Well - the dreams of many fans in Section 317 has now come true.  Mike York is gone!

YEA - it’s about FREAKING time.

York, and his $2.85 million dollar contract has been shipped to Philadelphia (now known as Islander retread city), for Randy Robitaille.

This is the article from www.sportsnet.ca (a great site for hockey information).

Sportsnet.ca — In the wake of trading Alexei Zhitnik to Philadelphia, Sportsnet has learned the Islanders have shipped former Edmonton Oiler Mike York to the Flyers for centre Randy Robitaille.

The trade adds to the cap positioning started by GM Garth Snow last week, when he traded Zhitnik to the Flyers. Zhitnik has two years and US$7 million left on his contract while York makes $2.85 million.

York has six goals and seven assists in 32 games this year, while Robitaille has five goals in 28 games.

The two moves may signal a trade/signing in the future for the Islanders.

Nice - Over 5 million in cap space cleared in 72 hours.  Is something coming on the horizon?  Good chance!  We will see after the deadline on Dec 27th.

Merry Christmas Islander fans!  You got another waste off the roster.  I don’t wish ill will on the guy, but he never 100% clicked and looked lifeless on many occasions.

We are NO LONGER pushovers and wastes!  And gee, Garth Snow will not be able to handle the job….

Start backtracking you hypocritical media!  I feel great now!

Lots of things happening in Islander land…

First, as I endured the Christmas shopping experience, I get a call.

Did you hear, Zhitnik is Gone…. Freddy Meyer and a pick.  That’s $3,000,000  off the books!

Yea - we hear GM Garth Snow saying that he like Alex, and was a good player, and he said that we have to get younger and faster. Hmm, did the  FOUR (4) penalties he took in the Pittsburgh game give you the last straw?

He (Garth) said that he and Flyer GM Paul Holmgren were talking for weeks about this?  Wow - that had to be stimulating conversations….

We got Freedy Meyer - a younger defensemen - a lot smaller and faster than Zhitnik, but currently out with some lower body issues (back).  So - Snow had to bring up a player.  And he recalled Chris Campoli.

But what about Bouchard?  He has been with the team and has been a healthy scratch for the last five games.  However, from a source close to the team, I find out that Bouchard was placed back on the IR.  Do you feel that we will not see him in an Islander uniform anymore??? Hmmmm.

So, they brought back Campy, who has been a -11 for Bridgeport - worst on the team with 10 less games played.  I hope that the experience has humbled him a bit.   From the body language and tone of the coach and GM, it seemed that #14 just assumed he was on this team, and just did not play like he should be.  The problem with a lot of kids (and I don’t think that Chris is this type), is that they get fed information and get their heads stuffed with a lot of garbage.  And believe me, it is not the parents that are doing this.

Then, we hear that Alexei was cleared to play.  Thank God!  Then we hear that Trent is a game time decision.  Wow - what a boost.  After a tough loss the night before, we just needed to see the team come out strong, make a stand and keep on it.  Although Ricky let in six the night before, his defense in front of him, basically dropped their defenses like a burlesque act and left him out to dry!  He needed a stellar performance.

He did it - that’s for sure.

The Isles came out, and took it to the Thrashers.  Miro got the guys on the board with his 10th from a nice pass from Koz.  Then three goals in the 2nd made the game get out of hand.  With the second coming from Alexei Yashin.  Five minutes after Andy Hilbert’s third made it 3-0, Shawn Bates had a breakaway at the end of a penalty kill.  After Johan Hedberg made the save (and Bates had a look like some bully took his Devil Dogs), Richard Park got the puck and got it to Bates who put a high left shot past the goalie to make it a 4-0 lead.  Kozlov and a shorty by Mike Sillinger closed the scoring.

Ricky was strong. He made some excellent stops on the top line of Hossa and Kovalchuk, denying all 37 offerings for his second shutout of the season.

Next - an easy game with the Rangers tomorrow at MSG.  Well - maybe not - but with the good game on Saturday, along with the Ranger collapse over the weekend, it would be nice for our boys to mimic the first period of the last Ranger game tomorrow night.  I will be at the Race Palace to watch it - if you can make it - stop by with some Islander clothing and hang out.  Should be fun!

Gary

PS - the trade moratorium for the Christmas Holiday is tomorrow evening at midnight.  Do we see a trade coming??? Time will tell…

Nothing much else to say than that.

A 60 minute game is the minimum that we need.  A complete effort, with a massive reduction of time that will be spent in the box.

Guys have to step up in a HUGE way.  Do not want to see Satan disappear again.

RIcky needs to be a little better, and keep in the net.

Talk more after the game or tomorrow morning.  Go Isles!

Gary

Team looks significantly better.  Puck control - defensive responsibilities are much better.  I guess Nolan’s words got through.

Jiggs sounds great on the broadcasts again.  I like Billy Jaffe too.  Tells things like it is, but does not come up their collective butts…

More info as I feel like…

G

The stage is set:

Glendale, Arizona. NYI @ PHO.  The opening night for our boys in blue, and the second opening night game as coach for one Wayne Gretzky.  What do we see happening….

Should be an even match.  The Yotes have a balanced team, with some strong men on D, protecting Cujo in net.  We know that this team will be disciplined as we would expect with the Great One at the helm.  The Isles, as the road team, are going to have to make a presence known, and let it be known early.  They have to bruise it up a little, to let them know that they will NOT be a pushover.

The top line of Yash/Sillinger/Kozlov need to make their presence known from the get go.  If they play like they played against the Rangers, then they should do fine.  Get all four lines going.

Campy out - Chirs Campoli the 2nd year defenseman is out 2-4 weeks with a shifty groin.  Bruno Gervais should take his spot in the lineup.  Campoli made a name for himself on this team with a great start, including a goal on his first shot in his first game in Buffalo last season.  Maybe Bruno can do the same.

Ricky - just play your game mate!  All will sort itself out in the end.

Teddy - psyche these boys up.  Make them plow through brick walls.  They will win for you!  Make the fans proud.  The rest of the league, the media, everyone else, basically, does not think we can stand up to the league and thus will falter at the bottom.  We know that your teams play hard and are there every night.  If we see that, we respect you even more.  It was so bad last season, that some members of my seating section thought that Chi Chi Sterling should be the coach!  (Right Keith?)

Take a nap Islander fans, we need to stay up late and watch this happening!

Let’s Go Islanders!

Well - we are 0-2.

Please people, do NOT jump off the bridge. 

We are not doing well - we have scored just three goals in two games.  Our defense, the one thing that would make us a better team, according to the media, has looked terrible, sluggish, and quite frankly, like CRAP!

The media would probably want to say that, but can’t.

But do I worry? 

No!

I believe in 2000, we had one of the best records in the NHL during the preseason.  Mariusz Czerkawski led the NHL in points in the preseason.  The first of two consecutive seasons that he would do this?

How did we do?

Well - we did not make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

But thankfully, the team is home.

For the season ticket holders, the Islanders held a get-together at Eisenhower Park where the fans got to meet the 2006-07 team.  Well wishes were shared, pictures taken (including this one thanks to my friend Keith… RRRRRRR!) and autographs were given to the faithful.  The Islanders are doing a great deal this season for their season ticket holders to show their appreciation for their loyalty (for me - this is my 18th season).  There is Islanders TV, a concept set up my Charles Wang’s wife, as part of their IP TV systems.  Lots of video and audio, to basically have a 24hour a day Islander network.  The Islanders are also providing special parking for season subscribers and other benefits for being a loyal fan.

Monday, tomorrow, the Isles travel to the Garden to take on their crosstown rivals.  To me, this is when hockey starts.  I can not wait to see te guys on the ice. 

Am I expecting to see Lord Stanley to Uniondale? 

As a realist, no.  As an optimist, nothing is impossible.

Bring it on! 

Hello all…

For those of you that are stumbling by, allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Gary Harding, and I am from Huntington, Long Island, NY.  I am a DIE-HARD Islanders fan and a season ticket holder since 1988.

The Blog Name, basically tells you where I sit.  From Row B, Seat 1 in Section 317, I watch the boys that wear my home on their sweaters play hockey over 40 times (hopefully more) every season.

As an Islander fan, over the past 15-20 years, we have seen it all, to say the least.  Good teams, yes, and unfortunately, some not so good.  A lot of crzy owners, which we can leave for another day’s talk.  The “MAD MIKE” era, and now - “Snow Season“.

Throughout the season, I will be talking about the team, what my fellow 317′ers are thinking, as well as what we do during games.  If you don’t know, Section 317 have some of the loudest and craziest fans around.  We yell a lot, have great chants, and of course, a cow bell (thank you Claire - my wonderful wife!!!).  If you come to a game, try to get tickets in 317.  You will at least have a good time in the section, even if we don’t win.  You may learn something too….

If you ever want to talk to me, you can leave comments.  Also - leave your e-mail address as well.  Thanks for stopping by… Check us out often.  Let your friends know about this too.

Have a great day!

Gary