Bergenheim Arbitration?

I knew this would happen with Gandler at the wheel. I'm not happy. Hopefully, I read NYIC incorrectly this evening when I finally had two minutes to myself to go on line.

If Sean goes to arbitration, it will put a bad taste in the Islanders' mouth toward him. He hustled his butt off last season, but numbers are numbers, and arbitration is a tricky situation. What sort of stats can he use to please his case? Well... I'm sure there are plenty, but still. He hasn't proven himself 100%

Sean... I want you here on the Island, but you need to be realistic. You're still young. You may not get the money this year, but you'd get the respect. Your time for that huge paycheck will come. But if you insist... it won't come from the Islanders.

Dear Garth: I guess you'll be needing my office address for those roses after all. Because even I... as much as I have promoted this boy from Finland since he was 18 years old, don't want you to over pay for him.

Sean, Sean, Sean... you have time. Be sensible.

Hockey This & That for a July Holiday

We're heading into the dog days of summer.... and I hate it. But what can you do? Other than complain that is.

So yesterday was the last broadcast of NHL Live for the season. Originally it was supposed to go through to July 11. But for some reason, they cut it off on the 3rd. I don't know what the heck I'm going to do now at work. It was two hours of sanctuary every Monday - Friday. I'll probably have to go back to web streaming Canadian sports radio. The only problem with that is that I'll know more about traffic in TO than I will on the Southern State. But at least.... there's hockey. Mostly Leafs hockey, but hockey non-the-less.

Satan and Tank to the Penguins: I sent a heartfelt email to my mother-in-law when I heard the news. I knew she'd be upset with the information. When I first brought her to a game, she fell for Kozlov. He smiled at her at the glass.

When Kozlov wasn't "part of the plan" last summer, I introduced her to Ruslan. As another blond haired, blue-eyed Russian boy with rosy cheeks, he was a perfect fit for her. As women, it makes the game even better and more enjoyable when you can focus and attach yourself to one player. Maybe it has something to do with that mother instinct, but an attachment makes the game and the team more a personal experience.

"Seems like everyone I like disappears -- Oh well."

Yes Mom. "Race horses and hockey players: they'll break your heart." (I heard that on XM radio but I don't know who said it. It may have been Hradek, but it stuck with me.)

Since my office closed early yesterday, I took the opportunity to spend some quality time with IslanderQueen sipping Starbucks ice coffee and talking at 200 mph. We didn't have much time, and we always have a lot to say. We laugh, we cry, we shop and play Marco Polo in the make-up aisles of Target. Why am I telling you this?

Well, since I left early I had no idea that Blogfather Chris Botta posted that he was doing a guest spot on XM radio. It was a nice surprise to hear him on Power Play on my way home from work. The best part was the way he handled the "Snow/Nolan" questions. Very polished, very professional, but what else would he be? Hmmmm.... next up as a replacement for Melrose on ESPN? Why not. Too bad he's still hellbent on shutting down NYIPointblank on the 7th; so that will be yet another hockey info outlet that we'll lose. Phooey!!

Tuesday July 8th is slated for a player signing evening at the Islanders team store at Broadway mall in Hicksville. According to the website Okposo and Comeau are scheduled to be there. Those two kids will be household names by the time the summer is over.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July people. I'm going back to sleep.

AVERY TO DALLAS? THANK GOD... THANK GARTH!

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367613

By late this afternoon, I could finally breathe again! Just the thought that it was even a remote possibility that fashionista Avery could be anywhere near an Islander jersey made my skin crawl. So Garth told the truth (in a round-about sort of way) every time he was asked about the Avery possibility. I'm going to have to start asking him for "signs." You know, like pitcher signs. If he touches his hair he's lying, if he touches his ear it's truth, if he gives me the "cut" sign, then I can't quote him. That sort of thing.

But, on Avery... I'm thinking Dallas isn't quite far enough for my liking, but I'll take it. Guess Sean will be modeling Stetson's and Tony Lamas soon and leaving the walking shorts suits behind.

Congratulations to the one and only Chris Botta for putting the buzz on the Doug Weight acquisition 48 hours prior to it actually happening. Proving that "no longer on the payroll" doesn't mean "no longer in the know."

Doug Weight is a good signing for the Islanders, providing he doesn't come to camp as chubby as he did immediately following the lockout. I believe the media was then calling him Doug OverWeight. Gotta set a good example there Dougie.

Prospect camp is right around the corner. We get a peak into the future.... maybe. I'm just looking to get out of the damn heat.

For anyone looking for the Riptide Softball blog, please click http://7thwoman.bravejournal.com/

Power Play Solved? 7-2-08

It was oddly quiet last night with the exception of ONE ripple through Islander Country. At 8:02 pm the news that free agent Mark Streit had signed a 5-year deal with the Islanders had hit the message boards and Greg Logan's blog. By 8:49 pm, there was a nicely done press release in my email in-box. (Never underestimate the power of the message board.) Truth be told, Okposo Net Ken was the first to inform me. Fly on the wall perhaps?

"Who?" I thought. Truthfully, I would have asked that anyway as there are still is a handful of the 725 or-so NHLPA members who are household names to the average fan. (And I am less-than-average not being, you know... Canadian.)

I read the info, got a warm fuzzy feeling, and didn't give it too much thought. How could I? I have no memories of seeing Mark on the ice, so I can't be impressed or disappointed. Let's just call it another box of Toasty-O's that will get the job done at the right price. (As per TSN's poll that was linked in Corey Witt's blog. 50% think it's good? Yep. Thanks Canadian media for not ripping on the NYI once again.)

The balance of the night must have been uneventful because the message boards weren't lit up this morning when I logged on at 6:30 am. Greg Logan's article in Newsday was a nice feature with lots of Snow quotes. Maybe there shouldn't have been so many.

One in particular set Big Angry Man off like a rocket. "Mark solves our power play."?? B.A.M. yelled to me from the den holding Newsday in his hands. I stopped buttering my breakfast to wait for the rest of the rant.

"SOLVES? One guy SOLVES the power play? You mean the power play that was what? 25th in the league? ONE guy doesn't SOLVE THAT power play!!"

I didn't say anything. I wasn't sure how to respond since I wasn't holding the newspaper as reference. All I could think of was... Somewhere Bryan Berard was pouting. "Hey! I was supposed to "solve" the power play last season!" Uh... nice try.

Yes. We've heard this song before. After watching the power play last season, I'd say that putting that much pressure on Mark Streit may be just a little presumptuous.

Ok, so that was the "splash" for day one of free agency 2008. More of a little ripple, but again, we're told "He was a player we targeted early on." The Islanders must have the most low frequency radar possible. They always manage to "target" players their fan base doesn't even have on their "C" list.

Oh well. As long as they don't "target" a loud mouthed fashionista named Avery... I'm fine with it.

Where's the Press Release Garth?

It's now 5:37 pm on July 1st. Last year at this time, I was a puddle in front of my computer and my email box overfloweth with sympathy notes.

"I'm sorry about Blake, Dee. Are you going to be okay?" It was very sweet of my email pen pals to be concerned over my mental health and well being.

But as they say... that which does not kill us, only makes us stronger.

This morning didn't mean as much to me, but I surely expected Garth Snow to at least make a little noise. So far, I haven't even heard a squeak. Now, Corey Witt's blog mentioned that we would indeed get any press releases on any signings, but I'm certain that if I continue to listen to Canadian radio, I will get the information faster that way.

So I take it we still wait. Or as everyone is buzzing because of Botta's blog, should that be "Weight?"

Oh well... it's Happy Hour somewhere.