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Posts Tagged New York Islanders

Yay or Nay: New York Islanders Third Uniform

Nov 17

Posted by Eddie in News | 1 Comment

The Islanders "Fisherman" logo of the mid-90's.

Kyle Okposo poses with the new uniform.

Wednesday, the New York Islanders revealed the new alternate kit they will be wearing during the season. They are no stranger to the alternate jersey universe, as they have graced us with the “Fisherman” logo to your right in the mid 1990′s. That was a logo you’d more see on the jersey of your Sunday night beer league team that is sponsored by a bar than on a professional franchise.

This time around, they changed things up and went with the intimidating but popular black as the main color. They kept the design simple, with an arched “ISLANDERS” across the chest with the number underneath the team nickname and on the sleeve. The shoulders are gray with orange and blue trim. The standard Islanders logo flanks the edge of the shoulders. The numbers are orange trimmed in gray and blue. The neck features the lace-tie which has become popular in recent years. The team had an event at the Nassau Coliseum team store which several players attended including John Tavares, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo and their families attended along with fans. Check out the video below from the photo shoot the players did when they first wore the uniform after a recent practice.

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2011-12 NHL Season Preview: New York Islanders

Sep 3

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | No Comments

Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders

The Islanders hope Michael Grabner can build off of his succesful 2010-11 season.

Key Offseason Additions: Brian Rolston, Evgeni Nabakov

Key Offseason Losses: Doug Weight, Rob Schremp, Zenon Kenopka, Radek Martinek

Last Season Ranking: 14th in East

Offense: The Islanders have a solid group of young players, lead by John Tavares who began to really pile on the points during his sophomore season. Tavares will try to improve upon his 67 point campaign while surrounded by the likes of PA Parenteau, Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner, and Blake Comeau. These players are not quite household names yet, but they are good young players who have a lot of potential. Adding Brian Rolston to the mix gives the forward unit a man with much more experience and great leadership qualities.

Moulson, who put together a surprise season in 2009-10 with 48 points, improved on that number last season. His 31 goals and 22 assists were both career highs, and he will be expected to continue that improvement for the Islanders this season. Michael Grabner will be an important piece to the offensive puzzle as well. Grabner lead the Islanders in goals last season as a rookie, with 34, and had 18 assists to go along with it. On a team full of minus players, his team leading plus-13 shows he is an all around player, and important to the success of the franchise.

The health of Kyle Okposo will be a bonus to the orange and blue. Okposo missed the first half of last season after having shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. He returned to have a modest 20 points in 38 games, but will be counted on to contribute upwards of 50 points this season.

The Islanders could see Nino Niederreiter return for an extended stay in 2011-12 and make the team right out of training camp. The fifth overall pick from 2010 played in only nine NHL games last season, picking up a goal and an assist. Playing full time with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, Niederreiter tallied 70 points on 41 goals and 29 assists. When he finally makes the transition, expect his numbers to be consistent with the guys mentioned above. He’s a skilled young player, as you can tell from videos like this, and will fit in nicely playing alongside a young, talented Islanders team.

Defense: The return of Mark Streit, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, will be huge for the Islanders defense. He typically hovers in the 50 point range, but more importantly, he can effectively captain and lead the power-play unit to much more success. The loss of James Wisniewski at the trade deadline last season will continue to haunt the Islanders blue line, however. Their defensive units, besides Streit, will be young and inexperienced. The young theme is constant throughout the squad, and on defense, it’s going to hurt more than it will help this year.

Goaltending: The goaltending situation for the Islanders continues to be a question mark. Last season, a total of six goalies started games, with the majority going to Rick DiPietro, Dwayne Roloson, and Al Montoya. Roloson has moved on to bigger and better things, but DiPietro continues to work his way through a lengthy contract. The addition of Evgeni Nabakov never panned out last season, but he is supposedly ready to give it his all in New York this season. Much of the work will likely fall in Nabakov’s lap as DiPietro has not played a healthy season since 2007-08. Regardless of who is net, however, the young squad will make some mistakes that even the best goalie will not be able to recover from. Nabakov, a steady regular season goaltender, will likely bring a solid game to help the Islanders squeeze a point or two out of some close games.

HWB Playoff Prediction: Not playoff bound. Despite having a young group of talented forwards, there is still a lot of work to be done on Long Island. Expect a season long performance much like last seasons.

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Long Island Residents Reject Bond Proposal For New Arena

Aug 5

Posted by Eddie in News | No Comments

On Tuesday, residents of Long Island had the opportunity to vote on a bond issue for a new arena to replace the aging Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and keep the NHL franchise in town.

If Charles Wang decides to move the team, this failed ballot measure could bear part of the blame.

The ballot issue was over borrowing $400 Million to fund a new arena on the Island. Isle’s owner Charles Wang has vowed he hasn’t given up on the residents of Long Island and would love to keep his team on the island. The current lease at the Coliseum runs through 2015, so there is a good chance the team can stay on the island until then at the earliest. After that, who knows where they can go? If Wang does decide to sell the team, there is a good chance they could move to Kansas City as there is a new arena (the Sprint Center) that is without a full-time professional sports franchise. Just like Atlanta (Flames) and Winnipeg (Jets), if that decides to happen the NHL will be returning to a city that used to have a franchise as the Kansas City Scouts played in the NHL from 1974-76 before moving to Denver. That franchise relocated to New Jersey in 1982 and is now known as the New Jersey Devils.

Although a new arena would play host to concerts and other events, the election centered around the viability of the Islanders, who became a source of civic pride less than a decade after the team’s inception, winning the Stanley Cup four straight times from 1980 to 1983. Since then, they have fallen on hard times as they have not won a Stanley Cup playoff series in 18 years and have not even qualified for the 16-team playoffs in the last four seasons.

They were last in the league in home attendance last season, averaging 11,059 fans per game. The roster, however, has been rebuilt in recent years, and the Islanders are generally thought to be more competitive. The NHL and the Islanders’ two most bitter rivals, the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils, have been publicly supportive of the arena project on Long Island.

The referendum spurred much debate, including the timing of the election itself. Holding the election on a Monday in August instead of on Election Day cost the county $2 million, and turnout was light. Mr. Wang had offered to cover the cost of the election if the measure passed. That alone could have turned many voters away from the polls. If Wang was smart, he should have had the ballot measure on the November ballot to have a higher voter turnout. The county’s finances are in such poor shape that they are monitored by the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority. The authority said the county could run a deficit of up to $140 million this year. With 82 percent of the ballots counted Monday evening, the vote was about 57 percent to 43 percent against borrowing the money through a general obligation bond to pay for the plan, which also called for construction of a minor-league baseball park and convention space.

 

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Chris Osgood Retires

Jul 19

Posted by EB in News, Rumors | 1 Comment

Today at Noon EST, along side Detroit Red Wings’ General Manager Ken Holland, goaltender Chris Osgood will hold a press conference. The conference will most likely be an emotional filled retirement announcement.

The 38 year old Osgood began his career in the ’93 – ’94 season with the Detroit Red Wings. Going 23-8-5 in his rookie season, it was evident he was bound for greatness. He has scored a goal in the WHL, two time winner of the William M. Jennigs Trophy (fewest goals scored during the regular season with a minimum of 25 games played), and currently holds the 10th ranking for all-time wins as a goaltender with 401. These stats are merely a glimpse of his career.

Osgood had short stints with both the New York Islanders and the St. Louis Blues, yet the majority of his play has been with the Detroit Red Wings. Being there for the Wings through the thick and thin, Osgood is most notably  known for his helmet/cage combination goalie mask. Perhaps even recognized as a feisty goalie who fought with Colorado Avalanche net-minder Patrick Roy. For Red Wings’ fans though, he will always be known as the Wizard of Oz.

Unfortunately Osgood’s time has come to an end in the NHL. With current Red Wing’s young goaltender Jimmy Howard taking the number one spot, as well as coming off of a season filled with groin injuries and surgeries, it proved to be his Achilles heel. He can hang his head high though. Through his career as a Detroit Red Wing, Osgood brought home the Stanley Cup three times, both back to back years in 1997 and 1998, as well as another in 2008.

It is a sad day indeed, as another great player retires.

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Amazing Ryan Strome shootout goal

Jul 17

Posted by Chris in Media | No Comments

Check out this amazing piece of stick work from New York Islanders 2011 first round draft pick (number five overall) Ryan Strome. Last season with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL, Strome racked up 106 points, including 33 goals. With hands like this, this kid could prove to be a welcome addition to a young, talented, up-and-coming Islanders roster. Check out the video below!

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Ehrhoff Carousel Stops at Buffalo

Jul 1

Posted by Eddie in News | No Comments

July 1 is the Black Friday of the hockey world, where teams line up in a frenzy to sign the newest crop of available free agents. This year’s pool isn’t as deep as it has been in previous years, where a lot of the Restricted Free Agents have signed tender offers with their current teams and will not be hitting the open market. One player whose rights have been traded multiple times this week before hitting the open market was defenseman Christian Ehrhoff.

His 10-year, $40 million deal is heavily front-loaded as Bob McKenzie from TSN reported Ehrhoff will receive a $2 million salary and $8 million signing bonus in Year 1; $3 million salary, $5 million signing bonus in Year 2; $4 million in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6; $3 million in Year 7; $1 million in Years 8, 9 and 10. The deal also features a modified no-trade clause.

Ehrhoff played this season for Vancouver, and was traded twice this week. First he was traded to New York Islanders Tuesday for a fourth-round pick in 2012. The following day, his rights was traded to Buffalo in exchange for a fourth-round pick. He was originally drafted by San Jose in 2001, and is a week away from turning 29. His career stats include 53 goals, 226 points, a plus-74 rating and 338 penalty minutes in 500 NHL games with the Sharks and Canucks. He also has 7 goals and 34 points in 73 postseason games, including 2 goals and 12 points this season with Vancouver.

He was ranked third by the Sporting News in their Top 25 Free Agents. The list of blue liners is thin to begin with, so it could benefit players such as Ed Jovanoski, Jonathan Ericsson, and Tomas Kaberle as teams will enter a bidding war with other clubs and could risk over-paying for someone.

Check the site later this evening for more news and happenings as NHL free agency begins.

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Steve Stamkos rumors heat up prior to draft, free agency

Jun 21

Posted by Chris in Rumors | 1 Comment

What team wouldn’t want a player who is one year removed from scoring 50 goals on their team? And what would a team be willing to sacrifice to obtain that player?

Questions are abound concerning the future of Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos, a restricted free agent come July 1 if Tampa Bay can’t lock up the gifted goal scorer before then to a contract extension. And rumors circulating on the internet indicate that Tampa Bay might not be able to.

Some reports indicate that Stamkos and the Lightning are not close to reaching a deal, and as the days move closer to the draft and free agency, the likelihood that Tampa Bay trades his rights becomes higher. If Stamkos does make it to July 1 without signing a contract extension, it’s nearly 100 percent certain that someone will deliver an offer sheet for Stamkos. At that point the Lightning could choose to match the offer sheet or they could choose to let Stamkos get away in exchange for a compensation package of draft picks.

After reaching the Conference Finals this season, Tampa Bay probably doesn’t want draft picks in exchange for Stamkos. With aging veterans like Martin St. Louis on their roster, the Lightning have the tools and the desire to win now, not after years of rebuilding with potential draft picks. The alternative for Tampa Bay involves trading away the rights to Stamkos in exchange for roster players ready to contribute immediately. This actually seems like a legitimate scenario, and here’s why.

Consider who the general manager of Tampa Bay is and the model he is used to seeing on the ice. Teams like the Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks have been very successful in recent years building teams around depth and defense rather than one or two superstars, like the Capitals or Rangers. General manager Steve Yzerman may choose to trade away Stamkos in order to solidify the depth on his roster.

Yzerman may have another move up his sleeve as well. Free agent forward Brad Richards has supposedly expressed interest in returning to Tampa Bay where he won a Stanley Cup in 2003. Could Yzerman attempt to trade away Stamkos in exchange for second-and-third line depth players and then sign Richards to a deal? Hockey Gods help the East if Yzerman can swing an incredible move like that.  

Teams supposedly interested in Stamkos include the Islanders, Rangers, Red Wings and, of course, the Maple Leafs. As a Canadian, Stamkos may relish the opportunity to play for a Canadian team like the Leafs. The Islanders have the cap space and a lot of young talent, but would Stamkos be willing to sign with a team seemingly so far away from winning a championship? The Rangers likely do not have enough cap space to absorb Stamkos while the Red Wings are probably the least likely team to extend an offer sheet to anyone, although they might be able to work up a juicy trade package, but cap space would still be a huge concern.

Heed any rumors regarding Stamkos with a grain of salt. As arguable Tampa Bay’s greatest offensive weapon, the team will do everything in their power to re-sign Stamkos to a long term deal and alot can happen over the next few days. If a contract appears unlikely, however, Yzerman may opt to explore other options and get the maximum in return. Expect trade talks to heat up the closer we get to the draft this Friday.

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John Tavares dangles the Blues

Mar 6

Posted by Chris in Media | No Comments

Former number one overall draft pick John Tavares certainly has a lot of offensive upside, and his skills were on display yesterday evening when he received a backhand pass from teammate P.A. Parenteau and then went on to dangle around two St. Louis defenseman before chipping a backhand past goaltender Ben Bishop. Tavares currently leads the Islanders with 55 points, including 24 goals.

The Islanders went on to win the contest by a score of 5-2. Check out a video of the goal below:

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Penguins-Islanders Share Busy Night

Feb 12

Posted by Eddie in News | No Comments

Last night was a busy evening for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. Both teams previously met last week where Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro suffered his 1,249th injury in his career when he was knocked out by Brent Johnson in one punch. Both Atlantic Division foes had circled last night’s return engagement and it was anticipated it would be good, physical, old-time hockey circa 1979. That is probably why 12,888 showed up to watch one of the worse teams in the league play against a team without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

New York was the team who did the spanking both via fighting and lighting up the lamp as they beat the Pittsburgh 9-3. They haven’t allowed that many goals since losing 9-0 at Tampa Bay November 8, 2003. Pittsburgh was also playing without Matt Cooke, Chris Kunitz, Mike Comrie and Mark Letestu as Cooke is serving a suspension and the others are injured.

The teams combined for 65 penalties that totaled 346 minutes and including 10 ejections. There were 15 fighting majors and 20 misconducts in the game that set records for both teams for most combined penalty minutes and left few players around to finish it.

Here’s a recap of the larger-scaled fights that occurred in last night’s game, courtesy of hockeyfights.com

Fight at 5:21 of the Second Period

Fight at 4:47 of the Third Period, highlighted by Brent Johnson taking on Micheal Haley.

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Brent Johnson KO’s Rick DiPietro in one Punch

Feb 3

Posted by Eddie in Media | 3 Comments

If you haven’t yet seen the video where Pittsburgh goalie Brent Johnson gets into one of the quickest goalie fights you will ever see with New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro, here it is. Johnson punches and knocks out DiPietro with one punch. I’ve had gumballs from the quarter machine last longer than DiPietro in this fight. If you even care who won the game Wednesday night, Pittsburgh won 3-0.

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