Monthly Archives: September 2010
My spot with Mike Ross on NHL Home Ice from today.
There resides Mark Streit, the player from Switzerland who was never taken seriously as a defenseman in Montreal, only to emerge as a No. 1 and power play quarterback with the Islanders. Acquired by the Islanders from Anaheim for a conditional third round draft pick, Wisniewski has a golden opportunity to show that he’s a top-pair defenseman. Since the first day of camp, he has been aligned in drills with Streit.
“This is a chance for me to make a name for myself,” said Wisniewski, who will live with his wife Nicole in Rick DiPietro’s former residence in Oyster Bay. “I saw what happened here with a great player like Mark. They showed him confidence and gave him an opportunity, and he made the most of it.”
The 5-11, 205-pound Wisniewski is characteristically blunt and confident about his first two stops on the NHL map, Chicago and Anaheim.
“Chicago gave me my first chance to play in the league, so I”ll always be grateful to them,” he said. “They just didn’t see me as the player I believe I am. They had Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, who are great, and then they went out and signed Brian Campbell. The writing was on the wall.
“In Anaheim, it was simple. They didn’t want to pay me the money.”
So Wisniewski will take his education from Anaheim – “I learned so much watching Scott Niedermayer every day,” he said – and try to become the go-to defenseman that he’s confident he’s destined to be. The next step for him is to increase his offensive output from last year’s career-high of 30 points. This should be easier if he gets more time on the Islanders’ power play than the 30 seconds he has been accustomed to. The Michigan native has this season to prove he’s worthy of the lucrative, long-term contract he can be up for as an unrestricted free agent next July 1. (Per the CBA, the Islanders and Wisniewski’s agent cannot discuss an extension until Jan. 1).
His trade from the Ducks to New York, a brilliant pick-up by general manager Garth Snow, is a perfect example of the uncertainty of a pro hockey player’s life. A restricted free agent after last season, in which he averaged over 24 minutes of icetime for the Ducks, Wisniewski had start-and-stop negotiations with Anaheim management for months. Still, he was under the impression the Ducks wanted him and was feeling good about the near future of the team, especially when he learned Teemu Selanne would be back for another season.
Then came July 30, just four days after James and Nicole returned from a two-week honeymoon in Maui and Fiji.
“We agreed to a one-year contract in the afternoon,” said Wisniewski. “I felt good about it. I went to the gym. I was excited, thinking about next season, what me and the team could accomplish. I leave the gym after a couple of hours, look at my cell, and I’ve got a dozen messages. That’s when the Ducks told me I got traded.”
How did they break it to you?
“It was weird, because (assistant GM) David McNab started the conversation by saying, ‘I’ve got bad news for you.’ When I heard it was the Islanders, I told him, ‘I don’t see that as bad news.’
“I’ve got an opportunity here. We have a young team with so much talent and we have a locker room full of class guys. What better team to come to?”
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Attention, Connected Golfers: In his short time on Long Island, Wisniewski has played Bethpage with DiPietro and the destined-to-be-legendary Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton. He is determined to test more of New York’s classic golf courses, so he said, “Spread the word for me…Shinnecock, Winged Foot, bring it on.” If you’ve got privileges and want to hook up Wisniewski at one of our area’s great clubs, please send an email to the address at the top of the blog.
Notes: As reported by Katie Strang, Kirill Kabanov was late again today for practice. Between two late appearances in two weeks, plus a few anecdotes I’ve heard behind the scenes, there has been little evidence that the 18-year-old Kabanov is ready yet to grow up. We’ll see over time if it was worth it for the Islanders to step aside from their publicly-stated insistence that they draft with an emphasis on “character.” Kabanov is a character, all right.
After sitting out one day with a sore groin, Wisniewski returned to practice today at the Coliseum…Streit and P.A. Parenteau were given the day off…Zenon Konopka (back) is practicing with the team for the first time at training camp.
After four straight days of keeping his forward lines together, Scott Gordon is beginning to slightly mix them up – mostly out of necessity. Rhett Rakhshani replaced Parenteau on the line with Blake Comeau and John Tavares. The line of Josh Bailey – Frans NIelsen – Nino Niederreiter is still intact. Like the coach said on Saturday, the combinations still mean little until the team gets to the preseason games near the end of camp.
On Thursday at the Coliseum, Gordon will have what he called a “power play scrimmage.” The team’s first complete scrimmage is not until Saturday at 11:00 am at the Coliseum. Tickets are available for $10 on the official team site.
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5:00 pm: Garth Snow said his team has the resources to spend and would be interested if a top player became available to the Islanders in a salary cap-relief trade prior to or during the regular season. Just as importantly, Islanders owner Charles Wang did not back down when the issue was brought up during Media Day at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday afternoon.
“We have never said we wouldn’t,” said Wang, asked if he was in position to financially support the acquisition of an impact player. “We’ll do everything we can to put the best product on the ice.”
Since several teams are desperate for cap relief prior to the start of the season, I asked Snow if he was looking at another deal in the next two weeks that would be similar to his low-cost trade for James Wisniewski. The Islanders could use a top-six forward.
“I’m always looking,” said Snow. “We’re always looking to add to our lineup.” The general manager added that he’s never received anything but unqualified support from Wang when he’s gone to the owner with a potential trade for an expensive player.
The Islanders are approximately $15 million under the league’s salary cap of $59.4 million. Teams above the cap or ones that could be in need of relief include the Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.
As teams finalize their rosters as the NHL’s opening day approaches, even more could be interested in moving contracts of quality players to low-salaried teams like the Islanders, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. The cost for the acquiring team would not result in an equal-value trade. A potential deal would be similar to Snow’s theft of Wisniewski (making $3 million) from Anaheim for a conditional third round draft pick, or Tampa Bay acquiring Simon Gagne ($5 million) from Philadelphia for Matt Walker and a fourth-rounder.
Wang “Not Going Dark” on Lighthouse Issue: At the Media Day press conference, Charles Wang reported “no progress” on his efforts to keep the Islanders in Nassau County.
“We have a (Coliseum) lease until 2015,” said Wang, “and we’re going to be here until 2015.”
Since Wang has absorbed tens of millions of dollars in losses since buying the franchise ten years ago, I asked him if there was anything he can say to Islander fans concerned about how much longer he can fund the hockey team without an arena development. Never known for being comfortable discussing economics in a public setting, the owner said, “We’re committed to Long Island. I want to keep this professional sports team on Long Island. This is where they belong.” In his own way, Wang tried to send the message that the team would be okay.
He also neatly side-stepped my question about whether his recently revised lease with Nassau County – in which the Islanders generate revenue from parking and from other Coliseum events like major concerts – has softened the crushing financial losses.
Wang would not get specific about alternatives for an arena outside Nassau County. “We’ll look at other options, but right now our focus is on the hockey season.” However, Wang is no longer “going dark” on the subject of the arena issue, hinting that – after a year of mostly silence – he would communicate with fans and media if there is any news. That in itself is good news.
On the hockey team, Wang has “high expectations” for the upcoming season. “We embarked on this rebuilding program many years ago. We’re getting closer and closer.”
Notes: Wisniewski (groin) was out for today’s workout, while Mark Eaton (back) made his training camp debut. Zenon Konopka (back) remains out, but could practice with the team on Wednesday. Doug Weight, who took a scheduled day off today, said the plan is to have the occasional rest day. The captain is returning from shoulder surgery.
Snow on whether the aging Coliseum hurt his pitches this summer while he pursued free agents like Paul Martin, who signed up with the Penguins and their new arena. “If you can stay at the Ritz-Carlton or a motor lodge, what do you expect”?
Islanders Media Day: The Islanders hosted a Media Day today (with lunch!) and drew a large crowd. As someone who’s been in that spot before – especially with the Jets, Giants and Yankees all the rage this week – I can tell you that it’s no small feat. Congrats to new PR chief Kimber Auerbach and his staff on a first-class event.
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2:15 pm: The Islanders threw in a bonus on Media Day by announcing the signing of 2010 fifth overall pick Nino Niederreiter to his three-year Entry Level contract.
“I know a spot is open,” Niederreiter said about his chance of winning a job as an 18-year-old out of training camp. “I’d love to use a spot.”
Islanders general manager Garth Snow said Niederreiter will be with the team until the end of training camp – at least – and then the team will make a decision on where he should play in 2010-11. Joked Snow, “We have to work on his character. It’s too high.”
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Three minutes with Islanders third-year forward Josh Bailey on camp, his advice for Nino Niederreiter and his expectations for himself and his team.
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Future Hall of Fame writer Chris Stevenson of the Sun chain in Canada was at training camp today. Not surprisingly, the pro’s pro unlocked a scoop. Doug Weight and his family have moved into a new home on Long Island, and there isn’t space available for John Tavares. Both the captain and the second-year NHLer are disappointed. Especially Tavares. Read all about it.
1:50 pm: In the Islanders’ variation on the Joba Rules, the Rick Rules will call for a day off every third day – so far, just for this week. After taking off today, DiPietro will skate Tuesday and Wednesday and be off on Thursday. He’ll practice on Friday and be one of four goaltenders in the team’s scrimmage at the Coliseum on Saturday. On Sunday, DiPietro will rest. After this week, the goalie, medical staff and management will discuss how his knee is holding up and devise a plan for week two. Comments.
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