KONOPKA TESTING FREE AGENCY
Strang Chats with Zenon Konopka
According to Newsday’s Katie Strang, Islanders tough guy/faceoff specialist/fan favorite Zenon Konopka will test the free agency waters tomorrow afternoon. Konopka told Strang that there have been no recent discussions between him and the club on a new contract.
Konopka, whose fiery play quickly made him a favorite of Islanders fans this past season, said he will remain open to returning to the team even though he can start fielding offers from the 29 other NHL clubs starting at noon on Friday. Konopka signed with the Islanders last July 2nd and if he does move on, it will be with his third NHL organization in as many seasons.
50 Responses to KONOPKA TESTING FREE AGENCY
Strang Chats with Zenon Konopka
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hangover3 says:
Most players with little to no options, do like being islanders. Or guys who know another team might not put up with them never scoring 20 goals a year (bailly,okiposo). I think Zenon understands he is not a good hockey player and might not be in the NHL to start next season.
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Kbelanger33 says:
Somebody will sign him, Thanks Z for bringing some respectability back to this circus
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Tony says:
Something tells me some other organization is going to throw a better-than-expected offer his way tomorrow.
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alan says:
Could see Zenon be a 4th line center in Vancouver, but chatting about Z less than 24 hours before free agency means that this organization will be shut out yet AGAIN!!! It is a tough time being an Islander fan when no one wants to come here.
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Ray says:
good luck big Z!!! You were only here for 1 season and you will be forever loved and rememberd by Isles fans..You stuck up for this team against anyone who laughed at us and opposed us…YOu helped us gain back some respect in this leage and made it clear to everyone that we will no longer sit back and take anything from anyone…Hope you land on your feet
“May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars”
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Jimbo says:
Snowie—sign up Konopka—he wants to be an Islander —not many can say that!
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Hollywood says:
Haley will make us forget Konopka. He does everything Zenon can do and can skate, shoot and kick ass.
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Anthony 61 says:
soooo glad he is not coming back. For someone at his poor skill level maybe keeping 2 hands on his stick when he has the puck would have made him more successful. cant tell you how many times i yelled at the tv when he would skate with the puck on his backhand and would either just lose the puck on his own or be tapped by another players stick and would lose it that way. POOR puck protection.
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Brian G says:
Thanks & Good Luck Konopka…
Isles need to move on – they need to be able to roll 4 lines if they expect to be a playoff team next year…hopefully they sign Belanger or Goc, or both….for the bottom 2 lines….they need some players with a little more versatility…
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Mike from Long Beach says:
Its the natural progression of things. Id rather have haley score five goals and fight for the team than konopka, as does snow and cap i guess. id like to see the islanders replace konopka with upshall, martn haley upshall is a good gritty fourth line that can put up 20 goals between them.
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glenn says:
I don’t understand….why Gillies and not Konopka? Isn’t this the same team that said they DID NOT WANT A TWO-MINUTE A GAME enforcer that couldn’t play the game? Konopka is a guy that won faceoffs, played well defensively, and was PROUD TO BE AN ISLANDER. And he’s show the door. I will never be able to figure this organization out.
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Pinky says:
Sign Konopka! Make it so!
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Strummer's Army says:
Z, I really enjoyed having you on the Isles even if it was a one year run. Best of luck to you Z!
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islesfan999 says:
Best of luck Z. We will miss you!
Big Mistake not signing Z.
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Islandersfan4ever says:
Thank you Z, for being a man amongst boys, and turning this team around in the eyes of the rest of the league.I will miss you.
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Islesfan_in_Vancouver says:
konopka was an interesting guy. good on faceoffs, good enforcer, terrible passing, terrible finish. He was overused like richard park was.
He was an average penalty killer, a decent forechecker and good role player on the team but he is replaceable. I wouldn’t mind seeing him back but it certainly isn’t a big deal that he won’t be.
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Madchef says:
Thanks Z for everything and good luck elsewhere. Yeah nobody wants to sign here but we will overpay for somebody tomorrow who can fill the net more than this guy.
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Per Bob McKenzie – Ehrhoff is signing with Sabres
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Oye Comeau Va says:
Best of luck Z. If Snow brings in either Belanger or Nichol, then this is a non-issue.
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Steve says:
That is typically what a player does when not offered a contract.
And, Ehrhoff signing with the Sabres really goes to show that nobody with any youth and talent wants to play for Snowang.
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you know what would make Isles fans who love Konopka change their minds in a hurry? Signing Mike Rupp to take his place.
Now THAT would be a 4th liner who can score, hit and scare some people.
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Mike from Philly says:
So Ehrhoff just signed in Buffalo. Apparently the idea of him wanting to test out free agency was B.S. – he just wanted no part of the NY Islanders.
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Bob says:
Apparently Erhoff signed with Buffalo for a deal believed to be between 5 -5.5M on avg per year…sounds like less than the Isles offer. Unfortunately a strong message there, hopefully only from one player but not likely.
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GeneF says:
I really want to know what’s behind not signing Z
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JSExpress says:
Great. Let’s not sign the one guy that plays his guts out, is a fan favorite, and actually wants to be here, while the rest of the league signs for less money in Buffalo, Fresno and Guam. Awesome.
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It snows all year round in buffalo-wow-we are being avoided like the plague
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Dan says: #2 Okposo will score twenty. He’s a good player and young. I’m not sure if you were aware that he was injured for most of last season and required shoulder surgery. As far as Baily goes I think giving him another year before shooting him down would be a smart idea. They weren’t free agents they were drafted by the Islanders. Are you sure you’re an Islander fan?
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Hud says:
10 years for Erhoff? Won’t miss ya Christian, we have enough of those long term deals.
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AdRoc says:
Good riddance! I can’t stand the AWFUL goal song he made us all listen to. That song SUCKS!!!!!!
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Dan says:
Okposo
07-08- 9GP 2g 5a
08-09- 65GP 18g 21a
09-10- 80GP 19g 33a
10-11 38GP 5g 15a (injured) -
NYI 365 says:
GUYS,, STOP NAGGING ABOUT A GUY THAT HAD 7 POINTS AND 307 PENALTY MINS, YA HE WAS THE FACEOFF MAN, YA HE WAS TOUGH, YA HE STOOD UP FOR HIS TEAM, SO WHAT??!?! SO CAN 200 OTHER PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE, Z CLDNT EVEN PLAY HOCKEY, NOT A BIG DEAL, GET OVER IT!!!
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Looks like Ehrhoff wanted years…good thing because this organization doesnt handle those long term contracts to well
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CG says:
Erhoff situation really does confirm what the players in this league thinks of our Islanders. Only winning can change that. In regard to Konopka, fun guy to have around, but does he really deserve a blog discussion. He’s already forgotten in my mind. Next.
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Mike P says:
I agree with NYI 365, As much of a long shot it may be, back up the brinks truck for STAMKOS !!!!! Thanks Z but GL…
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Agreed that Z was a good team mate, kept them loose, made them laugh. As far as a hockey player…he is god-awful. He was only good at faceoffs because that’s when he is standing still. he could not skate, for a guy with a big mouth, rarely won a fight, was just an awful hockey player. However, his sticking up for his team mates…..priceless!!!
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TuxTax says:
I liked Z, met him down in myrtle beach this spring, good guy all around even introduced me to parenteau. Good luck to him whatever happens.
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Patrick says:
Liked his grit and leadership, toughness etc.
But he is very replaceable and as a previous commenter posted good riddance to that stupid goal song.
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Jim Clark says: We lost Herr Erhoff to Buffalo because we can’t compete with the good weather off Lake Erie in February.
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many of you guys are praising Konopka like he scores 30 goals a year and is irreplacible. The guy is HORRIBLE! Hopefully he takes his goal song with him.
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EHRHOFF WILL MAKE $10 MILLION NEXT YEAR.
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Roop says:
What are you people on…DOPE? Isles re-sign an idiot like Gillies and it’s all praise and whistles, this guy is the worst player I’ve ever seen. Z on the other hand did have face-off ability and he knew how to use his strength. He was a catalyst, the Pens game we remember so fondly, it was Z who got the ball rolling, it was Z who got the guys motivated to stick up for each other. And he did it for 82 games. Garth Snow’s got issues with people, he’s why we ended up signing a goon instead of a tough guy.
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Jeff from Smithtown says:
Z was the glue that kept the team together. If we upgrade with Torres I won’t be so upset
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Claude says:
I feel if don’t sign aleast two quality veterans.it’s going to be a 70 point season
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Fee-Show says:
Hollywood(#8) hit the nail right on the head.
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LES says:
i will miss big z, stamkos isnt gonna happen we will have to compensate 4 first round picks plus megamillions in salarie.
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i would take z over gillies in a second. gillies only plays a couple of minutes in a game if that much and then gets stupid penalties.i remember when mgt. said they want someone physical who can play hockey as well. that sure changed fast. z stood up for his team and really understood what it meant to wear a islander jersey. he knew what respect and tradition means. wang and snow dont like someone who opens up his mouth and tells the truth. they dont care or understand islander respect or tradition. thats why z is gone.
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Ehrhoff looked at the Islanders Goaltending, then looked at Buffalo’s goalttending and said I would rather play with Miller….
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I’d like to see ZK back also, but you can’t compare him to Gillies. Gillies is one of the premier enforcers in the league, & if the Isles didn’t resign him, someone else would have. As far as the nonsense about him playing two minutes a night, the clock stops when you are protecting your team by trading punches with beasts like Godard and Boogard (RIP), as easy as some of you seem to think that is.
Damn shame. I like Z.