Monthly Archives: May 2009
Scott Gordon via text from Switzerland: “Kyle said it was more out of fun. They were joking about it after the game. When it first happened I was caught off-guard, but I could quickly tell it wasn’t serious.”
Sources tell Point Blank that Charles Wang and Garth Snow were in attendance when Matt Duchene and his Brampton Battalion hosted Windsor in Game 2 of their Ontario Hockey League Final on Friday night.
While there wasn’t a post-game meeting as the Islanders owner and GM had two weeks ago with John Tavares, we’re told Duchene plans to visit with the Islanders on Long Island a few weeks after the completion of his season.
Windsor defeated Duchene’s Battalion 5-3 on Friday night after crushing them 10-1 in Game 1. Duchene did not have a point in the game. Besides Wang and Snow, Friday’s game was also attended by Lightning owner Oren Koules and GM Brian Lawton and by Thrashers GM Don Waddell.
Down 2 games to 0, Brampton won in Windsor on Monday night, 4-2, behind a goal and an assist from Duchene. Game 4 is Wednesday in Brampton.
In 57 regular season games this season, the 5-11, 195-pound center was 31-48-79. So far in 19 playoff games, Duchene has 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points.
Comments. Reminder: Point Blank is the guest at tonight’s NYI Booster Club Meeting at 7:30 pm at the Long island Marriott.
Really, why should the Islanders just claim John Tavares as their choice now? Why give Islanders fans reason to be overwhelmingly giddy? Why sell big numbers of season tickets and Tavares jerseys? With the Rangers and Devils eliminated and newspaper editors now completely abandoning the sport, why dominate the hockey conversation? Why have the joy that comes with knowing Tavares is an Islander cast a positive effect over all this Lighthouse discussion?
(Not for nothing, but sure seems to me those Newsday stories yesterday would have been digested a lot better if the Islanders had a future goal-scoring star in the fold as opposed to the uncertainty of what June 26 will bring).
Why grab Tavares when we can have more reports like the one on Hockey Night in Canada? Three minutes into the latest segment of “Satellite Hot Stove” on Saturday, Pierre LeBrun says word’s out the Islanders want Victor Hedman. As a result, according to Pierre, the Maple Leafs would try to move to the second pick to get JT. (As this blog knows well, all this Tavheduch stuff is media gold).
Then Pierre and Mike Milbury discuss how crafty Garth Snow may be for not showing all his cards. They theorize that Snow is purposefully leaking false information. Mike says, “I wouldn’t trust Garth Snow,” trying to make the audience think there’s friction with the Islanders GM. I didn’t buy it for a second. All he’s really doing is complimenting Snow on his misdirection techniques - as opposed to a lack of direction, I guess.
Al Strachan wonders why the Islanders just don’t get it over with and make their pick. This would be the first time I’ve ever agreed with Al. Yeah, I know, the Islanders want to play this out. Not sure how that’s working out so far.
Unless the Islanders make a blockbuster maneuver that significantly improves the hockey club without a single doubt in the minds of their followers – a longshot – the wait will not have been worth it. Sure, there’s a lot of people talking Islanders, but where does it ultimately get them?
June 26 will be here any day now.
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DOUGHTY’S BETTER: By the way, for some perspective on Hedman, know this. Almost every scout I’ve asked forecasts Drew Doughty to have a better NHL career than Hedman. Make no mistake, Doughty could be great. Let’s just lose the perception that defensemen the calibre of Hedman only come around once a decade.
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CONTEST CAUSES A STIR: In case you missed it earlier today, the Islanders are having a contest where fans can make their choice for the first pick overall. Eight winners each get a trip to Montreal.
The marketing idea is already a huge hit because it has generated a lot of talk and plenty of fans have signed up.
The conversation about the contest continues in the next thread. Your Comments on Tavheduch here, please.
The Islanders have announced a contest where fans get to make their choice of the player the Islanders should take first overall. All of the details are here. Eight fans will each win a trip for two to the draft in Montreal.
When I first heard about it, I figured it was a sure sign the Islanders are taking John Tavares. I mean, after all, how could they have this contest knowing 90% of the fans will pick Tavares – and then not take him? (It’s not like they needed this poll to tell them what they already know.) But then I realized something. Nowhere in the promo materials does it say the Islanders will release the results of the fan polling. So no, this is not a sign they are taking Tavares.
Also note: it says the winners get a meet-and-greet with the Islanders’ No. 1 pick. It doesn’t promise the first overall pick. We know you’ve always wanted to meet Oliver Ekman-Larsson! But seriously folks, this simply is what it is – promotion, marketing, procuring contact info for sales – no deeper than that. The Islanders want people talking about this, and I guarantee there will be plenty of chatter. The prizes are terrific. Sign up on the team site. Comments.
Incredible that after all this time there are people who still believe someone else besides Charles Wang could own the Islanders and keep them in Nassau County. Understand this: when it comes to the Islanders on Long Island, I’m fairly certain Wang is the last man standing.
But just to make sure, I’m throwing out a challenge. This blog has a wide enough reach to get the word out. Perhaps Rieber and Baumbach will link to this post and extend it even further. PB readers can certainly spread the word. Here goes.
The Islanders are not for sale, but I don’t care about that. I want to hear from the people who are willing to buy this team and keep it on Long Island. Some issues you may want to consider:
- My price is $195 million, around what Wang bought the Islanders for in 2000.
- You must keep the team in Nassau County.
- You must sign up for merely renovating the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum only. As per Nassau, no new arena. As apparently per the Town of Hempstead, no paving the parking lot and putting up paradise – even if you’re paying for just about all of it.
- Expect to lose another $20 million or more for the next several years.
- And please note there’s an NHL-mandated player salary cap floor of around $40 million annually. None of this, “Hey, let’s trade Ziggy and bring the payroll down to $15 million!” stuff.
Let’s go, big talkers – like Bob Gutkowski a decade ago – I want to hear from you. Show us your wallets and show us you care. Email cb@islanderspointblank.com or simply add a Comment to this story. We’re waiting.
Think of all the perks.
Comments.
Jim Baumbach reports for Newsday, which got a look at the Islanders’ books. The quote is from CFO Art McCarthy. Of course, Charles Wang has some regrets. When I was with the team, we opened the Islanders’ financial records to New York Times writer Richard Sandomir more than six years ago. The Coliseum development is no closer, and the bleeding is worse. One fact that didn’t make the Newsday story: if the Islanders charged significantly more for their tickets, sold out every regular season game and played a few rounds of the playoffs, Wang would still lose plenty of money. Comments.
Jadakiss, the rapper from Yonkers, gets it. On the cover and in his profile inside the lastest issue of The Source magazine, the rapper formerly known as Jason Phillips dons some classic Islanders gear.
I’m told by sources close to Jadakiss – never thought I’d ever write that line! – that he made the decision to go old-school NYI all on his own. This was not an NHL or NYI-created photo op to sell merchandise. Mr. Phillips was five years old when the Islanders won their first Stanley Cup. Maybe he’s a big Dave Langevin fan.
Gotta ask my friend Terry Goldstein at the Islanders where they sell those jackets.
Hey, it’s a Saturday in early May. One reader wrote yesterday he didn’t care to ready any more about Mike Bossy. Off the Lighthouse coverage, another wrote we should stick to hockey. With coverage 24/7/365, we’ll write about everything and anything we want. There’s always the option to not read.
Enjoy the weekend. The gents at The Times seem to be staying on top of the World Championships, so check out their Slap Shot blog.
Comments. Lighthouse talk continues in next thread, the draft in the one after that.
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