Monthly Archives: April 2009
5:05 pm - Point Blank has learned that the Islanders have signed Justin DiBenedetto to an entry-level three-year contract. The 2008 sixth round draft pick finished third in the OHL this season with 45-48-93 in 62 games. We recently ranked the 6-0, 200-pound left wing as the Islanders’ No. 9 draft pick in junior, college or Europe and called him the franchise’s biggest wild card. The 20-year old will join Bridgeport on an ATO for the rest of this season.
Happy Passover and Happy Easter in advance to all who celebrate. I hope everyone has a terrific holiday week. Talk about tonight’s Islanders-Penguins game and everything else hockey here. Continue the Lighthouse discussion below.
The Islanders clinch the top seed in next Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery and are guaranteed a top-2 pick tonight if one of these happen:
- The Islanders lose in regulation to the Penguins
- The Islanders lose in overtime or a shootout and Tampa Bay gets one point in their game tonight against Washington
- Tampa Bay beats Washington
In other words, the magic number is 2 points.
I’m putting together some pieces in anticipation of a possible Tavheduch clinching tonight. In and around that work, I’ll join you in Comments.
On Saturday at 11:00 am there will be a press conference to show support for the Lighthouse Project. The event will be held on the small patch of grass between the arena and the Marriott on the north side of Hempstead Turnpike.
All are invited to attend. The Islanders host the Flyers three hours later at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Lighthouse Development Corporation is not part of the event. The press conference is co-hosted by David Denenberg, Nassau County Legislature; John Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO); and Jim Castellane, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk.
Denenberg, Durso and Castellane will be joined by elected officials, labor leaders, civic leaders, veterans, residents and Islanders fans. All in attendance have the option of signing their names to a Memorandum of Support for the Lighthouse Project.
Said Denenberg: “The Lighthouse will increase tax revenue, create new jobs and career opportunities, create attractive housing alternatives, grow existing businesses and attract new business to Nassau County. The project will also save the Islanders.
“The Lighthouse is the most important development in Nassau County since Levittown and is smart growth that Nassau County needs now. This is not the time to sit on the fence. It is the time for real leadership to take a position that this is the right project at the right time for Nassau County.”
The event on Saturday is called “Save the Island/Save the Islanders.” Newsday was critical of Denenberg, saying the role of the Legislator in this petition and event is no different than Kate Murray’s recent epic failure – “petty partisan politics.”
Sources close to Denenberg tell Point Blank that he has no intention of running against Murray for Town Hempstead Supervisor. Denenberg associates say he has worked on the Coliseum development for most of the decade and wants to see it through. If this is all true, we see nothing wrong with his involvement.
Just as you can choose to support Denenberg and the union leaders’ efforts for the Lighthouse Project, or not, on Saturday at 11:00 am.
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UPDATED at 10:40 am - Mike Iggulden recalled for Comeau (broken wrist). Rechlicz, Fritz and Joensuu still with the big club for tonight’s tilt at the Igloo.
Good job by Mr. Logan tracking down Bill Guerin on the off-day before his Penguins face the Islanders tonight. In case there’s any uncertainty with Doug Weight re-upped, let me clear this up. Billy did a lot of good things, but in the end it just didn’t work out for him or the team. Sometimes it’s as simple as that. Chances of Guerin and the Islanders reuniting next season: less than 0%. Comment Guidelines.
A little break from Lighthouse, Lottery, epic losses and everything else, if you will. Whether you have seen this or not, it’s as good as it gets.
Kelly Hrudey did not play on one of Al Arbour’s Stanley Cup teams, nor was he on the ’92-93 squad. And yet listen to what The Coach meant to the goalie, and Al’s reaction to it. May we all leave a mark like this.
The interview was recorded at The Coach’s home by Hockey Night in Canada last season in anticipation of Arbour’s 1,500th game with the Islanders. It is one of many gifts that came out of an extraordinary event.
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Josh Bailey wanted to make sure his four housemates did not forget. “Bring your passports”! he yelled around the place he shares with Bruno Gervais, Kyle Okposo, Nate Thompson and Tim Jackman.
And then when their car was only a few minutes from the Islanders’ chartered aircraft at Republic Airport, Bailey realized he had forgotten his passport.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Bailey said.
“Keep in mind, this wasn’t October,” said coach Scott Gordon. “This was in February.”
“Crazy thing was,” said Jackman, “I think I felt even worse than Bails did.”
Jackman’s reaction is really what this is all about. As the teenager’s roommate on the road and housemate on the Island, the 27-year old Jackman had taken it upon himself to guide Bailey during every step of his rookie season. In the Passport Incident, Jackman actually felt for a moment that he failed.
“No way,” said Bailey. “Jacks should never feel that way. That was 100% on me. Timmy’s been amazing. He never has to worry about that stuff.”
Bailey called a team staffer on the plane to give an honest account of why one-fourth of the team might be late. They drove back to the house in Roslyn and Bailey grabbed his passport. The bright side is Bailey will probably never forget it for the rest of his NHL career.
Gordon says that the assignment of Jackman and Bailey as road roommates was by design. “You want a pro with a young guy like Josh, but also someone he could relate to,” said Gordon. “Tim’s still a young player, but he’s been around, played at every level and he’s got a great head on his shoulders. Josh can learn from someone like Tim.”
He has.
“Tremendous experience,” said Bailey. “I’m really grateful to Tim for helping me this year.”
Jackman explains his role as a Bailey off-ice mentor: “Make sure he wakes up in the morning. Sees that he’s keeping a good schedule so he’s at his best on the ice. Look out for him. Actually, we look out for each other. Josh has become a good friend. He doesn’t need anyone’s help anymore. He’s going to be just fine. It’s time to set him free.”
Any perks to the assignment, Tim?
“Not really,” said Jackman. “Well, I don’t know if this counts. But on the road, I control the remote.”
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12:20 pm - The Islanders have signed defense prospect Mark Katic to a three-year, entry level contract, Point Blank has learned through a variety of social media sources.
Katic will likely join the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the remainder of this season on an amateur tryout agreement.
A third round pick in 2007, Katic was 13-41-54 in 63 games this season with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League. The 6-0, 190-pound two-way defenseman particularly impressed Islanders management with an outstanding second half of the season. According to Sting staffers, Islanders scouts Eric Cairns and Tim MacLean were regular visitors to Sarnia to monitor Katic’s development.
We wrote about Katic and his Sarnia teammates/fellow NYI draft picks Matt Martin and Justin DiBenedetto here and here. Two weeks ago, we ranked Katic No. 6 on our list of the Islanders’ top 10 prospects in junior, college or Europe.
Call it the power of Facebook. A few hours after we learned the Islanders were deep in negotiations with the agent for Katic, PB reader Sab commented on the blog that he heard through a reliable Facebook friend that a Katic deal was done. (It should be noted Sab lives in Ontario and – unrelated to this scoop or not – is related to a hockey legend). We confirmed a few moments ago that a deal was done with Katic.
So 2009.
ETC: The team has also finalized an intriguing signing for Bridgeport. Signed to an ATO and practicing with the Sound Tigers today is Ryan Duncan, who just completed his fourth season at the University of North Dakota with 20-19-39 in 43 games.
The asterisk with Duncan is that he is listed as 5-6, 150 pounds. But the 24-year old can play hockey. Good idea to see what he can do in the AHL down the stretch while the Islanders make a decision on him. Size has not hurt his durability so far; he never missed a game in four years of college.
With Kurtis McLean done for the year and Jeremy Colliton on the shelf, Jack Capuano needed a center.
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