Will we get Ryan?

Will Jason stay?

Who may look to make Uniondale their hockey home?

Had a couple of thoughts from some questions on other posts…

Trent is staying.  He got a qualifying offer.  Hilbert did not.  I think he will sign again (maybe for even lower).  It all depends on what big names return.

Poti?  He is going to look, but I think he will come back.  He liked LI but if someone gives him big bucks… Expect to see him go…

Asham?  I think he will be back.  Nolan likes him, but he is not the biggest priority in the world.

How this team is made up, really depends on whether 94 signs on the dotted line in the next 36 hours or so.  Supposedly a BIG offer is on the table.  Lawyers seem to be involved.  Not a lot of other information is available, but at least we all know that Garth is serious, and the organization is really serious about getting him back.

Sunday should be an interesting day.  In Canada, TSN will be on hockey patrol ALL day, and will be announcing deals as soon as they become real — and on the 1st, there should be a lot…  Being Canada Day - Canadians will be celebrating while watching the tube.

I will try to put my opinions on the moves from Sunday on Monday morning.  Have a great weekend.

For all of the worry-warts that are concerned that nothing got done with Trent…

Take a chill pill.

Trent is a RFA - and I am sure that the Isles are going to put a qualifying offer in - and he will be taken care of.  I also believe that Freddy Meyer and Andy Hilbert are also part of that equation.

No one is going to be coming to the table and signing him to a large deal. 

Oh wait - we have the owner that does that….

Anyway - relax - he is here for the forseeable future.  He is  a NOLAN type, so why would Garth just let him leave?

People, we are so negative here.. I know - it is the past performance, but take those 250,000 mg and relax.

G

Eklund is reporting that he may see talks with Scotty Gomez heat up, if the Isles can not get 94 signed up.

That would be an interesting choice?  He has good hands, a good face-off man, and plays bigger than his actual size.

It would be a nice transaction; however I want Smyth!

Will add tidbits as the days (and my time) goes by…

I know that in a past entry I said that GS is not trying to show his hand.  I know that in his heart of hearts, that he is working with due dlilgence to get the deals done, to keep our two main UFA to remain with our crest.

Are your nerves as shot with this as mine are?

I know that as a long suffering Isles fan - we have been burned so much that our skin is kind of used to the pain and pressure.  The media bash the upper level management so much - we just wait patiently for the shoe to fit.

Wouldn’t it be nice for that shoe to be the exact opposite?  I am rooting so hard for Garth to change the ways.  To most hockey media - we exist to humor them.  This is the chance for Garth to effectively say to them - respect us or look foolish!

Well - the countdown is now down to under 5 days.  Still no info - and the hand is being kept secret.  A little too much on the quiet side for my taste; but wouldn’t it be nice to see Eklund and all of these other ‘experts’ eat their collective words?

I know that the two sentences that are listed as the title of this entry are on the minds of every fan in Islander country.  It is a big concern.  Fans have to know what is happening.

Most people will give the usual cliche:

No news is good news…

However, you all have to remember, Garth has to be as stoic and non-wavering, as an amaetur working up the ranks of the World Poker Tournament.  He can not use the media to show his hand.  To do that, would be a certain path to post-season suicide.

As of the writing of this entry, we have 11 days.  If you are looking at the various hockey rumor sites (and I KNOW that you are…), you are hearing that Ryan may be going to a few locales, as well as Jason Blake.  Although I enjoy Eklund’s writing, as well as Lyle Richardson on Spector’s hockey rumors, you have to take them at face value, and remember that in many cases, they are just rumors.

Once July 1 comes around, or actually, June 30th, all of the teams that have UFA’s will be dangling carrots to their horses, in order for the players to stay.  We just have to hope that our brain trust knows what they are doing.  They would be absolutely crazy to feel that they are not going to allow #’s 55 and 94 to just walk away without making a deal.  Just do what the Billy Joel song says, but just start keeping the faith.

On other Islander fronts, I would like to say that I am tremendously glad, that Sean Bergenheim has finally reached some smarts, and signed on the dotted line for next season.  All I hope is that Islander management send him gentle reminders every other day until training camp to make his travel plans to New York for his physical.  Keep that alarm clock going.  Bergenheim’s style of play should fit into the Ted Nolan way.  His main focus will be coming out of the gate hitting everything in sight, get the speed going, and show the team that he deserves a spot.

Went to my first Mets game last night.  What a time to wake up, and I, in my egotistical ways, will take FULL CREDIT for it too.  The bats woke up, and the team responded, especially when there were runners in scoring position.  John Maine was brilliant, allowing 4 hits in 7 1/3 innings.  By the way - Citi Field looks amazing.  It is so wild seeing it come to fruition so quickly.

I have been off from work the past couple of days, so it has been nice to enjoy the sunshine, and get things done around the house.  The problem with some of us workaholics is that we fail to take the time to enjoy the little things in life.  Make sure you do that…

Well - will talk again before the month ends.  Especially, if some big news comes on the horizon.

The last NY Hockey Report show will be on tomorrow night at 805PM.

Joe, Derek and I will talk about the prospects for our teams for next season.  From there, we may have podcast reports during the summer, to talk about our teams and their respective new arrivals and departures.

I think everyone that listened to the show this year.  It was a great time, and I have been honored to work with Joe and Derek for the last two years.  Thanks to Pat Hickey (www.thedriveforfive.com) for coming on as a guest host.

Well - now the buzz is that Captain Canada will play in the supposed hockey capital (toronto) next season.  We still have 20 days to negotiate for him, and I know that Garth will not sit around and do nothing.

Well - any questions, click on the e-mail link above.  Thanks and enjoy your summer.  Keep checking here, as I will ramble, give my opinions, and do some other personal stuff.

See ya!

A great show on Saturday afternoons for your Islander fix, Alex and Steve do a great job, and were kind enough to have me as their guest today.

Please make sure to check out their site: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hockeynightonlongisland

I really had a lot of fun, and thanks to Alex and Steve again for letting me spew my stuff.

These guys are on at 3PM every Saturday, and get guests and have some great conversation and insight.

You guys have to check them out!  I have a link on the right side of the page to them as well, so if you can not hear them live, please sign up for their feed and check out the archives.

Have a great weekend. 

Hockeybuzz is a good thing.  So is Spector’s Hockey Rumours (spelling rumor in Canadian, don’t you know… www.spectorshockey.net)

 Michael Peca may return home (well - sort of…)  Here is the report (links are to the actual articles and Lyle Richardson’s info is below:

PECA TO RE-JOIN THE ISLES?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the recent buyout of Alexei Yashin by the NY Islanders could result in former Isles forward Mike Peca returning to the team as a free agent. According to Brooks, Peca would be “open to returning to the Isles if contract talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs fail to have a positive outcome.” It’s believed Peca was traded by the Islanders because he and Yashin couldn’t “co-exist constructively” on the ice.

CANWEST NEW SERVICES: Joe O’Connor reports Peca is hoping for a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs but acknowledges that his injury-shortened season doesn’t provide him with leverage to seek a raise. Peca played in only 35 games with the Leafs last season.

Spector’s Note: If the Leafs decide not to re-sign Peca I wouldn’t rule out a possible return to Long Island, where he was quite popular in his three seasons there, although his age and injury history have to be a concern. I think the Isles have other priorities to attend to but if Peca’s still available by mid-summer they might be interested.

Wow - the season is less than 24 hours completed, and we are getting such press… Hmmmmm

In my daily review on sites, I just checked hockeybuzz.com, and Eklund the master rumorspecialist, had the following on his post from 3AM today:

One little rumor for you….It looks like Yashin may want to return to Ottawa..and there is much more of course to that whole story….

Yea - like THAT will happen…..

Congratulations to Brian Burke, Randy Carlyle and the Anaheim Ducks on winning the Stanley Cup!

You could see last year that this team was close to being a real contender.  Getting one Chris Pronger was the final nail in the proverbial coffin.

They had the complete game, and hit and slammed Ottawa into that same coffin.  For a team that made Buffalo look lost, they were even more lost to the Ducks.

Guys were completely in a fog (Heatley, Spezza, Phillips, Redden), Emery was just not as sharp; it was all a colossal mess.  It is a shame that Anaheim did not get a more worthier opponent.

Well - baseball has it’s hot stove league; hockey now has the Cool A-C League.  Let the signings begin!  (That’s your cue Garth!)

There are 23 days to go before all 29 other teams can go after our guys.  We know you can do it Garth.  Make it so!

Well - I will still talk hockey as the off-season progresses.  Check the site often… And please, make comments when you can… It shows that there are hits to the site that really mean something.  I appreciate your comments (agree or not with what I say - that is the beauty of it).

Take care!