Monthly Archives: July 2011
Defensemen Dylan Reese and Ty Wishart and forward Micheal Haley have signed their qualifying offers with the Islanders. Each player’s deal is a one-year, two-way contract.
Noon: Sometimes the smaller stories prove the bigger point. Today’s theme: WTF has happened to Long Island?
Stay with me for a few minutes. I heard about this story late last night, around the time I was reading your comments on our NIFA piece and the front-page story in Newsday.
By the way, how about this quote from NIFA member Leonard Steinman?
“This is a referendum on a property tax increase. We will be watching closely to see if the residents of Nassau County, the highest-taxed county in the nation, have an appetitite for a property tax increase.”
That was a front-page story in Newsday. Anyone still think the Islanders should tippy-toe through their PR campaign for fear of rattling opponents into voting no on Aug. 1? (It’s a moot point. The team’s radio, TV, print and social media blitz kicks into high gear next week).
Anyway, back to my non-hockey story that is oh so relevant.
Get this: a Long Island classic rock cover band had its concert tonight at the Jones Beach bandshell cancelled because of…fear of too many people showing up.
You cannot make this up.
Wonderous Stories is a great band comprised of five locals, professional musicians who have been producers and sidemen on major recording projects, television shows and in Broadway orchestras. I highly doubt they play their once-a-week gigs for the money, but more for what Springsteen calls, “the ministry of rock and roll.” They love to play music and enjoy how much it moves people.
Wonderous Stories doesn’t rehearse much. If you go to their shows in Bellmore, Freeport, Franklin Square or B.B. King’s in Manhattan, usually one of the members will call out a song by Peter Gabriel-era Genesis or Badfinger and they’ll just play it. They’ll do it well. They’ll play entire albums start-to-finish like “Abbey Road” and “Tommy.” They play classics, B-sides and one-hit wonders with equal dexterity and passion. One night last winter they brought out Dave Kilminster, who was Roger Waters’ lead guitarist on “The Wall” tour that had just played the Coliseum. They played “Comfortably Numb” and blew the F’ing roof off little KJ Farrell’s in Bellmore.
The band is so good that even though I was never a fan of Yes as a kid, I like watching these pros play ten-minute Yes songs like “Yours is No Disgrace.” (I guess it’s not about Kate Murray).
Tonight, Wonderous Stories was supposed to play one of their favorite shows of the year. You know that legendary bandshell at Jones Beach, right? They’ve played it before and get a great crowd. Well, a few days ago they got a call saying tonight’s show had to be scrapped. Other concerts planned this summer for the boardwalk have been cancelled as well.
Kenny Forgione, one of the band members, reached out to the man in charge – George “Chip” Gorman of the New York State Parks commission. Forgione detailed the conversation on Facebook:
“He actually said that my band and a few other bands just draw too many people and that the people at the concessions say that they are not making enough to pay for the band and extra security.”
I have verified the story. Just like the end of the fireworks on Jones Beach, this little FREE rock-and-roll show will not happen for financial reasons.
So tonight on iconic Jones Beach on Long Island in New York State, a concert by a local classic rock cover band has been cancelled on short notice because too many people were expected to show up on a beautiful Friday night.
And we wonder why it has taken more than a generation to come up with a deal for a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. We wonder why a modern home cannot be constructed for the New York Islanders, family shows and concerts.
Wonderous Stories, so looking forward to playing for several hundred Long Islanders, suddenly has no place to play their rock and roll tonight. How’s this for irony? In honor of Paul McCartney playing a pair of sold-out shows at the new, taxpayer-financed Yankee Stadium this weekend, their second set at Jones Beach was going to be completely filled with McCartney classics.
Here’s an idea: maybe Wonderous Stories can play somewhere on the 70 acres of asphalt on the Coliseum property.
Comments welcomed.
By Corey Witt
5:50 pm: At today’s NIFA Public Meeting at the Marriott Hotel, NIFA Chairman Ronald Stack said that NIFA would not offer an “opinion or position” on the August 1st referendum on the redevelopment of the Hub Area/Coliseum. The meeting focused more on how NIFA is disappointed at Nassau County for not providing a more comprehensive budget plan for 2011 and beyond. The arena project was only spoken about for less then 10 minutes with NIFA continually stating they have no position on the referendum and will wait until after the public vote.
However, Stack and NIFA gave out a fact sheet that presented NIFA’s “Summary of Financial Factors Relating to Proposed Redevelopment and Leasing of the Hub.” The sheet had nine points. Here’s a summary:
1. Total Cost: NIFA says the total redevelopment cost to the County would exceed $800 million, including interest payments over 30 years.
2. Taxpayer Burden: Project cost would be paid through a property tax increase of 3.5 to 4 percent and the tax would remain in effect for 30 years, regardless of revenues from the project.
3. Potential Future Borrowing: The new arena would cost between $350 and $375 million with only $25 to $50 million left for the rest of the project. Completing the rest of the hub may cost more.
4. Identity of “Tenant”: The Islanders are not listed as the original tenant, rather “Arenaco SPE LLC.”
5. Surrounding Acreage to Tenant: Extensive acreage surrounding the new arena would be leased to the tenant, which would give control of development of the Hub.
6. Rent Not Guaranteed: The rent from the tenant does not cover estimated annual cost to taxpayers for debt services.
7. Tax Break: The tenant would be exempt from property taxes on the new arena and surrounding acreage.
8. Other Benefits to Tenant: Tenant pays no rent until construction is complete.
9. Risk of Bankruptcy: County would be responsible for all construction costs of new arena if the tenant files bankruptcy.
NIFA ended the new arena/Hub portion of the meeting by saying that if and when the referendum is passed by voters, they then would look into the financial aspects of the project and would then take an official position. Judging by the points on the fact sheet, feel free to make your own judgment if NIFA has or hasn’t formed an “official opinion or position.”
12:40 pm: Point Blank has learned from a reliable source that the Nassau Interim Finance Authority “has a lot of questions and plenty of criticism” of the deal between Edward Mangano and Charles Wang for a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Although NIFA cannot stop the Aug. 1 referendum, the state-appointed agency ultimately has to approve the deal for the new arena even if Nassau residents vote in favor of it. How far NIFA might go to hold up the deal is unknown at this time. NIFA is meeting on the arena bond and other Nassau financial issues later this afternoon. Stay tuned. Comments?
9:05 pm: Graciously putting aside the intensity of one of pro sports’ biggest rivalries at this crucial time, members of the New York Rangers family are offering their support to the New York Islanders and their fans. Although they are not Nassau County residents and understandably are unable to speak about the politics behind the arena issue, former and current Rangers spoke to Point Blank about their wishes for the Islanders to remain on Long Island. Their support is important. After all, plenty of Rangers fans reside in Nassau County and have a vote on Aug. 1.
Here’s what four members of the Rangers organization had to say:
Adam Graves – No. 9 retired by Rangers, 2009: “I’ve been following the story of the issue of the Islanders’ arena and really hope something can be worked out. Anyone who’s had the privilege of skating on the ice at the Garden or the Coliseum can tell you about the special level of emotion that exists when the Rangers and Islanders face off.
You also have to consider the tradition of great players that have played for both sides. For the Islanders, I’m thinking about Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy and Billy Smith and Denis Potvin and on and on. Everyone knows what the Islanders can be when they are successful. Personally, I’m rooting hard for the Coliseum issue to finally be settled after all these years, and I’m rooting for the Islanders to stay for a long time on Long Island.”
Brian Boyle, current Rangers forward: “I have friends on the Islanders who love playing there. I know Mikey Mottau likes the organization a lot, and just look at what my old teammate Matt Moulson has done there the last two seasons. As a player in the league, I want to see organizations be healthy and fellow players thrive where they like playing.
“For the players and the fans, our games against the Islanders are the most exciting of the regular season and I hope some day we’ll battle in the playoffs. What we have with the Islanders and the Devils, with the teams in such close proximity, is special. I don’t ever want to see that change and I hope the best for the Islanders and their fans throughout New York.”
Brian Leetch – Hockey Hall of Fame, 2009: “The rivalry is entirely fan-driven, with so many Islanders and Rangers fans in New York, that as a player you can’t help but get caught up in the emotion. We have fans of both teams on the same neighborhood block, fans who go to work together, go to school together. There’s nothing like it. No matter how the teams are doing in the standings, every game is talked. We’d be on a losing streak and people would walk up to me and say, ‘Just beat the Islanders, please.’
“Islanders fans have proven their support for the team. It would be bad for the area’s hockey fans and for the NHL to lose this rivalry. The health of the Islanders is important to the league, I know that. It’s disappointing to see the friction over the new arena, but I really hope it gets figured out and the Islanders are able to be competitive for a long, long time. The fans are there, there’s no question in my mind about that. The fans have proven it before. There are a lot who are just waiting to get back in there and fill the place.”
Rod Gilbert – Hockey Hall of Fame, 1982: “The first thing I think about with the Islanders is the incredible amount of time, effort and resources they have put into the community on Long Island and in New York. Guys like Bobby Nystrom and Clark Gillies have become friends of mine over decades of working together on charity projects. I have been involved with businesses on Long Island and I know what the Islanders mean to the legacy of the Island. I don’t ever want to see that changed.
“The rivalry between us and the Islanders is magical. I think of J. P. Parise’s goal breaking our hearts and the great series between us in 1979 – right before the Islanders’ dynasty had its run. I want to see that magic back. Instead of the Rangers playing in Philadelphia, when the Islanders’ situation gets settled, how about a Rangers – Islanders game in a few years at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field?
“I want to see this situation with the arena finally get settled and I know I speak for the Rangers organization when I say that I want to see the Islanders franchise strong forever and ever. I also want their fans to have a team that will never play anywhere else except where they won those Stanley Cups. It’s time the Islanders and their fans were rewarded.”
Comments on this are welcomed.
10:35 am: You might say they haven’t really gotten started yet, but you’d also better believe the Islanders are not done improving their roster this offseason. They cannot possibly be done by just adding to the 2011-12 lineup free agent fourth-liner Marty Reasoner, a (hopefully) healthy Mark Streit and (possibly) teenager Nino Niederreiter, who still has much to improve. The offseason is far from over.
It makes no sense, on July 12, to believe they’re done kicking tires, to believe they won’t add at least one key piece in the next 50 or 60 days. Before the UFA market opened, everyone knew teams had to offer front-loaded contracts to land the few big fish in the market. Then the Islanders went out and acquired the rights to Christian Ehrhoff, failed to sign him and watched the former Canucks defenseman sign a drastically front-loaded contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
But we do know that Charles Wang gave the green light to Garth Snow to offer Ehrhoff an average of $5.5 million a year, no matter how the dough would be paid out. This was not about reaching the salary cap floor – one signing or trade that adds a few million to the payroll, the retention of their own RFAs and some minor creativity will get them above the floor. In Ehrhoff, the Islanders attempted in their own way to add a quality player.
In case you were wondering, the inactivity has nothing to do with waiting for the Aug. 1 vote. The Islanders are playing in Nassau for at least four more full seasons, so they understand the big picture. They made a few offers the first week of July, but were rejected in favor of other teams. They signed Michael Grabner and Kyle Okposo long-term in the spring. The Islanders wanted to put their best foot forward prior to Aug. 1, but couldn’t close the deal with Ehrhoff and so far have not made a very big splash.
Still, it doesn’t mean the Islanders are done.
They’d better not be. There is the issue of the level of competition in the Eastern Conference. For example, the Flyers may not be better today than they were in mid-June, but they are better than the Islanders today. It’s simple to reel off at least eight teams in the East that are better than the Islanders today. (Feel free, if you wish, to debate the issue in the Comments thread).
I continue to hear from agents that Snow has been regularly checking in, expressing interest in the low-hanging fruit, but there is not one player of major consequence left at the UFA table. The Islanders will also not be extending any offer sheets to star restricted free agents with other teams.
There is the exciting option of a trade. The Islanders have the cap space and the assets to bring in an ace. What remains to be seen is whether Snow can pull the trigger on a genuine franchise-shifter.
Despite Darren Dreger’s portrayal of Snow in this space as some sort of riverboat gambler, the general manager has been extremely cautious while attempting to rebuild the Islanders outside of his trade-up/trade-down fun with Wang at the draft table. Since the pre-tear down trade for Ryan Smyth, Snow has not made a single bold swap to make the Islanders better in the present tense. Stealing a late first-round pick from Bryan Murray for Chris Campoli was a coup for Snow, but it was another investment in the future. The Smyth deal was more than four years ago.
While opting not to make upgrades, Snow has watched his team finish 30th, 26th, 26th and 27th the last four seasons. Wang and Snow have said repeatedly that there are no restrictions to improve the lineup, so Snow has obviously had his reasons to stand pat during the slow and steady rebuild.
But it’s not difficult for anyone to collect top-five draft picks while their team was the worst in the league over four years. At the top of the draft, Snow was gifted with one very good/ possibly great player (John Tavares) and a pair of top-six forward prospects (Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Strome). The scouts identified some talented and determined athletes in the later rounds, with Travis Hamonic the best of them all. To his credit, Snow has made the act of taking chances in the discount bin into an art form. It’s painful to ponder where the rebuild would be if Snow hadn’t signed off on the acquisitions of Michael Grabner (waivers) and Matt Moulson (two-way contract).
In the six drafts since Mike Milbury resigned, the Islanders have culled a very good pool of prospects – conservatively among the top ten in the NHL. To improve his team eventually, Snow may have to part with one or two of them. The Smyth trade showed Snow has a knack of knowing which youngsters won’t burn him.
Sooner or later, Snow has to be creative and bold. Sooner or later, Snow has to make his team better. Sooner or later, the Islanders have to get out of 26th and 27th place.
One year ago, Wang and Snow said the goal was the playoffs and anything less would be a failure. Then Streit and Kyle Okposo suffered serious shoulder injuries and the team folded early. A year later – on paper – the Islanders are not assured at all of a playoff spot in the 2011-12 season…or the one after that.
Of the top six defensemen on the Islanders’ roster – all but Hamonic are on one-way contracts – half are returning from major surgeries: Streit, Mark Eaton and Mike Mottau. Milan Jurcina played just 46 games, Andrew McDonald missed 22. None of the Islanders’ D prospects are ready for prime time. If Calvin de Haan or Matt Donovan are utilized as anything more than emergency recalls, they would be rushed without a full season of development in the AHL. Unless Ty Wishart takes a step forward, he’s also not ready for big, steady minutes in the NHL.
You can count up all the 20 and 30-goal scorers from last season like it was some sort of major accomplishment. But while other teams made the playoffs without one 30-goal scorer, the Islanders were out of playoff contention well before Christmas. You can rave about the club’s second half, but their winning pace even then does not get you anything except being in the race for eighth place in March.
The Islanders will get off to a good start next season. Without any major changes, they should be at least five games over .500 by Thanksgiving. The buzz around the team will be stronger than it has since the start of the rebuild.
But with buzz comes expectations. Opponents will be ready for them. The pressure of meaningful games in the second half will be new to many of the Islanders’ players and new to the head coach. They’ll find it’s a completely different game than the ones they played last February.
As currently constituted, are the Islanders one of the top eight teams in the East? As the roster sits right now, are the Islanders a bonafide playoff team?
Of course not. They are merely a team possibly capable of hanging around the 7-13 group in March – if they don’t set another record for man-games lost. If the injuries pile up this time, no one will be sympathetic. They will be rightly blamed for not learning from the past.
This is why the Islanders are not done upgrading the lineup this summer. This is why they cannot be.
As the youngsters begin to arrive in New York for this week’s Islanders Prospect Camp, here are some links to videos, interviews and article you may find useful.
Point Blank’s top NYI prospect list
(pre-2011 draft, so make Strome 1A or 1B)
SNY interview with Ryan Strome
Niagara coach Marty Williamson on Strome
Portland asst coach Travis Green on Nino Niederreiter
Pierre McGuire on the NYI’s promising future
Why Kirill Petrov is unable to attend
Lewiston HC J. F. Houle on Kirill Kabanov
Oshawa coach Chris DePiero on Calvin de Haan
Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson on Anders Lee
Denver coach George Gwozdecky on Matt Donovan
Ex-Mississauga HC Dave Cameron on Casey Cizikas
Check the team site, Newsday and Brian Compton at NHL.com for camp roster and coverage during the week.
