Yes! Islanders

As we are now in September and my season has officially started, I'm making the prediction that at least one of the prospects from 2010 are sticking. Okay, let me be clearer -- Kirill 2010 or Nino. One of them. For my reasons and rantings in all the typo ridden detail you can read it at HockeyBuzz.com here.

During our expansion and protection discussions, we briefly touched on where the league would actually put two extra teams once they had them - not just the cities, but the divisions and conferences.  For fun, Dom and I kicked around an idea that we've apparently worked on separately for years - four 8-team divisions.

Because the southern and western teams are much more sparse it becomes a challenge to get together groups of eight without putting them at a severe disadvantage compared to the northeastern teams. For example, it doesn’t work to just re-assemble the classic 80’s divisions and add the extra teams. (Pity, that.) Who gets nudged to a less-convenient location?

  The NHL won’t de-register the frontloaded contracts that teams assumed were kosher.  They just can’t.  The consequences would be vastly damaging, like going back in time and killing a butterfly.  It’s just simply too late to make that move. "Thanks for throwing me under the bus by taking the scam too far, Kovy." They [...]

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.

The SBNation major-domo, Travis Hughes, is pleased to announce that the NHL is faux-spanding to Winnipeg and Quebec City, with the not-actual-return of the Jets and Nordiques to imaginary professional ice hockey.

  White rabbits!  September’s going to be an AWESOME month.  And, for your reading pleasure, I start up at Puck Daddy in a week – Tuesday, September 7th.  Neat. O. ***** It’s “one-touch passes” time: As it’s been mentioned on Deadspin, probably Puck Daddy, and most definitely noticed on twitter…. Twuperstar Paul Bissonnette is back [...]

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.

  As I’ve been twitter-plugging all morning, Chad Brownlee’s album comes out today (www.chadbrownlee.com).  If you’re new to the blog, I’ve written about Chad before.  Downtown Browntown. Quick refresher:  We were junior teammates for two full seasons, we’re both from Kelowna, BC, and just in general, buddies.  He got drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, was [...]

Dotting I's: Doug Weight officially re-signed

Which basically means, I don't have anything really to report so let's just throw out some quick hits and see what sticks.

Rob Schremp is still trying to get to 4400 followers on Twitter so that he will then announce his contribution to the Special Olympics. You can help him out if you haven't followed him yet on Twitter.

Along with Rob's charity work, Bruno Gervais has teamed up with the Clark Gillies Foundation for one particular event that will be held on September 19th in Melville, NY at the Rosewood Inn on Route 111. There are 22 men willing to shave their heads for charity, including Clark himself who has pledges of $1570 so far. Fellow Dynasty member Bobby Nystrom has also volunteered for the task, yet has NO pledges as of yet. Hmmmm... Maybe because Nystrom doesn't have quite as much hair as Gillies.

  Sorry on the late post today folks.  The good news is, my latest column is up on The Hockey News, about “the numbers game”, and how trying to figure it out in the off-season makes you crazy. ***** Friend of the blog Hooks Orpik was headed out to meet Mario Lemieux the other day, [...]

Disscussing the over time

As someone who has been covering the New York Islanders in one form or another since October 2005, I found yesterday’s firestorm over blogger access to visiting NHL team’s locker rooms both interesting and disturbing. Additionally disturbing to me is the idea that there is a grey area as to where “bloggers” fit within the media food chain.

  Quick question first…. anyone know the latest with the Coyotes ownership situation?  Does Ice Edge own the team, or does the NHL still?  I’m totally unaware of what’s been going on. (Update: just saw on twitter, Ice Edge is holding a press conference in Thunder Bay tomorrow.  To which Bruce Arthur responded “Why, is there [...]