Hey! This is MAY in Islander Country! I’m supposed to be day dreaming and looking for things to write about. Instead, I can’t keep up. If blogging is supposed to be short, quick personal thoughts, then this is truly going to be a blog tonight.
Islanders Open House Part 2: Wish more people were there. CJ Papa did a great job on the big stage, but he always does. The Blue & Orange silk tie was a nice touch too. There was a great video presentation on the draft prospects narrated by ESPN’s EJ Hradek. I kept an eye on both Garth and Ted as they watched the video looking for some sort of reaction at certain players. Nada. They just watched it on the jumbotron like everyone else. Good work though from the ITV crew.
Chris Dey talked about the new Islanders Community incentives to get kids to play hockey. “A Goal in every driveway.” Not a bad idea, they are planning on giving out street hockey sticks and goal nets. Great, they are arming our youth. Just kidding. It’s a interesting concept in growing the game from the ground up.
In July the Islanders will start making appearances at local hockey rinks to help better prepare kids for both on and off the ice. They’ll then host a “Hockey Night on Long Island” (hey! Where have I heard THAT before?) where they will invite entire teams to a game to celebrate their local rink.
They are also going to see if they can arrange for an Islanders team practice at any facility that can actually house them. Oh Great! They thought the Coliseum locker room was awful? Wait till they see the one in the Dix Hills Rink. (Don’t get pissy at me people, I’ve never actually seen it, but I have skated there and wondered if it was built sometime during the 40s. It just looks that old.)
Expect the Islanders to draft the best possible player available at the time this year in the draft. And since they have some good picks available, Garth is pretty confident it’ll be a good year for the NY Islanders. He’s hoping for young, home grown talent to grace the ice at the Coliseum. They are working very hard with the revamped scouting staff to go over all possible scenarios for Draft Day.
There are so many events planned, you’re just going to have to check the website and print out the calendar… like I did…. Because I can’t retain it all.
After Garth and Ted did their little Q&A thing, Bruno and Jon Sim were invited up on stage. Thanks to Inside Hockey’s Brad Kurtberg for making me laugh for the first time in 9 days. As Bruno and Sim walked up the stairs to the stage, Brad leaned over to me and said “Jon, this is the Coliseum, incase you don’t remember it.” For some reason, that just struck me funny. Hopefully ITV didn't get the maniacal laughter coming from the second row.
Islanders Open House Part 2: Wish more people were there. CJ Papa did a great job on the big stage, but he always does. The Blue & Orange silk tie was a nice touch too. There was a great video presentation on the draft prospects narrated by ESPN’s EJ Hradek. I kept an eye on both Garth and Ted as they watched the video looking for some sort of reaction at certain players. Nada. They just watched it on the jumbotron like everyone else. Good work though from the ITV crew.
Chris Dey talked about the new Islanders Community incentives to get kids to play hockey. “A Goal in every driveway.” Not a bad idea, they are planning on giving out street hockey sticks and goal nets. Great, they are arming our youth. Just kidding. It’s a interesting concept in growing the game from the ground up.
In July the Islanders will start making appearances at local hockey rinks to help better prepare kids for both on and off the ice. They’ll then host a “Hockey Night on Long Island” (hey! Where have I heard THAT before?) where they will invite entire teams to a game to celebrate their local rink.
They are also going to see if they can arrange for an Islanders team practice at any facility that can actually house them. Oh Great! They thought the Coliseum locker room was awful? Wait till they see the one in the Dix Hills Rink. (Don’t get pissy at me people, I’ve never actually seen it, but I have skated there and wondered if it was built sometime during the 40s. It just looks that old.)
Expect the Islanders to draft the best possible player available at the time this year in the draft. And since they have some good picks available, Garth is pretty confident it’ll be a good year for the NY Islanders. He’s hoping for young, home grown talent to grace the ice at the Coliseum. They are working very hard with the revamped scouting staff to go over all possible scenarios for Draft Day.
There are so many events planned, you’re just going to have to check the website and print out the calendar… like I did…. Because I can’t retain it all.
After Garth and Ted did their little Q&A thing, Bruno and Jon Sim were invited up on stage. Thanks to Inside Hockey’s Brad Kurtberg for making me laugh for the first time in 9 days. As Bruno and Sim walked up the stairs to the stage, Brad leaned over to me and said “Jon, this is the Coliseum, incase you don’t remember it.” For some reason, that just struck me funny. Hopefully ITV didn't get the maniacal laughter coming from the second row.
Even funnier…. Ted Nolan signed more autographs than Sim did. Our coach has rock-star like appeal.
Equally appealing, Garth Snow met with every fan that wanted to talk… and talk… and talk…and never once walked away from them or cut them short. Two gentlemen, armed with a prospect report newsletter tried to pin him down to an answer as to who he will take with the first round pick. That wasn’t happening, but Snow was grinning ear to ear when they said they loved the Ryan Smith deal even though it didn’t work out as planned in the end.
“Did you get that Dee?” He asked me as I waited with my Blog Box buddies waiting to speak with him.
“Yes, Garth. I got it.”
So the truth is, Garth made that historic trade, and would do it again today if it presented itself. He gave away one Swedish brat boy and one disgruntled Russian and came away with Capt. Canada. Other than having to buy stock in Kleenex, it was a good move. Had Ricky not taken a knock to the noggin', who knows where the team would have ultimately ended up.
Let’s see what sort of history making moves he makes this summer. We know he’s always good for a surprise or two, as well as a laugh. I don’t know where else you’re going to be able to get up close and personal with a major sports team’s GM.
So the truth is, Garth made that historic trade, and would do it again today if it presented itself. He gave away one Swedish brat boy and one disgruntled Russian and came away with Capt. Canada. Other than having to buy stock in Kleenex, it was a good move. Had Ricky not taken a knock to the noggin', who knows where the team would have ultimately ended up.
Let’s see what sort of history making moves he makes this summer. We know he’s always good for a surprise or two, as well as a laugh. I don’t know where else you’re going to be able to get up close and personal with a major sports team’s GM.
Let’s see Lou Lamoriello stand for 2 ½ hours getting grilled on contracts and trades by the average Joe. Uh… yeah… right.
More in the next few days. Keep checking back.
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