NYIFC LATEST TWITTER UPDATES/Notables

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Updated:
Wang/Mangano, Press Conference/Lease Agreement Wednesday 11am, 6/21/2011, from Nassau Coliseum.

In an related but separate announcement Tuesday, Kate Murray/TOH approved Coliseum re-zoning, which in essences means they approved their own plan from last summer here. The Lighthouse group was listed on meeting schedule 6/21.

Just to reiterate NYIFC set it’s policy on sourced-based articles 7/10/2010.

Greg Cronin lied to a newspaper about returning to Northeastern University back in April he now will become an assistant coach in Toronto, with Scott Gordon.

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Updated: Anders Nilsson signed/Islander Notables/Looking Ahead

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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.
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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.
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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.
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Put no stock on players invited to draft party who are UFA, some can be retained, others let go.
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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.
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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.

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Scott Gordon Fired As Head Coach, Jack Capuano Promoted on Interim Basis

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Islanders website: The New York Islanders announced today that Jack Capuano has been named interim head coach, replacing Scott Gordon. Gordon will remain with the organization as an adviser to General Manager.

“We believe we need a change in direction and, with the majority of the regular season still ahead of us, our goal remains to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs,” Snow said. “Scott has made tremendous strides with our team the past three seasons and I look forward to continuing our relationship in an advisory capacity.”

NYIFC Comments:
I cannot put this on the head coach, however when you cannot change all the players, you have to change the voice in the room. Having written that when a team struggles this long offensively, the coach usually takes the hit unless it is a true partnership (see Nashville-Buffalo) many sold (not Garth Snow) when Gordon was selected as head coach.

Was it fair to Scott Gordon inheriting the NHL’s most injured team his first year or losing another 250 man games lost last year, or having no Okposo-Streit this season? Absolutely not.

This is a results-oriented business with a bottom line, this team accumulated one out of twenty points in it’s last ten games.

Too many players on this roster were struggling. Gordon had the most tenure of any Atlantic coach, John Anderson was fired in Atlanta and came in around the same time as Gordon with far more talent.

When the team captain employs the word pathetic with regard to the players work ethic something is going to change.

As for Jack Capuano, Bridgeport is tied for last place, and by record did not merit this opportunity even on an interim basis.

This also suggests the general manager’s tenure is on shaky ground and must produce improvement he felt the team must make this season.

Do I think a coaching change will fix the offensive struggles at five on five? No, this goes to the offensive resume’s of the players at even strength, however it’s Capuano’s opportunity which will likely be just for this season with his time in Bridgeport ending.

Of course interim can also mean a game or two before another coach is hired.

What happened today goes entirely on the general manager, he made the decision to keep or resign some veterans in Hunter-Weight, he signed Parenteau, gave Nielsen a four year contract and built a large majority of the roster.

Scott Gordon was also Garth Snow’s coaching choice.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports no announcement at this time on the status of Pat Bingham, Jack Capuano’s assistant in Bridgeport in terms of a replacement or promotion.

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Depth Gone, Even Strengh Scoring Not Happening, Slumps Expected

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Of course, they could have bounced a few past Alex Auld Friday.

Matt Moulson could have scored on his breakaway, Tavares was robbed, Weight took the puck at the net like he was ten years younger than his birth certificate, however that’s not the point, it’s about building something for the long-term here.

Enough opposing coaches/players credited the Islanders hard work last year or being a tough team to play.

When you think of how this club was on special teams a year ago, the pp has been a fantastic trend so far.

The starts to games, the even strength scoring are all alarmingly poor trends for more than a few weeks now.

Rick DiPietro starts Saturday.

Scott Gordon was surprisingly upbeat in his post-game press conference after a third straight loss Friday here which Cablevision promised to show but eventually decided not to wait for and after a while cut the telecast off so Msg+2 could show it’s test pattern.

New York again did not start a game well at all, not only on the scoreboard, but in terms of creating chances, it’s a trend that has lasted quite a while and very noticeable.

It’s been a different than a year ago (not counting injuries) however the trends/NHL averages/player careers suggest the pp was not going to carry them for eighty two games. Tavares is not going to be a goal a game player, Doug Weight, James Wisniewski are not going to make a run at a hundred points.

This means others have to step up, and fast. Travis Moen looked like a superstar driving the net for two huge goals in back to back games.

Paging Jon Sim/Trent Hunter/Zeon Konopka.

I maintain Blake Comeau has not been the same player since he was banged up repeatedly in games, or does not have the extra step. Josh Bailey has looked pedestrian (granted only two games) where before he looked like a first line center in how he was playing in all three zones.

With Bridgeport getting a rare weekend off, Rob Schremp either waits in Ct for Wednesday or returns to New York. If Gordon maintains his stance from a year ago that Schremp must play center, Bailey is moving back to wing.

What if Bailey needs to play center to be as dominating as he was?

So much for depth.
Milan Jurcina was injured Friday against Montreal and is out for Saturday. This means Bruno Gervais has his full time spot back on defense, Trevor Gillies likely goes back into the lineup vs Philadelphia.

Time to start reversing the trends, the 6-1 losses/poor games all teams have over eighty two contests are also one of the trends due to happen soon.

The even strength scoring is overdue, so is a sixty minute effort.

Things have to start balancing out, regulation losing streaks cannot happen in this league if you expect to be a playoff team.

Bottom line in an eighty two game season there are x nights you are going to be the better team and win or play just well enough to steal points, or the team is going to have a clunker and lose big.

It’s what teams do in those other games up for grabs that separate the contenders and pretenders.

Six points/three games were just lost that were clearly on the table for this team to win, they got none of them.

Successful teams find a way to win those points, this team must do the same thing.

Don’t count on another year of three clubs under ninety points making the playoffs from this conference, last year was the exception, not the rule.

There are trends to be broken all over Philadelphia on Saturday for Scott Gordon’s players.

-NY Times: Dave Caldwell was allowed to do a feature on Zeon Konopka, but not cover the game.

The Times did not cover the game at Cablevision Garden vs Carolina Friday.

-Oregon Live: Nino Niederreiter had an assist in Portland’s 4-2 win over Kelowna Friday.

NYIFC Comments:
The local paper that covers the Winterhawks is on NYIFC prospect blog for those who would like to follow Nino Niederreiter’s game by game progress.

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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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New York Releases 23 Man Roster-Niederreiter In/deHaan/Martin Out

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Islanders website: Well before the 3pm deadline announced it’s 23-man roster for opening night, which included Calvin deHaan going to back to juniors, Matt Martin to Bridgeport, while Nate Lawson was placed on injured list with Rob Schremp, Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit.

Nino Niederreiter got the call from Garth Snow he will receive his opportunity, along with Michael Grabner and PA Parenteau. Jon Sim & Trevor Gillies are among the thirteen forwards, the club has nine games to make a final determination because beyond that it’s New York or juniors.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Niederreiter, who skated on a line with Doug Weight and Josh Bailey on Wednesday morning. “I was waiting for a call to (Isles GM) Garth (Snow), and I got to know that I’m on the team. I’m really happy about it.”

NHL.com: Brian Compton had Michael Grabner’s first NY comments where he agreed with his Florida’s general manager’s assessman of his play and discussed his opportunity here. Head coach, Scott Gordon commented on the plan for Grabner with New York.

These were the line combination’s at practice before final cut:
Forwards
91 John Tavares – 57 Blake Comeau – 15 PA Parenteau
26 Matt Moulson – 51 Frans Nielsen – 7 Trent Hunter
12 Josh Bailey – 93 Doug Weight – 25 Nino Niederreiter
17 Matt Martin – 28 Zenon Konopka – 16 Jon Sim
14 Trevor Gillies & 40 Michael Grabner

Defensemen
3 Calvin de Haan
4 Mark Eaton
38 Jack Hillen
8 Bruno Gervais
47 Andrew MacDonald
27 Milan Jurcina
24 Radek Martinek
10 Mike Mottau
20 James Wisniewski

Goaltenders
39 Rick DiPietro
30 Dwayne Roloson

Long Term Injured Reserve:
21 Kyle Okposo
2 Mark Streit
44 Rob Schremp
52 Nathan Lawson

Tavares-Comeau was most likely a misprint.

NYIFC Comments:
Shocked Niederreiter was kept for now? No, because we have seen this trend before but again this player is almost a full year young than Tavares-Bailey when they secured spots at this level, he did not have a dominating camp offensively. Parenteau did not have a good statistical preseason in few games.

Doug Weight for now will see an elevated role apparently.

Again it must be noted waiver claims, trades could happen at any time. Today was a deadline to reach twenty three players or less by 3pm. Disappointing Calvin deHaan was not retained, but the defensive depth is in Bridgeport to fill possible injuries, next summer they have to work in both deHaan and Hamonic along with others.

Matt Martin could be back sooner than later, but did not require waivers. For now Bridgeport has an answer to it’s three man goaltender problem with Nate Lawson here on what is listed as long-term injured reserve, however he did skate.

NHL Notables:
Oddly, Edmonton received permission to send Sheldon Souray to the Washington Capitals AHL affiliate which is the Hershey Bears here but is not seen as the precursor to a trade.

Souray’s best chance at being claimed would come in a recall waiver which will likely happen when injuries start piling up around league.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the latest on what these moves mean for Bridgeport,

Nate Lawson is out two weeks with a knee injury here.

To the best of my knowledge, Ryan Parent/Jeff Tambellini and all players placed on waivers have cleared. Cablevision’s AHL payroll has three players making around ten million dollars including their summer signings.

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Niederreiter Signed by NY/Media Press Conference/Notables

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Playing catchup, sorry but not available Tuesday, or a good part of Wednesday.

Islanders website: Reports Nino Niederreiter signed a three year entry level contract, with comments from GM, Garth Snow.

NHL.com: Brian Compton had a feature on Niederreiter signing.

NYIFC Comments:
Congratulations to Nino Niederreiter, this is a player who just turned eighteen.

We have seen this with Bailey, Tavares and both played immediately in the NHL, in Niederreiter’s case that may not happen beyond the nine games. I believe the available depth here now gives the Islanders time based on what they will see from Neiderreiter/prospects in camp or what players may become available to Garth Snow from clubs desperate to get under the summer cap in possible trades.

Islanders website: Tuesday has it’s media day/or lack thereof given few questions from same people, with Owner Charles Wang, GM, Garth Snow, Head Coach, Scott Gordon with Cablevision/Newsday employees.

NYIFC Comments:
Charles Wang said the team will be here through it’s 2015 lease, that’s another five years. Mr Wang did it in a way where it seems whatever happens off the ice will not be a distraction for hockey, and to me that is the perfect way because he left media sitting there with nothing to add or speculate on.

Given the outbursts in Edmonton from Mr Katz, subsequent owners, this man who years ago said this is a church that will not be open forever, seems to love owning this team enough to stick with it for the time being.

He has more patience than even I would frankly, a lot of other owners in markets with far more financial resources/media to sell product have been far more critical.

Scott Gordon after a while got some hockey questions, while Snow gave stock answers on many subjects which is fair enough and what we have heard before for the most part. The approach with DiPietro in terms of working himself back was a big part of early questions, the gm will decide if the coach will remain beyond the final year of his contract, as it should be.

Gordon on players/rebuilding comment being over was his best moment. All in all a good media conference, whatever it’s spun into by our laughingstock of a hockey media, is another matter entirely, and reflect on them more than the club.

Tsn.ca: Also had a very brief article on Mr Wang’s statement.

Islanders website: Released television schedule in Cablevision-Msg stock release. At least seventeen games will be on Msg+2 where access is limited/ratings will be lower. It appears Stan Fischler Msg’s contract will again have him attending more Islander games as what is being called an ” NHL correspondent”, which in effect means no Islander personality will be hired to replace Butch Goring’s Msg contract in their studio.

That means this scam with Jaffe/Goring absolutlely saved Msg money on a contract above all.

Did not see the New York-New Jersey preseason games scheduled to be televised from the Coliseum on 10/2 on that pdf. Msg is of course spamming the house team on television.

Not sure what IMG is and what they will be doing with club in terms of some kind of future television show. Hopefully they can keep it entirely out of Cablevsion/Msg access.
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Kirill Kabanov, was late for warm-up and was again disciplined by club, it’s his NHL career and frankly he’s pushing his luck.

Tom Poti, received a two year extension of over five million from Washington.

QMI Agency: Steve MacFarlane has Flames coach, Brent Sutter on, Tim Jackman, on both winning the Bob Nystrom award with the Islanders.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio, had an interview with Tomas Marcinko, and a few other items.

Hopefully that catches us up.

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Islander News Articles 6/28

Espn.com: Joe McDonald has an in-depth conversation with Islanders Head Coach Scott Gordon, regarding John Tavares about his first season in the NHL.

NYIFC Comments:
The best commentary from Scott Gordon since he was hired as he goes through the details of how the staff worked with Tavares during the 2009-10 season.

If you read one article about Tavares-Gordon this is the one. Great insights from the coach on how he will forget that Tavares is nineteen, what happened when Tavares struggled, and looking ahead for the 2009 first round selection.

Kingston Whig Standard: Mike Koreen has the first comments from seventh round selection, goaltender, Cody Rosen on being selected by New York with the club’s final pick in the draft, and his conversations with general manager, Garth Snow.

Moncton Telegraph: Neil Hodge has some quotes from Wildcats, head coach Danny Flynn, on Brandon Gormley (winner of Michael Bossy Trophy this past season as the QMJHL’s top professional prospect) while the writer gives some background on Kirill Kabanov.

Times and Transcript: Chris Johnston has many repeat comments from Kabanov’s press conference Saturday.

Sault St Marie Evening News: Rob Roos reports on Doug Weight being inducted into the Lake Superior Athletic Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night, during a banquet at the LSSU Arts Center, as he discusses his injury status, how it hampered him a year ago, and returning to the Islanders as captain in 2010-11.

Wilon Patch: Bob Birge reports on the Danbury Whalers’ franchise that will debut in the new Federal League this fall, with Sound Tiger assistant, Pat Bingham’s comments.

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The free agency section has been created, the twitter box will be back as a blog entry around 5pm, as full time coverage for the draft weekend comes to an end at NYIFC.

Prospect blog now has all 2010 draft picks, draft links moved to prospect section of this page.

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Islander News Articles 4/13

NY Post: Tim Bontemps is the latest extra from the worthless Post hockey media staff to throw a few token paragraphs as a season wrap up with quotes from John Tavares and Scott Gordon as apparently full-time home writer (when it’s not a Ranger or Devils game) Dan Martin faded away from coverage.

NYIFC Comments:
Of course this beats the Daily News which was too lazy/cheap/indifferent to cover the final games or wrap the season as Peter Botte was sent to go cover the Yankees and at best would have been given the same token space. Understand this is not the writers fault as indifferent/weak as their reporting is, this goes entirely on the sport editors and the people they report to.

The Associated Press ironically had the longest update where Doug Weight makes it clear he wants to come back with the Islanders next season along with Scott Gordon’s comments.

NYIFC Comments:
Scott Gordon’s comments came from his ITV post-game. Islanders usually get a much better article when AP writer Ira Podell is not involved because he always has a negative slant to any of his commentary while he goes the other way on Cablevision’s team with the glass half filled. Sad part is this comes from the NY Times of all places that I do not believe had one Islander-centric update all season.

As for Doug Weight, he had one goal and despite his leadership has not been healthy or effective since December of 2008. He proved the critics out of Anaheim wrong a few years ago but the size, physical play, speed and skill mandate his spot on the forward lines/power play go to another player.

Islanders website: Reports last year’s representative in Ken Morrow will once again be at the table when the ping-pong balls start flying.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports the Sound Tigers will practice Tuesday and travel to Hershey with roster changes between Utah-Bridgeport and New York.

NYIFC Comments:
Bridgeport played Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A flat out shame Josh Bailey is not part of this while Alexander Ponikarovsky get’s to participate in Pittsburgh’s playoffs but spin the wheel and take a guess because that’s Colin Campbell/his staff and how they determine suspensions, if Ponikarovsky was not playing the Islanders Sunday I doubt he would have been suspended for that game.

Utah is the Islanders ECHL part affiliate that also has had Mikko Koskinen playing for them since returning from hip surgery ECHL.com interview 3/26, he was 7-1 but has been pulled in two of four playoff games and is not expected to start in the deciding game tonight in their best of five series with former Islander Mike Morrison the projected starter according to the Las Vegas Sun here.

Side-bar is doing all newspaper/twitter updates on the Bears and the coverage is very good.

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NYIFC Returns Full Time For Bridgeport Playoffs

I have decided for the duration of Bridgeport’s playoffs NYIFC will re-open to full time daily blogging using our old format with game one against the Hershey Bears on Wednesday including all AHL newspaper coverage for both clubs.

NYIFC will not link to Newsday coverage in a single blog entry until it is completely free and accessible to all of our fans regardless if a writer is sent to Harbor Yard and will I only use the professional print media (Ct Post) and AHL.com along with box-scores. Hershey’s primary paper RSS is now linked to media sidebar on left side of page.

NYIFC prospect blog has several rss feeds, twitter updates from teams along with ways to watch/listen to games in addition to this.

NYIFC Comments:
Bridgeport is changing divisions for the playoffs (going back to division they played in last season) and going up against a team that many consider the best in a generation in Hershey (Washington Capitals affiliate) with an incredible record so it may well be a very short series as Tim Leone of the Patroit News is predicting along with a Calder Cup repeat for the Bears. Head coach Mark French is concerned about Nate Lawson and Scott Munroe & the Sound Tigers 11-5-1-0 finish for an opponent which had the same point total as the Bears a year ago in the same divison.

To the best of my knowledge an upset will be a task of monumental proportion nor will Bridgeport even have Josh Bailey and for now apparently Dustin Kohn. Bridgeport posted a negative goal differential of 201-220 but will face a team 60-17-3 with 342-198 goal disparity.

Hershey beat Bridgeport 9-2 earlier at Giant Center 2/27 and beat them again at Harbor Yard badly 6-3 on March 2nd.

I remembered both those games. Sound Tigers coach Jack Capuano had to use both his goaltenders in both games and that 6-3 game at home was 6-1 before two late Sound Tiger goals, Hershey had fifty shots in the 9-2 game which is very unusual for a team that scores nine times because it usually means some bad goals on first shots.

Andrew MacDonald was returned to Bridgeport Monday along with Dylan Reese, Michael Haley, Kohn and Joel Rechlicz here. Brendan Witt’s father in-law is ill and left the team this weekend after not missing a single game since he was sent to Bridgeport earlier so his knee has responded fine despite several three games/three days situations.

The twitter box many have seen all season here will not be back until after the Sound Tigers playoffs conclude but the NYIFC updates will post on twitter and there will be some Islander related twitter entries plus twitter updates are all over NYIFC anyway at the top and on the sidebars.

The secondary NYIFC blog will not carry these written updates.

Our sidebar feeds have been updated to include newspaper links to Hershey’s primary coverage for the latest including Tim Leone’s twitter feed here. The Ct Post does not have an RSS feed for Bridgeport games but Mr Fornabaio’s twitter and blog rss are on our active sidebar.

This also means some New York Islander blog entries will be returning here for a short time as the season is wrapped up, however there is little to add on the bouncing ping pong balls Tuesday beyond fifth (70 odd percent), first (less than eight percent) or sixth. (whatever else percent)

New York cannot move to second, third or fourth. It’s first, fifth or sixth.

I have not decided if this will go as far as the World Championships that will include Scott Gordon as team USA head coach but much of this depends on how the Sound Tigers do.

What I can guarantee is this is not a full-time permanent return to our old NYIFC format which I have no interest in doing. This is just a nice way of thanking all the folks who have followed here and on twitter all season with a little extra hockey and making up for the playoffs that were not covered here last season when things were closing down.

New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

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New York Islander Fan Central