NYIFC Update

As many know this blog has never been a fan of doing these kind of updates, however folks ask questions via e-mail, so it's respectful to keep everyone informed on rare occasions.

The official name of this blog is New York Islander Fan Central. Abbreviations (NYIFC), or (nyifancentral), or (NYI Fan Central), are so the words fit some of the sites/gadgets like twitter that do not accept the full version.

Personally it makes no difference, as our long-time readers know, this has never been a blog about advertising, the name on the front of the jersey axiom would apply.

Updated Changes:
1. The fonts were made larger for folks to read blog entries, and to do a better job writing them.

1a. The social networking tags have mostly been removed from entries, it's now on the sidebar for less clutter.

1b. Tagging entries has been terrible here since the 2010 full time closing. Will attempt to do better.

2a. A new area only for the latest blog entries was created on the right sidebar.

3. Recently the archives were made easier to access/find.

4. The @nyifancentral twitter box on left sidebar for responses/discussions from readers has been removed because of too much spam that cannot be deleted from this specific feature. The decision to continue not protecting tweets makes this necessary.

4a @nyifancentral twitter tab at top of page will lead you to the exact same page on twitter where spammers are blocked/removed.

4b. No changes to the general twitter box here with NYIFC updates.

5. A new twitter box has been added replacing (4). This new twitter box is for, Important Team News, Injury Updates, Gameday Lineups, Transactions.

These updates will only be visible for the time they are important, then deleted.

5a. In twitter language they will be Favorites for the time they are important, then unfavored and disappear from the box.

6. If New York or Bridgeport do make the NHL/AHL playoffs, there will no daily blog updates.

Future of New York Islander Fan Central: 
I receive many e-mails on this subject, and appreciate the very kind words.

As written in every one of these updates, the next entry could always be the final one.

There will be no closing announcement, this was done once already in April 2010, before a twitter format was discovered to add here which unexpectedly kept things going.

Our thoughts on closing NYIFC from April 2010 are unchanged with the same thanks and appreciation.

No decision on the future of NYIFC will ever be decided based upon the team or it's lease.

The promise moving forward is the same one made every year when the domain is renewed each October.

NYIFC will remain visible for the full term of it's domain registration which expires October 2012.

Trade Deadline Concluded For New York

The trade deadline has passed, the players who are pending UFA will be signed here before 7/1 or move on to another club.

Our speculation on Evgeny Nabokov is Kevin Poulin (and Anders Nilsson) would be best served playing in Bridgeport's playoff run, one may well have to come up and replace Al Montoya.

Nabokov, if unsigned will have a market for his services, but his age, level of play will not make him nearly the attractive UFA prospect he was a few years ago come 7/1. Nabokov still has another twenty games with this team, a lot is riding on his performance for all sides.

Parenteau made clear he's done talking contract for the remainder of the season, how he performs will determine the direction things go.

NYIFC Comments:
The good news of this day is Mark Katic is finally off IR, and loaned to Bridgeport, he's been out since the preseason opener.

Overall the trade made was an odd one by Boston. 

Brian Rolston cleared waivers, Boston all of a sudden wants Mike Mottau so badly they took Rolston with him and included two minor league players? New York may see one or both come Saturday.

One look at the Isles roster/depth chart suggests they simply could not start unloading veterans.

It sounds nice and reads well to move Eaton, Staios, Pandolfo, Reasoner (signed for next season) or others, however a big part of Bridgeport's roster is here now. Dylan Reese is not ready to return, we don't know for sure if Staios will be ready Tuesday.

Calvin deHaan just started playing this weekend. Ness is there as is Wishart/Donovan.

NHL Deadline:
Deadline day between No Movement/Trade clauses, massive front-loading of contract's is not what it used to be. About what was expected in trade market.

Former Islander, Scott (one-shot) Howson's tenure as GM in Columbus unofficially ended today disclosing Rick Nash requested a trade which was unprofessional. Expect Nash to be traded or retained by Howson's successor in the future.

Mike Mottau/Brian Rolston Traded To Boston

Mike Mottau and Brian Rolston (after clearing waivers) have been traded to the Boston Bruins for Defenseman Marc Cantin. (ECHL Reading Affiliate) & RW Yannick Riendeau. (AHL Providence Bruins)

Confirmed by Islanders twitter Cantin and Riendeau will be assigned to Bridgeport.

NYIFC Comments:
Best of luck to Brian Rolston and Mike Mottau.  New York is better served with it's prospects at Bridgeport than these players at this time.

New York At Deadline/Rolston Clears Waivers

Brian Rolston has cleared NHL waivers. The Islanders website is showing the NHL/Tsn trade deadline show as the club practices at the  Kettler Iceplex in Washington.

NYIFC: 
NYIFC will have blog entries for transactions related to New York if any happen, the trade deadline marker on sidebar has latest. Transactions tab links to Isles website page.

Ottawa Loss Microcosm of Season:
Sunday's loss in Ottawa was one of the most frustrating of the season. 

New York faced a tired team, with an AHL goaltender, who let up a poor first goal.

They needed to come out of that first period up two or three goals, and had plenty of chances.

The usual suspects, eating minutes, producing nothing, could not finish.

Marty Reasoner finally has to finish a play, these outside shots from Eaton, Mottau, Jurcina have to produce some goals from the defense.

Coaching:
Why play Matt Martin out of position, when Jay Pandolfo can move back to his natural position of right wing and move up Niederreiter with Cizikas and Ullstrom/Martin at left wing? Don't understand.

I completely understand the club wants to develop it's prospects, no one is going to convince us, Ty Wishart who played twenty games here last season five years into his career or Aaron Ness with two goals Sunday is going to make a mistake any worse than Mike Mottau did Sunday.

That's the theme, old, slower defenders, big mistakes, not able to produce by their career resumes, lot's of outside/low percentage shots, not physical.

Play That Defines Season:
Then comes the biggest microcosm of this season for NYIFC.

Isles cut the deficit to one, apply pressure and have momentum. Okposo lumbering to puck, with numbers, not able to create a play or move well, stops, waits forever, passes back to Mark Streit, stick breaks, transition ends up with a redirected tip-in goal to finish the club Sunday.

Okposo is skating like Trent Hunter far too many games, the one time he was moving well was after his benching, he needed to make a play there. 

Steps forward, steps backward.

Sure Nabokov needed to stop shot off Mottau turnover, that's not the point.

The weaknesses that have defined this club since day one are what beat them in Ottawa.

New York Not Sellers Based Depth At Foward. Ullstrom/Rolston

If the New York Islanders are going to be sellers by Monday, a trade likely has to come from the defense or goaltending unless players come back in return who can play forward.

Brian Rolston was placed on waivers Saturday. David Ullstrom was recalled.

If Rolston clears (which he did a year ago/also on re-entry waivers) he could remain with the club, report to Bridgeport or retire.  Either way Rolston counts against the Isles cap unless claimed. 

Tim Wallace claimed by Tampa, Rolston on waivers, plus Bailey's injury extends the depth at forward down to virtually nothing in the organization in terms of scoring because of injury/suspension.

As written many times, Rolston was a good gamble for Trent Hunter (who was placed on waivers a week ago and currently playing for Manchester AHL), Rolston had a productive second half with the Devils a year ago with twenty nine points from Jan 9th to the end of the season.

The Isles statistically got the version of Rolston from the first half of 2010-11, who we specifically singled out as a player you do not claim. 

For some reason it never clicked here between injuries and other things in games for Rolston, it seemed he needed to play left wing more, which did Blake Comeau no favors. 

Lines:
Ullstrom-Cizikas-Niederreiter as a line with Pandolfo returning to his natural RW side, LW Martin and C Reasoner make sense in terms of position, but all that's up to the coach. 

Moving Forward/What's Next?
Plenty of twitter updates on Friday's game, no point looking back. Two points were needed and now they must repeat what they did earlier winning in Ottawa, Washington and Philadelphia.

Having written this New York is officially now on a four game road trip with no healthy forwards or defenders to scratch unless Rolston went with them or Bailey can play.

Of course, a seventh defender could be recalled, the one area Bridgeport will have some depth at in the near future. 

There is no game Monday at the trade deadline.