Thanks And Best Of Luck: Katic, Rakhshani, DiBenedetto, Gillies

 NHL.com released it's 2012-13 schedule quickly and quietly.

Just as quietly the team announced it's blue-white scrimmage game will be played on 6/28 for prospects the team never formally announced are having a mini-camp despite player tweets here.

That game will be played at Iceworks,  there are only 250 tickets available for the scrimmage due to seating capacity. The Nassau Coliseum is booked June 26th-30th.
***********************
One thing I have been a bit regretful for over the last few days in somewhat of a rush to put out entries, is not thanking our players who have signed with other organizations.

Whether they are qualified, or not by 6/25, Mark Katic, Rhett Rakhshani, Justin DiBenedetto, and Trevor Gillies were here for a long time, and gave everything they had to offer.

Katic/Rakhshani were all stars for Bridgeport, all of them were part of the Sound Tigers only first place team since their inaugural year. DiBenedetto had twenty goals/forty one points in fifty five games last season.

Ct Post Michael Fornabaio had DiBenedetto's comments.

 "I just think it's a good opportunity for my development as a player. I'm looking forward to it," DiBenedetto said. "I just explored all my options at the end of the year, and this opportunity came. I'm just looking forward to getting over there. The main thing's to become a better player every day, every year. That's the main thing, and go from there."

Folks can argue the suspensions of Gillies, which could not be defended based on his actions, but he was a very popular team player here, and will be missed at the Coliseum on Friday.

Zenon Konopka's comments did register with me last year here.

" You look at Trevor Gillies,” Konopka said, according to the Ottawa newspaper. “He’s a first-time offender. He hits a guy, throws a few punches, he gets a nine-game suspension. The guy’s got a wife, two kids and plays in the East Coast Hockey League and AHL most of his career and now he’s going to lose $35,000. And it’s not right. Obviously, the league has their job and not mine, but in here, we feel for him. It hurts not to have Trevor in lineup for nine games. It hurts me, personally, my buddy, out $35,000.”

Their new teams will be even better with them, the enormous reaction from Berlin over Katic signing makes me nothing but thrilled for their fans.

Want to thank all of my teammates, staff, & fans from #BST & #Isles for all of the memories and love over the past 2 yrs. I'll miss u all!
— Rhett Rakhshani (@itsrhett) June 21, 2012

I wish them nothing but the best of luck moving forward, which of course extends to any future departures.

New York Day One Free Agency Summary:

Tweet

Isladers website: Has Marty Reasoner's comments on coming to New York along with, General Manager, Garth Snow.

Video Highlights: of Reasoner's goals.

Updated Saturday AM:
Rochester Demorat & Chronicle: has an in-depth interview with Reasoner, about how UFA went for him in the past, and why he signed with New York, for 2.7m/two years.

NYIFC Comments:
I'm thrilled Snow stayed out of that mix today.

Reasoner received a bit much in terms of salary, but given today's ridiculous/absurd contracts being give out, it was one of the better signings out there.

Reasoner has the ability to produce double-digit goals, kill penalties, and win faceoffs on the fourth line. Zenon Konopka had two goals, was a minus fourteen and had a ton of fighting mileage on him.

He looked hurt from it at the end of last season.

I have no idea what Konopka is like in the room, what take management had on his outspoken comments. In general fans (this blog included) love it/media like reporting it, but team management's like their players guarded with non controversial statements.

Reasoner will not be controversial, is healthy in terms of games played and most importantly, has far greater potential to produce some goals and points. He is above acceptable in the faceoff/pk department. Your fourth line cannot be a minus. The fight by appointment is one thing, the final score the other.

The Islanders did Konopka few favors with a rookie in Martin, or Gilles as his wingers, but Tampa moved on from him also. Pittsburgh paper asked if the Pens should sign him, so it's possible he will be putting Mario's picture back up.

Will be fun watching the same Pens media that ripped him, now defend him, but they have that act down pat with Matt Cooke.

Only thing more biased was Leaf media giving Brian Burke a pass for going to Afghanistan. If Snow went there, the same media would be all over him and Wang.

They would be all over the other twenty eight teams as well.

How come no one calls out Richard Peddie? Bad for business in those media outlets.
************************************
Kabanov was a little surprising, however he must stay in juniors unless he plays in the NHL, there is no Bridgeport option.
************************************
Today's disappointment was Joensuu going to HV-71. Out of that trio group of forwards, Figren/Joensuu are gone, Marcinko signed, but unless he is in the NHL, he will play in Europe.

Would have been a good day to revisit Gregiore as others were getting paid.
************************************
What Should Snow Do Next:
If Snow wants to move Eaton, Mottau or Jurcina to bring in a lateral signing like McCabe, what's really gained? Same on Kaberle? I would rather see the players here now receive those spots. Martinek is a far better defensive defender than most of those player left available.

Notables:
You have players out there getting massive front-loaded contracts/salary, who had less/even production than Blake Comeau, P.A Parenteau, who's agents must be celebrating tonight.

I completely understand folks who saw Buffalo lose it's stars (to Philadelphia) get a chuckle out of the tables being turned, however those are brutal signings, even for an owner in his honey-moon spending period.

Today was a day that's going to force another lockout unless the plan is thirty multi-billionaires in a contest to see who can lose the most money a year?

Many of those teams over spending to fill out a roster, seem to have no plan, beyond scuffling the chips, did anyone really improve? I liked Mike Rupp, but at that price/term Cablevision can have him.

Anaheim signed and traded the Islanders, James Wisniewski so Andy Sutton could get huge money/term to get hurt and become a forward? Then they dumped him today while, Wisniewski got what was a desperation overpayment from Columbus.

I like Wisniewski, but not even close to that price. Did Anaheim or Edmonton have any plan at all today?

How's the new season ticket commitments looking Winnipeg?

Guess those riots really rallied the free agents on re-signing with Vancouver?

Do the Flyers have a plan, beyond raiding the Pens, who just crossed the Islanders off their new main rival list?

Ed Snider is just bad for hockey, his impatience only hurts his team. Only thing worse was the Tsn.ca salesman protecting the Leafs/Brian Burke for being in Afghanistan which is a worthy cause, but if it were Snow, Wang would be getting roasted alive for not being with his team.

A few Tsn salesman were heaping massive praise on the owners who spend, and are committed to their teams/fans.

Sounds nice, reads well, but those kind of deals were bad for the teams, the fans, who will see their ticket prices increases, and gain virtually nothing but unrealistic exceptions. They are not superstar talents.

Michael Peca, did a nice job praising Peter Laviolette for how he handled things here.

The dancing backup goalies, what they were getting paid to sign elsewhere was ridiculous. Nabokov is a flat-out steal if he was tolled (which we never got official confirmation) at 500k.

What was Colorado thinking?

Why doesn't Toronto want to solve it's Flyer-like goaltending issues and bring in Vokoun? Dale Tallon went off the reservation today, signing popular former names to over-priced contracts is one thing, but they are not improved. That kind of term for Bergenheim makes this blog happy for him, but that's another terrible overpayment.

Roman Hamrlik must have nine lives to receive a two year contract from Washington.

Out long national Sheldon Souray nightmare ended.
Philadelphia's long Jaromir Jagr nightmare began.

I guess the Ranger media fans can once again bash him like they did when he was a cap when they are not covering baseball.

The NHL let Don Maloney spend a lot of money for a franchise that posted a 13m loss above what Glendale gives the league.

Did Al Traugwig fax Mike Rupp that statement to read on Tsn.ca?

People do understand Brad Richards is a twenty goal/seventy point player... right?

Alexei Yashin had seventy five points his first season here.

We can only hope Dolan does all he can to land him, then again, if Dolan did the talking he will sign elsewhere for sure.

Where's Isiah Thomas when you need him?
*************************
Sometimes the best move is the one you do not make, the winners today were the teams that mostly kept quiet.

I liked the deal Tyler Kennedy re-signed in Pittsburgh as the best decision of the day.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page New York Islander Fan Central RSS/not Twitter.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

NYIFC Free Agent Speculation & What's Ahead

Tweet

NYIFC will have some blog entries during the draft weekend, all profiles will be added to the prospect blog.

Hockey will be picking up around here for the near future, a mix of blog entries and twitter updates.

Unfortunately the Nassau-Mangano sideshow will have to be worked in because the financing plan is due in June.

Setting The Agenda:
Today 6/15 is the beginning of the buyout period and where teams can elect salary arbitration, that will be delayed until 48 hours after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL schedule was released last year on 6/22, we are getting close to that as well but late finals/Winnipeg-Atlanta could delay things a bit.

The Monday deadline after the NHL draft (perhaps before) we find out who the Islanders are qualifying among it's restricted free agents. My speculation is the handwriting is on the wall for classy Bruno Gervais, or at best, will be asked to accept a two-way contract.

How Do Qualifying Offers Work?
Teams have to make a qualifying offer by the Monday after the NHL draft or lose the rights to a player. Qualifying offer means a guaranteed raise of ten percent in most instances, but a chance for another team to sign that player to an offer sheet after July 1st.

The player can accept the qualifying offer (which means he is signed) reject (the team keeps the player rights past 7/1 as an RFA) or the player/team can file for arbitration where the team can walk away from an award.

A rejection of the qualifying offer with neither side electing salary arbitration can lead to a stalemate with Wang law upon the club opening it's training camp.

Restricted Free Agency:
I suspect Josh Bailey is looking for the same commitment Kyle Okposo just received.

Will he simply accept a qualifying offer after being moved from wing to center and back too many times? The center spot has Cizikas, Ullstrom and Brock Nelson in college, but this is Snow's targeted player he traded down for twice.

Blake Comeau has had back to back twenty goal seasons, we can debate his scoring droughts for large parts of those years when he needed to produce most and failed to do so, however I cannot see simply accepting a qualifying offer which could make him a trade-able commodity or someone headed to arbitration.

Jack Hillen showed good offensive flashes in the second half and Snow signed him out of Denver as a free agent, but it's going to be interesting to see if he accepts a qualifying offer after he gained a year of eligibility with his first agreement which was why he played those two NHL games at the end of 2007-08.

Ty Wishart was his return for Roloson and got a max contract, there is Katic, Donovan, Ness with Calvin deHaan entering the final year of his ELC so a lot of competition.

Jesse Joensuu I'm not sure has a lot of options beyond accepting if qualified. The organizational depth chart beyond Bridgeport is smaller with a lot of turnover, but a new class of prospects coming.

I do not know if the Islanders see Dylan Reese beyond a short-term serviceable option. Like what I saw from Katic a lot with his skating, plus there are big decisions on Dustin Kohn to be made with Donovan, Ness, Klementyev.
********************************
As For The UFA:
Streit, MacDonald, Hamonic, Mottau, Eaton, Jurcina are all signed.

There is Hillen and a lot of defenders with deHaan after that. I would like to see Radek Martinek return, however he's likely going to test the market and all the teams that know he is an excellent defender, will find out first hand and pay extra to land him.

Management extended Jurcina so unless he's traded it's hard to see a spot opening.

I would not mind seeing a trade of Eaton or Mottau, both have been around the team recently if it means a signing of Martinek. Don't tell me it's to sign Joni Pitkanen with his five goals, minus rating and thirty points with his four powerplay goals in the last three years.

A lot of players here already can do that with more upside.

Would not mind seeing the club go back to it's plan from last summer and making an offer to Wisniewski with a healthy Mark Streit if not Martinek?

Only thing that can be counted on are injuries.
************************************
My thoughts on Zenon Konopka are his two goals and minus fourteen are not enough at even strength to give him any kind of big raise. At any price the two goals from Konopka at a center position where Nielsen-Bailey's even strength numbers were not enough must be better overall.

Steve Yzerman in Tampa let Konopka walk away, kept Nate Thompson and was rewarded while Tim Jackman went to Calgary and produced like he never did here. Matt Martin was less visible last year as opposed to his rookie year mostly playing a fourth line role with Konopka as his center.

It does not necessarily mean Konopka is directly responsible for that, Martin could have held back Konopka and we all know Trevor Gillies is not going to produce often.

Of course a team with six hundred man game lost is going to have big problems. Maybe if Konopka is resigned he makes the same offensive leap Thompson and Jackman did because he has produced goals in the AHL?

The difference between Konopka's production vs Jackman and Thompson could have been all the difference in so many one goal regulation losses whicht finished the season in October, November, and early December.

Konopka's interviews, popularity, face-offs, penalty killing and fighting are all good, however in the end your fourth line has to outscore the other teams fourth line.

This could go either way and I have no problem with Ullstrom, Cizikas centering a fourth line with Hunter and Martin next year as Gillies/Haley are retained with two-way contracts.

What I can write is Konopka has a ton of fighting mileage and looked hurt at the end of last year. He's still somewhat of a young player, but had hand issues from fights.

The fans are not in the room so character, popularity and media save count for something on a team with no media, but still it's about winning and your fourth line outscoring the other teams.

It's everything on a team that lost all those close one goal games.

I can also see why the club should go after former Islander, Mike Rupp on 7/1 with his twenty three goals the last two years to go with his big size and fighting ability.

As for the rest I would have no problem with Snow finding someone to take Trent Hunter's contract but he would be selling at his lowest return, an injured player at two million the next two seasons is not an easy trade.

How Is Garth Snow Going To Reach The Cap Floor?
Anyone ever consider Wisniewski and Roloson'salaries were traded, Wishart was sent to Bridgeport for a long time, and even with all these injuries the club was not under the cap floor?

That tells me the club was well above the cap floor. Hamonic's contract was brought up long before Wisniewski was traded.

A lot of media rhetoric. You have a lot of young players, top picks making max contracts per CBA. Nielsen, MacDonald signed great contracts for less money over longer term.

Jussi Jokinen and Rob Scudei used to be waiver wire fodder, you identify players who can fit your organization and draft well, your club will be successful for a sustained period as long as you don't lose six hundred man games to injury.




New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page New York Islander Fan Central RSS/not Twitter.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

Updated: Anders Nilsson signed/Islander Notables/Looking Ahead

Tweet

Updated 6pm:
Islanders website: Report goaltender Anders Nilsson has been signed to a three year entry level contract.

See twitter for link: Nilsson received a max contract, the highest awarded since lockout ended for a third round pick, and will be in North America next season per his agent.

NYIFC Comments:
That puts Nilsson, Koskinen and Poulin in Bridgeport with Montoya, Nabokov and DiPietro in New York. A lot of surgery/injury among current Islander goaltender ranks, but a signing that had to be done this summer or rights of a high draft pick would have been lost.

ITV: Released Doug Weight's complete press conference.

XM: Had an interview with Kyle Okposo on his new contract, Doug Weight and other items.

Will be toning down blog entries or posting them via twitter. NYIFC is supposed to be more of a blog that's an extension of it's twitter page. It has been a very busy stretch so more has been written here lately.

Setting the agenda:
NYIFC is a hockey blog, not a political blog. Entries have been written on the politics behind this, so from here on we're not going that deep into the political end of things, the recent/past archives have plenty on the Coliseum issue.

The order can suddenly change depending on sudden signings, trades or organizational changes. Bridgeport needs a head coach. RFA/UFA have to be signed or qualified and prospects have to be signed.

Seems every day something is happening, it was not this active during games.

1. The Memorial Cup and Casey Cizikas has to be signed by 5/31. St Michaels Majors plays semi-finals Friday night against Kootenay.

Toronto Sun: Terry Koshan had his usual issues with the Islanders, but Casey Cizikas comments on signing with the club on Wednesday.

2. 5/31 is the next Nassau County legislature chance to vote for a referendum vote happening in August, after last week who knows if that will be delayed again?

Instead of waiting on twitter updates/articles from this blog/wherever go to NassauCounty.ny.iqm2.com and simply watch meeting/hearing/vote live for yourselves.

3. After that no doubt more financial articles and spin in Cablevision's newspaper and a ton of rhetoric both ways. You know where this blog stands on these items, Mangano/politics/ect.

4. Draft updates/possible signings or qualifying offers to RFA or UFA. NYIFC has opened it's draft sections here and at the prospect blog.

As for UFA The Province: Zenon Konopka's comments on Trevor Gillies, and other subjects.

Notables:
It's great the Islanders locked up Grabner, Okposo and likely will do so with their other RFA. The backloaded contracts speak a great deal to Charles Wang's time as owner whether a Coliseum referendum passes and receives approvals or not.

Charles Wang may not be around to pay those players for a lot of reasons, he will be seventy two come final year of those deals.

It also has to be written who is going to buy this team from him if he becomes in effect, the next Smg with a lot of the property/hotel revenue going to him? It's obvious around the NHL simply owning the building and getting all event revenue is not enough to make owning a team self-sustaining, even when it's new.

When details come out from credible media (source free) with direct quotes regarding financing there will be more to read, not before.
************************
My initial reaction was taken aback when Doug Weight was assigned assistant coach/assistant to the gm. I wanted a reaction from Jack Capuano, who is now the full time head coach who has Scott Gordon's staff. Sometimes a general manager/coach relationship goes south which could be a problem for someone in that mix if Weight is in the middle which his role clearly suggests.

Doug Weight is as visible and respected a figure as there is in hockey. If there was an issue he would be outspoken so I do not foresee a problem here. Weight will not pull punches.

Previous assistant's to Garth Snow seemed very peripheral or not much detail was brought out or confirmed by articles vs what was advertised. If Weight will be behind the bench for every game we will see. Weight's efforts regarding pp at end of last season failed as someone behind the bench with a lot of injuries in a limited body of work.
***************************
If a job is available elsewhere for Scott Gordon, he should be let out of his contract immediately. If one is available here, and he wants it, he should be retained.
***************************
Put no stock on players invited to draft party who are UFA, some can be retained, others let go.
***************************
The silence is deafening out of Atlanta and very sad for their fans. If ASG can own and pay for the Hawks, they can pay for and operate the Thrashers, it's not the NHL's call until they have a sale to approve or reject.

Bill Daly's comment about Seattle were unexpected for a deputy commissioner who is usually guarded with his statements.
***************************
Tsn.ca: Absolutely hit a home run adding former referee, Kerry Fraser. His work is fresh, ground-breaking and comes from a hockey viewpoint few can relate to. I loved his story about Al Arbour and every entry is very good where we learn things.

No, that site does not have hockey centric rss and badly needs a redesign.

Tsn.ca: On the other side of that coin is Scott Cullen, who refused to acknowledge the Islanders 600+ man games lost to injury when we discussed them, but defended the Blues, John Davidson for not spending and cited injury several times when going through players.

NYIFC Comments:
All I ever ask is the playing field be level for all teams in viewpoints. If Scott Cullen wants to do thirty team reviews and he writes the Islanders season was over by the time Andrew MacDonald got hurt, of course I'm going to point out the club was 4-1-2, in first place when he got hurt in October.

If that bothers him to where he is defensive about it, that says something about his viewpoint not being informed, fair or objective.

Sorry.




New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page New York Islander Fan Central RSS/not Twitter.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM

Zenon Konopka Verbal Beating Monday On Lemieux/NHL

Tweet

Ottawa Citizen: Ken Warren has the latest from, Islander winger, Zenon Konopka who spoke out against Mario Lemieux, and the league for their discipline of the New York Islanders, and protection of the players.

“I can’t believe (Mario) is so far removed from the game that he doesn’t realize in the heat of the moment what happens. “We’re trying to keep our best players on the ice. We want John Tavares to be a superstar in this league and play every night. Obviously, we’re going to do everything we can to protect our players in here. It’s not an easy job to do it, but we’re worried about each other, not outsiders.”

“As soon as I get home, I’m taking the poster of Mario on my bedroom door down.”

”You look at Trevor Gillies,” said Konopka. “He’s a first time offender. He hits a guy, throws a few punches, he gets a nine-game suspension. The guy’s got a wife, two kids and plays in the East Coast Hockey League and AHL most of his career and now he’s going to lose $35,000. And it’s not right. Obviously, the league has their job and not mine, but in here, we feel for him. It hurts not to have Trevor in lineup for nine games. It hurts me, personally, my buddy, out $35,000.”

“Montreal and Boston, they play a game and it’s great old-time hockey, it’s ‘wow, this is awesome, the rivalry’,” Konopka continued. “Then we have a game and now we’re getting crucified for it. We’re doing everything possible to keep guys in the lineup, to fight for points, to do everything we can to win hockey games and everybody keeps taking shots at us. Talk to our trainers (about) how many man games we’ve lost. We’ve lost 360 games to injuries and now we’re getting crucified because we’re trying to have some retribution for a couple of our guys getting knocked out. It’s tough for us to deal with.”

NYIFC Comments:
Konopka's dead right on a lot of what he said, but Gillies hit to the head like that, first time offender regardless is not acceptable, nor was his standing there yelling at him. That can't be defended regardless of what league anyone is in and Gillies knows the so-called code at this point in his career. The man on the ground groggy taking a verbal beating has a family too.

His comments on the hits that have led to countless man games lost are exactly right on the money along with Boston-Montreal because this team has not been protected by the officials. His digs at another NHL owner is not going to win him points with anyone but his teammates.

Sure he was very funny there too.

Konopka sees the media double-standards, he knows it is about the laundry in a lot of cases and you can bet some of our local/not so friendly home media is part of what's behind this. I'm frankly annoyed as a fan still when Martinek takes a high stick off a shot, is cut/bleeding and it's a standing goal for the person who did not control his stick.

Why did the league not protect Martinek, who has a family and has been injured countless times on questionable hits? Where was the protection for Nielsen, Tavares when Pock, Witt were suspended and the Islanders simply issued statements respecting the leagues decision.

I love most of what's Konopka said, however I was looking for signs why perhaps Tampa moved on from him last summer, maybe this rubbed folks the wrong way or became a problem internally and the statements got old in the room. I'm not in the room and don't have the first clue.

It will be interesting to see how his general manager and owner feel because this could lead to another fine or him being suspended.

Sportsnet: Islanders Interim Head Coach, Jack Capuano and John Tavares commented.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page New York Islander Fan Central RSS/not Twitter.

Share |

CONTACT:NYIFANCENTRAL@YAHOO.COM