Monthly Archives: June 2009
It’s not “Writer of the Year” like Puck Daddy, but it’s a proud moment just the same. Hockeybarn.com has named our little blog one of four finalists in the “Unsung Hero” category. The award is given to “the writer who has shown dedication and commitment to producing high quality hockey content despite otherwise limited recognition.” We’re especially honored to be in the category with our friend Tripp Mickle of the Sports Business Journal. Thanks to Hockey Barn, and thanks to everyone who nominated us.
Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
We haven’t done the Reader Q & A in a while. If you have questions you’d like to run by me, please place them in Comments over the next two days. So that I can follow along, please just file one question in each Comment and limit it to just three per reader so I can do my best to get to everyone.
I’ll start replying to your questions on the blog over the weekend, unless Islanders news breaks. Thanks for your participation.
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JAFFE’S FORWARD THINKING
A year ago at this time, Billy Jaffe was the only journalist in the Country to hint of a possible move back in the draft by Garth Snow. In a clip with Chris King and Steve Mears for ITV last June, The Jaff said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Islanders cashed in the 5 for more picks later in the draft. So I had to call him to find out what the Islanders are doing on June 26.
“I think the Islanders are going to draft one of the forwards first overall – John Tavares or Matt Duchene,” said The Jaff. The MSG Plus hockey analyst agreed with my prediction that Garth Snow will try to move up from pick 26 to get an additional player high on Ryan Jankowski’s draft board.
“This is how I see it playing out,” he said. “They get Tavares or Duchene at 1 and then one of the top defensemen on their board is still around. I’ll use your number, let’s say around pick 15. I feel the Islanders will make a strong push for a big-talent defenseman in the middle of the round after getting the forward they want at 1.”
Jaffe also feels strongly about something I’ve blogged about: the Islanders need to keep their 2010 first round pick off the table.
“Look up these teams: Pittsburgh, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles,” he said. “I could be off by one, but I don’t believe any of them moved a first-rounder when they were rebuilding. If you want to do it the way Pitt and Wash and Chicago did, the way St. Louis and L.A. are and the way the Islanders say they are, you have to hold on to your potential high first round picks. Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and the first pick this year are a start, but it doesn’t finish the job.”
One last thing. Billy asked me what I thought the fan reaction would be in three years if Tavares becomes a very good but not spectacular scorer and Duchene hits his potential as a Mike Richards-like all-around player. If you’re in the Tavares camp, be afraid. Be very afraid.
LAVI IN DEVILS MIX?
Peter Laviolette may be a serious candidate for the Devils head coaching position, or maybe just doesn’t want to risk killing his chances to work for Lou Lamoriello. Of course, I have no source on this. Just one of my educated hunches I never hesitate to share in this accountability-free blogosphere.
A few New York-New Jersey hockey writers called me yesterday looking for a number to contact Peter. I called the ex-Islanders coach to see what was up and get his blessing to pass his number on. Pete’s one of those guys who usually calls you back within minutes. Since I haven’t heard back from him 18 hours later, this is the story I’m going with.
As for Brent Sutter, best wishes to him on his return home and to his junior club. In his first season with the Devils, he drove to the Island at the last second with Chico Resch to watch the Core of Four ceremony and catch up with his old Islanders teammates. It was very clear back then, just March of his first season, that something wasn’t right. Seems to me he was so charged up about working within the culture of Lamoriello – the two believe in the same hockey principles – that the distance from home was forgotten. I’m glad they worked it out.
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DRAFT PARTY MANIA
I’m a little surprised my old colleagues at the Islanders are making a huge deal of announcing that more than 10,000 tickets have already been distributed for the Draft Party. I get that this is a big, possibly historical night for the franchise, but it will be a monumental accomplishment by fans and team if a legitimate crowd of more than 10,000 shows up. Draft parties are nice events with some players around, a locker room tour and oh, BTW we just happen to have some season seats for sale. But in the end, it still comes down to watching VERSUS on the Coliseum scoreboard on a Friday night after school’s out for the summer.
At this rate, it would seem likely by draft week that the Islanders will announce that more than 15,000 fans have picked up tickets to the event. By playing up the distribution of more than 10,000 tickets (and counting), the Islanders are risking the actual attendance being perceived as a letdown if “only” 8,000 show up. The Islanders have never had a hyped-up star like John Tavares staring at them in the face, but they’ve never had more than 3,000 at any draft parties of the last decade. They have had plenty of games without crowds of 10,000. If at least 8,000 people drive to Uniondale to watch the draft on the scoreboard, that should be cause for celebration – not disappointment.
I’d love to be wrong on this one. Let’s see more than a real count of 10,000 fans show up at the Coliseum on June 26. As of today, I still don’t know if I’ll be in Montreal for the draft or Hempstead Turnpike for the Draft Party. I’ll say this: if I knew for sure the Islanders were taking Tavares, I’d confirm my plans for Montreal. If I knew for sure they were passing on Tavares, I’d blow off Montreal and wouldn’t miss the draft party for the world.
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THE POINT BLANK TOP 6 FOR 6/26
(not a mock draft)
1. John Tavares
2. Victor Hedman
3. Matt Duchene
4. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson
5. Jordan Schroeder
6. Ryan Ellis
Yup, we’re saying size is overrated.
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LARRY EXPLAINS MY TAVARES VOTE
Almost two months after the Islanders lottery victory, I’ve yet to adequately articulate why I feel the choice for the Islanders has to be John Tavares. It’s not that I have a thing for him as a player, it’s that, well…Larry Brooks in his Sunday column on the Rangers needing a star scorer explained it perfectly…
If we’ve learned anything from this year’s playoffs, it’s that it is impossible to thrive in the NHL without elite offensive talent.
Larry lists some of the great offensive stars in the league, Malkin and Crosby, Ovechkin and Semin, Eric Stahl and then writes…
The Rangers have no one remotely comparable. Fact is, the Blueshirts do not have a forward who would be selected in the top, what, 100 in a league-wide dispersal draft.
And then he really chrystallizes why I was in favor of a complete tear-down and rebuild for the Islanders…
It has become nearly impossible to get a top-end, difference-making talent any way other than bottoming out and hitting the draft lottery jackpot, for it is rare indeed that an elite player gets to free agency in his prime.
The Islanders have to decide if John Tavares has the upside as a scorer vs. the two-way defense of Victor Hedman and all-around play of Matt Duchene. If they know Tavares is going to be at least a 40-goal scorer someday, I don’t know how they can pass him up.
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LIGHTHOUSE BASH ON THURSDAY
Okay, so it’s not a bash but it’s being pitched as another important step. The Lighthouse Development Group will present an update on the project to the Nassau County Planning Commission on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in the Nassau Legislative Building in Mineola.
Charles Wang and Tom “The Broker” Suozzi will be there. From the LDG’s advisory: “The Nassau County Planning Commission is an important part of the approvals process as it will need to approve a subdivision plan before construction can begin.”
On a side note, more than a dozen readers emailed me the story about the Brooklyn arena scaling down from the original Frank Gehry design and without room for a hockey team. I was supposed to accept this news as Brooklyn no longer being an option for the Islanders. Sorry, but I’m not buying. In these developments, as we continue to learn, everything is subject to change on a daily basis.
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THE SWEDE FROM NEW YORK
In the final installment in the PB series we like to call Conversations with Swedes, here’s my recent phone conversation with potential first round draft pick Tim Erixon. The 6-2, 195-pound defenseman is the son of former Rangers forward Jan Erixon and could be available if the Islanders use their selections at 26, 31 and 37.
I know you were born in New York when your dad was with the Rangers, but how long did you live here?
Just when I was a little kid. We moved back to Sweden when I was 2 and a half years old.
Did you meet with the Islanders at the Draft Combine?
Yes. I thought we had a really good meeting.
How many teams did you interview with at the combine?
29 out of 30. Every team except for San Jose. (Note to readers: the Sharks, who have drafted well, are known for having limited meetings at the combine).
Do you think the Islanders are considering drafting you?
Maybe, I guess. Their interview stood out. They knew a lot about me and asked a lot of questions about my play that would seem to show they have some interest. Still, I’m told you never know about this process. Maybe San Jose picks me.
Any other teams show what you would consider extra interest in you?
A few. New Jersey had me stay on Sunday after the combine for an extra session. (Note to readers: The Devils, who have also drafted well, are known for requesting additional time with certain prospects after the combine is over).
Do you still have a connection to the Rangers?
Not really at all. My dad played for them and I’m proud of that, but I don’t have any memories of it. Right now, I like all the teams in the NHL.
So if the Islanders draft you, this won’t be a problem?
(laughs) Not at all. I’d love to come back to New York.
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NYI SEASON SEATS AT $24 PER
As you probably heard, the Rangers announced via a letter from Glen Sather that season ticket prices have been raised. I’ll have more on Islanders ticket prices at another date, but one issue stood out when I was going over the Rangers’ increases.
The Rangers have seats in the top third of the Garden that are now at $62 per game as a season ticket. I checked with an old friend from the sales department and asked him to give me two of his best deals. When you consider the sightlines of the Coliseum, these are pretty good. (Of course, the team has to start winning a lot more).
My guy in Sales tells me the Islanders are offering a season seat in the endzone 300s at $24 a game. According to him, that’s down from $30 last year and it’s the lowest that seat has been since 2001-02.
When I asked what he has closer to center ice in the 300s, the pricepoint is $34 a game, $5 less than last year and also as low as it’s been since ’01-02.
If you commit to two seasons, you get a price freeze and your first two rounds of any playoff games over those two years - settle down, Beavis – are free. There are also payment plans and you get all the perks, like the autograph event with the players. The number is 1.800.882.ISLES. Tell them Point Blank sent you, so they understand a few people read this blog.
I welcome a discussion on the Islanders’ prices in the Comments space.
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SNAPPERS
No, the Islanders are not trading for Dany Heatley. They don’t have anywhere near the pieces to get it done. Or if they think they do, they shouldn’t. Second round picks and second-tier players won’t get you Heatley. Next subject.
NBC’s coverage of Game 6 last night came out of commercial at 10:25 pm with 5 minutes left in the game. There were no commercial breaks until they went off the air at 10:58 pm. Pierre McGuire interviewed three Penguins while Doc and Edzo and Mike and Panger threw it back and forth. Good for the viewer, but makes you wonder about the lack of advertising…
On the subject of broadcasters, I asked recently-bounced Panthers analyst Denis Potvin about what’s next for him when I wrote the Tavares-Hedman story. Denis is actively pursuing commentator positions. I know there could be some openings with other teams and at the national level this summer (not with the three NY-NJ clubs). Here’s hoping Denis lands a good gig.
Word out of Islanders Country is that the team will once again have its radio broadcasts with the Long Island Radio Group and continue to try and fill in the holes in the metropolitan area where WMJC (94.3 FM) does not reach. And, of course, games will continue to be heard on XM Radio.
Remember the days when New York sports editors didn’t even have to think about sending at least one writer to the Stanley Cup Final? It really wasn’t that long ago. Now we have Crosby and Malkin against the incredible Red Wings and most major U. S. newspapers are not covering it. Sad. Glad to see the Washington Post is giving the Final he play it deserves.
New York Sports PR 101: if you have to announce something – say, a head coach quitting – but don’t want a lot of press, here’s how you do it. Have a conference call on the day the Yankees play in Boston, the Mets host Philadelphia and the Penguins and Red Wings meet in Game 6.
One of the many things I’ve learned doing this blog is that if you really need to make your point in a hockey argument, you can always find something to cite. Who needs Hedman? Oh yeah, look at what Lidstrom has meant to Detroit. The need for a scorer like Tavares is overrated? Oh yeah, look at what it’s meant to Pittsburgh and Washington. Hedman? Bill Torrey built around defense! Duchene? The dynasty’s nothin’ without Trots! You get the point…
For the record, if we’re talking about Duchene or Hedman, let me be clear: yes, I would definitely hypothetically trade the first overall pick for Evgeni Malkin.
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Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
The People For the Defense of Victor Hedman often cite the precedent set by the drafting of Denis Potvin and subsequent birth of the Islanders dynasty. Even Clark Gillies and Butch Goring have pumped Hedman sight unseen, saying it all started with Potvin.
So the Person for the Offense of John Tavares called Mr. Denis Potvin to the stand. Actually, I just called him on the phone. (For this discussion we did not include Matt Duchene, although Duchene remains very much in the Islanders’ conversation). I figured Denis would stand up for the dman. Instead, he sounded like a man with no interest whatsoever in talking his team into passing on Tavares in order to draft a brother in the blueline fraternity.
“It’s just not that simple,” Potvin said over the phone from his Florida home. “I don’t think you can look at it as just the defenseman over the forward. And as much as I appreciate the lovely words from old teammates, journalists and fans, you have to be careful with comparisons. There is no second coming of Bobby Orr, just as there is no second coming of Bryan Trottier.”
So what would you do if you had the first overall pick, Denis?
“I would pick the player that’s best for our team and best for our market,” he said.
Potvin made that point at least a half-dozen times in our 15-minute conversation, stressing that the Islanders have to do what’s best for the Islanders and their specific situation. He watched both players closely when he covered the World Junior Championships in his hometown of Ottawa. He admitted to seeing a lot more of Tavares than Hedman, but studied the highly-touted Swedish defenseman as much as he could.
“Garth Snow is in a unique situation with everything surrounding the Islanders lately,” Potvin said, referring to the team’s last-place finish and the uncertainty regarding the franchise’s future in Nassau County. “I’ll tell you this: defensemen take time. Every team would love to have Victor Hedman on their blueline for 25 minutes a game, but John Tavares is a tremendously gifted and exciting offensive player. If you’re looking for a lot of bang for your buck, Tavares is the draft pick that’s going to give it to you right away. That’s one aspect you cannot argue.”
Potvin was excited about the potential of a dynamic first line for his Islanders.
“You have a teenager in Josh Bailey. I saw in games against the Panthers that he has some chemistry with Kyle Okposo, who I think the world of as a player,” said Denis. “Put Tavares on the line and whoa…you could have something special. With experience, they could form the kind of dominant line the Islanders haven’t had in a long, long time.”
The Hall of Famer posed a rhetorical question about Hedman.
“Is Victor the kind of explosive defenseman who is going to be one of your, let’s say, top three scorers? He’s a great talent, but I don’t see that happening. Plus, the Islanders already have Mark Streit, who was a real find for Garth. If you’re going to take a two-way defenseman first overall over a forward projected as at least a 40-goal scorer, you better be sure the dman can dominate in all areas. That’s a really tough call.”
I shared my concerns with Denis about the development of a teenage defenseman. The former Panthers television analyst was witness to the first 471 games in the playoffs-less career of Jay Bouwmeester. Florida’s first round pick in 2002, Bouwmeester will be all of 26 years old in September. But after coming through the growing pains in his first three seasons to become a terrific NHLer, Bouwmeester may leave the Panthers as an unrestricted free agent this July 1.
“That’s a very fair point,” Potvin said. “We saw the ups and downs in Florida with Jay. It’s not his fault. Defensemen take time. The trouble is, when you draft a player third overall at age 18, there are expectations that you have to place him right away in the NHL. That doesn’t make it any easier on a young defenseman, no matter how talented he is.”
In the end, Potvin refused to tell the Islanders what to do.
“Let’s face it: no one has seen both of these players more than the scouts around the league,” he said. “And it’s probable that no one has seen Tavares and Hedman more than the Islanders’ scouts. As any good manager will do, Garth is going to listen to his staff. Then he’s going to make the right choice for his team and his market.”
Comments on this topic only. Comment Guidelines.
Roy Boe is known by many for selling Julius Erving to the 76ers, but he brought the Islanders to Long Island, the Sound Tigers to Bridgeport and – as the tributes rolling in tonight illustrate - was a friendly and fun gentleman who loved his teams. Mark Herrmann has a story in Newsday with an Islanders angle, Mike Fornabaio wrote a Sound Tigers-centric piece for the Connecticut Post. Comments.
Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
Fans attending the Islanders Draft Party might want to stay in their seats after the team selects John Tavares with their first pick. Scouting meetings over the next two weeks will include a great deal of focus on the team moving from 26th overall to the 16-22 range in order to pluck another high-end talent.
“If last year’s draft was about adding depth to a barren roster,” said one person with knowledge of the Islanders’ thinking, “this year they know they must bring back at least one more blue-chip prospect beyond the first overall pick.”
The most likely scenario involves Garth Snow packaging the 26th overall selection plus the 37th pick acquired from Toronto last summer at the draft. If Snow finds another GM willing to fall back for an early second-rounder, the Islanders could move up to the 18-20 range. To ascend any further, it would cost more picks – probably more than the Islanders will pay.
Bank on the Islanders being very reluctant to give up the 31st overall slot. That’s the first pick of the second round and, more importantly, the first pick on Saturday morning. To have all Friday night to meet into the late hours and have their choice of every prospect remaining is like candy to boss Ryan Jankowski and his team of scouts. Teams love that slot and are traditionally hesitant to give it up.
You can make the case it would be wise for the Islanders to stay at 26, 31 and 37. But know this: when the first round reaches the 15th pick, it’s all but certain at least one prospect (and probably more) in the Islanders’ top 10 on their draft board will still be available. Although it won’t be easy to part with the 37th, the Islanders will do it to get a young man the staff believes in as a potential first-line forward or top-pair defenseman.
Last month we listed six defensemen who could be around at 26-37. David Rundblad of Sweden (pictured at top) is one kid on our chart the Islanders would have to move up for. Rundblad and fellow hot-shot dboy Simon Despres could fall to 15-20, but no later. The Hockey News has rising American stud John Moore at No. 18. We don’t think Moore will make it past 10 – Edmonton has to be salivating over adding him or Ryan Ellis – but if he does you better believe the Islanders will get on the phone.
We looked in a little more detail at six forwards. Zack Kassian will definitely not be there at 26. Same could be the case for Carter Ashton and Chris Kreider. On one hand, it comes down to the Islanders’ draft board. On the other, after the Islanders bring home a star forward at No. 1 smart money says they’ll have a laser focus on a front-line defenseman with their second first round pick.
The coordinators of the Islanders Draft Party plan to show the VERSUS broadcast for as long as the show is on the air on Friday night, June 26. VERSUS might not be around for the Islanders pick at 26, but they could be if Snow successfully makes his move up the first round. Don’t touch that dial.
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Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
Positive evidence that Friday’s “Hands Across Nassau” scene in Tom Suozzi’s office was not just a photo op: Point Blank has learned that after The Meeting, there was a meeting.
After Suozzi – aka The Broker - boasted of a new spirit of cooperation and collaboration, there was actually some collaboratin’. Suozzi counsel Jeff Forcelli, Town of Hempstead consigliere Joseph Ra, Lighthouse prez Michael Picker and Lighthouse SEQRA compliance expert (now that’s hot) Terri Elkowitz sat down at Nassau headquarters to discuss next steps.
One source said, “There was a positive feeling in the room, a feeling that everyone was committed to work together, make deadlines, move the Lighthouse Project along this summer.”
It’s way too early to plan a christening party for the Tom Suozzi Celebration Plaza or the Kate Murray Grand Canal. We could even know a lot more about Hempstead’s approach as early as the July 7 Town Hall meeting. But Friday’s meeting after The Meeting is a sure sign of progress, if not hope.
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Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
The hunt for a pair of assistant coaches does not rival the Tavares-Hedman-Duchene decision, or the minor issue of The Future Of The Franchise On Long Island, but I’m still very intrigued by the mystery of who will complete Scott Gordon‘s staff.
Assistant coaches are often forgotten men, at least until their power plays go bad. When losses mount, they get their share of the blame. When a team contends, all they read and hear about is how much of a genius the head coach is. But when you’re coming off a 30th-place season and have a roster with many youngsters, a coaching staff of teachers, communicators and tireless workers is essential.
At the risk of making too big a deal of this, I believe these hirings will say a lot about the leadership of Garth Snow and Scott Gordon – who I’m told are making the hirings in concert. Here’s where I thought the hunt was three weeks ago. Here’s what I know now. Be warned: all I know is who is not getting the job.
It doesn’t appear that Rob Murray – Gordon’s right hand man in Providence and now the head coach of the AHL B’s – is joining his friend on Long Island. That move never made sense. Why would Murray give up a head coaching job in the AHL to be known as “Gordo’s guy” here?
No doubt Murray watched the ascension of Dan Bylsma from AHL assistant to AHL head coach to Stanley Cup Final coach of Crosby and Malkin in under two years. (I will have more on the story of Bylsma, a one-year Islanders assistant, on a slow news day down the road). Murray was very wise to stay exactly where he is.
Jack Capuano is not on the short list at this point. Looks like he’ll stay as head coach in Bridgeport, where he has been hailed for his work with several young players.
Eric Cairns has received so many compliments by Islanders prospects, potential draft picks and his own colleagues that it’s tough to picture the big man leaving his position as a scout and talent developer. Cairns seems to have found his niche, has an important job and should stay there.
A text to the Islanders for an update on the status of assistant coach John Chabot was returned with a note: “A decision has yet to be made on John.” Murray staying in Providence means Chabot is still in the running.
The Islanders whispered to Greg Logan a month ago that they were interested in hiring a coach with experience as a defenseman and with ties to the Islanders. I assume they told Greg this because they had someone in mind. Maybe it fell through, maybe it didn’t.
I still can’t see Ken Morrow coming over full-time from Kansas City. I’ve not heard anything about Dave Lewis coming in for an interview, which is a shame if true. Maybe it will be Dean Chynoweth, who has been outstanding as GM and head coach with Swift Current of the Western Hockey League.
The Toronto Marlies just let go of their head coach: two-time Islanders Cup-winner Greg Gilbert, a former head coach in Calgary. They also set free Gilbert aide Jim Hughes, a Long Island man who has been an assistant focused on defense over the last decade with the Bruins, in college, the minors and at the U.S. development program.
Something to watch: the Islanders need at least one more strong presence on that bench, someone to play the good cop/bad cop role with Gordon, or reverse. Some head coaches are gun-shy about adding a big personality because they’re insecure about hiring potentially their own successor.
The Islanders have had several fine assistant coaches just in this decade. Jacques Laperriere, known as a master teacher of defensemen, was on Peter Laviolette’s staff for the turnaround. Peter also had Greg Cronin, a brilliant motivator and strategist. It’s no surprise Cronin went to Northeastern and turned a lame program into an NCAA tournament team in record time.
In his first season, Steve Stirling had the luxury of picking the brain of Jeff Jackson, the legendary college coach who has navigated Notre Dame as a powerhouse. In his second season, Stirling hired Bylsma, Capuano and Brad Shaw.
Stirling’s always been an easy target because he was a gentleman and didn’t have good body language on TV after the opposing team scored. Anyone with their eyes open during Stirling’s year with Bylsma, Capuano and Shaw knows the real reasons for their failure. Mike Milbury lost Kenny Jonsson, Adrian Aucoin and Roman Hamrlik in their primes and replaced them with Alexei Zhitnik, uh, Brad Lukowich, and…well, that was it. Amazing how good coaches can go so bad. Amazing how smart Bylsma’s gotten in the last few months. (Even Dan has a sense of humor about it).
What will Gordon do? We should know by the end of the month. Assistant coaches don’t have to be headline-makers, but here’s hoping these important hirings are not met with a shrug.
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