September 27th 1972 First Nassau Coliseum Preseason Game

New York losses first ever game at Coliseum 6-4 (9/27/1972) Billy Harris goal, Glen Sather on defense.

Kind of looked like 1972 tonight at Barclay's Center.

This team was badly out-skated, outworked, outclassed for the entire sixty minutes with absolutely no clue how to move the puck in transition without Mark Streit to say nothing of how lost it's powerplay looked.

I don't care where the game was played. 

The passes were slow, telegraphed, predictable, and the Isles painfully lethargic the entire game. The Devils easily read the play, and dominated from beginning to end. I'm not even sure they played very well or were forced to.

Sure it's preseason, but this is four games now the club has been collectively outplayed for most if not all of the games, even in winning at Newark.

The one thing you don't want to see are weakness that do not seem correctable with the current roster in a preseason. Win/lose not issue at all.

How they are collectively playing as a unit is a very alarming trend.

Last time I saw an Islander team with transition problems like this from defense to offense, it lost 2-0 opening night to the Florida at home in 2011-12, and things went down hill from there. 

Now they fly to Nashville on a gameday likely with a different group.

Barclay's Center was not the story tonight, how poorly this team competed at every level for an entire sixty minutes was. 

New York Playing Top Prospects Out Of Position Again

I'm a little more interested in sticks/pucks so far then I thought, so why not a few words. 

I'm well aware it's training camp, and only seven days since the team even gathered, however it's also painfully obvious once again the New York Islanders are taking someone they used a high draft pick on, and changing their position along with asking them to make the jump to the NHL/AHL level.

There was even a brief period of making John Tavares a wing that ended quickly as soon as he spoke up. Funny, leaving him at his natural position worked out just as expected.

Sometimes all you have to do is teach players at their natural position. 

We have all seen this before with center Josh Bailey, many forwards changing wing. Brock Nelson's been moved around a lot also,  he should be an NHL center.

I asked this question a few years ago when Strome/Nelson were drafted and wondered what the team is going to do with all these natural centers? 

Is drafted center Ryan Strome really going to be made an NHL/AHL winger so Frans Nielsen, Peter Regin,  cannot produce in the middle? Casey Cizikas is not at their draft level talent.

Isn't it tough enough that so far it seems Frans Nielsen is back to being Mark Streit's powerplay replacement on point, plus he's going to be centering two players he can only set up well?

Frans Nielsen should be a fourth line player with his production, at best he should be the checking center which means someone else in the middle who can score plays between Bailey/Okposo or Bailey moves back to his natural position.

We saw this game with Blake Comeau, he became so versatile he forgot how to score, and played his way off the Islanders when his late season hot streaks ended as soon as the next season/change of plan for him was announced but did a heck of job skating around the perimeter.

At the end Bergenheim was asked to play the off wing, he did not want to change his position.

Bottom line these are Garth Snow's drafted talents now, not Mike Milbury's. 


Of course Ryan Strome says all the right things, they all do for a while.

"I'm definitely 100 percent comfortable there now," Strome said of playing right wing. "I learned some habits I needed to work on, learned how to get the puck a little bit more since you're a bit more restricted than at center. But I like it so far, I'm able to use my creativity."

What's so bad again about Strome-Nelson being the #1-2 centers in Bridgeport or one of them taking Peter Regin's spot? 

What's so bad if Nielsen sets up other forwards on a lower line.

It's time to develop a second line center long term to take the next step as a team. Pittsburgh did not decide to make Malkin or Crosby wingers, they both play center most of the time (not powerplay) on a different line. 

Jack Capuano on the day he has those options can start talking about this team winning games more than one way of playing.

Teams all over this league draft players at their natural position leave them alone, and they become very good NHL players. Sure many teams also change prospects positions from center to wing also.
****************************
Notables:
I know it's only two games, but to borrow a phrase out of Minnesota,  Griffin Reinhart, screams NHL defender. He cannot beat out Matt Donovan, who obviously is ready.

Matt Carkner screams Eric Boulton's minutes or waivers. I can see Radek Martinek or Joe Finley, not both. One's signed, the other is here on a PTO.

I would risk Joe Finley on waivers, keep Martinek because he can skate in traffic, and is solid at moving the puck if that's the menu. Strait/Hickey worked out that's 2/3 so a good percentage. deHaan/Ness or someone else is going to push likely MacDonald or one of these players out of a job.

Kevin Poulin's body movements were that of an unmade bed (even with a few very good saves) in goal for two periods against the Devils, and a few undeflected pucks that found the net were like his game against Carolina at home 2013.

He said he settled down in the third period which I missed. 

I trust him to be the backup, know he can play at this level, however he has to be the goalie he was at this level a few years ago. This is camp but as a backup, he's getting more work than usual.

Bridgeport needs one starting goaltender, not two. Based on last year that should be Anders Nilsson.

Ratner Coliseum Legislature Vote Set For Monday 9/19/13 1pm

89 million dollars for Coliseum, 140m for restaurants/bowling/theater. Lawn is winter ice-skating rink Ratner added.

The images posted here before showing scale of project, who has rights to what area.

The first image is the final Coliseum blueprint. 
 
Long Island Herald: Reports the legislature vote will be Monday afternoon 9/19 in a 1pm meeting. 

The Live Stream link that worked last week is down as of this entry. 

A simple majority of republicans in a republican controlled legislature is required for approval of Mangano's deal with Bruce Ratner, that in September received  unanimous approval of the county lawmakers' finance, rules and economic development committees.

D-Kevan Abrahams had the following:

He also said he wants to be certain that the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, would be a permanent tenant of the refurbished Coliseum. Last month, Ratner announced that the Sound Tigers would make the move, but that it would require the approval of owner Charles Wang.

Abrahams added, however, that officials from Forest City Ratner were “receptive” when he raised those concerns during committee meetings on Sept. 9, and was scheduled to meet with them again on Thursday of this week. (9/19)

“We feel that Forest City and Bruce Ratner have a tremendous track record …,” Abrahams said. “We’re glad to see that they’re part of this process to rebuild the Coliseum.”

On August 22nd Mangano said NIFA “sees no issue” with the NEC plan. 


NIFA at this time has no scheduled meeting

Ratner has committed to bringing the team back to the Coliseum for six home games per season once development is complete. Such a move would require approval by the NHL, but Ratner said last month that he was “confident” he would get it.

NYIFC Comments:  
Hard to believe, however this time it's really the end of the process.

There is nothing to stop it beyond Ratner not having financing at some later point. 

Once legislature/NIFA approve, the Coliseum's future is decided (not the TOH approvals Master Developer Don Monti will need for rest of property) I know you have read that many times before, but Monday is the true big vote if you believe Mangano about NIFA.

Kate Murray is Don Monti's problem, not Bruce Ratner.  The scale of the images shows you why because Coliseum is a very small RFP.

Abrahams wants no part of stopping this, Nassau County legislature wants the Coliseum issue decided with an election coming after a generation of many of them being rightfully blamed for it. The New York Islanders are pawns in this. Wang can reject any plan he deems would hurt his hotel, but obviously not Bruce Ratner's.

Huge questions from there would be Sound Tigers future/NHL approval to let the New York Islanders be the only NHL team with two home facilities.

All Gary Bettman has to say if the league approves of this plan. Either way the New York Islanders own all NHL territorial rights to Nassau/Suffolk, from Brooklyn, same as they do now from Nassau Coliseum over Brooklyn/Queens/Suffolk. 

Charles Wang did not say one word about the Sound Tigers nor was he asked. If Sound Tigers President Howard Saffan works for him, Ratner, Wang, Saffan need to have a discussion.

Of course if the Coliseum remains open as is through the Islanders lease in 2015, and a renovation requires a closing of the facility for a period of time, that can be at least three years in the future.

NYIFC Notables:
The header now includes the 2013-14 New York Islanders/captain John Tavares.

A few years ago it was hard finding current upcoming players to feature, now there were so many some had to be left out. Also many prospects two years ago were wearing 40th anniversary patch.

Ryan Strome is wearing Ed Westfall's number, Reinhart, Gary Howatt's.


The twitter wallpaper has images of Griffin Reinhart (did not use poor image of his first NHL goal) and Ryan Pullock.

New York Preseason 101

Schedule:
9/17: NY Islanders (split squad) at Calgary (split squad), 9 p.m.
9/17: NY Islanders (split squad) vs. Calgary (split squad), at Regina, Sask. (Brandt Centre), 9 p.m.

9/19: NY Islanders at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
9/21: New Jersey vs. NY Islanders, at Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barclays Center), 7 p.m.
9/22: NY Islanders at Nashville, 6 p.m.
9/27: Nashville at NY Islanders, 7 p.m.
9/29: NY Islanders (split squad) vs. Ottawa (split squad), at Barrie, Ont. (Molson Centre), 6 p.m.
9/29: NY Islanders (split squad) at Ottawa (split squad), 7:30 p.m.

Bridgeport opens it's training camp Sept 23rd. 

Expect many/most games live streamed somewhere/none on the teams official television network starting with Calgary. 

Jobs Available?
For a prospect to win a job means someone (outside of Radek Martinek) is going to lose their job or there are going to be injuries. That's a dangerously thin center position in terms of scoring after Tavares, also  painfully weak scoring on defense on paper.

Everyone will get a look or two, but for a Brock Nelson, Matt Donovan or Ryan Strome (among many) to make this roster it may require someone go (or someone's hurt) for a spot to open.


Many of those forwards are signed beyond one year.
Moulson-Tavares-Bouchard
Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo
Grabner-Regin-Clutterbuck
Martin-Cizkias-McDonald
Boulton

Hamonic-Strait
Hickey-Visnovsky
MacDonald-Carkner
Finley-Martinek (tryout)

Nabokov
Poulin

New York/Bridgeport Will Practice At Charles Wang's IceWorks Past 2015

Iceworks Remains New York Islanders Official Practice Facility After 2015 per Charles Wang' Oct 2012.

That's what Charles Wang said at the Brooklyn press conference in October 2012.

Wang purchased the facility lease in a bankruptcy sale at or around March 2nd 2001. At the time former Islander Gerry Hart dropped a competing bid as he managed the Rinx at Hidden Pond Park in Hauppauge which still has ties to the club in 2013  with the P.A.L. Junior Islanders & the USPHL merger with Eastern Elite, Empire Junior Hockey Leagues which start in Sept 2013 and include Garth Snow's comments. 

On May 26, 2004, Hart sold the Rinx, and day camp to Francis J. Palamara, a business consultant, who formerly served as Executive Vice President for Aramark.


The Islanders release on 2013-14 team joining the new league at the Rinx
                                          
In an earlier entry here travel distances were compared to NHL rink among other teams in the division, the distance was a little over thirty miles, with some teams over twenty miles.

Some will recall the Islanders moved their offices out of the Nassau Coliseum basement in 2001. Wang's original plan was to construct a practice facility in Plainville, N.Y. for the club but had decided against it in this 2003 article.

Plainville is the home of Neulion TV, and the clubs offices in another building Charles Wang owns. 

Robert Thornton the first gm of the facility under Charles Wang passed away on Sept 3rd 2013. 

Mr Thornton and his wife resigned on 5/24/2004 filing a lawsuit in 2006 against the Islanders which from Islanders end was handled by 2011 Referendum firm of Nixon-Peabody.  Thornton was thrilled at Wang's purchase in 2001.

A few will recall the name of Dan Marshall became general manager of Iceworks, then was named head coach of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, only lasting for 2005-06.  The Ct Post reported in 2012 Marshall coaches and manages junior teams on Long Island

History: 
The New York Islanders 1972 training camp was held in Peterborough, Ontario. Trainer, Nick Garen, had the Islanders do strength and flexibility exercises on the infield of a nearby harness track. One driver complained that the players were scaring the horses. Bill Torrey did not allow the players to keep cars at camp, so everyone—Torrey included—had to walk the half mile from the Holiday Inn, where the team was staying, to the rink.

The New Yor Times actually paid a beat-writer named, Gerald Eskenazi, to attend camp---some things were better in 1972.

In 1972  the team would change into its equipment at the Coliseum and then travel by bus to one of the smaller, recreational rinks on Long Island, sometimes as much as an hour away. One time at Skateland in New Hyde Park, the Rangers were using the ice according to a 1982 SI article here.

By the mid 1970's the New York Islanders training facility was  Racquet and Rink in Farmingdale where a lady named Barbara Williams helped Bob Nystrom/other Islanders skating as the NHL's first female skating coach.

Barbara Williams power skating.

Some may recall the 1975 comeback practice video's aired a few years ago which was written about here, those were at Raquet and Rink. The three rink facility in an airport hanger was closed in 1980 due to financial losses here.
 
Cantiague Park  was the New York Islanders (National Hockey League) practice facility from 1979 to 1992. 

In Sept 2012 the Islanders opened a Pro Shop there with the players appearing.

In Sept 2011 the club opened a Pro Shop At Dix Hills Ice Arena

In October 1992, Hart, along with college roommates Thomas Mattioli and Randolph Nash, opened The Rinx recreation complex in Hidden Pond Park in Hauppauge, New York with a 20-year land lease from the Town of Islip..
 
The Rinx at Hidden Pond Park in Hauppauge was an Islander training camp facility in 1993, which Al Arbout & Don Maloney praised but one issue (money/personal) included was travel distance to Nassau Coliseum which ties into the Barclay's story  

The Rinx was re-branded to HPP Rinx, now it is again called The Rinx.

Islanders Iceworks was called the Long Island Skating Academy back then, it was re-branded to it's current name in 1997 here.

The club's current business directory does not list a specific operator or general manager of iceworks, only pro retail & merchandise operations.

My Point: 
Very simple. The New York Islanders owner made clear his team is going to continue to train at his facility in Syosset past the Brooklyn move. This team may well also be playing a few games at the Nassau Coliseum, and then there is the Sound Tigers factor. 

Islanders Iceworks is not going anywhere, it was time for some historical background.

The Ferraro Bros Ice Center, expected to be opened in Fall 2013 in Eisenhower Park was heavily advertised by Msg salesman Billy Jaffe earlier this year. 

Both Chris (via corporate bicycle) & Peter played for the New York Islanders or Sound Tigers in their later career.

"It really has no effect on players wanting to play hockey or not," Peter says. "The athletes on Long Island are great. There's great soccer players, great lacrosse players, great hockey players. The Islanders making the move to Brooklyn, I don't think that has an effect on youth hockey."

Plaza Surf N' Sports is a small family-owned retail store which was established in 1972 by the Ferraro family.