Monthly Archives: December 2009
CB on FanHouse: Stanley Cup or Bust for Laviolette
Botta/Schultz on FanHouse: Silence in the Trade Market
10:20 am - A league source tells Point Blank that Islanders general manager Garth Snow has contacted NHL teams in search of a mobile and experienced defenseman.
“Garth is asking around, trying to make something happen,” said the source. “His biggest obstacle is that a lot of teams are looking for the same thing.”
The Islanders play in Philadelphia tonight with a thin blue line. Radek Martinek is out for the season. Andy Sutton (groin) could return on Saturday for the home match with Boston, but is out tonight and tomorrow. Bridgeport recall Andrew MacDonald is getting 12 minutes a game, while veteran defenseman Brendan Witt is at a team-low minus-15 and only played 11 minutes Saturday in Tampa Bay. Other than Dustin Kohn in a pinch, the Sound Tigers do not have a defenseman knocking on the door.
NHL defensemen that could be available and fit the Islanders’ low-cost needs – in terms of the acquisition price of a mid-round draft pick – include Carolina’s Joe Corvo (injured), Aaron Ward, Toronto’s hard-hitting but mobility-challenged Garnet Exelby and – in a salary dump but a long shot to return – Chicago’s Brent Sopel. Corvo and Ward would be sound acquisitions.
(Trivia note: in his 40 days on the job, Islanders GM Neil Smith tried to sign Ward, but – oh, the irony – was out-bid by the Rangers).
Teams also in the hunt for defensemen include the Rangers and Columbus.
With little action in the NHL trade market, the Islanders will probably have to get by through the holidays with the blue line they have. The best option passed through their hands when Los Angeles snatched Randy Jones off re-entry waivers from Philadelphia last month. The 28-year old Jones is 4-5-9 in 12 games and is playing more than 20 minutes a game since joining the Kings – all for well below the league average salary.
While the Islanders unearthed a hidden AHL gem in Matt Moulson, they did not make the most of their early position in the waiver pecking order and $17 million of cap space (it can’t all got to Kovalchuk!). The Islanders did take Rob Schremp, who has watched more hockey games from the press box lately than Peter Botte.
For depth on defense, the Islanders may have to scour the AHL ranks for a veteran stop-gap. San Jose/Worcester defenseman Joe Callahan, who was solid in 18 games with the Islanders last season, is available.
Snow is doing what good GMs do – dropping lines in the water, as he calls it. Although he probably will not land a defenseman this week, he is laying the groundwork for a potential deal in February. The way the Islanders have continued to find ways to win this season, it should not be too late.
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PB on NHL Home Ice Tonight: I’ll be on with Jim “Boomer Gordon” on Sirius/XM NHL Home Ice beginning at 6:00 pm talking about tonight’s game and all things Islanders.
Tonight’s Lineup: Martin Biron in net tonight, Dwayne Roloson gets an encore in Toronto on Wednesday. Same forward lines and D pairings.
As if the Islanders’ D is not having enough trouble staying healthy, Katie Strang tweeted this morning that Brendan Witt was hit by a car in Philadelphia. This being a hockey player – this being Brendan Witt – he will play tonight.
As expected, Jeremy Reich has cleared waivers. He’s a good addition to the Sound Tigers and could be a solid toughness call-up for the Islanders.
For the Flyers, Ray Emery has been placed on IR. Brian Boucher starts. The Flyers are also missing Simon Gagne, Blair Betts and Darroll Powe. Consistent with his slumping team, Jeff Carter has just one goal in his last 11 games – count on one tonight. James van Riemsdyk is goal-less in nine games, or around the time FanHouse wrote him up as one of John Tavares’s top competitors for the Calder.
Lavi Thanks LI: Flyers coach Peter Laviolette tonight meets the first franchise to give him a shot as a head man. “The Islanders are always going to have a special place in my heart,” the Stanley Cup-winning coach told Point Blank. “They gave me my first opportunity when I had no idea if one would ever come. We made great friends on Long Island, friends we have to this day. The fans were wonderful to my family. We loved our time with the Islanders and will always be thankful to Charles Wang for everything he did for us.”
DP Progress: Rick DiPietro continues on the road back in Bridgeport. The goalie took the full practice with the Sound Tigers yesterday and stayed late for extra shots. He’s practicing again today.”I feel good,” he said. Next up: Friday in Springfield or Saturday in Hartford, followed by – if his knee continues to hold up – a home game a week from tonight against Portland. If DiPietro has no setbacks, gets in NHL game shape and sharpens his play, he will return to the Islanders in the middle of next week.
With everything going so smoothly in DiPietro’s protocol, a year later it continues to astound that the Islanders never had him start his rehabilitation slowly last season with games in Bridgeport.
Point Blank Night Tomorrow: It’s a lock – we’ll have our biggest crowd yet on Wednesday night when PB Night moves to SOCIAL, across the street from the Coliseum. Islanders vs. Toronto at SOCIAL on a dozen screens. Guests: Steve Webb, Deb Placey. Free buffet and $1 Bud drafts from 7-8 pm. Complimentary shots after each Islanders goal. Free raffle for all. All ages welcome, 21 and over to drink. SOCIAL is at 1002 Hempstead Turnpike across from the Coliseum. PLEASE RSVP (YESSES ONLY) AT THIS LINK. I’m also on Facebook. Don’t miss it.
Kinger Gets the Play-by-Play: Since the game is on Versus and there’s no Plus broadcast to simulcast, Chris King will do the honors on the Islanders Radio Network. Last I heard, he’s doing the game all by himself. A color commentator would be nice, but if anyone can do pull off the play-by-play and keep the listener informed, it’s Kinger.
Deep Thoughts: As good as Atlanta has been, the Islanders are just four points behind them. As bad as Toronto has been, the Maple Leafs are now just four points behind the Islanders.
Score-O!: Predict the score (and the winner) of tonight’s game in Comments.
I’ll be away on assignment. Kevin Schultz of NHL FanHouse and Barry Melrose Rocks will stop by for tonight’s tilt.
Islanders vs. Toronto at SOCIAL on a dozen screens. Guests: Steve Webb, Deb Placey. Free buffet and $1 Bud drafts from 7-8 pm. Complimentary shots after each Islanders goal. Free raffle for all. All ages welcome, 21 and over to drink. SOCIAL is at 1002 Hempstead Turnpike across from the Coliseum. PLEASE RSVP (YESSES ONLY) AT THIS LINK. I’m also on Facebook. Don’t miss it.
FanHouse 2-on-1: CB and Schultz on Trade Silence
Agent Alexander “Sasha” Tynjynch told Point Blank today that, although he is not optimistic about Garth Snow’s plan to free his client Kirill Petrov from his KHL contract, he would like to see the highly-skilled wing become Islanders property by the start of next season.
Tynjynch said neither he nor Petrov were told of Snow’s attempt to use the Russian Federation’s request for Bridgeport defenseman Anton Klementyev as a bargaining chip to secure his client’s release from his contract with Kazan of the KHL. The agent said he first heard the news on Sunday when he received several calls from Russian hockey officials asking for details. “I’ll tell you what I told them,” said Tynjynch. “Kirill has a valid contract with Kazan for this season and for the next two seasons after. It’s very difficult to see anything happening soon.”
Petrov’s agent was not angry that he wasn’t tipped off about the Islanders general manager’s maneuver – suspiciously leaked by the GM himself, who enjoys his rep for keeping things quiet - but he could not envision how it would work.
“The two players are completely different cases,” said Tynjynch. “I don’t know much about Anton Klementyev; just that he’s a good young player who is playing a little in Bridgeport instead of junior. I’m sure there are reasons, and I respect that. What’s happening with Kirill does not have anything to do with him. The Russians want Klementyev for the national junior team. Kirill is under contract to a pro club.”
At the 2008 NHL draft the Islanders used one of their many early-round picks to select Petrov, a potentially high-scoring right wing, in the third round. Petrov was considered by many scouts to be a first-round talent, but his long KHL contract and uncertain desire to come to North America scared off some teams. With the 73rd overall pick, having already drafted seven players, the Islanders made Petrov a low-risk, high-reward selection.
The 6-3 Russian continues to tease with his talent, but his time in Russia since the draft has been mostly unproductive. He will play in another World Junior Championships this month, but Kazan Ak Bars earlier this season demoted him to the KHL’s second division. As Petrov demonstrated at the recent Super Series in Canada, he still has the tools, but the Islanders need to get him out of Russia before his play stagnates any further. Whenever Petrov is freed from his KHL obligation, he would almost certainly begin his North American career in Bridgeport.
Tynjynch told Point Blank his advice to Snow and the Islanders will be to negotiate in a honest manner with the management of Petrov’s pro team in Kazan. “I speak with the Ak Bars people all the time,” said the agent. “I think if we’re going to ever get anything accomplished with Kirill and get him to New York before his Kazan contract expires, it will be by dealing directly with the team. Garth really should talk to Kazan.”
Told this blog was writing about Petrov, Garth Snow declined to comment. Intrepid Klymentyev agent Paul Theofanous – almost certainly a co-producer in this maneuver – has not returned two phone calls. As for Petrov, he left today for Moscow to start training camp for Team Russia.
Even if Snow’s negotiating tactic is not successful this month, there is still big news to come out of this international affair. Tynjynch and Petrov now realize the player must begin his development with the Islanders as soon as possible.
If you told the Islanders at the 2008 draft that they may get Kirill Petrov under contract in 2010, they would have signed up for it.
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Rick DiPietro experienced no discomfort after his game on Saturday in Bridgeport, so he practiced today with the Sound Tigers under the guidance of goalie coach Mike Dunham. DiPietro’s next start will be either Friday in Springfield or Saturday in Hartford. He will then likely play at home for Bridgeport a week from tomorrow. That third start could be his final AHL tuneup.
Jack Hillen did not practice today at Iceworks, but Scott Gordon said he’ll play tomorrow in Philadelphia. The defenseman took a hard slapper in Tampa Bay. Andy Sutton (groin) is rehabbing, not practicing, but Gordon expressed optimism the Islanders could get him back for Saturday at home against the Bruins.
Now that bruising forward Jeremy Reich is close to playing AHL games, he has to go on waivers and clear so he can go on Bridgeport’s roster. Reich will clear.
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The first Point Blank Night of the 2009-10 season is this Wednesday, beginning at 7:00 at SOCIAL on Hempstead Turnpike, across from the Coliseum and adjacent to the Hofstra campus. Among the highlights:
- The Islanders vs. Toronto on more than a dozen television screens
- Free buffet from 7-8:00 pm, prepared by Danny Gagnon of “Top Chef”
- Special guests Steve Webb and Deb Placey
- $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts in the first hour
- Complimentary shots – SOCIAL slap shots – after each Islanders goal
- Raffle, including Islanders tix, a John Tavares jersey. All PB readers in attendance have an equal chance of winning. Just see the SOCIAL staff for your ticket.
All ages welcome. 21 and over to drink. SOCIAL – formerly BARSOCIAL and Chrebet’s – is at 1002 Hempstead Turnpike across from the Coliseum.
I’ve met with the owners and staff of SOCIAL a few times over the last week and they are determined to show us a great time and provide the kind of first-class service you deserve.
My way of saying thanks for the amazing support of the second season of Point Blank.
PLEASE RSVP (YESSES ONLY) AT THIS LINK. I’m also on Facebook.
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Scott Gordon on Kyle Okposo’s goal-scoring slump: “He’s getting opportunities every game. They’re just not going in.” The coach said “the good news” is that the Islanders “are staying afloat” during Okposo’s slump and will benefit when he gets hot.
The Islanders’ coach on his team’s struggling power play: “The majority of our personnel on the power play is under 23. You’ve got to give them some slack, too.”
Comments on Petrov and the Islanders’ D situation in this post.
The Islanders did not score last night, but their real problem is on their thin blueline. They have six healthy D, including recall Andrew MacDonald. Brendan Witt played just 11:27 last night. Word is at least one is pretty banged up. A trade is not imminent, and no one – except for possibly Dustin Kohn in a pinch – is ready to step up from Bridgeport. Maybe we’ll find out tomorrow that Andy Sutton is close to returning.
FanHouse: CB on Rick DiPietro’s Road Back
Islanders fan favorite Steve Webb and “NHL Live” and MSG Plus host Deb Placey were kind enough to accept my invitations to join us at Point Blank Night this Wednesday at SOCIAL.
Steve (!) Webb (!) will be my first intermission guest, discussing his years with the Islanders, his life on Long Island, his current role in the NHLPA and his own charitable foundation. No doubt the playoff series with Toronto will come up. Steve will also be around to watch the game for a bit and sign autographs. Deb will join me in the second intermission, talking all things Islanders and NHL.
The first Point Blank Night of the 2009-10 season is Wednesday, Dec. 9 beginning at 7:00 at SOCIAL on Hempstead Turnpike, across from the Coliseum and adjacent to the Hofstra campus. Among the highlights:
- The Islanders vs. Toronto on more than a dozen television screens
- Free buffet from 7-8:00 pm, prepared by Danny Gagnon of “Top Chef”
- Special guests Steve Webb and Deb Placey
- $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts in the first hour
- Complimentary shots – SOCIAL slap shots – after each Islanders goal
- Raffle, including Islanders tix, a John Tavares jersey. All PB readers in attendance have an equal chance of winning. Just see the SOCIAL staff for your ticket.
All ages welcome. 21 and over to drink. SOCIAL – formerly BARSOCIAL and Chrebet’s – is at 1002 Hempstead Turnpike across from the Coliseum.
I’ve met with the owners and staff of SOCIAL a few times over the last week and they are determined to show us a great time and provide the kind of first-class service you deserve.
My way of saying thanks for the amazing support of the second season of Point Blank.
PLEASE RSVP (YESSES ONLY) AT THIS LINK. I’m also on Facebook.
FanHouse: CB on Rick DiPietro’s Road Back
(photo by Rich Stieglitz)
6:42 pm, Bridgeport - It’s Rick DiPietro’s first hockey game in eleven months and we are here. If he makes it through healthy, he’s expected to play 20-30 minutes.
6:44 - DiPietro makes it through warmups! (and the Pulitzer is in the mail).
7:00 - The DiPietro Effect on Sound Tigers attendance? Minimal. There are about 1,000 fans here. Line of the night already by Brian Compton of nhl.com: “Greinke must be pitching.”
7:07 - Game begins. In a suite at center ice: Charles Wang, Garth Snow, Rick DiPietro, Sr.
7:09 - DiPietro plays dump-in on way to net, throws sweet outlet pass to center ice. Tens roar.
7:10 - Makes first save, a glove stop in traffic off a wrister from Johan Motin at the point.
7:12 - Matt Martin makes it 1-0 for Bridgeport at 3:40 of the first. The Charles Wang owned-and-operated Sound Tigers play Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” as the goal song.
7:19 - Eight minutes in and DiPietro has still only seen the one shot.
7:20 - Comes far out of the goal to play the puck. First “Hey DP, stay in the friggin’ net” of the season is shouted.
7:22 - Cue Gary Glitter: Greg Mauldin makes it 2-0 Bridgeport.
7:27 - Shots are 11-2 Sound Tigers. Maybe Jack Capuano should tell the boys during this broadcast timeout to loosen up the D.
7:30 - The unofficial DiPietro statline so far: 2 saves, 2 clean clears, 2 turnovers. 5:34 left in the first.
7:33 - Perty, perty goal by Jesse Joensuu at 16:09. 3-0 Sound Tigers.
7:34 - Rick has now received more goals from his Sound Tigers in one period than Marty Biron has gotten all season.
7:35 - Springfield power play. Hit the net, fellas.
7:37 - They did not.
7:41 - End of the first period. Shots 15-3 Bridgeport. I’m not exaggerating: DiPietro has not had to bend his knee, go into a split or break a sweat.
7:42 - Arthur Staple of Newsday, Dan Martin of the Post, Compton of nhl.com and the clown from FanHouse grab some popcorn and Diet Coke and try to figure out what to write about.
8:00 - Second period begins. DiPietro still in goal.
8:03 - On first shot of second period, DiPietro allows a very soft goal. Motin’s 70 mph slap shot without traffic sails through DiPietro’s five-hole. The rehab assignment takes a different turn.
8:06 - First back-to-back saves handled cleanly by DiPietro. If he doesn’t get much more action, will he play entire second period?
8:11 - Springfield makes it 3-2 on their seventh shot of the night. This goal, a top-shelf backhand by Geoff Paukovich is not a softie.
8:15 - Rick comes way out of the net again, then a sarcastic cheer from the two guys in Section 102 when he plays the next chance without incident.
8:21 - Springfield ties it up at 3-3. Bill Thomas bangs in Liam Reddox’s pass from behind the net. Three goals on nine shots – not a good night for DiPietro.
8:30 - DiPietro makes solid save on Springfield power play.
8:31 - As you might expect after being away almost a year, the sharpness is just not there. DiPietro gives up a big rebound on a shot he’d usually handle with ease.
8:32 - After Springy hits the post, DiPietro makes his best stop of the game by far – a glove save in close on Vladimir Trukhno.
8:34 - Rick’s night is over, presumably. He made ten saves on 13 shots.
8:53 - Scott Munroe in for DiPietro to start the third period. Word has it Nathan Lawson is a little banged up.
9:02 - Greg Moore makes it 4-3 for Bridgeport.
9:04 - DiBo makes it 5-3. Munroe will get the win.
9:05 - Trevor Gillies beats the boogers out of Kip Brennan.
9:21 - Matt Martin decisions Alex Plante, the first round pick Edmonton acquired in the Ryan Smyth trade. It’s 6-3, by the way.
9:25 - DiBo makes it 7-3.
9:36 - Munroe makes 15 saves in the third. The Sound Tigers win, 7-3. A strong night for all of the Islanders prospects. They knew the GM was in the house!
10:00 - After a hug from Charles Wang after the game, DiPietro meets the media:
“A lot of work to be done.”
“Good to get out there and shake the rust off. You can only do so much in practice.”
“Tomorrow’s a big day. I’ll do my treatment and hopefully wake up tomorrow feeling good.”
Comments on this post only. Continue discussion of Islanders-Tampa Bay game in next thread. Thanks for the updates.
6:30 pm – My reaction to the Kirill Petrov/Anton Klementyev situation is in Comments.
5:15 pm, Bridgeport – I will start a live blog during Rick DiPietro’s comeback game in Bridgeport tonight in a new thread up top. Please talk about the Islanders’ game in Tampa Bay in this one. About an hour after the Sound Tigers’ game, I’ll have another story on DiPietro at FanHouse. Thanks for reading, and thanks for keeping me posted on tonight’s Islanders game.
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12:30 am – I’ll be in Bridgeport tonight, live blogging the return to game action of Rick DiPietro and writing all about it for the new-look NHL FanHouse. A thread will also be open for readers to discuss (and update me on) Islanders at Tampa Bay.
Look for DiPietro to play the first period and if he is holding up well at intermission, to play to the middle of the second period. DiPietro still needs to take small steps. Scott Munroe started in the Sound Tigers’ 5-1 loss in Lowell on Friday, so Nathan Lawson will probably back up DiPietro tonight.
I was reading back yesterday on what I’ve written about DiPietro’s rehabilitation the last four months. Interesting to take a step back and see how, after I wrote on Aug. 24 that Rick’s progress was not exactly zipping along, the Islanders were quick to re-group the same day and announce that DiPietro was on schedule and “gradually easing his way in before the start of training camp on Sept. 12.”
It is Dec. 5 and DiPietro is just beginning a 20-30 minute dip in the water of a minor league conditioning assignment.
In October, my projection of a Thanksgiving return to game action for DiPietro was mocked by a veteran reporter at a major newspaper who watched Rick dink around on Oct. 19 at his first practice for 15 minutes. He said DiPietro was obviously closer to a return than “some people” thought. That was six weeks ago.
Darn, I was off by a week.
It’s only hockey. This stuff is fun.
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Islanders catch a little bit of a scheduling break these next two games. They rested in rainy Tampa Bay on Friday while the Lightning had to travel to New Jersey and play the infuriating Devils. If all went well with their flight plans, Martin St. Louis and the boys got to their homes around 4:00 am. Advantage: Islanders.
Same thing when the Islanders play in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Peter Laviolette’s Flyers play Monday in Montreal. Even with all the perks of an NHL team, it’s never smooth getting through customs at midnight in Montreal. Been there, banged my head against that.
The Bolts’ New Jersey-to-home back-to-backs remind me of the time about a decade ago when Gary Bettman hitched a ride home on the Islanders’ charter after a Friday night game in Tampa Bay. Making conversation, the NHL commisioner asked when the Islanders’ next game was. He was told, “In about 19 hours.” Bettman said, “Seriously? You guys are gonna be tired.”
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Of course, the Islanders play on Wednesday in Toronto against a rested Leafs squad. I know that because – PLUG ALERT – Wednesday is the night Point Blank and SOCIAL (across from the Coliseum) are providing a free buffet, free shots, $1 beers and a raffle at 7:00 pm. Between RSVPs here, on Facebook and via email, looks like we should more people than they had in Atlanta on Thursday. If you can, you really ought to be there. I hope you can make it.
On Sunday, I should have our Point Blank Night guests confirmed. The first two people I asked said yes and are just locking in their schedules. Last year we were joined at our events by Jack Capuano, Justin Bourne, Michael Picker and The Jaff, so I know where your expectations are.
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Grass Isn’t Always Greener Dept: Chris Campoli, healthy scratch. Not sure what Chris expected simply with a change of address. Sure as heck don’t know what Bryan Murray thought he was getting for a late first-round pick. No matter what anyone thought or what becomes of that pick – the Islanders paid with extra picks to move to 12 and take Calvin de Haan – Chris Campoli for a first round pick gives Garth Snow major cred at the GM poker table.
Comments on this post and tonight’s games. No road live chats for a while: in Bridgeport tonight, on assignment Tuesday and hosting PB Night on Wednesday.
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