Islanders Castaway

Meet Corey Trivino

2010-05-06T14:00:00.034-04:00

Blogger's note: This piece was scheduled to be published shortly after the Trivino suspension news broke. All questions were asked many days prior.

For the Islanders, the 2008 NHL Entry Draft was marked with two memorable trade-downs in the first round. Slotted to pick 5th, GM Garth Snow traded the number-5 pick to Toronto for the number-7 pick and other third- and second-round considerations in that and the following year's draft. Then, the Islanders traded that number-7 pick to Nashville in return for the number-9 pick (Josh Bailey) and an early second-round choice (Aaron Ness).

All that, and of course, a great deal of fan drama and pandemonium regarding the passing over of potential draftees like Luke Schenn, Nikita Filatov, and Colin Wilson. But for the Islanders, dropping down and choosing Josh Bailey at 9th was just the beginning of a memorable draft.

By the second round, partly thanks to the first round's dramatics, the Islanders were in possession of the number-36 and the number-40 picks. At 40, Snow selected the much-anticipated but struggling Aaron Ness, who is a likely candidate for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers next season.

Receiving perhaps less recent press, but just as high expectations, is the two-way center from Boston University selected at 36th: Corey Trivino.

This on-again, off-again blogger had the opportunity to sit down with Trivino recently, and explored what it takes for a player to leave his college team and land a spot in the pros.

---

Let's get straight to the hockey, shall we? Have you been watching the NHL playoff race at all?
Oh of course. The team shares one of those Centre Ice accounts online, and we usually try to watch together. We were all watching when Nick Bonino scored his first for Anaheim. It was exciting.

Do you follow one team particularly well, or is it more broad than that?
Well, I'd say most of us aren't interested in just "one team." As a hockey fan, you gotta keep up with every team.

Well, how about the Islanders? Are you in touch with the Isles throughout the year?
Well yeah, "Cairnsy" (Eric Cairns) is in town a lot. I know he watches me play. He's often got constructive criticism for me. I'd say we have a lot of verbal talks, but most of the time, it's just [Cairns]. There's a lot you can't do when it comes to this kind of stuff while you're still in college.

Lots of NCAA rules, right?
Yeah. Coach [Jack Parker] once told us this story about a baseball player... his agent wanted him to sign and turn pro, but the guy wanted another year in college. The next season, the NCAA kicked him out for talking to his agent prematurely.

It sounds like you're damned if you do in this situation.
It's a tough call to make. Obviously there's a line you can't cross — you can't step in and then not go through with it. You gotta be careful.

Well how does it work, then, if you want to turn pro? Like what Nick Bonino just did with Anahiem.

And shortly after the interview, teammates Colby Cohen and Kevin Shattenkirk (both Colorado), as well.

Really, at the end of the year, you'll feel it. Did you dominate? Were you a go-to guy? Can you step into an AHL/NHL team right now? You can't have any "ifs" about that. You definitely don't want to rush into things and you can't turn back.

Well how about you? Do you foresee yourself leaving BU before your 4 years are up?
I couldn't tell ya. I haven't really accomplished what I wanted in college hockey in terms of being as effective as I could be yet. I haven't played to my potential here. In my position, I want to gain some weight. The injury messed up a few things in my leg, so I'm gonna spend more time working on that.

In mid-February, Corey suffered a broken leg in a game against Maine.

Right, about the leg, it's looking great. (He is no longer using a cast/brace/crutches/anything)
It was supposed to be in a cast for 6 weeks, but it was cut short. In just 4 weeks I got into the walking boot. (Laughs) I just wanted to get my shoe back on.

So you're almost back to 100%?
We've been doing rehab every day. It kinda sucks that there's no ice right now [due to local arena renovations/end of season], so it's hard to tell. Next season I'll be ready for sure. We just gotta figure out a way to get some ice over the summer.

BU's a very competitive school in academic terms alone. Perhaps more so for ice hockey. What about your decision to come to here specifically? Was the decision just about hockey?
Well, yeah. The reason I came here is that they develop hockey players, and obviously have some great NHL alumni.

Well how about school in general? What are you studying?
I'm doing business administration. Truthfully, it really is a second priority during the season. Actually, 95% of the time. You have to get your school work done in order to play hockey. Now that the season's over, it's a different kind of busy.

Let's get back to the Islanders. You were at prospect camp last summer, right? Did you make any friends there / keep in touch with other Isles' prospects in Hockey East?
Well they're all good guys. Blake Kessel (UNH), sometimes I see him when they come to town. Since I'm Canadian, I don't know that many people from high school / US junior teams — most college players have different roots than I have. On the Islanders, well yeah, I know Josh Bailey pretty well.

Really? Bailey?
Yeah, a while back he actually came up to Boston and we hung out a bit. He played in the OHL, and I met him through some friends of mine on his team. We connected at training camp.

That's an awesome connection. How much do you know / are aware about the Islanders current situation? I mean, let's face it... they've sucked so much for so long. What do you think about that, as a prospect?
(Laughs) I know they have a lot of good young talent that's gonna start to come into effect in the next few seasons. It'll probably be good for the Islanders soon.

How about their arena situation? Have you heard about the project?

Well, we've heard about the Lighthouse — there's no word on it yet, right?

Well, the project has stalled big-time. The old arena, well, it's crumbling. Crowds are on and off, and until the team gets a new arena deal, things will be up in the air. How does that affect a player, or how you feel about the Isles?

It's really not a big deal. As long as you have a good fanbase, it doesn't matter where you're physically playing. It seems like everyone's waiting for something to happen with that. Hopefully, that will come soon.

If you could say one thing directly to Isles Nation, what would it be?

I want to be there — that's for sure. Obviously, it's your goal as a kid growing up in Canada. Fortunately, I was drafted to a great organization. I want to be there there and to continue to improve.

After suspension rumors, then not, Corey Trivino is suspended

2010-05-04T17:42:00.008-04:00

Updated, 5:45pm

Islanders prospect Corey Trivino has been suspended by Boston University for the beginning of the 2010-11 season. At this point, the suspension is for an undefined number of games.

The two-way centerman from Toronto, Ontario was picked by the Islanders in the second round of the 2008 entry draft, and has been continuing his playing career at Boston University since.

"The suspension today stems from an incident about two weeks ago when Vinny [Saponari] and myself showed up late to a team bike exercise," Trivino said shortly after the BU release.

He denied the rumors that the suspension is the result of an alcohol-related incident.

"It has nothing to do with alcohol use," he said.

Vinny Saponari, a prospect of the Atlanta Thrashers and Trivino's roommate at BU, was officially dismissed from the team, The Daily Free Press reports.

Trivino also took steps to address the infamous "song" that has circulated the hockey-blogging world recently.

"About the song... It wasn't supposed to be like that. Me and Vinny messing around one night in the dorm, we made a song. It was just for our enjoyment. We sent it to one of our teammates, and he sent it out to a bunch of people himself. We didn't know about that. One of those people apparently put it up on Barstool Sports, and I was shocked when someone let me know on a text."

He denies that this has any involvement with the current suspension.

"The song... BU has nothing to do with it. This suspension has nothing to do with it. It's a real shame that someone made it a video and put the BU logo on there," he said.

Further details concerning Trivino's suspension length and the future of Vinny Saponari are expected within the week.

Corey Trivino not suspended

2010-05-04T15:17:00.003-04:00

Isles' 2nd round pick in 2008 not suspended by Boston University as previously reported at various sources. Official word from BU athletics expected today. Update to come soon.

UPDATE: 5:00pm
Official release from BU Athletics reports Trivino is suspended for "the early part of next season." Update from Corey will come soon.

What's the deal?

2010-01-18T11:24:00.003-05:00

So, here's the story for what's going on with Islanders Castaway.

Earlier this year, Google gave me all sorts of guff for apparently violating the terms of the advertising agreement we had here. Violated or not, it was clearly not malicious and a total laugh when we figured out what actually happened. Google didn't really see it that way, so it suspended the ads and negated all the money I ever made with them before I ever got to see a dime. Naturally, I was quite P.O.'d at this, and my stubborn nature led me to just stop writing here for a while.

That bit of stress, combined with the fact that I've been more intensely involved here in Boston heading up things like this, have resulted in what we have here... something like 10 posts for all of 2009. Granted, I think they were quality posts and should be framed and put on your wall, but really, it's a meager showing for a blog I could easily keep up with more.

So with all that said, I do plan on posting more often in 2010, but only when it counts. A 'blog' in the sense most sports blogs (and the way this one was when it started) behave and read just won't cut it in Islanders Country... not with Chris Botta's megablog, the venerable forums, and the various angles of attack from the Blog Box (that's still going?) all chiming in literally 24/7.

Keeping that in mind, I will only resort to posting when I actually do have something new/different to say (a`la Frozen Fenway (which I probably should have followed up on... sorry), or my weird Keepin' it Fake ideas (again, need to follow up on)) OR if I think I have the scoop on something that needs to be posted quickly and linked around.

Anyway, I hope this is one of the last of those posts that has nothing to do with hockey. If you're still here reading, thank you! If not, bookmark me and check me out once in a while. hopefully in the coming weeks and months you'll be coming back here thanks to a shared link going around.

Thanks, everyone,

Andy

Good feelings where it counts

2010-01-14T13:27:00.005-05:00

As per Isles Point Blank,

I haven’t heard anything yet, but I would love to stay and be a part of this team. I love the area and love the team. Most of all, I love the direction our team is headed.

I’ve been in the league ten years, and I can tell you without any hesitation that this is the best group of players and people that I have ever had the privilege of being a part of.

-Andy Sutton

This ranks right up there with this gem from the offseason.

Keep the good feelings where it's really needed -- the locker room. If the players are feeling good, the fans will, too. And for good reason.

The Goal Song.

2009-10-08T17:24:00.008-04:00

Here is my suggestion.

The song: "Lithium" by Nirvana, 1992

I (crudely) spliced it in with a recording of the current fog horn. Nothing's wrong with the horn.

I like "Lithium" for this spot because the chorus is simple, easy to learn and gives fans a great opportunity to sing and shout and ruin their voices. Some of the best memories of early Isles games I have are actually the day after, when I couldn't speak.

Game Ops:

Don't not use it because you found it on a blog. It's a great idea, and you know it. Or, at least, it is vastly better than that Quarterback... Nickelback... Who-gives-a-back's song that gets played now. It sucks, and you know that, too.

I was there #1

2009-07-16T21:11:00.011-04:00

Many of you may wonder what I do with my time when I'm not blogging. I'm glad you asked.

The short answer is that I hang out with Garry Bettman.

That's right, I was one of a select few to witness the NHL's Winter Classic 2010 announcement live and in-person yesterday afternoon. Sure, you could have watched it on NHL.com live. You could have.

I, rather, went there as "press" and was able to watch it all from the comforts of the lower bowl at Fenway Park. I saw such hockey dignitaries as league commissioner Garry Bettman, Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, and Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. I even got some free Fenway Franks for my trouble. Mmmm... media food...

And yes, Bettman is even more chipmunk-y in person.

But yeah, the exciting part: After the official announcements were all done, all the executives,players, and politicians were all accessible on the infield for interviews, photo ops, and other PR stuff. Without an official announcement concerning *a-hem* a possible NCAA game held on the Fenway ice –– as we've heard in *cough* rumors for months, I had no real story to pursue.

Eventually, while I was scoping out people to talk to, I noticed (Boston) Mayor Thomas Menino gazing absentmindedly into the distance. So I introduced myself, and asked if he knew anything about that rumored Boston University / Boston College hockey game to be played at Fenway this January.

After a few "oh, yeah? Hm, yes, mmhmm, yesh......"s (Mumbles Menino at his finest), he confirmed that yes, there will be a game between the bitter college rivals on Fenway ice, and that an official announcement could come within a few weeks.

This is huge, let me tell you. It makes the Winter Classic so much more important... and I'm not just saying that as a college hockey fan.

The rivalry between the Terriers and the Eagles is far greater than the rivalry between the Flyers and the Bruins. I mean, come on, everyone hates the Flyers. In fact, it surpasses nearly every other rivalry –– in every sport.

And if you've never experienced college hockey, you are severely missing out on totally new take on the game. What an opportunity to become familiar with it! Listen, readers. Promise me you'll find a way to watch this game, when it happens... even if it isn't nationally televised. Promise me!

---

"It's gonna be great fun, huh?"

Indeed, Mayor Menino. Indeed.

The Bet: Summer assessment time

2009-07-15T01:10:00.016-04:00

The trade deadline has come and gone, the 2009 draft has passed, and all the drama of July 1st –– the onset of the all-important free agency period –– has settled. Teams all around the league have lost and found players special to their causes. Through the turmoil, the Islanders roster remains relatively static, and with the liklihood of any significant changes happening soon, it's time to talk about... yep, you guessed it...

The Bet.

In case you missed the details of my March 3rd wager, you can check out all

the dirt here.

The Bet is, in short, my banking on the hopes that the Islanders will rebound strongly next season. In review:

If the Islanders finish top-20 in the league in 2009-10, this shrewd author receives a brand new Islanders jersey.

If the Islanders finish below that mark, however, this deadbeat author will unsuccessfully try to back out of buying my critical friend a brand new Sabres jersey.

So let's let everyone make their own assessment of the situation, in terms of roster changes. A quick rundown:

Significant "outs":

Bill Guerin - traded, re-signed with Pittsburgh

Mike Comrie - traded, then left unsigned

Chris Campoli - traded, still on contract in Ottawa

Significant "ins":

John Tavares - drafted, near-lock to make the team

Dwayne Roloson - free agent signing

And then the real deal-breakers... the things that will make-or-break The Bet:

The question marks:

Rick DiPietro - will he be back? Will he be healthy?

Josh Bailey - will his added muscle play to his strengths (har...)?

Kyle Okposo - will his numbers continue to improve to the level the Islanders need?

Sean Bergenheim, Frans Nielsen, Blake Comeau, Bruno Gervais, Jeff Tambellini - will these players mature into the effective and productive players they can be?

Trent Hunter, Doug Weight, Brendan Witt, Andy Sutton - Will these veterans provide what they're capable of and lead the youth to new levels?

~~~

The result of this bet will simply depend on these question marks. But the real thing that will keep me going –– and keep me following the team so closely this year –– is that with such levels of youth on the team, anything can happen. I don't think it's at all absurd to say that, given some real great performances, this team can push for the playoffs sooner than later.

And hey, all they have to do is clinch 20th for me to win this thing!

Thanks for reading.

Comments/thoughts appreciated.

Keepin' it Fake I: '90s THROWBACK NIGHT

2009-07-07T01:59:00.009-04:00

Keepin' it Fake I

Introducing a new segment on Castaway in which I'll try my darnedest to make you think the Islanders are doing something they're not. I'll be planning full-scale gameday events and offseason promotions with the hopes that it will spark some discussion and get a few laughs.

Today's event:

Go back in time with the Islanders:

The '90s THROWBACK NIGHT!

DISCLAIMER -- I'm fully aware of the Islanders sacrilege I'm about to commit. Please read on:

That's right, dear readers!

Come celebrate a wavy part of your team's history! Break out the ol' teal-navy-orange-white-and-silver's and take a trip to the Coliseum for a Halloween night's timewarp.

---

If you're still reading at this point, thank you. I think this makes much more sense than it seems at first, just hear me out.

This upcoming season marks the ever-unlucky thirteenth anniversary of the introduction of that horrid logo and color redesign that shames Islanders fans to this day. It was a full-on "let's not think" decision, and even though the Fisherman years are gone, I say it's about time the team's new leadership acknowledge the blunder in the best possible way:

By revisiting 1996. On ice. In front of 16,234 fans more than ready to see this thirteen-year curse defiantly broken.

Now, I know what you're going to say: "No way. Never again. Not that nightmare." But is it really that embarrassing anymore? Would seeing the Isles suit up in the Fisherman jerseys really be that much worse than seeing your team in these lovelies?

Here's the spin: A Halloween night at the Coliseum, but instead of skanky Ice Girls in skankier-than-usual costumes and half-assed candy giveaways, the entire night is transformed into a thirteen-year timewarp.

The team can take to the ice (for one last time) sporting the Fisherman jerseys, complete with custom socks and helmets, just like the "good" ol' days.

The simpler things like the scoreboard theme and panel colors can be changed to reflect the ever-so-appealing mix of navy, orange, white, teal, and silver.

Whenever the team hits the ice –– pregame or after intermission, and anytime a goal is scored, the PA will, naturally, play Primus' John The Fisherman, which as it happens, is a pretty badass song for a hockey arena to begin with. Have a listen:

Primus - John the Fisherman

And who can forget the all-important goal foghorn! Somehow captured here in all its tacky glory and without crowd cheering (maybe the place was empty?):

The 1996 NYI Fog Horn - complete!

Getting nostalgic yet?

All this, just for one Halloween night event. This is, of course, hinging on the likelihood the Isles are hosting a game that particular Saturday, but you get my point.

You see, it isn't about having a laugh at our absurd past –– that's only part of it. It's another way to make headlines, sell tickets (yes, money, duh), and if I had a say in it, bring some good to a worthy cause: Preserving the Long Island Sound.

It's as simple as could be. 10% (a totally made up amount; I'm sure there's more to it than picking a round number) of all ticket sales for the night would be donated to "Save the Sound", an accomplished and ambitious program under the Connecticut Fund for the Environment. Check them out here.

That way, in keeping with the ...a-hem... nautical theme of the night, a seriously important resource dear to all Long Islanders can share the spotlight(/shame) and get some donations.

---

To those of you who'll say it's ridiculous, you're right.

To those of you who will argue it's unnecessary to spend the effort, don't forget that anything that will bring the Isles extra income is good for the program as a whole. And if I remember correctly, if a team uses a "4th" jersey on a one-off basis (like when the Isles introduced their '72 retro uniforms once in 2006)they hold the right to sell those jerseys to their hearts' content. Big bucks.

To those of you who will say this kind of shenanigans has no place in the big leagues, lighten up. It's sport. It's about entertainment and fun. And money.

---

For the full tale of the ill-conceived redesign, check out Botta's post from last October.

For a list of achievements by the "Save the Sound" group, click here.

Comments! Let me know how you feel about this. Would you be pumped up for something like this? Or is it yet another fishsticks embarrassment? This one took me a while, so I really appreciate the support.

-Andy

Announcing JOHN TAVARES® Mania Month™

2009-07-01T00:30:00.004-04:00

JULY is JOHN TAVARES® Mania Month!™ Don't forget to buy any of the convenient season ticket packages! Don't worry, we'll call you and remind you to.

And email you.

Twice, just in case you forget.

JOHN TAVARES® Jerseys also available!

Spend enough money and MAYBE BECOME GRACED WITH THE PRESENCE OF JOHN TAVARES®* and also MAYBE RECEIVE A BLACKBERRY MOBILE MESSAGE FROM JOHN TAVARES®**

*Sometime this summer. Maybe.

**Only for an hour one day at camp. If He® feels like it. Maybe.

Download the OFFICIAL JOHN TAVARES® SONG†

†Not for actual download. Violators will be shunned in the eyes of JOHN TAVARES®.

~~~

Have a fun FA Day, everyone.

-Andy

06/07/09 - Destined for success?

2009-06-07T23:28:00.004-04:00

The last time our Isles finished with a record as miserable as this year's was at the end of the 2000-2001 season. The team went 21-51-10 for a grand total of 52 points.

The record this year, of course was 26-47-9, resulting in 61 points.

In 2001-2002, the Islanders bounced off the floor, and rose to 5th in the East with a 42-28-12 record. With 96 points, they narrowly lost out to the Flyers for 2nd place at 97 points.

Keep up the faith, Isles fans! With a good draft and some extra help this summer, we can have something to be proud of next year!

05/29/09 - Pöck to Switzerland

2009-05-29T13:24:00.005-04:00

Just since I haven't seen this elsewhere yet... I figured I'd throw it up here.

Thomas Pöck has signed with Rapperswil-Jöna of the Swiss National League A, according to the team's website. The financial terms are unclear, but the contract will be for 2 years.

It's not a big deal to most Islanders fans, especially with the draft just weeks away, but Pöck played hard for us when he was on the ice. Good luck in Switzerland.

05/15/09 - On the draft

2009-05-15T03:32:00.005-04:00

Not to completely ignore the amazing experience of the Terriers' Frozen Four victory in D.C. ... Perhaps something about that is to come soon.

A quick thought: With the No. 1 pick this year, GM Garth Snow can't go wrong by trading down the 1st overall pick for the 2nd.

Why? The player available at #2 (be it either Tavares or Hedman) should be just as great as the #1. So why not spare ourselves the stress and future guilt (?) from debating the #1 pick and trade down to #2 and pick up another asset or two at the same time. There's two scenarios that could play out in this case:

Despite the expected outcry from nearly all Isles fans if Snow goes for Hedman with the pick at 1 or 2, it would be a much easier decision to accept in the light of gaining something additional from a trade. And don't forget the "there was no other choice" factor in consoling angry fans.

If Tavares is still available at #2, then it will likely be regarded as a genius move by Snow for picking up a little something on the side.

In all, you can't really lose out by having the #2.

We have the #1, so I propose the Isles trade down and see what else they can get in addition to a top-level draftee in either Tavares or Hedman.

More soon.

03/29/09 - "Drunk" Blogging the NCAA

2009-03-30T00:58:00.008-04:00

Okay, so I'm not drunk... but I'll explain that later.
But it is post-game, and I've got things to say.

Boston University topped the University of New Hampshire earlier today, 2-1, with a clinching goal in the final minute of play. Islanders draftee Corey Trivino scored the first BU goal, and his line looked good on every shift.

In other NCAA tournament news, Bemidji State beat Cornell University in stunning fashion to become the lowest-seeded team to make the Frozen Four... ever. Which is pretty hilarious when you think about it.

But I want to discuss the BU Terriers here. Assuming my audience is primarily Islanders fans, I'll try to keep it pertinent to 2nd-round draftee Trivino and Long Islander and free-agent to-be Matt Gilroy. Or at least, keep it interesting in general.

Enough can't be said about this year's Terriers. Rival teams have poured over the tapes and made countless line matchups, but not one has been able to reliably find a chink in the Boston armor. Really, it is something special. But anyone who knows BU hockey can tell you that this year's sense of team and community is nothing new.

After today's win, the Terriers took the busride back from Manchester, NH to Commonwealth Ave. It took less than an hour for a handful of players to turn up at a local bar, where they were met with a rousing welcome from us loyal fans. This marked the second time this year the players and the fans met at a campus bar after a victory -- the first was as per a longstanding BU tradition after our Feb. 9 Beanpot victory.

And while it's obvious that the players -- with their freshly-awarded NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONS baseball caps -- are the focus of the bar, there's no one happier to be there among the fans. All the Terriers (particularly the seniors) are smiling wide, cracking jokes, and laughing at the replays being shown on TV. It is obvious that this is a team that really enjoys being a team on and off the ice.

But really, what team wouldn't, with success like this? BU is 33-6-4 this season, and virtually every player is enjoying career-best production and statistics. It's only when one considers exactly who is on the Terriers that this team's attitude becomes really amazing.

With headline-making players like Sr. forward Brandon Yip, Soph. forward Colin Wilson, and Sr. defender Matt Gilroy, the possibility of individualism on this team is undeniable. It is a credit to the legendary coach Jack Parker that these players -- some of whom are graduating and likely have NHL aspirations in the fall, and some of whom may turn pro even before their collegiate tenure here is over -- are keeping their noses down and focusing on the whole.

And that is making all the difference as BU skates headlong into the Frozen Four. As a BU fan, I watch in awe of history in-the-making. As an Islanders fan, I am not only learning how to enjoy supporting a winning team, but I'm watching how a real team is put together and how it works. It may seem complicated here, but it's something that I sense is happening with the Islanders, especially with the growing number of rookies playing at the NHL level for the first time together.

I really urge all Islanders fans to watch the Frozen Four telecasts on ESPN2 April 9th and 11th... not just for the Terriers, but for some great college hockey. This tournament has been as ridiculous as it gets: final-minute goals and stunning comebacks have become the norm, and BU is the only #1 seed to advance past the preliminary rounds.

So, yeah. Two beers with my friends and the players at the bar,
Go BU.

03/29/09 - BU vs. UNH on ESPNU

2009-03-29T16:57:00.003-04:00

Alright, here we go - the NCAA tournament regional finals. Today's victor will skate into the Frozen Four in D.C. April 9th and 11th.

Yesterday's game was an 8-3 show of Terrier dominance. Make sure you don't miss out on today's inter-conference grudge match.

5:30pm, ESPN-U

GO BU!

03/28/09 - BU vs. OSU on ESPN2

2009-03-28T17:12:00.006-04:00

Trivino, Gilroy, Wilson...
It's BU hockey.

You've basically got no excuse to not watch this one.
ESPN2, 5:30pm.

Update: puck will drop at 5:56 due to UNH-UND overtime.

GO BU.

03/18/09 - Quote of the Year

2009-03-18T23:24:00.007-04:00

“I can’t tell you how much I’d kill to be in the playoffs next season in an Islanders uniform. This place has come to mean a lot to me. They gave me a chance last summer to prove I had something left, and we proved it together. I’m going to play next season, and I hope it’s here.”

-Doug Weight
Per islanderspointblank.com/

I hope so, too, Doug.

03/16/09 - The Islanders Can't Even Lose Correctly

2009-03-16T00:33:00.005-04:00

This afternoon's 4-2 win in Chicago made it clear: The Islanders can't even lose right anymore.

How is it even possible that the league's last-place team can do anything wrong at this point? Actually, it's pretty straightforward:
Start winning. A lot.

With 6 wins in 10 games, the Isles are doing a great job of screwing up their prime positioning for this year's draft selection. Yeah, yeah... I hear it now. Winning is always something that is good. But that's not going to stop me from complaining about this hot streak like it was a cold streak.

Of course, no team will actively tank a season. That's just not good for anyone involved, from players to fans. But there are certain things a team can do to ... well, tank. At least passively.

But even these methods are failing the Islanders. Shortly ago, the notion of a draft day boon was undoubtable. Today, it is again up in the air. And let's be honest: It's not really about taking the season for the #1 pick. It's about being smart, and treating the tail end of the season like a trial-by-fire prospect camp. And by all accounts, the Islanders are the masters of this approach. Just ask the Bridgeport-Port Jeff ferry service.

Hell, why NOT throw in a rookie goaltender against a top-8 team!? Let's see what he can do!

2008/09 NY Islanders: The end of decades of mediocraty ...or... A lesson in Murphy's Law?

- - -

But don't get me wrong!
A note to the players ~

Congratulations to Peter Mannino on his 40-save debut win and the rest of the Islanders rookies for pulling together such a bang-up job over the past stretch. I'm your biggest supporter, and can't wait for you guys to tear it up next season. (And you're making me look like a genius for making that bet.)

Thanks for reading.

03/08/09 - The Bet.

2009-03-08T23:00:00.015-04:00

2008-2009 is a wash. That much is clear. But dammit, I'm not giving up on this

team.

I've already done the "keep-the-faith" speech. Been there. And besides, with as many "wait 'til next year" seasons as we've seen in the past decade, that sort of thing may be getting a bit hackneyed.

This time, I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

And so, to silence a certain loudmouth critic, a bet was made:

If the Islanders finish top-20 in the league in 2009-10, this shrewd author receives a brand new Islanders jersey.

If the Islanders finish below that mark, however, this deadbeat author will unsuccessfully try to back out of buying my critical friend a brand new Sabres jersey.

A bold wager indeed.

The way I see it, this bet entirely depends on how the youth of the Islanders comes out next year. With a healthy DiPietro (perhaps not a safe bet in itself), Hunter, Sutton and Meyer, and the further development of this year's rookies and prospects, I give myself a better-than-50/50 chance of winning.

Of course we'll have to wait and see, but that's the fun, isn't it?

A Note

2009-02-07T13:57:00.003-05:00

A welcome to all the new visitors from my Hockey Night on Long Island appearance.

As you can see, nothing has really been happening on this blog since last September. Is it dead? Not quite. Here's what happened:

Started the fall semester
Became an editor at our daily paper
Got sick
Buried in classes/editorializing

So yeah, with the Isles on the skids all year, I didn't really prioritize Islanders Castaway. I figure that there will be a lot to say soon, though, with the upcoming draft and growing interest in NCAA players like Matt Gilroy. So keep it here every once in a while to see if there's anything I can provide. As always, I'm trying to bring readers something they can't find elsewhere. If you want game reviews, opinion calls, and repeated speculation, check the Blog Box.

Thanks for keeping with me,

Andy

8/21/08 - What Next?

2008-08-21T03:51:00.007-04:00

Hey all, a quick note for the upcoming season:

Rather than join in the collective rabble that is becoming the NYI blog world, I'm deciding to again change and focus on something exclusive... something that I can bring other fans that nobody else can.

So, this fall I'll be putting out several pieces focusing on future Islanders playing within Hockey East, the NCAA division that includes Boston University, Boston College, UMass, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, among other elite college hockey schools.

From my reserved seat at BU's Agganis Arena, I'll be able to keep tabs on these players, especially Islanders 2008 2nd-round pick Corey Trivino, who will be starting his collegiate hockey career this fall in Boston.

As always, questions, comments, rants, and other hockey related communiqué can be commented here or sent to afacini@bu.edu.

Here's 'til October!

Andy

03/24/08 - Out!

2008-03-24T23:38:00.007-04:00

Well, we're out.

The math is in, and we are out. But any Isles fan could have told you that two months ago. In a season derailed by a record number of injuries and illnesses, this outcome was nearly inevitable.

But let's not lose hope.

I know, it's getting a bit old, and I wonder if this fanbase can take much more of these seasons, but we must not let the result of this season affect our attitude towards next year; there are a few good reasons to look towards next year.

Kyle Okposo
His debut this year has not disappointed. He showed some jitters, but he showed that he can take his skills to the next level. With increased ice time, he will gain experience. I'm really excited to see Kyle develop because he's likely to be the best scorer we will have unless we make some serious moves. He said recently that he needs to be stronger, and he's right, but he has all summer to reflect on his NHL debut and to get ready for next year. In short: look out. And the fact that he's younger than I am in no way makes me feel lazy and old...
Existing depth
This year, we saw just how deep our current roster is on many occasions. While many problems for this year's Islanders originated from the lack of scoring, the team had 10 players chipping in 20 or more points. Compared to most teams, this is definitely on-par. The problem simply lied in lack of a one or two leading scorers. But we did see players like Josef Vasicek, Richard Park, and Trent Hunter fill important roles on the roster. We also saw players like Sean Bergenheim and Bruno Gervais come into their own, and you can expect these players to really step up next year.
New youth
The silver lining of the long injury list is the massive amount of experience the team was able to give to the young players. AHL call-ups Jeff Tambellini and Blake Comeau, as well as Tim Jackman and Aaron Johnson have seen received invaluable experience, and should bring a lot more to training camp next September than in past years. As veterans like Mike Sillinger and Bill Guerin near retirement, it appears that the Islanders will have skilled and experienced youth at the ready.
The draft
Of course, here it is. The most obvious benefit of having a terrible season: an excellent draft position. And by all accounts, this year's draft is going to be great. There is an abundance of talent both at forward and at the blue line. And let's face it: we desperately need some at both. It would serve the team wonders if Garth could trade out some of those stockpiled late round picks - and possibly other options - for another first rounder. No need to worry, though. The Islanders are guaranteed a great addition to the team this year.

And it's not just the Islanders that have had a disappointing season. My Terriers, too, have seen a once-promising outlook be dashed in March. After a rousing comeback in 2008, they entered the playoffs against a lowly UMass Lowell. They dropped the River Hawks 2 games to 1, and moved on to the University of Vermont in the semifinals. In a single-elimination game, the Vermont Catamounts erased the 1-goal lead the Terriers held, and completely owned the game from the second period on. It was an unfortunate (and agonizing) elimination and end to a season full of hope.

But just like the Islanders, I was able to find highlights in a otherwise bleak ending. And my two hockey loves intersect, for once.

BU's rookie forward Colin Wilson showed the Hockey East what a real playmaker can do. His shifts were punctuated with quick transitions, big hits, and quality scoring chances. He literally controlled the play when he held the puck, and his creativity was worth the price of admission on many occasions.

He is eligible for this year's NHL entry draft, and is currently ranked 9th on the International Scouting Service's top ten prospect list. If the draft follows this ranking, the Islanders should be in prime position to select Wilson.

You know what I'm getting at. GET THIS GUY.

He would be a perfect fit on the team the Isles are trying to build. Wilson wold perfectly compliment Okposo's hustle, and could fill a necessary role at center. Of course, I'm saying this based on seeing his play this season, but that doesn't make it any less true. That is, it's possible there are better fits this year, but from what I've seen, Wilson would blow this team away.

So the team is giving it's best shot to get everything it can out of a failed season. Call up the youth and let 'em skate. Let's see what we have in stock, and plan our future from there. Let's go into the offseason with our heads up and our hopes high. Just once more, we can get excited for a building team. ... I nearly said "re-building" team, but... it seems the team doesn't really have a model team to build up from.

We can look forward to a solid draft, and a more experienced GM going into the free agency period. To the Islanders, thanks for the effort this year, and you can I'll be there next year.

Thanks for reading,
Andy

03/03/08 - Finally an Update

2008-03-03T22:37:00.003-05:00

At the rate things are going (both for the Islanders and here at BU), I'm beginning to believe it will be impossible to post anything major anytime soon.

But rest assured, I am still here, and I will post when I believe I can contribute something significant to the discussion.

But for now, everyone has their opinions. It's going to be hard to forget last game's 52-shot shutout. The team is most likely going in the drink, and at least we can look forward to adding some prospects and hopefully building a killer team for the coming seasons. Definitely more on that later.

On that note, It may be worth considering that BU's Colin Wilson is a serious performer, and he literally controls the game when he has the puck. More on that later, too. I know a lot of BU players are from Long Island, so I figured I'll do a feature on them when the Hockey East season wraps up in the coming weeks.

Until then,
Andy

12/14/07 - Where Are They Now? -- Islanders Free Agents 2007

2007-12-14T12:39:00.000-05:00

The 2007 NHL offseason was one of the most tumultuous summers any hockey fan could endure. The new CBA, just two years old, is still being adjusted to and learned by GMs and organizations around the league. Across the board, every team faced some roster shake up, and the Islanders were no exception.

But the free agency splash rippled out and subsided just in time for the '07-'08 season to start. By October, the Islanders were a totally different team, losing six of their top ten scorers to free agency, and replacing them with a mix of young and old faces from around the league. This new team has gone on to beat all the "expert" analysis and is in striking distance of the division lead, despite a recent scoring drought.

But as the season heads to the halfway mark, how have the ex-Isles been with their new teams this season? I asked some fellow NHL bloggers to give an inside perspective on the former Islanders' performances so far this year.

~

Jason Blake - Toronto Maple Leafs
By far, one of the most popular Islanders players in 2006-'07 was Jason Blake, who led the team in both goals and points. After his breakout season, however, the team and Jason couldn't come to terms on a new contract, and he was headed for Toronto. Fellow hockey blogger Michael Forbes from the Bitter Leaf Fan Page offered a look into what Leafs Nation expected from Blakey, and how he has been living up to those expectations.

"Before the signing, I didn’t know a great deal about Blake," said Forbes. "At $4M a year, all agreed that the salary was decent, but the five years term was way too long. Not many fans expect a repeat of his 40 goal season, but most expect him to net 25 to 30 this year."

Right before the season Blake had seemed poised to lead the Leafs as he had led the Isles. "The pre-season seemed to hold some promise. Blake and Sundin lit the lamp, the coach was confident, the players seemed gung ho. Then came Blake’s cancer scare."

In early October, Jason Blake announced that he has a chronic form of leukemia. His particular cancer is highly treatable, and according to Blake, "[the cancer] will not impact my ability to live my life as I otherwise would, and will not affect my ability to perform at my highest level."

"I hate to say it, but I think Blake’s health issues have buffered him or at least sheltered him somewhat from criticism for his performance to date. His performance (or lack thereof) has also been overshadowed by larger issues with the Leafs," added Forbes. Just as the Islanders have been shuffling lines to find production, the Leafs tried to find Blake a new place on a new line. It worked.

"By the 25 game mark, Blake’s goal production was dropping faster than a bungee jumping David Diehl, and coach Maurice moved him off the top line to a unit with Kyle Wellwood and Darcy Tucker/Mark Bell. Since being moved to the second line, Blake’s production has gone way up. He’s potted a few goals and picked up even more helpers, good enough for 3rd on the Leafs in scoring. His offensive output came just in time as many were starting to question the signing."

Forbes concludes that, "given the price and term of his contract and the fact that team management sold Blake as the first line scoring winger, it’s probably a good thing that his health concerns have sheltered Blake somewhat from the usual off-ice media nonsense. He seems to have found a much better home on the second line and I hope Blake can continue to contribute, stay healthy, and have a good run the rest of the season."

We for the Islanders couldn't agree more. Jason treated us well, and we can only hope for the best for him in Toronto. Currently, he's on pace for 13 goals and 42 points this year. Be sure to check out Forbes' Bitter Leaf Fan Page for more commentary on Blake and the Leafs.

~

Ryan Smyth - Colorado Avalanche
When the Islanders acquired Oilers hero Ryan Smyth at the trade deadline, it was the talk of the league. What many saw as a shame for Edmonton (and for that matter, all of Canada), us Long Islanders saw a trump card for the 2007 playoffs. On our drive to the post-season, Smyth added everything we had hoped for-- leadership, grit, points. But the market for Smyth was huge at the end of the season, and keeping him on the Island would prove to be a tremendous challenge. Despite being offered a huge contract to stay, Smyth chose to accept a lesser offer in Denver. Colorado Avalanche blogger David Driscoll-Carignan (inthecheapseats.com) tells the story from an Avs fan's perspective:

"Smyth is a guy many Avs fans have coveted for a while. When the extension talks with Edmonton ended with him getting traded, we all marked July 1st on the calendar. He seemed like a perfect fit for the team - we play a lot behind the net and he would have been a perfect addition for that system. Plus, he adds a lot of leadership and grit - we had plenty of the former, but none of the latter. We also had a ton of cap room. It seemed like a perfect marriage."

Thanks, David. It seemed just like that for us, too. (Just kidding.)

This year, Smyth is playing comfortably in Colorado, and is on pace for 26 goals and 66 points. "So far, it's worked out well. He has [25] points. That's solid enough, but, in typical Smyth fashion, he's been involved in many goals he didn't get a point on, either from screens, near deflections, or just generally being a pain in the ass in front of the goalie. He's mostly played with Sakic on the first line, but has also spent time on the 2nd line with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk. I actually think this is the better line for him, but he's still been solid," Driscoll-Carignan said.

Interestingly enough, the one thing that seems to be holding Smyth back in Colorado is something that the Islanders have in spades: a point shot. As Driscoll-Carignan points out, "there is one thing that's holding him back a little bit on Colorado. None of our defensemen have a really great slapshot, so his effectiveness standing in front of the net and deflecting point shots on the powerplay is diminished a bit." You can't help but wonder how effective the Islanders PP could be with Bergeron and Berard shooting at the slot with Smyth setting up shop. (Sigh.)

The verdict, according to David? "All in all, we're quite happy to have him - he seems to be worth the money." Well put. But would he have been worth slightly more money? That's just something for us Islanders fans to ponder and lament. Check out the latest on Smyth and the Avs at David's blog: inthecheapseats.com.

~

Tom Poti / Victor Kozlov - Washington Capitals
Two of the Islanders' biggest factors last season left as a duo to the Washington Capitals. Defenseman Tom Poti and forward Victor Kozlov found new homes in America's Capital after Isles' management decided not to give in to inflated salary demands. Unfortunately, our Capitals friends over at Japers' Rink couldn't be reached for comment, but we can still look at the facts and figures with a neutral view.

Tom Poti has been well known for his point shot, and has worked the PP effectively for years. It's strange, then, that he has yet to net a goal all year. His +/- has also slipped a bit, and is on pace for -15 by the end of the season. At his rate, he will garner 27 assists, and, well... zero goals.

Kozlov, on the other hand, has made his own space on the Capitals, coming in at 4th on the team in overall points, with 15 assists and 3 goals. At that rate, he'll have 48 points at the end of the season. That is slightly less than he earned last year on the Isles (51), but on a slumping Capitals team, that is nothing to shake a stick at.

In all, the Capitals did well in picking clean the NY teams, adding their number-2 scorer in Michael Nylander from the Rangers.

~

And who could forget our old friend Alexei Yashin... our token under-achieving all-star.

That old boy is doing well in the Russian Super League, coming in 22nd in league scoring with 24 points.

It appears he's making friends, too. This video has surfaced of him making acquantances with Anton Belov. (Yash is number 19, which is the number he originally wanted here in the US, but was retired (Trottier), so he took 79 because it was similar.)

~

Thanks for reading, and let's go Islanders!

12/06/07 - Free Fall

2007-12-06T02:10:00.000-05:00

Well, the Islanders are doing... terribly. Go figure the last game I can see on TV this year is another depressing loss to the B's. Anyway, I wanted to quickly assure everyone that I'm still here -- working through the last weeks of the Fall semester -- and I'm now working on a collaborative piece with other NHL bloggers. It should be ready soon, so check back sometime next week for the scoop.

11/10/07 - Ketchup

2007-11-10T17:16:00.000-05:00

Hey. It's been a while, I know, but it's also been a hectic few weeks (combined with a few stretches of no Islanders games). In any case, things are looking up for the Islanders lately, who stand tonight with the 2nd best winning percentage in the East.

Today, the Islanders re-acquired defenseman Freddy Meyer, which is by all accounts a great move. Letting him go wasn't the plan back in October; the roster conflict necessitated his move to the Sound Tigers, but having a one-way contract, Freddy needed to be put on waivers first. If he's nothing else, he is even more gritty depth and insurance against further injury. I doubt that he is going to be traded, as well.

Additionally, it looks like Bryan Berard is just days away from returning to the lineup, which should help pull the powerplay back up to the top of the league (he left with 4 points, and 2 game-winning goals in just 5 games).

Satan has been playing like he's possessed lately, and keeping him hot will be crucial to winning those close games. It also seems that Guerin has found a new role on the 3rd line, and Hunter is starting to play like his old self.

It really is a case of teamwork, grit, and determination that is leading a scrappy team to the top. Nobody expected the Isles to be where they are, even after 12 games.

It's a real good sign that the Islanders' attendance figures are way up this year (the sharpest year-to-year increase in all of sports, in fact), which shows that the fans are not only noticing the team's effort and hard work, but they are returning to the Coliseum regularly. People say that the NHL is on shaky ground with all the administrative bullshit and the lack of decent national TV coverage, etc., but the sport of hockey is still very popular, and people will indeed come out to see a good game.

Tonight, the Islanders host the Devils, and the next few games are all vital points against the division. It should be a very exciting November.
Let's go Islanders.

10/14/07 - Week Two

2007-10-14T15:36:00.000-04:00

An interesting week, indeed. Following up a gritty win against the Rangers was an embarrassing loss in Toronto, and a tough loss in Philly. But we should have known what was coming, playing in Toronto after last season. (Unsportsmanlike on Comrie? Are you serious?)

Anyway... while parts of the team preformed well, namely Bryan Berard and the 3rd and 4th lines, the Comrie-Guerin-Fedotenko top line has seemingly fallen asleep. If the team is going to be successful regularly, it is going to have to rely on this line for at least one or two points per game. Obviously, it's a lot to ask of a single line, but in all honesty, they have the skills to do it. And the way the defense is shooting, it won't take a whole lot more to take the pressure off of DiPietro and Dubielewicz. Let's not forget that the Isles bought-out Yashin because he was inconsistent; what the team needs is a reliably producing first line.

But in any case, let's not look down on everything. Berard has proven to be a great acquisition, stepping up his defensive and physical games against the Flyers last night. Simon is back, and was almost waiting to drop the gloves. It was a rough week, sure, but the team is still shaking itself down and finding the right spots for everyone. No games until the Capitals on Thursday, giving the Isles lots of time to practice and rearrange accordingly. I'm excited to see what happens.

10/09/07 - Week One

2007-10-09T12:25:00.000-04:00

After three games, the Islanders stand with a 2-1 record against the Rangers tomorrow night. This nationally televised game will surely be every bit as exciting as the preseason brawl that occurred just over two weeks ago.

With that said, the Islanders have been playing very well as a team, and the new top line of Guerin, Comrie, and Fedotenko has proved to be among the league's most effective over these past games.

Despite yesterday's loss to the Capitals, I've really liked what the Islanders have put out there thus far. And with today's addition of Bryan Berard to the formal lineup, things can only get more interesting. It's unfortunate to see Freddy Meyer go (waivers to PHX), but you gotta do what's best for the team, and Berard can clearly run our powerplay most effectively. Not to mention that the Isles have the best PP in the league thus far, as well.

There is much more to be said about the past week, but of course, time is short. If you're like me, and find yourself out of NY for Wednesday, be sure to check out the Isles-Rags match on Versus.
Let's go Islanders.

9/17/07 - It Begins

2007-09-17T22:54:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the wonder of the internet, hockey fans everywhere were able to view tonight's preseason match between the Islanders and the Thrashers in North Bay, Ontario.

Now, if only they would make that sort of thing possible on nightly basis... wait.

Today also marked the launch of the NHL's new online TV service, powered by NHL Center Ice. For $150, even a castaway (ha) like myself could watch the games live. This could be huge. But then again, $150 is a lot to a college budget. For now, we'll see what happens.

Moving along. The gap in posts. A combination of lack-of-news and the bustle of move-in and classes has kept me from posting for a little less than a month. A quick recap, for continuity's sake:

8/30 - Berard at training camp officially announced.
9/04 - IslanderMania, a fan-run message board is made the official board of the Islanders.
9/10 - Islanders name Mike Dunham goaltending coach.
9/11 - Islanders trade Nokelainen to Bruins for Ben Walter and cond. 2nd rounder in 09.
9/13 - Training camp opens in Moncton, N.B.
9/17 - Islanders lose in OT to Thrashers in North Bay, ON.

Okay, so a quick rundown is great, but what's to come?

More posting, increasing as the season begins. An increased focus on details and editorial pieces, rather than simple report-and-opinion posting.

It's been a busy sophomore year so far, but the Isles still find a place here, among the hectic schedule and class demands. A million thanks to those who have come back often during the blog pause. It's good to be back, and it's good to have the Islanders back.

Thanks for reading, and let's go Islanders!

8/26/07 - The Case for Bergeron

2007-08-26T12:35:00.000-04:00

Early this week, it became apparent that the Islanders will have defenseman Bryan Berard try-out at training camp this year. Berard, who will be testing his injury-prone back and poor eyesight for a shot at a job, would be expected to fill the role of offensive defenseman with his powerful shot and offensive skill. But can too many cooks ruin a power play unit? Let's not forget one of the scoring defensemen we already have.

At 5-10, 197-lbs, Marc-Andre Bergeron is not the biggest defender there is, and due to his size, he will probably be forced to give up some ice time against the bigger forwards. He won't be able to fill the same role that Brendan Witt, Andy Sutton, and Radek Martinek will.

But with that said, his clear niche is the power play, where he can regularly deliver that booming shot of his. Since the start of his playing career in 2003, he has been touted as a power play quarterback, much along the lines of Berard and McCabe. It's surprising to me that so many people are writing Bergeron off of their lineups so soon. Given the right circumstances and teammates, he shines.

Consider this: in 55 games with Edmonton last year, Bergeron totaled 25 points and was -9. In the short 23 games he played with the Islanders, he earned 21 points, was +5, and his shooting percentage rose to 11%. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. At this rate, if Bergeron had played the full season with the Islanders, he would have tallied 21 goals and had 54 assists, for a total of 75 points. Tom Poti, although assuming a similar role on the powerplay, only scored 6 times and earned 44 points last season.

Would a power play unit benefit from having two shooters the likes of Bergeron and Berard at the point? Or would the focus on offense leave a dangerous gap for a shorthanded rush? To me, the best situation would be two separate power play lines with one point-shot on each, paired with a bigger, defensive-minded defenseman. Although Berard is bigger than Bergeron (6-2, 220-lbs), he lacks in physical play and can often forget that he is a defenseman. And let's not forget that Campoli has shown some offensive promise of his own.

With the kind of potential we're looking at next year from Marc-Andre, we may want to look at Berard as a wait-and-see luxury. If he meshes well at camp, he could find a solid place on this team. But for what the Islanders do have, he may have a tough time breaking into the defensive corps.

So when we want to make predictions as to who will have a "career year" in '08, let's not count out Marc-Andre Bergeron, who stands to impress a lot of people this year.

8/25/07 - A New Look

2007-08-25T19:03:00.000-04:00

Hey all, sorry for the brief period of downtime as I fixed the blog template. But as you can see, I've finally got the colors working better, and added a new background image! Please, if you have a second, give me some feedback on the poll to the right! Or, if you really have some great ideas, criticism, or otherwise interesting words to get out, leave a comment.

Thanks,
-Andy

8/17/07 - Sizes, Prices, and Cut

2007-08-17T12:54:00.000-04:00

Since yesterday, many questions have come up regarding the new RBK Edge uniform for our Isles. The Islanders' order form was oddly vague, and offered little as far as choice and quality.

It also appears that the uniforms being pre-ordered by the Islanders are the replica cut, and even customized for $210, are not the same as those featured by the team.

But it seems that the NHL.com store has other, cheaper plans in store. Offered today was the "Premier" cut of the Isles RBK Edge home and away jerseys, in sizes ranging from Small to XX-Large, two sizes more than currently offered by the Islanders. It appears that "Premier" is to the new RBK Edge uniforms as "Replica" was to the old.

The NEW 2007 New York Islanders Premier Jersey from Reebok® is made of high-quality polyester two-way stretch pique fabric and has solid mesh inserts for ventilation. This officially licensed jersey is engineered to duplicate the on-ice team jersey. The front crest is embroidered just like the authentic jersey and the single layer screen printed tackle twill shoulder patches (where applicable) are sewn directly to the jersey.

But the real kicker is that the price on NHL.com is actually cheaper than those on the Islanders' pre-order. At $115, they are slightly more reasonable than the pre-order pricing.

As of now, customization of these Premier uniforms seems unavailable, but at these cheaper prices, it would probably be best to order one plain at this price, and have it customized later. Who knows, maybe then you can omit the number on the upper chest and add a "C" or "A" for your respective player.

So far no word on the Authentic cut of the Edge uniforms, but I'll keep an ear out for anything more about these new uniforms and their pricing and details.
Thanks for reading.

Update - 8/18:
Just an interesting, yet small, note: IceJerseys.com is currently offering preorders of the "Authentic" cut of the new Islanders uniforms, at a fairly reasonable price of $250.

8/16/07 - New Uniforms Unveiled

2007-08-16T10:49:00.000-04:00

Put this one to bed, folks. After months of speculation, nerves, and flying rumors, the Islanders today unveiled their official RBK Edge uniforms for next season. And let me say, they are very sharp indeed.

As you can see, the new uniforms are indeed the ones noted previously in the leaked photos and some renderings. Orange sleeves, broken with white and blue stripes, shoulder area etched with opposite colors, thinner stripes at the waist, and a larger logo. All of these things have grown on me quite a bit, especially the new geometry and stripe design at the waist. It may look strange on its own, but I think it will really make the uniform look less awkward when it is on somebody.

However, there is one detail I am not too happy with, and I'm sure most of you already know what I mean. The numbers on the front of the uniform. If there is anything else that could have made the uniforms look like NFL jerseys, please let me know. It's not like it will help people in the stands or watching on TV recognize the players any better. To me, it's an unnecessary feature that only clutters the front of the uniform.

But don't get me wrong. I really like these uniforms. They are sharp, bright, and most importantly, didn't change the overall look of the team. Sure they aren't exactly the royal blue traditional uniforms many of us were hoping for, but there is word that next year there will be a royal blue 3rd jersey. I'll keep my ears out for anything to that effect. Until then, thank you to everyone who helped along the long wait for this day. It's really indicative of the whole fanbase that we had so many people out there sending in photographs, drawing up their own renditions, and even meeting with the team. It really made for an exciting offseason.

Thanks for reading.

Follow-Up - 4:00pm

For your convenience, here are the pricing and details for the uniform pre-order, which is now being offered via the Islanders official website.

Current sizes available: S, M, L, XL (adult only)

Non-season ticket holders:
> Non-customized uniform - $135
> Customized w/name & number - $210

Season ticket holders:
> Non-customized uniform - $75
> Customized w/name & number - $150

Pick-up at the Islanders team store: Free
Shipped: add $17

Not too unreasonable, especially given the supposedly nicer material that they are made of. And with the new dimensions and cut, hopefully the uniforms will look better for everyday wear, as well.

But, as with most things with this team, nobody will agree 100% on the new look. But the one thing that every fan will agree on is simple: put a winning team on the ice, and it won't matter what they are wearing.
Let's go Islanders.

8/15/07 - Isles add Vasicek, Depth

2007-08-15T12:23:00.000-04:00

It wouldn't be late summer if you could actually recognize the Islanders team, would it? But as I like to look at it, change is good. And as for a team that lost nearly all of their top players in July, we'll take all the depth we can find.

Today, the Islanders signed depth forward Josef Vasicek. At 26, the large-framed center brings a lot to the defensive end of the forwards. From how he is described, he is another classic 'Nolan-type' player.

And that's a phrase I've heard less and less of since the draft. In all the stress and confusion of the free agency period, especially considering the amount of pure... loss the Isles have seen, we seem to be forgetting that the organization is building a team around a belief. While I wanted to keep Jason Blake on Long Island, I knew that he didn't exactly fit into the team's mold for the future. That's probably why there was never a heavy pitch to keep him around. In the same motion is the effort to sign players that, -- like Vasicek -- show grit, character, and a good work ethic.

If this means that we will have to wait to build our team, I am fine with that. But with the progress that Garth and Co. has made over the span of the summer -- especially given the "dire" circumstances -- I think that we might all be in for a surprise next year.

8/13/07 - Back in Business

2007-08-13T23:42:00.000-04:00

Hey all,
I'm back at the helm, with a freshly tuned computer and a fresh look at the Islanders community. The summer is beginning to wind down, and as any good hockey fan knows, that means things are just getting started for another year.

But it also means that I'll soon be returning to Boston... a place where there are no Islanders, only Bruins. But that's only going to redouble my efforts here. After all, following the team from afar is what I do; it's why I'm writing here.

Though this week brought some Islanders news I couldn't be here to cover, there will assuredly be plenty more as this summer ends, as training camp begins, and right through until the drop of the puck on October 5th.

As I continue participating (as much as I can) in the Islanders community, I thank all of you for reading and supporting my writing. For a blog writer, there is nothing better than getting feedback from readers. Whether it is in a comment to a post, or simply seeing readers return on a regular basis, I really appreciate the support.

Thanks again, and here's to a great team in '08!
Andy Facini

8/04/07 - Downtime

2007-08-04T20:30:00.001-04:00

Due to computer repair and a short time spent away from home, Islanders Castaway will be unattended for a little over one week. Apart from (very) major developments, there will be a lull in updates until next Monday at the earliest.

You can find all the latest Islanders related news, rumors, and discussion from any of the fine sites in IslesNet, located on the right-hand side of this page.

As always, thanks for reading!

8/03/07 - Hunter Gets a Raise

2007-08-03T15:15:00.000-04:00

Though not the full asking price for Trent, an arbitrator ruled that Trent Hunter's salary for 2007-08 will rise to $1.55M. As expected, the Islanders accepted the ruling. I couldn't put it better than Garth himself:

"Letting Trent go was never a consideration for us," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He's an important piece to our team; that was never up for debate. We're glad he'll be in an Islanders uniform in September."

He really is the future of this team, on and off the ice. Can't wait to see what he does in the upcoming season. He is on track to have a career year, being an UFA next summer.

8/01/07 - Hunter at Arbitration

2007-08-01T19:37:00.000-04:00

Today, clutch forward Trent Hunter and the Islanders made their cases in front of an NHL arbritator. There is no news regarding the meeting or its outcome, but there will surely be some details.

Check back here often, as well as all the sites in IslesNet for the lastest updates on the case; they may come as early as tonight.

UPDATE 9:10PM:
According to Newsday, a ruling on today's meeting is expected by Friday. The meeting was reported as being "amicable".

We can hope for a very positive outcome for both sides. I am sure today's meeting was smooth, unlike the Sean Avery arbitration.

7/28/07 - Isles Uniforms '08 III (Update)

2007-07-28T00:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks to an alert Islanders fan at Islanders Country forums, we now have another look at the new RBK uniforms for next year.

This photo is from Stony Brook University, where there was an Islanders moon-bounce set up as a promotion at the SBU Film Festival.

Hey, it's Yashin! Not sure when this was painted, but it can be assumed that (based on more recent accounts of the uniforms) it was after the buy-out and the order was simply not updated/changed.

Note some differences from the prototype leaked photograph, including blue all-around torso and white numbers. Orange tie-up laces are seen as well. It still isn't official, of course, but it is an interesting find for sure.

7/26/07 - Islanders Uniforms '08... Again

2007-07-26T15:46:00.001-04:00

There's been a recent lull in Islanders news, so now might be a good time to discuss what's new with the uniform redesign for the Isles.

Before all else, let's just acknowledge that nobody really knows what is going on in the Islanders camp, and that everything we know is based on a leaked photo, and dozens of rumors and other conjecture.

Here is the infamous leaked photograph:

We know for sure that the photo was taken with a cell phone, and that the uniforms pictured are real. But real doesn't mean final. Many have noted the various other uniforms hanging up in the photograph, and expect that this one is most likely a prototype.

Since that photo came to light, there has been little more hard evidence out there other than "I heard from my friend..."s and more guesswork.

Then recently, a group of administrators and moderators from IslanderMania were invited to a meeting, of sorts, with Chris Botta and company at the Coliseum for a sneak peak at the uniforms. They were candid, as instructed, about the look of it, but from what they could tell us, it is a "variation of that "prototype" that we saw. But different." The general sentiment is that the new uniforms are quite nice looking, contrary to popular opinion regarding the leaked photo.

Here is a graphic rendition, based upon the accounts of the IslanderMania witnesses. I am told it is not far off. Interestingly similar to some of those early NY Islanders Country members' designs back in June.

As for when the official announcement will come, that is still to be seen. There are reports floating around that it could come as early as next week, but as Greg Logan reports, they will most likely be unveiled at the beginning or the end of Islanders training camp, September 13th or 22nd.

As for the Team Store, which recently reopened in the Broadway Mall, there are more rumors from the workers there that support a more early unveiling, possibly August 8th or 15th.

But again, nobody knows anything for sure. The new changes are coming, and we do have a general idea as to what the uniforms will look like, but now the question is a matter when it will become official. Check back here for news and updates as they happen.

Thanks for reading.

EDIT 7/28: See update and new photo here.

7/21/07 - Chris Simon Returning for 08

2007-07-21T12:29:00.000-04:00

According to the NHL Players' Association, the Islanders have completed a deal with LW Chris Simon. The terms are $475k over one year. Simon still has a few games remaining on his suspension from his March 8th slash of Rangers' Ryan Hollweg.

This is a crucial move that absolutely needed to happen for the Islanders. Chris Simon was a big piece of the team all last season, and his absence showed during the playoff run. It's about time we move on and understand that his slash on Hollweg was nothing more than a terrible, but momentary, lapse of judgement. He is a force on the locker room and on the ice, and he will definitely be a huge boost to the Isles next season.

7/20/07 - Alexei Yashin Signs with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

2007-07-20T12:08:00.000-04:00

According to their official website, former Islanders captain Alexei Yashin has signed a contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Super League. The terms are unspecified.

Alexei played for Lokomotiv during the 2005 NHL lockout, and will be joining 2006-07 Islanders teammate Randy Robitaille.

I hope for only the best for Alexei. It was clearly not working on Long Island, and that's all there is to it. He has been a class act through the entire buy-out proceedings, and I really hope he can return to his old form playing in Russia.

7/18/07 - 10,000 Visits & A New Look

2007-07-18T19:27:00.000-04:00

Sometime yesterday afternoon, as I returned to work muttering and grumbling about the last development in the Nassau Hub transit dilemma, Islanders Castaway received its 10,000th page visit since late March. I can't express enough thanks to the loyal readers out there who have made this blog such a success.

To celebrate this milestone, I have revamped much of the site's look and feel, changing several fonts and moving some pieces around. I also revisited the primary logo, using a few familiar pieces from Islanders logos past. I hope you enjoy the new look, and I would love to hear any feedback you have!

Also, be on the lookout for an special Islanders Castaway giveaway/contest sometime soon. I am working out the details now, and hope to have the fun going by next week! Any ideas/recommendations would be appreciated!

To everyone out there reading, thank you!
Andy Facini

7/17/07 - Attendance Woes, Part II

2007-07-17T12:20:00.000-04:00

In what I can only describe as rampant idiocy, the top three solutions to the Nassau Coliseum's transit problem were thrown out yesterday, according to Newsday.

The linked article details that the propositions for a LIRR station, a trolly service, and a monorail to the Coliseum have been scrapped. The remaining ideas for rapid transit service to the new NVMC site are: light rail transit, rapid bus transit, or an "automated guideway transit system", which is apparently a monorail on wheels.

This decision is infuriating. While the remaining three options will certainly help the situation, the real solution was to place a Long Island Rail Road station in or around the proposed Hub. As I've discussed previously, Long Island is a unique place for hockey. The majority of the fans aren't found over a 10-mile radius. No, try a 100-mile radius. LI isn't built like a city, and the task of just getting to the arena can become a real challenge for some people.

The only existing infrastructure connecting Long Island (besides the highways) is the LIRR. Regardless of how much it costs to build, and how much it costs for people to ride, for that matter, nobody can argue that direct connections to the NVMC site would provide millions (if not tens of millions) of Long Islanders with an easy way to get to the Islanders and Dragons games, not to mention the many concerts, conventions, and public functions that will be held there.

I'm not placing blame on who exactly is the loony in this situation. That is still to be seen, and at this point, doesn't really make a difference. But regardless of who dropped the ball yesterday, the site developers should still be fighting tooth and nail for the opportunity to directly connect their proposal with the rest of Long Island.

Isn't that the idea, after all?

7/16/07 - Campoli Contract Complete

2007-07-16T15:12:00.000-04:00

And just like that, there is some news.

Despite some unfounded rumors that the Islanders were in the midst of sending him off in a trade, the Islanders today signed 23 year-old defender Chris Campoli to a 3-year contract. The exact value of the contract is currently undisclosed. This comes at a time when the Islanders are severely lacking on the blue line, and can only provide some much needed depth to the system.

Personally, I love the move. Campoli has found his way under a lot of peoples' skin lately, but I believe that he is the future of the Islanders defense. At the very least, he is expected to become a powerplay specialist, and with the right leadership from veteran defenders, could really become an all-star player in the future.

It is also telling of the Islanders future as a whole. The team is committed to building from the ground up, using veteran leadership to enhance the development of the younger players.
A great move, in my opinion.

7/16/07 - All Quiet on the Island

2007-07-16T12:36:00.000-04:00

Perhaps too quiet. It is Monday afternoon, and there is no real news to report. But not for a lack of speculative buzz, however.

All signs point to this week being a busy one for many NHL teams, with arbitration closing in, and many teams struggling to resolve their payroll. The Islanders have been rumored to be on the verge of completing a significant trade, most likely with a team on the West coast. I would have to assume Vancouver, which is in need of scoring, and is looking to move some defenders, which is something the Islanders lack. Additionally, several UFAs are still reported to be in talks with the Isles, among them Derek Morris, Andy Suttion, Bryan Berrard, and to a lesser extent, Danny Markov.

While there is no news to break now, that may change as quickly as tonight for the Islanders. Check back here for news and developments as they happen. Thanks for reading.

7/09/07 - Islanders Press Event Recap

2007-07-09T12:49:00.000-04:00

Well, I was wrong. In fact, I was "bogus". From the Islanders website:

Although the rumor of the new Islanders jersey being unveiled today is certifiably bogus – and there is not expected to be news of any additional free agents today – fans will want to stay tuned from beginning to end. You never know: there could be a surprise worth waiting for.

Well, a whopping 15 minutes later, and there was no real surprise. At least, nothing close to the new uniforms us fans are waiting for.

After introducing Sim, Fedotenko, and Comrie, Garth Snow presented Bill Guerin with the team captaincy, in as boring a fashion as one can imagine. It was nice to see all the new players and to have some enthusiasm going for the Islanders, but I can't help but feel gypped a little.

Hopefully, more news will come sometime soon.

And only to clear record, I was not starting a "rumor" concerning the new uniforms. That's not my game. I was offering my own speculation to a very convincing and realistic scenario. C'est la vie.

7/08/07 - Islanders Press Event Preview

2007-07-08T20:08:00.000-04:00

On Friday, the Islanders website announced a press event to take place Monday at 12:30 PM. The event will focus on the introduction of the Islanders' new skaters; Sims, Fedetenko, Guerin, and Comrie.

From the moment I read the announcement, something struck me as strange. There is an odd kind of buzz that the organization is trying to start. Even the fact that it is being called a press 'event', rather than a press conference is somewhat interesting.

Then it hit me. The Islanders are planning more than just an introduction of their new players. They are going to introduce the "new look" of the team. Literally.

Expect the Islanders to unveil their new 2007-08 uniforms at this press event. Of course, I could be wrong about this, as I have no 'inside info' to the situation, but everything seems to be falling into place just right.

A team that, after a series of embarrassing losses at the dawn of free agency -- trying to recover and rebuild -- is a perfect candidate to make yet another big announcement to keep moving forward. We already know that the team has had uniform prototypes made up for a few months now. Factor in Friday's other announcement of the new players' official uniform numbers, and I believe you get the picture. The situation is just right.

The event is scheduled for 12:30, and will be covered on the Islanders website, and on IslesTV. You can be sure that it will be exciting, uniform announcement or not.
Thanks for reading.

7/05/07 - Islanders Completely Restart

2007-07-05T20:20:00.000-04:00

It's funny, how fickle we Islanders fans are. Just four days ago, we were crying our eyes out and lining up to return our season ticket packages. But suddenly, in the span of under three hours, life is good again on Long Island.

GM Garth redeemed himself today by signing veteran winger Bill Guerin and hard-nosed center Mike Comrie. They were signed to a 2-year, $9M contract and a 1-year, $3.4M contract, respectively.

Between today and yesterday's addition of Ruslan Fedotenko, the Islanders have regained a solid first line, and can finally fill a full four lines of forwards. There is yet some work to do, but major problem number one has been addressed, and the team is rebounding well indeed.

With players like Guerin and Sillinger, the Islanders certainly have enough experience and veterancy to lead the team.
With players like Comrie and Hunter, the Isles also have enough youth and talent to turn a lot of heads yet again.

So, before you decide to proclaim "Garth must go", and before you turn in your season tickets, think again.
Patience has paid off.

The Islanders haven't gone anywhere. They're just going to be a little different. Again.

7/01/07 - Islanders Face a Complete Restart

2007-07-01T22:51:00.000-04:00

Gutted.

The New York Islanders no longer bear any resemblance to the team that surprised everyone in 2006-07. Tonight, after the first day of free agency, the Islanders retain four of their top ten scorers in 07.

Jason Blake signed a 5-year, $20M contract in Toronto.
Ryan Smyth signed a 5-year, $31M contract in Colorado.
Victor Kozlov signed a 2-year, $5M contract in Washington.
Tom Poti signed a 4-year, $14M contract also in Washington.

That's a loss of 232 points from last season. Add in the Yashin buy-out and Robiataille's decision to play in Russia, and that number jumps to 322 points that the Islanders currently have zero replacement for.

That should pretty much speak for itself.

After all that, how could there be any reason to keep the faith?
Consider this.

Rather than spending an exorbitant amount on the other free agents this afternoon, the Islanders held the line. As much as this non-action may have contributed to Smyth's decision to leave, this also leaves the team with one of the biggest cap spaces in the league. And not for lack of choices, either; some major players are still available.

Look at the Rangers. Today, they picked up both Scott Gomez and Chris Drury. Two big-name free agents, for sure. But take another look. The Rags gave up $7.3M a year in cap space to Gomez for the next seven years, and $7.05M a year in cap space to Drury for the next five. If either of these players doesn't work out, or becomes injured, the Rangers just committed salary cap suicide. Not to mention the fact that an all-star at every position doesn't equate a winning team. Look at the Yankees. What place are they in?

That aside, the average age of the Islanders just fell a considerable amount as well. Though a lot of fans doubt the Isles minor-league status, the truth is that there are a lot of determined young skaters out there waiting to fill the Ted Nolan mold.

Unfortunately, the biggest blow the Islanders suffered today was not on ice, but rather off ice. There's no doubting the organization is nearly undefendable in the eyes of the rest of the league. Attendance... well, that will probably end up being the biggest joke next season.

So in this pit that the Islanders have gone so gracefully headlong into, there is nowhere to go but up. It will be very interesting to watch Snow and Wang pull the team out of this tailspin.

But don't give up yet, Islanders fans. It's still only July 1st, and while the team has a long way to go before September, try to have a little faith in the team. It will be a hard sell to the remaining free agents and any other potential players out there (especially without Smyth sticking around), but rest assured, the Islanders will be there in the fall, and they will show up to play. Wether it takes the signing of a few fresh free agents (at inflated prices, of course), or a complete team restart with a roster of unknown faces and possible suprise talents, the Islanders aren't out of the picture, not in the slightest.

Let's see what tomorrow brings. And let's leave it at that for now.
Thanks for reading.

6/29/07 - Smyth to Test Free Agency

2007-06-29T15:28:00.000-04:00

Say it ain't so! Over at Spector's Hockey, Spector reports that Ryan Smyth's agent, Don Meehan, said that Ryan would test the free agent market tomorrow. Meehan, was quoted from a Toronto-area radio talk show, was backed up by Darren Dregger of TSN.ca.

This really can't come as much of a surprise to us Islanders fans. With the kind of buzz (and money) being thrown around this summer, wouldn't you want to see what all your offers were?

I still have faith that Smyth may remain an Islander.

It makes you think, however, about what all that buzz was about yesterday. Could it be that there is already a deal or an agreement already in place, and it is contingent on the Islanders' moves in the FA market? Or is it possible that yesterday's buzz was exactly that- yesterday's buzz.

6/28/07 - On the Brink CORRECTED

2007-06-28T18:12:00.000-04:00

No, not only on the brink of the free agency period.

There has been what can only be described as "explosive buzz" tearing through the Islanders communities in the past few hours. I originally reported that an informant on IslandersCountry has leaked information that something "BIG" is about to go down.

It has since become apparent that the leak was first brought to light at IslanderMania forums. Thanks to a concerned reader who contacted me and set the record straight.

From the information divulged, one can only be led to believe that Ryan Smyth has signed a contract with the Islanders. Not only do all the pieces fit together perfectly, but the details (including those about lawyers being involved) are being backed up by other sources, among which Eklund at HockeyBuzz. Normally, I don't put much stock in Eklund in the Smyth affairs, but these are details that are backed up by multiple sources. I believe that makes at least an (E2) by his count. [sarc.])

But, of course, nothing is final until the hammer hits the chisel. You can bet something is going to happen in the next 24 hours, if not much sooner. Check back here often for updates, as well as Greg Logan's blog for breaking news.

6/24/07 - Draft Day II

2007-06-24T16:04:00.000-04:00

Well, the draft is over, and in essence, not much has changed for the Islanders. The team acquired some solid defensemen in the later rounds, but aside from that, the Islanders are the same team they were two days ago.

Despite numerous unfounded rumors from the Canadian press, the rights to Smyth were not dealt, and the team is moving ahead without any unnecessary roadblocks. It's good to be proven wrong once in a while, eh Canada?

Anyway no hard feelings... we are all waiting (unpatiently) for July 1 to find out the actual destination for all our free agents.

Additionally, I was surprised to see that only three teams (Washington, Boston, Columbus) unveiled their new uniforms at the draft. I suppose most teams decided to wait for the right time over the summer. (Anyone else thinking a Ryan Smyth press conference, perhaps?)

Some good news, though... the Blue Jackets are already taking public orders for their new uniforms, and the price for a "premier" (the equivalent to replica) is a reasonable $110 for an adult; $55 for kids. Naturally, there is an authentic version for $250, but even that price is a a great deal better than the rumored $500+ price tag. Add in $75 for name/number if you wish, but you still have a very reasonable price for a new hockey jersey.

So, only a few days left until another busy weekend in the hockey world. I'll be keeping my ears open for any interesting developments.

Thanks for reading.

6/22/07 - Draft Day I

2007-06-22T16:28:00.001-04:00

Today is the day!

The NHL Draft will begin tonight at 7:00PM EST at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Expect a lot of buzz to be generated over the next 48 hours, as teams choose their draft picks, trade out players, and unveil their new uniforms. Although the Islanders currently do not have a first or second round draft choice, that may change rapidly in dealings with other teams.

Unfortunately, I will be unable to update Islanders Castaway with the latest news and draft buzz until later tonight at the earliest. Until then, I recommend you check out the great sites ain IslesNet, located on the lower right of this article.

Thanks for reading, and let's keep our fingers crossed for an exciting and productive draft!

6/21/07 - Update II: New Bruins Uniforms Announced

2007-06-21T12:16:00.000-04:00

Officially announced at the official Bruins website, the team has changed their look for the 2007-2008 season.

The new "B" spoke logo is very sharp, and I love the retro secondary logo.

This confirms the rumors regarding the "alternate" Draft Day caps for sale at NHL.com, and reinforces the notion of big changes to come soon.
Note: the Draft Day hats being more believable now, I think it's safe to announce that the Islanders will see a return to royal blue, or at the least, a lighter shade of navy for next season.

More updates as they break.

-----
UPDATE: 4:00pm

It seems the Bruins have taken the leap and announced their new RBK Edge Uniforms for 2007-08. Here they are, courtesy this article at HockeyJournal.

They are great. A return to the vintage design for the B's, and finally, the proof we needed to stop sweating about those horizontal lines. If the Caps' and Bruins' decisions to return to their traditional roots is any indication, I think a lot of Islanders fans are going to be very pleased when the new uniform is announced.

Tomorrow promises to be an explosive day for hockey. Let's all keep an open mind and an open ear for all the developments that are sure to happen in the next 24 hours.

6/20/07 - Islanders Uniforms '08 - Part II

2007-06-20T14:04:00.001-04:00

Today, the Washington Capitals new uniform was leaked on their website. This was, of course, to be expected to happen at some time; it's actually a surprise it took so long for this to get out.

As you can see, the Caps have made the return to the classic red, white, and blue color scheme, and have redesigned the old logo.

Even though the photo is of less-than-great quality, the uniform looks very sharp. I am glad to see the primary "eagle" crest design get the boot, and the new font for "Capitals" combines old tradition with new style.

What is interesting to note is that the Caps' design is not just a re-colorization of the original All-Star Game templates. This is a very good thing to see; one of the rumors floating around was that the new team uniforms were going to be based upon the All-Star Game designs. . In the same boat of such rumors, though, it is evident that there are no horizontal stripes shown in this photo. Granted, the image is cut off and the uniform may very well have some stripes at the end of the sleeves or the waist, but there is no evidence to debunk this troubling rumor.

What does this mean for the Islanders?

Well, if you still want to believe what the Caps uniform failed to disprove, the Islanders may lose the traditional orange/white stripes on the sleeves and waist. Yes, this would be a huge loss, but I still have faith in the people behind the redesign, and I don't think us Islanders fans have a lot to worry about. I also don't think we have to worry about those under-arm and side vertical stripes, as seen on the All-Star prototype. If the Caps didn't adopt it, then it must not be necessary.

In related news, the NHL Draft Day baseball caps were unveiled recently, and several of them raised a few eyebrows around the league. "Alternate" designs of these hats were found on the league server, among them one with the new Capitals logo. Some of these caps aren't yet available for sale, and speculation is that the league wants to wait for the official announcements.

The Islanders' own Draft Day cap is stirring up a little buzz, as well. As first noticed on IslandersCountry, the cap is colored royal blue, and not the navy blue the team has used since 1995. This seems to conform recent rumors about the return to royal for the Islanders, including supporting theories on the color design of their new website.

Other thoughts:
It is reported that the new Columbus Blue Jackets' logo will be their current third logo; the Ohio flag wrapped in red, white, and blue.

According to extra images found on the NHL store server, the Bruins logo may face a slight change in the "B" font.

There have also been rumors of the Buffalo Sabres having a total redesign again, amid much criticism of their new 2006-07 crest.

Friday is the day for all fans waiting for the official uniform announcements. Even before the 2007 NHL Draft kicks off in Columbus, several teams are already planning their official announcements. More is sure to come, and as Draft Day comes closer, the possibility of more leaks will be high. Keep it here for updates and thoughts.

6/18/07 - Bergenheim Back for 07-08

2007-06-18T12:17:00.000-04:00

Islanders TV is reporting that Sean Bergenheim has negotiated a deal that lands him back on Long Island for the 2007-2008 hockey season. Bergenheim signed a 1-year contract, and will appear at Islanders training camp in the fall.

For the full story, visit the Islanders web page and watch the Islanders TV article featuring GM Garth Snow and Asst. GM Ryan Jankowski.

6/16/07 - Hockey Night on LI Recap

2007-06-16T17:52:00.000-04:00

Today, I co-hosted the Hockey Night on Long Island radio show, along with Alex and special guest Tom from IslesInfo.com. The original special guest, Shawn P. Roarke, did not call-in as expected. Nobody's quite sure what occurred in that respect, but a Alex and I were very grateful to Tom for calling in on such short notice.

We had a great show, where we talked about today's Samsonov trade, the Isles' new website, the upcoming draft, and of course, lots of free agent speculation and thoughts. Some callers brought up interesting points, and made for a generally solid discussion.

If you missed the show, and would like to listen to the tape, visit the Hockey Night on LI radio website. You can find today's and any of the other 16 shows available online at any time under show archives.

Thanks to those who tuned in!

6/15/07 - Hockey Night on Long Island: Saturday at 3:00PM

2007-06-15T18:34:00.000-04:00

Our friends over at Hockey Night on Long Island have humbled me with an invitation to co-host tomorrow's matinee show. Unfortunately, regular host Steve is unable to make it tomorrow, and I was offered the chance to fill in for him. Of course, I accepted.

The show starts at 3:00PM, and the (very) special guest will be NHL.com's senior writer, Shawn P. Roarke.

If you haven't tuned in before, you're in for a treat. The boys run a great show, and have had a great lineup of special guests from around the league. Tomorrow's show promises to be yet another interesting discussion.

Please tune in online at 3:00PM. As always, you can call-in with your thoughts and commentary at (718)-664-9597, or shoot Alex an instant message at hockeynightli on AIM.

Hope to hear from you there!

6/11/07 - The Calm Before the Storm

2007-06-11T19:37:00.000-04:00

For the Islanders, this offseason is key. Our recipe for headline-busting news: one part crazy owner, one part powerful GM, two parts unrestricted free agents, and a liberal amount of building momentum. The buy-out of Alexei Yashin was only the beginning in an offseason that will be full of drama and anticipation.

Anyone that has been even loosely following the team can tell you that the buzz surrounding the Islanders is as high as it's ever been, and that there is certainly something exciting happening within the organization this year.

The team has shown by example that it is dedicated to bringing respect and a competitive team back to the Island, and with any luck, the fans will respond in numbers. For a change, the Islanders are turning heads, and not because of scandal and controversy. As hollow as the rumors surrounding Smyth, Blake, and the rest of the league truly are, it's clear that more and more people on Long Island are listening and waiting for the next big announcement.

Like I said, this offseason is key. Long Islanders are interested in the Islanders again, and so far, the organization has made all the right choices. If there was ever a time to get excited about the future of the team, it is now.

This post is meant to boost that notion, and to set a tone for which the next two weeks will most assuredly be kept. There's no new information here, no rumors to analyze or news to break. Just a little thought for the rest of the month. July 1st can not come soon enough for hockey fans on Long Island.
Try not to bite your nails too bad, everyone.

6/06/07 - Breaking News - Yashin Bought Out

2007-06-06T06:40:00.000-04:00

According to Newsday, the Islanders have announced the contract buy-out of captian Alexei Yashin. It will cost $17.63 million, and according to Ted Nolan, it was a "hard decision, but when push came to shove, it was the best decision for this organization to give Yash a nice, fresh start."

Read the full article here. More to come soon.

6/04/07 - Islanders Uniforms 08: Predictions and Thoughts

2007-06-04T14:00:00.000-04:00

Amid the ongoing, tumultuous flow of rumors, news, and speculations concerning the free agent pool, I'd like to take a little time to step back and change the topic a little. If you're looking for the latest free agent talk, please check out our pal Carey over at Isles Blog.

As you probably know already, the NHL has decided to change the standard uniform design for all teams next season. The new model, designed by Reebok and dubbed the "RBK Edge", includes high-tech lightweight materials, form-fitting measurements, moisture-repellent fabric, greater breathability and motion motion range, and (reportedly) they can make espresso.

They debuted this January at the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas, and were met with rave reviews from the players, but less-than-rave reviews from the fans. The players say that they're comfortable, maneuverable, and dry. The fans, naturally, resisted the change. And of course, there's little doubt that this change is largely motivated by the league's desire to rake in a lot of extra cash.

But as time went on, and the idea of the uniform redesign sank in, it started seeming less and less of a bad idea. If the players will benefit, then it should be good for the sport. And that's always good for us fans.

But now it's nearing truth time for the new uniforms, and we're all getting a little worried about the impending changes again. Information has been very sparse in regards to the changes that will take place, and it's no doubt the league will keep it that way until the last minute. What we do know (or think we know) is that the league has encouraged all teams to use the template design that we saw at the All-Star game to redesign their uniform design for next year. If this is true, it is worrying.
Honestly, the uniforms aren't that different, fundamentally. They looked really good in Dallas, but that graphic design is unique, and just does not agree with the "look" of a lot of the teams in the league.

The other bit of information that has been rumored about these new threads is that it is very difficult to print up horizontal stripes on the new material. What that means is up to a great amount of interpretation, but if it means the removal of horizontal stripes from uniform designs, there is going to be a huge amount of backlash from virtually every team's fans-- because, to a point, we're all traditionalists, and 90% of the teams feature horizontal stripes and color changes on their uniforms.

I find that rumor hard to believe -- based on the long tradition of horizontal stripes in uniform design -- but the fact that the All-Star uniforms didn't have such horizontal stripes leaves little comfort for those who doubt.

In any case, those with some ties to the Islanders have heard a few rumors about the Islanders' future look, and others have interpreted those rumors à la photoshop. Here's some from the fine artists at IslandersCountry:

Courtesy "RumMunkey"

Courtesy "SteveDepot"

Courtesy "bvon44"

They're all great renderings, and I'd actually be happy if these were anything like the final cut. Remember, these are fan ideas and are based on rumors, so don't take these as more than they are. We won't know for sure what the new Isles uniforms will be until they are officially announced.

It's going to be an interesting offseason for our Islanders, to say the least. The Capitals are set to unveil their own uniform design early this summer, so maybe we will get a better idea soon.

5/24/07 - A (New) New Direction?

2007-05-24T20:14:00.000-04:00

Today, the Islanders announced the addition of 20 year old defenseman Andrew MacDonald.

MacDonald makes five for the Isles' blue line prospect list, and with another recent addition of LW Sean Bentivoglio and increasing talks of top prospect Kyle Okposo leaving the University of Minnesota to join Islanders training camp this fall, maybe Garth Snow and the Islanders scouting team have something in mind for 2007-08.

Remember, when the Islanders acquired veterans like Sillinger, Witt, and Poti, the team was still under the leadership of Neil Smith.

The team lost prospects Ryan O'Marra and Robert Nilsson in the trade for Ryan Smyth, but the gap has been more than made up since.

Consider a short list of potential Islanders next season.
Kyle Okposo - F
Frans Nielsen - F
Blake Comeau - F
Trevor Smith - F
Sean Bentivoglio - F

Dustin Kohn - D
Tomas Malec - D
Andrew MacDonald - D

While the odds of any of these players making the full-time roster out of training camp is low, the future is beginning to look very bright. Maybe the Islanders organization is being re-re-invented. Again.

Now consider this situation: Blake walks, and Smyth and Yashin remain. Hill is gone, and Martinek won't be ready for game 1 after all. The Isles face a big 40-goal gap and need to fill in the defense. We're not realistically going to be able to rely on signing players the likes of Drury or Kariya this summer, so maybe our best bet would be our up-and-coming prospect Okposo. Or maybe Tambellini, Campoli, Gervais, and Nielsen step up to the challenge. Letting these young players get the chance to play with seasoned veterans like Sillinger and Witt can allow the full NHL-level acclimation that will develop the players' full potentials, as well.

So does this mean that Neil Smith's plan was to add veterancy and experience, and Garth Snow's plan is to add youth and build the future? Not necessarily. Maybe Garth is looking to build up for the coming seasons, and maybe he is still focusing on the changes that are going to happen come July. It's anybody's guess at this point, but it will be extremely interesting to see how the situation unfolds through the summer months.

In any event, free agents or no-free agents, the steps that Snow has already taken to build up this team's prospect roster give a great deal of confidence in this summer. Whatever happens, I think we can all rest easy in knowing that the team is in good hands, and the future is looking better and better all the time.

5/19/07 - Gripe #1 - Attendance Woes; Nobody Goes.

2007-05-19T02:30:00.000-04:00

This is the first in a series of Islanders-related gripes that I will write about this summer. These aren't meant to be disheartening or purely cynical; just some criticisms that point out a few opportunities and ideas.
Today's topic: mass transportation and the Islanders' attendance.

Everyone knows that the Coliseum is old... it's one of the oldest in the league. Not only that, but it is the NHL's smallest arena in terms of capacity.

But falling chunks of concrete and lack of seats aren't the problem with the poor attendance rates for the Isles.

The main problem (or at least one of them) is transportation. Since the Coliseum is located in a place that is far disconnected from the LIRR, and there currently isn't a shuttle system in place for Islanders games, the only option left for fans to get to the Coliseum is by car. Even for those who live nearby, walking across Hempstead Turnpike -- or even Lindbergh Ave for that matter -- is never a great choice.

Yes, at times, the turnout is fine for the team. The Isles still see plenty of sellouts, especially against the Rags and in the playoffs, but any season ticket holder will tell you that the real problem lies on those weeknight games -- some games barely straddling the 10,000 fan turnout.

Most critics around the league point at these figures and jump to the conclusion that the Islanders just have a shrinking fanbase, and that hockey cannot survive on the Island. If you're reading this, I assume you're a pretty big Islanders fan at the least, and should already know that the Isles have one of the most dedicated, unique, and biggest fanbases in the league.

If you're here representing another team, or no team at all, and you doubt this fact, recent data revealed that the Islanders are the 8th most popular team in the league on the web, and Islanders-related blogs featured on NHL.com are ranked #1 in hits. Read more on this here (under 'webology'). The fans are out there... only no one wants to make that drive to the game

So, enough complaining and feeling indignant about things. Andy's crackpot solution time.
Since the low-turnout problem is really an infrastructure problem, there is no easy fix for the Coliseum. The place is a black hole for mass transportation, and that can't be changed by digging a subway or laying down a crazy monorail system.

There are five competing bids for the upcoming Coliseum redevelopment, with Charles Wang's Lighthouse Project the current favorite. The easiest solution to the transportation problem would be to move the entire arena, and all its planned expansionary projects, to a different property; one closer to the LIRR or even MTA hubs. Unfortunately, that is unrealistic, and the only plan to actually address the problem of transportation is the crazy monorail plan (which also calls for a baseball stadium and carries no guarantee for the Isles staying there). (That link, by the way, is a great read and is full of lots of great details.)

Until things can get sorted out on the Coliseum's future (or until they put me in charge of the Coliseum project and Nassau County), don't look for anything in this regard to change. It seems that us fans that are able to are forever destined to make the long (and increasingly more expensive) drive out to Hempstead to see our team play. It's unfortunate -- mass transportation would surely lead to higher game attendance, and that would solve so many problems and shut up so many critics.

5/11/07 - The Dilemma

2007-05-11T20:14:00.000-04:00

Our forward situation for next year is not looking well, Isles fans.
Time to play GM.

Assuming we sign Smyth (meaning buy-out Yashin), this is what I can see:
(And in no order, just for placement's sake.)

Smyth Sillinger Hunter
Satan(?) Kozlov Zednik
Hilbert Park(winger) Tambellini
Simon(?) Asham(winger) Bates(?)

This is assuming we're not getting Blake back (I'm not convinced we will). And talks of trading Satan are going to have to wait until we can find a [very] good replacement scorer for line 2.
If we -can- get Blake to sign again, however, things will already look better, and we can then focus on a more viable center for line 2.

We aren't going to be competitive at all if we can't muster up two or more really solid, reliable lines of forwards.

We need some depth.
Bad.

With that said, letting Yashin go is (reportedly) a must to get Smyth, but it really puts us in a spot where we only have one solid center and leaves a vacuum in the 3rd and 4th lines.

In short:

Get Smyth and be pressured to find a center
Lose Blake and be pressured to find a scorer

We were looking at some FA wingers before... we really need to be looking at centers at this rate. Drury is the obvious pick, but I doubt we will be able to swing it.

What to do?

5/07/07 - What Smyth Means to Long Island

2007-05-07T19:31:00.000-04:00

Just as free agent negotiations are about to begin, the impact that Ryan Smyth had on the Islanders is finally starting to be measured.

As so many reporters put it, the trade to bring Smyth to the Isles brought back a level of 'respectability' to the franchise. More than that, however, he brought a level of hope to the fans on Long Island. At a turning point in the Isles' season, Smyth stepped in and stepped up. Whether on the score sheet or in the locker room, his presence was clearly felt in the Isles bid for the playoffs.

This wasn't unnoticed by Islanders fans, and Smyth quickly became a favorite. For the first time in many seasons, Islanders fans had a big-name player to rally around and be proud of. Instead of loathing the slacker types like Yashin and Satan, us fans could brag about the success of Smyth and his linemates. Movements like "Sign Smyth" are indicative of his effect on the club.

Just as Smyth came to the team at a turning point in the season, the free agency decision comes at a turning point for this franchise. For the first time in a long time, the Islanders have some real talent and potential for the future. The fans are paying attention, and are anxiously pleading to have our new leader signed for next year. If the Islanders organization had any type of foresight, they would make signing Ryan Smyth priority #1; if not for his skills, but for the support of the fans. Us Islanders fans can't take much more heartbreak from this team, and if the Isles want to have a future as a hockey club, they need to make a tighter knit relationship with their fans.

We're pleading - are they listening?

5/06/07 - Yashin and Kovalev? Something to ponder.

2007-05-06T01:44:00.000-04:00

Some of the many rumors flying around the league have concerned our dear captian Alexei Yashin and his slacking counterpart in Montreal, Alexei Kovalev. As you might already know, Kovalev has failed to achieve his own level of play in the past few seasons, this season especially. Montreal is frustrated with his play, and will likely unload him for cheap. With as many FAs as the Isles have, it has to be

Yashin, as we're all quite used to, has suffered the same underachievement in the last few years. As it turns out, the Alexeis are good friends from playing in/for Russia. It might be interesting to see if the former linemates could work some chemistry together and pull each other out of their slumps.

As intriguing as this may seem, I don't think it will happen. With Nolan's new team model, and Snow's aim to bring a new face to the organization, the Isles won't be picking up any slackers this summer. Even if the deal could work out to the benefit to both players, I'd much rather see the Isles trade out Yashin to the Habs, not the other way around.

In other news: Camp Smyth is scheduled to meet with camp Snow sometime in the coming days. Stay tuned here for news, rumors, and tongue-in-cheek skepticism.

5/03/07 - Reconstruction

2007-05-03T19:38:00.000-04:00

UPDATE:
Check out the new design and logo!
Please comment and let me know what you think.
Thanks!

5/03/07 - Some Isles Buzz

2007-05-03T16:16:00.000-04:00

Hey there, hockey fans. As the Stanley Cup playoffs progress, I know that all of us are moving on entirely and totally from our Isles' round one loss.

Right.

In any case, there have been some interesting developments in Islanders World over the last week. I'll be plain and address them one-by-one (in no particular order):

DiPietro - Well, this was a surprise to me, at least. It seems that DiPi has undergone hip surgery, and uh, it went well. I guess we can't be all that surprised that no information was divulged by the team prior to the surgery. Perhaps "general body soreness" struck again. Whatever- according to the team site, he will be fine for training camp.

Yashin / Smyth - I like Smyth for his skill, work ethic, and on/off the ice personality. Call me crazy. Though Yashin was sort of instrumental... kind of a little, in 2004-ish games, well... uh... he sucks. Does he still have the skill to be a top 20, nay, 10 player in the league? We've all seen it. Will he ever really pull it off? Not a chance. I'm not even going to go into his captaincy status; that's just some sort of anomaly of the highest caliber.
Now, according to our good friend Gary Harding (via), it seems that Symth's future as an Islander hinges on a certain someone else not being around next season. That's right: if we want to keep Smyth, we are going to have to let Yashin go.

Oh no.

This is probably the hardest decision in sports. Ever.

Blake - Has anyone heard -anything- about this guy? All the general buzz that seems to have surrounded Blake and the rest of the free agents seems to have died out entirely. Does anyone know what the story is?

Well, in any case, there's still 57 days to negotiate our free agents and (hopefully) sign some more talent. With Yashin out of the cap, we'll have room for some real big names as well.
We'll see where we end up.

Until next time-

4/21/07 - Season Over - Thank you

2007-04-21T16:10:00.000-04:00

As the last few seconds ticked off the clock in Buffalo last night, I crumpled down and groaned in frustration. Only this season, with this Islanders team, could things have come down to such a close margin.

Last night, and in fact, for the entire season, the Isles fought an uphill battle. Despite being written off in September, the Islanders banded together and played with heart. After leading the division in late 2006, the team fell to their lowest point just after new year's day. From there they faced a steep climb out of their hole. But Garth Snow came through for the team, adding some real talent and leadership just in time for the playoff push. Again, the Isles were written off as a contender, but one more time they would prove everybody wrong. The team came together again, and with the help of some unlikely heroes, the down-and-out Islanders won four elimination games in a row to clinch a playoff birth in the last moment possible.

It's true, the playoff series with Buffalo was full of controversy and drama, as was much of the regular season, but nobody can deny that the series brought some of the best hockey anyone's seen from our team in years. Don't look at the score, but look at the game as a whole. I know that I was actually standing for most of the game last night, and it wasn't just in the third period. I grew up in a time where it was embarrassing to be an Islanders fan for a long time. This year, I'm proud to support the Isles. Even though we were eliminated in 5 games, we accomplished so much more than the statistics will reflect.

There is a lot to be said about this year's team, but I feel like I should mention a few players that really stood out in the fight against Buffalo.

Ryan Smyth - He brought so much more to this team than anyone else in the short time he's been here. He worked hard, was vocal on and off the ice, and set the tone for the entire team in the postseason. He should be priority no. 1 for the off-season.

Trent Hunter - Trent won nearly all his battles on the forecheck and consistently made that skill pass in the zone, which was, quite honestly, the sole reason for dozens of Islanders scoring chances. He is an invaluable piece of the puzzle, and must also be signed as soon as possible.

Mike Sillinger - Enough can't be said for the team's top worker. He worked powerplay and penalty kill, forecheck and backcheck. There is almost nothing he can't do, and he works well with everyone.

Victor Kozlov - Sure, he is streaky, and sure, it seems that he can disappear at times, but in this series, he really came alive. Kozlov was responsible for dozens of Isles' carry-ins, taking chops and slashes as he pushed the rush forward. He has eyes in the back of his head, and can retain the puck better than anyone on the ice.

Andy Hilbert - God bless him, he's trying. No, really though, he is literally inches away from 20 or 30 goals per season. He works so damn hard; it's just a shame he seems to have a knack for finding the goalpost or otherwise missing his shot in confounding ways. Let him develop, and we will have a very strong forward very soon.

In any case, this season is over. As sad as it is, I find it to be strangely relieving to finally be done. No more NHL drama (I hope), no more heart-attack third periods. I love this sport, and I love supporting our team, I really do. It just feels now, that it might be time for a rest. Haha, I know it sounds strange, but hopefully someone will know what I mean.

I'd like to take this time to thank the entire team, as well as all my fellow fans this year. This year was the first time I really felt any real connection to the players and to the community, and that really made the entire season so much fun and so memorable. Honestly, I'd really love to get the chance to talk to some of the players, and let them know how much this season meant to their fans. I hope that next year will be even deeper, and that the Isles can play with the same great sense of team and spirit that was present this year.

So finally, a heartfelt thanks to all who have read my blog over the last short month. I am really glad that it has become somewhat of a success, and all of it is due to my fellow fans (and occasionally, enemies). I don't plan on going anywhere. This summer, I'll be back (probably on some sort of weekly/monthly basis) to discuss Islanders news, rant about the league, and/or share some random thoughts about the organization.

So to the team, the fans, and everyone out there reading, thank you.
Andy Facini

4/20/07 - Game 5 - Isles at Sabres

2007-04-20T13:13:00.000-04:00

I can't even handle all the fraudulent moves by the NHL in this series. In case you haven't kept up, here's a summary from last night:

NHL botches a goal scored by Witt in game 4, ultimately leading to the Isles' loss.
Isles' administration and fans defy the NHL and speak out against the biased ruling.
Contradictory stories are issued by the NHL and by the game's referees regarding the events that transpired leading to the no-goal call.
NHL tries to cover up all video evidence of the goal, even having a fan-uploaded video of the goal removed on YouTube.

Islanders' reaction
The full replay (may not last if NHL finds it)
Witt's angle slow-mo (watch the puck)
Fan's perspective on the call

Read Greg Logan's blog for Newsday; he did a great job covering the call, and has another video uploaded there as well. "The Smoking Gun" is particularly intriguing - On the Islanders Beat

In any case, it's over 50˚ for the first time in weeks, and I'm going to cut my 3:00 class and play soccer. I recommend that everyone find something to do outside, if even for a little bit. Let's clear our heads and move on from game 4. The Isles are again in a win-or-die situation, but we've already seen how they've performed in that situation 4 times this season.

Try to forget the NHL and the frustrations of games 3 and 4. Tonight is another game, and we should all be happy to watch our Isles compete with the best team in the league. Hopefully, we they get to play on and return home for game 6.
Keep the faith, everyone. We can do this!

4/19/07 - Game 4 - Sabres and NHL at Isles Postgame

2007-04-19T00:08:00.000-04:00

Why?
Why must every game that the Islanders play be surrounded with controversey and drama?
The league messed up big time tonight. The botched ruling in the third was only the begining.
Let's take a quote from NewYorkIslanders.com, a site hosted by the NHL and is, by default, supposed to be very level-headed and withdrawn:

"THE BATTLE VS. BUFFALO
Wednesday, April 18, 11:50 pm: The Non-Goal That was a Goal

Let's try to make this clear and simple, sticking only to the facts:

* After the puck went in the net, Islanders center Mike Sillinger was told by the referees that the decision of “goal or no goal” would ultimately be made by NHL headquarters in Toronto.

* In a phone conversation after the game, Stephen Walkom, the NHL VP and Director of Officiating, told Islanders general manager Garth Snow that the call was made by the referees on the ice.

* Walkom told Snow the referees disallowed the goal because Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt crashed into Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, causing the puck to cross the goal line.
* There is at least one clear, definitive replay that shows the puck sitting on the goal line between Miller's legs and then Brendan Witt, uncontested, skating in and slamming the puck into the net. Not a player on either team touches Miller until well after the puck crosses the goal line. Witt never touches Miller at all.

* The Islanders practice at the Coliseum tomorrow before traveling to Buffalo. Game 5 is Saturday at 7:05 at HSBC Arena. "

Even Ted Nolan spoke out after the game: "I don't care what anybody says, that was a goal ... we got three different explanations from the referees."

He will probably be fined for speaking out like this, but give the man some credit. He and his team has been defrauded by unfair and biased officiating.

This is disgusting. Something MUST be done. I had a list of notes and observations about tonight's game, but I'll write about them tomorrow, after things settle down a little.

4/18/07 - Game 4 - Sabres at Isles Pregame

2007-04-18T03:10:00.000-04:00

After a very long day of dealing with classes, writing assignments, and the terrible New England weather, I find myself exhausted.

Not as exhausted physically, rather, I am exhausted of reading, writing, and thinking about the events of Monday's game. I wrote my last post in anger, and it's true- I was extremely angry. It's not that I've exactly 'come to terms' with what happened, it's more of a general state of apathy at this point. There has been so many voices on the subject, saying so much, that it might actually be impossible by now to determine what, if any, the general consensus is, even after a day of brooding.

Well, I for one am finished with it. I may keep last night in the back of my mind for a long while, but I'm not going to comment on it any further. Nothing is going to change, even if Larue and Pollock come out and admit to some crazy conspiracy.
Did we get gypped? Maybe.
Does it matter? Not at all.

What matters is that the Isles have a ridiculously important game tonight on the Island. A tied series 2-2 is hundreds of thousands of times better than returning to Buffalo down 3-1 in the series.

The keys to the game won't lie with a certain player or group, but with the entire team. We've seen time and time again with the Sabres that we need to not only shut down their offensive play, but simultaneously pour the shots on their end. In game 3, we did both, but not at the same time. If the forwards can keep the forecheck going, and the defensemen can hold the blue line and force the dump-in, we will be in brilliant shape.

DiPietro has been handling those dump-ins beautifully, and we've proven that we can win those all-important battles in the Sabres' end to keep the puck in. Enough can't be said for Smyth and Hunter in that respect; they've been able to dominate the boards and set up chances by the dozens per game.

On a slightly different note,

I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all the people who have begun to read this blog of mine. As I write this, we are approaching the one-month mark, and should surpass 700 hits sometime today. Daily readers is consistently increasing, and I am starting to get more and more feedback through comments and emails. It is the most gratifying feeling to know that there are people out there reading and responding to my random thoughts about our team. I love writing about the Isles, and I'm just overjoyed that others can share my thoughts as well.

Pretty soon I plan on implementing some artwork and sprucing up the site a little, and I already have some ideas for pieces I can write over the summer break. Stay tuned, and remember to tell your friends! There's much more to come.

Thank you to all who have read!
And of course,
Let's go Islanders!

-Andy

4/16/07 - Game 3 - Sabres at Isles Postgame

2007-04-16T22:17:00.000-04:00

I'm pissed.
Any fan of the sport should be.

As this season came down to the wire, the Islanders were "given the shaft" countless times. Of special note to all New York hockey fans, the non-goal call against the Rangers on March 8th that cost the Isles the game. I was able to let that go, however, since we fought our way into the playoffs anyway.

NYR @ NYI, Mar. 8, 2007 (puck shadow removed, goal line emphasized)

What happened tonight, though, is inexcusable. This is playoff hockey, and every measure should be taken to preserve the game's equality. I don't know what the referees and/or the league have against the Islanders, but nobody can argue that tonight's game was unbiased.

Vanek's "goal" in the second period:

In all honesty, this shot was inconclusive, and worthy of the video replay. But, according to the NHL rulebook, that is exactly the reason that the shot must be ruled a non-goal. It's clear that at every angle, the puck is still on the line, albeit barely, but there is no way that the puck could have been 100% over the line, even if DiPietro's stick was blocking the line from the furthest spot. I don't want to hear the excuse "Vanek had the best position to see it, and he clearly thought it was in." Yes, the Versus announcer actually thought it would be a good idea to rely on Vanek's perspective. If something happened that quickly, and at this spot in the series, of course you'd think it would be in, too.
Something to ponder: DiPietro was clearly pretty far in the net, and he nudged his way back forward as the play unfolded. Take a look at offical NHL rule 75.8:

"Apparent goals shall be disallowed by the Referee and the appropriate announcement made by the Public Address Announcer for the following reasons: ~~ (sec. ix): When a goalkeeper has been pushed into the net together with the puck after making a save."

Just something to think about.

Robitaille's "penalty" late in the third period:

This really got me steamed. The Versus announcers critiqued the Isles' fans' throwing of their towels on the ice in protest, but this was outright fraud. In case you missed it, the Islanders were scrambling for the equalizer late in the third, when Chris Campoli grabbed an opportunity and cut into the net. He was blatantly hooked, held, and thus, fell to the ice. No call was made, but in the ensuing chase seconds later, Randy Robitaille was called for "tripping" with 1:34 left in the game. Only problem with this call- Robitaille never touched the Sabre. He was in-chase, when the Sabre fell under his own skates. The Islanders and their fans showed their disgust as the so-called referee made the call.

This is exactly the thing that any Islanders fan will complain and lament about, but yet, it keeps happening. The NHL is clearly defrauding the Islanders in many ways, though there will never be anything said or done about it. Thoughts immediately go back to the Edmonton-Dallas game early in the season where referee Mick McGeough blew a call, yet apologized to the fans after the fact. Will the Islanders ever see such apology? Ever?

It's time for the league to give the Islanders a fair chance, and stop this charade. We've proven that we belong in the playoffs, why can't we prove what we can do on a level sheet of ice?

Updates to come as I search for video and photographs from the game.
Thanks for reading.

4/15/07 - Game 2 - Isles at Sabres Postgame

2007-04-15T14:05:00.000-04:00

What's in a coach?
I believe the Islanders did everything right last night. The team came out with an entirely different face on. None of that get-and-dump offense from game one... and finally some forechecking. I really have to hand it to Teddy, he saw when change was needed, and the team responded beautifully. The heat was put on, and shots started going in. Their goalie isn't that great; we just needed to put the pressure on the offensive zone and make him work.

What's in a goalie?
On the other end of the rink, we had the return of Rick "I'll get that" DiPietro. He played sharp- extremely sharp, and he was a key factor in the win. I suppose that everyone knows by now how much I loved Dubielewicz, but I can't deny that things probably would have ended differently if DiPietro hadn't been able to play yet. I was a little scared when he got run into late in the third, but he got up and was ready to make a save right away. Let's just hope he stays in net and makes smart decisions the rest of the way.

What's in a game?
The Islanders split the series in Buffalo with the win last night, which now brings them home to the Coliseum with not only the home field advantage, but the momentum from beating the Sabres on their home ice. Honestly, going down 2-0 to the Sabres would not have been a good place to be, even at home. The Sabres are probably stunned right now; they don't lose at home often- only 10 times all year, and not to to the 8th seed in the playoffs. Let's take them to Long Island and bury 'em. If we can pull off both home wins, the series is ours.

It was great being able to watch the game on television, though people didn't seem to understand why I was yelling at a TV. Bunch of morons. Anyway, game 3 is on Monday, and again it will be on Versus. More updates to come on Monday. Thanks for reading.

4/13/07 - Game 1 - Isles at Sabres Postgame

2007-04-13T01:48:00.000-04:00

This is going to be a very long series.

The Sabres came out swinging tonight, and peppered poor Dubielewicz with ten shots before the Islanders could keep it in the offensive zone long enough for a shot. Much to Dubie's credit, though, he made several fantastic saves in the first period; if he hadn't been as sharp as he was, it could have easily been a repeat of March 30th's 5-goal shellacking.

It became overtly clear that if the Islanders want to compete with the Sabres, they are going to have to not only shut down the Buffalo offense, but also do more than just shoot the puck down when they get postseason. Keep the pressure off our end by keeping the pressure on theirs. You can't just expect to clear the puck and maintain the game. They're going to get through and score; the only way to keep on-top is to score yourself, and that's something the Isles just could not do tonight, either for lack of strategy (1st period) or lack of luck (3rd period).

I know this has been a problem all season, and it has bitten us on the ass countless times, but maybe it needs to be said again. Stay out of the box! True, some of the calls tonight were questionable and the refs even took a pre-emptive strike against both teams after the 4th Sabres goal, but other ones were just inexcusable. For instance, Hill's botched clear that caused a delay of game penalty is something that you just cannot do in the playoffs. Period. Stop taking penalties and we'll be in good shape.

Other than that, the Islanders did, in fact, play a very patient and disciplined game. I think that, to a certain point, that's how you have to play against Buffalo. Play it safe, and wait for your chances. The Sabres have so much depth, it's almost impossible to play down one line and attack the next. I really enjoyed the fiestyness the Isles showed towards the end, but it was too late for the physical game to show up. The Sabres aren't a physical or aggressive team, and the Isles didn't exploit that advantage until very late in the third. Hill wanted to get into it, too, really going at Pomenville towards the end. (I'm not sure if I'm the only one to notice this, but Pomenville insulted Hill and pulled his hair after he got pushed in the third. I'm looking for a clip of this online.) Let's hope that the physical game set some sort of tone for game two.

Saturday night should be very interesting, to say the least. It's on national television, finally. It's Versus, I know, but it's shocking how much you appreciate channels like Versus after not having anything. I suppose it's even more shocking that the BU's residential cable hook-up carries the channel. Anyway, it should be a great change up from tonight; I saw the broadcast from the Buffalo channel.

I would have to say that their play-by-play was the worst I've ever heard, in all of sports. Their play-by-play call was erroneous, their commentary was biased, and they did not back up a single statement with any kind of fact or figure. There was also a strange lack of info given about who scored or took a penalty. Also, their "GOAL!" call was upsettingly annoying. Somehow he put the emphasis, not on the "GO-" part, but on the "-AL!" part. Ugh. Can't get that guy's twangy yell out of my head.

Anyway, enough complaints. The next game is of infinite importance. Tie the series up in Buffalo, and we'll be in a great position coming home to the island. The last thing we want is to dig ourselves out of a 0-2 deficit against a team like the Sabres. Come out with an edge, take the body, and let's hope that DiPietro's head isn't scrambled anymore. Let's show the hockey world what our team can really do. Maybe next time they'll think twice about leaving the Isles entirely out of the playoff-preview issue of The Hockey News.

Let's go Islanders.

4/11/07 - Game 1 - Isles at Sabres Pregame, Series

2007-04-11T16:02:00.000-04:00

Well, here we go.
It's finally time for the NHL Playoffs to begin.

I think that we've, as fans, have had way too much time to ponder this series. I've seen literally hundreds of predictions, both game-by-game and series-wide. Honestly, it's all getting a little droll. The series, as I see it now, is pretty unpredictable. Right now we are 0-0-0 against the Sabres, and, as we've seen in the last 4 games, the Islanders are not the team they were in October.

All I can really add to the discussion is a simple note that this series is going to be a dogfight either way. Don't expect the blowout scores or series sweep from either side, and pay close attention to the details.

Get ready for some great hockey.
Let's go Islanders!

4/08/07 - Playoff Bound

2007-04-08T19:49:00.000-04:00

An open letter to all hockey fans, sportswriters, and the NHL:

-Scott Burnside on the Islanders, ESPN.com | Oct. 2, 2006

Today the New York Islanders clinched the 8th playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in a shootout. The Islanders, who were predicted to finish in last place, have fought their way into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in twelve seasons. True, the Islanders fans are not proud of these past seasons, but they have always believed and rooted their team on. Don't believe the Isles' attendance records, the lack of attendance is due to lack of mass transportation to the arena, and not for lack of interest. The fan base is real, and support for the team has never been higher.

We look at this season as a turning point, in which the Islanders debuted new management and a whole new team, as only five players remained from the previous season. The Islanders faced intense ridicule for placing Garth Snow at the GM position, and many believed that this management situation could never work. Throughout the season, the Islanders worked and fought, and at times reached first place in the Atlantic Division. At the trade deadline, General Manager Snow made headlines as the Islanders brought Ryan "Captain Canada" Smyth, as well as other illustrious players to Long Island. Despite this, the Islanders faced unbridled skepticism and an unquestionable negative bias from many within the press, and arguably, the league. After several damaging losing skids and many injuries, including the loss of franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro late in the season, the Isles' situation looked bleak. With almost impossible odds, including four win-or-die games, and some necessary situational help from rival teams, the Islanders are now preparing for a battle with the first-place Buffalo Sabres in round one.

Despite many past embarrassments, including ownership fraud, the Gordon's Fisherman as a logo, and some purely hapless seasons in the 90s, the Islanders are finally beginning to restore credibility and respect to the organization. It is a shame that the hockey press and the rest of the league is failing to recognize the accomplishments of this team.

So, hockey fans, don't discount the "other" New York hockey club. The Islanders are showing their true grit, dedication, and ability. Perhaps it's time to stop qualifying all the Islanders' achievements with disrespectful and biased reporting at the national level. True, the Islanders' season was plagued with controversy and drama, the kind that one might find in Hollywood, even. But the entire organization worked to overcome their growing problems and overwhelming public spotlights to continue on as a legitimate hockey club.

The Islanders have defied huge odds and cleared countless obstacles in order to reach the position they are in now. Through it all, they have earned their playoff birth. Give the team the respect they deserve, and please stop the senseless bias against a team that has shown nothing than pure drive and determination this season.
Remember this as the Islanders compete with the Sabres in the coming weeks.

Sincerely, a true hockey fan and an Islander to the end,
Andy Facini

4/06/07 - Islanders at Flyers Pregame

2007-04-06T23:13:00.000-04:00

And now we look to the 'new' biggest game of the season tomorrow afternoon. Our Isles face last-place Philly in yet another win-or-die situation. Don't count the Flyers out just yet, they are still playing with fire, and still winning their matchups.
I'd like to forward this pregame to Gary Harding, who wrote a very interesting and confidence-inspiring article after checking out the Isles' practice at IceWorks.

Check it out at http://www.viewfromsection317.com/
Thanks again Gary, for putting in the extra effort and coming up with some real insight.

Let's go Islanders!

4/05/07 - Maple Leafs at Islanders Postgame

2007-04-05T21:55:00.000-04:00

It's getting closer. A very convincing win against Toronto, coupled with the Rangers' win against Montreal, and we find ourselves very close to the playoffs.

Tonight was great on so many levels. Everyone stepped up and played - what can only be described as - playoff hockey. Big goals from all scorers; it's great to see Smyth pick up a tally. And maybe it's me, but every time Sillinger scores, things just feel better. That guy works his ass off and it's good to see it paying off. Dubie was the great goalie the Isles needed him to be. In the last 2:00 alone, he made some great saves that could have easily been goals to a more relaxed goalie, given the 3 goal lead. Big performances from the defensive warriors: Witt and Hill. If you really want to find the meaning of teamwork and passion, look to these two.

Philly coming up, another must-win for us. At this point, all we need to do is win our last two, and if Toronto beats Montreal, we're in. It's more than possible. Keep the faith, everyone.

4/04/07 - Maple Leafs at Islanders Pregame

2007-04-05T15:40:00.000-04:00

Of all the things to come out of Tuesday's win, this is one that I had not expected:
Read the article here.
For those of you who want a quick re-cap:
Islanders' Ice Girls go out to clean ice, Lundvquist doesn't want to move- allegedly hit the squeegee out of ice girl's hands, hurting her, and other Ice Girls claim to be verbally harassed and spit on by the Rangers.

First of all, we all have to accept now that we will probably never know what really happened. If what they are saying is true, then shame on the Rangers for showing their classless nature, and shame on the league for so quickly dismissing the issue.
Two things there are true in that statement, however. The Rangers are classless, and the league is shameful. Another truism: the Ice Girls have to go.

This is independent of Tuesday night's incident, but the Ice Girls bring nothing to the Islanders and only further allow the other teams, the league, and every sportscaster out there to ridicule the Islanders and write them off. Yes, cleaning the ice in between play is important, but let some youth hockey players do it, or have arena workers do it. The Ice Girls bring nothing to the team, and simply debase whatever credibility the Islanders are trying to gain.

In all, that is what this team lacks. Think of it like politics and foreign affairs. If you're trying to negotiate with other nations, you're not going to come dressed up like a clown. If your aim is to gain respect at the international level, you're going to do things by the book and have a positive relationship with your citizens and other nations.

Islanders: lose the Ice Girls, ditch the "Family Guy" clips at the goal celebrations, and don't try to win your fans over with cheap promotions. This isn't Vegas, this is New York, and it isn't Football, it's hockey. We don't need cheerleaders, we need respect. It's something I thought we would gain when Blake had a breakout year, when DiPietro started playing number one goaltending, when we pulled into 1st in the division, and when we acquired Smyth and Bergeron. I guess none of that was good enough for the team to finally stay away from the drama and controversy. It's really a shame.

Anyway...
Tonight we have Toronto. Now that the last Islanders-Rangers game is done, this is the biggest game of the season for us. A win here would put us in outstanding position to come roaring back... well, okay... to sneak back into 8th place. At this point though, that's all we want. Get to the playoffs and see what we can do. We weren't swept by Buffalo, after all.

Dubie in net again tonight. You know how that makes me feel. Like a guy that has little to worry about tonight, that's what.

Other games tonight:
NYR (7) at MTL (8)

So, after all the bitterness, we root for the Rangers now to beat Montreal. Strange, how this time of year works. With any luck, we win, the Rags win, and at the end of the night we're within two points of the playoffs. With Philly next, we can't feel too bad about that placement.

Let's go Islanders!

4/04/07 - Rangers at Islanders Postgame

2007-04-04T02:37:00.000-04:00

3-2 W, SO

What a game! As Chris King put it, "Tonight promised to be the best game of the season, and it has not disappointed." Only in a situation with so much on the line could this type of 'thriller' hockey be played. Right from the opening minutes and Asham's goal to the last save in the shootout, I was beside myself as I listened in.

In the grand scheme of things, tonight's win is just what the Islanders needed.
Duh, right?
Right. But I'm talking about momentum. Confidence. The passion. It's been missing for a while, and it's about time the Isles found it. Of course, though, we need to already be looking to the next game to continue the same level of game. After an emotional win like tonight, it's too easy to forget that. Dubielewicz knows this: "I'm not going to lie - I'm very excited right now. At the same time, I know I have to bring myself right back down to Earth, because we have to do this all over again in 48 hours." (tsn.ca)

Speaking of Dubielewicz, let me be among the many to chime in on this: Dubie should be the permanent backup goalie for 2007-2008. That said, let me be the first to go crazy and say: Dubie and DiPietro should get equal playing time next season.

"Blasphemy!"

Yes, I know. Crazy. But really, how many times is he going to show that he can rise to any challenge the Isles throw at him? Tonight he made some saves I'm not even sure that DiPietro would have nabbed. Look at the last save in the shootout vs. Jagr. The puck was literally next to him when he had the reflexes and presence of mind to swipe it aside with his blocker. He literally saved our entire season against one of the best shots in the league.

If you look at the Isles Dynasty years, Billy Smith got all the action in the playoffs, but during the regular season, it was just about every other game alternating with Melanson and Smith. This kept both goalies sharp, as well as fresh for their next game. Trust me here, give Dubie some real good time playing next season, and you will have a top-notch goalie develop right alongside DiPietro. Wouldn't it be nice, not having to worry about DP running out and getting his brains scrambled?

Which reminds me: Dubielewicz is no idiot! Did he once decide to go for a stroll and shoot the puck down the center of the ice, endangering the team (and causing the older Isles fans to flatline)? Didn't think so. DiPietro can make the saves, that's for sure-- but boy, is he dumb.

Back to the playoff push- Montreal and Toronto both won tonight, so we didn't get all that much help. Carolina did lose, though, which means our Isles are now in 10th: two points behind Toronto, and three behind the Habs and the last birth. This is SO completely possible. We play Toronto on Thursday, and a win there puts us within striking distance of 8th. This, of course, means absolutely nothing if we can't beat Philly and the Devils to pass Montreal, but it is the first step in the "build-a-playoff-birth" do-it-yourself instructions. Let's just hope it wasn't from Ikea. (trans: Let's hope we don't fall apart in a week.)

Thursday's game against the Leafs is probably more important than tonight's was. It's hard to think that way, but at this point, every team should be the Rangers to us. We can't lose.

Pregame banter coming soon.
Thanks for reading.

P.S. - If you're one of those ...people... who abandoned the team last week during our freefall, don't bother coming back now. We don't need the likes of you fair-weather fans.

3/04/07 - Rangers at Islanders Update

2007-04-03T16:20:00.000-04:00

Three hours to go until the drop of the puck. Am I the only one that is a nervous wreck already? I suppose it's less because I can't watch the game on TV, but I'm very excited nonetheless to listen on the radio. As I'm sure you all know, this game is necessary if the Isles want to make the playoffs after all. Here are tonight's crucial games:

Canadiens (8) vs. Bruins (13)
Maple Leafs (9) vs. Flyers (15)
Hurricanes (10) vs. Lightning (7)

Going strictly by the numbers, the Habs, the Leafs, and the Lightning win. That puts the Islanders in a position where we can move up to 10th if we win. If we lose, well, we're done.

Interestingly enough, if the Bruins squeak by the Canadiens, and the Flyers find a way against the Leafs, we could pull into 10th, but be within one win of 8th place when we face Toronto on Thursday (provided MTL loses some more).

Assuming we win tonight (which we are), we are still going to have to look for some help from other East teams down the road. We're even going to look to the Rangers to beat Montreal on Thursday. So don't count us out yet, but make sure to watch the scores tonight. We'll take anything we can get.

In other words, win. It's all the Isles can do to help themselves. The rest isn't up to us.
Let's go Islanders.

4/2/07 - Rangers at Islanders Pregame

2007-04-02T14:09:00.000-04:00

The loss to Buffalo was, well, horrible. I didn't even feel like writing about it.

Moving right along, then...

Rangers at Islanders. "Big game" doesn't cut it. It's the only game for the Isles right now. If you were to play one game for the entire season, you would want to win, right? Well that's where we are. Win or elimination. It's more than just speculation at this point, too. Even if we do win the remaining four games, we would need some help on the part of the Canadiens', Leafs', and Canes' to lose their games. It's not impossible, but... yeah...

Some stranger news from the Isles camp today, however. The team just signed UNH forward Trevor Smith to a two-year deal. Heh, Hockey East. This is my department. I got to see Smith play my BU Terriers a number of times this year, and, as much as it was hard to remember specific players' names, Trevor Smith forced himself in. He scored 2 goals in the last game against BU, in a game that resulted in a tie, which then resulted in BU's drop in standings and changed the playoff positioning. Needless to say, he's a menace. But now that he is on the Islanders, his UNH-borne crash-the-net tactics seem less stupid. In fact, that is probably the one thing the Islanders aren't doing that could really take advantage of Smyth's tenacity in front.

He did well for UNH in the playoffs, too, scoring some major game-changing marks. With any luck, this is Nolan looking to build "his" version of a hockey team, which would be good reason to believe he wants to stay. As Patrick Hickey, Jr. put it, "losing Nolan would be catastrophic."

Not for nothing, Smith is in Bridgeport now, and I suspect he will stay there unless injury strikes again. Though, of course, there isn't much time, so we probably won't see him at all if the Islanders don't pull out an Easter miracle. Yes, that one. Rising from the dead.

So, the Rangers know that they can eliminate us from playoff contention by winning, and you can damn well be sure they are going to want it. The only question left, really, is do the Islanders want it more? Going by the past four games, no, they do not. Perhaps if Nolan's team meeting at Iceworks yesterday stirred up some emotion, we might just be able to collapse through the finish line. We'll see, but really, that is the game in a nutshell.
Don't stop believing in the team. If you're a fan, you'll be a fan no matter what happens tomorrow. If you're a crappy fan, you'll complain and go watch baseball.

Updates will come tomorrow.
Let's go Islanders.

3/31/07 - Islanders at Sabres Postgame; Senators at Islanders Pregame

2007-03-31T16:15:00.000-04:00

What a terrible twenty minutes. That first period was really something. I don't think most teams in this league could have pulled that sort of thing off. Dunham: take a break. Go on vacation. Go see Europe. As bad as Dunny was, the other half of the blame is the defense in front of him. Let's hope the addition of two guys from the German league is a wake-up for the whole D unit.

Even the pseudo-rally that was the third period couldn't make up for the first. We can't make these kinds of mistakes and expect anything. And against Buffalo! Geez, what a night.

Moving on, Ottawa tonight. If we could look at any game thus far and use it as the sole judge of if the team still has a chance at the playoffs, this should be it. If we can pull off 2 points against a higher-up conference rival now, then I believe we can still do it. If we fall yet again, we're probably done. Even I can't look at this game and not see the hopelessness if we lose.

Need to cut things short. Game time 7:00.
Let's go Islanders.

3/30/07 - Islanders at Sabres Update

2007-03-30T15:04:00.000-04:00

A mere five hours before the drop of the puck, and we have little as far as new information regarding Smyth and Hilbert. We do have, however, some more developments in goal and as far as help from Germany.

It seems Dunham will start again tonight, and Dubie will be riding shotgun. I'm really fine with that, both are great choices. Give Dunnie a break; he makes some great saves. It's just the easy ones that sort-of throw him...

Anyway, Greg Logan brings us some more inside developments, as the Isles have signed Deron Quint, a 2-way defenseman who spent this year in Berlin. Additionally, Simpson has cleared waivers, and should play on Saturday. Get the full story at On the Islanders Beat.

Logan also reports that Teddy Nolan will sit down with Smyth and Hilbert later on this afternoon and figure out who is or isn't playing from there. We can only cross our fingers for both to feel better.

Notwithstanding any more late breaking developments, this should be what we are looking at for tonight: a do-or-die game against a monster of a team with every perceived advantage. But we're desperate, and we have the potential. It should be a great game of hockey, win or lose. Let's cheer our Islanders on and forget the standings for the time being. Just win.

Go Isles.

3/29/07 - Islanders at Sabres Pregame

2007-03-29T17:01:00.000-04:00

So, uh... I'm not sure if you've heard or not, but uh, we're a little bit shorthanded for tonight.
...
It seems that DiPietro cannot fly to Buffalo, which is an inauspicious sign of more bad things. Adding to the general sense of blown confidence, the Islanders finally admitted that he is suffering from "mild concussions". Ryan Smyth is also out, with an apparent leg injury. He is listed as day-t0-day for the time being. Furthermore, Andy Hilbert's shoulder is giving him trouble, and he is another question mark for gametime.*

So, taking these recent developments, and adding in recent rumors that Richard Zednik will not return before the postseason, and that leaves our Isles out an entire line of forwards since last Saturday.
Are we weakened? Duh.
Are we frustrated? Oh yeah.
Are we out? No.

It's hard to explain what I see in the team at this point in the season, especially in the face of these odds.** Buffalo is the East's powerhouse club that nobody wants to play against. We're a scrappy 10th place club that seems to have crashed a truck carrying 13 mirrors and 13 pounds of salt into a graveyard on Friday the 13th after swerving to avoid 13 black cats. But I really do believe in what we have right now, and what we can do with it. Call me naive, call me crazy. Instead of offering a bunch of statistic and trend analyzation that somehow seems to give the Isles the upper hand (which, admittedly, would be difficult to do against Buffalo), I'm just going to go with gut feeling and faith in the heart of our team.

This is how I support my team. Shouldn't it be, though? Shouldn't a fan (a real fan) be with the team all the time? That's the very reason I'm writing this blog- I want to be close to my favorite team, even though I'm limited by where I am. There are so many fans out there that are excited and proud when the team is winning, yet loathing and criticizing when the team is not (as is the case with many, many Islanders fans, particularly). A true fan should be optimistic and faithful at all times. I believe this is how anyone supports anything that they love- with hope for the future, and faith in the process.

This is how I support our team, and I hope I'm not the only one.
Tonight is huge, and we need the points. Let's all have some faith for a change and enjoy a game of hockey.
Let's go Islanders!

*Check back for updates on the injury situations closer to gametime, as well as further commentary and crackpot theories.

**If you really must get into some statistics, we did win the last matchup, do have a better penalty killing unit, and do have more shutouts. There I said it. (Those are terrible!)

3/28/07 - Devils at Islanders Postgame

2007-03-28T14:45:00.000-04:00

3-2 L
Well, it's time to get up, dust ourselves off, and focus on tomorrow night. We played a tough game against a good team, and we lost. If we want to remain in the chase, we need to move on as fast as possible.

What was great, however, about last night, was the intensity in which the Islanders played. Now, I know some of you are pointing out that we had limited offense and very few quality shots, but for what it's worth, that's Devils hockey, and for that, we did well. The second and late third periods were a good example of this, and also when we got the most chances.

It's good- no, let me say great to see Yashin producing. His work ethic seems higher, and it's showing in the points column. Maybe he's about to prove us all wrong about him yet. Blake did his job, too, and that's exactly what we should expect.

Let's hear it for a great game from Allan Rourke, who was called up to replace Freddy Meyer. He brought a lot of energy on D, and that undoubtedly helped the overall drive of the team. While we can point again at Dunham for some questionable goals against, I still think he did a good job in net and made some key saves. Gotta remember- it's much easier to remember the goals against than to remember the goal that never happened. Dubie was solid when he was called upon, and that's a great sign for us.

In all, we did what we needed to do and lost. We can't ask for more than that, and it's a waste of time to lament the lost points. Tomorrow is Buffalo: we need a huge effort from everyone, but it is definitely a possible win. Let's hope for DiPietro's return, as well.

Stay tuned, and thanks for reading.

3/27/07 - Devils at Islanders Update

2007-03-27T13:23:00.000-04:00

So it seems more than the NHL has it out for our Islanders.
DiPietro will be sitting tonight, suffering from post-concussion syndrome. To make matters worse, there are reports that Freddy Meyer has a broken finger. Dubielewicz has been called up, and honestly, I hope he starts. I really love what I've seen from him in the past, and his great season in B-Port seems indicative of his maturation and readiness to play at the NHL level.
On the other side of the divider, the Devils will be getting star center Patrick Elias back tonight after a week out.

I mean really, come on.
Someone out there hates the thought of the Isles making the playoffs.

Regardless of these extremely unfortunate events, we can still win tonight. Like I said, the Devils are not a high scoring team, and that should take the pressure off whoever gets the start tonight in goal. As long as we can play solid D and pour it on for Marty, we should still be okay. Let's NOT despair and throw in the towel. There's every reason we should have 2 points at the end of the night.
So shut up with the white flag, season-over crap and support your team; they are going to do it.

Let's go Islanders.

3/26/07 - Devils at Islanders Pregame

2007-03-26T20:05:00.000-04:00

I hate the Devils.
I hate everything about how they play their game, and I most of all I hate a game against Martin Brodeur.

That said, I am going to take a look at this game very objectively. After all, it's fairly well known that Brodeur hates the Islanders too (read his book), but we very well aren't going anywhere, and neither is tomorrow night. So here's an optimistic, yet fair, look at tomorrow's do-or-die match.

As outlined in Greg Logan's On The Islanders Beat which, of course, you should already have bookmarked, the Islanders are staring down some disheartening figures about the next few games. Against the Devils, specifically, we've been goalless in the last two, and winless in the past five.

If you've seen the Devils play any of their other games on TV, you'll know what I mean when I say that the Devils play "Snore Hockey". They are 27th in the league in goals per game, yet have the 3rd fewest goals-against per game. It really is awful, not only for the fans, but for the league's potential fanbase. Nobody wants to watch their (or any) team lose 1-0. Is it really that great to win a game like that anyway?

Well, that aside, if the Islanders want to get ahead, they need to first find away to break through the Devils' trap and really pour it on in front of Brodeur. And we will. It totally can be done, too: as much as I hate comparing games from so much earlier in the season, our 5-2 win on Nov. 2 was quite convincing. Another reason tomorrow will be different: this will be the first game facing 'em Devs since our trade-deadline acquisitions. You gotta love Smyth's attitude. In response to Logan's noting that he hadn't played against Brodeur at all this year, Smyth simply replied, "Nope, not this year. He’s going to see me, though." When I read that, my skin crawled a little. It's great to see that type of hunger and anticipation from one of our boys.

So, the usual wrap up, ne?
Big game! Must-win! Playoffs!

Really, though. We can't look at the next four games and bargain with ourselves. We need 16/16 points, and if any team in the East can make it happen, it's our Islanders. We have the talent, and we have the heart, all we need is the fire and our passion, and we can down all four conference rivals and power ourselves back into the playoffs.

I'm sick of having to end my thoughts with "we'll see" and qualifying my predictions with "if they can do X, then maybe". I'm an Islanders fan and dammit I'll go out on the limb for once. We can and will win tomorrow night. I'll live and die with our playoff push, and that's all there is to it.

Let's go Islanders!

3/25/07 - Rangers at Islanders Postgame, the Road Ahead

2007-03-25T16:35:00.000-04:00

2-1 L, OT
Well it's hard to argue with a lot that happened this afternoon. Both teams brought their best, and it showed. It seems we just (dare I say?) got beat. Of course anyone could look at Hill's late penalty and scapegoat him, but that isn't fair to Hill or to the rest of the game. The Islanders were 6-for-7 on the PK today, but the Rangers were even better at 8-for-9. Hill played well today as well, making several great play-ending moves, including some good Jagr stoppers.

DiPietro played his usual good game, too, but (I'll say it-) he should have had Orr's wrap-around. He's much too fast to have allowed Orr to even get a look at the other side. In spite of this, he silenced Jagr and made some brilliant saves. Now only if he will start making the easy saves as well as the hard saves, we could feel a little better about his play.

So now, we are in 8th, and the Rags are in 6th. As much as it pains me, that's the facts. And honestly, I don't care if the Rangers make the playoffs; actually I'd rather see a shot at an Isles-Rags playoff series than have the Rangers end up in 9th.

Sorry for the lack of pregame coverage - these afternoon games are far too early for me to wake up on time. We have a tough week ahead, Devils, Sabres, Senators, and then Rangers again. Which, of course, makes today's lost point even more painful, but if you're like me, you'll be looking at our decisive win against the Pens last Thursday for some hope. If anyone got to see the NBC broadcast of the Penguins-Bruins game during the breaks today, you'll know what the Penguins are capable of. We found a way to beat that, and we can find a way to win the next bunch of games.
Keep your heads held high, Isles fans, there is much more to come.

3/24/07 - Islanders at Flyers Postgame

2007-03-24T17:34:00.000-04:00

4-3 W
Ah, yes. That felt good.
After a great game of back-and-forth hockey, such a win can only be described as:
Powerful.

Yes, I choose the word powerful because that's how the Islanders looked at times this afternoon. Yes, there were some odd-man rushes I'm sure were avoidable, but man, o' man what a show when it was our turn to rush. Hats off to -my favorite- Richard Park once again for putting in 100% and reaping his returns. Andy Hilbert also got his goal, and to that let me say: You earned every bit of that point. The poor guy skates his heart out every game, and let me promise you: next year at this time he will have well over his current eight goal mark. I'd say that signing guys like Hilbert and Park is every bit as important as signing Smyth and Blake. It takes a whole team.

Besides the delightful work of our 3rd and 4th lines, it was great to see Yash put in a solid effort, even without Satan. Hunter worked his ass off as well, and it's just a shame he couldn't bury it.

Gotta cut it short, more to come soon. Huge game against the Rags tomorrow, it should be interesting to say the least.

3/24/07 - Islanders at Flyers "Pregame"

2007-03-24T13:45:00.000-04:00

Well, not actually pregame. Turns out, I slept in too late, and the game is on right now.
Oops.

Postgame to come tonight.
Let's go Islanders!

3/22/07 Penguins Postgame

2007-03-22T22:55:00.000-04:00

3-1 W
Reason to believe. Everything came together tonight beautifully. Not only did the Isles find their 'fire' that was so crucial to their success this season, but they did so against one of the best teams in the East right now.

Tonight was a scrappy, emotional, fight to the finish that we needed so badly. Not only was everyone involved physically, but the place was buzzing with activity right from Hunter's opening faceoff's attack. DiPietro was well on his game, and it really proved to be the showstopping factor in at many times.

Good for Hunter, by the way. It was clear that he wanted it badly tonight, and it was good to see that sort of effort. Yashin got his point, too. Which is good for him, too; now he can go back to cruise control.

In short, I'm still very excited about where the team could be going. And tonight's win was not only great in terms of the playoff hunt, but it's a huge confidence and momentum builder for the next few matchups.

Next up: Last-place Philly. Don't say anything yet -- we've right out lost to 'em on several occasions this year.

3/22/07 - Penguins Pregame

2007-03-22T12:35:00.000-04:00

While I was thinking about what to say for tonight's game against Pittsburgh, I realized that my usual 'advice' might be useless. I'm a big proponent of moving on after a tough loss. In my own experience, one can play much better if he removes all prior stress. This might not be best tonight, however.

Instead, tonight the Islanders need to remember the last four games. If giving up two games against lesser teams, blowing a lead to lose in OT, and being kicked out of the last playoff spot isn't enough to get this team motivated to play with desperation, I'm not sure anything else will.

With that said, there are several keys to tonight's game that are absolutely vital if the Islanders want to get some points out of tonight:
First off, they need to tighten up the defense. Letting DiPietro - regardless of how well he's played - face 40+ shot in a game is just unacceptable. There isn't a goalie today that can handle 40 shot games every night and manage to keep his head. That's another reason I'm a big fan of players like Park; they won't think twice about blocking the shot 5 on 5.

Secondly, they need to loosen up the offense. Is it me or does the regular 5 on 5 offense seem very rigid to anyone? In any event, the puck needs to be moved more smoothly. Chase the dump-ins and make the pass out to the point. Gotta get that rotation started up again.

Lastly, stay out of the box! Let's hope that last game's undisciplined horror show is just a freak event. It really cost us, not just in terms of the PP goals against, but in the net amount of time we spent not scoring. (Yes, I know, SHG. That isn't going to happen a lot.)

As for our chances against the most talented team in the league, we will just have to see. If we can play with intensity and desperation, and get back to the more disciplined game of hockey that we've seen brilliance with at times this year, it will be quite a show. Nevertheless, let's keep our heads up and hopes high. Win tonight, and we're back in the playoffs.

Let's go Islanders.

3/20/07 - Lightning Postgame

2007-03-20T23:44:00.000-04:00

4-3 L, OT
So, did we lose a point or steal a point?
It's all about your point of view.

The second point was lost on the obscene amount of penalties taken in the first period, the lack of physical play, and the overall funk that seems to have ensnared the team on this road trip.
The first point was won by the good work of the PK unit, the brief moment of fire that we found in the 2nd period, and the return of DiPietro.

Regardless, if anything, we have some good reason to keep our chins up. Despite the fact that we now lay in lowly 11th place, we are still one win away from moving back up. The trick is converting our games-in-hand into wins, and actually converting the advantage we're offered. Another reason to smile: Richard Park. I've loved this guy since that game against the Capitals in late November where he single-handedly stopped a half dozen or so shots without his stick. The guy is a real dedicated player, and a great defensive forward. His SHG today was a huge momentum swing, and it's just great to see the guy smile. He's got no teeth. More congrats for Richard Zednik, who scored his first as an Islander. If he can get going like he has for the Caps, we could be looking at a lot more offence.

Anyway, someone was going to break a losing streak tonight. A good matchup was played, even if the Islanders couldn't get their heads on straight and end theirs. If the Isles make any sort of actual move soon, we might have seen a preview of the 4th place-5th place playoff round in a few weeks. Who knows? It is our turn to find the winning side of our streak cycle, after all.
Penguins are next ... we'll see what happens.

3/20/07 - Lightning Pregame

2007-03-20T16:05:00.000-04:00

This might be the definitive do-or-die matchup of the 2007 Islanders playoff run.
So we've dropped the last three games, two of which against teams below us in the conference. So we could have been in 6th tonight, instead of the Lightning. Ugh*

Forget it all, because tonight is key. A win tonight puts the team back in the 8th spot, and helps mitigate yet another possible losing streak in this season of streaks. It seems we have every reason to be optimistic about tonight as well. DiPietro -and his scrambled brains- will (probably) be between the pipes tonight.

What's even more interesting, perhaps, is that the Lightning are in the very same rickety boat that we find ourselves tonight. They have lost their last 3 matchups, giving up a total of 13 goals, only to respond with a total of 5. Difference is, they haven't had a goaltender injury, they've just been unstable in net.

With any luck, tonight will be a scrappy fight and we can disrupt Lecavalier and St. Louis to keep DiPietro's head on straight. Or just on his head.
Let's go Islanders.

*I'll be doing a lot of this- don't get me wrong, though. I'm really quite optimistic. [For an 90's-era Islanders fan.]

Welcome; A running start

2007-03-20T13:36:00.000-04:00

So it's two weeks until the end of the regular season. A whole season - nearly done. That was fast. Like, really fast. Maybe it's just me; you see, I find myself in hockey captivity, far away from my beloved Islanders and the television broadcast area. That's right - I'm in Boston. I'm here for college, which -naturally- keeps me here for the entirety of the hockey season.

But it's okay! I've gotten the chances to see our Isles play on TV when I went home for winter break... I'm sure you all remember the 6-game losing skid in early January? Oh right, and I just got back from spring break, too. You know, the past week of games? Great...

But I've resolved to not let it get to me. I still have Chris King and Steve Mears on internet radio to keep me going up here. There's also the familiar internet ring of Islanders thoughts and banter, of which I'm hoping to add to. Check out the links on the side sometime, there are some great voices out there.

I suppose that's the whole point to this blog. I am quite stranded here- there's nobody to talk to, and nobody wants to hear me rant anymore. So, like the cliche message-in-a-bottle, I'll be throwing my thoughts on the Islanders out there, and hopefully someone will be reading.

Thanks for reading,
Andy