Doug Weight Retirement Presser

I am so sorry that it's taken me almost a full 24-hours to post an entry. I just had so much to say that it was hard to get it all out.

But if you have about an hour, you can find all of my rambling thoughts here at hockeybuzz.com

I will say it was well worth going to. Because I was there, I missed the teleconference which was at 1 pm. Doug was a very busy man yesterday and it was very emotional for him and his family.

But the hard part is over and now he starts a new chapter in his life as Assistant Coach and assistant to the GM.

Change is good.

BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD ALL DAY! MONTOYA STAYS!

So as I have been calling for on every outlet I could find, Al Montoya, The Big Cubano, remains an Islanders for next season.

Another 1st rounder, another ex-NY Ranger, finding opportunity and a home here on Long Island on the Uniondale ice.

Perfect!

Uniondale, NY, March 29, 2011 – The New York Islanders announced today that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with goaltender Al Montoya. The contract will keep him with the club through the 2011-12 season.



Montoya, 26, has a record of 8-4-4 with a 2.35 goals against average (GAA) and a .923 save percentage (save%) in 17 games with the Islanders this season. The Chicago, IL. native was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes on Feb. 9, 2011 in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.



Originally selected by the New York Rangers in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Montoya has played in 197 career American Hockey League games with the Hartford Wolf Pack and San Antonio Rampage, compiling a 96-72-7 record with nine shutouts. Prior to joining the Islanders, the 6’2”, 195-pound goalie had played in five career NHL games, all with Phoenix, and posted a 3-1-0 record with a 2.08 GAA and a .925 save%. In 22 career NHL games, Montoya is 11-5-4 with a 2.29 GAA and a .924 save%.

Also announced today that Doug Weight will not return and how is that NOT surprising. Still with the organization, but as Deb Placey mentioned, he's probably looking for a GM job.

Um, Dougie... keep looking.

"Leadership Is a Big Part"

So where is it?

The Captain returned for another season, but he has been invisible since he was listed as having back spasms and yesterday was announced as being put on IR retroactive to his original injury date.

I will not lay this "slump" the size of the Grand Canyon at Doug Weight's feet, but as Rob McGowan and many of my blog box buddies have mentioned, the lack of veteran leadership on the team is a key factor.

It is not that they were not SUPPOSED to be on this team when it was built in September. They just are not here. This is not the first time that a team of AHL rookies have had to step up and get the Islanders to at least be able to compete. But it seems sadly different this season.

As my husband put it as he came home to see the latest of the Islander loses, a 5 - 0 shut out to the Nashville Predators: "This is the worst Islanders team EVER." Strong words, but he is one of those Islanders Dynasty era die-hards that just can't stomach the losing streak.

Neither it seems can James Wisniewski. If chemistry is as important as it has been said to be, then we can see why this team is struggling. "I know for me personally, I've had about six (defense) partners."

Yeah. And many of the partners he's had are like green corn: Just not ready yet.

You don't want to use the 149 man games lost before last night's game as an excuse? It has to be. This team was supposed to have a very different look to it when the schedule first came out. WE were supposed to see a break-out season for so many of the "young core players." We were supposed to have another All-Star year for Mark Streit. Doug Weight, who has more experience in the NHL and international competition than the current roster times two, was supposed to guide the youngsters and develop their winning ways.

It's December, the NY Islanders do not have a chance to climb so far out of this hole that they can snag an eight place playoff berth and that is sad and definitely was not part of the plan.

Sadly, that means the plan now, with the December 19th roster freeze looming, needs to be change. Maybe there is a veteran presence out there who is not happy where he is, who has one or two years remaining on a large contract for a team that needs some cap relief. Maybe he could fit nicely in a locker room filled with kids just nearly of drinking age. Maybe.

If that player is out there, can someone please contact the NY Islanders and let them know.

Kudos to #MightyMattMoulson who played with a banged up knee so as not to ruin his streak of consecutive games. Also to Rob Schremp who has played only about 65 games in the NHL who played yesterday with a left eye partially closed from the stick to the face. Bruno played in a full cage to protect that busted cheek bone of his.

This is a team of walking wounded and rookies. This isn't the team that was supposed to be playing the NHL (not AHL) 2010-2011 season. Let's remember that.

Game 19: Does it Go to a Dozen?

Game day is finally here. A new day and another chance to turn the ship around. The NY Islanders 11 game losing streak began in late October with a game against the Panthers. Maybe karma will intervene and they will begin a winning streak beginning tonight. Hey, come on. The Kings lost a game. The Isles can win one.

Jack Capuano has decided to call up big guy Jesse Joensuu to Uniondale. In a report by Newsday's Katie Srang, Jesse said he feels that time is running out for him. He played seven games with the Islanders in '08-'09, but has been a Sound Tiger for the balance. He wants to stick in the NHL.

Jon Sim went back to Bridgeport and Doug Weight was given the day off yesterday.

Good word from Ms. Strang was the Andy MacDonald was on the ice and actually had a stick in his hand. Yeah! No time table available for his return or the return of Jack Hillen. Although, from the looks of the past few games, it's Andy we miss more.

I'm going to do something different today. I'm opting to head to the morning skate and actually watch the game at home. Just like Jack Capuano, I'm looking to change things up a bit. Make things a little simpler so there doesn't need to be too much thinking. Howie Rose will do all my thinking for me tonight. Besides, even though I can see both Howie and Chris King in the press box, I can't hear either one of them. I think we should all be given headphones and get to chose an audio feed. (I'm dreaming again.)

Lastly, I am going to leave the link to the Islander/Botta discussion open for comments, but I feel I can no longer comment myself. I've stated my stance and in all honesty, I have too many close personal relationships in and around the battle that I'm going to have to stand back. If and when the Islanders make a statement regarding the situation, then I will comment again. Until then, I've covered it, I've commented on it, I've discussed it. I'll stop for now.

Oh... Until Sunday night when I will be on WGBB Radio with @IceCreepsMike on NY Sports Talk Radio at 10 pm. (Shameless plug that I will have to fix later with the proper link.)

isles 4 Stars 5 in Shoot Out Loss

*11:44pm: With a 5 - 4 Shoot Out Loss, the NY Islanders have begun their season. but not without injury.

After playing only 5:18 in seven shifts, John Tavares hit the ice and stayed sprawled, face down. I didn't even really see what happened. I waited for him to get up and shake it off
but instead he was dazed and confused and headed off the ice.

The team rallied without their star player and after trailing for most of the game, Matt Moulson tied it at 17:21 into the third. I told Matt "And that's one."

Doug Weight has never looked better. he had a 3 oint night tallying one goal and 2 assists on six shots. He is a new man.

Rick DiPietro had not problem blaming the loss on himself. He told every one of the reporters the second goal was his fault. But their were Stars goals that were the by product of defensive breakdown.

With John Tavares out of the game, Doug Weight was double shifted and played 20:25. Andrew MacDonald played a team high 23:35. Nino Niedereiter played 18 shifts and 11:27 in front of his family and the Swiss press.

Martinek didn't leave the ice and had an assist. James Wisniewski had a goal, an assist a pentalty and four shots. He also had one hell of a hit that sent a player dazed to the bench.

Weight: Expecting Big Things in his 20th Season

Tonight I waited for Doug Weight to do a radio interview on AM640 Toronto with Bill Watters. I was hoping he'd be on before 5:30pm, but of course, he wasn't. But I'm glad I waited around to hear what he had to say.

While NHL.com's Brian Compton has a really great article up on the returning Captain, it was nice to hear Doug in his own voice speaking with excitement about the upcoming season.

"I don't see why we wouldn't expect to see teams make big jumps." He knows that all the reports have the young Islander squad still at the bottom of the Eastern standings for next season. "Respect has to be earned. We're ready for that."

This is the intangible that veteran Doug Weight brings to the table. He will not only be a mentor but a motivator and an insulator.

He's hoping and believes that Rick DiPietro can make 30 - 40 starts this season and knows that doing so would be getting off in the right direction to becoming the star in this league that he should be. As hard as it was, he has taken the necessary time to heal and should be fine.

When asked about first rounder John Tavares and what he likes about him, Doug was quick to answer "I like everything about him. He constantly wants to be better. You don't find that in a lot of guys."

Weight worked out with JT before heading off to his own private Idaho and said he looks great and stronger. "I think it's going to be a big year for him." Two qualities that JT has that make him believe that are "He's lethal around the net" and "He doesn't want to take a shift off."

Doug was asked if anyone else in the room of youngsters impressed him and he rattled basically the majority of the roster. "Josh will be a great 2-way centerman." He then went on to praise Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau. "We've got talent." But talent may not be enough and he knows that.

"We've got to ask a lot of each other. We've got to show up 60 minutes a night. That's how great teams do it." And that is something I have heard for years. Great teams find a way to win. They pull out all the stops and find something in themselves they didn't even know they had. Dough knows it. He's lived it. He will have to teach it.

He will. Welcome back Captain.

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.

Weight IN: Witt Where?

Late yesterday afternoon, I tried to follow the chronology of the "Doug Weight Returns to the Islanders" signing information and found that it had spanned a full 24 hours and over 75 different Twitter users.

I heard it first on NHL Live on Monday afternoon and it was credited to USA's Kevin Allen. At first I didn't think much of it because Doug himself had spoken to any reporter that would listen expressing his desire to stay on Long Island and return to the Islanders.

It wasn't really news, but it IS June so it was covered like it was a hot topic. Late Monday night, I write a quick entry on HockeyBuzz about the possibility of Doug returning and what it may mean to the locker room. It was only meant to get conversations started as it is -- JUNE. Dumbass that I am, I didn't post a link to it because it wasn't anything important. Had I known... Had I known...

By 9:45 am yesterday, the Tweet went out that Doug had been signed, or should I say, had been JUST ABOUT signed, with only a few details pending. But from the time line I saw, that wasn't the first news bulletin to hit the wire. It doesn't matter any more anyway. Word spread quickly and like a game of telephone little pieces were added to it each time. Perhaps that's what happens because of Newsday's pay wall or because it WAS really a SLOW media day for hockey, but it went out over and over and in multiple languages.

At precisely 1 pm, GM Garth Snow put down the golf clubs and called into NHL Live for a few minutes. When asked about the contract, he said that they were "pretty close to getting a deal done." and that he was "looking forward to a healthy Doug Weight in our room."

So the deal that isn't exactly finalized and signed was Tweeted out later last night as being worth $800-900,000 plus bonuses.

Call it smart, call it a mistake, call it misplaced loyalty, call it whatever you wish. I call it keeping a good man around who has been friend and land lord to John Tavares.

So now here's another line in the water. While I was driving to work yesterday, Hockey this Morning on XM said that the two week NHL buyout period had started. I sent out a Tweet wondering if Brendan Witt would be bought out or not. Oddly -- NO ONE picked up on it.

Witt has one more year remaining on his contract and it is worth $3 million. He played the final games of last season in Bridgeport. Do we really expect him to be paid $3 million to play in Bridgeport? Would any other club want the veteran defenseman for something -- anything?

Good question, right? The sad thing is Witt is a great guy. He truly is!! But he just wasn't the player last season that he had been when he was given the 3 year contract. It happens. So -- Now what?

Matt Moulson: Playing Every Game as His Last

Scott Gordon talks highly of him as often as he is asked. And he was asked almost nightly. Moulson was the only Islander this season to net 30 goals. “I should have had at least five more but you jinxed.” He told me the night he hit 30. It wasn’t my fault.

Scott Gordon told Matt that he should play every game as if it was his last because he could always be sent to Bridgeport. That was the deal. “No player has every taken my advice to heart the way Matt did.” He wasn’t supposed to make it out of training camp, he wasn’t supposed to stick. He stuck like super-glue to buddy John Tavares and a young struggling team.

Continued --

The Team USA Experience

While we wait for Scott Gordon and Team USA to meet up with Mark Streit and Team Switzerland, let’s hear what Isles Captain Doug Weight had to say about HIS time with USA Hockey and Team USA:
Weight has been a member of Team USA at least nine times. One World Junior, three World Championships, two world cups and three Olympics. Yep, he’s Mr. Team USA.
We know anyone called to be part of Team USA is proud, but you would think anyone who had done it NINE times would find it a little ‘old hat‘ after awhile. Not Doug Weight.

“The World Championship in 1996 was an amazing event. The Canada Cup was the first world Cup. We beat the Canadians the best out of three with one last two wins coming back to back in Montreal. It was a pretty amazing feat. And the amount of talent that was part of that tournament was something I’ll never forget. Secondly, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake. It was so close to 9/11. So closely removed from that experience and our country. The feeling that we had that whole tournament. We were unbelievable. Really unstoppable until the last period. Canada just outplayed us in the last period. Beat us 5 – 2. But we got a silver medal. A very proud time.”

With the travel, the grueling schedules and the less than adequate time to develop chemistry on National teams, I asked what Weight found as a negative about competing for team USA.

“I don’t consider any time really a negative time with team USA. Certainly in Torino and Nagano, we would have liked to finish higher. The tough time for me was those World Juniors. Years before they had the gold medal game, they had a different format. We ended up tying for 2nd place record wise. But came in 4th place in the tournament and not medaling. That was a tough pill to swallow. Disappointing. We played really well. That’s probably the worst.”

Basically, the worst part of being on a national team is -- losing. Everyone wants to win. And wining makes any hardship encountered just a pleasant part of the experience.

However, there is that downside of a risk factor playing high paced, high stakes games.

“I think in hindsight, it’s something you think about. It would never over take the honor of being a part of that, of being in the Olympics. You take on a chance of being hurt or injured. Obviously, your first responsibility is to this team. It’s an honor to play for your country and the league has agreed to it. So it’s nothing you’re doing on your own. You know some times there’s a little risk involved. There’s risk every time you step on the ice. I think it’s worth it and hopefully the injuries are minimal in all those situations.”

Well, so far in this year's Olympics -- every one is in one piece.

Isles 5 - Lightning 4 & Free Chili

*Post game report and interviews with Marty Biron and Matt Martin here at HockeyBuzz. And thanks for the idea of the Fedora. It gave me a chance to wear my Christmas gift. I got quite a few compliments on it, most noteably that's on my recorder from the locker room was "Sick hat, Dee!" Yep, it's the little things about this I really enjoy.



9:45 of the third: MacDonald gets almost thrown over the boards into the bench and no one says boo. How does that happen? Finally, I'm hearing a Let's Go Islanders chant.

It didn't last long.

Start of the third: Steve Downie ties it at 4 for the bolts while we were waiting in line for Mike Mancuso to finish his radio gig so we could all get back to our seats. I'm telling you, it's tight up here today.

Oh I am just having a hell of a time today! Now I lost the internet connection in the room that I needed to go to in order to plug in for awhile to charge my laptop. How can this be? Simple. It’s me.

Well the good thing is my hat seems to be a big hit. The bad thing is that the batteries on my camera are going too. When you’re having a day… you have a day. Today seems to be mine. But the Isles are currently up over the Lightning and they are about to start the third. If they can pull this one off, it will do a world of good for Marty Biron’s confidence who now also has an assist point. I’d check to see how many he’s had in his career, but I CAN’T GET ON THE INTERNET. Damn thing. I’m not quite sure how well this has charged my laptop. But it will have to do.

If I lose you, of course there will be post game much later today.


2:46: Richard Park finally gets one as the Isles are now up 4 - 3. Maybe every Islander that hasn't scored in awhile can get one today. PS... That's a little more than Chili. But now we have a penalty call on Joensuu. Damn! The momentum doesn't last long here on the Island!!

3:39: Okposo from JT at the side of the net once again, it seems to be a good match with Matt Moulson doing the screening. All even at 3.

John Tavares can't buy a goal as he skates in all along and goes wide. But someone does draw a slashing penalty and the Isles head to the PP with Smaby in the box.

7:33: Okay, so not only does Nate Thomnpson have a fight thqt gets the kid out of the game, but now he gets the go ahead goal for the bolts. So not fair. But we are now at 3 - 2 Lightning with SOG 20 - 21.


13:30: Marty makes a huge stop on a breakaway. Nice! Now what I wanted to say before was that it was interesting to see that John Tavares gave Victor Headman a little shoulder shove. JT bounced. Victor didn't move. It was interesting.

Just as Mike Mancuso from WFAN said "I can't believe Doug Weight hasn't scored a goal.." he does!! Doug Weight ties the game at two and gets mugged on the ice by his team mates.

Start of 2nd: With a few ticks less than a minut left of a power play, the Islanders don't manage anything to help themselves out before going back to even strenght. St. Louis has the puck and get's bumped by Blake Comeau and just goes down. Is he that light?

Rob Schremp just misses a pass, so Mark Streit shoots at the net a little off balance but does keep it in the Bolts aone.

To redeem himself Schremp took the puck from one end of the ice to the other all by himself but couldn't get it in. Again... Where's the Finish?

1:08: Rob Schremp is denied on the doorstep of Niittymaki but the isles get a PP chance as Steve Downie is in the box for slashing I think. Again, good chances but no finish. Teh isles head back to the room down by one with :52 left of the power play when they return to a fresh sheet of ice.

5:31: With all that momentum, you'd think it would take a few minutes for the Bolts to get another goal. Not a chance. Mike Lundin gets one right by Biron to make it 2 - 1 on the Bolts 10th SOG. Matt Martin also received a game misconduct and skated off the ice. I don't think it's fair, but that's what happened.


5;45: Well, here's to Matt Martin's second fight of his NHL career as he takes on ex-Islander Nate Thompson center ice. The kid has amazing strength as he stayed on his skates and didn't go down. I'd call it a draw however as the refs had to break it up since no one was leaving the party.

Kyle Okposo looked as if going to make it 2 - 1, but somehow it just didn't go in.
8:45: Stamkos evens the score at one on the Lightenings 7th shot of teh afternoon from four feet away from Marty. And guess who went back to the box... Bergenheim. Putting the Isles down a man with the momentum of that goal is not good. Gordon is not going to be happy about that.

8:53 left of the First: And Marty freezes the puck and the ice girls come out to tidy up the creases. Antero takes this time to do a few stretches outside his net. I guess the no morning skate for anyone today is having an effect on him. I'm sure Marty is on the other end ... talking to himself. No... just kidding.

Isles best chance on the PP came when Andy MacDonald missed the net by a few inches. But only a few blinks later, enough for me to check my text messages, the Isles made it 1 - 0 on a Blake Comeau shot from the left of the dot. I believe Schremp may have an assist point on that. Yep. Confirmed by the NHL guys in front of me.

Islanders go on the PP as #44 sits it out for crosschecking. Their PK was good, can they show us something on the PP?

Or not. Marty Biron made three great saves on the first of the power plays the Bolts were on, and the Isles managed to clear when there was 14 secs left of the second one. Sean is sprung from the box and skates in on Niittymaki. They managed to kill it off and I'm at least a little shocked.

Note: This is Kerry Fraser's last season according to news I heard in the break room. Also, there aer so many people in the press box today, that it is without question the day I end up in some one's lap. At least I'm dressed well.


Confirmed, Rick DiPietro has the flu and will not be playing either game today or tomorrow. Either that or the newlywed just wanted to spend some quality time with his bride.


They have taken my advice and it will be Marty Biron as starter this afternoon. Actually, I don't think it would matter who was in net, this is going to be a hard game for the Isles to win. But that's just my opinion. Where as Dr. David sent me an email this morning saying that he feels the Isles will pull a rabbit out of a hat this afternoon. I like the way he thinks better than I do.

Not even two minutes in and both Mark Streit and Sean Bergenheim are sharing a seat in the box. This will end up being about the fastest PP goal I've seen I'm sure.

It's Getting Buggy Again!

UGGHHH!!! What next????

Kyle Okposo has now been diagnosed with H1N1 virus. That's just GREAT! Who else will come down with it now. He wasn't at the practice today, but he was there yesterday along with everyone else.

Also out of the line up for 4- 6 weeks is Doug Weight with one of those elusive upper body injuries.

Who has the injury count down calendar? Here we go again!

Thanks to STH Larry and his son for supplying me with this photo of Kyle taken last week at IceWorks. Kyle had seen the custom made hats and really liked them. So, the Islanders Customer Service Director brought them together and Larry gave Kyle a hat of his own.

Sort of cool, right? Now, Larry.... go get a flu shot.

Good News, Bad News, You be the Judge

According to Newsday's Katie Strang's Tweets from the morning skate Captain Doug Weight has returned to the line up for tonight's big match-up. Personall, I am glad and hope he is feeling 100%.

Ms. Strang also alerted the Twitterverse to the fact that Dwayne Roloson looks like the man between the pipes tonight and that Freddie Meyer, Blake Comeau and "Why the hell did you take me off waivers?" Rob Schremp will be tonight's healthy scratches.

No news on any call ups from Bridgeport, so I'm guessing that means that Nate Thompson and Tim Jackman better have their fight game on for tonight. Brendan Witt had better also be in the same form he used to be when he could drape Jagr and cause him to be completely ineffective. (Is that asking too much? Maybe.)

I'd like to see some fight behind the bench tonight as well. This is a Rivalry game. No time for calm, cool and collected for the cameras. This is the time for emotional motivation of the troops. I hope they can pull it off!

Gordon: Size DOESN'T Matter

Huh? It doesn’t? That’s the size of the LA forwards he's referring to.

Scott Gordon’s answer to Islesblogger.com Mike Schuerlein was “No. The size of their forwards isn’t going to stop you from stopping and starting. It’s not going to dictate a circle.”

It seemed like a good question at the time. Actually, it seemed like a good question later in the interview too when IslesOfficial.com Doug asked about traffic in front of Biron and whether the defensemen were boxing out properly. “Well, that’s where the bigger forwards do have an impact.”

Um. Okay. I’m going to chalk this up as a Teddy Nolan moment of contradiction. But I’m sure that Scott Gordon was just thinking in two different directions and didn’t realize his seemingly contradictory statements that size does or doesn’t matter.

Later on in the parking lot, a “MSM” type walked by our gaggle of bloggeratzi and said “They were just too big for us.” WAIT!!! Are you saying size DOES matter?? So make sure you check www.islesblogger.com for the rest of his questions to Scott Gordon and his post game locker room interviews.

Okay, more importantly than the size dispute was how Scott Gordon characterized the loss, “We got lazy.” Ouch. He reiterated it. “We got lazy. That’s where the stopping and starting comes in and the recognition of supporting the defensemen in puck retrieval situations that we didn’t do.”
According to Doug Weight, if the could play a full 60 minutes they would probably be 3 – 1, or 3 – 0 – 1. But they haven’t found a way to do that yet.

Doug Davidson got off a few more questions for Coach Gordon as the press room seemed eerily quiet. You can check him out at http://islesofficialsoutlook.blogspot.com/.

Okay, it was a disappointing loss when there was such a positive, supportive crowd in attendance. They stayed with the team the entire game. There was no “fake fan noise” or studio enhanced audio track. This was a lively, loud young crowd. “It was a great day game. They are so passionate about us. We have a GREAT fan base. They were with us the whole time!” Islanders Director of Communications, Seth Sylvan told me in Press room 6.

They were LOUD. Maybe sound, like heat, rises. But it was an amazing sound. He continued “The fans, the kids, they came out and showed us that there is a lot of passion and excitement around this team." The NY Islanders are still leading the way in group sales as there were dozens of large groups in attendance. There were even two groups of youngsters from Denmark who were playing in a tournament attending. Sadly Frans Nielsen wasn’t playing, but there was a meet and greet scheduled for them that Mr. Sylvan left me to go take care of.

Another oddity that I noticed in the game, and that was clarified in the parking lot by those who have an eye for these things, was that Kyle Okposo dropped his stick three times and broke another. I found this unusual, which is why I was keeping track of it. “Do you think Kyle had new gloves or something?” I asked the blogger boys thinking they would have a better understanding of what was wrong.

“Funny you should say that. When Kyle was being interviewed I noticed a pair of 221 gloves. Those just came out.” I was told. Hmmm… So, maybe I was right. I would have asked Kyle myself, but the room was so crowded today, I just retreated to wait for Scott Gordon.

Also interesting reading regarding today’s game and post game is Ken’s http://okposo.blogspot.com/ blog. And I’m not just saying that because he mentioned me, I say it because his entries are always good reading.

Yep, I don’t like day games. They throw me all off. But even without the two points for the team, I got a few pointers in the press box and the parking lot and another good look at Matt Moulson and Robbie Schremp.


I’d like to thank the blogger boys and one of my MSM friends (You know who you are!!!) for daring me to write that headline about size. But it’s just SO appropriate!

Isles in Ottawa & No HD on the East End

Follow my on Twitter @7thWoman.

So nice of Cablevision to put the Islanders on their MSG Plus Plus (Minus HD) as the Rangers and Devils are on their HD feeds. Once again, we are the redheaded step-child of the Dolan Empire.

Even on the Big Screen, I can hardly make out the numbers on the Jerseys as they are FUZZY as hell. I will attempt to control my wrath as we watch the game which is now 1 - 0 Ottawa. As Biron is arguing that the puck shouldn't have been played.

Okay, this is going to be an annoying game. I can tell.

Biron froze the puck as they couldn't seem to get it out of their own zone. So Schremp did a little shoving, but I can hardly see whether it was worth it. He said he had no problem wearing #13. I don't blame him. But I'm sure he's got a few other superstitions.

So yes, it's official... the OFFICIALS blew a call. The puck clearly hit the upper netting and the play should have been whistled dead. Let's start the "Toronto Hates the Islanders" conspiracy theory right now.

John Tavares is getting well acquainted with how much stronger NHLers are as he's been tossed to the ice a few times on big, clean hits.

They interviewed the goal scorer, Regin, during the first intermission. I wish they had interviewed Biron. I would have liked to hear him spill off a few profanities in French.

Tavares draws a penalty on the Senators at 13:00 of the 2nd. Hoping they can even the score and maybe even get Marty Biron his 200th win.

Tavares takes shots on the PP and can't convert. Bailey takes a shot and shoots wide. Streit takes a shot and you can hear it hit a blocker with a loud thud! That's the difference between the boys and the men. The power behind that shot. I would be very nervous seeing Mark Streit straight on winding up for that big shot of his. It echos.

Matt Carkner, #39, had his first NHL goal reviewed as he banked it off the back of Biron's skate from behind the net and even though the light went on, no one could see the puck. It was under Biron's pads and it wasn't 100% clear if it had gone completely over the line. Of course, the review netted the Senators their second goal of the game.

The Islanders went back on the Power Play and Ottawa goalie robbed John Tavares of his second NHL goal. It was looking as if they weren't going to be able to get anything by him. Until Kyle Okposo showed off some amazing stick work through traffic and scored while in mid-air as he dove over Leclaire. It was a thing of beauty that sparked his team.

With very little time remaining, Doug Weight, Richard Park and Sean Bergenheim had three late chances to stuff another one in the net to even the score. But the clock ran out on them.

They were to start the third only down one and with the momentum of Kyle Okposo's dazzling goal.

The third starts and Martinek gets tangled up along the boards. That always makes me nervous because basically, he's glass. The Isles go back on the power play and Doug Weight does a beautiful job setting up a shot for Mark Streit that again, you can hear. And excuse me... But is that a 5 o'clock shadow I see on JT? I think it is!

Even though during the next power play you heard nothing but "so & so missed the net." Matt Moulson makes it 2 - 2 with a power play goal right outside the blue paint with three Sens inches away from him.

Kerry Fraser seems to be giving one back to the Isles for the two blown calls that garnered the Sens their two goals as no call was made on Hunter for holding behind the net. But that didn't last long as Schremp gets called for tripping with 10:23 left in the third.

They manage to kill off the penalty, but as soon as Schremp is sprung from the box, he takes an elbowing penalty and they go right back on the kill. This is not the way to impress your new Coach Robbie.

I love the way Biron grabbed the puck as if to show it to Kovalev that he robbed him and no rebound.

The balance of the game earned no one another goal. Good thing. Second game of the season and a guaranteed one point.

Not how we would have liked it to end as Mike Fisher gets one right through Biron as he rushes down the left side with no one on him. As Billy said "Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda."

But one point is better than no points. Scott Gordon told Rob Carlin that their special teams won as they kept getting better as the game went on. The reality is, they did. This is the second game of the season and they have had too many days off since their own home opener on Saturday.

Not completely devastating as an Islanders fan.

It was the Nathan Lawson Show

It may have been the debut of John Tavares, but it was the Nathan Lawson show last night in Edmonton. Another late night of rookie battles with a very familiar outcome. 3 - 2 Oilers.

It was forty minutes of good, fast paced hockey with an Islanders lead from courtesy of Bruno Gervais from early in the first. They held onto the lead until Dustin Penner skated in all alone and beat Lawson eight minutes into the third.

That's when I decided to call it a night. I missed the last two Edmonton goals. But if I think hard about last season, I'm sure I can conjure up the visual.

Lawson made some excellent saves and some just plain good ones. As Scott Gordon said, "I don't think I could expect him to play any better. This was a big step." With the depth in goal that he spoke of, the question looms large -- Who's going to Utah? Personally I think it should be the "kid." Unless he's too young to travel on his own. I don't know. But let him come up through the ECHL first and give Lawson to Jack and the Tigers to learn the system. But, that's just me.

While I was able to stay awake to watch the game on the computer screen (Thank you NHL.com and no thanks to the Dolans) I noticed that John Tavares is right in everything he says about what he needs to do to get better. I watched him get stripped of the puck a few times. Yes, his opponents are just stronger than he is. Doug Weight warned him about that. Actually, everyone warned him about that. Maybe this was the first time he actually realized that. It was sad that he told a reporter that he didn't even think about his first NHL game as "fun." He said he had "one" special moment, but he was keeping it to himself.

The rookie who DID have fun last night was Calvin de Haan. You can tell that in his interview tape, but then again, he DID have a big goal too. "Probably one of the best days of my life. Dream come true. First game, first goal." But he too understands his short comings and what he needs to learn. "Gap control -- I'm giving the opposition's forwards too much time and space out there. Gotta tighten it up a bit."

I'm reminded at mini-camp, I was told by someone in the know to keep an eye on de Haan. I guess I should take his advice.

So now that John Tavares' much heralded first NHL game is out of the way, he can continue his quest to get better. Hopefully the two injured players from last night will also Get Better Soon. Both Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim had to leave the game due to groin strains.

Yep, Islanders training camp. Same old, same old. Any takers on who will go down next?

The PUCK Starts Here!

Our season ended in April last year. We have been through a long, difficult off season with the only bright spot being the draft party. Personally, I didn’t think we’d get here again. The off season seems to take forever – when you end it two months before the hockey season actually ends.

September 14th, 2009 and it all starts again. Our 2009 – 2010 Season will be no less difficult, I’m sure, even with the arrival of John Tavares. There are still too many open ended questions swirling around the Islanders. So, as I told Adam Proteau of The Hockey News, I’m looking forward to the new season with trepidation. But let’s focus on tonight.

Hockey in Hockeyville! Okay, so maybe it will look more like a pick-up game rather than an NHL battle as today is really only the second day of training camp. There will likely be confusion and mistakes, but we should see basic talent and vision, considering systems can’t possibly have been cemented in 48 hours.

What we won’t see is John Tavares who, as Newsday’s Katie Strang explained has been battling the flu and just started skating yesterday. (Uh, John, that better not be H1N1 and no one else better get sick!) We also won’t see Rick DiPietro, who was seen in pads on the ice yesterday as announced on Twitter.

It’s just nice to know that the roster (right now) seems healthy and ready to go. It will be nice to see Andy Sutton back on the ice again. The oft injured Radek Martinek is also currently healthy. Shall we start taking bets on how long THAT will last?

Also in Katie’s news was the tidbit of info that John Tavares is rooming with his new mentor, Doug Weight. Ahem, just another building block in the case for that “C.” (If you haven’t figured it out by now, this is a cause I will continue to promote until we actually see who is wearing it.)
Hey, JT, you get Dougie sick for the only pre-season game at the barn and I’m going to be really, really pissed at you.

Other Islanders news for Sunday was met with much joy as MSG has decided to put Deb Placey back in her original home covering Islanders games. (Hmmm… I guess that means a friend of mine may have to vacate her dressing room.) For years, Deb worked tirelessly covering the Isles for MSG. She’d be there for the morning skate taking notes and conducting interviews then eat, nap and was right back out working with the production crews to get it all down right. Welcome back.

So, 10 pm, 10:30 pm, whatever, on MSGPlus, if we can find the channel, or any other channel it will be aired on as it is the NHL’s highly publicized and heavily sponsored Kraft Hockeyville, we actually get to see our first glimpse of NY Islanders hockey for the new season.

Get out the jerseys; grab a Starbucks, fire up the laptop. The Puck drops HERE!! FINALLY!!!

Suitcase made a "C"ase for Weight

*Thanks to MMinge from NYIC for the shot of Doug Weight

A few weeks ago, I was brave enough to ask Garth Snow if he had given any thought to who would wear the "C" next season. He had no real answer for me. That was understandable, considering he is the one who surprised Bill Guerin at his introduction press conference with the "C"on his new Islanders jersey as media and guests looked on. Guerin was truly surprised. So was everyone else.

As we head into the 2009- 2010 season, a new Captain needs to be named. There are some valid candidates for the honor. However, after hearing Mike Sillinger talk about his buddy Doug Weight's excitement over this coming season, in my mind there really can be no question as to who the rightful candidate is.

Dear Garth: The only logical Captain for the Islanders this season is Doug Weight. Seriously. An ex All-Star, a Stanley Cup Winner, an ex-Olympian for the US, a proven leader in the locker room and a guy who came to be rejuvenated by Scott Gordon's high energy system when others were getting lost. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM HIM?

After looking over all of Dougie's career accomplishments, I can't think of a better candidate for Captain for this rebuilding team. Sure, Witt is a proven veteran presence, but maybe not the leadership personality that would be best to train our young stars.

Richard Park is also an admirable hockey player. But when you compare accomplishments, there is no comparison.

John Tavares may have been the first overall draft pick, but PLEASE! Don't put undue pressure on a young hockey player in his first year as a pro.

Sure, I'm probably stating the obvious, but hearing the smile in Mike Sillinger's voice yesterday afternoon talking about his conversation with Doug Weight, it just seemed so perfect. Weight is looking forward to playing with John Tavares in his first NHL season. He's looking forward to watching Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo spend another season honing their skills. He's happy to be here on the Island. Thinking of the fun Weight will be having this season, Sillinger was jealous.

Last August, Doug Weight was the first "real" interview I ever did as a blogger. (Meaning I actually opened my mouth and spoke!) It wasn't even my idea. It was BD Gallof's idea. He basically had to drag me into the locker room that night. I thought I was going to puke on my shoes. Especially since I had my info wrong when I asked him my question about his time on Team USA.

But Doug was professional and engaging as he gave two Islanders bloggers five minutes and 30 seconds of honest answers and wide smiles. Check BD's YouTube video. Looking back to just last August, it's priceless. (Newsday's Katie Strang is in the background for a moment and Inside Hockey's Brad Kurtzburg asked a few questions as well.)

No, the NY Islanders next Captain should be Doug Weight. And if Garth Snow doesn't agree with me... I'll expect an explanation in painful detail!

And So It Ends

Another Easter Sunday Islanders game to close out the end of a Hockey season that started with excitement and hope. It wasn't the Easter Epic of '07 that caused Islesblogger.com to get Islanders plates for his truck. It wasn't even a spoiler of a game as I believe the '08 game may have been. No, yesterday's game was basically pointless for more reasons than I want to count. So pointless that my Easter guests were changing my TV back and forth to the Ranger game.

Sigh, and I let them. A team with so many injuries and so many youngsters had little hope of doing anything but put up a good effort this season. This weekend the line up didn't even do that. They were just run over for 48 hours and it was hard to watch. I can't imagine this was part of Scott Gordon's plan to end the season.

IslandersPointBlank mentioned that the Islanders didn't "roughhouse" on Saturday which disappointed many of the fans. There were no battles against the glass on Sunday either. Even I was disappointed at this as I really would have loved to hear chants of "Recker! Recker!" one more time before the season ended. One last time to watch big #40, Joel Recklicz, show the opponent that the Islanders were not going to be taken lightly no matter where they were in the standings was all I wanted.

I also wanted another goal out of Sean Bergenheim. I didn't get that either. But at least I witnessed one the day before and certified good guy Doug Weight did add to his yearly total.

Yes, this season is over. On Saturday night the mood in the locker room was one of looking toward the future. Perhaps they had started looking too soon and forgot about the game they still needed to play. I'm not sure.

However, even as dismal as this season was, there were still bright spots here and there. I'm sure I will replay them in my mind and well as here from time to time during the incredible "off season" that begins for me this morning. Oh, sure there is Tuesday's lottery drawing, the draft, rookie camp and any other surprise press conference the Islanders wish to throw at us this summer as well as the "where's DiPietro" watch that has started to run rampant. (Hmmmm... OTB wanted to get into Sports betting on Long Island, maybe they'll start running odds on whether or not Ricky will play next year.)

But there are other things that I will need to explore in the next 24 hours. Most importantly the coverage that the media outlets gave Saturday morning's rain soaked press conference outside the coliseum. I am livid at the segment that News 12 aired as well as the brief article that appeared in Newsday on Sunday morning. Please check back for the TRUTH about that gathering. There is so much more to it than was presented to the public.

Isles 0 - Canes 9: And We're Not Surprised

If you have not read the recap of the Republican Roundtable meeting I attended on Saturday, please click here as it was very interesting indeed.

Okay, so that was the worst loss in Islanders history. So what? We said they needed to lose two. That's one down, one to go.

**Addendum: From the Big Angry Man: "What are the odds these guys, who have been playing with an edge, just turned around and said 'You want a loss? We'll give you a f**king loss! How's this?' THAT wasn't the team we're used to seeing." You know, considering how Internet savvy these kids are, who is to say they didn't just pull a fast one on us.


Let's just call this Islanders Wednesday morning Twitter, since I don't feel like making it coherent.

Doug Weight signs an extension, maybe Kerry Cornils & I had something to do with it?

Scott Gordon will be Ass't Coach for Team USA? Kyle would love the road trip. Thx.

Yo! Recker! 2 many game misconducts pisses the life out of Gordon. 5 4 fighting is enough.

Sean, you still owe me a goal for making me wait so long for your return to the ice.

I think I heard Jack Capuano scream when Blake Comeau broke his wrist.

Nice to see you again Mark Streit, now sit on the bench and don't get hurt.

Welcome Back Jiggs McDonald, you made the game bearable!

We're Number LAST! We're Number LAST! Right where we wanted.

Damn! Paul Maurice was hot when he was 28.... wait... that didn't belong here.

BTW: The NYI Mobile Squad Text service is excellent. Sign up for it.