News: Flames claim Blake Comeau off of waivers

One day after he was waived following not a single point in 16 games, Blake Comeau was claimed off of waivers by the Calgary Flames.

AT: I believe this is the best for all parties. Blake had a good season last year but was just not doing much this year and clearly needed a change of scenery. Calgary isn't exactly a good team so it's hard to see him putting up much more than he did last year playing with the Flames, but he was simply not working for the Islanders anymore, and certainly not worth $2.5M with his play.

This should, by logic, pave the way for Niederreiter to take his place on the 3rd line, but supposedly Niederreiter and Reasoner are the scratches today against the Devils, which makes very little sense at all. You have a 19 year old power forward just itching to play, and you continue to scratch him in favor of Brian Rolston who has easily been one of the most inefficient players for the Islanders all year long.

News: Strome Sent Back, Kabanov, Injury Updates

The Islanders announced that 2011 first round pick Ryan Strome has been sent back to Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League. In a somewhat unusual circumstance, Strome was kept on the roster for the team's first two games but did not play. 

CH: This is the correct and obvious move here. Like we said, Strome is not physically ready for the NHL, and having him play games would have been a mistake. He will go back to a Niagara team that has stumbled a bit out of the gate and be a main contributor for a team that should be in the playoffs. While this week may have been a waste from a fans' standpoint, Strome claims he learned a lot, which in the grand scheme of things is important.

AT: The only positive to having Strome up for the two games was that he was able to take part in NHL practices, but this is obviously the right move. Niagara is going to be a force in the OHL this year and compete heavily for the Memorial Cup, so this was the best possible option for all parties. Strome gets to develop further, and Islander fans get to see a well developed Strome in a few years.

Kirill Kabanov has found a home for the time being as he will play for Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League on a one month tryout. Kabanov has recently stayed on Long Island as he continues to try and find a place to play.

CH: It's only a month but this is exactly the league that Kabanov should be playing in. We knew the KHL would not take him back, and given the amount of talent that has come through the SEL, he is at the right level. The nature of the league is somewhat defensive, so even if Kabanov only plays fourth line minutes, he will learn a lot of valuable lessons there. We can worry about the future when it comes, but for now this is a relatively good situation for Kabanov given the circumstances.

AT: Even if it's 4th line minutes, playing time is playing time. The SEL is a professional league where many other prospects as well as veterans play, so Kabanov will have an interesting time finding a chemistry with both the younger and older players of the game. While everyone including myself still prefers him to be in the Q, sometimes extenuating circumstances force other action to be taken.


Rick DiPietro continues to be re-evaluated after getting hit in the head by a Brian Rolston snapshot in Wednesday's practice. Doctors have not ruled a concussion out just yet, according to Katie Strang. DiPietro will not dress for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. Evgeni Nabokov will back-up Al Montoya.

 

CH: DiPietro cannot seem to catch a break. I know that he is a very polarizing figure in Islander country these days, but you have to feel bad for him. This is a freak incident that may have been brought on by previous concussions, so there is nothing anyone could have done.

AT: Really is a shame. He seemed to be fully healthy coming into this year, but everyone was so focused on his knees that his concussion problems in the past weren't really on anyone's radar. Hopefully the situation is monitored properly and DiPietro can return to back up Montoya and put up a few solid games here and there. 

Finally, Trevor Gillies comes off IR today and replaces Ryan Strome on the active roster.

AT: Fear the 'stash.

News: Isles Name Four Alternate Captains

As reported by ESPN's Katie Strang earlier, the Islanders have named four alternate captains for the 2011-12 season: John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Brian Rolston, and Steve Staios. The alternates will switch off between home and away games.

CH: Going with a mix of veterans and younger players, the Islanders made sound choices for the rest of the leadership team this season. With a total of two defensemen and three forwards, all position and age demographics are represented. This will mark the third season Kyle Okposo will wear the "A" for the Islanders, and that should continue for the foreseeable future. Okposo was originally thought to unquestionably be the next captain of the team. However, with other young guys taking leadership roles on the team, that may be a little less likely.

A perfect example of this is the role that John Tavares has taken with the team. There is no doubt that Tavares is the face of the franchise. He is the Islanders' best player. He also has an incredible work ethic and is mature beyond his years. The fact that he was named alternate captain this year should have been a no-brainer. Between Tavares and Okposo, the Islanders will have two prominent leaders on the team for a long time.

Of course, the leadership team could not be complete without veterans taking active roles as well. Even though he has only been here a few weeks, Steve Staios is a fantastic choice for a letter. He is a very respected veteran that has the on-ice fire to be a captain, which is a nice change of pace from the mostly laid back demeanor of Tavares and Okposo (though they have shown fire when it's been necessary). Combine them with Brian Rolston, and the team will have five players (including captain Mark Streit) who the league respects.

One final point that gets undermined is the respect of the officiating staff. Guys like Zenon Konopka were ignored by the referees because of their style of play. With Streit, Okposo, Tavares, Rolston, and Staios, the Islanders have respected players to talk to the referees when necessary. Include the influence they have in the locker room, and it shows why the team made good choices for the captains this season.

AT: Couldn't have asked for a better group of guys to wear the A's to join the best possible choice for the C in leading this Islander team. You have Tavares and Okposo, two young players who are major parts of this core representing the youth movement, and then you have Staios and Rolston, two grizzled veterans who know their way in and out of this league and have a lot of respect amongst referees and fellow players alike. Of all the things the Islanders have done this offseason, choosing their new captain and assistant captains has been one test they've passed with flying colors.

Over the long run, yes, either Tavares or Okposo will be the captain. For now, having them as A's to continue learning the process of being a leader in the NHL is the best way to go.

News: Islanders Finalize 23-Man Roster

The Islanders announced today that they have sent Kirill Kabanov to juniors, and Dylan Reese and Trevor Frischmon to Bridgeport. This finalizes their 23-man roster for Saturday night's season opener against the Florida Panthers. The following is the team's roster as of today:

Forwards
8 - Ryan Strome
11 - Brian Rolston
12 - Josh Bailey
15 - P.A. Parenteau
16 - Marty Reasoner
17 - Matt Martin
21 - Kyle Okposo
26 - Matt Moulson
29 - Jay Pandolfo
40 - Michael Grabner
51 - Frans Nielsen
57 - Blake Comeau
91 - John Tavares

Defense
2 - Mark Streit
3 - Travis Hamonic
4 - Mark Eaton
10 - Mike Mottau
24 - Steve Staios
27 - Milan Jurcina
47 - Andrew MacDonald

Goaltenders
20 - Evgeni Nabokov
35 - Al Montoya
39 - Rick DiPietro

Injured Reserve
14 - Trevor Gillies
25 - Nino Niederreiter
37 - Jeremy Colliton
49 - Rhett Rakhshani
71 - Mark Katic

CH: There you have it. That's the lineup going into Saturday's game. There's a few things on the list I take issue with, most notably the inclusion of top prospect Ryan Strome. Strome is nowhere near physically ready to handle the NHL. Comparisons to the treatment of Josh Bailey could be spot on, and Bailey was older and bigger in 2008 than Strome is today. Granted, it's certainly possible that Strome is sent to Niagara the second Niederreiter and/or Gillies comes off IR. But the fact is that he should not play one second of the season. There is no question whatsoever that Strome has a very long career ahead of him. I'm not quite sure what the rush is and what the big deal is if he waits another year. Strome went through all of training camp with the big deal, which was undoubtedly a fantastic experience for him. I know everyone is eager and excited to see him play, but the time is not now. There is no reason to push the issue.

My only other pet peeve rests in choosing Trevor Gillies over Micheal Haley. I think Haley makes a perfect 13th forward that can easily be switched in and out of the lineup with Jay Pandolfo, depending on the opponent. Gillies is a nice guy to have in the room, so it would make sense for the team to waive him and send him to Bridgeport on paper while keeping him on Long Island. The Devils did something similar with Brian Rolston last season. That way, his value can truly be felt and if he is needed, he is not far away. There is no question that Haley provides more to the Islanders than Gillies does.

The rest of the roster shapes up nicely. First the first time since 2008, the Islanders don't have an extremely young lineup. They have a few Cup champion on the roster, and some more who got close. The success of the team will lie on the foundation of the team: the young core. That has certainly been the plan, for better or worse.

Finally, the inclusion of Rakhshani, Katic, and Colliton are because they are on injured reserved. Once they are ready to return, they should be sent down to Bridgeport in a paperwork transaction.

AT: I'm going to have to agree with Carey here on all points. First off, Strome. Look, the kid is going to be something special. And I'd think almost definitely it wouldn't be more than the 9 game tryout most prospects receive in their draft year before being sent back to juniors. I was completely fine with it for Nino Niederreiter because he already had a body that was very close to being NHL ready. He performed okay for 9 games and then was sent down. All said and done. But Strome? Strome looks very physically immature, and his stats (6'0", 177) tell that story just as well as seeing him in person would. He's going to be going up against players like Erik Gudbranson, Brian Campbell and Ed Jovanovski. He's most likely getting third line duties, but in general I would rather not risk him getting hurt in the NHL and risking his development time in Niagara. The IceDogs are one of the strongest teams in the OHL this year and primed to head to the Memorial Cup, and without Strome for 2-3 weeks they will find it a bit harder to get off to a slow start. Strome may even be a scratch for certain games and toil away in the press box. What good does that do for Ryan's development? Absolutely nothing. I understand Niederreiter is injured, and I also understand the Islanders are in a tough callup position with both Colliton and Rakhshani injured. I'd just rather see Matt Martin on the 3rd line and someone like Haley called up to fill in on the 4th line. This doesn't make any sense from any standpoint and screams of the Isles trying to fit him into a roster that is generally set.

As for Gillies, I think having him as the 13th forward was kind of a given at this point. Fans love him, management loves him, his teammates love him and he's not going to be seeing much playing time and/or games started. Yes, Haley would be a better option there but due to his poor camp he was sent down to Bridgeport. It is what it is.

Other than that, Carey said it perfectly in that we finally have a nice mix of veterans on the team. Pandolfo, Reasoner, Nielsen, Moulson, Staios, Streit, Eaton, Rolston and a few others are all over 25. It gives a nice balance and lets the team have some great leadership in the lockerroom. This is a good looking roster on paper. Though obviously nobody is a fan of having Mottau playing on Saturday due to Jurcina's injury, it is only temporary.

Let's get this season started!

News: Peter Ruttgaizer to replace Deb Placey as Isles host on MSG

After departing to take over for the New Jersey Devils broadcasts, longtime Isles pre-game and post-game host Deb Placey will be replaced by former Colorado Avalanche host Peter Ruttgaizer who worked with Altitude Sports Network in Colorado.

AT: Was personally hoping and praying for Billy Jaffe myself as I found him one of the most comprehensive analysts to cover the Isles in a long time, but having another experienced host is okay too. Hopefully Ruttgaizer can help provide some of the great in-depth analysis that Deb Placey was able to provide and the Isles coverage on MSG, as bare as it sometimes may feel, will get a little better.

News: Steve Staios Signs With Islanders

Darren Dreger is reporting that Steve Staios, the 38 year old defenseman who was brought in on a try out contract, has signed a 1 year deal with the New York Islanders worth $800K with up to $1.6m in bonuses. 

AT: Solid signing and totally expected after his very solid training camp with the Isles. He was blocking shots, sound positionally and providing veteran leadership to a team that certainly could use it. It's a fair contract for someone who has had a great career, and if he stays healthy for 60+ games, was completely worth the money. Of course, it would've been nice if the Islanders had actually gone out and gotten a true top 4 defenseman, but I think that ship has sailed at this point.

CH: Staios has been outstanding during camp, outplaying many of his teammates for a spot in the Isles starting lineup. The contract value may be a little high, but since the team is dealing with the cap floor, this all but ensures them reaching it by October 8. But that's neither here nor there given the circumstances. The Isles needed help on the blueline and now they got it. The key is just for Staios to stay healthy, as Alex said. As we said when he came to camp, this was more about if Staios could A) stay healthy and B) play at an adequate level. His reputation speaks for itself, and it showed by them rewarding him with a contract..

News: Arthur Staple replacing Katie Strang as Newsday's Isles beat writer

In a bit of a mixup in terms of reporting, Katie Strang has moved up in the sports journalism world and joined the team at ESPN New York to cover all of the metro area teams including the Isles, Rangers and Devils. Arthur Staple, a backup beat writer who is very knowledgeable of both the Islanders and Rangers, will be taking over and you can follow him at his Twitter account for constant updates regarding the Islanders. There is no indication of whether Staple is the permanent replacement or just a temp, but best wishes to Katie, and welcome aboard Arthur!

News: Isles To Induct Four Into Hall Of Fame

Credit: NY Islanders

The New York Islanders kicked off their 40th anniversary celebration by announcing five key dates for a celebration of the team's historic achievements, including four decade nights where memorable Islanders will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. The team plans to honor Ed Westfall (70s), Ken Morrow (80s), Patrick Flatley (90s), and Kenny Jonsson (00s) throughout the 2011-12 season.

CH: This is absolutely awesome. Both Alex and I have been critical of the team's off-the-ice moves over the past month or so, but this is exactly the jolt the fans needed as the team heads into training camp. While the team overdid the celebrations of the team's past in the early part of the post-lockout era, there has been nothing substantial as far as bringing back legends back for a celebratory occasion since 2008. Since the last celebration, the Core of the Four weekend, the amount of new, core Islanders that have joined the organization is immense. In fact, it is almost the whole team - headlined by John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, Mark Streit, and Travis Hamonic (among many others). Only Blake Comeau and Rick DiPietro remain from the 07-08 team that was in attendance for that celebration.

It's time the Islanders start to embrace their history once again, which falls right into their "commitment" campaign for the season. Guys like Tavares and Okposo - yeah, they know about the history of the team. All they have to do is look up at the six retired numbers and four Stanley Cup champion banners. But now, they will get a first hand look at the history of the Islanders. They'll see the packed Coliseum (no question these games will be sellouts) and the outpouring of love fans have for the four inductees. For this first time, these celebrations will be seen more as a transition from old greats to new greats than a mindless way to sell tickets (all while Mike Comrie and Ruslan Fedontenko headline the lineup).

As far as the actual inductees go, there is plenty of time for all of the deserving players to get inducted. Yes, you can name the "snubs" - John Tonelli, Pat LaFontaine, Pierre Turgeon - to name a few. But this is not about them. They will get their day. Instead we should celebrate Ed Westfall, a huge reason those banners are in the rafters even if he didn't win any Cups himself. Ken Morrow, the first player to win an Olympic gold medal and Stanley Cup in the same year. Pat Flatley, the captain of the 1993 team whose commitment to the Islanders is almost unmatched (hey, can't completely forgive him for that Ranger stint). Kenny Jonsson, the steadiest, most underrated defenseman in the game, who played over 500 games as an Islander.

They all deserve this honor, and they all deserve to be celebrated. What better time than now? Time to bridge the gap between the past and the present, as the team looks ahead to cementing their future.

AT: For a team that at the moment really only has its history to look to for inspiration amidst arena troubles, a lack of free agent signings and being a general mockery at times around the league, having something like this is a really great decision on behalf of the Isles. Four fantastic players who helped represent each generation of Islanders hockey. Westfall, the first captain of the team, Ken Morrow, a member of the 1980 "miracle on ice" USA team and all 4 Stanley Cups, Flatley, a strong role player in the early 90's Isles playoff teams, and Jonsson, one of the best d-men to ever play for the team. Some may scoff at the snubs as Carey mentioned, but these are just 4 with many more to come. It's not as if everyone is making it, just those who really have contributed to the rich history that we hold so dear to us in this time of trouble. Kudos to the Isles for bringing back the HOF ceremonies, and I can't wait to see it in person. A new day is dawning in Islander country, but let's not forget the players who helped this team see better days in a time prior.

News: Nabokov Skating at Ice Works

After failing to report after being claimed off of waivers by the Islanders last year and having his contract tolled, Evgeni Nabokov has fulfilled his promise to report to Long Island, and is skating at Islanders Ice Works at the moment in preparation for training camp.

AT: Well, this is going to make training camp a whole lot of fun. We have re-signed Al Montoya who was incredibly impressive down the final stretch last year and put up very impressive numbers behind a subpar defense, an oft-injured Rick DiPietro who seems to be trying once again to put up a full season, and the once great Evgeni Nabokov who is a proven NHL goalie, albeit his stats in the KHL last year were abysmal. All 3 goalies will clearly play it out in camp, and I doubt the Isles run with a 3 man rotation in goal. I would think that depending on who outperforms who in training camp and wins one of the two slots, the lesser man gets traded in a package deal for a defenseman. This is either going to be Montoya or Nabokov, as we know unless a retirement or buyout occurs, DiPietro is going nowhere. While I originally didn't even want Nabokov near the team due to his Kirk Muller-esque attitude towards the Isles, I think if he can show he's returned to form and can put up a 50+ game season, he is the goalie the Isles should roll with.

I really do believe that if Nabokov can return to prior form and Montoya (and possibly Comeau) is shipped off in a package deal for a legitimate top 4 D-man, the Isles will compete for the 5th or 6th spot in the standings all year long, and really do some damage in the playoffs. I have high hopes for this team this year. Let's hope this is the start of everyone else feeling the same way too. Of course, we have to see how Nabby performs, but this is already getting me excited for the season. Drop the puck already!

Nabokov, in another indication of his dedication to the team, actually ordered his own personalized Islanders helmet. I for one think it looks pretty awesome, and is much better than him going with a generic blue or white mask like you would expect from someone without any true dedication to the team.

CH: Awesome. A good day of news all around for the Isles, to be honest. Nabokov will come right in and compete for the starting spot - and probably should win it. He is by far the best and most experienced goalie on the roster, and the team should respond in front of him. A tandem of Nabokov and Montoya should be the ideal situation as of now, even if DiPietro puts a solid camp together. Either way, I'm happy the team is giving Nabokov a clean slate. Who cares what happened last year? It's about this year now, and if the team has true playoff aspirations, Nabokov should be the guy barring a complete bomb of a camp. Regardless, this is the most interesting storyline in camp, and it's certainly worth keeping an eye on.

News: Islanders Hire Sean Donnelan

Katie Strang from Newsday announced on her Twitter the Islanders hired Sean Donnelan as their new Director of Sports Performance. Donnelan's main job will be to try and lower the amount of injuries compared to the past two seasons. Donnelan also told Strang he expects to make big changes to help accomplish this.

This is Donnelan's second stint with the team. He worked with the Islanders from 1996-2003.

CH: This is obviously not huge news, but it is good to see the Isles trying to be proactive about preventing injuries. So much of the teams success depends on the health of the roster, especially on the defense and in net. Certainly, the Isles did not have to add a position to try and accomplish a potential decrease, so they should get credit for the proactivity. Let's hope Donnelan can come in and make the changes he envisions to help mitigate the team's extremely high numbers of "man games lost." If he can, the Isles will be better off for it.

AT: Just goes to show you that even with the pursuit of a top 4 d-man supposedly still on, the Islanders are making the right moves everywhere. Well, at least on the ice and not in the jersey department. After so many man games lost last year, you really had to think there was a piss poor job going on keeping players safe and healthy. Two shoulder injuries that required major surgeries for both is nothing to push to the side. We saw what a huge loss the Islanders took after losing both Streit and Okposo, so to take a necessary step like this to at least attempt to prevent a re-occurrence is very assuring to the fanbase. Now let's get everyone healthy through training camp.

News: Islanders Announce Training Camp Dates

On their official website, the New York Islanders have announced their training camp schedule. You can view that here. 

Among the key dates for Long Island fans are:

• Sept. 13 - 7:00 PM - Boston Bruins Rookies vs. New York Islanders Rookies - Nassau Coliseum
• Sept. 14 - 1:00 PM - New York Islanders Children's Foundation Golf Event - Bethpage Red
• Sept. 24 - 7:00 PM - Preseason: New Jersey vs. NY Islanders - Nassau Coliseum
• Sept. 25 - 9:00 AM - 3rd Annual Islanders Community Event - Adventureland (Rt. 110)
• Sept. 30 - 7:00 PM - Preseason: NY Islanders vs. New Jersey - Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
• Oct. 1 - 7:00 PM - Preseason: Boston vs. NY Islanders - Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, CT

Also listed are the rookie camp attendees:

Goalies: Mikko Koskinen, Anders Nilsson, Kevin Poulin

Defensemen: Art Bidlevski, Calvin de Haan, Matt Donovan, Mark Katic, Brenden Kichton, Anton Klementyev, Aaron Ness, Benn Olson, Andrei Pedan

Forwards: Casey Cizikas, Justin DiBenedetto, Brett Gallant, Kirill Kabanov, Tyler McNeely, Nino Niederreiter, John Persson, Rhett Rakhshani, Tony Romano, Ryan Strome, Mitchell Theoret, David Ullstrom

Note: It's our goal to be at as many of these events as we can. No matter what, we will do our best to provide comprehensive coverage of training camp. Stay tuned.

News: Nabokov to request trade in September

The infamous (on Long Island, at least) Evgeni Nabokov's Russian agent has told Dmitry Chesnokov from Yahoo! Sports that he will attempt to have his client traded after training camp after he shows that he can still compete in the NHL. Last season, Nabokov refused to report to the Islanders after he and his agent both claimed he would play for whoever claimed him on waivers, and the Islanders tolled his contract.

AT: Can't say I'm surprised by this, and I don't think anyone else is either. We needed Nabokov last year with our plethora of goaltending problems such as the normal injuries to Rick DiPietro, Kevin Poulin's knee injury, Lawson's dreadful play and Koskinen being wholly unready for the NHL. However, with Montoya looking like a solid starter and DiPietro most likely being ready for camp and the season and giving it another shot (much to the chagrin of the fanbase), Nabokov's services are most likely not needed here. Clearly he does not want to play here and although many including myself wish he would, there is nothing you can do about it. If he doesn't want to play here, get back what you can for him.

While he will not fetch much on the market alone, he could be packaged in a deal for a defenseman, as Garth had been claiming he was attempting to try and trade for since the first day of free agency. This, IMO, is the best situation and one Garth should be looking for. Alone, he's not going to get more than a 5th or 6th round pick at very best considering his poor play in Russia and at the Worlds. It could be interesting to see what happens if DiPietro is not healthy. Perhaps with the notion that he could be the starting goalie for an up and coming team might entice him, although clearly a similar notion did not do much enticing with his decision to not report. Hopefully, Montoya proves as solid as he was last season, and we needn't worry about this.

P.S., apologies for my lack of activity on the blog recently. Went through a major change in college choices due to financial constraints and will now be back 24/7, as well as closer to LI for college.

CH: Ah, the infamous point-counterpoint argument right now. Personally, I think the Islanders should absolutely keep Nabokov this season. He is worth more to the team now than a mid-round draft pick, which I guarantee is all they would be able to get for him. With the uncertainty (to say the least) of Rick DiPietro and the NHL immaturity (in service time) of Al Montoya, the Islanders goaltending situation is a huge question mark - possibly the biggest going into next season. So why would the Islanders trade a former perennial All-Star, one that even if his playoff success is limited has the ability to lead this team through a productive regular season? The last thing the Islanders need is having to force Kevin Poulin, Mikko Koskinen, and Anders Nilsson into roles they cannot fill at this time.

I understand this is not the ideal situation for Evgeni Nabokov, and I understand that he insulted the organization as a whole last season. Move on, and start fresh. The chances that Nabokov can help this team are more than a mid-round pick ever playing a game in the NHL. He has no choice but to play for the Islanders unless he wants to lose another year of his career. If nothing else, he can showcase himself until the trade deadline before being sold to a team who needs goaltending. Or he could be part of a playoff push with the upstart Islanders. All I know is that Nabokov should be on Long Island this year, as he is a cheap, talented option who can provide a stopgap type role before some of the Isles top goaltending prospects are ready.

News: Islanders Sign F Tim Wallace

As reported earlier by Katie Strang, the Islanders have signed AHL F Tim Wallace to a one year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season. Wallace, 26, is an Anchorage, Alaska native who has spent his entire 5-year professional career in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. 

He finished with 20 goals and 37 points in 62 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season.

CH: Obviously this is a depth signing for the Sound Tigers, and it's one they needed. I know that a lot of people will take the cynical view to these types of signings, especially with the NHL team needing work in itself, but when you look at the move in a bubble, this helps a Bridgeport team in need of an influx of talent. Wallace will replace Jesse Joensuu in a top-6 role down on the farm with the option for a call-up. He does have 24 games in the NHL under his belt, with only 2 assists. That said, good depth signing and Bridgeport's looks a little brighter today.

News: Ty Wishart, Dylan Reese, Micheal Haley Accept Qualifying Offers

Arthur Staple yesterday that F Micheal Haley, D Dylan Reese, and D Ty Wishart have accepted their qualifying offers for next season. We are waiting on Capgeek to get the specifics of each contract.

Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau did not accept their qualifying offers and are the only remaining RFA's unsigned. Bailey's agent announced that their camp and the Islanders are currently negotiating, while Blake Comeau's arbitration hearing is set for August 4. No matter what, the Islanders will hold both of their rights unless the Isles walk away from Comeau's decision. Bailey cannot become a UFA.

CH: For the three who did accept their qualifying offers, it was not a surprise at all. All three are still trying to find their way in the NHL and had no leverage, so having the Islanders extend a qualifying offer was all they needed. Reese will obviously be in Bridgeport as the veteran presence for a lot of young kids like Calvin de Haan and Matt Donovan. I expect Ty Wishart to stay in the NHL for the season as he is subject to waivers, and the Islanders will not want to lose his rights for nothing after giving up Dwayne Roloson for him. As it stands, however, I do not expect Wishart to start in the top-6. Like Wishart, Haley is trying to hold down a spot in the lineup. He certainly had his moments last year, but his quality of play may not be enough to hold down a regular fourth line spot as of yet. Given that he also did not have any leverage, he had no choice but to accept.

I am somewhat surprised Bailey did not accept his offer, but from Bailey's perspective, he probably thought he could get more from the Islanders. I'm not that surprised from his end, but if he thinks he is going to get a lot more money than his qualifier per year, he is very misguided. I could see the Islanders giving Bailey a 2-year deal at a low salary, but realistically anything more than that would be an overpayment. That doesn't mean Bailey doesn't have potential, but he has not reached that just yet. It will certainly be interesting to see where the Islanders go with his contract, or if they even try and trade him.

AT: Really, where is Bailey coming from that he believes he's in a position to negotiate? He regressed this year, was incredibly inconsistent and some fans are even fed up with him and want to cast him out. Perhaps he wants more years, but in terms of salary... above what the QO offered, I don't see how he can possibly expect any more.

As for the others, completely expected and I'm very happy we'll be seeing Haley again next year. Look out, Pittsburgh.

News: Islanders Re-Sign C Jeremy Colliton

As reported by Katie Strang today, the New York Islanders have re-signed forward Jeremy Colliton to a one year, two-way deal. Terms of the deal are unknown at this time. 

Colliton had 2 goals and 1 assist in 15 NHL games last year, primarily playing on a line with Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey.

CH: Obviously, this is a depth signing, but it's not a bad one. People will look at Colliton's NHL career and think this is a waste of time, but he has put together a very nice, solid career at Bridgeport. He joins a center core of David Ullstrom, Casey Cizikas, Trevor Frischmon, and Tony Romano and is sure to get top-6 minutes next year. It's no secret Bridgeport needed veteran help, and they got some by keeping Colliton in the organization. The rub here is that we cannot see a repeat of last year with Colliton in the NHL again. Nothing personal, of course, but the team needs to take the next step and playing a guy like Colliton for any extended period of time means things are not going as planned on Long Island. Let's hope that Colliton stays in Bridgeport, where he is sure to have a solid AHL season for the Sound Tigers.

AT: Colliton is a very last resort for a callup with the new depth, so I don't think we'll be seeing him soon. He's a great AHL vet who knows the system, knows the core and should develop a strong bond with Thompson, the new coach. He put up very good points last year and will almost certainly help Bridgeport succeed this year. Smaller signing, but a good one.

News: Ducks Win Ballpark Bid

According to Newsday, the owner of the Long Island Ducks won the fight to bring another minor league Atlantic League team to Long Island, beating out a joint bid by the New York Mets and Syosset developer David Blumenfeld. The ballpark would cost around $50m and is attached to the August 1st referendum to develop a new Nassau Coliseum. The field would open in the Spring of 2013.

AT: I don't think anyone is surprised by this. From a previous blog post, we noted that it seemed as if another Atlantic League team would bring in more revenue than a minor league Mets team. While having a double or triple A team next to the new Nassau Coliseum (should it happen) would be nice, Mangano and Nassau County should be showing that they're looking out for money to bring in to the county first and foremost. This adds one more thing to the HUB to make it a prime destination and further the development of the surrounding areas along.

CH: This is clearly all about the money, which it should be. Have to remember Nassau County needs the money more than the prestige, so that's where we stand. I do think the economic benefits long-term were best suited with the Mets, but Nassau residents are short-sighted and will only look in the short-term. From that sense, since the stadium will only cost an estimated $25 million and the County will bring in more revenue with the Atlantic League, this made more sense.

News: Blake Comeau's Aribtration Hearing Set

According to Katie Strang, Islanders F Blake Comeau's arbitration hearing is set for August 4, which is last on the docket, even after stars like Zach Parise and Shea Weber.

New York Islanders

CH: With the obvious vote on August 1, I almost wonder if the Isles requested this date, without guarantees of course. This will give them a couple of days after the vote to try and work out a deal. As Strang said in the article, the two sides ave not had discussions yet. Not surprising, as there is no rush and Comeau is getting married next week. More than anything, this is just a notification post with a hint of baseless speculation.

AT: Absolutely no rush. I'm sure he'll get a fair deal and both sides seem to want one done. The date certainly is interesting though. We'll see where the situation lies once the vote is over.

News: Gregoire to Winnipeg; Martinek to Columbus

Former Islanders prospect Jason Gregoire has signed an entry level contract with the Winnipeg Jets according to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native spent the last three years with the University of North Dakota, culminating with 43 points in 35 games this past season. Gregoire, who was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2007 NHL Draft, became a free agent after completing his college season and going pro.

CH: Like I said on earlier podcasts, this is extremely underwhelming by Gregoire. It's a real slap in the face to the team that drafted him and took a shot on him when he really was not ranked very high in 2007. He seemed like a character guy, and I certainly did not expect him to leave the Islanders like this. That said, he'll get more of a chance to crack the NHL roster on a Winnipeg team who is still rebuilding. Either way, whether people brush this off or not, just remember the only other player to use this loophole was Blake Wheeler, who was picked in the top 10 of the NHL draft (and I did not defend him when he did). That said, life goes on, and the Islanders will too with their elite level prospect pool.

AT: I would've liked Gregoire in the depth charts, but he'll probably have a better chance at being higher in ranking in Winnipeg's system. Not to mention he's actually from Winnipeg, so his first team will be his hometown team. A shame as he should've signed with the team that drafted him, but there's not much you can do in this situation. I hope this loophole is fixed in the next CBA.

Secondly, the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed former Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek to a 1 year, $2.2 million contract on Wednesday. Martinek, a 10-year veteran (all with the Islanders), finished with 16 points in 64 games last year.

CH: Martinek was a good Islander for many years and I'm very happy to see that he found a home in Columbus next season. He will fit in well with that system and collection of players, and if he stays healthy will be an underrated piece as the Blue Jackets push for their second playoff appearance in franchise history.

As for the Islanders, this was their back-up plan. Now he's gone. So it's really up to Snow now. We've identified some free agents and trade targets that are still out there. It's only July 7, so there is plenty of time, but the Islanders need to act before this August 1 vote. Waiting until arbitration will not make the fanbase happy, which normally is not a big deal, but with such an important day in Islanders history they should be doing their best to get the fans excited for the next season. And that does not include signing Kirill Kabanov to an entry-level contract. I remain patient and hopeful, because it is still early, but with free agent defensemen off the board daily and trades happening seemingly every other day, it makes every fan antsy. How many more players will be moved? Will there even be players available? I'm all for Garth Snow to wait for the move that fits best for the team, but that move has to come. Anything less would make this off-season a complete failure. He has two months to make it happen, but more and more targets will be gone as the days go by.

AT: I liked Radek. I really did. He was amazingly the healthiest D-man on the Isles this past season. But as Carey mentioned, he was their backup plan, and he's gone now. Where do the Isles go now? You have to hope and pray Garth is on the phone constantly looking for a top 4 D man to deal for. It is absolutely essential for success at this point. Hope Radek fits in well in Columbus. Beautiful city, he'll be with another former Islander in Wisniewski, and he seems the be excited.

News: Blake Comeau Files For Salary Arbitration

Credit: New York Islanders

According to Katie Strang, New York Islanders forward Blake Comeau has filed for salary arbitration. The Islanders retained the 25-year olds rights by offering him a qualifying offer before free agency. The Islanders and Comeau's camp still have the opportunity to strike a deal before arbitration, but if they are unable to, the arbitration hearing will occur sometimes towards the July/beginning of August.

Comeau had 24 goals and 22 assists last year in 76 games.

CH: Comeau had his most productive year in the NHL to date last season, so it makes sense that he will want a substantial raise over his qualifying offer, which is approximately $880,000. Hopefully the Islanders and Comeau can settle on a multi-year deal before arbitration starts. That said, this probably lowers the trade value for Comeau since whoever would take on his rights would only have Comeau on a one-year deal. So if the Islanders were shopping Comeau before, they may have to come to an agreement for 2-3 years before they trade him. Even so, the Islanders can not afford to ship out a 24 goal scorer without getting very good value in return.

If this case does get to arbitration, I would look for a verdict somewhere in the $2-2.5 million range. Similarly, if Comeau signs a longer-term deal, he'll probably earn around that amount as well. All this really tells us is that unless he is traded for a top-4 defenseman, Blake Comeau will be a New York Islander next year. So that is good news.

AT: As a 3rd line winger with the underwhelming Josh Bailey as his center most of the time, I think his stats last season as a growing player were pretty solid. Comeau has always shown great potential, just a lot of inconsistency which he seemed to be working on this past year. I have very little doubt Blake won't hit his 24 goal mark again, and I feel with the proper motivation could hit 30. I have a feeling this doesn't even make it to arbitration and ends up much like the Moulson deal did with Comeau signing just before the hearing. Hope to see him back unless trading him lands us a great D-man, in which case I'd be all for it.

News: Islanders Sign F Trevor Frischmon

The New York Islanders have signed forward Trevor Frischmon to a one year, two-way contract, which was announced by the Isles AHL affiliate Bridgeport.

Frischmon, 29, has spent his entire professional career in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, playing at for both Syracuse and Springfield of the AHL. He had a career year in Springfield last year, as he notched 29 points (4 goals) with a +6 in 80 games. The playmaking center has 102 points in 327 career AHL games. 

The center, who is 6'0" and 200 lbs., played three games with the Blue Jackets in 2009-10, going scoreless.

CH: The Islanders let Rob Hisey go, so this is the guy that will probably replace him in Bridgeport. Frischmon, who is a checking line center, adds veteran stability to the Sound Tigers, which is something they sorely needed over the past few years. He will round out the Sound Tigers centers, most likely, joining David Ullstrom, Casey Cizikas, Tony Romano, and Tomas Marcinko. The Tigers still need more forward help on the wings, as Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler McNeely, and Justin DiBenedetto are the only signed players down there. From that perspective, look for a bunch more depth signings in the coming weeks. Solid signing, and addressed a need that the organization needed.

AT: There's definitely a lot more depth in Bridgeport nowadays. With the influx of young players, re-signing of Marcinko, and with some more moves to come, I think Bridgeport is pretty well off next season. Let's just hope Poulin can stay healthy and perform at the level he had before he was called up. Let's also hope he doesn't need to be called up.