The Wait for Weight is Over

The Islanders themselves announced the contract we have been waiting for has been signed. According to all parties involved the delay was no big deal. Garth Snow was busy and Doug Weight was in his own private Idaho. No, really. That's where he said he was; Northern Idaho. But there was no worry. The two men had a gentleman's agreement and now the contract details have been worked out.

As noted, this will be Doug Weight's 3rd season with the Islanders. His role has changed considerably since he first stepped foot on the Coliseum ice. As much as he has been a veteran mentor and John Tavares' land lord, Doug offers an array of intangibles both on and off the ice for the young stars and newly acquired players.

NHL.com's Brian Compton has an excellent Q&A with Doug Weight which offers some insight into the mind of the Islanders' Captain. I especially love this quote about his last season "In hindsight, I played horribly. I really couldn't perform. I had a lot of things on my mind that I never thought of on the ice before -- what position I was to not get hit."

While his new 1-year deal is for less than $900,000 for the season, it does leave room for bonuses. It was reported yesterday that the bonuses are based on "games played" and "playoffs". This seems to be standard language in player contracts who are willing to take far less than their previous contracts just to be able to play. Although part of me still wonders if there was concern over how well Weight has recovered from his surgery.

"I've had enough surgeries that I know there's scar tissue and I know there's things that are going to tweak it and there's going to be some soreness the day after." Well, Doug will be able to tell it's going to rain long before anyone else will.

Give the Q&A by Brian Compton a read today and you'll even get a glimpse at how the Captain feels about the other another Islander sidelined by surgery. I said he was harder to find than Sasquatch. Weight said he's more like Obama. That was interesting.

As one experienced NHLer with more than 25 years in the league prepares for another season, one announced his retirement. Chris Chelios, that man of steel, has finally hung up his skates and taken a front office job with Detroit. I haven't watched the video of the press conference yet, but I'm sure it was difficult for him.

With Chelios' retirement comes the retirement of my favorite joke about myself. (I'll probably miss being able to use it more than I'll actually miss watching Chelios skate.) When I started this hockey adventure of mine, I had a tag line that would get people laughing and break the ice for me. As a "mature" female trying to cover a young man's sport I knew there may be a few bumps here and there. If I felt my age or sex was getting in the way of being accepted somewhere, then I'd counter it with:

"Yep, I'm old enough to have given birth to most of the boys in this league but still young enough to sleep with some of them: Thank you Chris Chelios!"

So now you know why I really didn't want him to retire. I just lost my best line. Damn it.

The NHL BoreWards 2009

It wasn't the most entertaining NHL awards show I've seen in recent memory. But it also wasn't exactly the worst. However, for myself (the most passionate of NHL fans) it was only adequate. For my husband, the die-hard Islander Dynasty era fan, it was close to torture. Mind you, this may have had something to do with the Yankee game airing after an extensive rain delay. But he wasn't happy and made sure I knew it every chance he got.

I understand the move to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas but I seriously miss the patented Canadian comedy that used to accompany this award show. I'd much rather hear Hockey stand-up from one of our more prominent TV analysts than Chahka Kahn singing off key. Or please, just give Denis Leary the entire show! Please!

Nothing was ever better than the Chris Chelios Pulp Fiction take-off that STILL makes it's YouTube rounds years later. ("Englewood Jack!") Truly one of hockey entertainment's most shining moments. (And I just had to watch it again and laugh. Note to NHL: Billy Guerin can ACT! Check him out. He can!! Use it!)

The most memorable moment from this year will be Tim Thomas's heartfelt acceptance speech, "I've been more concerned just getting my name on a roster, let alone a trophy." I think every hockey fan fell in love with him that moment.

Jean Beliveau's appearance brought history to life, much the way Gordie Howe did last year. Other than that, well, bring on the Draft!

*And that's to one of my twitter buddies who were at the event and posted that twitpic of the sign. Twitter isn't just great for information, but for images as well. It's like being a voyuer and getting away with it.

Hockey Static - 9-8-08

What an incredibly empty weekend on the hockey front. Good thing since I was busy with my usual September whirlwind family responsibilities. So much to do that I can't even get excited about the impending start of the 08-09 season... yet.

This morning I took some time to read the headlines from all the major sites to see if I missed anything. Um. Not much. There are a FEW hockey related tidbits that I did want to mention. I guess you could consider this "twitter."

Congrats Chris Chelios: So the man who Bill Jaffe called "a freak of nature" has signed up for yet another season of Hockey with the Red Wings. Good for him! The Hockey News has a great article on the time line of his career. Chelios: Setting the standard for excellence in aging.

Ron Wilson not high on Sundin: Ya think? It's like being held hostage. Totally not fair to the Leafs new coach. Good for him for speaking out. Shouldn't the league have a rule that says you need to make a decision no later than Labor day if you're playing or not?

NHL Live to Return to XM 204 on 9-15-08: Thank God. But I'd like to see an announcement on the NHL.com site. But thanks to TravelChic for the information.

Belated Happy Birthday to Jason Blake: Wishing you a better year to obliterate the memory of this one.

Thanks to Islesblogger.com Mike S.: He didn't take the nickname on the NYIC board of "teknics" for nothing. Every time I have a "technical" question, he's the first one I go to. And thanks to his constant iPhone addiction, it doesn't take long for the proper answer. I owe you, and I didn't forget YOU didn't get Birthday cookies. I'll have to rectify that soon.

Single Ticket Event Sept. 13th: Single game tickets go on sale Saturday the 13th. Let's overtake the Ranger fans on the line this year people. It's our building, let's make sure it stays that way.

Are we there yet? Almost.