By now it looks like the Islanders Internet world is exploding upon hearing the news that MSG will not renew the contract of Islanders color-commentator Billy Jaffe.

Let me repeat that.

MSG will not renew the contract of Islanders color-commentator Billy Jaffe.

For everyone that is crying out saying, "Oh, this is another horrible move for the Islanders." "Why would they do this?!" I tell them to look right above.

This is MSG's decision...not the Islanders.

Soon to be published for NewYorkIslanders.com .... but you'll have the first peek right here...

Are you going to the NHL Draft next week in Los Angeles?

If you are, please email me here and let me know. I'll be writing a feature for the Islanders official website about fan experiences at the Draft and would love to chat with you!

Hope to see you next week.

I figured since we are 25 days away from the 2010 Entry Draft, and as the Islanders launch their Top 25 in 25 countdown, now is as good as a time to ever to announce that for the third straight year, The Tiger Track will be LIVE from this year's NHL Entry Draft, this time from Los Angeles, California.

This year I will be in real official capacity, reporting for NewYorkIslanders.com, filling you in on everything going on in, around and outside the Staples Center. I'll have plenty of interviews for the main site, but I won't leave site out. I'll have plenty of behind the scenes footage, with images, videos and more from Media Row.

Keep it here in three and a half weeks....

You know, sometimes people come up to me and ask me, "Hey Tom, you still have that blog?" or "Hey Tom, I noticed you haven't written in your blog in a while. Are you still going to do that?"

I know I've been neglectful over here.

I've been consumed with a lot of things lately. During the season it was two-fold. Firstly, it was my responsibilities with the New York Islanders, in writing recaps for them and almost acting like an "unofficial" staff member. Secondly, it's my full-time job, in which I'm a web editor for a local high school sports network. (I believe I've said where before, but you get the drift.)

I love both, and while doing both I forgot that this lovely blog has been around for three years now. (Yikes...)

But don't fear. I haven't forgotten where I came from.

Lately I've been listening to a lot of XM's NHL Home Ice. I figure during the playoffs it's the perfect fodder to keep me busy throughout the day, in the care, and basically wherever I am so I can always listen to hockey talk. With no New York Islanders in the playoffs to keep me busy at the Coliseum during the evenings, I have to find some way to keep myself occupied!

Can't say I haven't heard of many games that had to be forefeited due to lack of players...

Fayetteville -- 200 minutes on 32 infraction(s)
Knoxville -- 147 minutes on 22 infraction(s)

"Old-time hockey" at its best.

As the season comes to a close and injuries are accumulating, we're seeing a heavy heap of talent imported from up I-95 and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers over to the New York Islanders. And for the next few days until the season ends, I'll be sharing my thoughts on a few select players on why they should get their shot with the big club in a new segment I call "Making the Case For..."

I always knew the Isles signed an accomplished scorer when Doug Weight came on board.

Hey VS., I think you forgot a number...

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have announced two three additional moves:

--Dustin Kohn has been recalled to the New York Islanders This is due to the Sutton deal...

--Sound Tigers have also acquired center Mike Radja from the Syracuse Crunch as part of the Dylan Reese-Greg Moore deal. In 31 games with Syracuse, Radja compiled seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.

--Brett Westgarth has been traded to the Worchester Sharks for future considerations. The former Sound Tigers defenseman will rejoin the team he skated with last year, where he scored two goals and seven assists, with 137 penalty minutes last season. Westgarth had three goals and five assists this season with the Sound Tigers.

Nothing you probably haven't heard earlier, but like I said earlier, yesterday's deal for Dylan Reese paved the way for Andy Sutton to be traded.

And just like that, Sutton has shipped off to Ottawa.

The Islanders received a second round pick from the Senators, which was originally that of the San Jose Sharks, which would place them in the #50-60 range. With the normal asking price for defensemen right now to be a second round pick, this trade does not really surprise this writer.

A co-worker of mine was a little bothered that the Islanders didn't get any actual bodies in exchange for the big man, to which I say, "the deadline isn't over yet."

Last night the Bridgeport Sound Tigers announced a minor deal with the Syracuse Crunch, in which Bridgeport acquired defenseman Dylan Reese in exchange for center Greg Moore.

Moore, in his first season with the Sound Tigers, had put up respectable numbers scoring 14 goals, 17 assists for 31 points in 62 games. However, he was destined to stay in Bridgeport and a move elsewhere was probably best for him.

To the casual fan this trade probably comes in the "who cares?" variety, but to the keen hockey blogger, there's more than meets the eye.

Sound Tigers Official Site

By Tom Liodice

Mathieu Perreault potted four goals while the Hershey Bears scored five times in the first period as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers fell to the defending Calder Cup champions, 9-2 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Perreault got the Bears on the board first just 1:44 into the opening period with his 11th goal of the year. Perrault happened to be in the right place at the right time, as he corralled a quick rebound off a Chris Bourque shot, and put the puck past Sound TIgers goaltender Nathan Lawson for the quick 1-0 Hershey lead.

Sound Tigers Official Site

By Tom Liodice

Jeremy Reich and Mark Flood scored goals for Bridgeport, but it wasn't enough as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Sound Tigers, 3-2 at Arena at Harbor Yard.

I'm thinking about making some changes here.

It might be for the better...

If you're here from Deadspin, yes this is a hockey blog.

Yes, I know it hasn't been updated in forever.

No, I don't plan on stopping it.

and yes, tell your friends.

I've been watching Jeff Tambellini playing now ever since he arrived to the Islanders organization. Now that's not really something special, but I like to feel like I've gotten an extra-special look at him from my consistent travels to Bridgeport over the last four years.

Over my time heading to Bridgeport, I was able to see why exactly the Islanders brought Jeff Tambellini over to the organization:

Jeff can score. Plain and simple.

Hi guys, here's a little something to report from this morning's foggy skate:

-- Dwayne Roloson gets the start tonight for the Islanders. Theodore for the Capitals.

-- Bruno Gervais in, Freddy Meyer out.

Coach Gordon said of Bruno: "We want to see him simplify things. His mistakes have been self-inflicted. We're believers in Bruno."

--Top line of Matt Moulson - John Tavares- Kyle Okposo is back together again after spending the last two games broken up.

Oh, hi Lighthouse. How are you doing today? Listen, I know I don't talk about you much, but I saw that you made the Newsday front cover. That's great.

Oh you're welcome. How's the rest of your day been?

What? You're going away? Who said that?

The who?

I didn't know they talked much about you.

They must really know something that we don't, huh?

So a couple of days ago, Joel Rechlicz was returned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers by the New York Islanders after just one game this season.

We would also like to note that in that one game he played less than three minutes.

Now I'm sure the recall is not indicative of his performance, but I think this is just a problem of the roster just being way too crowded at this point.

With new captain Doug Weightreturning from injury, Rob Schremp ready to step into the lineup, along with Frans Neilsen about two weeks away from returning, something just has got to give.

Rechlicz is a young player who needs the regular ice time (and the fighting experience) that he will surely get down in the minors.