Monthly Archives: May 2009
David Reich-Hale, who broke the story over the weekend of Kate Murray attending her first Lighthouse meeting on Tuesday, interviewed me last night. Here’s his Polit Bureau blog for the Long Island Business News. While I’m a bit of a rambling mess in the interview, I do answer a question often asked on this blog: how will the Lighthouse saga end? Comments on arena here, draft in next thread.
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Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, second-ranked European by Central Scouting and No. 4 overall by the I.S.S., completed his physical testing today and was kind enough to give Point Blank a call.
Let’s cut to the chase, Magnus. Did you meet with the Islanders?
Oh yeah. (let’s out a small laugh)
What’s so funny?
Nothing. It was a great interview. It’s just that they have this really big guy as one of their scouts.
That’s Eric Cairns. He was a defenseman and enforcer in the NHL for a decade, mostly with the Islanders and Rangers.
He was a real nice guy. Him being there keeps you on your toes. It’s a little bit intimidating, but in a good way. You have so many meetings, you want to stay alert. He kept me alert at all times.
How many meetings did you have this week at the combine?
25. I had 17 meetings the first day.
You’re expected to go anywhere from around the No. 3 pick to probably no later than 8. When you’re meeting with teams like the Islanders who have picks at 1 and 26, or maybe the Devils – a team that you’ll be long gone before they select – is it hard to stay focused? Do you approach those interviews differently?
Not at all. I go into every interview thinking, “This is the team that could draft me.” I have to. You never know. A team could move up or move back. There could be a trade. Those meetings were my 15 minutes to make an impression. I went after every one like it was the big one.
Sounds like you have had some good guidance in your young career.
My father, Gunnar Svensson, is an agent. He represents players like Henrik Zetterberg.
Oh, so bottom-tier guys, small contracts.
Exactly. Ha! Zetterberg is amazing.
And you’re going to be drafted more than 200 selections before he was.
Can you believe that? It’s worked out well for Henrik and Detroit.
Was there an NHL player you modeled yourself after?
No. I always kind of did my own thing, but all week in Toronto people have been saying and writing my style is like Peter Forsberg or Markus Naslund.
That wouldn’t be so bad.
If I had their careers, I would take it. More than anything, I want to go to a great place and to a team where I can win the Stanley Cup.
When do you plan to come to North America to play?
I’m signed for one more year with Timra (Swedish Elite League), but I guess there’s always a chance something can change. If I play one more year back home, I would then come to the NHL hopefully in 2010.
Describe your play.
I’m a goal scorer and a playmaker who plays well on defense.
How was the Islanders interview?
One of the best ones. They asked tough questions, but I know from talking to my friends, other players here, that’s what you want. You don’t want to leave the room until you feel you have addressed everything.
What did the Islanders ask?
A lot about the World Junior Championships in Ottawa. They saw me at the Under-18s in Fargo and wanted to know why I wasn’t as effective. I was very good at the World Juniors in Under-20 competition (6-6-12 in 6 games) and not so good in Fargo (2-5-7 in 6 games). It was good to get it out in the open. They also challenged me with on-ice questions, like handling the puck on the rush, stuff like that. It was a busy 15, 20 minutes. They even asked me about my name because it has been listed so many different ways. I’m okay with just Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson or just Magnus Paajarvi.
You may have just saved some fans some cash on jersey-lettering. Are the Islanders bringing you to New York for a meeting?
No. I go back home Monday. (Note: from my discussions with players and agents at the combine, it appears the Islanders may have decided to narrow their Island-invite list to just the Big Three: John Tavares, Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene. Hedman arrives Sunday night for the final interview).
What would be your reaction if the Islanders drafted you?
That would be awesome. It would probably mean they made a big move to get me, whether it’s dropping back or a big trade to move up. I enjoyed meeting with them and love the future they have. That would be very exciting.
Which NHL team do you think is going to draft you?
Seriously, I have no clue. And I have a feeling when I’m sitting in the stands in Montreal on June 26, I still won’t have any idea what team is going to call my name.
Comments on the draft here, Lighthouse in next thread.
Kate Murray has confirmed to David Reich-Hale of the Long Island Business News her attendance at her first meeting involving the Lighthouse Project. The Town of Hempstead Supervisor will join Lighthouse representatives at a Long Island Planning Council hearing on Tuesday. The meeting begins at 10:00 am, but the arena development issue will be brought to the table an hour later. It will be held at the Nassau County Legislative building and is open to the public.
Read Hale’s story for the details, including quotes from Murray and a political insider on why she is attending. I just put in a call to a Lighthouse representative who told me he would know on Monday who will be available to represent the developers. Respectful comments only.
David Reich-Hale, a former intern of mine at the Islanders, has a chat with Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray for the Long Island Business News. Murray addresses some Islanders and Lighthouse issues and David is a good man and unbiased professional, so please bring him lots of traffic and comments.
Updated at 11:00 pm: Some readers criticize interview. The interviewer, David Reich-Hale, responds in Comments. Please talk Lighthouse here and draft in next thread.
Point Blank texted with a half-dozen witnesses during today’s physical testing at the NHL Draft Combine in Toronto. Here’s what our observers had to say about the consensus top three prospects.
John Tavares (1:30 pm): “Media swarmed the minute he walked in the room…he’s the rock star this week…no visible emotion…did not do bench press or push-ups…probably being safe with the shoulder that bothered him in OHL playoffs…very serious demeanor…46 sit-ups, excellent…did well in the Wingate…we won’t get any medical information on him until maybe Monday.”
Matt Duchene (2:30 pm): “Focused when he came into the room but friendly…looked a little nervous to me…pushed hard on the bike and did well on his tests…I see TSN said he needs to get a lot stronger. Could be better there, but I wouldn’t make too big a deal out of it.”
Victor Hedman (3:30 pm): “Watched 18-year old boys all day and then Hedman walks in. He’s a man…large man, average development…impressive standing vertical jump…didn’t wow anyone, but Wingate was good and pushed hard on all of the tests…did his v02 right next to Duchene for a good side-by-side comparison…A lot more colorful than Tavares, who was serious. Less nervous than Duchene.”
What does today mean in terms of which player is going first, second or third? Nothing at all.
Comments.
Kate Murray won the last election for Town of Hempstead Supervisor in a blowout, approximately 70,000 votes to 30,000. In November she’ll face Kristin McElroy of Garden City, named yesterday as the Democratic nominee.
While we wait to hopefully speak with McElroy in the next week, here is some background from Nick Giglia’s Let There Be Lighthouse blog. Here’s Newsday’s coverage and here’s the Long Island Business News story. Eden Laikin of Newsday doesn’t mention the Lighthouse Project, while David Reich-Hale of the LIBN does. Hale’s story quotes an insider saying McElroy has to raise a lot of money to have a chance. No doubt Charles Wang and Scott Rechler will pitch in.
Make no mistake: Murray is the heavy favorite in a Republican stronghold. The one difference-maker for McElroy could be her ability to engage voters in support of the Lighthouse Project.
Comments. As always, personal insults at Ms. Murray will be rejected and all future comments will go to moderation.
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If Victor Hedman is to stake his claim to being the Islanders’ first overall pick in the NHL Draft, now is the time.
“It’s my chance,” Hedman told Point Blank over the phone this morning from the NHL Draft Combine in Toronto. “It’s my final opportunity to make an impression on the Islanders.”
Hedman said he has played in front of Islanders scouts countless times, between his games in the Swedish Elite League and the World Junior Championships. He had several meetings with Islanders scouting director Ryan Jankowski, European director Vellu-Pekka Kautonen and longtime Swedish scout and dynasty member Anders Kallur.
“The Islanders have been great to me,” Hedman said. “I’ve gone to dinner with them in Stockholm. We’ve had a few meetings. They gave me their psychological test. It’s all been first-class, very professional. They now know me and I know them well.”
Would you like to be the Islanders’ first overall pick in the NHL Draft, Victor?
“Of course, that would be an honor,” said Hedman. “I know all about the Islanders history. I know it’s a great place to play. It would be a privilege to wear the same jersey of a man like Mike Bossy, who is a legend. I know Kenny Jonsson from the National team and he loved his time in New York.
“If they call my name, I would be proud to be an Islander. And if they want me right away, I’m coming to North America next season. I’m confident that I’m ready for the NHL.”
To make it a reality, there are three big days for Hedman.
Tuesday, May 26: According to Hedman, the Islanders hosted him early Tuesday morning at one of their first interviews of the combine. The early timing is merely coincidence, the luck of Central Scouting’s schedule. The meeting was the same allotted 20 minutes that the Islanders are granted at the draft combine with Matt Duchene, Carter Ashton and anyone else the team’s scouting staff requests.
An interpreter was not needed because Hedman speaks fluent English. Despite his shy demeanor on the night the Islanders won the lottery – it was 2:30 am in Sweden when he was interviewed by TSN – Hedman is said to be extremely bright, out-going and confident in his world-class skills. The Islanders still refuse to release the names of the scouts at the combine, but it’s fair to assume the Hedman interview was led by Jankowski. Central Scouting director E.J. McGuire said yesterday that Jankowski was joined by a contingent of “4 or 5 scouts.”
“It was a good meeting,” said Hedman. “I’m scheduled to see a lot of teams at the combine, but the Islanders meeting felt like a big one.” Like a final exam? “Yes, you could say that.”
Friday, May 29: At 3:30 pm, Hedman takes the stage for the physical testing section of the NHL Draft Combine. Make no mistake, this is a cattle call. In shorts and a T-Shirt – branded with a number as if this was A Chorus Line – Hedman will be put through a series of exercises including situps, pushups, bench press, standing long jump, vertical jump and the ever-crucial medicine ball throw.
Hedman and his group of 8 draft prospects (including fellow huge dman Jared Cowen) will then be given a Windgate test, a 30-second sprint on a bike at maximum tension that has often led to vomiting on the ballroom floor. Then comes the beloved v02 test, which usually doesn’t induce barfing but has been known to break a kid’s spirit.
Oh by the way, Hedman and the rest of the prospects perform all these tests in a hotel ballroom jam-packed with scouts. As a final touch to give it the feel of a Chippendales audition, the players take their shirts off for photos and weight and height measurements. One longtime bird-dog says, “The whole enterprise would be intimidating for even the most confident of kids.”
Hedman told us he’ll sweat a lot, but he won’t sweat the details. “I’m here to work hard and show the scouts my conditioning and my health,” he said. “But I’m not going to be nervous. All week here, I just want to have fun and enjoy being part of the NHL atmosphere. This is exciting for me. I’m not going to worry about things I can’t control.”
The Islanders will get a better idea of the stuff Hedman is made of on Friday afternoon.
Next Week: Hedman told Point Blank that he has a flight to New York on Sunday afternoon and the Islanders are picking him up at the airport. He has all day Monday open on his schedule to meet with the team. On Tuesday, he travels to Tampa Bay.
By the end of this combine, Islanders scouts will have seen plenty of the Swedish defenseman ranked No. 1 among Europeans by Central Scouting. Hedman’s visit on Monday is more about meeting Garth Snow and possibly owner Charles Wang and head coach Scott Gordon.
“I don’t much about it, what the plans are,” said Hedman. “I’m just excited to have the chance to hear about the team and tell them how I could fit in.”
Of course, Snow and Jankowski are the top decision-makers with the first overall pick, but when it comes to Hedman, do not minimize the influence of Kautonen and Kallur.
Kautonen, a former Calgary draft pick and standout with IFK Helsinki as a player, joined the Islanders in 2004 after two years scouting for the St. Louis Blues. After two years of monitoring Finland for the Islanders, he was promoted to European director in 2006. Kautonen was a major influence in the selection of Jesse Joensuu and took a first-hand interest in his development when the 6-4 wing stayed in Finland for one season.
Kallur played six seasons with the Islanders and has four Stanley Cup rings. He has been a major voice in Europe since the early 1990s, including the selection of Zdeno Chara when Kallur headed up Europe for the Islanders.
“The Islanders have seen me play enough to know what I might be able to do for them,” said Hedman. ”This week in Toronto and Monday in New York are just the final steps. We’ll see how it works out. Whether it’s first overall or later, my dream is to be picked by a team that really believes in me.”
COMBINE NOTES
Some other notable physical testing times on Friday…
1:30 pm: Evander Kane, Zach Kassian, Brayden Schenn, John Tavares
2:30 pm: Jordan Caron, Calvin de Haan, Matt Duchene, Ryan Ellis, Landon Ferraro
Again, a separate spy at the Draft Combine reported to us this morning, “The Islanders people have barely come out of their conference room for air. They’re meeting with virtually every kid with even the slightest chance of going in the first two rounds. They went from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm yesterday and if they took lunch, I didn’t see them. I’ve never seen a team request to meet with so many prospects.”
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