Have not been on in a while, and I hope the other two are with me tonight, or it will be a quick update, and off.

I am off to the NHL Booster Club Convention next week, so I am not sure that I will be on then. Maybe a call in – we’ll see…

Nothing new going on in Islander land, so no need to post at this time. Just hearing that names are coming by to stop and talk to Mr. Snow.

From late July – to early September, it is real tough to talk puck… Except —

Interesting move by Minnesota to release Mark Parrish with 3 years left on the contract. They said it was a salary cap move. You release a hometown boy with 8 million left on a contract, 32 years old and 3 years remaining, and two weeks before you sign Owen “I am ready for Medicare” Nolan to a contract….???

Hey Doug Reisbrough, are you on Dope? (Great Question, Mr. Hand…)

Now – I can hear Isles fans saying… “Let’s get him back!!!”

Interesting thought – but no.

Posted under Booster Club, Cool A-C League, Islanders 08-09, NY Hockey Report

You got your contract – the team has the confidence in you to get the job done.

Now it’s time to do it.

No more excuses. You have the ability, as you have shown in your AHL career. You were one goal away from leading the entire league, even with missing almost a third of the year. However, once you get to the NHL level, the numbers just don’t jive…

Can we blame the previous administration behind the bench?

In a lot of cases, yes. You were not being played to your strengths and not getting the minutes that are needed.

I think in the right environment, you can succeed. However, you have to show it. You got your security, now, using the words of NIKE:

JUST DO IT!

Posted under Islanders 07-08

A good piece of news in Islander country for a change…

Sean Bergenheim, fresh off the removal of his old agents, got a 2 year deal, for just under 2 million. Here is the quote from Newsday.com.

Forward Sean Bergenheim, who was the only Islander to file for arbitration, avoided a hearing when he reached agreement today on a two-year deal worth $1.725 million. It appears Bergenheim’s recent decision to change agents facilitated the process.

Bergenheim switched to Allan Walsh. His previous agents, Mark Gandler and Todd Diamond, have clashed with Islanders management several times in the past. Once he made the change, negotiations began in earnest. Bergenheim, who will have one more season as a restricted free agent when the contract ends, will make $800,000 this season and $925,000 the following season.

“We’ve always had a high regard for Sean,” general manager Garth Snow said. “The events that transpired a week ago allowed us to get this done.”

Following a trend started a year ago by captain Bill Guerin, Bergenehim plans to donate a significant amount of money to the Islanders Children’s Fund.

First of all – well done by Sean by removing himself from Gandler and the rest of the ding-dongs in his office. Remember this is the guy who is from the village that is missing an idiot (Thanks MM). He lost a year of development by letting his agents dictate some ‘crap’. But now – Sean is the better a person because he has representation that apparently, has a pulse.

Tambellini also got a deal as well. Only Bruno is to be done, and he can’t because the Islanders are sending him all over the place on the summer tour. But that will get done in good time.

Heard Bailey skated on a line with Okposo at camp… Future dream team? Might be….

Wonder where Sundin is going? He is so wishy-washy… get the damn deal done, so we all can shut up about it!!!

Looks like Teddy wont be in LA LA Land?? Terry Murray, who has waited almost as long as Teddy to be a coach in the NHL again, should be announced today. Long overdue… Other than the Islander job, that is the last NHL coaching vacancy.

Who is my hope for the job?

I like Hartley. He is in the middle between angry man, and softie. He knows when chew the proverbial head off, and when coddling needs to be done. I like Tortorella. A USA guy with a Cup on his resume’. However, he can “LOSE IT” at times, and with a team such as this will be, I think that is not the kind of person that should be at the helm. Would I be disappointed if Torts gets the job? Hell no. I just like Hartley better, and that is my $0.02.

Schedule comes out tomorrow at noon. Check the NYIBC site tomorrow night, and we should have trip information out…. Anybody up for a trip to Chicago on New Years??? Also – from what I hear, we open at the ROCK, and then have the Blues the next night at home. Also – I have heard that we have a FLORIDA trip in the middle of October. We will see tomorrow..

Check out the NYHR tonight – I think all three of us should be on. Call the show (646) 716-7209. Let’s hear what you think of these last few weeks….

I think I will be covering the Ducks game Sunday against York. Should be a piece on it here on Monday.

Posted under Booster Club, Cool A-C League, Ducks 08, Islanders 08-09, NHL Stuff, NY Hockey Report, Ramblings

This is tough… The Coach and GM were not seeing eye-to-eye from March… One wanted one direction, the other man, another direction.

This is an ‘agree to disagree’ situation that would not have lasted long…

I liked Ted. He was a great coach, and motivator for this team. I think he got the most out of players. He seemed to definitely be a coach that a player would go to war for. But – the direction that the team needs to go is forefront. And if the man that is to lead the team into battle with is not on the same page that the management wants to go – well – it is the man leading the troops that has to move aside.

They said it was a mutual agreement, and I would tend to believe that. I think there is some honor among those men, so I will have credibility in that statement, unless something glaring over the top hits…

Good luck Ted, this team will move forward thanks to your tutelage.

On a postscript…. My wife Claire, as well as my buddes Ron Kind, and Roger Farina were interviewed at Ice Works today, following the coaching change.

Click here, to go to the video. When this site gets fixed, I will embed the video in. until now, click on the link, and enjoy!

http://www.newsday.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=2691449

Posted under Islanders 07-08

Yes – he is 38 years old… Yes – he is coming off his worst season ever…

Why would Garth take him?

I think he is got a good nucleus of young talent here… I think a player of Weight’s experience in and out of the trenches, is a good thing for this predominately young team to have.

Some of my buddy’s who like the team of Blue and Red, think this move is dumb. Their mentality when it comes to selecting players is the main reason. Even with a salary cap, the Blueshirts still have the though process to get the best player possible. With the Islanders, building from the youth initiative in full swing, getting great role models to work with the Okposo’s and Comeaus, and Bailey’s of the world, I think Snow did the right thing.

Is Weight going to relive his 35-55-90 scoring years? No. Is he going to be your #1 option? No. But is he going to work with the younger talent, and make them better? Absolutely yes. Having one of your best friends as the Captain, will also be a help.

Let’s ride this one out, and see whether it is a help. If this team does something different than last year (stay healthy), this move could prove to be good for the small money it took to get it done.

Posted under Islanders 07-08

Joe – we hardly knew you…..

I have a friend in the Raleigh area, who does not only just love #63, but she knows the game as well, and understands what is good and bad about his play.

She was very happy for us Islander fans, when Jo signed on the dotted line for a one-year deal. And quickly, he showed ability and movement around the slot area that fans of the Blue and Orange have not seen in a regularity in quite a long time.

After the 40 game mark, he was among the tops on the team in goals and points.

Then the WALL hit….

For whatever reason – his play seemed to disappear as fast as candidates for the presidential election. For a man over 200 pounds, he looked like he was at 98 pounds and decreasing fast. IMHO – a little more effort, and I believe that he would still be wearing this uniform.

However, he will be heading on the Eastern European Highway, destination Russia. The new KHL has been pulling in a great deal of NHL players (Jagr, Dubielewicz, Emery among others.)

Doesn’t it always figure – that when it comes down to buying jerseys, the player leaves just after you get it….??? That happened to me. I bid for and won a Vasicek jersey from the “Core of the Four” game. I just never thought that I would get the bid, but I did.

I think that Garth should have signed him again. I thought he did well enough to warrant another year. Especially at the end, where so many of the regulars were not with the big club, and he was still performing at a decent level. However, Garth has his ideas, and I guess Joey Vas was not a part of them.

Good luck Joe – do well, and maybe we can see you at the NHL level once again.

Posted under Islanders 07-08

Turned out that the weather just held up in time to make it a successful venture. A little wait for food, but other than that – it was a good event last night.

Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau were signing autographs and looked real excited to be there. My buddy Ron got the guys to hold his new twin sons for a picture. Check out the Islander site later, they may be there.

Just a few thoughts on the recent happenings…

1. I like the Streit signing. I think he will be more valuable to the PP than people realize. Many pundits are talking about the fact that his numbers will plummet this season. I think if he can QB the man advantage well, and things happen, that the scoring may equal last season. Getting Witt to extend is also a good thing. So many people that I have talked to lately are saying that #32 should wear the “C”. “A”, “C”, whatever… It is the role in the locker room, and they say that he embodies that and more.

2. Give Doug Weight a chance. I guess he will be wearing 93 this season… He will not get 39, that’s for sure. I think he can be a big role model for some of the young guys. You can not have enough of them. His psyche seemed to be shot last year; look for a rebound.

3. From talking to folks at the BBQ last night, especially people in high positions, Bailey is not only a good fit for the organization, but acts in a manner that you want to see in players that have been around for years… And when it is in a package that is only 18 and getting better by the minute…. I am really looking forward to seeing him. They expect him to be the Captain in Windsor this season, and I really think that this would be the way for him to go. Unless he moves in Gretzky-like fashion this summer, he will be in Juniors, which is 100% fine with me.

4. I really want to see this team stay as young as they are right now. Let them make mistakes and learn from them. Defensively, I think they will be good enough to ‘steal’ some games that they normally would not be able to get. Let these kids gain some confidence. Ted has shown in juniors, to make players perform above their potential. He made it to the Q finals that year with a team that was expected to finish near bottom.

5. And speaking of the ‘relationship’ between GM and Coach; a few people ‘in the know’ that I have listened to, basically laugh that off. So just relax. If every GM and Coach agreed on everything, it would not help. Disagreements are good in that relationship.

6. Just remember, this team had almost 500 man games lost due to injuries. Have guys around for a full season, and let’s see where this team will end up. Someone from ESPN basically said that (and I am paraphrasing), that we always seem to float to the surface, just when everyone thinks that we are dead in the water. Let’s have the nose plugs on, and keep the goggles clean.

I am going to try and keep up the writing. It is tough at times, but there really isnt a lot to talk about now… The schedule will be out next week, so it will be interesting to see where my road trips will be taking me to this season.

Should be interesting…

Posted under Cool A-C League, Islanders 08-09

Nice signing by the Isles…. We need a real QB on the PP, and he fits the mold. Not the best defensive guy, but I believe that he will be better than MAB was.

Wonder what else Garth has up his sleeve.

Hmmm, Mr. Avery is gonna be a cowboy…. Insert any smart alick remark here… Good riddance. When we were listed on some of the rumor sites, as a possible destination, I almost wanted to hurl!

Will write some more on the weekend. I am staying at my Mom’s this weekend and helping her out, so I will have some free time at the keyboard…

Posted under Islanders 07-08