New York Notables/DiPietro Not Injured

NY Post: Rick DiPietro told the New York Post he is not injured. 

NYIFC Comments: 
Bottom line if Rick DiPietro (or any player participating in other leagues) is not cleared by the NHL team doctors whenever this lock out ends, the insurance coverage they signed to play with their respective European team is responsible to whatever the player insured himself for.
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Bridgeport:
On the Bridgeport front it’s been a mixed bag with deHaan’s season ending shoulder injury a huge problem moving forward, count Kirill Kabanov’s injury in that mix but not season ending.

Anders Nilsson’s illness/injury has prevented him from starting a single game which is very disquieting, David Ullstrom has a lower body injury but day to day. Casey Cizikas picked up where he left off.

The good news on the Bridgeport front clearly is how seamlessly Brock Nelson, Nino Niederreiter, John Persson have adapted to this level so far in terms of production.  It’s an excellent start, however many top picks go to the AHL and do well with Jeff Tambellini an example.

Lockout Negotiations Second Thoughts? 
I wrote recently the players are entitled to every penny of their newly signed contracts, but the thing about those contracts are they were signed under the terms of the previous CBA which included escrow.

I did not consider that at the time. 

Under that CBA it meant they could lose a portion of those contracts, you can be sure many owners/players knew that when the contracts were signed.

The league’s apparent recent offers did promise the players full contracts be honored, however with the revenue split changing that means they may not receive the full value in a 50/50 split so call the wordsmith for the collective rhetoric on the escrow.

Of course let’s be clear, the paychecks being lost by the players with no salary is going to start costing a lot more than any escrow/revenue split down the road.

As for the rest the usual media suspects are doing it’s collective market song/dance.

Rick DiPietro Signs In Germany/New York Notables

Scriesersee.de: Reports Rick DiPietro has signed in a German League and will have a press conference with their season opening on 10/14.

NYIFC Comments:
This blog has not been covering the many NHL Islander players signing in Europe/KHL. (sidebar links have been following transactions) DiPietro is a little different because no one on the current roster needs to play hockey more, and this is his chance to work off the game rust that practice does not provide.

Obviously DiPietro/agent secured the necessary insurance of his NHL contract, however any sustained injury means if a lockout were settled, the Islanders would no longer be required to pay the remainder of his contract if he were hurt playing in another league.

Of course the same holds true for all players.

What this blogger wants most is Rick DiPietro with the rust off his game, finally ready to return to the franchise goaltender/all-star he was in 2007-08.

New York Roster:
To the best of my knowledge Evgeny Nabokov, Matt Moulson, Brad Boyes, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Marty Reasoner, Eric Boulton, Matt Carkner are the current New York Islander roster players yet to sign with a team in a European/North American league not counting their unsigned departed UFA.

Bridgeport Roster:
Travis Hamonic, Nino Niederreiter, David Ullstrom, Casey Cizikas, Matt Donovan, Calvin deHaan, Aaron Ness, Ty Wishart, Anders Nilsson, Kevin Poulin are in Bridgeport.

Ryan Strome, Griffin Reinhart/draft picks are in juniors or college/europe.

NHL/NHLPA Negotiations:
Things are running as expected with Donald Fehr, threatening to repeal the salary cap which means get ready for what will likely be a season without NHL hockey.

Media Game:
 Market-based media are doing the sales job selling what suits their career/editor’s interest as the selective reporting standards are frankly disappointing.

It’s disingenuous some media speculate on what franchises are profitable vs which ones spend more to lose more only looking at revenue which this blog contends often is not profit or a sustainable business model.

I guess for those media if a billion dollar company can lose 20-30m a year for a sports team/trophy purchase, it’s survival of the richest corporations if it’s the team they cover. 

Big Market/Small Market
There are no big hockey markets in the US, unless you want to include markets with no competition from other sports.

New York is invisible in terms of hockey. 

New York Clean-Up Day/Notables

Our final entry on the 2011-12 season will be released Thursday at 10:00am.

The 2011-12 season is over so it’s time to retire the 40th Anniversary logo.

Islanders website: is conducting their final interviews with the players.
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Lottery:
See last year’s entry or the year before/ect.

Last year the Isles dropped a spot back, losing the lottery. The Devils selected Adam Larsson, the Isles Ryan Strome.

Our past thoughts are any team missing the lottery five years in a row should not be entitled to a lottery selection. Our thoughts are also teams should not be allowed to front-load contracts, or hide bad contracts in the AHL.

This blog does not own the league, see you Tuesday at 8pm.
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Response to Friday Entry:
My Thanks to all for the positive response on Friday’s entry.

All we did was correct information not in Mike Sielski’s article.

Buffalo News: Bucky Gleason on Sunday interviewed Pat Lafontaine about the WSJ article where he did not have much to say, but knew it was coming out.

NYIFC Comments:
Mr Gleason seemed to play off the WSJ cliff notes regarding the Isles or Charles Wang’s ownership which is lazy but expected. He included Milbury as a member of Charles Wang’s board of governors with Lafontaine/Smith which was not correct, while Tom Golisano inherited a taxpayer funded new arena from the Rigas ownership, and lost out to the Isles for a few playoffs.

You would think Bucky Gleason would know Lafontaine was honored in Nov 2003 by the Isles given that he knew Charles Wang had full control of the Isles by 2004? That there are several people, who absolutely need to be inducted into the 2005-06 Hall of Fame before Pat Lafontaine.

Butch Goring, John Tonelli, Jiggs McDonald, all of the core of the four.

Most interesting was Mr Gleason asked Lafontaine about the Isles not honoring the Long Island Royals this week at the Coliseum.

Was he serious?

Mr Gleason’s own Buffalo News: reported the Royals won the title on 4/1, which was the Isles fan appreciation day game against Ottawa.

Beyond that there was only the April 5th season finale, but the Royals Website on 4/2 announced their celebration was going to be 4/5 at 7:30pm at Superior Ice Rink in Kings Park where they advertised the unveiling of their 16-and-under state and national championship banners to be hung.

This was the day/time the NHL scheduled Winnipeg vs the Islanders last summer.

Ed Mangano/Nassau/Isles absolutely do something in the future to honor the kids.

Gleason wants to impress us (beyond fixing his broken e-mail address) he should be just as quick to ask Darcy Regier/Lindy Ruff, why Ted Nolan had to leave Rochester as soon as it became a Sabre affiliate again under a new owner?

Gleason was asking last May here when the new owner reacquired the Rochester affiliate.

Ted Nolan wound up in Latvia.

Mr Gleason the day after the WSJ article 4/3 was quick to support the injury card in Buffalo, but that management could have been better.

Never have the Isles used back to back games as an excuse. I guess Gleason missed all the years the Isles lead the NHL in man games lost before this season.
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People will write/say whatever they want about Mike Milbury, a lot of it will be fair/correct, some of it will be unfair/vindictive.

Having written that anyone who criticizes Mike Milbury for shots at Sidney Crosby’s health, but takes the same cheap-shots at Rick DiPietro or any injured player on any NHL team is just as guilty as Milbury.

You have clowns with media credentials making fun of Radek Martinek because he discussed Ryan Hollweg trying to pull out his stitches long ago.

After the tragedies of last summer media should learn there are limits, regardless of the laundry any player wears or how long he’s hurt.

New York Islander Fan Central

10/14 Mangano’s Latest Coliseum Plan Announced/NY Notables

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Ed Mangano announced his latest plan for the Nassau Coliseum site on 10/14, it could mean a new Coliseum on the Northern part of the Hub constructed, or a renovation of the current facility.

The study, which needs state funding/private investment, was from something called Accelerate-Nassau-Now which had images in rough sketches.

NYIFC Comments:
Page eight, nine, ten, fourteen are the sections on the Coliseum. Twenty, twenty one relied on some Lighthouse background information.

Means nothing unless Charles Wang agrees to a lease extension.

New York Notables:
It’s obvious DiPietro’s concussion will leave him on the sidelines for an undetermined time, as long as, it’s not of the Crosby/Vaske variety, with lingering ramifications, it’s not of consequence.

The key for DiPietro are his knee issues, and game rust.
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Jack Capuano sounded like Scott Gordon at 4-1-2 last October in his post-game, he knows something’s not right with his roster even after a 5-1 win. Staios made a great play on Stamkos, the lack of speed on this defense cannot be hidden for many nights.
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I did not have clear picture against Tampa, it seemed Comeau was back on right wing, loved what I saw from Hamonic, Bailey, and Martin.
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The prospect blog has the updated status for Kabanov.
The long version of what’s happened?
Lewiston folds.
Montreal Junior draft his rights in QMJHL dispersal draft.
Montreal Junior change their name to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
Islanders send Kabanov to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada after camp.
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada have no apparent roster spot for Kabanov.
Kabanov signs an eight game tryout contract with Farjestd BK SEL on 10/13.
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada trade his QMJHL rights to Shawinigan Cataractes on 10/14.

NYIFC Comments:
The Kirill Kabanov saga leaves him with either an eight game tryout contract with Farjestd in the SEL, or he reports to Shawinigan. Only questions are does the tryout contract obligate him to play in the SEL before going to Shawinigan?

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New York Islander Fan Central

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.

Silly Season Again:
Anyone believe Brett Cyrgalis watches the games when he writes DiPietro went to center ice and fought Johnson at the Nassau Coliseum when anyone who watched knew it was in Pittsburgh and DiPietro did not skate to center ice? Msg was decrepit in 2008, but for some reason the Post writer only goes there with the Coliseum?

I find myself laughing, the NY Post, that does not cover our team with any regularity doing an unheard of five page interview with Rick DiPietro, who has opened up to the Post on more than a few occasions? Garth Snow is also quoted.

That’s more space than Larry Brooks received to sell the Ranger playoffs.

So this five part feature now means full time coverage. Right?

Rick DiPietro has had his first full summer in years healthy to train, if he stays that way he will absolutely help the team.
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Thrilled Trent Hunter got a tryout in Los Angeles.
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Would love to see Bryan Trottier become part of the Blues management and send John Davidson packing after how poorly he was treated by the former Msg announcer.

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Aaron Ness Signed by New York, DiPietro Activated

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Updated:
Pioneer Press: John Shipley has comments from Aaron Ness and Gophers coach, Don Lucia on Ness signing with New York and concluding his college career.

Islanders website: Announced Wednesday 3/16 that they have signed defenseman Aaron Ness to a three-year, entry-level contract. Ness will report to the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and play out the remainder of the 2010-11 season on an Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO).

NYIFC Comments:
Do not be shocked to see a few more moves like this with players reporting to Bridgeport on ATO contracts. I believe Brian Day (College), Casey Cizikas (CHL) and Anders Nilsson (SEL) are the three prospects who must be signed by 6/1/11 or 22nd birthday this summer.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has more on fallout in Bridgeport on a team that has been decimated by injury and a losing streak on par/worse than the Islanders earlier.

Islanders website: Has Rick DiPietro’s comments on returning to the lineup which included Nathan Lawson being sent to Bridgeport, along with Justin DiBenedetto.

NYIFC Comments:
Not much to write on DiPietro, the report was 4-6 weeks when he was injured, it’s within the time frame and he likely will get a game by the weekend or he will start in a place he had one of his worst games against Carolina. New York with all the home games has not had an actual road win since 2/15 in Ottawa shootout win with Lawson in net, but several one-goal/overtime road losses.

Another forward could be called up for DiBenedetto or it could be a paper transaction before the club goes on likely it’s last extended road trip.

Bridgeport has a game at home on Wednesday. Mikko Koskinen was injured last weekend and could not dress for one game, so it’s possible Lawson could start against Charlotte.

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DiPietro Was Durable But Did Not Prove He Can Be Starter

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Sorry, I know we have folks out there, who simply don’t want Rick DiPietro here under any circumstances.

I’m not one of them.

The combination of Johnson’s forearm/elbow pad to his eye combined with knee swelling likely could be the end of his season. It would have been great if he could have continued to split starts or even take the starters job full time from the day Roloson was traded, but it did not happen.

You can bet management is asking questions.

I saw a goaltender who despite the numbers had basically two poor games against Carolina and Philadelphia.

Beyond that I saw few poor overall efforts, but a goalie who was slower, and as usual tried to do more than he should have. Some sloppy play, bad breaks, and some goals he should not have allowed off the high-stick/non-call on Martinek, but for the most part about what you expect after so few games over two seasons.

Sure, this was DiPietro’s chance to start with little on the table in terms of playoffs, it was a chance to knock off rust and leave no doubts for 2010-11 in terms of starting.

Did not happen, he rarely played back to back games. He did not prove he could start for one week.

It’s not nearly enough for anyone but this year he did prove himself durable in terms of his knee injury from virtually day one of camp, until the game in Pittsburgh. He did not hobble off with a serious knee injury against Pittsburgh.

A while back I did an entry that I felt his contract is still a good one for Islanders here and to date I still agree with my entry.

This year was not a great start for DiPietro by any means, in a season that ended with a 1-21 nightmare long ago, but it was a beginning for him to participate in twenty one games and keep a record above five hundred most of the season.

Next season he has to take the next step, he must be able to take the starters job, he did not demonstrate he could do that this season. Perhaps many don’t understand he could not return to do what he used to do in year one, perhaps expectations were too high from staff/fans/player/everyone in that regard.

Sure he can always be the long-term backup, his contract is structured for him to be in a role long-term. For that to happen next season would mean the contract has become a failure.

This year was about proving he could return and remain durable, which he did for the most part. Next year he has to take a step up to a dependable starting goaltender, building back toward a top flight NHL goaltender.

Bottom line he was over five hundred, on a team ten games under five hundred at one point, much more will be expected.
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As for the effort in Pittsburgh, I was disgusted with the teams play. Outworked, badly outhit, out-skated, by a team without it’s best players, and virtually no fore-check established the entire game.

Both teams played the night before and won, to frankly get manhandled like that with virtually no puck possession or zone time was a brutal display where no excuse can be given.
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Joel Martin signed a two-way contract, which means the Odessa goaltender, who has five AHL games since signing with Bridgeport 1/5, may be backing up here. Another goaltender has to be added to Bridgeport’s roster or another has to be added from somewhere.

Nate Lawson is out 2-4 weeks based on his late January IR date.

Too much is being asked of Kevin Poulin at his age. To callup Mikko Koskinen also is asking a lot.

Mike Smith cleared waivers, he was also injured recently.

What’s next? Play Senators, with Spezza returning, who handily won at New York recently, then see what happens by Tuesday. Hunter, Weight and Jurcina are getting closer and that could mean someone is moving in a trade. Wishart will get his look with Reese demoted. They looked good in Atlanta with Grabner’s pass to Okposo fantastic read.

I suspect the feature on Martinek today is a sign the club is looking to resign him, and they should. This group cannot have enough depth, who can move puck.

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Crossroads For DiPietro, Lawson, Capuano

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It’s crossroads time, the point where players show us whether they can keep a spot or it’s time for others to get a chance.

Contract or not this is Rick DiPietro’s crossroads moment.

Management has put the team back in his hands as the full-time starter. The Islanders have won recently with goaltending making far too many saves, while being outplayed/outshot but scoring timely goals they could not produce earlier.

Bottom line DiPietro has to stay healthy, he must provide the steady play Dwayne Roloson has and he cannot surrender the soft goal/mistake he has this season (including the huge one against Pittsburgh) trying to do too much.

He has to be the goalie he was in the second half of a lost 2005-06 season, this is his crossroads moment, whether he wins or lose is not as big a story as if he can keep this team in games with his play.
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Nate Lawson this season has not started enough this season to be effective, he was also injured.

This is Nate Lawson’s crossroads moment, he is here because he has played well the last two seasons for Bridgeport in a straight split of games so he is used to sitting and playing one game a week. Koskinen’s hip injury last year helped him fall back into a 50/50 split.

What’s yet to be determined is can he be effective starting a stretch of games?
The Islanders did not use top picks on goaltenders so an un-drafted spot starter claims a full time NHL job unless he is flat out great and leaves management no choice.

Lawson has to prove himself when he plays that he can perform at this level. Kevin Poulin, Mikko Koskinen, Anders Nilsson are waiting for their chance maybe as soon as next season, or if DiPietro does not hold up, this season.
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Make no mistake, standings aside this is Jack Capuano’s crossroads with many of his AHL prospects on this team. He’s out-gunned, out-manned, on a team with far too many injuries and with an interim tag, if the recent streak continues and the team makes a run at a playoff spot, he’s given management a reason to remove the interim tag and retain him as head coach.

It’s not a very fair place to put Capuano in to prove himself, however he was not given the interim job based on Bridgeport’s struggles this season, which have turned under Pat Bingham.
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Notables:
*Islanders look like they have something to work with at center given how well Casey Cizikas has performed at WJC. He has to be signed by 6/1.

Brock Nelson vs Cizikas/deHaan Monday at WJC semi-finals.

Ty Wishart’s Interview Sunday during Sound Tigers game.

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DiPietro Knee Swelling Returns, Nate Lawson Starts

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Islanders website: Reports Rick DiPietro has minor swelling in his knee, and made clear it’s nothing serious. Nate Lawson recalled and is expected to make his NHL debut.

Lawson is expected to start over a very rested Dwayne Roloson.

Jon Sim may have been a paper transaction and is with the team.

Islanders website: Nate Lawson discusses his first pro start, Rick DiPietro discusses his injury and Lawson.

NYIFC Comments:
Sadly, if this problem has returned after all this time, and if it’s the same knee he had surgery on, it could well be the beginning of the end, unless this is a short-term issue or very precautionary which is what DiPietro is taking about.

Having written this nothing minor about a player who has had knee swelling issues over two seasons after two surgeries having swelling, the past has taught us that much.

Very strange Lawson is in goal over Roloson, who has had more than enough rest recently.

The NHL roster freeze for the holidays begins at midnight, so any trade for Roloson would have to happen today, after perhaps losing Rick DiPietro?

Lawson starting makes little sense, he relieved Mikko Koskinen Friday night and allowed a goal on his first shot, he has been injured and plays in a three man rotation for Bridgeport.

In short if Roloson is healthy/not being traded, Lawson is starting because he was due to start in AHL?

Of course, let’s call a spade, a spade. Roloson age/UFA status, the teams record, and the current standings scream it does not matter who starts one game.

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Islander Notables

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The twitter box will be re-posted 12pm Saturday.

Islanders website reported, Rick DiPietro will start against Dallas Saturday.

AP: Has comments from Gordon, most of the players on start of Islanders season.

NYIFC Comments:
When it’s written by Ira Podell, you can bank on some negative background commentary from him, the quotes from team are what’s relevant, not his viewpoint, even if it’s positive.

NYIFC Comments:
Does not seem to be Scott Gordon’s style to announce a starter this far in advance, DiPietro’s start against Dallas last season has no relevance. From what I could gather in limited bodies of work, Roloson faced more pressure and arguably played better, but DiPietro beat the Devils with their top line.

Two games vs daily practices for weeks. Only the coach/staff know.
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Cablevision/Msg/Newsday media spin doctor, Neil Best claims former Ranger/Islander Patrick Flatley will be labeled an Islander as Butch Goring’s replacement analyst on MSG’s hockey program, who will only work about half their shows.

NYIFC Comments:
So in effect Goring’s role in the stands at the Coliseum during home games has been eliminated, his full-time job in Msg studio has been replaced by a former Ranger/Islander and he will only be there part time. This around the time Denis Potvin was reportedly without a job?

To be fair maybe Msg did contact Potvin.

So it’s official. Msg will cut costs/content on the New York Islanders in the studio, during games in the stands, and despite being at home for training camp for the first time thirteen years Msg did not even produce a single minute of content.

It says a great deal a game in Quebec can be seen on internet, but not one from the Coliseum or Prudential Arena from our so-called partners.

Goring was not permitted to cover anything from Coliseum on television/radio or internet during pre-season (no internet games were even allowed on tape delay) nor was a show even produced for the club/or the Devils entering the new season for the first time in memory, while the Dolan’s teams/games are spammed day and night.

Billy Jaffe’s full-time contract was eliminated.

Bottom line hopefully a few folks can still read between the WiFi lines Cablevision is installing at the Coliseum as to how little control the New York Islanders/New Jersey Devils/Buffalo Sabres have as Msg’s ” partners ” in any kind of coverage agreement.
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Islanders website: Also reported a radio agreement with WRHU 88.7 FM, Radio Hofstra University, to broadcast games throughout the 2010-11 NHL season. Former color commentator, Chris King will move over to the play-by-play position and various Hofstra broadcast students will have the opportunity to serve as the color analysts and sideline reporters.

NYIFC Comments:
I need professional media confirmation to know if Msg has final approval of the Islanders radio rights, with any station anywhere before I can go further. This may be the only place Msg would allow them to have a radio agreement, or they have no say in any radio agreement at all. Hofstra has college games to air for football and basketball. This contradicts the past when the Islanders appeared on Bloomberg, ESPN 1050, and the recent Islander radio network.

I did not research if Buffalo is going only with simulcast as they did a year ago, or have an expanded radio agreement or whether Msg controls approval rights to this.

Updated:
Ken Belson of the NY Times, informed me he was told by Islanders and MSG, approval by the Garden is only regarding television broadcasts, not a radio deal.
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Do I care whether Rex Ryan, Darryl Strawberry, Michael Strahan, other past Jet QB’s or Tom Suozzi drops the opening night puck? No.

The lack of credible print/internet coverage has done a good job driving folks away, regardless.
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News Durham Region: Report Calvin deHaan was named captain of the Generals, with coach Chris DePiero’s comments who’s team also has Islander draft pick, Tony DeHart.
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Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio breaks down the Islanders roster.

NYIFC Comments:
The Ct Post staff kindly responded Friday night with a Rss link to Mr Fornabaio’s newspaper coverage here which will appear on blog sidebar in media section.

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