$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 16, 2008 20:19:56 GMT -5
Exactly why they are doing it. Publicity stunt. Also, they are offering all tickets for his debut at "50% off." Supposedly as a thank you to fans, and a chance to welcome the kid. Its really a desperation move to get people into the building now that all hope is lost.
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Post by 9 on May 19, 2008 11:40:33 GMT -5
Good riddance, shit dick (from ESPN.com):
Enforcer Chris Simon, who may be best known for the length and frequency of his suspensions by the NHL for his on-ice tactics, has signed with Russian team Vityaz Chekhov, according to multiple media reports.
The move could signal an end to his NHL career.
Simon has a long history of run-ins with the league, including a 25-game suspension for a two-handed, stick-swinging attack on New York Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg last year while Simon played for the New York Islanders.
Simon was also suspended for 30 games after stomping on Jarkko Ruutu's leg in December.
During his 15-year career, Simon has been suspended eight times.
Last season, Simon had one goal and two assists in 38 games with the Islanders and Minnesota Wild. For his career, Simon has 144 goals, 161 assists and 1,824 penalty minutes in 782 NHL games.
Vityaz Chekhov plays in the Continental Hockey League, which was previously known as the Russian Super League. The team's general manager is former NHL forward Alexei Zhamnov, who played with Simon in Chicago during the 2002-03 season.
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Post by 9 on Jul 14, 2008 12:09:32 GMT -5
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 14, 2008 13:51:20 GMT -5
And the beat goes on. I did see this coming, the sides were not on the same page. Nolan was not down with the rebuild, and he was completely shut out at the draft. Also, the Islanders had no interest in discussing an extension with him, and on top of that he and Snow had a snippy exchange over Doobie starting over a healty DiPietro during a big game in crunch time.
Oddball timing. Went to Modells this afternoon to cash in a gift card, and hunted down some Islanders merch. On the way out, checked a text message that came in, and found out there in the parking lot that Nolan was out. Cant wait to gauge the mood at "Movie Night" in Eisenhower Park this Wed night, sponsored by the Islanders.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 16, 2008 21:55:56 GMT -5
With Comeau and Okposo this evening at "Islanders Movie Night" at Eisenhower Park.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 16, 2008 22:02:42 GMT -5
And one more with the girls....Emma included.
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Post by 9 on Jul 17, 2008 8:13:32 GMT -5
Okposo looks like Cano. Emma is adorable. And you need to fix the date on your camera!
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 12, 2008 7:30:40 GMT -5
Report: Islanders narrow coaching search to Hartley, Maurice and Gordon
According to a report in Newsday, Islanders GM Garth Snow has narrowed his head coaching search to three candidates.
After interviewing at least eight men, Snow will reportedly name one of Bob Hartley, Paul Maurice or Scott Gordon as the team’s new bench boss early this week.
Hartley was last in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers before he was fired early last season after the team got off to an 0-6 start. He has previous NHL experience with the Colorado Avalanche, a team he coached to a Stanley Cup championship in 2001.
After nine seasons in Carolina, Paul Maurice spent the last three with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was fired shortly after the conclusion of last season. His best season came with the Hurricanes in 2002, when he led an underdog squad to the Finals before losing to the Red Wings.
Gordon has no NHL coaching experience, but was named the American League’s coach of the year with Providence last season. He’s held the top spot with the P-Bruins for five full seasons, each of which the team has been above .500.
The successful candidate will replace Ted Nolan, who parted ways with the Isles in mid-July.
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Post by jwmcc on Aug 12, 2008 8:53:03 GMT -5
Still looking for a head coach? LOL!
and I love the "Ted Nolan, who parted ways.." nice way of saying "was fired" Jw
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Post by 9 on Aug 12, 2008 10:10:04 GMT -5
Head coaches are overrated. Every hockey fan knows the backup goalies who become GMs are the heart of the organization.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 12, 2008 21:36:56 GMT -5
Ok, I am feeling better now. Of the 3 names bandied about as late as this morning, this is the one I wanted. Its about time the old names are NOT recycled all over again. And this young team can use a coach known for working with young talent. GORDON NAMED HEAD COACH Reigning AHL Coach of the Year to Lead IslandersNew York Islanders General Manager Garth Snow has named Scott Gordon the team's head coach. Gordon, the reigning American Hockey League Coach of the Year with the Providence Bruins, is the 14th head coach in franchise history. He has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Islanders.
"Scott has been one of the top up-and-coming coaches in hockey and with good reason," said Snow. "Through his work in the minor leagues and most recently with Providence over the last eight years, he has gained an impeccable reputation. The entire Islanders organization looks forward to working with Scott."
"Garth has given me an unbelievable opportunity to coach in the NHL with the Islanders," said Gordon. "From my time coaching in Providence, I've seen firsthand the talented young players in this organization. I look at the direction and the vision for this team and see a bright future."
Last season, the 45-year old Gordon led Providence to an AHL-best record of 55-18-3, while ranking second in the league in goals scored and seventh in fewest goals against. After spending two full seasons as an assistant coach for Providence, Gordon was promoted to head coach in his third season for the final nine games of the 2002-03 regular season and playoffs. Gordon then spent the next five seasons as the head coach of Providence, leading the team to a record of 221-141-20-27 (W-L-T-OT/SOL).
Gordon began his coaching career with the International Hockey League's Atlanta Knights from 1994-96 and then spent two seasons with the IHL's Quebec Rafales from 1996-98. When Gordon was named the Head Coach of the Knights on January 5, 1996, he became the youngest Head Coach in the league's 53-year history at 32 years of age. Gordon also went on to coach the Roanoke Express of the ECHL where he led the club to consecutive first-place finishes in the Northeast Division from 1998-99 to 1999-2000.
A Brockton, Massachusetts native, Gordon began his hockey career as a goaltender. He attended Boston College from 1982-86, posting a 64-35-3 record over that span. He backstopped Boston College to an NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 1985 and was named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star in 1986. He helped Boston College finish in first place in the ECAC East Region in 1983-84 before leading them to first place finishes in Hockey East in 1984-85 and 1985-86.
Following the completion of his collegiate career, Gordon began his professional playing career in 1986-87 when he signed with the Quebec Nordiques. Gordon made his NHL debut in 1989-90 with Quebec and played a total of 23 career NHL games, all with the Nordiques. He also holds the distinction of being the first ECHL graduate to play in the NHL. Gordon played on the 1992 United States Olympic team before retiring as a player following the 1993-94 season.
Gordon will be introduced at a 1:00 PM press conference on Wednesday and it can be seen live on Islanders TV at www.newyorkislanders.com.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 31, 2008 17:57:43 GMT -5
Good piece on some of the more interesting kids in the system. Yeah, bitch, we have brothers of Phil Kessel (who has been one of my favorite non-Islanders) and Jon Toews. Islanders have brothers in arms Brian Compton | NHL.com Staff Writer Aug 27, 2008, 9:00 AM EDT Reaching the NHL isn't exactly easy, so it's always nice when you have someone in the family to lean on for advice and support.
Two prospects in the New York Islanders' system fit that mold. And boy, do they ever have talented brothers to turn to when they need them.
With a plethora of picks in the 2008 Entry Draft, the Isles are hoping they hit a home run in the third round. Not only did they take highly touted Russian forward Kirill Petrov, but they also selected David Toews at No. 66.
Does that last name sound familiar? It should. David is the younger brother of Jonathan Toews, who at 20, was recently named captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. The young center has risen to stardom quickly in the Windy City after being the third selection in the 2006 draft. In his first season with the Blackhawks, Jonathan had 24 goals and 30 assists in just 64 games.
David, who is also a center, probably won't reach the NHL as quickly. At 5-foot-10, he's three inches shorter than his older brother. Unlike Jonathan, David was drafted right out of Shattuck-St. Mary's High School. Jonathan played his freshman season at the University of North Dakota before being drafted.
Nonetheless, David continues to follow in his brother's footsteps. The younger Toews -- who had 44 goals and 100 points in just 51 games for Shattuck -- also will attend the University of North Dakota this fall. While he has big skates to fill, David is eagerly anticipating his first season of college hockey.
"I'm really excited," David told NHL.com. "I'm moving on and feeling really good about it. I'm looking forward to next year at North Dakota. Everything my brother told me about that place sounds phenomenal. I've been there a few times, and it's an unbelievable place. I'm really happy to be going there." David Toews isn't the only Islanders prospect who has an older brother currently playing in the NHL. Defenseman Blake Kessel, who was taken in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, is the younger brother of Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel. The elder Kessel was taken at No. 5 by the Bruins in 2006 and had 19 goals for Boston in 2007-08, his second season in the NHL.
Just like David, the younger Kessel is often compared to his brother.
"It's definitely been tough a little bit," Kessel said. "Everybody's like, 'What happened to you?' He's a special player. I love him more than anything in the world. My family means the most to me. Him and I are really close and spend every day of the summer together."
The Kessel brothers are arguably closer now more than ever, especially after what transpired in 2006. Just a few months after signing an entry-level deal with the Bruins, Phil was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He beat the disease quickly and impressively, returning to the lineup just 11 games after undergoing surgery.
"Some people say that he might have an attitude, but whoever says that doesn't even know Phil," the younger brother said. "He's one of those kids that no matter what you throw at him, he'll deal with it. He had the cancer thing a couple years ago, and he dealt with that. That was one of the hardest times for me to get past. I'm really happy with what's going on with him, and hopefully he can actually get to 20 goals this year. I gave him a little bit of a hard time for that last year."
Much like Phil, Blake is also taking the college route. The younger Kessel will attend the University of New Hampshire this fall and is primed to be a weapon from the point. Phil had 51 points in 39 games during his one season with the University of Minnesota. While there is no timetable in place for Blake as far as turning pro, the young defenseman knows he can always turn to his older brother for advice.
"It's huge for me," Kessel said. "He's been through it all. The day I got drafted, he told me to get out of the house and just don't worry about it. The way that he helped me prepare day in and day out, getting to work out with him and to skate with him, it helped me turn the corner. He's definitely one of the guys that will always be there and he'll be one of the main people responsible for my success because of how much he's worked with me."
New York Islanders prospect Blake Kessel's older brother Phil plays for the Boston Bruins. Blake will play next season with University of New Hampshire.
The Toews brothers often work together, and have certainly taken the same steps toward the NHL. While some may think David is following in Jonathan's footsteps too closely, the new Blackhawks' captain believes North Dakota is the perfect place for his younger brother to continue his development. Jonathan played at North Dakota for two years before turning pro.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with that, as far as playing with those programs," said Jonathan, who also played at Shattuck-St. Mary's. "The coaching staff is so trustworthy at North Dakota. There's no way he can go wrong there. It's a great place for him to really spend some extra time on the ice that you don't get at Shattuck. He can really improve on all the little parts of his game. He's got everything he needs there and everything he could ask for."
As for those under the impression that David is simply trying to mimic his brother, the younger Toews is ready to show that he has the ability to reach the NHL on his own. He started to make his case last month when he was drafted by the Islanders. He'll try to build off that in just a few short months when the college hockey season gets under way.
"People might think so, but me and my brother are such good friends," David said. "There's nothing that could ever come between us. Obviously, it's very competitive when we're shooting pucks in the basement or on the backyard rink. But it's not like we're jealous of each other's accomplishments. We're always there to support each other. It's a lot smaller thing than a lot of people make it out to be. Me and my brother love each other a lot. There's no competition between us at all."
Clearly, though, David is going to have to deal with comparisons to his brother for his entire career. While he's probably become used to that on a smaller scale, things are certainly going to be magnified now. Big brother admitted there are some tough times ahead.
"I don't mean to pump my own tires, but with the way things have gone, I've had a lot of things go right for me," Jonathan said. "He's had to kind of hide behind that and not get a whole lot of attention.
He's done so well. I think if he wasn't my little brother, he would have gotten a lot more attention for the things he's accomplished. - Jonathan Toews on younger brother Blake"(But) he's done so well. I think if he wasn't my little brother, he would have gotten a lot more attention for the things he's accomplished. I think he's been through a lot of adversity in his career. Last year, he had to deal with a couple of pretty serious injuries. He's worked so hard and he's earned every little bit of success that he's had."
The brothers nearly became teammates at the draft, as David was grabbed by the Islanders just two spots ahead of when the Blackhawks were slated to pick at No. 68. But with a lack of depth at the center position, the Isles quickly swiped Toews at No. 66 with the first of their three selections in the third round.
In the end, Jonathan believes his kid brother is in a very similar situation as far as their teams are concerned. Much like the Blackhawks, the Islanders are in the midst of a youth movement.
"I was so happy to see him get drafted, especially to New York," Jonathan said. "I think it's an organization that's similar to Chicago that's kind of on the upper swing in the rebuilding stage. He was close to coming to Chicago. I know Chicago traded up two picks behind where he got picked. I would have been pretty excited to see him come and maybe have the chance to play with me someday, but at the same time, I think he's got to go his own way and carve his own path. He's done a great job of doing that so far."
But when he takes a step back and thinks about what it may take to become a star in the NHL, David needs to look no further than his older brother. Jonathan is primed to be one of the game's elite players -- and leaders -- for years to come.
"He's always there giving me pointers," David said. "He tells me what I need to be doing to get to the next level. We work hard together, always pushing each other off the ice. I can look at him and know what I need to do to get to the next level."
It may take at least three years, but Jonathan is convinced that his younger brother will play a pivotal role on Long Island.
"I think he's a heck of a little player," the older brother said. "I think he's going to prove a lot of people wrong. I know it's his big brother talking right now, but I'm proud of him and I believe in what he can do. There's not a doubt in my mind that I'm going to be matching up against him in the near future in the NHL."TOEWSKESSEL
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Post by $heriff Tom on Oct 3, 2008 7:41:16 GMT -5
I like Josh Bailey, who just enjoyed a stint, in action-shot fashion, as my desktop wallpaper at home.
Josh Bailey signs three-year, entry-level deal with Islanders
2008-10-02 21:10:00
UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The New York Islanders signed first-round draft pick Josh Bailey to a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday.
Bailey, chosen with the ninth overall pick this year, has been attending training camp with the Islanders but has played in only one of New York's four pre-season games due to an undisclosed injury.
He turned 19 on Thursday and celebrated by signing his first NHL contract.
"It's certainly a day I'll never forget," Bailey said in a statement. "I still have a lot of work to do and I'm willing to do it."
It is not yet clear if Bailey is ready to make the team out of training camp. New coach Scott Gordon said earlier this week that if the young forward can't play more than one pre-season game, he might not stay on the roster for the nine games he is allowed to be in the NHL and still maintain his junior eligibility.
"This is an exciting day for the organization as we continue to build our team with young players like Josh who have very bright futures," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a statement.
Bailey spent the previous three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Owen Sound and his current team Windsor.
He had 29 goals and 67 assists in 69 games last season for Windsor, leading the team and ranking 10th in the league in points. In 191 career OHL games, Bailey has 58 goals and 125 assists.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Oct 21, 2008 17:37:17 GMT -5
So the Islanders stormed the schools today for a literacy event. Jeff Tambellini and John Sim dropped by Emmas school. She got ripped off, all the pics on the Islanders site of the various school visits show the Islander players reading to the kids, but at her school a teacher read the book while Tambellini and Sim stood there talking to each other.
Silly Emma, knowing how big a fan her Dad is, just happened to mention this a couple of hours after we got home in passing. Thats when I jumped online to confirm, as she was skimpy in the details.
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Post by 9 on Oct 28, 2008 8:43:21 GMT -5
The way the Islanders are playing, perhaps these should be their primary jerseys.
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Post by 9 on Oct 30, 2008 21:00:35 GMT -5
God DAMN it. An OT loss after a penalty call in the last minute (good call, just mad).
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Post by 9 on Nov 5, 2008 8:13:53 GMT -5
Nice win last night, but it's laughable that the Islanders have a better chance of scoring while DOWN a man than UP a man.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 31, 2009 0:06:17 GMT -5
ISLANDERS 'CAN-DO' FONDUE
The Islanders and The Melting Pot in Farmingdale have teamed up to offer fans a terrific deal. For just $49, you will receive two tickets to any Islanders game in February, plus a $25 'Dip Card' to The Melting Pot. That's a $175 value—for just $49!
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Post by 9 on Jan 31, 2009 13:42:05 GMT -5
Can we dip the Islanders in hot oil? Worst team ever.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 31, 2009 17:39:03 GMT -5
At the Melting Pot they encourage you to do your dipping into cheese, not oil.
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Post by sancho231 on Feb 3, 2009 15:38:10 GMT -5
so are these guys gonna move or what??wouldnt want to see that
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Post by $heriff Tom on Feb 3, 2009 19:28:36 GMT -5
Well, FORBES just had an article - not that I read it firsthand, you think I read FORBES? - that called the Islanders the most likely franchise in ALL OF SPORTS to hit road. Its all a power play at this point between Wang and Nassau County. Islanders can not continue to play in that arcane building, especially when there are sparkling new venues dotting the landscape.
At this point I would call an Islander move more likely than not.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Feb 25, 2009 21:57:10 GMT -5
A must grab. NHL: New York Islanders 10 Greatests Games (2009)The ten games that will be on this set are: 1-1980 Cup Final, Game 6. 2-1981 Cup Final, Game 5. 3-Game 5 of 1982 Division Semi Finals vs Pittsburgh 4-1982 Cup Final, Game 4. 5-1983 Cup Final, Game 4. 6-Morrow's OT goal beats Rangers, 1984 Div. Semi Finals, Game 5. 7-The Easter Epic vs Washington, 1987 8-Volek's OT goal in Game 7 beats Pittsburgh, 1993 9-Bates penalty shot game vs Toronto, 4/24/2002 10-Al Arbour's 1500th win.
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Post by dabadguy on Feb 25, 2009 22:06:39 GMT -5
Hey Tom, at least the Islanders last win was Al's 1500th! I heard 41 is doing the electrical work in thier new home in KC.
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Post by 9 on Feb 25, 2009 23:51:57 GMT -5
Ooh! I gots to fetch me those DVDs. It's about the only way to see an Islander win these days.
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Post by IronHorse4 on Feb 26, 2009 17:11:01 GMT -5
They couldn't find 10 better games than Al Arbour's 1500th win? Though that was a good game, and a good win against the Pens.
That Volek game in '93...holy shit. Actually, that whole series was amazing. Scary thing is, that '93 Pens team was better than the last two that had won the Cup. Isles just ran out of gas against Montreal, and I think even a couple of those games went into OT or double OT. Pretty much the last bit of glory for the Isles. Can't believe it's been 16 years already.
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Post by jwmcc on Feb 26, 2009 17:18:40 GMT -5
Yeah there was at least one OT game in that Montreal series. In fact it's still amazing to me that the Habs went something like 10-1 in OT during those '93 playoffs.
Jw
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Post by $heriff Tom on Feb 26, 2009 22:30:56 GMT -5
Just the other day I cleared some DVR space by putting an NHL Network special, Classic Series, from DVR to tape. 1993 Islanders vs Montreal. There was OT involved, yuppers, and when Montreal beat the Islanders in that fashion, I think it was mentioned they were 10-0 in Overtime at that point.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Apr 20, 2009 14:40:57 GMT -5
Very interesting read. For the record, I am not only thrilled the Islanders did manage to get this #1 pick, but Im also an avowed "get Tavares" guy.
Redline Report: John Tavares is No. 3
As if the debate between sniper John Tavares and huge defenseman Victor Hedman at the top of the NHL draft weren't hot enough already, the latest prospect rankings from highly respected independent scouting service "Redline Report" should pour some gasoline on the fire. Here's the stunning standings: 1. Hedman. 2. Matt Duchene. 3. Tavares.
Kyle Woodlief, the former Nashville scout who has owned Redline Report the past 10 years and served as its publisher and chief scout, pulls no punches in explaining the fall of Tavares, the player generally regarded as the "consensus No. 1 prospect" by most teams, scouting organizations and the media. "I've always felt Hedman should be the No. 1 pick," Woodlief said. "The reason we flip-flopped Duchene and Tavares is due to the fact Tavares' effort level has been underwhelming through the first two rounds of the [Ontario Hockey League] playoffs. Tavares may score 40 or 50 goals a season, but he's one-dimensional. If he's not scoring, he's not helping.
"Right now, he's the third-best draft-eligible forward on his own team behind Nazem Kadri and Phil Varone. Tavares (9-10-19) and Varone (10-8-18) have about the same number of points, but Varone is plus-16, and Tavares is even. London has a great power play, and Tavares is getting all his points on the power play. Five-on-five, Tavares has been nothing short of a liability. His attitude of entitlement stinks."
The hype surrounding Tavares has been monumental ever since he scored 72 goals at the age of 16 for his former team in Oshawa. But he was traded at midseason this year to London, which currently is in OHL Western Conference finals against Windsor, the former team of Islanders center Josh Bailey, the No. 9 pick in last year's draft. Now, that he has a stronger supporting cast, it's almost as though Tavares' flaws have begun to stand out more. Most of the concern centers on his skating ability, which is nothing special.
"We all know what Tavares is going to be a good player," Woodlief said. Referring to NHL superstars Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, he added of Tavares, "At the same time, he's nowhere near the level of an Ovechkin, Malkin or Crosby. They were all multi-dimensional players. Ovechkin hits you like a ton of bricks. Tavares will hit and take hits, but he won't mash guys. Ovechkin works just as hard in his own end." Asked for the prototype Tavares fits, Woodlief chose Brett Hull. It wasn't meant to flatter him. Hull was a pure goal scorer who put up huge numbers at a time when that was possible in the NHL, but he wasn't necessarily regarded as a winner. He was more of a compiler.
" Hull was a goal scorer who was selfish and not a particularly good skater," Woodlief said. "He wasn't a particularly good locker-room presence. Tavares has the same attitude, even the same body."
Explaining why he jumped Brampton Battalion center Duchene ahead of Tavares in the rankings, Woodlief said, "I put Duchene ahead of Tavares because he's the most complete forward in the draft, and he has dramatically improved his game. He's a Steve Yzerman-type. If he's not scoring, he's a center who can act as your shutdown guy against the other team's top line." As for his infatuation with the 6-6 Hedman, Woodlief explains it this way. "A 220-pound defenseman who skates great and has offensive upside doesn't come along very often. He's dramatically ahead of Chris Pronger at the same age."
That's strong stuff, and coming from a scouting service that is widely used in the NHL as a cross-checking reference, it's sure to get serious consideration from the teams that will be making the draft decisions come June 26.
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Post by Chris on May 5, 2009 13:59:50 GMT -5
Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:03 am EST
Are Islanders considering move to Kansas City?The New York Islanders may have fired an unintentional salvo — or was it? — at local politicians in their longstanding quest to renovate Nassau Coliseum and develop its existing acreage by agreeing to play a September exhibition game in Kansas City, a city campaigning for an NHL team.
"I'm not worried about (the perception). It's a preseason game," GM Garth Snow said before Thursday night's 2-1 loss to East-leading Boston. "The last few years, and even before I became GM, we always played preseason games in different markets."
Isles owner Charles Wang, who was not available for comment, has maintained for years that he remains committed to keeping the Islanders on Long Island. One person involved with what is known as "The Lighthouse" development project also contends that any potential power play by Wang and the Isles' "business decision to get a nice appearance fee" by playing the Los Angeles Kings in Kansas City in September "are not connected."
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Frustrated with the pace of his Lighthouse Project and sick of sinking more than $20 million a year to keep the Islanders afloat, Charles Wang has a case of buyer's remorse nine years after purchasing Long Island's hockey team.
"If I had the chance," Wang said, "I wouldn't do it again."
One of Long Island's wealthiest residents, Wang says he has been taking a financial beating ever since he purchased the Islanders along with former Computer Associates executive Sanjay Kumar in June 2000. (Wang bought out Kumar in 2004.)
According to the team's annual audited financial reports that were viewed by a Newsday reporter last month, Wang has spent $208.8 million - an average of $23 million per year - to keep the NHL franchise operating since his purchase. That's after spending $74.2 million to buy the team and assuming $97 million in existing liabilities.
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