is a candidate to become coach and general manager of the Saint John's Sea Dogs who play in the QMJHL.

SI.com: Jim Kelley in an article on several subjects that is mostly about the Dallas Stars financial problems for some reason throws in his thoughts the Leafs could provide the Isles (or Tampa Bay) cap relief in a possible Tavares/Hedman trade.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Obviously that makes little sense because to make such a trade would cost Charles Wang countless millions in ticket sales and publicity from signing Tavares or Hedman combined with the fact the Islanders still have some work to reach the cap floor with contracts like Comrie, Guerin off the teams books. Last I read on this about a million dollars can change hands in any trade.

The Isles cannot trade Alexei Yashin's cap-hit for those wondering now that he's been bought out.

What are the Leafs going to do with Rick DiPietro's contract other than play a franchise goaltender when he finally is healthy and win at a bargain price? To cash-in that contract in Tavares trade would again cost Charles Wang millions in several directions.

Obviously one look at Dallas or Colorado these days and most astute fans know, a building alone does not make a hockey team profitable or even self-sustaining.


The Hour: Mike Madar has an overview of Bridgeport's playoffs starting tonight against WBS Pens.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
The Hour-On line/Norwalk News reports infrequently on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers but I have added their link to the Bridgeport playoff section on the sidebar.

Point Blank/Mr Botta: Previews tonight's game against WBS and will have coverage of the series.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
For the final time, please visit Point Blank for the preview.

Mr Botta also reports Point Blank will update through at least Memorial Day which is great news for our fans. Hopefully the Islanders can reach into the professional hockey writers association free agent prospect pool and sign a few more independent but established NNL newspaper writers to offset the lack of print coverage and perhaps place less burden on Mr Botta who works very hard at this for us.

Citizen's Voice: Jonathan Bombulie has comment from WBS Pens coach Todd Reirden, who is honored to have his team play at the Nassau Coliseum and has memories of the Islanders when they were Stanley Cup Championships. Goaltender John Curry discusses his debut earlier this year at the Coliseum among other pre-game items.

Islander News Articles: 4/17 THE FINAL DAY

FINAL ENTRY WILL BE 2PM FRIDAY.

Newsday: Greg Logan basically repeated his Thursday blog entry that Matt Gilroy will not be signing with the Islanders and all indications are that they are out of the running for the BU Hobey Baker Award Winner, who likely is headed for a larger hockey market according to the beatwriter.

His agent, Kent Hughes, who felt Gilroy would sign in the next week at the latest had the following:

"He's sorting through the interest and trying to figure out what his next step is."

"I don't want to comment on the Islanders, and as far as the teams it's down to, until he's made a decision, I'd rather leave it."

Toronto Sun: Mike Zeisberger had Matt Gilroy's comments on the Toronto market and their organization/media as he was in Boston for the Bruins playoff opener and could decide by the weekend but will take his time before making up his mind.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
I guess this is the anti-Greg Logan approach with Mr Zeisberger selling Leafs like he is on the payroll, meanwhile our beatwriter goes exactly the opposite way even though the Islanders play in the New York market which for the other sports here is a very big market.

Mr Zeisberger also reported Maple Leaf GM Brian Burke would not grant the Wild permission to let Dave Nonis, the Leafs' senior vice-president of hockey operations who is the man in charge of the negotiations with Gilroy interview for the Wild position of general manager here.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
For those who recall Burke and Nonis worked together in both Vancouver and Anaheim before joining the Leafs this past season.

Yournabe.com: Jeremy Walsh reports the United States Tennis Association has sent out a request for proposals from architects with the intention of possibly building a roof on the Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium in Flushing but the group’s ambitions do not currently include enticing the New York Islanders to move in, officials said and last weeks report that USTA Director Danny Zausner was interested in attracting an NBA or NHL team like the New York Islanders to the stadium, but USTA spokesman Chris Wittmeier said Zausner was misquoted.

“That’s other people’s speculation,” Wittmeier said. “It’s not even on our wish list. The way that Arthur Ashe is engineered and configured, it wouldn’t work for hockey.”

“ The Parks department has not been approached by the Islanders, but we are open to the idea of looking at options for having the team in a Queens park,” said Parks spokeswoman Trish Bertuccio.

The Islanders did not respond to requests for comment by press time Tuesday for this late Thursday article.
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Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from head coach Jack Capuano on some of his team's injuries but extra bodies without being specific as he felt this was a close knit-group. Andrew MacDonald also was quoted in the article.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also had the game preview.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers
WHAT -- Game 1, East Division Semifinals (best-of-7)
WHEN -- Friday, 7:30, Saturday 7pm
WHERE -- Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.
ON THE AIR -- Webcast and Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com
REGULAR-SEASON RECORDS -- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 49-25-3-3; Bridgeport 49-23-3-5

Newsday: Greg Logan previews Friday's game against WBS Pens with head coach Jack Capuano's comments who says Kyle Okposo is going to play a lot of minutes in these two games before he heads to the World Championships and talked about WBS Pens speed, transition and down low play. Mr Logan was a bit off on Jon Sim's AHL stats stats or did not have numbers from the final Bridgeport weekend who returns to the Coliseum at least in the early article but went through the roster including prospects who could see action including Max Gratchev, Robin Figren, Justin DiBenedetto among others with Ryan Duncan.

Times Leader: Tom Venesky had the latest from WBS Pens practice with head coach Todd Reirden's comments.

Citizen's Voice: Jonathan Bombulie has a full preview of the series and Thursday's practice with comments from WBS Pens goaltender John Curry who made his debut in a game against the Islanders this season in relief and made one of his other two appearances against New York.

Islander-Sound Tiger-NHL Notables/Quick Hits

Newsday: Greg Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reports indications are BU defenseman Matt Gilroy is expected to sign with another team or what the writer refers to as " one of the larger markets " despite his agent Ken Hughes being quoted as saying "I don't want to comment on the Islanders, and as far as the teams it's down to, until he's made a decision, I'd rather leave it but a decision should be made by next week at the latest."


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Nothing like Mr Logan telling us the New York Islanders are not one of the larger markets despite playing in New York.

Sportsnet.com: Jim Kelley who also writes for SI has more theories on the Islanders-Tampa, possible trades where he gave his slant on general manager Garth Snow's Toronto radio appearances and felt Tampa may have to shed salary and has made past deals with the Leafs.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Yes folks, the same Jim Kelley of SI who also wrote last summer coaches don't object to being passed over for the Islander coaching job here without producing a quote from a candidate who interviewed and was later critical of the club for not giving what he wrote was legitimate information regarding injuries back in November here despite the Islanders going by league adopted injury policy which many clubs did follow the entire season.

It sure would be nice if one of these writers would simply write we have no star player to cover where we mostly report, so we need yours to make our jobs more fun.

Globe & Mail: Eric Duhatschek has comments from former Islander Adrian Aucoin about how the Islanders were confident playing Tampa in 03-04 in the opening round based on the season series but things were far different come playoff time.

Minneaota Wild: Owner Craig Leipold announced Thursday General Manager Doug Risebrough’s contract will not be renewed as the Wild now have to find a new gm and head coach.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Even though the Wild did not win a championship that was a heck of a nine year run, I wonder if this changes the status of Marian Gaborik who is an UFA?

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had the practice report from Thursday before the Sound Tigers head to the Coliseum for the Friday-Saturday games.


In the Quick Hits Department:
Not much to write (I don't think any articles were missed here) about all the spin from Toronto/Canadian Media on Tavares-Hedman-Snow-Burke-Lawton beyond what I been writing here since day one.

Drop the Long Island tag on virtually every single aspect of this franchise and maybe, just maybe the New York City media will have more to write about the hockey team and stop treating the team like outsiders?

It never used to be this way.

All I can write is the New York Islanders are making it every easy for NYC sports editors to tune out your product in a market no hockey team can compete with baseball, football or basketball.

The New York Islanders create many of their own problems here and do a good job shutting out their fans all over the NYC area or make them feel like they are rooting for the wrong hockey team if someone is interested in the sport. It's the equivalent of the Giants and Jets forcing New Jersey into every single press release and making potential customers tune out.

New York Islanders means all of New York and the Islander fan support at Msg and New Jersey for decades has been great, for the final time start acting like you play in New York.

Toronto? I was in Maple Leaf Gardens 3/3/84 the night when Pat Lafontaine had his hat-trick in his debut as a rookie in what was an 11-6 win a few hundred Islander fans were sitting center ice cheering for the New York team when they were hockey's most important team in it's greatest sustained period ever for popularity at least in the New York market and arguably in league history.

Why would I write that? Because in those days I could purchase the Daily News, NY Post and see the New York Islanders on the backpage for any game against any team during the regular season the next day with a lot of coverage.

Now it would take a virtual miracle for any New York Hockey team to receive a backpage during the regular season.

For the New York Islanders the question coming is how long before the City media tunes out for good?

Islander News Articles 4/16

Globe & Mail: David Shoalts had the media game with comments from Leafs gm Brian Burke & Tampa GM Brian Lawton while some of Garth Snow's comments during radio interviews were picked over with the infamous un-named NHL gm being quoted.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Seventy more days of articles like this one.

I read an interesting one from Mike Brophy where he says the Isles cupboards are bare Sportsnet for veterans and they could use the pick to gain them and keep a high pick but he completely ignores the depth chart on the roster and did not list the man games lost to injury which was a critical part of this seasons story even if it's boring for some media to repeat it.

What team would not be terrible with almost six hundred man games lost to injury?

In terms of veterans between Park, Weight, Witt, Sutton, Martinek, Streit it seems the Islanders have plenty of veterans over thirty.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from Kyle Okposo from Wednesday's practice for Bridgeport with head coach Jack Capuano.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Okposo is only playing the two Coliseum games unless Bridgeport advances and he returns after the WC but one thing to watch for is if Jack Capuano sets up his game to make most of his plays off the left wing side as we see here. A year ago when he played in Bridgport he was creating the bulk of his chances off the his natural right wing side which was virtually absent all season under Scott Gordon.

Times Leader: Tom Venesky has the update from WBS Pens practice where they have thirteen roster players who went to the Calder Cup finals with this team a year ago.

Islander News Articles 4/15

Newsday: Greg Logan had general manager Garth Snow's comments/reaction on winning the lottery but said he is not going to make bold statements in the media with regard to trades.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann had reaction also from Garth Snow and Director of Player Personnel Kenny Morrow as the columnist wrote about what John Tavares would mean to the Lighthouse and the franchise.

NY Times: Dave Caldwell had reaction from general manager Garth Snow in a NY Times blog entry Tuesday night.

NY Post: Dan Martin had general manager Garth Snow's comments from his press conference.

Toronto Sun: Ryan Pyette has John Tavares comments that he has never been to New York and had reaction to Brian Burke of the Maple Leafs praise for him as he discussed what his upcoming playoff series will mean for him.

The Star: Damien Cox in an article where the writer incorrectly reports Charles Wang is threatening to move if he can't get public money to build a new arena discusses gm Brian Burke's ability to land franchise talent as he listed Burke got the right to draft Pronger 16 years ago from San Jose for a package that included Sergei Makarov, the sixth overall pick, a second rounder and a third rounder but understands it would take a lot more to land the top overall pick.

Gazette On-Line: Jeff Johnson reports Islander prospect Matt Donovan will play next year for the University of Denver.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had Tuesday's practice report which included comments from defenseman Jack Hillen and head coach Jack Capuano on the defender and Kyle Okposo playing the opening two games for Bridgeport this weekend to open the playoffs.

Bridgeport 3, WBS Pens 2, OT

AHL.com: Reports the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have swept the weekend series against WBS Pens with a 3-2 overtime win Sunday.

1. BRI Joensuu, (17) (Wotton, Iggulden), 12:41
1. WBS Goebel, (5) (James, Jeffrey), 14:27
2. BRI Iggulden, (23) (Colliton, Kohn), 5:02
3. WBS Daoust, (9) (Pesonen, Lovejoy), 17:45
OT. BRI Wotton, (4) (Smith, Fraser), 0:52

Nate Lawson had thirty nine saves in goal for Bridgeport.

Bridgeport sweeps the weekend.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage and blog entries here.

Times Leader: Has Tom Venesky's game coverage.

Islander News Articles 3/1:

Newsday: Greg Logan's game article claims the source close to Guerin reported him being scratched was " precautionary" and will make his decision in the morning about agreeing to a trade.

Head coach Scott Gordon comments, who Mr Logan claims Guerin has been " at odds with much of this season " discussed how he will fill the possible leadership void as he addressed some of his younger players.

Newsday: Greg Logan in Islanders Newsday blog after Tsn report (8:45pm) writes according to a source close to Bill Guerin the team has a deal in place pending his approval with an announcement either late Saturday but likely Sunday.

Bad News is Mr Logan reports Guerin's situation has been exacerbated by what he writes is a rocky relationship with coach Scott Gordon, some details of which will appear in a story in Sunday's Newsday about tensions between several veteran players and the rookie head coach.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So much for enjoying another shutout win.

How come Mr Logan simply does not give us all the details now or does it have to be dragged out over weeks/months to create as much negative perception as possible?

Seems like the only time the club gets a special story in Newsday is when it's along these lines or it's obvious bad news. The good news kind of just fades away without much followup.

I'm not in the room, obviously it's been a tough year and of course there are going to be problems especially with a rookie head coach. Every time the Islanders played Atlanta, John Anderson was seemingly blasting his players.

Is this the same Bill Guerin who has praised Scott Gordon on several occasions in papers outside Newsday around North America (with Doug Weight) and went out of their way to do so?

Again, I'm not in the room so I do not know.

I hate to write it but this has to be somewhat of a cross-roads again for Mr Botta who was the one who broke the story on Nolan-Snow last year at a time he went from team official to independent blogger. Will he dish the dirt or confirm where Greg Logan is going with this and if he knew it why did he not report it already?

Why did Mr Logan wait for Guerin's likely departure unless the captain wanted it that way?

I tend to think unless it's well outside the norm these things should be kept in house for all teams. No team in hockey (or any sport) has everyone happy with their coach/manager and when you are in 30th place with four hundred man games lost nothing can be better than ok on the best of days.

This should really help free agency, Snow's status as gm and the Lighthouse.

The other team Newsday covers does not report on their dirt, regardless of whether the coach is fired or the players do not like the coach or one another. Seems like things are done differently with the Islanders in the reporting beyond the lack of updates.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann gives his view of Mr Wang's long interview with the paper on Friday with several of his comments repeated.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann has a few words from Msg on Bill Guerin sitting out as apparently the Cablevision owned club again will receive the bulk of Newsday coverage.

Updated 12:00am:
Tsn.ca: Darren Dreger reports the Boston Bruins are not the team involved in a trade for Guerin and after referencing Mr Botta's earlier report
notes sources close to the veteran forward say he has not yet been asked to waive it and that sources tell TSN that Guerin has been told he likely will not learn which team has expressed interest until the morning, as the Islanders work on finalizing a deal.

NY Post: Dan Martin's coverage of the Islanders win has virtually nothing on the game besides a brief recap with all coverage centered around Bill Guerin. Kyle Okposo's comments about the current captain, calling him " tremendous " as he was asked about the captaincy role for himself in his future.

Daily News: Peter Botte's limited space gave us one paragraph on the game with no quotes from coach or players with all Guerin/other trade speculation.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sure would be nice to get an AP article link with that because Danis, Bergenheim and the team deserve some coverage on the win. When they play road games (or ex-owners go to prison) they get a sports ticker recap where more space is provided than this which is beyond the writer but should be able to manage his game space better.

Buffalo News: John Vogl already has a game article and reaction from the players with head coach Lindy Ruff.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good stuff from a paper that used to post it's articles by noon the next day after most games.

Los Angeles Times: Helene Elliott reports a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Scott Niedermayer has been told he won't be moved before Wednesday's noon PST trade deadline despite his UFA status while Espn's Pierre LeBrun's speculates on this and other possible trades.

CP: Reports Philadelphia has cleared enough cap space to finally add Daniel Briere to it's lineup.

Cbc.com: Reports Derek Boogaard of the Minnesota Wild was suspened for five games after an elbow to the head of Brandon Prust in the head with just over one minute left in Minnesota's 4-1 loss on Friday night.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport despite Andrew McDonald's callup won a big game Saturday against WBS Pens 3-2 at Harbor Yard with Nate Lawson in goal.

Mitch Fritz had a five minute major in this game so it could result in an AHL suspension for any possible Islander recalls.

1. WBS Pesonen, (18) (Goligoski, Letestu), 16:41
2. BRI McLean, (15) (Joensuu, Kohn), 16:20
3. BRI Iggulden, (22) (Joensuu), 1:44
3. BRI Kohn, (3) (Haley, Bentivoglio), 2:47
3. WBS Engelland, (2) (Goligoski, Letestu), 12:24 (PP)

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from Dustin Kohn and Nate Lawson on Bridgeport's win which moved them into second place in the Eastern Division with blog entries here.

Bridgeport plays the back end of this home and home at WBS Sunday at 5pm.

Times Leader: Has Pens coverage on their loss.

WBS Pens 3, Bridgeport 0

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport lost 3-0 at home Sunday against the WBS Pens at Harbor Yard.

Peter Mannino had twenty five saves in goal for the Sound Tigers who were shutout for the first time this season.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's Ct Post blog had game updates.

Sound Tigers lose two of three on the weekend and three of four with Wednesday game.

Citizen's Voice with Patriot News.