Recap: Islanders - 2, Wild - 1

The New York Islanders (1-1-0) defeated the Minnesota Wild (1-1-0) in their annual Columbus Day matinee by a score of 2-1 in front of a crowd of 11,278.

Boxscore:

(G, A)

1st Period: 

MIN: 0, NYI: 1 - Andrew MacDonald (1); Travis Hamonic (1), P.A. Parenteau (1)

MIN: 0, NYI: 2 - Frans Nielsen (1); Mark Streit (1), P.A. Parenteau (2)

2nd Period:

No Scoring

3rd Period:

MIN: 1, NYI: 2 - Matt Cullen (2); Guillaume Latendresse (2), Brett Bulmer (1)

Goaltending:

Niklas Backstrom - 12 saves on 14 shots, .857 SV%

Al Montoya - 20 saves on 21 shots, .952 SV%

Final Score: 2-1 NYI

Attendance: 11,278

Notables:

Once again, the Islanders best player was their goaltender as Al Montoya came up huge for the team today, making 20 saves including some masterful ones against Dany Heatley in the slot. Quite frankly, he stole the game for the Isles. There is no question that Montoya has taken the lead for the responsibility of being the Isles #1 goaltender all year.

The trio of Mark Streit, Andrew MacDonald, and Travis Hamonic were outstanding today. All three ended up on the scoresheet tonight, and played solid two-way hockey. Hamonic has a real chance to become the Isles best defenseman, and soon. His progression has taken off at an astronomical rate.

John Tavares was outstanding today. Despite the fact that he didn't have any points today, he was around the net creating plays, including a beautiful feed to Matt Moulson in front. Tavares has been great in the first two games of the season, and it should only be a short matter of time before he starts lighting the lamp.

As a whole, the Islanders took way too many penalties today. That said, Jay Pandolfo was outstanding on the penalty kill today as he took part in two big kills in the second period, one 4-on-3 and one 5-on-3. The Islanders finished 7/7 on the penalty kill, which was a positive aspect of the game.

The Islanders only finished with 14 shots during the entire game, including just 5 after the first period. Of those 14 shots, only eight of them were by forwards. This is simply unacceptable. For the Islanders to be successful this year, they must rely on their offense. Scoring three goals in two games is not going to cut it over time, even though the defense and goaltending has been better than expected thus far.

Thoughts: 

CH: There is no question that it is great the Isles were able to secure a win and get two points today. That said, the bar needs to be raised. The fact is the team only played 20 minutes today before sitting back as they let the Wild back into the game. If not for Montoya, the Isles would have lost this game in regulation. Their confidence should be a little higher after today's game compared to getting shut out on opening night, so if they come out and play a full 60 minutes on Thursday the team will have a good chance to win.

AT: Better to play 20 minutes all out than no minutes, I suppose. Isles definitely came out of the gate knowing what they had to do, and did so quite efficiently. With a howitzer from (still recovering!) MacDonald and a beautiful slap pass from Mark Streit to Frans Nielsen, the Isles came out of the first looking a million times better than Saturday. However, once they came out for the second, everything reverted back to normal. This team is playing a very high powered offense in Tampa Bay on Thursday and needs to put up at least 3-4 goals to have even a chance. I understand that it's the beginning of the season, but if the Islanders want to have any success this season, they need to start off with a good record and not be fighting from behind.

Next game: The Islanders next game is this Thursday at the Nassau Coliseum against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Game time is at 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on MSG+ 2.

Recap: Panthers 2, Islanders 0

The New York Islanders (0-1-0) lost their season opener at home to the Florida Panthers (1-0-0) at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum tonight with a sellout crowd of 16,270.

Boxscore:

(G, A)

1st Period: 

FLA 1: NYI 0 - Stephen Weiss (1), Brian Campbell (1), Tomas Fleischmann (1)

FLA 2: NYI 0 - Jason Garrison (1 - PP), Brian Campbell (2), Kris Versteeg (1)

2nd Period:

No Scoring

3rd Period:

No Scoring

Goaltending:

Jose Theodore - 27 saves on 27 shots, 1.000 SV PCT

Al Montoya - 27 saves on 29 shots, .931 SV PCT

Final Score: 2-0

Attendance: 16,270

Recap:

1st Period - After a riveting introduction and pre-game ceremonies that had the entire Coliseum on its feet waving rally towels, the Islanders got off to an extremely slow start. The Islanders could not seem to keep much puck possession and were generally being outplayed by the Panthers, only being held up by the goaltending of Al Montoya. Late in the first at 16:37, Montoya stopped a shot that stopped in the crease right behind him which was tapped in by Stephen Weiss to give Florida a 1-0 lead. After Al Montoya was rolled over by a 3rd Panthers player in as many minutes and on a penalty kill, Travis Hamonic fought Scottie Upshall in a decisive victory. This proved to be a poor decision however as while Upshall was given a game misconduct for having a jersey that was not properly tied down, Hamonic received an instigator penalty in addition to his fighting major, giving the Panthers a 5 on 3 for a short amount of time. The Panthers took advantage and Jason Garrison buried one in from the point with a heavy screen in front of Montoya.

2nd Period - The Islanders started off sluggish once again, being unable to create any real chemistry with any of their lines. Frans Nielsen was a major factor in the decreased capabilities of the 2nd line specifically, playing a very poor game all throughout. The Islanders continued to get dominated until they began to break out towards the 2nd half, and finally began to pepper Theodore with shots. While nothing went in, the Isles clearly had some momentum going into the third.

3rd Period - All of the momentum that had been gained in the 2nd washed away in the 3rd, as the Islanders went back to being completely offensively inept. They were unable to capitalize on a Sean Bergenheim penalty and were a man down in two crucial spots after bad penalties by PA Parenteau and Matt Martin. As the time rolled on the Isles became increasingly lethargic in their play and ended up losing with a final score of 2-0. Jose Theodore earned his 6th career shutout against the Islanders and the Islanders were forced to begin their season with a loss.

Notables:

The one player who truly stood out was Al Montoya, who received a surprise nod as the starting goalie for the Islanders. This was clearly the correct choice, as his standing on his head most of the game with his quickness and reaction time was the only reason the Islanders did not lose by a greater margin. Montoya performed like a true #1 goalie should have and if he were provided with any offense, would have easily gotten the win tonight. Montoya should be the starter for Monday's game against the Wild, but with this team anything is possible.

Even after not playing since April of 2010, Mark Streit continued to not show any signs of rust and had a very solid all around game. He was physical, kept players to the outside and was blocking passing lanes the whole night. He was also another reason why the Panthers were held to only 2 goals. His play wasn't perfect, but for someone returning from a major injury, his progress has been outstanding.

The defense as a whole performed acceptably tonight. The top 2 lines were really solid throughout the night, showing both offensive power and defensive strength through all 60 minutes. Mark Eaton also had a very efficient night. Andrew MacDonald did look rusty/not at 100% however, which is a cause for concern.

Mike Mottau had an absolutely terrible night, taking bad penalties all over and being generally incapable of providing defensive help to this team. He will be scratched as soon as Jurcina returns, but at this point the sooner that is the better for this team. Mottau was wholly inefficient and should not play more than 15 games this season.

John Tavares was a one man show tonight. Driving to the net with no fear, creating plays, and looking for any angle he possibly could to hammer one home against Theodore. Though he wasn't able to come up with anything, he's showing once again why he IS this franchise. His skating has also improved by leaps and bounds, as he had one play in the first where he accelerated on an almost Grabner-like level.

Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen, and P.A. Parenteau were completely off of their games tonight. All around poor games from all 3 and generally performed at a low level of play. 

Thoughts: 

AT: What an awful way to send home a crowd that was hyped up and ready to go tonight. I haven't seen the Coliseum that electric in a long time. With a tough schedule ahead, losing to the Panthers is not the way the season should begin. Perhaps it was due to not having any full-roster pre-season games, but in general the lack of offense tonight was inexcusable. For a team that supposedly had no offensive problems and mostly defensive/goaltending problems, it certainly seemed to be quite the opposite of that tonight. 

Next game: The Islanders will face off against the Minnesota Wild at 1 PM on Monday, October 10th at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a Columbus Day afternoon game. The game will be in HD on MSG+.

Draft: Islanders Select Scott Mayfield With the 34th Overall Pick

The New York Islanders have selected Scott Mayfield with the 34th Overall Pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Mayfield is a 6'4" defenseman who played for Youngstown in the USHL last season. He will play for the University of Denver in the fall.

CH: Mayfield is a fantastic selection for the Islanders here. He is a big, hulking defenseman who punishes opponents. He also started to develop his offensive game with Youngstown last season. He has very good hockey sense as well. For the Islanders, he is a perfect pick as he fills a great organizational need and could be considered the BPA at this spot in the draft. He will have plenty of time to develop at a great program in Denver. Long term, he has the potential to be a top-4 defenseman for the Islanders. There's no doubt this player improves the amateur and organizational defensive depth substantially. A great start to Day 2.

AT: Anyone following us on Twitter would know I wanted either Mayfield or Musil. Musil went 31st and Mayfield fell to us. He's committed to Denver for the 2011-2012 academic season so he won't be on the Island for at least a year. Love this pick by Snow. Wouldn't have minded Jurco either, but I'm ecstatic with this pick. 6'4", 200 pounds, big, mean, ready to throw hits. Ideal pick.

Draft: Countdown #11 - Sven Bartschi

11. Sven Bartschi

via Portland Winterhawks

Position: Left Wing
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 174 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: October 5, 1992
Nationality: Swiss
2010-2011 Team: Portland Winterhawks
League: WHL
Stats: 66 GP - 34G - 51A - 85P - 74 PIM
Playoffs: 20 GP - 10G - 16A - 26P - 16 PIM
WJC-20: 6 GP - 1G - 1A - 2P - 4 PIM

CH: Here we have the first player I think the Islanders may take a chance on at #5. Bartschi has been a projected top-15 pick all year, but his play with Portland has really taken him to a new level.  He finished 15th in scoring in the WHL this season, and finished 5th in scoring in the WHL playoffs as well.
Bartschi, who is Swiss, is a teammate of 2010 Islanders first-round pick Nino Niederreiter (also Swiss). The two countrymen combined to lead Portland to the WHL finals before losing to Kootenay. Bartschi is loaded with talent, and like most Swiss born players, plays a North American style game.

AT: While I don't believe they played on a line very often, seeing Bartschi picked because of his connection with Niederreiter is completely imaginable. They're obviously good friends and could create amazing chemistry on a line together.

CH: There is no doubt that this player has the tools to be a top-end top-6 forward in the NHL some day. While he is very lean (only 5'10" 174), he is a very strong skater (though not blazing fast). His ability to play in the WHL effectively shows that he is able to adapt to new environments as well. On the flip side, while he did struggle in the WJC,  the fact he stepped his game up in the playoffs is a huge sign that he is a big-game player as well.

AT: His playoffs stats were off the charts (as were Niederreiter's). If he can step it up in big games as he's shown, I can definitely see him going at 7-10. He will only bulk up and get faster. I definitely see Bartschi as being a perennial top 6 winger for his career. As Carey noted, his ability to adapt to new environments is HUGE.

CH: As far as the Islanders are concerned, I would not be surprised in the least to see the team either take him at 5 or move back to the 7-8 range to take him. Bartschi and Nino Niederreiter clearly have a rapport and play opposite wings. Bartschi is very skilled and could fit into the Islanders plans long-term. While his stature could be an issue, you cannot pass on a player solely because a player is under 6 feet tall.

AT: And as I mentioned, he still has time to grow. A sniper like him, if available, is hard to pass up.

We are certainly getting to the point where each player that is profiled could be one the Islanders end up going with at five. That's how open this draft is going to be.

Most likely to be drafted: 5-12

Opinion: Fourth Line Scrappers

Today on Islanders Point Blank, Chris Botta writes about how the Islanders are looking to bring back Trevor Gillies and Micheal Haley, but let Zenon Konopka go. Let's go down the line, one-by-one:

Trevor Gillies - 39 GP, 2 G, 0 A, -3, 165 PIM

Big 2010-11 Moments: Scoring vs. NYR, Eric Tangradi Hit, Scrap vs. Eric Godard


CH: Let's start with Gillies. I don't like this decision at all. By all accounts Trevor is a great guy and a great teammate, but he just doesn't bring enough to the table. Forget the fact that his hit on Eric Tangradi was the one deplorable Islander decision during that game. Forget the fact that he was suspended for 19 out of 20 games on two separate incidents. The fact of the matter is that there are about 50 other guys that can provide the same aspects to the team, on the ice and off it, that Gillies can. From a PR perspective, this makes no sense. Public relations and perception shouldn't matter, but we aren't talking about buying out Alexei Yashin here. This player is a minor role player, so it can be taken into account. This summer has widely been considered a major coup for the Islanders. Why ruin that by signing a goon?

AT: I think the major part of this was the fact that he was a huge locker room guy and very "in" with management. The difference between him and Z even though they both hold those traits is that Gillies knows he's a #13 and two-way player and will be his entire career. I don't think Z would be very happy with that, so the decision to bring back Gillies seemed logical. Again, as a #13 and on a two-way, I have absolutely no problem with this. Just don't pull a Sim on us, Trevor.

Micheal Haley - 27 GP, 2 G, 1 A, -4, 85 PIM

Big 2010-11 Moments: Goal vs. Pittsburgh, Fighting Max Talbot and Brent Johnson in the same game, Fighting Sean Avery

AP

CH: Bringing back Haley should be an absolute no-brainer. I don't necessarily think he should be a full-time NHL player, but he certainly is capable of playing at the level when he needs to. For division games, he is a major asset to have on the fourth line. He can scrap and he can play. Haley provides organizational depth where he can produce at Bridgeport and produce on Long Island in different roles. I still would look to upgrade the fourth line as far as point total and defensive play goes, but if the bottom-6 needs a fill-in, this is your guy for 2011-12. Love this idea, as long as it is two-way and he doesn't play every game.

AT: Haley is one of my favorite Islanders of recent years. He brought back that "snarl" so to speak that the Islanders were missing. He sticks up for his teammates without being stupid about it, he's not afraid to drop the gloves and does so quite efficiently, and he has a scoring touch. He did have 12 goals on the Sound Tigers. A two way deal is the best option and I'm really hoping he gets it. He'll be at the draft party and Botta indicated it shall be done soon, so we should see it happen soon.

Zenon Konopka - 82 GP, 2 G, 7 A, -14, 307 PIM

Big 2010-2011 Moments - Changing the culture of the Islanders, Teaching Max Talbot a lesson, "We are not a doormat"

CH: I liked Konopka a lot, but fact is letting him go is not the end of the world. The Islanders finished 27th place in the NHL last year, which means no spots are safe - especially that of the fourth line center. Konopka is a face-off whiz, but after that his play leaves a lot to be desired. He isn't good defensively or offensively, and sometimes lets his mouth run a little more than he should. He did so much for this team this year, as far the locker room goes. I do believe Konopka was the driving force behind the belief the Islanders now have in themselves. If the Islanders can go out and get a guy like Craig Adams (signed with PIT today) to play on their fourth line, they will be in a much better position for 2011-12. Fact is they have guys who can fight in that role already (Martin), which is what Konopka is really good for. Now, they need a defensive minded player who can take face-offs. If he has a mean streak, all the better.

AT: I originally wanted Z back, but honestly he doesn't bring much to the table once he takes the faceoff. He's not really a "good" hockey player. Great guy, great locker room presence, but big locker room guys are a dime a dozen in this league. I thank Konopka for being part of that re-ignition of snarl that the Islanders seem to have back, but his time here is up. The Islanders need to improve. Z's not going on a two-way. It's time to part ways.

Prospects: Kirill Petrov Doubtful for Prospect Camp

Dmitry Chesnokov announced over this over his Twitter earlier today:

Prospect Kirill Petrov said the #Islanders are inviting him to NA. He said he can't make a decision now due to "serious family problems."

No word on when exactly the Islanders are holding prospect camp yet.

Getty Images

CH:  Chris Botta reported that Petrov's mother is seriously ill, which is the reason Petrov won't be able to attend the camp. Family always comes first, so there is no reason to question Petrov's commitment to the Islanders or coming to the NHL. The time for that would be after next season, when he will be a KHL free agent and eligible to sign a contract anywhere in the world. The Islanders hold Petrov's rights in perpetuity, which means there won't be any "Wheeler/Gregoire/Kessel" situation for Petrov to become a free agent.

As Botta alluded to in his article, the Islanders don't regret picking Petrov. They shouldn't. Petrov was a great gamble in that spot, and at age 21 still has all the time in the world to come to North America to play in the NHL. He was very impressive at last year's prospect camp and showed serious signs that his game would translate to the North American style. Keep an eye out this year for updates on Petrov's progress in Kazan (he was loaned back from Yugra recently).

AT: It's always seemed as if Petrov wants to come to the NHL. If he does, great. If he doesn't, it's not like he was a first round bust. Hoping for the best with Petrov's mother and hoping he can get everything worked out and put his life on the track he wants it to be. Good luck this year, Kirill. 

Arena: Mangano Wants Light Rail To Coliseum?

According to the Garden City Patch, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano is currently going over plans to add a Long Island Rail Road station behind the Stop & Shop on Old Country Road. The stop would fall in between the Mineola and Carle Place stations and would not pass through Garden City at all. There would then be a shuttle bus service to the Nassau Coliseum and it's surrounding areas.

CH: This is fantastic news. Apparently the track and line is already set up and all they would need to create is the platform. The station would most likely be on the Hicksville/Huntington/Ronkonkoma line, as they all run through Mineola and Carle Place. There are two great things about this: 1) Mangano is trying to solve the public transportation issue to the Coliseum without infringing on Garden City and their NIMBYism. 2) Mangano is trying to get all groups and civic leaders on board with the referendum by appeasing those that need to be appeased. Potentially, having an LIRR station would be great for those commuting from Manhattan and the NYC area for attending shows, which would increase foot traffic at the HUB. We'll see if this story gains any traction over the next few weeks.

AT: Absolutely awesome. Let's hope this gets through. One of the biggest things for the Rangers, IMO, is being right above Penn Station. Such easy access for everyone from Westchester/Metro-North areas, New Jersey and Long Island. Having a really convenient LIRR stop with shuttle access would be HUGE in a revitalization of the Islanders and getting fans back to the NVMC (and new arena if it happens). Create easy access to the Coliseum and I bet you'd see attendance rise even if the team doesn't do as well as we expect it to. Really hoping this goes through.

External Link: Islandermania

Around The NHL: SC Finals Game 3 Thoughts

The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 8-1 tonight. The Bruins cut the Canucks' series lead in half, as Vancouver leads 2-1 going into Game 4 Wednesday night in Boston. 

AP

CH: I needed to get my thoughts together before I wrote this post because there were so many storylines to this game. Let's start with the Aaron Rome hit on Nathan Horton. What an absolute disgrace that was. I was completely speechless when I saw the hit. It was unnecessary, reckless, harmful, and with a total lack of respect for the opponent. Rome, in my opinion, should be suspended for 5 games. He should not have the privilege of potentially raising the Stanley Cup with his teammates on the ice. Mike Murphy will certainly have his hands full with this one.

Moving onto the Recchi and Lucic taunts: I have to admit I laughed, but realistically there is no place for that within the context of the game. You can't say that you're over the biting incident and then go and mock the Canucks about it. This should have been dead and buried after the NHL opted not to suspend Alex Burrows. It needs to be completely dead now.

As far as the play on the ice, it was a complete domination. I felt the Canucks had a chance to steal the game after the Bruins did not score on their major powerplay, but that never happened. Boston just took it to Vancouver, even though the Canucks did have 40+ shots. Roberto Luongo should have been pulled after the fifth goal, but Alain Vigneault gave Luongo the option to stay in. That's a point where the coach  needs to take control and pull the goalie for the sake of his confidence. However, on the flip side, Tim Thomas was outstanding tonight.

AP

Without saying much else other than the fact Boston put up an 8-spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, it's time to look ahead to Game 4. Vancouver has a ton to prove here. Roberto Luongo has a ton to prove here. However, this is not a terribly pivotal game. Vancouver has the chance to take a commanding series lead, but they will still hold home ice advantage regardless. I believe the Canucks will recover nicely and win Game 4, but no matter what this series has taken on a whole new landscape after Game 3.

AT: Man, what I would've done to be a fly on the wall in the Bruins locker room after the first period. I can only imagine what Julien said to this team. Obviously, it created a whole new perspective for the players and he encouraged them to play their hearts out the entire game and take it to them until the final buzzer. As the final score shows, they certainly did.

The taunts need to end. Okay, it's the Stanley Cup finals, but I fear it's going to turn into something a lot worse if the NHL doesn't put an end to it. As for the hit, absolutely disgusting. There was no chance for Horton to react to that. A shoulder to the head is never, ever acceptable.

Report: Winnipeg Offers GM Job to Kevin Cheveldayoff

According to NHL.com, True North has offered their vacant GM job to Kevin Cheveldayoff. The former 1988 first round draft pick of the Islanders was recently the assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks and the GM of the AHL's Chicago Wolves before that.

No word on whether Cheveldayoff has accepted or not yet.

CH: I'm not so sure I love this move from a Winnipeg standpoint. There is no question that Cheveldayoff has potential in management. He was rumored back for the Islanders job in 2006 before the position went to Neil Smith. I am just concerned that he is being shoved into a very high pressure situation in Winnipeg with a rebuilding team. That's a lot to put on a rookie GM, especially with the importance of putting a good product on the ice for the team's future in Winnipeg. Between Rick Dudley and Cheveldayoff, I think Dudley would have been a better option for Winnipeg, but it's clear True North wanted to start as fresh as possible.

AT: I also think Dudley would've been better, but as you said it's pretty obvious Winnipeg wants a new start on the team, both in management and in style.

News: Steve Stirling Has Emergency Heart Surgery

The Binghamton Senators announced tonight that former Islander coach Steve Stirling underwent successful emergency quadruple bypass surgery tonight. Stirling will not accompany the team to Houston as the AHL Senators face the Aeros in the Calder Cup Finals.

CH: Wow. Best wishes to Steve. Very hopeful he has a successful speedy recovery.

AT: Was never a fan of him as a coach, but all the best to Steve. Good luck with everything.

External Link: Islandermania

Draft: NHL Draft Combine Held This Past Week

Getty Images

Last week, the NHL Draft Combine took place in Toronto. The prospects come in for the week and interview with whichever NHL organizations want to talk to them, complete fitness testing, and get to know the other draft prospects. This post will be the first of many dialoguing our thoughts on the June 24 draft. 

If you want to read more about the Draft Combine, please visit TSN for videos and articles on the process.


CH: The draft is probably my favorite part of the hockey year other than the games. I have gotten very into the process even before the Islanders rebuild started, as it is always fun to see how happy these players become when they hear their names called. This year, the draft could go in 100 different directions, and that's just being mild. From an Islander standpoint, all we know is Garth Snow will choose the player he feels best fits the Islanders. The top 8 projected picks are listed on the right sidebar, but we've now heard that Mika Zibenajad, a Swedish center is rising fast much like Ryan Johansen did last year. We will be profiling each of the top 10 prospects before the draft as well as giving a composite, which will serve as our rankings, of a few different rankings before the draft.

Minors: Webster Bank Arena Opens Its Doors

According to the Connecticut Post, the finishing touches were put on the Webster Bank Arena, as the company bought the naming rights to the home of the Bridgeport Sound Tiger. The arena was formerly known as the Arena at Harbor Yard.

CH: This is good because Charles Wang owns the Sound Tigers and he will get some ROI on the team by having a company own the naming rights to the building. Other than that, not really much of a big deal at all. It's been rumored the Islanders will play a pre-season game this season, so stay tuned for when that schedule comes out.

External Links: Islandermania

Around The NHL: Game 2, Winnipeg, Rick Dudley

Photo Credit: TSN via Getty Images

In Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Alex Burrows scored the game winning goal for Vancouver just 11 seconds into overtime. Game 3 will be in Boston on Monday at 8 PM on VERSUS. 

CH: Unfortunately, I missed the game but it sounds like it was a great game all around. Huge win for the Canucks who will now maintain home ice advantage as the series moves to Boston.

AT: Great game by both sides. Nice to finally see some regulation scoring! Bruins D looked tired by the end of the game. Vancouver looked fast as hell... hence scoring so quickly into OT. Great game all around. Onto Boston.

TSN is reporting that True North has decided to not retain Rick Dudley as the new Winnipeg team's General Manager. Dudley had four years remaining on his contract after signing an extension with the Atlanta Thrashers this past January.

CH: Very bold move by the new ownership of the Winnipeg team. Dudley is a fantastic talent evaluator and could have really helped propelled the team to take the next step. Dudley will surely not be around for long, and if the Islanders wanted to take advantage of his availability, he would be a great candidate for a Team President type role, or just one who oversees all hockey operations with the front office. I don't expect this to happen by any stretch, but whoever does land Dudley will be getting a fantastic hockey mind in their organization.

AT: Agreed. Very odd that they'd rid themselves of Dudley as he clearly had a plan, but I guess True North has other plans. Good luck to them.

Speaking of Winnipeg, TSN is reporting the new team sold out 13,000 season tickets within 20 minutes of availability to the public as well as a long waiting list. With the MTS Centre's capacity at a little over 15,000, only 2,000 tickets will be available to the public per game.

CH: The response by the Winnipeg community has been outstanding and exactly what needed to happen for this to work. The only question is if they will be able to maintain it if the team continues to struggle. One would hope and expect they would. The amount of tickets sold here puts Winnipeg in the top half of teams for revenue sharing. Congratulations to True North, the Winnipeg community, and the NHL for making a seamless transition from a very unfortunate situation in Atlanta.

AT: Just an awesome job by the Winnipeg area fans. They've shown everyone that they're ready to have a team again, and that they will support it.

Opinion: Remaining Isles UFAs/RFAs - Who to sign, who to let go?

AT: Well, with UFA period coming up and with the Isles facing a myriad of players either under RFA or UFA status, the question comes down to whether to resign certain players, whether to trade the rights to certain RFAs or whether to cut ties all togethere. Here's my breakdown:

Micheal Haley, C, UFA

AT:A name everyone in Islander-land knows, and everyone in Penguin-land wants to eviscerate from the Earth. I'm almost abnormally high on Haley Haley brought back a much needed toughness to the Isles in that infamous February brawl, and showed that if you go after our players, it will not go unnoticed. The notice being in the form of Haley's fist in your face. Haley showed he can score, he has some wheels and is a piece in this Isles team that should and will be quintessential to any future Islander playoff team.

Verdict: Re-sign, 2 years, $550K each..

CH: I like Haley, but I don't know how important he is to the future. Once you get to the fourth line, the parts are all relatively interchangeable. I think the Islanders are best served getting a fourth line veteran with playoff experience like Ryan Johnson (the Pens did this with Craig Adams via trade in 2009). Haley, in my opinion, is a depth call up type of player who can fill in when necessary, especially against division opponents.

Verdict: Re-sign, 1 year, 2-way contract for $550K

Josh Bailey, C, RFA

AT: This is a no-brainer for me in terms of resigning, the question is how much and for how long. We know the talent with Bailey is there. We saw it in the beginning of the season and in sporadic points throughout. His inconsistency was the problem. I believe Bailey will turn into a solid 55-60 point center, and could be a staple in the organization if that skill ever comes to fruition. Worst case scenario, if Garth sees things how I do, he'll draft a center in this year's draft and said center will take Bailey's place in 2 years after his deal is up. I believe in Harvey D--, er... Joshua Bailey.

Verdict: Re-sign, 2 years, 2.5m deal.

CH: Oh, the Josh Bailey argument. I'm sure there will be plenty more of that to go around here for quite a while. I like Bailey a lot. He's a great kid with great determination and it's clear he was put in a position where he could not succeed. He is only 21, but patience has to be running thin with him if this team is serious about making the next step. No team in this year's playoffs has a 25-30 point center on their top 3 lines. Either Bailey has to improve or the team has to improve. For the sake of the team, this year is put up or shut up for him.

Verdict: Re-sign, 1 year qualifier.

Blake Comeau, RW, RFA

AT: I loved what I saw from Comeau this season. Yes, there were some stretches of inconsistency, but overall I saw his game mature. However, a player like Comeau IMO is replaceable. If the right trade comes along and you need to throw in a player, I can see Comeau as the one going. I would love to keep him after his progression this year, but you can't make every player "un-tradeable".

Verdict: Re-sign, 3 years, 7-8m deal. If right trade comes along, throw in as trade chip.

CH: I completely agree with Alex here. Comeau is a very nice third line player, but in the grand scheme of things he is certainly replaceable. I wouldn't just throw him away because I'm not sure where the Islanders will be able to replace his 24 goals. Long term, I don't think he's the answer, but he definitely deserves a short-term type contract.

Verdict: Re-sign, 2 years, $4.25 million deal. 

Trevor Gillies, LW, UFA

AT: I think Trevor's a really nice guy in my interactions with him and I loved that he stuck up for his teammates, but he's a liability on the ice with his penalties. Sorry Trevor, gotta go.

Verdict: Let go.

CH: Yeah, there's no need for his on-ice shenanigans at this point. As much as I hate to admit it, he went over the top in the Pittsburgh game and to take another long-term suspension the game he got back...that's irresponsible at best. Nice guy, but nope. If the Islanders want another goon, there's plenty to go around though I don't think it's even necessary.

Verdit: Let go.

Bruno Gervais, D, RFA

AT: No. Defensive liability. Team NEEDS to improve, and he is not the way you do it, even as a 7-8 defenseman.

Verdict: Double no.

CH: Might be the nicest guy on the team, but it's time to move on. Wish him the best of luck.

Verdict: Let go.

Zenon Konopka, C, UFA

AT: I like Konopka a lot. He became a vocal leader for the team, can win important faceoffs and can chip in 10-15 points a year. Having him and Haley on the same line again would be great. Definite re-sign for me.

Verdict: Resign, 1-2 years, 600K per.

CH: This can go either way for me. I don't think the team is just going to forget Konopka if he isn't re-signed, but at the same time it's nice to have a player in the room who will stick up for anyone and everyone. Fact of the matter is though, his faceoffs are great but the rest of his game just doesn't compare well to his fourth line center competitors. He changed the culture and will forever be remembered for that if this team does well, but I think the team needs to upgrade his spot.

Verdict: Let go, reluctantly.

Jesse Joensuu, LW, RFA

AT: Would be fine for depth, but I'm indifferent either way. Wasn't impressed with the games he played.

Verdict: Re-sign for very cheap or let go.

CH: A very decent Bridgeport call-up. Not sure if he wants to stay in North America to play in the AHL though. He may decide Finland is a better option. And that's okay.

Verdict: Re-sign for a 1 year qualifier if he agrees to start in Bridgeport again.

Radek Martinek, D, UFA

AT: I like Radek. I really do. But with Ness, Donovan, possibly Wishart and of course De Haan in the system and Radek getting older, I think it might be time to part ways. Unless he's willing to sign a cheap 1-2 year deal, I'd advocate cutting him.

Verdict: Let go unless very cheaply signed for a year or two.

CH: I love Radek Martinek and appreciate the amazing amount of service time he gave to this organization over the past 10 years. But having him and Jurcina and Eaton and Mottau on the same blueline is just asking to be using Matt Campanale's again. Unfortunately, it's time to move on and get a top-4 defenseman in his spot moving Mottau down to #7 and Eaton/Jurcina as the bottom pairing where they belong.

Verdict: Let go.

AT: Finally, we have Ty Wishart, Jack Hillen and Dylan Reese. Wishart is still young and I believe will develop into a solid D-man. Hillen is good as a 7-8. Reese was pretty bad from what I saw from him. Keep, keep, let go.

CH: As far as these guys go, I pretty much agree with Alex here. Keep Wishart (you have to after giving up Roloson for him). Keep Hillen as the #8. Let Reese go, but sign some veteran AHL defensemen.

Around The NHL: Drew Stafford, Winnipeg, Game 2

TSN is reporting that Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford has signed a 4 year, $16 million extension with the team that will keep him under contract until the 2015 offseason. The 25 year old forward had 31 goals and 52 points last season. 

CH: Pretty slow news day in the NHL today, so this is our substitution for the top 5 countdown. Regarding this move by the Sabres, this is exactly what they needed. In recent years, Buffalo has suffered somewhat of an exodus of players leaving from players such as Chris Drury and Danny Briere to lesser "name" players such as Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder. Stafford is clearly a member of the Sabres core at this point and deserves every cent of this contract. Keep in mind that from an Islanders perspective, Michael Grabner is two years younger, scored more points, and is earning one million less per year (on the cap) than Stafford. That doesn't imply the Stafford deal is a bad one, but actually shows how great the Grabner deal could be for the Islanders.

AT: Great move by the Sabres. Stafford is going to be a continuous goalscorer in this league. He was very impressive in the times I saw him play the Isles.

In other news, TSN is also reporting the new Winnipeg team has sold 55% of it's season ticket quota of 13,000 as of yesterday. 

AT: Update as of 4:30 PM - Done. Congrats to Winnipeg... you guys showed you're definitely involved and ready to support the new team.

CH: With sales opening to the general public tomorrow, the team will have no problem getting the remaining 45%. The only question will be how fast the rest of the tickets go. This is exactly what needed to happen with the recent announcement of the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg. With this step over halfway completed, it will be interesting to see how True North responds from a hockey operations standpoint. Who will they keep? Who will they let go? Can they sign Andrew Ladd to a contract extension? Are free agents going to sign there? It will be very interesting to see what direction the new Winnipeg team goes in.

Finally, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals is tonight at 8 PM (EST) on NBC. It should be another great battle.

AT: Do we get more biting?! Tell me we get more biting!

Arena: Fox Business to Hold Special Report on Coliseum Plan

Dan Janison from Newsday is reporting that Fox Business will be coming to Long Island next Wednesday to hold a special report on the plan for the redevelopment of the Nassau Coliseum. The program will run sometime between 9:20 a.m. and 8 p.m. and will contain a debate with pros and cons about the plan and government spending in a bankrupt county.

CH: Oh, well this should be interesting to say the least. Count me in as one who does not have their hopes up for this. While it's true FOX generally slants towards the GOP, it needs to be remembered that paying for an arena with seemingly public funds are not what the party generally believes in. This county certainly operates backwards in the sense that the Republicans are for what Democrats generally believe it and vice versa. I'm intrigued to see the report but I'm not hopeful at all it will be positive, especially since the plan has not been released yet and all that is being circulated is conjecture and rumor. Like I said yesterday, expect more negativity than positivity through publications. Word of mouth is going to be the main driver for this referendum to pass the public opinion stage.

AT: I can already tell what's going to happen. It's going to be "A broke county asking for a $400m arena!" as the headline or main pushing point. No explanation of details, no real fact searching, nothing. No explanation that without Coliseum revenue, the county will dive even further into the hole, that a new arena would provide the county with a major destination for large scale concerts and events, etc. I'm normally an optimist... but I don't see this one going our way.

External Links: Islandermania     Vote YES Facebook     Vote YES Twitter

Prospects: Kirill Kabanov Selected By Montreal in QMJHL Dispersal Draft

Per Chris Botta's Twitter and the QMJHL's Twitter, Islander prospect Kirill Kabanov was selected by Montreal in the Lewiston dispersal draft. Montreal selected Kabanov with the 16th overall pick. Last season, the team finished with a 46-15-5-5 record, which was second overall in the QMJHL. They lost to Lewiston in the second round in the playoffs, 4-2. Kabanov was drafted by the Islanders in the 3rd Round of the 2010 Draft.

CH: It's extremely unfortunate that Lewiston disbanded as Kabanov seemed to really find himself there in the second half of last year and during the QMJHL playoffs. Looking forward, this move could really go either way for Kabanov. It's possible he struggles in the huge market of Montreal, but at the same time he is joining one of the best teams in the league. This is going to be an extremely important year for Kabanov. He needs to be signed by the Islanders by June 1, 2012, and having a disappointing year may make the Islanders more cautious to sign him. His talent is obvious, and his maturation process seems to be on the right track. This move is part of that, and he needs to show he can put it all together as an older junior player in 2011-12.

Around The NHL: June 2, 2011

5. Sidney Crosby Cleared For Off-Ice Workouts

TSN     Pittsburgh Post-Gazette     ESPN

CH: This is very encouraging to hear. Like him or hate him, Crosby is the best player in the world and it is extremely disadvantageous for all parties for him to be sidelined with this type of injury. Considering the NHL is trying to cut down on head injuries, having Crosby as the lead example would be a disaster. Most importantly, however, it's important Crosby is able to continue his career as one of the top players of the generation.

AT: The NHL is roaring back, and Crosby and his magnificent skills on ice are a huge part of it. To lose him would be catastrophic for the sport. He may very well lead the Penguins to several more Stanley Cups (much to my dismay), and will continue to lead the league in points and goals scored. The NHL needs you back, Sid. Get well soon.

4. New Winnipeg Team Has Sold Over 4,000 Season Tickets In Two Days

TSN     Winnipeg Free Press     ESPN

CH: When Commissioner Bettman stated that for the Winnipeg project to work, the team must sell 13,000 tickets, he wasn't kidding. So far, the city has responded to this demand as 4,000 Manitoba Moose season ticket holders have already signed on as season ticket holders for the new Winnipeg team. When tickets open to the general public in a few days, there should be no problems whatsoever getting to that 13,000 number.

AT: This is very encouraging news. I'd like nothing more than to see Winnipeg succeed. Hopefully with new ownership and a Canadian location, they'll be able to bring in higher end FAs as well. I'm very excited for the first Winnipeg-Islanders game.

Photo Credit: Ric Ernst

3. Dan Hamhuis Questionable For Game 2 With "Middle-Body" Injury

TSN     Vancouver Sun     ESPN

CH: Hamhuis is without question a big part of the Vancouver defense, which has been outstanding in these playoffs. The Canucks have set themselves up very nicely with their defensive depth. Keith Ballard should be able to step right in and do a solid job if Hamhuis is unable to go. Speaking of Ballard, he is a possible trade candidate in the offseason and potentially someone the Islanders may want to look into if they are interested in another Wisniewski-type deal.

AT: Vancouver's D is absolutely stacked. While losing a top 2 D-Man is always scary, I don't see it being a gigantic problem for Vancouver. I certainly hope not. If I have to see another Boston team win a championship, I may just quit the 4 major sports and pick up competitive chinese checkers.

2. Alex Burrows Faces No Suspension For Biting Patrice Bergeron

Photo Credit: Reuters

TSN     Vancouver Sun     Boston Globe     ESPN

CH: There is no excusing what Burrows did to Bergeron (though some may argue what Bergeron was doing putting his hand there to begin with). The fact of the matter is the NHL is not going to hand out suspensions in the Stanley Cup Final to a top line player unless he practically decapitates someone on the ice. During the regular season, Burrows probably gets a game or two, but it's not the regular season. The only irony I see here is that the day Gary Bettman asks for harsher supplemental discipline, something like this goes unpunished. Both teams are ready to move on, which is what they should do. Game 2 is Saturday night at 8 PM on NBC.

AT: As Carey said, it's the Cup finals. It was the right thing to do. They'll get over it. 

1. Dallas Stars Trying To Trade Brad Richards Before July 1

TSN     Dallas Morning News     ESPN

CH: Richards is the top pending unrestricted free agent on the market, which makes the Stars' inability to sign him a big, intriguing story. Logic will dictate big market teams like the Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Kings being in on trading for Richards' rights. However, the Stars are going to do what's best for them and if a smaller market team (such as Tampa Bay) comes along and offers them the best deal, they'll probably take it. That said, I would not expect the Islanders to even make an offer to Dallas. We will continue to keep tabs on this story as it continues to unfold during the Stanley Cup Finals and beyond.

AT: I question whether the Rangers can afford him with some major RFAs needing new deals. I can see him fitting in perfectly in Toronto, and they're certainly the kind of team to make a silly trade... calling Phil Kessel!

Arena: LI Herald Editorial Wonders Why NVMC Plan Is Rushed

An editorial published today in the Long Island Herald wonders why the plan to redevelop the Nassau Coliseum and its surrounding area is being rushed to completion. A major complaint in the article says the required information has not been released at this point. The author also defended Legislator Wayne Wink's proposed amendment to move the referendum back to Election Day, which is November 8. The end of the editorial reads as follows:

There’s no denying that shorter-term construction jobs would help county laborers and related tradesmen and their families, and that in turn would help fill the county’s coffers with sales tax revenue. We are not dismissing those as positive accomplishments. But development at the Hub needs long-term vision, and we don’t see the promised grand improvement in this unspecific plan. More of the same is not what Nassau County needs.

CH: Get used to these articles because this is going to be par for the course from detractors leading up to the August 1st vote. Thankfully, no "formal" opposition has spawn yet. However, there are still very legitimate concerns outlined in the article that need to be addressed, such as the lack of information released so far. Charles Wang and County Executive Ed Mangano have stated details of the Coliseum plan will be released sometime this month. Expect those details to be scrutinized. While the County eagerly awaits these details, it's comments like the excerpted paragraph that show how close-minded some residents in Nassau County are. The Islanders signing a lease for thirty years with a new arena is a long-term vision for that site. A minor league ballpark is a long-term vision for that site. Smaller scale redevelopment of the rest of the site is sure to follow after construction is completed of the main components. Pushing this project through is exactly the opposite of what has been status quo at that site for years. It's time to bring Long Island into the 21st century.

AT: The Lighthouse would've been a great "long term vision" for the county that wouldn't have cost the town a cent. Housing, shopping, a new arena and a major tourist location. Wang didn't want this current plan, he just settled for it. He wanted the entire area redeveloped because he LOVES Long Island and wants his team to succeed. I honestly have to wonder sometimes if certain people just live to contradict others..

For more arena discussion, please visit our Vote YES campaign's Facebook and Twitter pages.
For a look at Nick Giglia's post today on Let There Be Light(House), visit his blog here.

Who We Are

Welcome to Islanders Central!

We, Alex Tessler and Carey Haber (Poseidon and Isles4Ever11 on the Islander Mania forum, respectively) are two diehard Islander fans attempting to bring you a fan's perspective on current situations in Islander country, around the league and other tidbits concerning hockey. We have both lived on Long Island our entire lives and have been Islander fans for many years now. We hope to give you a source to find news on your favorite team as well as a solid place to find a different opinion. We also run the "Vote YES" Facebook page and Twitter accounts. We are not affiliated with the New York Islanders or the National Hockey League in any way, shape or form. We are simply fans attempting to communicate with the rest of the hockey world. With that said, we welcome you to Islanders Central and hope to see you as a consistent guest on our blog!