Isles Take Round 1, Torts on the Hot Seat?

In a less-than-pretty evening of hockey, the Islanders did exactly what they needed to do to shut down the struggling Rangers and leave Madison Square Garden with two huge points. The importance of this victory cannot be stressed enough. Sure, it's always great to beat the Rangers, but this kind of showing was absolutely crucial after such a brutal loss against Florida on Monday. The Islanders were committed to their game plan in terms of shutting down Marian Gaborik and it paid off big time. The amount of Gaborik shots that the Isles blocked was pretty incredible. Special props to Jack Hillen, who was an absolute beast in containing Gaborik and just about every Blueshirt for that matter.
--------------
Less than a year ago, John Tortorella took the reins of the Blueshirts from Tom Renney with the hope that he was the savior who could put an end to the Rangers' offensive woes. Now, almost midway through his first full season as the head coach in New York, the Rangers are in an absolute freefall and haven't scored a true even strength goal in 4+ games (6-on-5 tonight doesn't really count. Needless to say, the Tortorella era is not exactly going according to plan.

It appeared that Torts' frustration peaked tonight during his postgame press conference. In a rage that caused MSG to break out the bleep button, Tortorella responded in quite a hostile manner when asked by the media why his team was playing so poorly and what he planned to do to remedy the situation. After declaring that he has no "f***ing explanation" for his team "playing like s***", he shoved his chair and stormed off.

(It was really must-see TV.)



So, just how long does John Tortorella have to save his sinking ship? Does Torts have some job security since it's his first full year behind the Rangers' bench or is that overshadowed by just how underachieving his Rangers squad has been?

Alex's Prediction: Tortorella has until the Olympic break to right the ship....otherwise, he joins John Stevens in pink slip land.

Update: Also of note was the fact that Tortorella shortened his bench bigtime in Wednesday night's contest, leaving some of his younger players on the bench most of the game while giving his big guns ridiculous minutes. I'm starting to think he is coaching the Rangers as if they're his 2004 Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightning squad. Newsflash to Torts: You don't have Lecavalier, St. Louis, and the Bulin Wall to carry this Rangers squad every night.
--------------
The home-and-home resumes tomorrow at the Coliseum. Questions to be answered:

1. What will the goaltending matchup look like? (NYI: Martin Biron or Dwayne Roloson/NYR: Henrik Lundqvist or Chad Johnson)
2. Who the hell is Chad Johnson? (I thought he changed his name to Ocho Cinco!)
3. Will Tortorella make the kind of dramatic change that his postgame speech seemed to insinuate?
4. Can the Rangers bounce back from what is seemingly an emotional low point of their season?

Imminent Doom for DP?

The idea that Rick DiPietro could be between the pipes for the Isles as soon as next week seemed a little too good to be true. It was.

After allowing one goal through two periods in his second AHL rehab start, Ricky was benched for the third period due to what the team called "some tightness". The report claimed that the tightness was unrelated to any of his previous injuries, but considering how many lower body injuries Rick has experienced over the past few seasons, it had to be. There was certainly a sense of further disaster in the Rick DiPietro saga.

Tonight, via Chris Botta of Islanders Point Blank, comes the following statement from GM Garth Snow:

“Ricky has been seen by the team doctors and most recently a specialist. To make sure we are taking the proper steps in his rehabilitation we will seek an additional opinion and should have a timeline by the end of the week.”

Needless to say, there is nothing positive about this report. The notion that DP could be back this month is officially out the window and now fans will play the waiting game for another announcement. But in all honesty, the announcements just don't really matter any more. DP has proven that he is simply not physically capable of overcoming his plethora of injuries and returning to NHL shape. If four total periods of minor league hockey is all Ricky could muster after 11 months of rehab from his countless number of injuries and surgeries, then chances are he is a lost cause.

Sure, the Islanders won't easily give up on their 15-year investment and "franchise player", but the team is already preparing for the worst. The fact that the team drafted goaltenders in the second and third rounds of the '09 draft in addition to signing two "number 1s" in the offseason was certainly a sign about the bleak future of Rick DiPietro.

Now, with a timeline expected by the end of the week, I'll make the bold prediction that we don't see Rick DiPietro starting between the pipes for the Isles for the rest of the '09-'10 season. While there's nothing more I would love than to be proven wrong, I think it's time that those who haven't done so already begin to face the music. It would certainly be sad to see the career of such a talented, charismatic, and just plain likable guy be cut so short, but to suggest that this is far from the truth is being in denial.

Survival on the Road Must Shift to Dominance at Home

After just about every Islanders game, my HNLI co-host Steve and I make it a priority to have a few minutes of discussion on the game. As I whined after last night's 6-2 loss against the Flyers about the Islanders' inconsistency and failure to show up for every game, Steve snapped right back saying that after playing 14 of 17 games on the road, it says something that the Islanders are still even hanging around the .500 mark and the (admittedly early) playoff race. Now, the Islanders will have the luxury of coming back to Long Island and sleeping in their own beds for the next three weeks. The team's only two "road" tilts in their next ten games are a short ride away at Madison Square Garden.

Now, with the Isles' return to the Coliseum, the attitude must change drastically. Showing up every other night and hanging around the playoff race may be considered a blessing on an extended road trip, but over the course of the next three weeks, the Isles must make a major surge in the right direction. For better or for worse, this home stand will determine the direction of the Islanders' season. A .500 showing won't be enough over the next 10 games, as this block of games needs to set the pace for the second half of the season. While the competition isn't particulary easy, the team needs to take advantage of playing at home and produce an effort similar to February home stand of 2007.

So, whether the Islanders win or lose tonight in Toronto, the most crucial stretch of the season begins Saturday at the Coliseum.


SAT DEC 12, 2009 BRUINS @ ISLANDERS

MON DEC 14, 2009 PANTHERS @ ISLANDERS

WED DEC 16, 2009 ISLANDERS @ RANGERS

THU DEC 17, 2009 RANGERS @ ISLANDERS

SAT DEC 19, 2009 CANADIENS @ ISLANDERS

MON DEC 21, 2009 LIGHTNING @ ISLANDERS

WED DEC 23, 2009 MAPLE LEAFS @ ISLANDERS

SAT DEC 26, 2009 ISLANDERS @ RANGERS

SUN DEC 27, 2009 FLYERS @ ISLANDERS

TUE DEC 29, 2009 BLUE JACKETS @ ISLANDERS

A Slap In The Face: Only One Day of Camp Open

For the past several summers, diehard Islanders fans congregated daily at Islanders Ice Works in Syosset for a week to get a look at the organization's young talent. The openness of Prospects Camp, an event which many Isles fans plan their summers around, has been an example of just how amenable the Islanders have been to its fanbase. Now, however, following the addition of #1 overall pick John Tavares, the Prospects Camp has taken a turn for the worse.

The 2009 installment of Islanders Prospects Camp will be held from Thursday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 15. For the first time in a number of years, however, a majority of this event is closed to the public. In fact, only the events of July 12 will be open to the public. At one of the most exciting times to be an Islanders fan in a number of years, restrictions are suddenly being placed on the fans' access to the team.

The idea of a closed Prospects Camp came as a complete shock. While last year blogs like HNLI were able to provide in-depth daily coverage of the camp's events, the closed camp this year makes for an uninformed fanbase. Not to mention, by closing all but one session of Prospects Camp, the one open session is sure to be an absolute zoo. It is impossible to fathom just how many Isles fans will show up ON A SUNDAY to watch John Tavares lace up for the first time on Long Island. By opening up more of the weekday sessions, the Isles could make for both a more comfortable viewing experience while allowing the team's truest fans complete access to the camp. Instead, a team that prides itself in being a fan-friendly one is leaving its fans in the dark.

Beggars Can't Be Choosers: The Dany Heatley Saga

In possibly the most intriguing storyline of the opening day of NHL Free Agency, Dany Heatley has refused to waive his no-movement clause to go to the Edmonton Oilers despite demanding a trade out of Ottawa. In an extremely unique situation, because Heatley was not traded before 12AM EST Tuesday, the Senators are contractually obligated to pay Heatley a $4 million bonus. Realistically speaking, this could very well increase what the Sens feel they need to compensate losing Heatley and ultimately could ruin any chance Heatley had at getting out of Ottawa.

Clearly, Heatley is not familiar with the old addage that "Beggars can't be choosers." Presumably, Heatley must've been pretty desperate to get out of Ottawa if he had to resort to demanding a trade. So, clearly Heatley shouldn't feel that he is in a position to pick and choose potential destinations. The Senators were much more accommodating than they needed to be in going out of their way to shop Heatley and they managed to find a suitor in Edmonton. Heatley does not have the right to say "I don't like Edmonton, try again." Beggars can't be choosers, and if Heatley really wants to leave Ottawa, he is certainly a beggar.

No Respect for Clemmensen?

While reading HNLI Guest Chris Botta's UFA Preview on Islanders Point Blank this morning, I was shocked to see the lack of respect for former Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen.

Said Botta:

Scott Clemmensen…really? Besides watching him back-stop the cautious Devils in a pinch for a few months last season on MSG Plus, has anyone really looked at what the 32-year old has done in his career? Give a look and let me know if this is the man for the Islanders.

Clemmensen, who played in only 28 NHL games before his 31st birthday? Clemmensen, who was average-at-best for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL in 2007-08?

Through my work as a hockey photo editor last season, I had the opportunity to watch a ton of New Jersey Devils hockey and a ton of Scott Clemmensen. Despite the fact that Mr. Botta seems to slight his performance last season, there is no denying that Clemmensen is the major reason that the Devils managed to survive their injury plagued season. Mr. Botta points you at Clemmensen's numbers in an effort to knock him, but I say look at his numbers from last sesaon.

2.39 GAA
.917 SV %
25 Wins (only 13 losses)

Clemmensen was invaluable for the New Jersey Devils and he should definitely be given a serious look by the Islanders. While Marty Brodeur was injured, Clemmer was phenominal. Should Rick Dipietro take his annual fall this season, Clemmensen will be able to step in and keep the Isles firing on all cylinders. Scott Clemmensen was a savior for the New Jersey Devils last year and could be even more valuable as an Islander.

Youtube video comment says it all:

"they are just flat out blessed that they had him, if they didnt their season would be over."

Alex's Final Draft Thoughts

The stage is set. Thousands donning Orange and Blue will gather tomorrow at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to watch what is sure to be the biggest draft in quite some time for the New York Islanders. It is a draft that will be looked back on for years to come as a turning point, for better or for worse, in the history of the franchise. It is one of the organization's only chances to acquire a true game-changer considering the team's lack of luck in free agency.

So, as both an observer and a fan, I hope the Islanders make the smart choice tommorrow night. There are times for risks and going with hunches, but this is not one of them. Take the guy who has been the consensus number one for years...not the guy who just emerged on the scene. Take the guy who every GM north of border is coveting. Take the guy who has broken records, changed rules, and won international titles. Take John Tavares.

Hockey on SportsCenter

Yes....that's "SportsCenter" spelled the American way. It's both funny and sad that I find it newsworthy that ESPN devoted almost 5 minutes of this morning's SportsCenter to hockey. The bulk of this airtime surrounded Boston University's comeback victory in the NCAA hockey championship last night to beat Miami of Ohio. The segment featured both highlights from the game and an interview with BU Coach Jack Parker. ESPN also compiled a countdown of the top 5 plays of the 2008-2009 NHL season. Richard Zednik's goal against the Islanders was featured as #4. Mikka Kipprusoff's incredible save against Kyle Wellwood topped the list. Interestingly enough, the NHL.com "Save of the Year" by Joey MacDonald was absent from the list. Still, in my mind, Kippur's save was the top stop of the year by far. While clearly this little hockey moment on ESPN isn't nearly the attention the sport deserves, it brought a little smile to my face to see a little bit of hockey on ESPN.

Also worth noting is that both Barry Melrose and Matthew Barnaby were absent from this segment. Bizzare much?

The Quest to Be the Biggest Loser

Update (Saturday, April 4 @ 11:30 PM EST): The Islanders' 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay tonight keeps Tampa Bay in the race and gives both the Avs and the Bolts a legitimate hope of "catching" the Islanders in what MSG+ is calling "The Race to the Bottom". As we said on today's episode of HNLI, the Islanders were guaranteed the last place finish if they acquire 5 points or less going into tonight's game regardless of what the other two teams did. Now, that number is 3. Once the Islanders get 3 points, destiny is no long entirely in their hands. I would not put it past Tampa or Colorado to lose the rest of their games this season. Therefore, the Islanders would truly be jeopardizing their future by winning any more. That said, the Islanders have a tough schedule coming up that will allow me to sleep this evening.

Update (Saturday, April 4 @ 11:30 AM EST): In the only action in the "Race for Last Place" last night, the Lightning lost to the New Jersey Devils.....IN OVERTIME!!! This expands the Islanders' "lead" over Tampa to 7 points, while the cushion with Colorado is idle at 5 points. This is all guaranteed to change tonight when the Islanders take on the Lightning on home ice. Expect to see plenty of Isles fans verbally rooting for Tampa tonight. Nobody wants to see the Isles miss the opportunity to draft a gem like Tavares.

Update (Friday, April 3 @ 6:30 PM EST): Last night's loss against Montreal brings the Islanders down to 5 games remaining in the season and a 5 point cushion seperating them from Colorado. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the third team in contention with just one more point than the Avalanche.

If the Lightning beat the Islanders tomorrow night, however, it would virtually put them out of contention for the first pick. Without Vinny Lecavalier, however, it's anybody's guess who will come out on top in the game that nobody wants to win. As for the Avs, their next contest is on Sunday night against the Vancouver Canucks. With 8 straight losses, it looks as though the Canucks will be a tough test for Colorado.

I personally believe that Colorado is not going to start winning. It is up to the Islanders to "win" this race on their own.



With less than half a dozen games left on each team's schedule, the Islanders and the Colorado Avalanche are both vying for last place in the standings and more importantly a 48% chance at the first overall draft pick. With this pick, the top team will have the choice between Canadian phenom John Tavares and the Swedish D-man Victor Hedman.

The most recent standings have the Islanders with 59 points and the Avs with 64. Still, nobody should be counting out the Avalanche just yet. In addition to the fact the Islanders still have one more game to play (and potentially gain points in), the Avalanche are on quite a tear as of late. Colorado has lost a ridiculous 8 games in a row and is showing no signs of turning things around.

According to HNLI statistician Steve, the Islanders' magic number currently stands at 7 points (pre-Islanders v. Montreal). This number can be reached via the Islanders losing points (2 for a regulation loss, 1 for an OT loss) or the Avalanche picking up points (2 for a win, 1 for an OT loss).

Needless to say, emotions are running high amongst Islander fans. With the Avalanche plummeting, it seems it might be up to the Isles to continue losing. Despite losing 2 in a row, the team has looked pretty good as of late. Wednesday evening's game against Washington showed signs of a disaster before Mike Green pulled it out for the Caps. With 6 Islander games left this season, I don't think any fan can even pretend to be rooting for the Orange and Blue.

Sweepstakes At A Glance (Remaining Schedules):
Islanders: Montreal, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston
Avalanche: Vancouver, San Jose, Dallas, Vancouver, St. Louis

Lighthouse Meeting Commentary

Just returned home from the Marriot and I am still trying to take in everything that was brought up at this evening's public forum on the Lighthouse project. For a complete recap of tonight's event (virtually speaker-by-speaker), check out Chris Botta's entry on Islanders Point Blank. As for my blog, just a few notes:

-Charles Wang proved tonight why he is such a successful businessman. He is one of the most charismatic people I have ever seen. His wit and humor made Charles seem just like a regular guy. During the Q and A portion of the evening, Wang told an anecdote about asking Mike Milbury when halftime was during his first game as the Islanders' owner. At another point, Charles Wang looked up in mock prayer at the mention of the first overall draft pick. There were half a dozen times when he had the room in stitches. Still, despite some comic relief, Wang showed his commitment to this project and gave the genuine impression of doing something great for Long Island.

-The crowd was overwhelmingly pro-lighthouse, almost affirming Kate Murray's stance that this was more of a pep rally than a constructive meeting. I happened to be seated next to the lone anti-lighthouse couple in the building. As Uniondale residents, the pair was extremely angered about the congestion and traffic that this type of development would create. At one point, the woman stood up and said that she "didn't want this in her backyard" to which an obnoxious lighthouse supporter yelled "LEAVE". I truly wish this couple had more of an opportunity to voice their opinions and weren't so severely outnumbered.

-All of the politicians who spoke were in favor of the project and basically said the same things. The representative for the district of Uniondale, Kevan Abrahams, was particularly insightful in his support of the project. He urged his constituents to express their concerns at this point so that they can be worked out and won't ultimately interfere with the big picture. He encouraged his residents to look at the project as the area's stimulus package and to think about the drastic effect that a vacant coliseum could have on property values in the area.

-There was a major focus throughout the night on how Long Island is "losing its future" in the sense that many Long Islanders between the ages of 24-34 are moving off the Island or not coming back to Long Island after going away for college. As a high school senior, I was particularly intrigued by this topic. Tom Suozzi asserted the fact that young people are looking elsewhere due to a lack of housing for rent on Long Island and that the residential area surrounding the Coliseum would be an optimal place for young people on Long Island. While I'm not sure where I will be after college, I certainly know that I would consider a development like the one proposed in the Lighthouse project.

-Overall, it was a very interesting night. I think many fans expected something huge to happen tonight, but I don't think we saw anyone drop a major bombshell. Suozzi told us bluntly that if the project doesn't happen that it would be nearly impossible for the team to continue playing the Coliseum, but I don't think this was really news. As far as a time frame goes, October seems to be the make or break month for approvals. Tom Suozzi said, however, that we should know by mid-April just how well things are progressing. Well.....lets cross our fingers.

Feel free to comment with any questions about the meeting or any commentary of your own

HNLI Deadline Coverage: The Aftermath

Despite it being a lighter trade deadline than in past years, this year's NHL Trade Deadline was an absolute blast. Hockey Night on Long Island covered a lot of the news as it broke for 90 minutes and it was an extremely fun episode for both hosts and listeners alike. If you missed it and still need to satisfy your fix for trade deadline analysis and commentary, feel free to check out the archive.

More analysis to come...but the highlight of deadline day hands down for me was Brian Burke's reaction when pressed for details on the Leafs' last unconfirmed trade of the day. I hope I can get a clip of that posted on this site very soon. Stay tuned.

THE GUERIN TRADE:
I received a comment on my facebook wall from a long-time HNLI listener asking my opinion on the Guerin trade and I thought it summed everything up pretty well:

Michael wrote at 4:02pm
Alex, don't you think you guys should've gotten a little more for Guerin? Maybe one more draft pick or even a prospect?

Alex wrote at 5:26pm
Well, considering all of the hype around Guerin being traded over the past few days I would've hoped for more, but quite frankly I think the Islanders got around fair market value. There was no way the Isles could take Guerin back after this saga and the relationship he has had with Gordon and his contract is soon to expire anyway. While it was a letdown compared to some of the other deals of the day and certainly compared to the hype that was surrounding Guerin over the weekend, I think Garth did what he had to do and got what could potentially become a third rounder.

Don't get me wrong...at first wind of this trade I was pretty frustrated, but after looking it over and seeing the climate of this year's deadline, it puts things into perspective.

Of course, all of us in Islander country now have added incentive to keep rooting for Bill Guerin as every win his new team gets brings the Isles one step closer to a Third Round draft pick.

Best Deadline Day:
In this salary cap era, teams generally tend to fall into one of two categories at the trade deadline. First, there are the buyers. These teams are trying to stock up for the playoff run by picking up the pieces that will put them in the league's upper strata. Then, there are the sellers. These teams, of course, are out of playoff contention or close to it and are stocking up on assets for the future (younger players, prospects, and draft picks). With that said, here are HNLI's deadline day standouts.

Best Buyer:
Alex's Pick: Calgary
Steve's Pick: Calgary

-Acquired Olli Jokinen
-Acquired Jordan Leopold

Best Seller:
Alex's Pick: Phoenix
-Sent Derek Morris to the Rangers for Kalinin, Dawes, and Prucha
-Sent Dennis Carcillo to Philadelphia for Upshall, 2nd Round Draft Pick

Steve's Pick: Colorado
-Sent Leopold to Calgary for Nycholat, Wilson, 2nd Round Draft Pick

Guerin Waiving No-Move Clause Would Be Beyond Classy

REMINDER: This latest Guerin development will be the latest of many topics that HNLI will be covering on this Saturday's episode with Greg Logan of Newsday. Be sure to tune in for what is going to be a great episode.

After a lot of talk that Bill Guerin's no-move Clause would contribute heavily to a quiet deadline day for the Islanders, it appears this may not be the case. According to tonight's update on Chirs Botta's Point Blank blog, it appears that Bill Guerin is willing to waive his no-trade clause under certain conditions.

Time and time again throughout both his NHL career and his stint with the Islanders, Guerin has proven himself to be one of the classiest players in the game. Waiving his no-move clause in an effort to help out the Islanders would, in my mind, go above and beyond expectations. So many veteran players refuse to budge in this type of situation because it is simply too much of an inconvenience for them (i.e. the 2008 Toronto Maple Leafs). Still, Guerin clearly wants both to be as accommodating to the Islanders as possible and to be a contributer to a team in a stretch/playoff run.

I'm sure I speak on behalf of the Islanders' organization and its fans in saying that I will not be upset if Guerin is still with the Islanders on March 5th. But if he does waive the no-move clause, I wish him the best of luck wherever he ends up. For the sake of the future, it is in the team's best interest to try and deal Guerin for a pick/prospect package. Besides, maybe Bill will be an Islander once more come July 1.

Toronto Sun to Tavares: "Steer Clear of Islanders"

I was absolutely disgusted to wake up this morning to a column by Steve Simmons in the Toronto Sun that calls for John Tavares to "pull a John Elway, an Eli Manning or an Eric Lindros. And find a way to get out of playing for the Islanders."

Click here to read the article yourself before I rant.....

Now, whether you are an Islanders fan or just a sports fan, this is absolute garbage. For a writer to suggest that a top prospect look for a way to get out of being drafted by the team that rightfully deserves him is ridiculous on so many different levels. The fact that players are able to wiggle out of playing for a certain team is a major problem in sports and it is certainly not a move that should be encouraged by a columnist (despite where his rooting interests may lie).

But let me placate Mr. Simmons and answer a question posed in his article...

If you think about it, why would anyone with dreams and aspirations of greatness want to play for the Isles?

If John Tavares has dreams and aspirations of greatness, he would be chomping at the bit to take on the challenge of revitalizing a franchise like the Islanders. If he has aspirations of greatness, he would want to be the focal point of a franchise and have it built around him. If he has dreams and aspirations of greatness, he would seize the opportunity to bring pride back to Long Island and make one of the greatest dynasties of all time a contender once more. I can assure you that anyone with dreams and aspirations of greatness would dream of the chance to carry his team from the depths of despair to the pinnacle of greatness. No team gives Tavares that opportunity like the Islanders do and if he has dreams and aspirations of greatness, he would be perfect for the Islanders and the Islanders would be perfect for him.

But dreams and aspirations aside, should a player simply be able to weasel his way out of playing for the team that wins the lottery? Reality has shown us, of course, that this is in fact possible. But no one with any sense of integrity could possibly consider refusing to play for the team that drafts them. It is an honor to be drafted into the National Hockey League and nobody is above that honor to the point where they can say that they'd rather play for somebody else.

New Yorkers, of course, have been on the other side of this debate with the Eli Manning situation. Giants fans were obviously thrilled to be able to steal Eli from the Chargers, whom he and his daddy both refused to be associated with. Of course, for the Giants it worked out great. But I knew at that moment, that I would never have the same respect for Eli Manning. Both Eli and his daddy thought that they were too good for San Diego. But to me that really says that they weren't good enough to take on the challenge of turning that franchise around. The Chargers wound up with a kid named Philip Rivers who has been one heck of a quarterback and has elevated the team to a level that they had failed to reach for years. While a Superbowl may still be a few years off for Rivers, I know that I will personally be applauding when the Chargers, led by Philip Rivers, are able to hoist that trophy.

Now, hopefully that will not be the case with John Tavares and the New York Islanders. I personally don't expect Tavares to pull a Manning, but rather that Simmons' article is just a stunt to draw a few more readers up in Leaf Town. Either way, it is despicable for any player to refuse to join the team that draft's them and it is even more disgusting to see this type of action proposed by a columnist.

Opinions? Thoughts? Sound off in the comments section!

The Long Island Miracle Man

This editorial by HNLI host Alex Silverman will appear in The Hawkeye, a high school newspaper in Plainview, NY.

John Tavares has been on the radar of the hockey world since middle school. After absolutely dominating every youth league he had ever played in, Tavares was drafted into the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the age of fourteen. The OHL, which is among the top junior hockey leagues in North America, granted Tavares “exceptional player” status and allowed him to become the youngest player to ever be drafted into the OHL and was chosen first overall in 2005. Since making the leap to juniors, Tavares has won OHL MVPS, broken OHL records held by Wayne Gretzky, and led Team Canada to the World Junior Championship. Now at the young age of eighteen, NHL teams are chomping at the bit to grab a player who can single-handedly change the direction of a franchise.



Enter the New York Islanders. Just past the midway point of the 2008-2009 NHL season, the Isles sit alone in the cellar of the league standings. While the team is in the midst of a “youth movement”, not one Islander was selected for the NHL’s YoungStars game. The ever-dwindling fan base is failing to fill the seats on a nightly basis and losing faith in a team that seems to never have things go its way. The Lighthouse Project, which is pegged by Owner Charles Wang to revitalize the Coliseum, the area, the fans, and the team as a whole, has seemingly come to a standstill. Recently, in the most newsworthy occurrence of the team’s season, rumors have arisen that the team is set to bail on Long Island and head to a brand new arena in Kansas City. Needless to say, the Islanders have become the laughing stock of the league. Seemingly at an all-time low, the brightest hope for the team’s future rests upon the shoulders of John Tavares.

For years, the Islanders have lacked a superstar presence. The team that since the 1980s boasted goal scorers from Mike Bossy to Ziggy Palffy is anemic when it comes to scoring goals and can only be ignited by the presence of a dynamic offensive weapon. Playing in a building like the Nassau Coliseum and sporting a reputation for being an absolute joke over the last decade, the Isles are a far cry from attracting any big time free agent scorers to come to town. Now, with a superstar like Tavares up for grabs, the Islanders have one chance to add an explosive offensive powerhouse to their lineup.


Tavares’ impact on the team, however, would extend far beyond his offensive prowess. He is the type of player who can truly redefine a franchise and the Islanders need nothing more than a new image right now. With the addition of Tavares, the Islanders would gain the league wide exposure that the Washington Capitals did with the addition of Alexander Ovechkin and that the Pittsburgh Penguins did with the addition of Sidney Crosby. Simply put, Tavares is the only thing that can put the Islanders back on the proverbial map. It is a guy like Tavares who can raise the Islanders to the level where they will be considered for NBC’s national broadcasts, the NHL’s Winter Classic, and the league’s overall marketing.

Aside from bringing recognition back to the Isles, John Tavares would certainly put fans in the seats and might even garner enough attention to get the Lighthouse Project rolling again. As much as Islander fans are pushing for the revitalization of the Nassau Mausoleum, it is tough to expect mass support for a new arena for a team that has been reduced to a mockery. With someone like Tavares to bring respectability back to the Isles, it is only a matter of time before efforts to get the Lighthouse Project underway get serious once more. Without Tavares, the Islanders might be one step closer to absolute irrelevance in the hockey world or even Kansas City.

Every franchise in sports goes through its share of ups and downs. It’s fair to say, however, that the Islanders have been in a near freefall for over a decade. Now, with a light at the end of the tunnel of despair, the future of the Islanders rests on how a few ping-pong balls bounce at the draft lottery in April. Should the balls bounce their way, the Islanders will be lead into the future by a bonafide superstar. With last place a near-certainty, only time will tell whether or not John Tavares will be wearing orange and blue come draft day.

Simon Kills the Kid Line

There is an old expression that says "Don't fix what isn't broken". For the Islanders, it seems as though the team is the farthest thing from broken as of late. Despite an incredible number of injuries, the Isles have won five straight games. So, it would seem that there is no need for change.

According to Greg Logan's latest blog entry, Chris Simon will be returning to the Islanders' lineup tonight after the longest suspension in NHL history (topping the record previously held by none other than Chris Simon). On the other end of this return is Jeff Tambellini, who will be sent back to Bridgeport to make room for Simon. Tambellini had previously been playing with the "Kid Line" along with former Bridgeport teammates Frans Nielsen and Blake Comeau. It was this line that provided the energy that pulled the Isles out of their 7 game skid and put the team back on track.

Now, however, Ted Nolan insists on ripping that line apart to bring back longtime friend Chris Simon. There is no doubt in my mind that this move will prove to be a destructive one for the Isles. Chris Simon is not only a nuisance when it comes to discipline, but is also a detriment to the team hockey-wise too. Between his two massive suspensions, Chris Simon had done absolutely nothing positive for this team. He further proved to me that he is too slow and sluggish to keep up and is past the prime of his career. By inserting him into the spot that Tambellini occupied, Nolan is jeopardizing any chance that the Isles have at making a run for the playoffs.

Time Crisis: Hockey Night Debate

Today, the New York Islanders announced that they will be moving the start times of weekday home games back to the traditional 7:05 PM face-off. Last season, the Islanders had changed the start time to 7:35 PM. Islanders fans from all around are divided in their opinions on the issue. Two fans that have varying opinions on the issue are HNLI hosts Alex and Steve.
Let Operation "Time Crisis" begin:

7:05 PM: Longer Games, Earlier Start (by Steve): Personally, I liked it when the games used to be at this time. As a fan that likes to watch the weekday games on television, it is very favorable. I agree with the Islanders opinion of that the games are getting longer with the possibility of Overtime and then a Shootout. Also, now the younger children can have an opportunity to watch a majority of the game. However, for the attendance factor, I don't see this improving the attendance at the games since it is hard for people to get to the games from work. Let's see what Alex has to say about 7:35 face-offs....

7:35 PM: (by Alex): One of the biggest problems that the Islanders had this season was filling the seats on weeknights. Changing the puck-drop time, however, is not the way to better attendance. By pushing the start time up 30 minutes, the Islanders are making it nearly impossible for their working fans to get to the game on time. I would not be at all surprised if the Islanders lose season ticket holders over this change. People aren't going to want to go to the game if they know they won't be able to show up until the end of the first period. In addition, the move from 7:35 to 7:05 takes away the pre-game experience. The diehards that go to the games can always be found hanging around the Coliseum at Doolin's and watching warmups before the game. As impossible as it will be for fans to even make the game's start, it will be even worse for the pre-game experience. While you may get a few more young fans at the game, the hockey season still runs right through the school year and very few parents are going to schlep their kids out to the Coliseum during the week. They may bring in a few more young fans, but that's not worth neglecting the diehard fans.

NHL Awards Broadcast...Versus Mishap Unfolds

As I blogged about less than 2 hours ago, I was planning on tuning in to the NHL Awards Show on Versus tonight at 7:30 PM EST. Unfortunately, the NHL and their stupid Versus network managed to once again screw it up. Due to some kind of technical or scheduling screw up, Versus was forced to move the NHL Award Show to an 11PM EST tape delay tonight.

WHAT A JOKE! I have heard a few rumors so far about what is causing this delay, and none of them are a good enough excuse. Honestly, the NHL should go to ESPN and beg, and beg, and beg until they agree to take the NHL back. I don't care what it costs the league...they have to get off of this POS Versus Network.

Anyway, here is the main rumor that I am hearing, brought to you by jkrdevil of HFBoards:

From what I read from someone on the Versus message board the problem is that Versus is using the transmission of the CBC signal from Toronto. However CBC is tape delaying the Award show in Toronto and airing it at 8. That means that broadcast will run to 10 which interrupts the Hasim Rahman vs. Tyrus Skyes fight that is live at 9. Thus the award show got bumped to 11. So part of the problem is CBC tape delaying the award show.

I'll update you guys when I find out if this rumor is true or not. If it is, I will be furious. If it comes down to having to tape delay the fight or tape delay the NHL Award Show, you have to tape delay the fight. Seriously, as much as Hockey is in the cellar as far as ratings go, I can guarantee that a lot more people were tuning in for the Awards Show than the stupid fight.

Also, what good is an award show on tape delay?! Honestly, now that I already know who won the awards from Canadians who were able to view it and the internet media, what good is it to me? As far as I am concerned, this kind of mishap epitomizes the state of hockey in the USA.

I will keep updates coming because I am assuming that either the league or the network will release a statement at some point tonight or tomorrow.

Update: Here is the latest report brought to you by B.D. Gallof of HfBoards. You can read his full blog entry about the mishap on Hockeybuzz.

Evidently, putting together a couple of seperate reports, here is what I surmise to be what transpired:One of the CBC trucks overheats, causing CBC delays in the transmission to US outlets...or in this case, our drooling fool of an outlet...VS. VS freaks, having scheduled 7:30 through 9pm for that telecast, having a live boxing match promptly at 9pm. So, instead of running it delayed, they make an executive decision to move the whole thing to 11pm, when their precious boxing match is over. US NHL fans lose their minds, and yours truly makes a blog.

NHL Award Show Tonight.....No Isles Representation

My good buddy and co-host Steve just reminded me that the NHL Award show will be getting underway tonight at 7:30 PM EST on the Versus Network (in the U.S.) and CBC (North of the Border).






As I'm sure you all know, not one New York Islander is up for an award this time around. While I agree that no Islanders players proved themselves elite enough for consideration, I believe that coach Ted Nolan truly has a case for a Jack Adams nod. He is certainly more deserving than Buffalo Sabres nominee Lindy Ruff. Ruff, who won the award in 2006, coached an absolutely STACKED team. Meanwhile, Ted Nolan took a team that was projected to finish dead last and took them all the way to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If that isn't deserving of a nod, I'm not sure what is. I'm not saying that he should win, because Therrien of Pittsburgh and Vigneault of Vancouver are both deserving, but Nolan is certainly more deserving than Ruff and should be the third nominee. Or at least make him a fourth like they conveniently did for Henrik Lundqvist, the undeserving Vezina nominee!

Jason Blake: Keep Him or Let Him Walk

According to TSN, Jason Blake is "all but gone from Long Island". According to the article, negotiations appear to be at a standstill between Blake's agent and the Islanders.

Of course in Jason Blake the Islanders might lose 40 goals, 65 points, a fan favorite, and a real energy player. At the same time, however, Blake isn't worth what he's asking for. At the age of 34, it would be unreasonable for the Islanders to offer Blake the 5 year contract that he is seeking. To one of my favorite Islanders ever I say..."there's the door". If Blakey expects a 5 year contract, he should look for it elsewhere.
If he decides that he'll settle for 2 or 3 years, however, I'd love to see Jason in Orange and Blue for a few more years.