Isles GM vs. Bloggers Chapter 1 9-22-10

Oh what the heck. Blog Box Round Table Discussion, Chapter 1


“Kirill! You’re late! Go skate!” Garth Snow barked at me from his chair at the conference room table. Yes, I was late again. I hadn’t seen the text message asking “WHERE ARE YOU???” until I sat down and unloaded my things on the floor and the table while the blackberry totters snickered.

This was the first Blog Box Round Table discussion and I was seven minutes late. Tony Stabile from Hockey Independent thought it would be a fitting punishment for me to start the Q&A. Okposo Net’s Ken Dick agreed with him. They probably shouldn’t have.

I opened up my note book to two pages worth of questions I thought were more difficult than my usual ones. No, there would be no “softballs” today.

Question one: “After the media had made such a big deal about the Islanders sending out an email to certain agents regarding their available free-agents inviting them to training camp for a try out, are you disappointed that no one you up on the offer?”

He squinted to challenge me. “What email? Do you have a copy of it?” I was there to play “hardball” but he was doing the pitching. There are five full seconds of silence on my tape as we stared waiting for the other to crack a smile and the others in the room held their breath.

“You KNOW which email. We HAD this discussion.” I was defiant. Not only did we have the discussion, I did a spot on a Vancouver radio show about it. Don’t ask me WHAT email??? On the inside.

He pitched two more curve balls at me and when he felt I had sufficiently “struck out” at the plate he turned to my Blog Box buddies and chuckled. “We do this all the time.” He had set the stage for them. This would be an informal exchange of questions and answers. Garth Snow is a comedian -- when he’s not dead serious.

The short answer to the question was “No” he was not disappointed. “We explored different options of invitations to camp for certain players. And there were a few reasons why we wanted to explore inviting players to the camp.” Long story short: Bodies. Veteran bodies. With the split squad schedule, looking at the roster in August he wanted to be sure he had enough bodies. “You have to have eight veterans to play in a pre-season game. So to keep up with that rule, we thought that injuries that could incur during camp, we may end up being in a position where we needed to invite some veterans and we wanted to fill out our roster.”

It would have been nice if I knew about the “eight veterans” rule. That would have played well on Vancouver radio.

He continued saying they haven’t invited any other players to camp as of yet, but that scenario may change. “I want to leave the door open just in case we get into a situation where we need more veterans.”

If that statement doesn’t underscore the current “Youth Movement” of the New York Islanders, I don’t know what does.

The conversations were heavily tilted toward the younger players and how they are selected and developed. With today’s news of Kabanov’s second tardiness to camp, Garth’s disappointment in the Russian bad boy was evident. The kid was given a chance to succeed and he was blowing it quickly.

He also discussed his concern over Kirill Petrov’s development in the KHL. During the mini-camp in July, Petrov was clearly a mature and talented player with a desire to play in the NHL. As much as the Islanders are willing to do whatever it takes to bring Petrov to North America, they will abide by the rules of the KHL and leave this situation up to Petrov’s agent and KHL club to decide. (He dismissed my idea of an unmarked car and duct tape.) They will wait patiently for Petrov but I’m sure there are already two jersey’s with Petrov’s name on them hanging in Shakey’s equipment room.

While we were on the topic of youngsters, I asked about one that I have personally been patiently waiting for to join the Islanders roster: Blake Kessel. That other Kessel brother that was drafted in 2007.

Granted, the current crop of Islanders hopefuls is very deep on defense, so Blake is better off staying at UNH and continuing his education. But when I didn’t see him at mini-camp, I was concerned. (He had actually declined because the Wild Cats training camp was the same week.) I asked Garth if they were still keeping a close eye on Blake.

“Absolutely. I think we have a tremendous support group in place with not only our player development guys, but the relationships that our coaches on the Island here and in Bridgeport have with the coaches at UNH. So for us, it’s another situation where we have a college player where time is on his side and on our side. We’ll let their coaches do their thing and develop him. If he needs even more help, we’re there for him.”

The Other Kessel Brother

Blake Kessel: Learning Hockey Professionalism at UNH.

I wanted to do this interview with Blake Kessel in October when I was in New Hampshire and caught the home opener for UNH. It didn’t happen. However, I watched him play along with several other NHL draftees on his team. It was a great game and a wonderful venue to see a hockey game. If you can get to a college hockey game, I suggest you do so. They are a world of fun.

On Saturday, when I stopped Blake to speak with him I said I wanted to talk to him about his experience at UNH, I think he was a little surprised. Maybe he didn't expect me to lead with that line of questioning.



“UNH? Perfect! I know that school.” His face lit up and you can immediately see the Kessel family resemblance.

“School’s going pretty good so far. I passed all my classes so that’s a positive.” Okay, that does do a mother's heart proud, no matter how big the kid is.

I asked him how difficult it was to balance school and his hockey schedule, “It’s tough at first in freshman year. You gotta get used to it. We have academic meetings with one of our helpers with our sports program. She does a great job with everything. She keeps on top of it. Just having her during our freshman year helps keeps us on track.”

UNH has a large, vocal fan base with some of the best chants I have ever heard. “Oh, they’re awesome! You have to come during a ‘white out’ game.” That would be a home game against Maine, their rival to the East by all of about a half hour. “The first Maine game at home is crazy. It is sold out every time. It’s a lot of fun.”

At the game I attended against the Badgers of Wisc., my daughter asked me why the boys who weren’t playing were sitting in the stands in suits and ties. So I asked Blake to explain. “Yep. Everything is professional Every where you go, you can see it at every college. It’s professional. We even travel in suits on buses. It’s the professional nature of it. You have to play the part. You have to be responsible for everything you do. You present yourself well every time you go out.” Considering some of the rules of the NHLPA, this is marvelous training.

As there are so many draftees on his Wild Cats team, I asked Blake if he stayed in contact with his teammates over the summer to see how their development camps were going.

“Definitely a little bit. You always talk to all the guys. You usually get sick of ‘em the whole year. Then you take a week off and realize, I kinda miss these guys. But I call them.”

The Washington Capitals drafted his friend Greg Burke, but there are others that he will call too just to check up to see how they did at camp. It might be good to know how others differ from the Islanders’ camp.

Blake attended last year’s prospect camp so I asked what he felt the difference was so far. “It’s a bit different. We scrimmaged a bit more last year. It is a little bit of a change over with a new coach. But I like the way the practices are going so far. They’re more up-tempo, more game situations. Working on game type situations has really been helpful. You get to know something that you get to take back to your team and work on throughout the whole year.”

Considering the circumstances under which mini-camp was held last season, I was happy to hear him say how well this year’s camp is being run. The communication has greatly improved and things are running like clockwork.

After camp, Blake will continue to train over the summer at home with his trainer (who is probably his brother’s trainer as well.) He will skate with friends to get his speed up and be ready to start the season a little stronger, a little wiser and a little older.

After watching him at the scrimmage, I can see an improvement since October '08. Maybe Garth Snow was right when he said, “We got the better Kessel.” after he drafted him in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL Entry draft.

I’ll say this… we definitely got the better looking Kessel.

Under the Microscope: John Tavares

So electric, he glows. Not really. I just brought the wrong camera with me. It has better mega pixels and no shutter speed. Very annoying. So was the interview that I endured with Newsday's Jim Baumbach. It was not his fault. He apologized a few times. But it didn't make it any less painful.

"What's your favorite food?" "What's your favorite TV Show?" "What's your movie?" "Who would you like to play you in your life story?" If Jim got to "What brand of underwear do you wear, I was going to boink him with my tape recorder.

All the while, John never cracked a smile and answered politely and thoughtfully all while the Zamboni drowned out his quiet answers. I was within 18" of him, I couldn't hear him. The ITV camera was in his face. He never flinched. No matter how foolish the question, he answered as if he was asked to explain quantum physics.

In all honesty, if I had been asked these questions, they would have been far shorter. The PR clock was running and Jim asked all the questions he wanted and then some. Tiger Track Tom Liodice managed to get a question in, but when the PR clock ticked down to "Two more questions." I thought, cool. I'll get one in.

Jim asked another question and I glared at him. Then the PR clock deferred to Point Blank for the last question. I then glared at him. What? Was I invisible? I know I'm short and I was wearing sneakers, but I was right there.

I turned off my recorder and left the room to wait for Joel Rechlicz. I had already spent a good few minutes with Blake Kessel discussing his UNH games. He is very personable and had a lot to tell me about the school, his team and his team mates. That will be for tomorrow.

While I was waiting for the Wrecker to change, I watched JT with the fans that had waited so long to meet him. Again, he was diligent in his duties, but somewhat stoic. This kid is all business. When he told Jim Baumbach that he didn't want any distractions, I truly believe he means it.

He is accepting his role as the most watched Islander with dignity, but not with much humor. Considering that he has almost the same birthday as funny man Rick DiPietro, I'm very surprised. But then again, he grew up very differently. He has been scrutinized since he was a teenager.

Also under the microscope, obviously, is Casey Cizikas. He was comfortable on the ice and off. Smiling and joking with his team mates. I didn't get a chance to speak to him. I am going to try to tomorrow.

He took slide into the net that caused him to have ice bags taped to both his shins before he showered. Seth Sylvan, PR Director, made a point to tell me what a good kid Casey is. Truthfully, he carried himself as a kid.

I tried to focus on others as all eyes were on John Tavares. Actually, it was just good to be back in the rink and hearing the skates on the ice. It's a wonderful sound.

Afterwards, the barbecue for season ticket holders was still going on so Tom Liodice and I grabbed a burger and a seat with the IslanderMania crew and just relaxed. Tom had to warm up any way. Oddly, it was as if Jim and Tom had never been in an ice rink before. Neither one was dressed appropriately. Newsday's Katie Strang and I laughed since we were prepared with jackets and closed shoes.

The day went well for the NY Islanders and their prospects. The fans went home happy and the boys boarded a bus for the Mets game. Which they won.

And a good time was had by all.

Wildcats over Badgers 5-1, Isles over Blues 5-2

The Official recap of the game:

**DURHAM, N.H. - James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) and Paul Thompson (Derry, N.H.) netted second-period goals 39-second apart to propel the seventh-ranked University of New Hampshire men's hockey team to Saturday night's 5-1 non-conference victory against 14th-ranked University of Wisconsin at the Whittemore Center. UNH won its eighth consecutive season opener and is now unbeaten in 12 straight season openers (11-0-1). Wisconsin is 0-2-0 on the year.

While the Islanders were beating the Blues in their home opener last night at 5 - 2, the UNH Wildcats rolled over the WI Badgers 4 - 1.

I've never been to a College Hockey game. It was an experience. I now understand why Buzz Dechamps is trying so hard to get a rink built for Stony Brook. This was way too much fun.

I have to do this quickly as it's 7:30 am Sunday, and we've got to get on the road to go home. And I hate when there's no coffee to greet me in a hotel. But this is far from a hotel. This place on the beach is more like hostile. Which is a nice way of saying sh**hole.


The Whitemore Center is an amazing newer building with wi-fi, their own streaming video on http://www.unhwildcats.tv/ and a radio station, an ample concourse and the nicest bathrooms I've seen in a public facility. There was also more media there covering a college game than most nights at the Coliseum. But I'll leave that fight for Point Blank.

The students fill four sections decked out in their white and blue jerseys. And they don't let up on the opposition. I've never heard the cheer "Sieve" before, but it's a ritual here at UNH. Followed of course by the always piercing "You Suck." Here they add a hand gesture indicating how many goals have been let up. We wonder what happens when they get to 10.

Another unique ritual is throwing a fish on the ice after the first UNH goal. It's usually a pretty big fish. "The smellier, the better." said the gentlemen who explained it to us.

It was warm as hell in the arena and it looked like the ice got the worst of that. There were deep ruts and almost puddles.

It was a penalty fest as the linesmen were trying to keep the game on track the whole night. Big Angry Man said it reminded him of an Islanders/Rangers game because it was so chippy. Always pushing and shoving after the whistle which would inevitably begin the parade to the box. (31 in total.) I couldn't even count how many times each team was two men down.

But it was very exciting, the crowd really got into it and let me tell you... There was quite a bit of talent on the ice.

There are five NHL drafted players on the UNH roster. Most notably the goalie Brian Foster #29, taken by Florida in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. He stood on his head last night and made some really impressive saves.

Also noticeable on the ice was James Van Riemsdyk chosen by the Flyers with their first round pick of the 2007 draft. That's the SECOND player chosen in the 2007 draft. Blake Kessel was chosen by Garth Snow in the 6th round at #166 overall that year.

Peter Le Blanc and Joe Charlebois were drafted in 2006 and 2005 respectively. Joe wears the C and both were drafted by Chicago.

But there's a name that's not on any draft lists yet that stood out last night on the ice. #15, Danny Dries, a sophomore from Lake Orion, Michigan. What an instigator who set up a lot of grate plays and skated like Jason Blake. He took too many penalties, but the kid was good enough to impress B.A.M.

Blake Kessel spent a lot of time on the ice. A LOT of time. Power plays, penalty kills and five on five. And his shifts were long and didn't seem to bother him. He did walk away with an assist on the second goal of the evening. I think he'll fit in nicely with Gordon's system should Scott still be around by the time this Kessel brother sees the Uniondale ice.



I wanted to ask him a few questions, but since it was a busy night for everyone at home, the arrangements were never made. Maybe I'll keep trying though.

The players on the roster who were not in the line up are being groomed for the NHL as they all sat at the top of the general admission section in their suits and ties, looking professional and intent on watching the game. But the funny thing is, as professional as all these men (boys really) looked last night, Tuesday morning they'll be in class and just students on campus. Amazing. *

*Fireworks -- I forgot about the fireworks. What a perfect way to end a perfect weekend but with fireworks in the autum sky. The entire weekend (with the excetpion of the Beach View roach motel) was just simply magical.

Congratulations to the Islanders for their 5-2 win over the Blues last night in their own home opener. I'm sorry I missed it. I'm especially sorry I missed Sean Bergenheim's first goal of the season. But I'm certain there will be more this year. Hopefully, I'll be there for most of them.

Okay, I have to stop now before I get in trouble. And besides, there's a bird's nest in the air conditioner next to me and it's really, really freakin' me out hearing the wing's flapping.

An Hour at Prospect Camp 7-15-08

That was all I could manage today since I cut my work day short yesterday with the surprise news out of the front office. But I wanted to get there today just at least to be back in the cold air and hear the blades on the ice.

I rushed like hell, and left my phone on my office desk. Of course, I imagined every possible scenario that would be devastating for me to not have my phone with me because that’s the way I’m wired. Always thinking the worst. Especially since no one knew I was going to Iceworks today, so if I was in an accident or kidnapped or developed amnesia, I had no damn phone to call anyone. But I was already late, and I wasn’t turning back. I had my laptop with me and that would have to suffice as the communication device for now.

There were no parking spaces left in the front lot. Wearing heels and carrying those 30 lbs of hardware that I SHOULD be used to by now, there was no way I was parking in the back and walking the ½ mile to the entrance. I parked as best I could and bolted into the lobby.

It wasn’t as crowded as the parking lot had foretold. The regular suspects were there. A few people I recognized from the Booster club. “My Friend” from IslanderMania, Carbons2K from our NYIC board and my friend and mentor, Brad Kurtzberg from Inside Hockey. There were pee wee teams there too, and a few toddlers giving their mothers a run for their money.

But we were there to see the boys on the ice. I must be getting too used to this. They didn’t look as young as they had in the past. A few years ago, when IslanderQueen and I went to this camp, I felt as if I had walked in on a high school game. The squad on the ice LOOKED like College kids, and for the most part, they are.

Brad handed me the printout from the website with all their names and information on it. I glanced at it, but truthfully, I’m just there to be impressed. I don’t go there being armed with information and looking to match the name to the prospect. I look for someone to make me sit up and take notice. I did a LOT of LOOKING, and not too much sitting up.

But to be fair, I only saw half the squad since I couldn’t come back for the 3 pm scrimmage. I came away with this:

Kessel is incredibly graceful skating backwards. It was beautiful to watch. Hillen, on the other hand, tries to make himself invisible when he skates, but there’s something about him I really like. I just don’t know what. If Brian Gibbons is 5’8” then I’m a runway model.

Bailey looks very confident, and there were one or two of the boys that were very fast. But no one was really scoring during this practice and no one on the ice was very big. Hope we’ve still got some enforcers on Bridgeport to call up.

Ted’s absence didn’t seem to have any bearing on anything as there were plenty of coaches on the ice and off. Garth was hard at work upstairs and Carbons2K caught him with Capuano. He caught me too. He’s our own NYIC Paparazzi!

I don’t think I’ll get back there this week. But it was good to see… the Future is Still Bright people. Just about as bright as Okposo’s smile.