NYI at ATLANTA, 7:00 pm – Live Chat Tonight
Meeting Mr. Hillen…Godspeed, Chris King, Sr.
The NHL’s Most Unsung Valuable Players
Live Chat, 7-9:45 pm: The Point Blank Live Game Chat returns for the first time in a week! Join Islanders fans from across the globe – literally, the last one had reps from Japan, Korea, Germany, Sweden and Smithtown – as we keep one eye on the game and go on all sorts of tangents.
Fathers’ Day – The Hillens: John Hillen was kind enough to say hello yesterday at practice at Iceworks. The father of Islanders defenseman Jack Hillen, he said he learns more about the Islanders from reading the blog than he does from Jack. As a son and a father, I know what he means by that.
Mr. Hillen coached Jack for several years in youth hockey. For eight of those years, Jack played on the same teams as Blake Wheeler, the Bruins wing. Before college, he was the defense partner of future Blues’ first overall pick Eric Johnson.
As always you get some terrific insights speaking with the dads. Mr. Hillen volunteered, and I don’t think he would mind me repeating, that as good and dedicated a player as Jack has always been, he really seemed to put everything together in college after he met his future wife, Caitlin.
I mentioned to John Hillen that his son was a great interview for me because he sees the game very uniquely and intelligently. Jack’s dad gave all the credit to his mom, who is a doctor. Then he shared an anecdote from when he coached Jack in his early teens.
“Jack came back to the bench and I suggested to him another way of handling a play,” said Mr. Hillen. “Jack looks up at me and very respectfully says, ‘Dad, I attacked it that way because I thought it was the safest way. If I did the way you said then X, Y and Z would have happened.’
“I thought about it for a moment and realized he was right. And I never gave him too much strategy after that.”
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Tonight’s Lineup: Would be positively strange to have Rob Schremp take Frans Nielsen’s place at center between Sean Bergenheim and Trent Hunter for three consecutive practices and then not have Schremp there tonight in Atlanta. We’ll find out later today if Blake Comeau will keep his practice spot to the left of Nate Thompson and Tim Jackman against the Thrashers. Maybe Richard Park will get the day off or the team will announce if he is injured.
By the looks of how he practiced on Wednesday, Nielsen should be back by next week if not Saturday in Tampa Bay.
Dwayne Roloson has started six of the last nine and beat the Thrashers a month ago. Remember that before the game at the Coliseum Gordon said Roloson matches up well against the Thrashers.
Unlike on Nov. 7, the Thrashers will have star forward Ilya Kovalchuk (15-10-25 in 18 games). Joining Kovalchuk in the top-four of Atlanta’s scoring chart are one waiver wire pickup (Rich Peverley) and two 2009 unrestricted free agents (Maxim Afinogenov and Nik Antropov).
The last meeting between these two teams was a treat to watch. So should this one.
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R.I.P. Christopher King, Sr.: As the Fathers’ Trip begins, we take this moment to remember Christopher King, Sr. The father of longtime Islanders radio voice Chris King, Mr. King passed away last week at the age of 73. Raised in Central Islip, he and his future wife first met in grade school and were a couple for virtually a lifetime. He was a physical therapist, Mrs. King a nurse, and together they raised a beautiful family on Long Island.
Mr. King took Chris to his first hockey game. Ironically, it was a home game of the Long Island Ducks. (Chris also broadcasts Ducks baseball games as well as his work with the Islanders).
As many of you know, Christopher Jr. is one of the kindest, most generous-in-spirit people you will meet in any walks of life. His commitment and pride is his work is second to none.
What you learn as you get older is that parents have a lot to do with how their kids turned out. Judging by Chris, whom I’ve known for two decades, and his family, whom I met last weekend, Long Island lost a lot when it said goodbye to Christopher King, Sr.
See you tonight for the chat. Comments on this post and on tonight’s game.
29 Responses to NYI at ATLANTA, 7:00 pm – Live Chat Tonight
Meeting Mr. Hillen…Godspeed, Chris King, Sr.
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BillyBC says:
Jack Hillen looks like a smart and talented young player who is going to do great things in the nhl.
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isles316 says:
Big few games for the Isles. Yes they are only one point out of a playoff spot but too many teams have too many games in hand. A couple of wins tonight and Saturday might help to even those numbers out.
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Ethan K says:
I want to see some production out of Rob Schremp. He’s got the potential, but he’s got to focus and give a 100 percent effort.
I’ve liked what I’ve seen out of Jack Hillen. He’s not to be underestimated.
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battfist says:
From day one you could see that Hillen could skate. Now that he is getting comfortable…he looks good out there. I dnt believe we have seen the best of Hillen yet….
Im glad he is an Islander. -
its time says:
rest in peace Mr King.
our prayers to the king family
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Blizzard says: …apparently CB is not awake yet……lol. Afinogenov should be an Islander IMO.
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Will C. says:
Thoughts and prayers Kinger.
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coral springs isle fan says:
When you listen to Hillen speak you can tell he is intelligent. Guys like that see things differently. If his instincts continue to catch up to his thinking he will be a very special player. Well to be honest he is already a treat to watch. I would like to see Schremp get another chance. I think the thing with him is very similar to what Tambellini struggles with. It’s not that they’re not trying it’s just that they haven’t figured out how to get to the front of the net yet. They may get there by the end of the play, but they are taking the long way there and they always seem to be more to the side of the front. They both have plenty of skill and when they learn to get to the sweet spots they can and will score some goals.
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Staten Islander says:
RIP mr King. And you have to love Hillen, he’s a keeper.
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JPinVA says:
Nice work here CB. This is why we’d all rather pay you than newsday… if it ever comes to that.
Jack is definitely progressing nicely. I’d like to see him get a little more PP time so KO can work the slot(again, no pun intended).
The King family will be in my thoughts and prayers this holiday season. Thanks for letting us know. -
Merrick says:
RIP Mr. King.
Sounds like Mr. Hillen can have a long career in hockey both during and after his playing days.
CB, add me to the long list of fans who want to thank you for making it so much more interesting to be an Islanders fan.
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
he has grown as player really quickly. I notice he always made smart decesions with puck. This year he confidence is growing and he jumping into play like Gordon system encourages. Something that Campoli was too scared to do. I think Hillen already better than him.
Also nice work Snowy. I know alot of you PB doom and gloom guys cried that we didnt get local boy Matt Gilroy and he went to rangers. Nice job Snow for not overpaying.
Hillen ($500K) 23games 1G 6A +7
Gilroy (1.4MM) 27game 4G 2A +2Note: hillen makes 550K next year, Gilroy makes 2.1MM
better value in Hillen if you ask me.
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Islander86 says:
# 14 – Good stats.
Do you seriously consider that Hillen is better then Gilroy ? -
Ray since '74 says:
Condolences to the King Family.
I like Hillen, but right know Garth Snow should be all over the Blackhawks for Cam Barker, with their announcing those big signings. They’ll need some cap space.
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BR says:
According to Katie Strang (Twitter), Park is playing tonight and Comeau spent extra time on the ice after practice one-on-one with Chynoweth. Sounds like Comeau will be the odd-man out.
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Read more of Strang’s Twitters from practice. Nielsen took part and will also be in the pre-game warm-ups. He’ll be a gametime decision. Personally, I’d give him the game off to let Schremp have some action.
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DanNOLA says:
Hey, I’m from Smithtown. Does that mean I’m from a foreign country?
I’m very impressed with Hillen’s play in several games this year. He really has been a noticeable player, and one that is a great addition to the blue line. I’d like to see him get a few more minutes on the point on the powerplay.
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geduffer says:
Condolences to the King family on their loss.
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Travelchic59 says:
Sorry to hear about Chris King’s dad. Thanks for letting us know. My condolences to the King family. I really miss the post game radio show that Kinger and Mears used to do after home games in what is now Doulin’s Pub. It’s just not the same any more after the games end. Our group was always there for the show and we really miss it. Very bad decision by the Islanders to cut it.
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better than Gilroy. No Necessarily. better us of dollars YES. If im going to spend over 2MM for dman i want NHL player not a 1st yr rookie at age 24 from college.
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Tim F. says:
My condolences to Chris King and his family.
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Lakewood Islander says:
is it Rolo or Bas-Luck Biron tonight? Kovalchuk is playing the best of his career and peverley was a waiver robbery. I wish lehtonen was in goal for atlanta still-he was a joke. We need some more toughness up front and more scoring from the blue line . Too bad Streit’s best year was the last one
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jbranny says:
Gilroy is a 26 yr old rookie, not 24. Hillen is definitely a better value than Gilroy, and apparently a better player, both offensively and defensively. Given Hillen’s age, 23, I like his upside a lot better than Gilroy’s. To be fair however, they are two different types of players.
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Condolences to the King family.
Hillen should be here for a long time, and he will only get better. Roloson will start tonight and the Islanders need to get on the board first. If Neilsen can play, he should play.
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I dont think Franz will play tonight but maybe Park will.
f
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Expecting a 2 Goal night from KO-no more excuses
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upstatenyifan says:
With the Dads in attendance, I’m expecting tonights tempo to be high. Should be a fun one to watch.
i’d like to read all the times this season, an opposing foward has bull rushed or driven over mr hillen, the undersized defender. then i’d like to read all the times one of our larger, less mobile defenders took 2 minutes or waved as an opposing foward blew around him. thats not say there isn’t a place for size in the game, but its more about being PHYSICAL. tom poti is well over 6’0″, more then 200 lbs. he isnt physical, but hes big.
theres GRIT and SAND. avery, the most annoying human on skates, is 5’9″. there are exceptions, the L.A. Kings kids, johnson of the Blues, but those players are the exceptional. hand off stick on jersey= holding. stick on body at hip height= hooking. stick between the legs= trip. you have to be a fluid skater, make the outlet pass, and play both the position while “boding up” the opposing foward in your own zone. size still has its place, but its more speed, aggression and contact. the rules have changed, so what you need in defenders has changed. wasn’t streit too small and soft to be a defender too? KO, swine flu killing beast, is 6’0′ 195. hillen is listed at 5’11″ 200 lbs.
CB great piece on Hillen. sorry about King Sr.