Archive Page 2
FanHouse: Brent Sutter on Olli Jokinen
FanHouse: Islanders re-sign Matt Moulson
10:15 am: Moments prior to their scheduled 9:00 arbitration hearing this morning, the Islanders and the agent for Matt Moulson agreed on a one-year contract worth $2.45 million. The 30-goal scorer could become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Comment threads closed. See you Wednesday.
10:15 am: Not surprisingly, Ryan Jankowski was able to land on his feet despite the challenge of being a scout looking for work in July. The former Islanders assistant general manager has been added to the staff of the Montreal Canadiens, for whom he will scout players in the Western Hockey League, United States Hockey League and Minnesota high schools.
“I’m extremely excited about this chance to work for a great and historic organization like the Montreal Canadiens,” said Jankowski.
The ex-amateur scouting director for the Islanders (the position no longer exists with the franchise) expressed only positive sentiments about the team that did not offer him a new contract after it expired at the end of June.
“I was very privileged to have spent eight wonderful years with the Islanders,” said Jankowski. “I’m thankful for the opportunities given to me by ownership and management.
“I’d like to thank the Islanders’ fans for their support over the years, and also my staff with New York for their commitment and dedication. I’ll always be proud of the work of our staff. Although my focus and loyalties are with the Canadiens now, I still look forward to the continued development of our Islanders prospects from the last few years.”
Comments on Ryan Jankowski only are welcomed in this thread. Please review the Comment Guidelines.
6:30 pm: With the two sides still far apart, the Islanders appear willing to let Matt Moulson’s next contract be determined by the arbitration process. (That’s what it’s there for). The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:00 am in Toronto. Barring any difficulties, a decision should be rendered by Thursday afternoon.
11:30 am: Vancouver 25-goal, 52-point man Mason Raymond gets a two-year contract for $2.5 milllion and $2.6 million in a settlement prior to their scheduled arbitration hearing. Provides a decent benchmark for a Moulson deal, if the Islanders and his agent get together.
3:00 pm: Looks like any hope for a contract settlement between Garth Snow and wing Moulson before an arbitration hearing will have to come down to Monday. According to a source, there has been no recent progress on a short or long-term deal for Moulson, who scored 30 goals for the Islanders last season and was one of the NHL’s happiest stories.
Still, do not rule out an agreement before the Tuesday, 9:00 am hearing in Toronto. It’s not uncommon for teams to settle with players, even the night before when their legal teams are on their flights to Canada. Either way, chances of the Islanders walking away from Moulson in 2010-11? Somewhere around 0%.
Since I’ll be away on another assignment, please check my Twitter on Monday and Tuesday for any updates.
6:30 pm: Comments thread closed. Stay tuned for any Matt Moulson news. As of tonight, there was nothing to report on negotiations between the Islanders and the 30-goal scorer as they attempt to settle. Arbitration hearing is scheduled for 9:00 am Tuesday. I hope everyone enjoys a wonder summer weekend. Stay cool.
5:40 pm: The invaluable sports media critic Neil Best, of Cablevision-owned Newsday, backs up what Point Blank has written. Writes Best: “Three people familiar with the decision said the discontent with Jaffe came from the Islanders and not the network.”
2:35 pm: As I posted about an hour ago on Twitter, multiple sources have told Point Blank that MSG Network had a multi-year contract in place with Billy Jaffe, but the Islanders declined to approve Jaffe’s return because his analysis was not positive enough. To be blunt, I must have missed those games.
In the mix are Butch Goring, who could move up from his studio role, and Denis Potvin. if Butch gets the top job, Denis could get the studio role. No matter who gets it, do not expect even the slightest trace of constructive criticism.
11:30 am: MSG Network releases statement to Cablevision sister newspaper Newsday: “MSG wishes Billy luck in future endeavors. The network will name a new TV analyst in the near future.” Figure on a former Islander, which will make most of this go away quickly.
9:05 am: Bob Raissman reports in today’s print edition of the Daily News that color commentator Billy Jaffe will not have his contract renewed. Jaffe lasted four seasons and built a strong reputation around the NHL and with fans, adding work with VERSUS and appearing on the popular “NHL Live” on XM/Sirius that was simulcast on NHL Network.
The Islanders, by letter of their broadcast contract, give their blessing (or lack thereof) to all announcers. Although MSG Network hires and pays the broadcasters, the Islanders - like most teams - have the ultimate say. In recent seasons, the franchise has been notorious in insisting their broadcasts do not contain the slightest bit of criticism. (You won’t see any in Cablevision-owned Newsday. Last season, there were two reasonably critical articles in one day. Hadn’t happened before that day, won’t ever again.)
Despite the Islanders finishing 30th and 26th in the league the last two seasons, I never saw anything but 100% positive analysis from Jaffe. In fact, no one more optimistically and studiously told the story of the slow and steady recall better than him. If there was a dispute between MSG and Jaffe, I would think the Islanders would push to keep one of their biggest public advocates. In addition, he was a regular volunteer for the Islanders at draft parties and on segments for Islanders TV.
Jaffe has a home, a wife and two very young children on Long Island. He repeatedly said he hoped to be in New York for a long time. I doubt this has to do with anything contractually. So what I’m saying is, this one completely baffles me. I have not spoken with him in a while and did not see it coming. Since I was part of hiring the man and I consider him a friend, I’ll wait for a statement or coverage elsewhere.
Comments on Billy Jaffe’s departure.
FanHouse: The Day the Devils told the NHL, “Circumvent This”
9:10 pm: It was just a year ago that Islanders management laughed at the idea of having frequent fighters in the organization, hinting at the phrase “one-dimensional” in a newspaper report. Many fans jumped on board, saying they had no use for fighters around here.
Since then, the Islanders have signed Trevor Gillies, who at 30 years of age had played one NHL game before playing 14 for the Islanders last season and Zenon Konopka, who had 2 goals, 3 assists and the most fighting majors in the NHL last season (yes, he’s good at faceoffs, but he’s not Adam Oates).
Tonight they signed Gillies’ best man at his wedding - Jeremy Yablonski, who at age 30 has played one NHL game in his career and had too many fights in the minor leagues to count (although I know someone will). Last year in Binghamton, the 6-1, 235-pound forward had one assist and 127 penalty minutes in 27 games. Click here to see the center-ice brawl between best pals Yablonski and Gillies.
That’s quite a change in philosophy in one year. Wonder what brought it on - when Chris Pronger nailed John Tavares face-first into the glass with an unpenalized cheap-shot elbow to the back of the head?
To be clear, like a year ago, I’m all for it. The kids at both Bridgeport and New York need someone to have their backs. (The great Mike Fornabaio of the CT Post tweeted that the lack of toughness was “no laughing matter” in Bridgeport. If the Islanders are not ready to contend on the ice, it doesn’t hurt to win the occasional fight (”this guy throws bombs” tweeted Jeff Marek of the CBC about Yablonski). Whatever small wage the Islanders are paying Yablonski, he’s worth it.
And if the Islanders and Rangers in 2010-11 are not going to remind anyone of Tonelli and Morrow and Hedberg and Pavelich in 1984, might as well give us lots of T. Gillies, Yablonski, Konopka and every Boogaard brother the Rangers can find in Saskatoon.
You know you want to go. Comments.
6:55 pm: After signing a pair of free agent defensemen, the Islanders on July 20 have eight defensemen with NHL experience on one-way contracts (cap figures included):
1. Mark Streit - $4.1 million
2. Mark Eaton - $2.5 million
3. Jack Hillen - $525,000
4. Radek Martinek - $1.5 million
5. Andrew MacDonald - $550,000
6. Milan Jurcina - $1 million
7. Bruno Gervais - $740,833
Brendan Witt - $3.0 million
Brendan Witt, not bought out - Garth Snow said last season they would not buy him out - would appear to be the odd man out, although you know there will be camp stories about his comeback. What a very odd chapter in recent Islanders history.
The team has one top prospect defenseman knocking on the door this season:
Travis Hamonic
If Hamonic does not make the big club out of training camp, he’ll start the year in Bridgeport - as he should. 2009 first round pick Calvin de Haan, recovering from shoulder surgery, is not eligible to start the season in the American Hockey League. Barring a major surprise, he’ll rightfully continue his development in juniors and the Canadian national team.
For depth in Bridgeport, the Islanders have the following on two-way deals:
Dustin Kohn
Dylan Reese
Mark Katic
Anton Klementyev
Katic is the top prospect of the quartet. Kohn has another season or two to make the case he is an NHL regular. Reese is an ideal depth defenseman who can lead in the AHL and fill in capably in the NHL in an injury crisis. Klementyev, curiously buried in the minors last season as an 18-year-old when he could have played in the Ontario League, remains a mystery with some ability.
On June 29, we wrote the following while previewing the Islanders’ jump into the free agent market:
The Islanders’ shopping list is expected to include the following:
- One potential top-four defenseman
- One reliable, experienced, tough third-pair defenseman
The Islanders are betting on Eaton - dropped by Pittsburgh for the superior and more expensive Zbynek Michalek - as a top-four and Jurcina - a 6-7 dman in Washington and Columbus last season - to be steady on the third pair. Offensively, the 33-year-old Eaton’s best was the 16 points he contributed to the Penguins last season. Jurcina had a pro-best 23 points playing for Scott Gordon six years ago in Providence of the AHL. As reported, Snow made lucrative offers to Paul Martin and Dan Hamhuis before they opted to sign with contenders.
Barring a trade, it’s possible the Islanders have completed their roster on defense for the start of the 2010-11 season. Based on the lineup fielded for the majority of last season, the team has essentially deleted Andy Sutton and Freddy Meyer (both still unsigned) and replaced them with Eaton and Jurcina.
Even if you were to allow for another step up in the development of the talented Hillen and MacDonald and more games played for the bad luck Martinek, it might be a stretch to say the Islanders have greatly improved their blueline from the team that finished 26th in the league last season. This, of course, is if Snow does not make another move on D.
The Islanders may have added height with Eaton and Jurcina, but the physicality and battle level Sutton and Meyer brought to the rink certainly has not been replaced. Eaton uses his great reach and stick to get in lanes. Last season, Eaton was credited with 135 blocked shots (36th in the league) but only 27 hits in 79 games. The following players were credited with 30 hits each last season: Robert Nilsson, Alexander Semin, Scott Gomez, Patrik Elias, Robert Lang and Kyle Wellwood.
Sutton finished second in the NHL with 204 blocked shots and 21st in the league with 197 hits. Far more important than any stat was Gordon volunteering throughout last season that Sutton was one of his team’s three consistent MVPs along with Dwayne Roloson and Kyle Okposo.
I concluded that June 29 UFA preview with the following:
My only advice: while some of the perceived best available free agents are coming off the board on July 1 and 2, stay cool. The season does not start for another three months. Whether it’s free agency or salary cap-relief trades, Snow has plenty of avenues to explore.
To reach Snow’s stated goal of making the playoffs, he’ll need to keep exploring.
What do you think of the Islanders’ changes so far on defense? This is a one-comment-per-reader thread. Later: a look at the forwards.
9:15 pm: As the rest of New York learns more about the tragically brief life stories of Jamie and Paige Malone and Michael Mulhall, the devastation only grows deeper. The three friends, killed in an auto accident on the Meadowbrook Parkway on their way to work Thursday as counselors as Camp Anchor, symbolized the very pride of Long Island.
Run by the Town of Hempstead, Anchor is a camp for the handicapped that is open every weekday in the summer and hosts evening programs in the winter. More than 700 children with special needs attend each summer. They learn to swim and about art and music and dance. They go on day trips to the movies and the Bronz Zoo and the circus. Anchor counselors, as Jamie, Paige and Michael were, start at age 13. Those judged to be among the best after three years are offered a staff position for minimum wage.
A father of a youth counselor - whose children were friends with Michael and the Malone girls - wrote Point Blank over the weekend. “No one who works at Anchor does it for the money,” he wrote. “They are an incredible bunch, these kids. They are a tight-knit group who spend all day working at the camp and then spend their evenings planning the nexy day’s activities. These are the cream of the crop of Long Island youth. They have the biggest hearts in the world.”
Many of the youngsters who work at Anchor do so in honor of siblings who are handicapped. Today, we learned a little more about Michael Mulhall, whose funeral is Tuesday in Floral Park, from a young girl named Kelly N. To give you an idea of the threads that run through Camp Anchor, Kelly is a triplet. The brothers born with her have Autism. This is what Kelly had to say about her friend Michael, a passionate Islanders fan whose life was cut short on the parkway on Thursday morning.
Mike lived for hockey and the Islanders. It was the one thing beside Anchor that he was passionate about. He was a good player. He played at Chaminade. In college, he played at Scranton and lived with the club hockey team in an old colonial house that they patterned after Animal House. He was so full of life. And now he’s gone. He would have been thrilled that Islanders Country remembered him.
Michael Mulhall, who left us at the age of 22, is not going to be forgotten.
His family has requested that donations be made in his memory - where else? - to Camp Anchor. The program has created the Anchor Building Fund with hopes of constructing a building so it can take care of those with special needs year-round. For a life-long Islanders fan like Michael, who will no longer get to see his favorite Islander, John Tavares, play again, here’s a chance for Islanders Country to remember him.
If you are in position to send anything, let them know your donation comes from a fellow follower with Michael of the Orange and Blue and send it in the name of Michael Mulhall to:
Camp Anchor Building Fund
630 Lido Blvd.
Lido Beach, NY 11561
Thank you for the consideration. Comments are welcomed.
Prior to the opening of unrestricted free agency, Garth Snow strategically let it slip that the Islanders were bringing back Doug Weight for another season. Although today is July 16 and a deal has not been made official, there’s little reason to think the general manager has changed his mind.
Snow’s reasoning is as smart as it is simple. The Islanders captain is not going anywhere else. Over the last two years, Weight maybe has not become an extension of management, but he has become part of the fabric of the organization. His family hosted John Tavares and Matt Moulson at their house for the entire 2009-10 season. Weight has a strong relationship with both Snow and Islanders owner Charles Wang. In the on-going battle for free agents, Weight is an asset as a well-respected recruiter.
The Islanders will easily reach the salary cap floor, even if they don’t sign another second or third-shelf unrestricted free agent between now and the start of the 2010-11 season. However, there has been no rush to finalize every detail of Doug’s deal. When Snow has completed the rest of his business this offseason - including Moulson’s scheduled arbitration case and the inevitable “dropping lines in the water” for the still-available-and-getting-scared-stickless UFAs - the Islanders can utilize Weight’s bonus-laden contract to satisfy any remaining salary cap needs.
Players over the age of 35 who sign a one-year contract can have performance bonuses included in their contracts. As he did last season, Doug Weight will have a few performance bonuses in his 2010-11 contract with the Islanders.
Comments related this post are welcomed.
Thanks again to David Litvinsky for the production and music. Comments.
Please check out my story on Casey Cizikas at AOL FanHouse. Thank you.
Small world. Sportscaster Michael Coleman, recently with News 12 for six years, starts a new job at the CBS affiliate in Kansas City. The NBC station in KC, off a mention in Newsday, makes the leap the Islanders are moving there and plays it up big. Mike called to invite me on his newscast last night. I told him in advance I didn’t have good news for Kansas City. He had me on anyway. Here’s the clip. Comments.
