Monthly Archives: March 2009
The NYI have won a few games and scored some goals lately, which can only mean one thing: a revival of Goal Song talk!
I’ve received more than two-dozen emails about it since the weekend. I’ve written back to most of you about how I covered the Goal Song issue like crazy the first quarter of the season and, frankly, I have little of value to add. So here’s your chance.
What do you want from your Islanders Goal Song? I’m told the team continues to tinker with this process and more mixes will be rolled out before the end of the season. Still, here’s your chance to provide some input. There’s a good chance the organization will read and consider your thoughts.
Strictly-enforced Guidelines: one Comment per reader – limited to 100 constructive, courteous, professional words. Don’t like someone’s idea? Let it go and simply present your better one. Let’s hear from everyone.
10:30 pm - So that you never have to hear about it again, here’s John Tavares to Pierre Lebrun of ESPN.com on the urban legend about him not wanting to be an Islander. We told Mike Francesa two months ago about our “source close to Tavares” saying Mike heard a bad rumor. Now JT is on-the-record with Pierre:
“It’s not true at all. Wherever I’m selected, 100 percent I’m going to be going there. If it is the New York Islanders, of course I’m going to go. I think they’ve got a lot of good prospects and there’s some good things happening there. Obviously, they’re looking to get a new arena, which is always exciting. And it’s a team with great tradition and history.”
We just spoke with Lebrun for his take on their conversation. “I felt his comments about the Islanders were very genuine,” said Pierre. “He respects the team’s history, which is nice. The last thing the league needs is another Lindros situation circa 1991.”
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For some reason, the Islanders aren’t saying. But the tireless Mike Fornabaio has Joe Callahan and Jesse Joensuu back in Bridgeport. There was some buzz about Joel Rechlicz being with the Islanders for the trip, but no one will confirm that. Brendan Witt returns from suspension just in time for the Maple Leafs.
Our intermission guests at Point Blank Night tomorrow, by reader request, include Michael Picker – President of the Lighthouse Development Group, and Justin Bourne – part of the potential Bourne-Gillies dynasty. There will be other surprises as well and plenty of Islanders talk. Details and RSVP here.
UPDATED at 3:30 pm at bottom with news of Swedish HF approval for Robin Figren.
When Jack Capuano watches his players with the Islanders, the Bridgeport head coach becomes a fan.
“It’s fun,” Capuano said this morning. “You see a great kid like Jesse (Joensuu) score his first NHL goal in his first NHL game, and it brings a smile to your face.”
The success of recent AHL call-ups like Joensuu, Jack Hillen, Joe Callahan and Mike Iggulden is in part the result of a seamless line of communication between Capuano and Islanders head coach Scott Gordon. We spoke with Gordon and Capuano to learn how it has worked from Day One:
Scott Gordon: “My first day on the job, I was prepared to share everything with Jack. I wanted him to know everything about the system I was implementing and how it could work with both teams.”
Jack Capuano: “I was looking forward to working with Scott. I had a lot of respect for him from coaching against Providence. At our first meeting, he gave me a bit of a homework assignment. He wanted me to prepare a ‘pre-scout’ report as if I was getting our team in Bridgeport ready to play his team in Providence. I liked that. I think Scott wanted to see how we prepared in Bridgeport. He wanted to see if there were ways we could be in sync to do the best job for the Islanders and Sound Tigers.”
Gordon: “Jack does great work. My only recommendation to him was to learn a video editing program I had in Providence. I thought it would make his life so much easier and it would be an excellent teaching tool for him.”
Capuano: “If you know Scott Gordon, you walk into his office and the guy has three laptops sitting on his desk at the same time. I remember he had a JumpDrive. I was like, ‘What the heck is a JumpDrive’? Now I know. Hey, I’m always open to learning. The editing system he recommended has been a godsend for us.”
Gordon: “As much as I was prepared to share everything with Jack, you have to give him a lot of credit. He took everything to a higher level. During training camp in Moncton, he had his staff videotape all of our Islanders practices.”
Capuano: “My coaches (assistant Pat Bingham and Matt Bertani) and I often had the rookies, so we couldn’t always be at Scott’s practices. I asked [Sound Tigers PR manager] Kimber Auerbach to record as much of Scott’s sessions as possible. If we’re going to be consistent in our approach from Bridgeport to the Island, what better way to learn? I wanted to see Scott’s drills, but more important, how the system is taught through those drills.”
Gordon: “I’ve said it all year to the press: whenever we call up a player from Bridgeport, I never have to worry about him being in condition and understanding ouy system. That’s a credit to Jack, Pat Bingham and Matt Bertani.”
Capuano: “Scott and I talk almost every day, sometimes more than once a day. He knows from being in the AHL that the one thing I can control more than anything else is the conditioning of our players in Bridgeport. I’m fanatical about it, and I don’t just mean on-ice conditioning. We monitor nutrition. I talk to our players about work habits, even sleep habits with the challenging AHL schedule. If you’re not in the best shape, you cannot perform at your best. It doesn’t help to ‘know’ a system if you’re unable to perform it.”
The results are coming in. Capuano’s Sound Tigers and Gordon’s Islanders – with plenty of Capuano’s Sound Tigers – went 5-for-5 this weekend.
“I’m one of their biggest fans,” said Capuano, fresh off three wins in three days. “As much as we’re trying to win every game in Bridgeport, Pat, Matt and I never lose sight of the fact that our job is to develop players for the Islanders. We see Jesse score in his first game, Jack get that goal against the Rangers or Iggy rack up the assists, and there’s a lot of satisfaction in that.”
ETC: After back-to-back games, the Islanders did not practice today. Their charter left Farmingdale for Toronto at 2:30 pm with no news of any roster decisions. With Brendan Witt out of NHL timeout, it’s expected a dman such as Joe Callahan would be returned to Bridgeport. Nate Thompson may also be close to getting off the injured list, which would result in a forward coming back to Jack Capuano.
UPDATED, 3:30 pm - Islanders prospect Robin Figren has been given the green light by the Swedish Hockey Federation to play for the Sound Tigers.
Expect Figren to primarily practice with the team, as he learns the Islanders system and gets into NHL/AHL shape. Unless the Sound Tigers’ depth is tested even more by injuries and recalls, Figren will not see a lot of game action. In fact, the model could be Jesse Joensuu, who only played one game last season for Bridgeport and practiced, practiced, practiced.
Here’s our story from last week on Figren.
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Wayne Gretzky on the Islanders’ rebuild: “I really like what they’re doing. You’ve got to go through tough times to get back on top. You can’t be impatient. You’ve got to work hard, do your homework and scouting and if you get lucky and get a Crosby and Ovechkin, that helps, too.”
Of course, The Great One nails it. The Islanders have done it the right way. They have been smart to not band-aid. But about that last part? No one is saying Tavares or Hedman are quite in that class, but what if the Islanders come out of this mostly-brutal season without one of them? Will it be worth it?
***One Comment per reader.***
Prizes include a signed stick from Doug Weight and Islanders tickets. Looks like it will be a big crowd. Details and RSVP here.
The Islanders’ season ends five weeks from today, but the hockey season may not end for the best player to emerge so far from the franchise’s rebuilding program.
Kyle Okposo has been placed on the list of eligible players for the American Hockey League playoffs. If Bridgeport can secure a berth, Okposo will be asked to play a major role in the Sound Tigers’ pursuit of the Calder Cup.
This would be a unique circumstance because Okposo, who will turn 21 during the first round of the AHL playoffs, has played this entire year in the National Hockey League. However, the Islanders have decided the playoff experience is crucial to Okposo’s development. Showing the maturity he’s displayed throughout this challenging season, the young right wing says he fully embraces the concept of an extra month or two in the minor leagues.
“I’m going to play hard wherever I go,” said Okposo, who had a goal and an assist in the Islanders’ 3-2 win today over Phoenix at the Coliseum. “If I go back to Bridgeport for the playoffs, I’m going to give our team everything I’ve got. The Sound Tigers organization and the coaching staff played a big part in getting me to the NHL, and I also have a lot of friends on the team. The chance to maybe take on more of a leadership role, plus get the experience of the playoffs, is exciting to me. If I’m fortunate to get that opportunity, I’d be foolish not to embrace it.”
And if the Sound Tigers qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs, Okposo will have company from the Islanders’ roster. Blake Comeau, who was a full-time Islander for the second half of last season and the final three-quarters of this one, is on the clear-day list and is craving for a shot to re-join the Sound Tigers in mid-April.
“You always want to be in the playoffs,” said Comeau. “We won’t be there this season with the Islanders, but this is a chance to get some invalauble experience in the A.”
Comeau knows what he’s talking about. Three springs ago, he was on the Bridgeport team that lost an intense seven-game series to Wilkes Barre/Scranton. As Comeau said today, “Playing in a high-pressure environment like that is important for any young player.”
BRIDGEPORT PLAYOFF LINEUP
A Point Blank Projection
Forwards
Blake Comeau – Ben Walter – Kyle Okposo
Trevor Smith – Kurtis McLean – Mike Iggulden
Jon Sim – Jeremy Colliton – Jesse Joensuu
Junior Lessard – Tyler Haskins – Sean Bentivoglio
Tomas Marcinko, Michael Haley, Mitch Fritz, Joel Rechlicz and Co.
Defensemen
Andrew MacDonald – Dustin Kohn
Joe Callahan – Jack Hillen
Mark Wotton – Jamie Fraser
Chris Lee
Goaltenders
Nathan Lawson
Peter Mannino
Notes: Yann Danis and Tim Jackman are not eligible for the AHL playoffs. Both would have needed to clear waivers and the Islanders opted not to take the chance. Lawson has been signed by the Islanders and is considered a legitimate challenger to win a job as a No. 1 in Bridgeport and eventually push for a spot in the NHL rotation.
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THE TAVHEDUCH WATCH
Every team in the Tavheduch sweepstakes that played today won, leaving the idle Tampa Bay Lightning to gain ground on everyone. Vinny, St. Louis and Stamkos. Oh man, would Victor Hedman be perfect for the Lightning.
1. Islanders 22-37-7 51 pts (66 games)
2. Tampa Bay 21-32-13 55 pts (66 games)
3. Atlanta 25-35-6 56 pts (66 games)
4. Colorado 29-36-1 59 pts (66 games)
TW Notes: The moment we ran the 60-game Watch last week, a few readers posted their equations proving how the Islanders were a virtual lock to finish last overall and be guaranteed the first or second pick. Most started with something like, “If the Islanders play .500 the rest of the way…”
That algebra stuff is all well and good, but it has nothing to do with post-trade deadline hockey. What if the Islanders’ strong play at home carries over to the road? What if they continue to earn 6 out of every 8 points? The Watch will keep you up nights, that’s what.
As word circulated about Rick Tocchet getting a contract extension, the Lightning lost at home to Carolina last night, 9-3. Didn’t that happen with the Knicks and Isiah Thomas? Watch out for the Bolts.
Welcome, Colorado Avalanche, to Tavheduch. You should have traded Ryan Smyth. So long, Chris Campoli and the Sens. Hedman won’t be chewing up any of Campy’s power play time.
POINT BLANK 2009 DRAFT TOP 5
March 8, 2009
1. John Tavares, C, London (OHL)
Tavares had 3 goals and an assist today in a 4-3 win over Josh Bailey’s old team in Windsor.
2. Victor Hedman, D, Modo (Sweden)
3. Matt Duchene, C, Brampton (OHL), right
4. Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi, LW, Timra-IK (Sweden)
5. Evander Kane, C, Vancouver (WHL)
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ANDY’S AGONY
Andy Sutton could return to the ice soon; the question is whether it’s worth it. He’s almost healed from his foot surgery of two months ago and is ready to start practicing. The reasons to return? Mostly to prove to himself and his team that he’s back.
“This has been the toughest season of my career,” said Sutton, who has played only 23 games this season. “It would be great to get back practicing and maybe play in a few games. But I also understand the other view.”
The other view is that there’s no point in risking further injury just for the sake of playing games when his team is not in the playoff hunt. “We’ll talk it over with the doctors, trainers and coaches and decide what’s best,” said Sutton, who came into camp in the best shape of his life and had much different plans for this season.
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GAME NOTES
After scoring just 2 goals in his first 44 NHL games this season, Jeff Tambellini has now scored 3 in his last 4.
Mike Iggulden, passed over countless times when the Islanders’ injury epidemic hit, has 3 assists in 2 games since his recall from Bridgeport yesterday.
Josh Bailey’s goal to make it 2-1 was his first NHL goal scored at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Today’s official attendance was 13,413, bringing the weekend total to 29,000 – not bad at all considering the lack of playoff push.
Another superb performance by Yann Danis, who may get every chance to prove it all over again in September in Saskatoon.
Darren Pang, in the press box today for Coyotes TV, on Okposo: “Great skater. He’s so strong on his feet. You don’t realize how good he is until you see him in person.”
Phoenix 2006 first-rounder Peter Mueller was a healthy scratch today. Speaking of which, where are we on the whole Okposo-Mueller debate?
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