Blogs
What Could Have Been: Colorado Avalanche deals ex-Islander Ryan Smyth to Los Angeles
by Dominik
on Jul 4, 2009 5:45 AM EDT
in Big Picture Musings
4 comments
Well how about that. The Colorado Avalanche just dealt Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing, plus a fifth-round pick. That the Avs have given up on the still-effective Ryan Smyth now, after the club bottomed out this past season, underlines just how lucky the Islanders are that Smyth chased greener, higher altitude pastures in the summer of 2007. The Islanders inadvertently faced reality as a result, and they're better for it now.
I'll admit it: I was one of the ones hoping against hope that Smyth had fallen in love with Long Island, that the guy who wore his heart on his sleeve and his tears close to the mullet would sign up to revive one Orange and Blue ex-dynasty after being dumped over a few hundred grand by the other. I was an accomplice in continuing to slap the credit card down, privately knowing it wouldn't fix things and the interest-heavy bill would come later.
But once Smyth said thanks but no thanks, a light bulb turned on -- no, it was practically an intervention -- for me and apparently (eventually) for GM Garth Snow, too. The Islanders had been just squeaking by for too long. True, Snow replaced that loss with some stop-gap free agent signings for Ted Nolan, but it was clear eigth-seed playoff appearances and first-round exits were just not real progress -- and they certainly weren't doing the job of filling Nassau Coliseum. It felt like the guy in the movie who had been telling one lie after another to cover up previous mistakes: Finally had to own up, 100 percent, to the reality that was being swept under the rug all along.
4 comments
| 0 recs
|
LHinks: Free agency turns sleepy, lens turns to Lighthouse Project
by Dominik
on Jul 3, 2009 6:27 PM EDT
in Blade Splinters
1 comment
You knew that the excitement (and Snow-managed uncertainty) about the 2009 NHL Draft, followed immediately by free agency, would mean a certain franchise-defining real estate project would lose the spotlight for a bit.
Now that the Islanders are in wait-and-see bargain-hunting mode (a.k.a. B+ grade from Puck Daddy), and the big names are mostly off the market league-wide (check out Mirtle's post on who has money left; keep in mind the Isles' figure is without the inevitable Tavares rubber-stamp entry-level deal), it's time to surf some Isles links, Lighthouse Project and otherwise.
But first: Great signing by the Penguins to keep Ruslan Fedotenko in the fold. At $1.8 million, it's Fedotenko's second consecutive pay cut, which tells me Tenk's competitive priorities are in order. As an Isles fan and Fedotenko fan I'm personally happy for both him and Bill Guerin. But objectively speaking, they both played crucial supporting roles in the Cup run. Can they pull it off again?
Sticking close to the Island, while many are sorry the Islanders couldn't land Mike Komisarek (always a long shot, honestly), his defection from Montreal to Toronto should provide great theater, in terms of the anxiety of torn fan loyalties. I'm not so much looking forward to the next Leafs-Habs game as I am the fan myth-spinning afterward.
Meanwhile, are we going to see a market "correction" for those who didn't land big dollars in the first days of July? We just might. Intuitively it makes sense, as jobs (and cap room) become scarce. But GMs and their money soon part...
Islanders and Lighthouse Project links follow the jump...
1 comment
| 0 recs
|
Hockey's Future is Calling for IslesOfficial
by IslesOfficial
on Jul 3, 2009 5:33 PM EDT
6 comments
It's amazing who you can meet at an event like the NHL Entry Draft. In my travels, I bumped into the face and radio voice of HockeysFuture.com, Dustin Nielson. After some very interesting conversation, I passed him a business card and really didn't think much of it.
Fast forward to last night when I received an e-mail from Dustin about doing a short spot on HockeysFutureRadio.com for tonight's show. You can't imagine how stoked I was to be able to contribute to such a comprehensive hockey research website. Make sure to head over to their site tonight and give it a listen.
I'll make sure to post the link once it's up so you guys can listen to it on my site just in case you miss it tonight.
[Update: Here's the link to the mp3 of the show, which also featured Adam Kimmelman of nhl.com, discussing the Heatley situation.]
6 comments
| 0 recs
|
"Every time you go into a city, or a new community where you don’t know too many people, it’s always nice to be welcomed by the people you are going to be dealing with everyday and it’s going to be great to interact with them."
It's an arranged marriage, but one that Islanders fans
and John Tavares are walking into happily.
He gets his formal introduction July 8 at 12:30 (open to the public), before mini-camp starts July 9. The Sunday, July 12 session of mini-camp is open to the public.
Many will fall in love instantly; some will begin plotting what part of his game
to pick apart after October's first loss. Such is hockey.
1 day ago
Dominik
0 comments
0 recs
New York Islanders Depth Signings: G Scott Munroe, LW Jeremy Reich, D Brett Westgarth
by Dominik
on Jul 2, 2009 2:37 PM EDT
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
4 comments
No big news (remember: Rebuild, Year Two, here. Stay focused.), but the Islanders announced a few depth signings inked to one-year, two-way contracts. Two of them spend their share of time in the sin bin. But most notable is ex-Philadelphia Phantom Scott Munroe, a strong AHL goaltender.
Munroe is the goaltender who made 65 saves in that 2008 five-OT win over Albany, the longest game in AHL history, while his losing counterpart stopped 98. The Islanders say, "The 27-year-old netminder posted a career year last season with a record of 31-19-0-4, a save percentage of .926 and four shutouts." So Munroe is in the category of a guy whose NHL shot is dwindling, but he's clearly insurance against rehabbing Rick DiPietro and aging Dwayne Roloson [edit: Just thought of this: Coincidentally, Roloson's NHL career started at ... the age Munroe is now]. It will be interesting to see how AHL playing time is split between him and Nathan Lawson.
LW Jeremy Reich, 30, a 2nd-round pick (39th) in 1997, is a former Scott Gordon player with the Providence Bruins. He also played 90 NHL games with the parent Bruins between 2006-2008, and he is not afraid to mix it up. He had a career high 21 goals last year with Providence as their captain. D Brett Westgarth is an undrafted Princeton product who compiled 137 PIM with the Worcester Sharks last year.
You can continue to add or cruise through the free agency discussion in the earlier comment threads, or comment here. (If you're new here, check out the welcome to get a feel for how the user tools work). Career stats for Munroe, Reich and Westgarth after the jump.
4 comments
| 0 recs
|
Free Agency LHinks: Neil re-signs, Moen knocking at Islanders' door?
by Dominik
on Jul 2, 2009 6:30 AM EDT
in Blade Splinters
6 comments
Good morning, and Happy Free Agency Hangover! Didn't get what you wanted for the Islanders? Don't worry. To join the Islanders, native Mike Komisarek would have become their highest paid player for a long time. Signings like that for defensive defensemen are often found to be ... unsound. I think we get a little too amped on July 1, because it's like a candy store: I want, I want, I want -- and charge it! But there's something to said for a GM who doesn't burn money like some such Sather.
Of course, the Islanders will have to add someone else to hit the cap floor, but remember this: Rookie bonuses -- regardless of whether they're reached -- count against the cap. Steve Stamkos, last year's #1 pick, had a $3.725 million cap hit.
In the meantime, there are signings to review -- $406 million worth of them! -- and escapees to mourn. Thanks to everybody for chiming in with a good variety of opinions in yesterday's threads; talking hockey shop and debating the merits -- that's good times. A review of yesterday's biggest signings and Islanders fan reactions begins here and continues after the jump.
Big Movers
- Q: How big of a tool is no-trade trade-me Dany Heatley? A: An even bigger tool than he was the day before. You know what they used to say about types like him? "He couldn't pour water out of a boot with the directions written on the heel." Ah, but Dan(n)y is the victim.
6 comments
| 0 recs
|
NHL Free Agency: New York Islanders sign Dwayne Roloson, [update] miss Mike Komisarek
by Dominik
on Jul 1, 2009 5:14 PM EDT
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
82 comments
The "big" goalie 1A news fell flat among some of us: Dwayne Roloson, who turns 40 in October -- Garth Snow turns 40 in July -- gets a $5 million, two-year commitment. As far as whether that's a positive move, there's a healthy debate/airing of opinions in the morning post (which you can still add to). But the reality is a marriage of convenience for both sides.
Meanwhile, Mike Komisarek is reported to be in the sights of 10 teams -- yet is still considering the Islanders.
[Update: It's being reported that Komisarek went to the Leafs. Interesting move; can't wait to hear the term.]
That tells me either that he's wielding the threat of a hometown return as leverage, or that the Isles are offering him long-term while others might be scared by last season -- or that he really does like the idea of helping the Islanders rebound. (Or all of the above?) While I've been reluctant to go whole-hog for Komi, if a package really is only around $4 million, that would get me more into it. But that sounds like a stretch, considering the number of wooers. [If news breaks, feel free to update in comments or a FanShot ... otherwise, consider this the free agency thread for the evening.]
Back to the Roloson decision:
82 comments
| 0 recs
|
Logan: Islanders sign Roloson; 2 years, $5 million
This is not bad. In fact, it may be the best-case scenario: A guy who only has a year or two left yet still performed well last season (63 games, .915 on a weak team).
He'll know the situation going in; he wasn't looking for long-term starter's glory; he can probably still carry a decent workload.
That's my initial view. More later. Meanwhile, your thoughts? (Lot of criticism here already.)
2 days ago
Dominik
17 comments
0 recs
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
New FanPost
Featured Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
