3:00 pm - Geez, I go out for a punishing run neighborhood stroll and that’s all you got - 60 comments? What are you all actually working or something? j/k

 

James asked if any of the veterans like Guerin, Weight, Comrie et al. could be retained into next season instead of traded at the deadline and if Hunter would be the captain next season.

 

A.: Way too early to tell, James. I do think some of the veterans on the last year of their respective contracts could be back, especially Guerin. If everyone left, I’d think Brendan Witt would be your captain next season, not Trent.

 

 

Keith asks which F and D would be up next from Bridgeport, if there are plans for a PB Night in Suffolk, when can we hear some Lighthouse news and whether Eklund should give it up.

 

A.: If it’s a long-term recall, Comeau and Hillen. If it’s short-term, could be any one of the older folk. BTW, Andrew MacDonald has been a pleasant surprise. He can play.

 

As I’ve said many times since PB Night 1, if there’s an establishment in Suffolk willing to give up a big chunk of their bar so 100 of us can talk Islanders and watch a game - and throw in plenty of free refreshments like Gab’s did last Thursday - let’s do it. Just haven’t heard from any volunteers yet.

 

Lighthouse, I’ve written twice in the last two weeks about what I know. As for when you will hear any news, highly doubt anyone’s making any big announcements around the holidays. That’s just the latest excuse from our community leaders.

 

Ek? Why should he give it up? From what I understand, he makes money - maybe even a lot of it. I find most of his stuff a lame nuisance without any credibility, but someone’s buying it. I ran into him at the Islanders-Flyers game on Tuesday. We shook hands. More power to him. I just don’t have to chase his stuff. Hey, did the NYI get Khabby and Barker yet? Did the Kings trade Dustin Brown yet?

 

 

AF in Cali and others asked about Mike Comrie. AF wondered if Hilary Duff had anything to do with his struggles.

 

A.: Amazing how, when a player is dating a celebrity, people want to take cheap shots. Saw that with Carol and Yashin, too. From my personal experience I know that Hilary Duff is a first-class woman who treats everyone around her like gold. We should probably lose the high elbows at Hilary and her relationship with Mike. Yes, Comrie is not playing his best hockey. Could have something to do with his game being a bad fit in this system. Could have something to do with his surgically-repaired hip. Does not have anything to do with his heart, or for whom it may belong to.

 

 

Toorude asks why the Islanders-Rangers game didn’t work out at Yankee Stadium.

 

A.: I wrote extensively about this on the old blog, which is still up. After a lot of studies, the Yankees decided they couldn’t host an ice hockey game in their very old baseball stadium. If the game did come off, the NHL was leaning toward blowing off the Islanders - who did most if not all of the legwork on the game - and having the Boston Bruins as the Rangers’ opponent. The league was making a big mistake if they went that route, and will be if they place the Rangers and Bruins (and not the Islanders) in an outdoor game in New York.

 

 

Guerin13 asks about the chances of Kirill Petrov being in Bridgeport or NY next season.

 

A.: I don’t think anyone - including Islanders management - knows the answer. My educated hunch is that if Petrov ever comes over, it will be with the guarantee that he will play on the top two lines for the New York Islanders. He’s been hurt so there’s not a lot of Petrov news coming out of Russia lately.

 

 

Rob and others asked about a Where Are They Now column.

 

A.: I appreciate the idea, and would like to do it from time to time. I’m in regular conversation with a former Islander with a helluva story to tell, and I hope we can tell it together in the next few weeks. Doubt I could make this a regular feature because there’s too much to cover with the present team, but I thank you for the suggestion and will keep it in mind. I guess my biggest concern is I write a nice Pierre Turgeon update and the first five Comments are some variation of “Yeah, that’s nice. But what the hell is _______ doing on the power play and when are we gonna call up Fritz”! LOL

 

 

Mattie C wonders if Jon Sim should go.

 

A.: Jon is a useful player who is in the second year of a three-year deal paying him a mill a season. I don’t think that’s a decision that will be made for a while, or needs to be made for a while. I can tell you that, right now - less than a quarter into the season - there is not a market for any of the Islanders veterans and the Islanders are more than happy to take their time with these decisions.

 

 

Joe RVC wants to know the chances of Josh Bailey sticking around the full year.

 

A.: Hey, it’s not like I nailed this subject earlier this week - although I will contend Mike Comrie’s injury made giving Bailey a few games possible. Josh looks good, but I suggest everyone re-visits this subject in a week. It would be so easy after a nice win and the kid’s first point to make the decision that he’s a keeper. Let’s see what the climate is after hosting Ottawa and Vancouver and then playing at NJ, Buffalo and Montreal. Maybe it’s still all good, but I would wait.

 

 

Paul and others want to know what happens if the Lighthouse Project doesn’t get approved.

 

A.: Doubt I can bring much to the table you don’t already know. If Charles Wang and Scott Rechler do not get most or all of what they need to make the Coliseum transformation work, I’d think they have no choice but to consider alternatives. I would hope when push came to shove, they will get most or all of what they need. After all, for frig’s sake, they’re paying for most of it and creating tax revenues and thousands of jobs.

 

 

Brian from Massapequa wants to know if DiPietro is really only going to be out 4-6 weeks.

 

A.: If I had any information to the contrary, I would post it. I have to go on the assumption the team is telling the truth to its fans. I have nothing else to go on.

 

 

Geli asks about Jeff Tambellini - 1. what he needs to do to “turn on the switch”  2. how much more slack does he get and 3. how is he regarded in the locker room

 

A.: 1. Respectfully Geli, that’s on Jeff and the coaching staff. I don’t question that Tambellini isn’t trying everything he can. 2. At least a half season as long as he’s working at it.   3. like a brother.

 

 

Jbranny wants to know what happens to the D corp when Radek Martinek returns and whether we’ll see Jack Hillen again this season.

 

A.: Thomas Pock may have to sit with a suspension, and would be a contender to sit anyway. Brett Skinner only got 10 minutes last night so he is the other possibility. Yes, I think you’ll see Jack Hillen again this season - just probably not soon. Which is how it oughta be. Defensemen need time in the AHL.

 

 

Klynch wonders if it’s just him or are the Islanders loosening up their injury reporting.

 

A.: It’s not just you. Over the last few weeks, the Islanders have quietly made the proper adjustment to sharing information with their fans. Good on them.

 

 

Mrlbem and others have asked for insight on Mike Milbury’s time here and for some stories.

 

A.: Mike is a friend. Much of what you may be looking for would fall in the category of privileged information from my old job that would be improper for me to divulge. (No, I don’t consider the wacky birth of the fisherman jersey to be privileged information. More like a curse!). When the time is right and I have a column I’m satisfied with, I will post a full article on my time in the organization with Mike.

 

 

Justin Marques asks about Bailey and whether he sticks, goes to junior or to Bridgeport. He also asks about the trade value of Weight and Guerin since they are playing well.

 

A.: Unless it’s for a conditioning stint, Josh can only play for the Islanders or for Windsor of the OHL. Since he came back right away in the Islanders’ lineup, the conditioning ship has sailed. As I’ve said a few times, even if the Islanders move some of their vets at the trade deadline, I don’t think you’ll see the level of return you’d like. I could be very wrong, but I don’t see any first round picks coming this way.

 

 

Scouts asks about Alexei Yashin, whether he was a true leader and whether there were factions in the room as a result.

 

A.: Probably not the answer you’re looking for, but my experience in sports tells me when a team stinks, all of a sudden a big whoop is made about what’s going on “inside the room.” O-ver-ra-ted. When a team stinks, it’s usually because, uh, the team stinks. Sure, Yash wasn’t Denny Potvin or Mess. But on the other hand, he made a 40-goal scorer and multi-millionaire out of Blakey! As fans, we always look for symbols. Yash seemed to symbolize the teams in the 2000s that didn’t work out that well. That’s too much to put on any one player, no matter how much he was being paid.

 

 

UIF asks what’s up with Ben Walter.

 

A.: Walter just returned to the Bport lineup after missing the first month with an undisclosed injury in the hand-ish region. His upside is as a playmaking center. He is not ready for NHL action. I sat next to him and his mom when Springsteen was at the Coliseum earlier this year. I’m rooting for him.

 

 

Doug wants to retire No. 27 for John Tonelli.

 

A.: You won’t get any arguments from me or any of my buddies I grew up with in Hicksville.

 

 

The Commodore asks a kinda creepy question about where the Ice Girls go after games.

 

A.: The Ice Girls almost never go out after games. They have daily double-axel practice at Iceworks at 6:00 am so they usually choose to get their rest. When they do go out, it is to Point Blank favorite Gabrielle’s in Rockville Centre. As a way of thanking them for hosting PB Night, please spend lots of money there while you wait for the women to arrive. Thanks, Commodore.

 

 

Bill asks what happened to my interview with the County and if Trent Hunter is the NYI’s most trade-able asset.

 

A.: Nassau County has not returned the 3 calls I have left over the last two weeks. And some of those people are my friends!…hmmm. I will choose to believe for the next week that everyone there is just out sick or on vacation. Then I will bring the hard stuff. Trent is in year 1 of a 5-year deal at a fair price. He is not going anywhere.

 

 

Dmarie asks if I think this year’s team will be intact next season. She also requests that everyone have a wonderful day.

 

A.: Dmarie seems so nice, which is why it pains me to shoot her down with…not a friggin’ chance in hell! (I mean, on the roster question).

 

 

Chris TMC asks about the crime that is the all-star balloting and whether Montreal fans are to blame.

 

A.: I don’t blame the Habs fans. I think the all-star balloting in every league is a sham and so much more difficult than it needs to be. I suggest that every ballot should be a write-in - none of this limited nominees junk - and it should also be an essay contest!

 

 

Brian wants to know how I think Kyle Okposo is doing.

 

A.: Probably feel the same way you do, Brian. He’s a great kid with talent and heart and a real good future who has shown enough to give fans every reason to think he could be an important part of a championship team.

 

 

Gazaroog thought by now I’d write about trades that almost happened but didn’t happen when I worked for the team.

 

A.: You’re the best, Gaz, so I’m sorry to let you down. You came to the wrong place. Not happening here. Wouldn’t do it even if offered a million for a book.

 

 

Dan wants to know if Mick Vukota and Ken Baumgartner ever fought in practice.

 

A.: No, enforcers on the same team almost never fight each other, unless it’s two guys going for one roster spot in training camp. Mick fought Jim McKenzie once in camp, and then they went out to lunch together - all stitched up.

 

 

Okay, that’s 2000 words worth of answers. Lunch time. Keep the Qs coming in the same place where we started this. Thanks.