PRACTICE: 10.20.10, NVMC
Trent Hunter practices, Josh Bailey does not
FH 2-on-1: Are the Leafs, Lightning and NYI for Real?
CB at FanHouse: Rypien deserves 20-game suspension
Point Blank Night is TOMORROW at SOCIAL: Islanders at Lightning on more than a dozen screens. Free buffet, free shots, raffle and more! RSVP here.
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11:35 am, NVMC: The summary from Scott Gordon:
On the availability of Josh Bailey for Thursday in Tampa Bay: “I haven’t ruled him out.”
On his goaltending rotation: ”They’re both going to play. There’s a rhyme and reason to it.”
On Bruno Gervais practicing at forward: “If we decide to go with seven D, it gives Bruno a comfort level playing up front. It’s also good from a conditioning standpoint.”
Gordon wasn’t sure if Trent Hunter was good to go for the Lightning. “I don’t have word yet,” said the coach. “This was his first practice.”
On Lightning star Steven Stamkos: “It’s like Crosby and Ovechkin – they’re going to get their chances.” Gordon said it’s important his team does the right things offensively, so Stamkos’ time is limited with the puck.
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10:20 am, NVMC: The Islanders have not recalled anyone from Bridgeport (AHL) yet today. Trent Hunter (foot injury) is skating on the fourth line. Bruno Gervais is practicing as a forward, wearing the same light blue jersey as Nino Niederreiter, Doug Weight and Michael Grabner. Since the Islanders are carrying eight defensemen – all on one-way contracts – and one extra forward, they have no room on the 23-man roster if they don’t place a player on the Injured list.
Josh Bailey is not practicing with the team.
Moulson – Tavares – Comeau
Sim – Nielsen – Parenteau
Niederreiter – Weight – Grabner (Gervais)
Gillies – Konopka – Hunter
Defense: Eaton, Hillen, Jurcina, MacDonald, Martinek, Mottau, Wisniewski
Roloson
DiPietro
Notes: Today begins the Islanders’ annual Fathers Trip. Most of the players and coaches will have their dads or a mentor staying with them on the two-game trek in Florida. It also might be a partial explanation why some injured players are going to Florida. They can get their treatment on the road, and it’s only right they get to be part of the special trip.
Reality for Gervais: At one point in practice, Scott Gordon had a quick huddle with seven defensemen, while Gervais took a knee with his three forward linemates for the day.
Much more to come.
43 Responses to PRACTICE: 10.20.10, NVMC
Trent Hunter practices, Josh Bailey does not
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Stumpy32 says:
My feeling is ride Parenteau at this point. Aside from the Dallas game where he was a negative, he’s been pretty damned good since. Shut my mouth about him.
I just hope we get some word on Bailey sooner rather than later. All signs seem to point to a few games, at most, but with the Islanders, a bruised thumb suddenly turns into a 5-month odyssey of heads, shoulders, knees, and toes.
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Russel Ginart says:
Niederreiter – Weight – Grabner (Gervais)
Gervais on a forward line?????????huh???
No Mat Martin? No call up???huh?? -
27Tonelli says:
Sim on the 2nd line ? and Gervais as a forward ! Here we go with Gordon’s crap !
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isles66 says:
CB- any comments on Jack Hillen’s role this year ? Obviously the defense has been reconfigured with size and experience the two key factors. Hillen played in 69 games last year and 40 in ’08-09. It seems crazy to keep scratching him nite after nite waiting for a possible injury to top six d-men.
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Oye Comeau Va says:
I count 23 players with the team right now. 13 forwards, 7 d-men, 1 flex (Gervais), 2 goalies. Wouldn’t they have to put someone on IR or place someone on waivers before bringing someone up?
I don’t get too caught up in practice lines. Gordon is notorious for switching things up in the beginning of a game, middle, or end.
But let the Jon Sim on the “2nd line” outrage begin.
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Matt S says:
If they absolutely had to use Bruno, I’d rather see him play 4 minutes as a 4th line forward rather than 8 minutes as a 3rd pair defenseman.
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Staten Islander says:
Gotta luv it. Flash is giving Chef Bruno a chance to fail at another position
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jeff says:
Not only should the NHL suspend Rypien, they should do it without pay and give the money to the kid he attacked. No place for that in sports.
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Ron says:
Bruno is the new Byfuglien!
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vinny says:
It’s obvious to me we’re saving cash. Why pay Marty or Jesse at nhl scale a day longer than needed in the teams mind?
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Bryan says:
With alot of our top guys out, Gordon needs to mix things up and see what works. Have no prob with Sim being on the 2nd line, he’s been playing well in his role…CB ne reaction from Okposo or Streit to the teams start? Is Kyle chomping at the bit to get back?
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JerseyIslander says:
watch Chef Bruno get bumped to the top line with a hat trick tomorrow!! Watch out!
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That was sarcasm btw.
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Greg65 says:
I was wondering when people would talk about Gerveis, its tough to not dress for games when healthy…EVER. I think he would rather play in AHL then sit in NHL. I know I would. Gordans ryme/reason for goaltending is Dipietros not 100% otherwise he would be playing 80% of games like 1st 2 games of season. The team is better w/ dipietro injured rather then healthy imo …sad to say.
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its time for the islanders to cut their ties with bruno gervais. our defense is better than its been in YEARS and thats without mark streit. Jack Hillen is the 7th man and thats fine. I’d rather call someone up from bport than play gervais ANY day.
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felix says:
i dont get it. if gervais is the odd man out and you have hillen. why not waive gervais for purposes of bridgeport. chances are great he will clear. he will be playing and cocnditioned. and in the event he gets claimed oh well. you still have hillen and if the worst should happen, kohn or reese in spot duty. with wisnewski, jurcina, eaton, and mcdonald taking a boat load of minutes no big deal if reese or kohn play 8 minutes a game.
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LouD says:
Just a guess but it’s pretty obvious that the lines Gordos using in practice won’t be the same lines during the game. I mean come on people he’s done this since he took over coaching the team. Nothing new here.
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Darren says:
Looks like Bruno’s the odd man out. See ya!
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19holekc says:
Surprising that Gordon would choose to re-express Bruno as a forward and not Hillen, who has better wheels and more offense to his game. This would not only benefit the team overall, but also give us another option at the point for a the powerplay. And given Hillen’s size he does not fit the profile of an NHL defenseman anyway. However, as he has excellent hockey sense there may be a future for him in a hybrid PK/PP role along with a checking 3/4 line forward.
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kallur says:
A lot of good points here; to wit: what is the deal with Hillen. Chris: have you asked Gordon pointblank, so to speak, why Hillen is not playing more? What he sees as the liabilities in Hillen’s game? I’d like to know.
Why not give Martin a try at this point? He was drafted, what, two years ago? Three? So it’s not as if he’s exactly being rushed; play him for a few games.
Why on earth is Gillies taking up a roster spot? That’s absurd. If that was the plan all along, to just provide muscle, then it is idiotic as there were plenty of players just as good with their fists that Snow could have signed cheap who also could play sound defensive hockey. (I got news for you all: I am a huge Clark Gillies fan, huge. No better teammate, no better captain. But there is no way in the world he ends up in the Hall of Fame without Bossy and Trottier. Unlikely to even have had his number retired. And, speaking of which, why not John Tonelli? Has any player ever given more, scored bigger goals?)
As for Parentau, he remains marginal, though at this point probably makes sense to play him for all he’s worth the next five games anyway, see what he can do.
Nino? Much against my better instincts, and original viewpoint, I say he stays. -
Brian G says:
Chef Bruno “the forward” couldn’t be that bad if we had to use him on the 4th line. Maybe Gordon will use him for 9 seconds if he needs him.
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Perry Card says:
Why Call up Matt Martin. He earns $852,500
/ 82 games = $10,396.34 per game. If he plays 10 minutes thats 1,039.63 per minute.
Assuming 15 shifts thats $693.08 per shift.Hey that money could be used to purchase 51.98 sticks or 5,198.17 rolls of tape.
Money much better spent -
19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Limiting Stamkos’ time with the puck means staying out of the box.
Bruno will have to fight is way back onto the blue line… at least he’s getting paid.
I think with the improved defense he’s going to have to wait for the opportunity. I don’t see Gordon shaking things up just to shake things up. Things are working at the moment.
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Am I the only Islander fan that thinks Bruno should get another chance? He has been bad but he’s also been good. He was a 6th round pick with very little time to develop. Think about this, Okposo has played more games with Bridgeport than Gervais. BG was handled incorrectly from the beginning. It’s too bad, by all accounts he’s a helluva nice guy.
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dose says:
i like the idea of a goalie tandem playing roughly the same number of games over a whole season, especially where there’s no brodeur or roy or belfour. it doesn’t preclude a guy from playing several games in a row when he’s hot, and we all know they’re not gonna to relegate a 67.5 million guy to 10 or 15 games a year if he’s healthy. rolo is 40 years old, and he and DP seem to get along well, so i think the tandem setup is well suited for this situation.
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BR says:
FYI, neither Martin nor JJ practiced with the Tigers today. Martin is sick and JJ left practice early yesterday with an injury. Hence, neither is called-up.
As CB has often recommended, read Fornabaio.
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Eric Cup says:
Hey Kallur #21 – I recognize you are a Clark Gillies fan, but check the history. He was the teams leading goal scorer before Trots or Bossy got here. Fabulous talent with size and grit. Everyone around the league has talked about getting a Clark Gillies type player for years. The problem is that he was one-of-a kind. He was scoring 30 goals a season before Bossy was drafted.
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Jerky says:
Everyone on this site knows what I think of Gervais professionally. I know this was just a practice, but utilizing Gervais as a forward? Really? This reeks of management indeptitude. Waive him or buy out his contract already. I don’t understand the loyalty to him, he is a MAJOR LIABILITY every time he is on the ice.
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brooklyn george says:
Hey Chris! was wondering where the Isles dads will be in the arena tomorrow. Can’t make pb night cause I’ll be at the game at Tampa bay tomorrow. Do you know where the Isles fans will be so I can try to sit close to them. Thanks
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JP in NJ says:
Let the kid play!
Nino has proven he belongs in the NHL.
Next year has already arrived for the Isles.
Every game counts and we are better with Nino in the lineup.
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Starscream says:
I’ll be in Tampa, too. Maybe a strong isles presence there?
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Bill says:
what is everyone’s obsession with bringing up a player and having to pay them? you all recall we barely made the cap floor this summer, correct? paying a player should be the least of our worries
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IslanderFAN says:
and the Gervais haters strikes again…pathetic!!!
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Billy the Kid says:
Possibly Bails can go in Tampa.
I’m sure he wants to line up against Stamkos, as does his buddy JT.
‘Ning are high octane. Vinny will be out injured.
The boys had 3 days rest, they should be ready to roll. Can’t wait. -
Bob E says:
Sim on 2nd line? Grevais at foward? Are we not happy being ing 1st place?
How about this a better team w/o bruno in lineup.
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MAD FAN says:
We can steal a win tonight…Watch out for bergy !!!
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anthony c says:
Sim on the 2nd line. Why?
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Really…come on…I agree with Jerky… Bruno is not a foward so why pretend that he is one…Let him go to the Bridge and bring someone
who can contribute offensively! -
Mario says:
Why is Bruno skating at all. Package him and some recipe books for a 3rd rounder. If something happens we have Hillen and Reese and Kohn.
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i lost all my respect for gordon when late last year on a west coast trip that the isles lost again giving up goals in the last minute, gordon was asked on live tv after the game what can be done since this was the 7 th game the isles lost in the closing moments, he didnt answer and just walked off. the line combos he uses are a joke. there is very good talent if the lines are used corectly. grabner should be on the first or the second line at the very least. when sim is on the second line and you have to use bruno as a foward on the third line it shows you how little common sense gordon has.
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Chris Mc says:
If we go with 7 D its like we’re only using 10 forwards bc you know Gillies will get 3 mins of playing time TOPS
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cjcb says:
Cut Gervais!!
OK – I don’t like getting into the lines thing too much, but Sim-Nielsen-Parenteau as the “second line”?
C’mon now!