Yes - the Gordon’s Fisherman… Yea - I get it…. Shut up Rangers fans, already… Worry about your OWN team….

Scott Gordon is now the newest head coach of the Isles. I was not totally sold on him at first, but the resume does speak volumes… AHL coach of the Year - 70 games over 500 for his career in Providence.

Yes - we got another New Englanduh in the mix. That is no problem. Communicate and motivate the players, and you can have whataver accent you desire.

I was still leaning toward having a face that would be NHL recognizable, but again, I will move forward on it. I see a lot of similarities of Gordon to one Peter Laviolette. That is not bad comparisons. All we now have to do, is KEEP this one….

I think he will work well with the young crop, and he deserves the shot to say the least. It is nice to see that a good number of young guns are now getting shots to take a team at the top level. John Anderson, who won a Calder in Chicago, now takes over the Thrash. New coaches in Florida, and San Jose, are showing that ‘ol boys club is not the norm anymore. Well - Mullet Melrose screwed up that equation for all of us.

Anyhow, I am confident that Garth is putting all his eggs on Scott to lead this team. With 35 days to go, until camp begins, get the homework going now… Islander fans have been beaten more times, that a “B” actor in a spaghetti western. It is time, to make us the aggressors.

Good luck, Scottie!

Paul Maurice

Bob Hartley

Scott Gordon

The final three… Will it resemble a final round of a Miss America Competition, where one answer to one question will give the finalist a chance to win…

My question to each candidate:

1. Maurice. Paul - what motivation tools will you use to get the youngsters going, when it seems that they are struggling with their play?

2. Hartley. Bob, there are times that you have seem to be down on the younger talent. What makes us think that you will not go back to that same attitude that seemed to be your undoing in Atlanta?

3. Gordon. Scott, we know your experience with the young talent; what do you see yourself doing to get the older talent to get moving in your direction?

Look - I am not Bert Parks, but hey - it’s a start.

I still look for Hartley. I am just of the opinion that brining up people to their first NHL coaching job, is enough. I want someone with experience. I know that Hartley is not the best with the youngins, but I think he can be. The relationship with coach and GM is a paramount, and Garth does have it with Bob.

well - that is my hope.

I came back from the NHL Booster Club Convention in Chicago. It was a great time! The five crazy women that ran this whole show, did a tremendous job, and deserve all the kudos.

No other news to report….

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.

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.

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…

Shoud be an interesting time at the draft party tonight….

Do we get Filatov? Does he go to LA at #2…

Do we get a stud D-man (as this is one of the deepest drafts in years for the defensemen).

Be interesting to see…

I will be writing an article for New York Sports Day on the Draft Party… Will be a fun night. Hope to see you there…