“Work Hard – Have Fun” Kirill Kabanov

It was the Kirill & Kirill show today at the Coliseum in the hallway by the locker room. I had no idea that Kiril Petrov spoke no English. But that wasn’t a problem because Kirill Kabanov speaks better English than some American teens.

Training camp today was broken up into the two groups and a gaggle of goalies. I arrived at 11 am, so I was somewhat late for the first group. But I was really there for other reasons – first and foremost to get out of the 101 degree heat. There was a gaggle of reporters there all watching the kids. It’s always funny to hear the men in the room say things like “Geeze, they can’t even SHAVE yet.”

Yep. They’re young. They’re excited and they’re a little nervous. You could tell which prospects were first timers and those who were returning. There was a definite comfort level difference. Unless you were looking at Kirill Kabanov. He seems to be comfortable no matter where you plop him.


It was great to see both John Tavares and Josh Bailey there. They both aren’t very far removed from their own first prospect camps. I’m sure that made the likes of Nino Niederreiter a little more comfortable. Especially after he left the dressing room and was followed like a rock star down the tunnel with cameras snapping wildly behind him.

The name plate on the back of his jersey spans from shoulder to shoulder and then some. But there were also a few others with the same situation. DiBenedetto, Rakhshani and Klementyev, names with many consonants stretched across colorful jerseys. Some we will see again, others we will only see at these camps.

On one end of the ice, the pair of Kirills was running through one legged skate drills. At that time, I had no idea that Kirill Petrov does not speak English. Kabonov must be translating all of the coach’s instructions to him. I started to wonder if he would change the instructions just enough to make Petrov look bad. Nah…
Matt Martin was chirping at Casey Cizikas as they were waiting to get on the ice. It sounded as if they are very familiar with each other. It also sounded as if Martin was looking forward to getting a piece of Casey out on the ice. We’ll see at the scrimmage.

The amazing amount of Long Island talent that was invited to camp was probably for a few reasons. First, bodies and second a better taste of Long Island and the idea that we DO have a hockey program here on the Island.

The Islanders were kind enough to give everyone a printed player guide for the camp. This way we can spell their names correctly. But looking at it I can tell you that Rhett Rakhshani, the Right Wing from Huntington Beach CA, has and ENTIRE PAGE of awards and honors. He was selected 100th overall in the 6th round of the 2006 Draft. He played five games with Bridgeport last season. That was after playing 41 games with the University of Denver and scoring 21 goals and 29 assists for 50 points.

Scott Gordon and Scott Allen were their usual reserved selves on the ice while Sound Tigers coach Jack Capuano was his usual, smiling and gum chewing self.

The scruffiest man on the ice has to be Robin Figren who could body double for the Geico cave man. Just kidding… sort of.

Charles Wang stopped by for a few hours to check out the future of his team. He watched from the stands in the company of GM Garth Snow and then went down to the ice to say hello to John Tavares and Calvin deHaan (I hope that was deHaan).

Anders Nilsson and Mikko Koskinen are a matched pair of 6’5” goalies, according to the stat sheets. But for some reason, Mikko still looks bigger. It made me giggle overhearing one of the reporters say “What’s his style? Standing.”


All in all, it seemed like a good day at the rink. Sadly later that afternoon it was marred by the news that Assistant GM Ryan Jankowski’s contract would not be renewed. His name is in the player guide and he was just interviewed about the 2010 draftees on ITV. His contract expired. That is an accurate detail. I guess the rest happened just as fast as the coach turning back into a pumpkin in Cinderella.

You can play circle the errors in the post. There are plenty. I wrote this way too late for and don't have time to fix it this morning or to post the videos until tomorrow. It’s too damn late.

Hockey Loses One of It's Own

In the middle of the Kovalchuk Kaberet on Twitter, the sad news arrived of the untimely death of NHL tough guy Bob Probert. Forty-Five years of age is too young for anyone to die, especially someone who seemed to have touched so many people.

Probert was a fighter, but he was also a family man and a troubled soul. He had his share of hardships and tough times along with crowds cheering his name. But with all the problems that came in his 17 year career, he seemed to have made up for it in the end. His last years were spent filed with loving family and giving back.

In 2007 Probert and other hockey notables travelled to Afghanistan to see the troops and play ball hockey in the blistering heat. In the 72 hours he was there, he was awake for every second spending time with the troops who gave so much.

In February of 2010, one of my own friends spent time with the tough guy at an Old Timer's Charity Hockey game in Leamington, ON. Little did he know that would be the last time he saw his friend.


Life is too short. But memories last forever.

Rest in peace Bob Probert from Steve Carlson and all your fans everywhere.

Moulson files for Arbitration

Now that the Kovalchuk to the Isles question is ruled out, let's get down to more important business. Matt Moulson is the only NY Islander to file for salary arbitration. Prior to the workstoppage, I thought of arbitration as basically -- blackmail.

Do you know of any other business where you can complain that you're not making as much as someone else and then be given the opportuntiy to plead your case with charts and graphs? Um... no.

So, here's hoping this doesn't end with bitter feelings, but ends with a smiling Moulson and a happy Islanders management team and the #26 on an Isles jersey for a long time.

For details and explainations, I'd like to point you to an excellent article by Dominic of Lighthouse Hockey

NY Islanders: Rehab Camp for Wayward Hockey Players?

What the heck is a Mulligan? I don’t play golf so I didn’t know. But Garth Snow began his post pick interview with “We all wish we could get a Mulligan. Here’s his Mulligan.” when he was discussing young Russian Kiril Kabanov. Had Garth Snow used the more juvenile term “do over” when discussing the antics of the Russian prospect, then I would have understood. But considering Garth, as most of those in hockey, is also an avid golfer that’s the word he chose.

“We’ve all done things we may have regretted.” he told the media scrum in LA after drafting Kabanov in the third round at 65th overall. Simply reading the statements in print, it sounded as if Snow was looking for absolution for his own past mistakes. However, watching the interview on ITV, you can see the true intent of the words and the depth of understanding the boy (because 17 years-old is certainly a BOY) that so many other clubs wouldn’t take a chance on. You can also see the humor he injects “I don’t want to say too much. My mother may be watching.”

Certainly while Snow can relate to youthful mistakes, he also made clear the Islanders were not going to put up with any embarrassing shenanigans. “We do things a certain way and expect all our prospects and players to conform in a certain manner.”

Maybe the Islanders will end up being the Yankees-light. “We’ll see.” Garth continued. Yes, we will.

However, the brash Russian from Moscow with the super-model girlfriend isn’t the only one the NY islanders have taken a chance on. Just look back to last year’s draft and the case of Casey Cizikas. Prior to the 2009 NHL Draft, Casey was charged with manslaughter for a horrific Rugby incident that threatened to change the way violence in sports was regulated by the law in Canada.

After going through that year’s NHL combine and all the questioning, the Islanders made the decision to give Casey a chance and drafted him in the 4th round at 92 overall. Casey was sentenced to one year probation and 100 hours of community service for the manslaughter conviction of 15 year-old Manny Castillo during a 2007 Rugby match; a game that Castillo probably should not have been participating in due to a major concussion he sustained two weeks earlier. The judge ruled that Casey Cizikas used “unnecessary force” when he drove Castillo’s head into the ground in what some say was a violent act and others say was part of the game.

In 2009, the same week Casey was sentenced, he was here on Long Island at the Islanders mini-camp. I didn’t have a chance to interview him then, but when I asked Garth Snow about him, my concern for his character must have been evident. I remember him saying “He’s a good kid.” But it was certainly a bad situation.

Last season Casey scored 25 goals and 37 assists for 62 points and a +32 ranking for the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors. He also sat in the box for 77 minutes. In 16 playoff games he scored 7 goals and 7 assists with 16 PIMs. So while it seems Cizikas has some serious skills, he may also know the penalty box attendants quite while.

Then there is the story of Bobby Hughes who, just a few weeks ago, was acquitted of a 2008 criminal sex act after only 42 minutes of deliberation. Another bad boy in the Isles system?

Hughes was acquired in August of 2009 in a trade for Rob Hennigar. The charges against Hughes came as a surprise to Howard Saffan, a lawyer and the Sound Tigers President, who said in November that they knew nothing of it until marshals showed up to remove Hughes from the Arena at Harbor Yard.

While, as Garth said, everyone deserves a second chance, not all second chances work out. Take the second chance the Islanders gave Neil Smith. Remember him? Of course you do. Smith was the general manager of the NY Rangers from 1989 to 2000. It wasn’t until 2006 that Charles Wang gave him another shot at being a GM. That lasted 40 days and 40 nights and to hear those who lived it, the time was worse than the epic floods that caused Noah to build that Arc.

As of 2010, no other team has hired Smith as an NHL GM either so he is now owner and coach of what was the Charlestown Chiefs and are now the Greenville Road Warriors. Smith moved the team from PA due to financial reasons. When no one hires you for a job, you go into business for yourself. Smith is an excellent hockey personality for radio and TV and also does some great impressions. I’m sure he’ll keep them entertained in Greenville.

Jack Adams award-winning coach Ted Nolan was also given a second chance by Charles Wang. Ted waited ten years for another NHL coaching job after leaving the Buffalo Sabres. The job lasted one year less than his contract. While there is plenty of speculation as to WHY his tenure only lasted two years, I can only say this -- there may have been a reason it took ten years for him to find another spot in the NHL coaching merry-go-round. In July of 2009, Nolan was named VP of Hockey Ops of the Rochester Americans AHL team.

How about the bad press that Rob Schremp received in Edmonton? Schremp was claimed off waivers by the Islanders last season and was just extended a qualifying offer. Prior to the NHL Entry Draft of 2004, reports of his lack of character and cocky, confrontational attitude caused his stock to drop like a rock even though no one disputed Rob had top 5 talent. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1st round 25th overall. Schremp made no excuses for his personality. “I use the F-word when I talk to my friends and maybe I do swear too much.” he told the media.

He never seemed to impress the powers-that-be in Edmonton but now looks like a steal for the NY Islanders. As someone who has witnessed this bad boy’s antics in the locker room and with fans, I can tell you he hasn’t changed much. He still catches reporters off guard with somewhat inappropriate answers that can’t be used in stories and laughs loudly when joking with his fellow players. But he is humble and appreciative with fans and is quickly becoming a fan favorite. At only 23 years-old, this bad boy from Fulton NY has another chance to prove that his skills were indeed worthy of a top five draft pick.
　
So maybe drafting Kiril Kabanov wasn’t such a bad idea for the Islanders. Maybe Charles Wang’s insistence on giving the kid a second chance will work out for them. So what if his agent JP Barry dropped him. He has a new agent at the Orr agency. So what if he bailed on the Moncton Wildcats. Charles Wang can certainly find him another junior team if he has to come October. The 17 year-old (who turns 18 in July) is dating a waif of a supermodel named Yasmina Muratovich and has already fallen in love with “ink.” I suppose the laws governing tattoo parlors in Russia are different than they are here in the states. (In New York, no one under 18 can get a tattoo even with parental permission.)

Garth Snow says he will read him the rules and let him know exactly what is expected of him. He gets a chance to prove his critics wrong and Wang’s Islanders right or he will be shown the door. The choice is his. The Islanders already made theirs.

And for my thoughts on the Chase for Kovy, please check HockeyBuzz here.

Happy Fans Meet Bailey & MacDonald

The line was wrapped nicely within the stanchions when I arrived at the Broadway Mall tonight. There were some familiar faces, those who like me, attend just about everything. But there were also a lot of younger fans there. Actually, it looked like a meeting of the Josh Bailey Fan Club. But I looked around and did find a few fans that may have been there during the dynasty years.

For instance, Norm was waiting patiently holding a hockey stick as tall as me. He also is the first person I know that has the same 14K gold logo necklace I have. He bought his in the 80s, mine is a little newer, but he remembered the jeweler’s name where he bought it. Amazing!

“How do I feel about Nino? I was hoping more for size. But I have confidence in Garth and his staff. They know what they’re doing. And that steal could be that Russian Kid. But in fee agency: Maxine Afinogenov. That’s who I want and I bothered him all last year about it. Oh, and bring Andy back. Maybe he’ll sign for less because he likes it here. And he gives us the physical presence on the ice.”

Chris and Paul had arrived at the same time I did, so they were towards the back of the line. Chris had his jersey slung over his shoulder as it was a little too hot to wear it. While they weren't able to watch the draft, they already knew how to say Nino Nieddereiter without stalling. When I asked what their hopes for a free agent were, I received the typical fan sentiment.

“I hope they can pick up someone good. Maybe a veteran.” When I asked Chris if he wanted a defenseman or a center he said “Either or.” Then Paul chimed in with “Someone who has a lot of endurance. They keep dying out in the third. “But experience and leadership is what Chris is looking for as he hopes Doug Weight is rehabbed from his surgery.

In the back of the store, Josh Bailey and Andy MacDonald were stationed at a table laden with stickers and pencils and cards and two boxes of sharpies in different colors. I watched at three girls who came together giggled and smiled while they waited to head to the table. After they had their jerseys signed, I followed them outside. When I asked Allie, Katie and Justine if Josh Bailey was their favorite player, I received a resounding “Oh my God yes!”

They’ve been Islander fans since Justine dragged them to games “Because my Dad and brother are really into it.” Katie gave her up though “She’s got a Josh Bailey shine.” Justine blushed. I told her not to worry, it was understandable. They already knew about new first rounder Nino and bad-boy Kiril and were looking forward to the prospect scrimmage.

Back inside the store, four young ladies were admiring the new John Tavares figurine
while waiting to get to the table. I couldn’t help but overhear. “I have to have this! My birthday is coming. I want this for my birthday!” The tall young woman sporting the John Tavares 91 tee shirt implored her friends. Alex’s birthday is August 24th and she LOVES John Tavares. But along with Alex was Madeline clutching her jersey and today was HER birthday. I made the suggestion that Josh should sign “Happy Birthday Madeline, From Josh.”

She loved the idea, or so I believed by the open mouth gasp I got for the suggestion. Josh was only too happy to oblige. Sadly I didn’t get the name of the other happy friend whose birthday is July 10th and will be celebrating it at the Blue & Orange Scrimmage at the Coliseum.

Once all the happy fans were done, I took a few minutes to talk to Josh and Andy some questions. Of course, I had to start with checking out Josh’s souvenir from April. Yes, that gash on his cheek is leaving a scar. “I kinda like it. I’m gonna keep it.” Josh smiled at me when I asked him if he was putting vitamin E on it. It won’t take away from his smile.

I asked their thoughts on the draft this year and whether it brings back memories of his draft experience. “I’m pretty excited from talking to Snowy and Jankowski. They’re all really excited, so that mean’s we’re excited.” Eric Cairns and the rest of the scouting staff are also very excited about this year’s selections. It was two years ago (for Josh) so it’s pretty easy to relive that moment. It’s probably one of the most exciting moments of my life, for me and my family. I’m always good to think about it.”

I asked Andy MacDonald if he felt there was too much pressure on the players who have to sit there and wait to see if their name is called. “It’s definitely tough as a player. Especially for guys that are supposed to go in the first few rounds and maybe they drop a little bit. It’s just part of the process; just something you have to go through. “

The truth is, not every player who is invited to the draft will actually be drafted by an NHL club and there are many players who have had success in the NHL who were NOT drafted as a youngster. “Just because you DON’T get drafted doesn’t mean you’re not going to make it. So, it’s exciting to go and get drafted, but there are tons of guys out there that don’t. It is nerve wracking as a player.”

Josh Bailey related the best way of looking at the draft from a player’s point of view. “The best line I was told about the draft is ‘You’re not any better of a player of worse of a player what number you’re picked. You’re the same player no matter what.’" He’s right.

As far as being a 17 year-old coming to Long Island Josh could only say “Long Island is a great place to play. Luckily, I’ve been here for two years now and I’m excited for the third year and many years to come. It’s my home now. I could never say enough good things about Long Island.”

A-Mac had some good advice. “Especially as a 17-year-old, it’s probably a little overwhelming coming to the biggest city in North America. I mean, it IS New York. But you’ve just got to play your game and go out there and do what you do. You’re not supposed to change anything when you come. You’re just supposed to do what you do that got you as far as you are.”

Yesterday was also Canada Day and Andy told me I was only the second person in the store to mention that, but since hockey fans in the USA thought of it as Free Agency day, I asked Andy if he remembered the day being exciting for him as a fan. “As a younger fan, it was a pretty cool day. You knew guys were going to go different places and as a kid you always hoped guys would go to your favorite team. Now, after playing in the league, you hope you can land a good player. It’s an exciting time. There’s a lot going on and you just take it all in.”

On this day, Josh Bailey was busy taking in meeting the members of his fan club and they all left happy.

Next player signing will be Blake Comeau on July 6th at the team store in the Sunrise Mall. On July 13th, Kyle Okposo will be at the Broadway Mall and on July 28th Jack Hillen will be in Massapequa. Mark your calendars.

Josh & A-Mac At Broadway Mall

And I have some photos of some very happy fans, and you'll have to wait until tomorrow because I just ran out of time.

Long day waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. Well, nothing except Jeff Tambellini signing a two way contract with Vancouver for the league minimum. Eric Nystrom signing with Minnesota and Tim Jackman went somewhere (TSN isn't updated) and Marty Biron is now going to get his butt kicked as a Ranger. Just kidding Marty. Congrats and good luck. At least we'll still be seeing you at the Barn.

And here is one photo for Jaimie and one for Matt.
Article coming tomorrow.