Isles Bits: Gregoire, Montoya, Nabokov, Konopka - too much news in May

For a team not in the playoffs, there really shouldn't be this much news in late May, but that's what a goalie curse and a crafty draftee will get you.

The CBA route for Jason Gregoire's decision to turn pro instead of do his senior season at North Dakota is nicely explained by Michael Fornabaio here. Lots of Gregoire quotes on how he hasn't ruled the Islanders out are here [Fanshot talk here]. Linemate-for-a-camp Justin Bourne tweet-raves about Gregoire's skill here...but let's remember this is a nice prospect, not a great prospect (not even Blake Wheeler, really). One who is exploring his options because he can.

Goalie Woes: The Islanders called Al Montoya's surgery to repair a torn meniscus successful [$5 please]. Montoya is expected to be ready for camp, but hey -- it's okay either way: Evgeny Nabakov's agent tells Newsday he'll "absolutely" report for camp! If he's still Islanders property by that time, I'll believe it when I see him in blue.

Zenon Konopka gets some media love: An upcoming issue of ESPN Magazine has Konopka and "four other oft-penalized jocks" and Mark Cuban sitting with Kenny Mayne for a roundtable-type discussion on their knack for receiving penalties and fines. An advance excerpt via PR:

Kenny Mayne: For a "menace," you seem to be good-natured.

Zenon Konopka: I take pride in the fact that I don’t often put my team at a disadvantage. As intense as hockey gets, everything I do is calculated – and it works.

Kenny Mayne: But because of that enforcer attitude, is it a situation where refs now think, Here comes that guy – let’s see what we can penalize him for?

Zenon Konopka: Possibly. Whether fair or not, when I get on the ice, there’s a target on me.

Kenny Mayne: That brings up a good point. You’re emotional. That’s an asset during games, but does it ever present a problem in real life? Even something as simple as idiots in a bar trying to start a fight?

Zenon Konopka: When I was 18, I’d react differently than I do at 30. The more confidence you have in what you do, the less you have to prove, and the less you’ll react to incidents like that. Plus, having been in fights on the ice, I’m far more levelheaded when people are trying to provoke me. If that’s a new situation for someone they might be more panicky and react poorly.

That's in the May 30 issue.

More Links

• For what it's worth, Hockey's Future does their organizational prospect rankings, 1-10, and has the Isles 6th (one spot behind the Blues, which says a lot about my life).
• For your Web rumoring fancy only: This "incarcerated Bob" guy on Twitter [his Tweets are protected] thinks the Isles are working on a long-term deal with John Tavares. Of course, logic and CBA patterns tell you sometime before next June the Isles will have a long-term deal with Tavares.
• More Twitter fancy: Dobber Hockey, the fantasy people, lick their chops at what the Isles are building.
• A look at Casey Cizikas' Majors as they head into the Memorial Cup this weekend.
• Nick at Let There Be Light(house) on the areener and what it means: "I've been poring through the 2006 study commissioned by Nassau County during the Coliseum site RFP process, and the do-nothing option projected that Nassau Coliseum and the Islanders generate over $60 million in tax revenue for the county per year."
• Playoffs Last Night: So a gal flashed Ben Eager in the penalty box. [NSFW/uncesored clip here] Oh, also: It was still 2-2 in the 2nd period, then the Sharks got torched. Reactions: Nucks Misconduct gloats here and here. Fear the Fin reels from the "stomp"ing.
• The Bruins have taken down those Lightning fan taunt billboards.
• In which we are to believe fatherhood suddenly made Alex Burrows not a weasel.
• The ugly allegations against Matthew Barnaby get the Deadspin treatment.
• Mirtle at the G&M on proposals to use public funds to help bring NHL hockey back to Winnipeg and Quebec.

May your day be filled with razor company viral videos.