NHL FanHouse

Islanders vs. Devils Live Blog

Christopher Botta — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

The Devils are a perfect 7-0 on the road this year, but a pedestrian 2-4 at The Rock in Newark, where they'll be hosting the Islanders Friday night. After six straight losses to open the season, the Isles have won four out of their last five behind John Tavares, who has four points in that stretch. FanHouse's Christopher Botta is live-blogging the Atlantic Division contest from the time the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.

&lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=7ac6a3e17c" &gt;New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils&lt;/a&gt;

Islanders vs. Devils Live Blog originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marian Gaborik Out Against the Islanders

Christopher Botta — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Rangers, NHL Injuries

UNIONDALE, NY -- New York Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik will miss Wednesday night's game against the Islanders. Gaborik suffered what appeared to be a leg injury in the third period of New York's win over Phoenix on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

"He won't be playing tonight," Rangers coach John Tortorella said after Wednesday's morning skate at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. "I'm not going to get into what he has."

Tortorella said Gaborik's injury is not related to the hip, groin and back ailments that forced the All-Star to miss 65 games in 2008-09, his last season with the Minnesota Wild. The coach also said, "I have no idea" when asked when Gaborik will be able to return to the lineup. The Rangers' next game after facing the Islanders is on Friday in Minnesota.

In Gaborik's absence, New York recalled forward P.A. Parenteau from Hartford. The 26-year-old Parenteau leads the American Hockey League with eight goals this season and is tied for first in AHL scoring with 14 points.

Tortorella said the loss of Gaborik, "doesn't change anything." The coach casually said he has to add a player to the Rangers' power play and "other guys get bumped up." He pointed out that "four or five guys" have struggled offensively and this was an opportunity for them to step up. Rangers captain Chris Drury and alternate Ryan Callahan each have two goals and three assists in 12 games. Left wing Christopher Higgins has no goals and two assists in 12 games.

Marian Gaborik Out Against the Islanders originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five Steps to a Capitals Comeback

Christopher Botta — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Islanders, NHL Press Box

UNIONDALE, NY -- What does a Stanley Cup contender do when nothing is working, their feisty underdog of an opponent is giving them fits and they're down 2-0 with 15 minutes left in the game? To hear the Washington Capitals tell it after coming back to beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Saturday night, a few things.

More: Cherry Rips Ovechkin Again

Be Aggressive: "The coaching staff told us before the third they wanted all the defensemen rushing the puck and getting it deep," said veteran blueliner Tom Poti. "There shouldn't be any wasted time in the neutral zone."

Defenseman Mike Green scored at 6:02 of the third period to close the gap to 2-1. Although the Islanders out-shot the Capitals 16-8 in the third period, the stat is misleading. While the Islanders had their chances to put the game away, Washington had a significant territorial edge in the final 10 minutes.

Get Angry: The Islanders won most of the one-one-battles through two periods and the game was chippy, with star wing Alexander Ovechkin engaging in personal battles with Andy Sutton, Sean Bergenheim, Jon Sim and Radek Martinek during the game and after whistles. Emotions boiled over when Islanders center Nate Thompson put a penalized knee-on-knee hit on Green, who was hobbled but stayed in the game.

"When Mike scored that goal," said Washington coach Bruce Boudreau, "you could tell how badly he wanted it, how badly he wanted to win. He got mad, like 'What the heck, let's win this game.' He played like he's capable of playing. For me, he was the best defenseman in the league last season."

Pray for Goaltending: A 1-0 Islanders lead after the first period could have been a lot more if the home team finished their chances and Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore didn't make several key stops.

"They really came hard and out-worked us," said Theodore. "As a goalie, especially with the talent we have, you just want to keep it close."

Said Boudreau: "I was thinking on the bench, Jose has played so well for us with not much to show for it. Let's win one for him."

Make Adjustments: Mid-way through the game, Boudreau split up Ovechkin and veteran right wing Mike Knuble. "I didn't see the chemistry," said the coach. "They were fighting the puck. I thought it was best for Knuble and Alex."

Keith Aucoin, just called up from the AHL, scored on a scramble near the crease off Islanders second-year center Josh Bailey to make it 2-2. Assists were credited to Ovechkin and Jeff Schultz.

Never Quit: Less than 10 minutes after scoring the overtime goal to give Washington the win, Capitals center Brooks Laich made it clear that the Islanders gave his team all they had.

"We have a lot of respect for that team," said Laich. "They work hard and are extremely well-coached. Teams talk a lot about working hard, but I don't think you can say that for every team in this league. The Islanders do. There's a reason five of our last seven games against them have gone to overtime."

Laich wasn't aware of the Islanders' recent tendency for blowing third period leads (New York is now 1-0-3 this season when leading after two periods). But he did think the Islanders could be taken.

"On the ice you could see fatigue in their faces in the third when we started carrying the play," said Laich. "They looked a little tired."

Boudreau cited the Islanders having played their third game in four nights, but his pride over his team's comeback out-weighed any disappointment in their disjointed first 30 minutes.

"Any time your team comes back from down 2-0 in the NHL, you're happy," said Boudreau. "It means you never quit."

Five Steps to a Capitals Comeback originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boudreau Defends Fined Ovechkin

Christopher Botta — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Islanders, NHL Discipline

UNIONDALE, NY -- Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau came to the defense of Alex Ovechkin on Saturday morning, after the superstar forward was fined $1,000 for his alleged "slew-foot" of Atlanta's Rich Peverley on Thursday.

"It's a dangerous play, so I'm glad the league is looking at those things," said Boudreau. "But I don't think whatever Alex does there is ever with the thought of injury. I don't think anything he does is malicious."

After the Capitals' morning skate on Saturday in preparation for a game on Long Island against the Islanders, Ovechkin seemed both relieved and a bit embarrassed.

On the lack of suspension, Ovechkin said, "It is good I don't miss any games." But on the play and the fine he said, "It is a bad situation for me and I don't look good right now."

After a rare point-less performance in Washington's 5-4 win in Atlanta Thursday, coupled with the league punishment, Ovechkin is primed for the game against the Islanders. For the second straight game he'll be without linemate and master playmaker Alexander Semin, said by Boudreau to be "sick and sore." Semin did not make the trip but skated Saturday at the team's practice facility in Virginia. "He's doing better," reported Boudreau.

Saturday night is the first head-to-head meeting in the NHL between Ovechkin and Islanders' 2009 first overall pick John Tavares. Ovechkin told FanHouse that he has met Tavares once -- at the 2008 World Championships in Quebec City. "He's a great guy," said Ovechkin. "He loves to play hockey -- which is the most important thing."

Tavares returned the compliment from his fellow first overall pick: "He loves the game and he loves to show it. His passion is incredible."

Ovechkin said he hasn't seen Tavares play in the NHL yet, but knows the 19-year-old will be a good player. "He was the first overall pick," said Ovechkin. "He has to be good."

Boudreau Defends Fined Ovechkin originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Pairing Off

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Flames, Hurricanes, Islanders, Oilers, Wild, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Sometimes, one fight just isn't good enough. Such was the case in Calgary recently, as the Flames and Canucks met for one of six matchups between the division rivals this season. It took just 2:32 for two fights to break out. Even though there were two good scraps going on at once, there was a clear winner for our Fight of the Week honors.

Beatdown of the Week: David Koci vs. Derek Boogaard

Boogaard missed the first few games of the season, and he hasn't had many opportunities to drop the gloves. In fact, this fight with Koci was his first of the season. Needless to say, the Wild fan favorite didn't look very rusty, as he quickly and decisively polished off Koci.

Runner Up: Rick Rypien vs. Zack Stortini

If we measured the quality of a fight simply by counting the number of punches thrown, this one would be a solid candidate for the best fight of the season. However, the problem is that Rypien appeared to throw the vast majority of the punches, and Stortini struggled to get any shots in.

Runner Up: Scott Walker vs. Brendan Witt

Walker is a proven tough guy in this league, and this looked like a bit of a mismatch when it started. The heavily-tattooed Witt held his own, however, and helped turn this into a very entertaining fight. In the end, though, it's hard to argue against this being anything but a decisive win for Walker.

Fight(s) of the Week: Darcy Hordichuk vs. Brian McGrattan/Tanner Glass vs. Brandon Prust

The Prust/Glass fight was pretty solid, but it doesn't hold a candle to McGrattan battling Hordichuk. The two exchanged some solid blows right up to the end, which came when McGrattan absolutely leveled Hordichuk with a right. Prust and Glass got off to a fast start, but it quickly turned into a wrestling match on ice. The linesmen broke it up when they were up against the glass for too long.

Fight of the Week: Pairing Off originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders Notch First Win in Shootout

Christopher Botta — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:25:00 EST

Filed under: Hurricanes, Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders joined the ranks of the NHL's teams with victories this season when they went 3-for-3 in the shootout to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Monday night at Nassau Coliseum.

"It's a relief," said Islanders coach Scott Gordon.

The 0-6-1 Maple Leafs are now the league's only winless team. Toronto's next game is Saturday in Vancouver. The Islanders (1-3-3) play Thursday in Montreal.

Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen and John Tavares scored the three shootout goals for the Islanders against Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward. Dwayne Roloson allowed one to Jussi Jokinen but stopped Sergei Samsonov. Up 2-1 in the shootout, Tavares's goal sealed the second point for the Islanders.

"I wanted to make sure I sold the fake," said Tavares, "and got the puck up and under the crossbar."

The Islanders' first win of the season was not without drama. Leading 3-1 midway through the third period, the Islanders appeared to be riding all the momentum after killing a penalty to Andy Sutton, who looked for revenge after Carolina's Andrew Alberts hit Tavares with an unpenalized late hit. Instead the Islanders' penchant for blowing third period leads continued when Eric Staal scored at 14:01 and Jokinen followed up at 15:03 to tie the game.

"A perfect way to end the game would have been at 3-1," said Sutton. "But I thought we kept our composure and finished the game strong. We've worked hard since the start of the season and have had our share of bad luck. We'll take a win any way we can, and we'll enjoy it and see if we can string a few together."

The Islanders were led in regulation by their high-skilled youngsters like Tavares and Kyle Okposo, but also by gritty and clutch performances by several of their grinders and by Sutton. The 6-6 Sutton, encouraged by head coach Scott Gordon to skate and move the puck despite his reputation as a stay-at-homer, collected a goal and assist.

Sutton's assist came on a first period goal by Matt Moulson, who said the big defenseman "looked like Paul Coffey" on the play. The Islanders took a 3-1 lead on a pair of goals less than a minute apart in the to middle of the second period by fourth-line right wing Tim Jackman (off a nice feed from checking center Nate Thompson) and Sutton, who was fed by unheralded young defenseman Jack Hillen.

With play-making center Frans Nielsen off injured reserve and making his season debut, Gordon was able to roll four effective lines. Still, the Islanders were not able to hold the two-goal lead late in the third period.

"We didn't quit," said Gordon. "The bench was lively. It was more like, 'Let's go get this.' "

Perhaps they just wanted to put the puck on their franchise phenom's stick in the shootout with the game on the line.
"It's great to be part of my first win in the NHL, but it's really special for everybody," said Tavares. "Everyone has given all they have to the team and we've just come up short. Now that we finally have our first win, we have to get on a roll and get into the Eastern Conference picture."

Islanders Notch First Win in Shootout originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2-on-1: Teams Without a Win

Adam Gretz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Maple Leafs

Every Monday during the season, two of our hockey writers will debate one topic. It's the 2-on-1. This week, Adam Gretz and Bruce Ciskie talk about the two teams without a win (the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs) and end up focusing on what's wrong with the Leafs?

Adam Gretz: OK, Bruce, we have two teams without a win, the Islanders and the Maple Leafs: Which team gets a win first?

Bruce Ciskie: That's easy. Has to be the Islanders. After all, they're too young to understand how bad they are, and therefore are generally still trying most of the time. The Maple Leafs have ridden their outstanding veteran defense to an intolerably bad start, and it looks like their spirit is broken. Plus, the Islanders play two games before Toronto plays again. Yes, I cheated.

Gretz: The Islanders have at least been competitive on most nights. Prior to their game with San Jose, every loss was a one-goal loss, and three of them were in a shootout or overtime. So they've been close.

But, admit it, you didn't expect Toronto to stumble this bad out of the gate, did you? Did anybody? I didn't have them as a playoff team before the season started, but I at least figured the Leafs would hang around in the race for the No. 8 spot. And, granted, they still could, but it hasn't been a very inspiring start, that's for sure.

Ciskie: No way did I expect this. Burke added some guys on the blue line that I figured would make them better defensively, and while I knew they would miss Phil Kessel until he was ready to play, it looked like there was enough talent up front to keep the team competitive until he returned.

Instead, the defense has been terrible, the goaltending is worse, and there hasn't been nearly enough offense. I'm not one to second-guess Brian Burke, but shouldn't he be considering bringing up a forward from the Marlies who can at least present a goal scoring threat? It's nice to have attitude, but it does you no good when no one on your team can score.

Gretz: Obviously, it's still very, very, very, very, very, very early, but the team that has to be laughing the hardest at Toronto's early struggles is the Boston Bruins with that first-round pick (Taylor Hall!) sitting in their possession. I mean, obviously Toronto needs to get Kessel in the lineup, and they could probably get better goaltending from Goldberg of Mighty Ducks fame than what they're getting out of Vesa Toskala and Joey MacDonald, but is the return of Kessel and "The Monster" going to be enough to get this team out of this funk?

That's a lot of pressure on two guys, especially one guy that has two NHL games under his belt.

Ciskie: Unless you think Jiri Tlusty is the answer to solving their offensive problems, you better believe in Kessel.

As for The Monster, well he did look better than either MacDonald or Toskala. Not that I'm saying very much there.

Reality is that neither of these teams look like they're going to be a serious playoff contender. That's not exactly surprising, because we all knew there was still work to be done, but what is really surprising about Toronto is that they just aren't competing consistently. It's the one aspect of this team I thought Burke would be able to fix. So far, no dice, because they look like the same crappy, loafing bunch that he said wouldn't watch again after last year.

Gretz: The thing is, they were a top-10 team in goals scored a year ago, and, on paper anyway, seemed to upgrade their defense. It's just a very confusing team so far. The only positive is they have plenty of time on their side to get this thing back in the right direction (and I still think they will!).

2-on-1: Teams Without a Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tavares Scores, Sid Shows How to Win

Christopher Botta — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:50:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Penguins

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The kid didn't even try to act cool.

Immediately after backhanding the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury at 7:01 of the second period for his first NHL goal, John Tavares joyfully pointed toward the hysterical home crowd and jumped into the arms of linemate Matt Moulson. The 2009 first overall pick didn't have to act like he'd been there before. He hadn't.

What a scene.

More Coverage: Islanders Owner Says He'll Listen to Other Cities

This is the way Tavares and the Islanders would have drawn it up if they had the chance. Send a message that the Islanders belong on Long Island. Place the puck near the goalmouth and on the stick of the 19-year old with the golden hands and cherish the delirium that ensues as it sails into the net. Defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in front of an overflow crowd ...

(CUE: RECORD SCRATCH SOUND EFFECT)

Okay, so it didn't all wrap up neatly into one big happy ending, like an episode of "Entourage." The Penguins, proving that champions don't take a night off even after raising their banner, came back twice, scored a heartbreaking goal with under four minutes left in regulation and defeated the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout.

Still, in a league where even losing teams can pick up a point in the standings, John Tavares had made his.

"Awesome" was how the 19-year old described the reaction of his teammates and the home fans to his goal. The moment was extra special for Tavares because the first assist came from Moulson, a lifelong family friend from Ontario, and because his mother, father and sister were in the stands. "They sacrificed so much for me to get here," he said.

Tavares carried the right balance of pride in his one-goal, one-assist performance Saturday night and his disappointment at the final result. You get the feeling the last time Tavares will be just happy to be here was his first NHL game. The opening ceremonies and milestones behind him, the 19-year old has plenty of other goals in mind. "I think this franchise is going to continue to build and get better and even this year we might surprise some people," he said. "There is a lot of talent here."

Tavares and the Islanders would be wise to look back on this game as a lesson taught by their masterful opponents. The Penguins raised their Stanley Cup banner during an emotional celebration Friday night in Pittsburgh, then defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in an often grueling battle. No one would have batted an eye if Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma, after his team landed on Long Island and crawled into their hotel beds early Saturday morning, told his players to simply show up two hours before the faceoff against the Islanders.

Instead, Bylsma and the Penguins were at the Coliseum for the traditional hockey morning skate. Picture the NFL's Adrian Peterson taking a pounding in a big Vikings win over a division rival on Sunday night, then putting the pads on Monday morning for a workout and playing another game that night. This is essentially what Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Penguins did in a 24-hour span.

"They are our young leaders," said Pittsburgh veteran Bill Guerin, captain of the Islanders last season. "They work so hard. What you saw tonight is what great players and leaders do. Our effort was there, but for two periods our execution wasn't. With Sid and Geno leading, we didn't stop working until the final horn."

Crosby had a goal, an assist and the second of two Penguins goals in the shootout, which they won 2-0 to take home the second point. Bylsma's decision to treat the Islanders' game as a serious business trip - "We didn't want a hangover," he said - paid off. The team that should have been drained out-shot the rested-since-April Islanders in the third period, 18-5.

"It wasn't so much the flash and the tic-tac-toe plays," said Bylsma. "It was getting off our knees, fighting for possession, winning pucks. That's what sets the tempo and tonight our leaders set it."

Islanders head coach Scott Gordon was not in much of a mood to herald his opponents as role models in work ethic. He chose to focus on his own team in his post-game briefing, calling the Islanders' need to learn how to win "a process" and saying last year's 30th-place finish "was as low as we can possibly go."

For his part, John Tavares - NHL veteran of one game, recent former fan - tipped his hat to the Penguins for their gritty comeback. "That's why they're the Stanley Cup champions," he said. "We're going to be in a lot of close games like tonight. We can learn from this."

Just watch Crosby and company in the the third period. It's all on the tape.

Tavares Scores, Sid Shows How to Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders Owner: I'll Listen to Other Cities

Christopher Botta — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:43:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- With his deadline for politicians to give him certainty on the Lighthouse Project about to pass, Islanders owner Charles Wang announced Saturday night that he is exploring options for his New York Islanders.

Saying he is "angry," disappointed" and "disgusted," the Islanders owner revealed that for the first time he is faced with the reality of the Islanders leaving Nassau County. "And that is very sad," he said.

"I asked (Kate Murray) to keep it confidential, so we're not going back and forth in public. I picked up the newspaper today and there it was." Wang shared his discontent and plans in a media briefing just prior to the Islanders' season opener at home against Pittsburgh. Dropping the puck in a ceremonial faceoff is Tom Suozzi, the Nassau County Executive who has led the Lighthouse Project to county approval with its developers, Wang and Scott Rechler. However, it is the Town of Hempstead that Wang blames for stalling the progress of the transformation of the Coliseum and surrounding property.

The Islanders owner was even bitter about Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray's decision to share the details of a recent conversation with him with Newsday, the Long Island newspaper. "I asked her to keep it confidential," he said, "so we're not going back and forth in public. I picked up the newspaper today and there it was."

So now Wang is open to courtships from outside municipalities, refusing to name possible sites. (FanHouse has reported that at least six cities are interested in bringing in the Islanders, including Queens and Brooklyn). Asked if he would prioritize a meeting with the Town of Hempstead or an outside suitor, Wang said, "There's time to do both. Enjoy the journey."

But he will listen. "It's not what I want," said Wang. "But it's not like they are giving me many choices."

Islanders Owner: I'll Listen to Other Cities originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to the NHL, John Tavares. Here's Sidney Crosby.

Christopher Botta — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Penguins, NHL Press Box

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- When the NHL schedule was released in July, John Tavares could not help but notice the opponent for his National Hockey League debut. Not looking to break in the 2009 first overall pick easily, the hockey gods matched up his Islanders with the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

"Sure, I noticed it," Tavares said with a smile Saturday after the Islanders' morning skate at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. "It doesn't make it any easier, that's for sure. This is going to be quite a challenge, but I'm excited for it."

On the other side of the faceoff dot Saturday night will be Sidney Crosby, former Canadian junior sensation turned international hockey icon at the ripe age of 22. While the expectations for Tavares are not quite in the stratosphere as the ones Crosby faced -- and has already matched -- the Islanders' center is facing a role model tonight.

"You watch the way he has handled things, the way he plays," Tavares said of Crosby, "and you learn from it. His influence is big on me."

Crosby remembers his NHL debut four years ago, a loss in New Jersey. "My first shift, I had a really good scoring chance and missed," he recalled today after the Penguins' workout. "I skated back to the bench and thought, 'It could be worse.' We lost the game, but I'll remember the experience forever." His advice for Tavares? "Enjoy it. Your NHL career is not going to be judged on this one game."

The curtain opens on Tavares' career tonight as the Islanders attempt to keep those expectations at a reasonable level. "You have to understand he's 19," said coach Scott Gordon. "We have to let John grow into a superstar. We don't want to give him the burden of saving the franchise."

The young center will play tonight on a line with potential star right wing Kyle Okposo and former Kings farmhand Matt Moulson to his left. But you could not blame Tavares for looking straight ahead a few times. In Crosby, Tavares can see what it's like to have the weight of the league and a town on your shoulders, and carry it with excellence and grace.

Penguins' Projected Lineup
Forwards
Matt Cooke - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy
Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Bill Guerin
Ruslan Fedotenko - Evgeni Malkin - Pascal Dupuis
Mike Rupp - Craig Adams - Eric Godard
Defensemen
Brooks Orpik - Sergei Gonchar
Mark Eaton - Kris Letang
Jay McKee - Alex Goligoski
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury
(Brent Johnson)

Islanders' Projected Lineup
Forwards
Matt Moulson - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo
Jon Sim - Josh Bailey - Trent Hunter
Jeff Tambellini - Richard Park - Sean Bergenheim
Joel Rechlicz - Nate Thompson - Tim Jackman
Defensemen
Mark Streit - Bruno Gervais
Brendan Witt - Radek Martinek
Freddy Meyer - Andy Sutton
Goalies
Dwayne Roloson
(Martin Biron)

Game Notes: Pittsburgh's scratches will likely be W Chris Bourque and D Martin Skoula ... Max Talbot (offseason shoulder surgery) is not expected to return to the lineup for two months. Alex Goligoski, an offensive defenseman prospect on the verge of a breakout, was arguably the Penguins' best defenseman throughout training camp and had two points in the team's 3-2 win in their home opener against the Rangers on Friday night.

Islanders scratches are forwards Doug Weight, Rob Schremp, Blake Comeau and defenseman Jack Hillen. Weight, named captain on Thursday, is coming back from a groin injury and Gordon does not want to push the veteran back too soon. The Islanders' second game of the season is not until Thursday in Ottawa. Dwayne Roloson gets the start in goal.

Welcome to the NHL, John Tavares. Here's Sidney Crosby. originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The John Tavares Handbook

Christopher Botta — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, FanHouse Exclusive

John Tavares is serious. As he prepares to make his NHL debut on Saturday night when the Islanders host Pittsburgh, the 2009 first overall pick has reminded observers of Derek Jeter in his approach. Everything is about team. Nothing is about him. Tavares is friendly and hospitable but he isn't going to post on Twitter or fill a reporter's notebook. In other words, Tavares has been a coach's dream -- which is what a 19-year-old who hasn't played a game in the NHL should be.

Without dazzling quotes from the young man himself, FanHouse spoke with several people around Tavares and the NHL to talk about the player and his highly-anticipated rookie season. We'll check in with Tavares, too.

NHL FanHouse Season Preview:
Season Predictions | Other Predictions
Hot Seat Coaches | Coaches in Waiting
Ray Shero Discusses Life After the Stanley Cup
The John Tavares Handbook

The Head Coach -- Scott Gordon

"When we drafted John, I broke down nine of his games from last season in the Ontario League. There was a lot of skepticism about his ability away from the offensive zone. To be honest with you, I looked and looked and didn't see a lot of evidence of that. He was very reliable. His instincts in the 'D' zone were strong.

In our preseason games so far, I've counted all of two defensive errors. One was a turnover that he recognized before we addressed it. The other was a mis-read on coverage. I'm very pleased with his all-around play.

Now that I've watched him every day for more than two weeks, the thing that jumps out at me is how hard he is to knock off the puck. I've seen some of our big guys try to move him and John just doesn't budge. His competitiveness is equaled by his ability around the net. There just aren't many players around who can do what he can in the offensive zone.

I know there will be a lot of talk about numbers for John, but for me the statistics -- especially in the first half -- are secondary. I want to see him progressing as a hockey player every week. If he does, and as a team we do our jobs, John is going to be fine."

******

The Agent -- Pat Brisson

"John is only focused on his NHL career. After he was drafted, I sat down with (GM) Garth Snow and later on I met with some of their PR and marketing people. Everyone is on the same page. The only thing that is important is John's development on the ice. Garth has a strong grasp of this and has been very supportive. The franchise has been outstanding to deal with.

"Never mind 19-year-olds; I don't see many 30-year-olds with the skills John has. As his career continues, his development is going to come down to his will to be the best player night in and night out. ... This is something I know John understands." -- Martin Biron Of course, there are going to be opportunities for John. He has endorsement deals with CCM and Reebok. I know the Islanders were working on a merchandising deal where fans could take their tickets from opening night and the team will insert the ticket into different kinds of collectible collages based around John's NHL debut. All of that stuff is nice. Nothing wrong with that.

John has taken part in some media training with a company I work with at CAA called Game On. John had a session in Los Angeles and another one with (Colorado third overall pick) Matt Duchene. The training is about spreading the right messages and being comfortable. From everything I've seen so far, John has done well with the press demands. He understands the importance of the coverage.

The way I approach it, my job is not just about negotiating contracts. It's on me to have John in a position where he is able to perform at his best. By working with the Islanders, I believe we have done that so far and I'm excited to see John get started in the NHL."

******

The Cagey Teammate -- Martin Biron

"I was watching John on the power play at practice today and noticed his stance along the half-wall. He had his head up and stick rockered on the ice. The way he was positioned reminded me of Alexei Kovalev. I said to a few of the guys, 'Hey, doesn't he kind of look like Kovy on the power play?' Ah, maybe it's just me.

What you want to see from John is a progression. His goals will come. There isn't even any question about that. The key for him is starting at a level and then by the end of the season playing at a much higher level. From what I see of his work ethic and commitment at practice, he's going to get better and better.

I have to tell you, I didn't know Tavares at all when we first got to training camp in Saskatoon. But I've spent a lot of time around him the last few weeks, and he's just a tremendous guy. Not just as his teammate and friend but as a hockey fan, I'm excited to watch him this season.

Early on, John is going to stand out because of his talent. Never mind 19-year-olds; I don't see many 30-year-olds with the skills John has. As his career continues, his development is going to come down to his will to be the best player night in and night out. Look at Crosby and Ovechkin. They are unbelievable talents, but what separates them and Malkin from the pack is their heart and soul. This is something I know John understands."

******

The Goal Scoring Legend-in-Residence -- Mike Bossy

"John possesses three elements that will help him to succeed in the National Hockey League: vision, talent and desire.

When you're forecasting a hockey season, there are so many unknowns. The biggest, of course, is injuries. You hope John stays healthy, and you hope the players Scott Gordon has planned to be on his line or with him on the power play stay healthy because you want that continuity.

I believe John has too much talent to not score at least 25 goals in his rookie season."

******

The Stanley Cup-winning Analyst -- Peter Laviolette

"I would think 15-20 goals would be a reasonable amount for a first-year player like Tavares, who's known as a goal-scorer. If you want an exact number, put me down for 18 goals.

It's difficult for young players to come in and play against men and experience the same success they did in junior or college. Eric Staal scored 11 goals his first year in the NHL in 81 games. In the AHL during the lockout, Eric's numbers increased and his confidence started to grow. It was in his third year of pro that he blossomed in the NHL with 45 goals and 100 points. He learned about the league and how to compete and be successful. He became stronger physically and played a more important role because of his experience. He went from fourth-line minutes to first-line minutes with power play.

Growth and maturity bring success. It is more difficult, although not impossible to be a goal-scoring impact player as a rookie. John will score a lot of goals in this league and maybe he does it this year, but history says there will be a learning curve."

******

The Celebrity Friend and Fan -- Kevin ("E") Connolly of Entourage

"When John came to Los Angeles over the summer, we went out to lunch. I'm friends with his agent, and he set it up. John's an impressive young guy. I was raised on Long Island so I was telling him stuff like, 'You should really check out this place,' but I had to remind myself the guy is only 19 during training camp. He can't get into some of the places I suggested.

You can tell he's mature, ready to handle whatever's ahead. He's already been a big deal in Canada. He's prepared for stardom. I'm really excited about him being on our team for a long time. I'm coming back to the Island for his NHL debut on Saturday."

******

The Press Box Predictions

Pierre McGuire, TSN, NBC and SI: "John's going to do very well in his rookie season. I have no doubt about it at all. He will score more than 20 goals."

Billy Jaffe, Islanders and VERSUS color commentator: "Twenty-four goals is my number for John Tavares. I'm very impressed by his work ethic and his dedication to improve at this level. Inside the blueline, he is phenomenal."

Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy editor: "I'm not convinced yet that Tavares will be one of those rookies that makes an immediate impact without a solid push from his linemates, a.k.a. someone who 'makes his linemates better.' So Tavares's success will be predicated on the play of guys like Sean Bergenheim and (my fantasy team-willing) Kyle Okposo. Point prediction? Based on past No. 1s, less than Sidney (102) but more than Patrick Kane (72). I'd say in the 80-point range."

Jim "Boomer" Gordon, NHL Home Ice mid-day host: "The forecast is gloomy. I have always felt that Tavares was overrated in junior, and I believe he will struggle in his first season on the Island. Steven Stamkos had around 23 goals and 46 points in his first season and I think Tavares will struggle to match that target. Seventeen goals and 36 points is my uneducated guess."

******

The Young Man of the Hour -- John Tavares

"My season is going to be judged by how much team success we have. That's all that matters. There are a lot of areas of my game that I have to work on if I'm going to be effective at the NHL level. I'm going to need guidance from the coaches and leadership from my teammates. We will grow together.

The coaches have been great to work with, giving me extra time and instruction on the ice and breaking down video with me. We look at the positives and the negatives. This is a new system for me. Most of the guys know it from last year. I'm getting there, but I'm sure there will be some bumps along the way. The key for me will be putting any slumps or frustrating times behind me. I know there will be tough stretches, so I'm prepared to deal with them and focus on doing my best in the next game.

I understand people are going to make predictions. That's one of the fun things about sports. I'm a sports fan, too. It's just not my place to make one about myself. The truth is, I've never set personal goals for points or anything like that. If you do, you're setting limits."

The John Tavares Handbook originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weight Makes Tavares Feel at Home

Christopher Botta — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, FanHouse Exclusive

Doug Weight, his wife Allison and their three children live on the North Shore of Long Island. For the next month or so, the NHL veteran and his family will be joined in their house by a teenager: 2009 first overall pick John Tavares.

"They've made me feel right at home," said Tavares. "Some home-cooked meals, a nice family to be with. It really was a kind gesture by Doug and his wife."

Weight roomed with Tavares when the Islanders spent the first 10 days of training camp in Saskatoon. The 38-year-old Weight and 19-year-old Tavares struck a friendship almost immediately. When Weight heard that his young teammate was delayed from moving into the place he rented, he got the green light from Allison and extended the invitation.

The veteran center also remembered the leadership he received as a young player with the Oilers. This was a chance to pay it forward.

"Kelly Buchberger and his family took me into their home in Edmonton when I started there," said Weight. "Their kindness had a big impact on me and helped me with being able to focus on the game. Kelly was so good to me, I stayed the entire season. Every month I'd tell him, 'No really, I'm looking for a place. I'll be out of here any day now.' The truth was, I didn't want to go anywhere else."

Weight was very happy when Tavares accepted his offer. "You never know how a young man like John is going to react," said Weight. "I didn't want him to move in just because he thought it might hurt our feelings if he said no. But when I asked him at the end of camp in Saskatoon, he was genuinely excited about it. I don't think he wanted to stay in a hotel during his first month in the NHL. He was so appreciative. That made me feel good."

So on Thursday night, the teammates picked up Weight's children at their after-school activities and went home to grill some steaks. "A night like that, just relaxing with friends and having a great meal, I can't thank Doug and his family enough," said Tavares. Said Weight, "John's a big part of our franchise, but he's just a terrific, humble kid. Allison and I want him to feel comfortable. And besides, my kids love having John around."

Hmmm ... is it possible the cagey veteran has an ulterior motive?

"Well," said Weight with a laugh, "John doesn't know this yet, but he's going to be doing some babysitting. There's also a lot of youth hockey and soccer practices he'll need to be at."

Weight Makes Tavares Feel at Home originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Farewell Tour for Brendan Shanahan

Christopher Botta — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:02:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Islanders, FanHouse Exclusive

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- There won't be a final season tour for Brendan Shanahan. "I don't think I'd get any pre-game flowers from the other team," he said.

There won't be any premature announcements of retirement. "I don't think that's a good idea," said Shanahan with a smile. "You don't ever want to un-retire."

And you won't see the 22-year veteran purposefully avoiding the rigors of training camp. "Nah. Camp is hard for all the players, but it's helpful."

Shanahan, one of 12 players in NHL history to play more than 1,500 games, does not know when his last season will be. He politely declined a request from FanHouse to declare whether 2009-10 would be his final NHL season.

"I honestly don't know either way," the right wing said before his New Jersey Devils played a preseason game against the Islanders on Wednesday. "It could be my last season, but I could also play a few more years."

"You get in trouble when you're chirping all the time. It doesn't work if you always have something to say."The 40-year-old Shanahan has signed one-year contracts each season since the lockout of '03-04. This has been by design.

"I've had two-year offers, but I've preferred to go one season at a time at this stage of my career," he said. "The way the CBA works, teams have some cap flexibility signing players older than 35. For me, earning a contract year after year is motivating. Plus, if the season goes poorly for me or the team is not happy, you're not locked into a second year."

After joining the Devils -- the franchise that drafted him second overall in 1987 -- as a free agent for the second half of last season, Shanahan's first choice was to return to New Jersey for season 22. His teammates were happy to receive a full year of education from one of the top leaders of this generation.

"Brendan's been in every situation in the league and he knows how to handle them," said Devils fourth-year center Travis Zajac. "The thing he does best is keep everyone calm when we're getting too high or too low. He's not a loud or talkative guy. He really picks his spots when he says something in the room or to you individually. So when he has something to say, everyone listens."

Shanahan almost bristles at the concept of locker room loudmouths. "You get in trouble when you're chirping all the time," he said. "It doesn't work if you always have something to say." With Jamie Langenbrunner returning as captain and a roster with veterans such as Martin Brodeur, Brian Rolston, Colin White and Patrik Elias, the Devils do not lack for leadership. "You don't have to play a long time to be a leader," Shanahan said. "We have a room full of guys who are natural leaders."

Zajac, with 51 goals over his first three NHL seasons, said he marvels at Shanahan's approach at the rink. "Here's a guy who has over 650 NHL goals and he's out there every day working on his shot," said Zajak. "As a guy who wants to score more, I watch him at work. He has that incredible release, but he seems to do something different with every shot. He still has it."

Whether Shanahan will be sniping beyond this year is anyone's guess, especially his. "I'll know at the end of whenever my final season is -- not the beginning of the next one," said Shanahan, who lives in Manhattan. "It will be a gut instinct. It will come down to love of the game and whether I'm confident I can play at a level that's more than acceptable for me."

ETC: The Devils defeated the Islanders 4-2. Yann Danis made 20 saves for New Jersey, Martin Biron 27 for New York. There were approximately 4,000 fans in attendance for the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum debut of 2009 first overall pick John Tavares, who had one assist on a goal by Matt Moulson. Announced attendance was 8,256.

Islanders RW Trent Hunter suffered a strained pectoral muscle in the team's preseason game in Kansas City on Tuesday night and is listed by the team as day-to-day. Forwards Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim are out with groin strains and have begun skating with the hope of returning to practice by next week. Devils C Patrik Elias underwent what the team termed "minor" groin surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined anywhere from 3-6 weeks.

The Islanders have yet to release a prognosis on the health of second-year RW Kyle Okposo, who suffered a concussion after a crushing center-ice check by Calgary's Dion Phaneuf in a preseason game last Thursday. On Monday, Okposo -- possibly on the verge of his breakout season -- returned to New York from the team's training camp in Saskatoon.

FanHouse asked Brendan Shanahan, who suffered a concussion in February of 2007 in a collision with the Flyers' Mike Knuble, for his advice to Okposo. "Thankfully, I've had just one in my career, but it was a serious one," said Shanahan. "The key thing I'd tell him is, when you think you're ready, you're probably not. I was cleared to play and I felt like I could play. But each week after I came back I'd think, 'Wow. I feel much better than I did last week.' Maybe I shouldn't have come back when I did. After the concussion, I had vertigo for a month. It is a serious, serious injury. You have to take your time with it."

No Farewell Tour for Brendan Shanahan originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders One Step Closer to Hiring Moving Vans

Christopher Botta — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:28:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, FanHouse Exclusive

The New York Islanders franchise completed a monumental Tuesday. While the hockey team played an exhibition game in Kansas City, Islanders owner Charles Wang took part in a 10-hour zoning hearing for the Lighthouse Project, his proposed development of the Nassau Coliseum property.

When it was all over, the Islanders were one day closer to welcoming invitations from municipalities outside Nassau County, and Kansas City had failed miserably in its attempt to make an impression.

The Islanders and Los Angeles Kings played an exhibition game Tuesday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. While Islanders players and coaches were wowed by the facility, the 50-percent-capacity crowd at the game did nothing to stamp the great Missouri city as a serious contender for an NHL franchise. The Islanders even scratched 2009 first overall pick John Tavares, saving him for the team's game against the Devils Wednesday on Long Island.

With the Kansas City event hitting with a thud, the No. 1 story was at Hofstra University from 9 in the morning until 9 at night. There, Wang and co-developer Scott Rechler absorbed a steady stream of questions and complaints from Town of Hempstead officials about the Lighthouse Development. On more than a few occasions, tensions ran high -- including several "Let me finish!" fights. Frustrated by what Wang perceived as inappropriate comments from a town councilman, Wang said, "Please stop badgering our consultant."

As arguments were raised by advocates and opponents, the tension never left the room. When the hearing ended at 9 PM, Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray asked for those in favor of the Lighthouse Project to stand up. Approximately 95 percent of the auditorium did.

Wang told FanHouse Tuesday night that he has been committed to keeping the Islanders in Nassau County since he bought the franchise in 2000 and remains so, even after losing more than $20 million a year with an outdated facility and crippling lease. "Our group has been honest, we've worked hard, we've met our deadlines, we've invested a lot of money," said Wang. "We want this thing to go through."

However, the Islanders owner's deadline for "certainty" from the Town of Hempstead remains Oct. 3, the night of his team's season opener at home against Pittsburgh. With less than two weeks to go -- and after all the questions and animosity brought by the town board at Tuesday's marathon hearing -- it's impossible to envision Wang getting his answers. Lighthouse leaders point to approvals they have received from the Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works and their completion of an Environmental Impact Statement. Hempstead board members are not satisfied. Councilman Anthony Santino said the process was "like trying to nail Jell-o to a wall."

Lighthouse Development Corp. president Michael Picker told FanHouse Tuesday night that he's "proud" of his group's efforts to listen to the neighboring community and allow residents to shape the project. "There were some tense moments today," said Picker, "but that's to be expected. We have been successful in getting our message out for the last several years. The Town of Hempstead has more than 800,000 residents. With the exception of one civic association from one part of one village, there has never been any serious opposition. We'd like to believe our hosting of over 200 public meetings had something to do with it."

Picker, Wang and Rechler refuse to discuss in detail what happens in two weeks if Hempstead does not respond. Queens, Brooklyn and Kansas City are among eight municipalities that have expressed interest in the Islanders to the NHL. Southern Ontario is believed to be poking around. "I don't know," said Picker. "We want to stay optimistic. If the date passes we'll see."

The date will pass. After Oct. 3, the Islanders will listen to offers from any city that wants a National Hockey League franchise. The game of chicken continues.

Islanders One Step Closer to Hiring Moving Vans originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kansas City Star Has High Expectations For John Tavares

Adam Gretz — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Kings, NHL Media Watch

The New York Islanders are taking on the Los Angeles Kings in an exhibition game on Tuesday night at the brand new Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Since the town has been considered a possible landing spot for the Islanders if the lighthouse project falls though, forcing the team to consider other options, the local scribes in Kansas City are already hyping up the players in orange and blue to semi-ridiculous levels.

Take, for instance, the article written by Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star on Monday, particularly the paragraph discussing No. 1 overall draft pick John Tavares (who, by the way, will not be playing against the Kings on Tuesday):

Unfortunately for Kansas City, Tavares, a forward expected to be the next Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby rolled into one, won't be part of a split squad when the Islanders face the AEG-owned Los Angeles Kings at 7 tonight at the Sprint Center.

Emphasis mine. Look, we're all excited about Tavares, and speaking for myself, I hope he does for the Islanders (in New York) what Sidney Crosby did for Pittsburgh and what Alex Ovechkin did for Washington, but let's drop the ole hype machine a few notches here.

Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby? All rolled into one? We're all guilty of a little hyperbole now and then ... but wow.

I don't think I've ever read, or heard, such a comparison when discussing Tavares. At least not recently. Let's keep in mind that for as talented as Tavares is (and he's very talented), and for as much potential as he has (he has quite a bit), he wasn't even unanimously considered the No. 1 prospect in his own draft class. Some favored the No. 2 pick, Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, while there was a seemingly legitimate discussion as to whether or not the Islanders would even use the top pick on Tavares.

Of course, that's not to discredit Tavares and his abilities (like this, for example), just to point out that it's completely unrealistic, and a little unfair, to label him as somebody expected to be the next "Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby rolled into one."

Asking him to be "the next Crosby" might be too much on its own, but it's at least understandable. After all, Tavares dominated the OHL in a manner that was comparable to Crosby's dominance in the QMJHL. Plus, it's not out of the question for Tavares to possibly be the better goal-scorer in the long run, even if he's not the better overall player. But throwing in Gretzky, the guy that's considered to be one of the greatest hockey players of all-time (arguments for Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux are all perfectly acceptable) is just off the charts.

Kansas City Star Has High Expectations For John Tavares originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Much Is Too Much in Preseason?

Adam Gretz — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Islanders, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

One of the initial reactions that's been floating around in the wake of Dion Phaneuf's crushing hit on Kyle Okposo Thursday night has been something along the lines of: what in the name of all that is holy was Dion Phaneuf doing dishing out a hit like that in a preseason game? The NHL FanHouse staff instantly starting debating how much is too much when it comes to physical play during games that don't count in the standings.

Botta: Phaneuf Must Phace Music

Adam Gretz: I think it's a touchy subject. On one hand, I understand the argument that it's a preseason game, it doens't count, and in the overall grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter in the standings. That said, all of these guys are athletes and competitors, and from the first time they step on the ice they're trained -- programmed, if you will -- to win and destroy. Can you flip that switch when you step on the ice and say, "OK, this game doesn't count so I'm not going to light this guy up if he comes into my area like I would in December?"

On the other hand, it's not a meaningless game to every player on the ice. There are some guys out there fighting for roster spots and careers. Hell, in the Islanders-Flames game Theo Fleury, 41 years old, is fighting for a comeback. That's not just another preseason game to him.

Susan Slusser: It's reasonable to expect limited playing time for the big names, especially this early, and for maybe a little less heavy hitting -- again, especially this early. But Adam is right: flipping a switch can't be that easy. It's like guys with injuries who are told to go half-speed, then they go all-out and reaggravate the injury. It's tough to do.

That said, it's tough to see someone get smoked in a game that doesn't count. Injuries are going to happen in NHL and NFL preseason games, but you'd like to think most guys are playing with some awareness that the fellows on the other side aren'ts mortal enemies -- yet -- and no one needs to leave on a stretcher.

I don't want anyone to leave on a stretcher in the regular season, either, but at least you understand that the intensity is going to be higher. Bring it down a notch for the exhibition games. Even if someone's trying to win a roster spot, coaches are perfectly capable of judging performance without anyone landing in the hospital.

Christopher Botta: Full ticket prices are charged. NHL mainstays and wannabes are competing. I don't know how you tell a hockey player to turn down the dial a bit. Dion Phaneuf made the same hit last night that he would have made if the game against the Islanders was three weeks later. Whether you think his hit was dirty or not, it doesn't matter that it was in a preseason game. It only makes Kyle Okposo's injury more unfortunate.

Exhibition games are traditionally wilder, more gooned up. The only thing the league could do -- and they won't -- is have fewer of them. The Islanders have played three games in the last four nights. The only thing the fans will remember about them, and the coaches will take out of them, is Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim suffering groin injuries and Kyle Okposo getting carried off the ice on a stretcher.

Gretz: The "preseason is too long argument" comes up every year in the NFL, as well, and likewise, it's never going to change because there's a buck to made (major bucks, actually). I'm a season-ticket holder for an NFL team and this season I had to spend a grand total of $248 for two exhibition games. And I have to do that every year. It sucks, but there's nothing you can do about it but hand over the money. It's the biggest ripoff in sports. The only way to approach them with any sort of rooting interest, as a fan, is to say "I don't care if my team wins this meaningless game, but just don't get hurt."

Obviously, you never want to see guys get hurt in any game, especially to the point where they're carted off. If I'm a coach, or a GM -- or, hell, the guy sitting in the nosebleed seats -- I imagine that I'd want to see Dion Phaneuf playing the same way he would play in December or January as long as he's on the ice ... but I'd also be seriously limiting his, and any other established veteran that has his spot and role set in stone, time on ice.

Kevin Schultz: I understand that we're in the heat of the game and we can't just say, "Well, it's preseason so don't hit so hard, shoot so hard, etc." I think there's a certain level of discretion players can have. Just because they're professional athletes and are trained to hit and hit hard doesn't mean they are incapable of pulling up or avoiding contact. These guys are professionals and have professional body control and skating ability. We can only dream what that's like.

However, I am not asking anyone to pull up or change how they play despite my given distaste for what happened to Okposo. You can't schedule preseason games, sell tickets, have the whole circus come to town and ask these guys to play at half speed -- especially the ones competing for a roster spot. What could eventually happen is that coaches take another look at how they approach these games. Or at least within the Islanders organization. Let's face it. Most coaches know who 80-90 percent of the opening roster is going to be comprised of. Now add to that the epic injury problems the Islanders faced last year (exactly two players who finished the season on the roster suited up for more than 70 games. Two.). Maybe coaches need to be thinking about what's more important, sending out a star player for an extra shift and risk injury or get another look at a guy desperate to crack the lineup.

Botta: Here's another aspect you can't do anything about. Calgary and the Islanders play again on Saturday night in Saskatoon. There is no way Dion Phaneuf dresses for that game.

Bruce Ciskie: I think the preseason is important. Sure, there are teams that have no major personnel changeover, and training camp is nothing but a glorified tryout for like four guys who have a realistic chance of cracking the NHL roster. Then, you have a team like Minnesota, where every minute of ice time in training camp has a great value because of the changes that have been made to the system. Pretty hard to tell Todd Richards that he can't have a full preseason to get his guys ready, along with figuring out who's going to make the team.

It sucks when guys get hurt, but Phaneuf's hit was not at all dirty. If we're going to charge normal ticket prices and not label the games non-contact, we can't complain when someone does his job and throws a hit. If you're going to ask that guys like Dion Phaneuf not do their job, then you better stop charging full admission for the games. Hitting's as much a part of the game as goals for some people.

How Much Is Too Much in Preseason? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kyle Okposo Taken Off on Stretcher After Devastating Hit From Dion Phaneuf

Adam Gretz — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Islanders, NHL Videos

It's not often that preseason games provide anything newsworthy, but Thursday night's meeting between the New York Islanders and Calgary Flames has proven to be the exception.

Just over five minutes into the second period, Islanders forward Kyle Okposo carried the puck through the neutral zone and was on the receiving end of a devastating hit from Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

A skirmish ensued, nearly involving both goaltenders, while Okposo remained on the ice. He was eventually taken off on a stretcher. Video after the jump.

RDS has the complete video of the incident on its website.

What do you think, hockey fans? Clean or dirty?

UPDATE: Botta mentions at Islanders Point Blank that Flames radio reported Okposo phoned his dad to let him know that he's OK. Certainly good news.

"Islanders announce that Okposo has been diagnosed with a mild concussion. He has been cleared to travel with the team back to Saskatoon." [Botta on Twitter]

(H/T HF Boards for getting video so fast)

Kyle Okposo Taken Off on Stretcher After Devastating Hit From Dion Phaneuf originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anatomy of a Trade: Bill Guerin Goes to the Penguins

Adam Gretz — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Penguins, FanHouse Exclusive

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero was kind enough to spend nearly an hour on the phone with FanHouse's Adam Gretz discussing a variety of topics. This is the second of a three-part series that will run throughout the remainder of the offseason. Wednesday's entry: Ray Shero discusses the anatomy of a trade, focusing on the deadline-day acquisition of Bill Guerin from the New York Islanders.

On Saturday, February 28, one week before the NHL's trade deadline, then-New York Islanders captain Bill Guerin took part in the pregame skate prior to the team's contest with the Buffalo Sabres only to be lifted from the starting lineup. Given the month, and the fact a veteran player -- a captain, no less -- on a non-playoff team was suddenly a healthy scratch, rumors instantly begin to swirl around the league. Guerin was definitely on the move, but nobody knew where he was going, and for what return.

After a week-long saga that drove Islanders fans to the brink of insanity, Guerin was finally sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

******

Something I've always been curious about in professional sports is the process of two general managers getting together and consummating a trade. I have this somewhat bizarre vision of 30 general managers sitting in their offices across the NHL (or any professional league, for that matter) and treating it like an elaborate fantasy league -- only with a much larger prize than the one you and your buddies hand out every year. Does Brian Burke sit in his office and scream at the commissioner because a trade between the Senators and Rangers is too one-sided? Is there that one general manager that fills your inbox every day trying to acquire your best player for a collection of fourth-liners and a backup goalie with no value?

FanHouse Chats With Ray Shero:
Part 1: On His Father, an Icon
Part 2: On the Anatomy of a Trade
Part 3: On Building the Pens, Defending the Cup

"It's not at all like that," laughed Penguins general manager Ray Shero. "You're always analyzing your roster during the season and the strengths and weaknesses of your roster. Every team keeps a depth chart of every other team in the league, and your pro scouts are in charge of scouting those teams and games and keeping your evaluations current. Sometimes, it just really goes to a specific need as to what you're looking for."

"Some managers are different," he continued. "I try to keep in touch with most of the managers in the league once a month, or something like that, simply to touch base. There's other managers I know that unless they need something specific they'll call you in terms of what they're looking for and ask. They don't call around to keep in touch. Sometimes It's hard to keep in touch with 29 other managers, and, sometimes, you may have a better relationship with some than others in terms of past relationships. From my standpoint, I like to kind of be in the loop as to what's going on in other divisions and conferences, or, what's going on with certain teams. So you have to keep current with what's going on in the league, but most important, you have to ask yourself, 'what does your team need?'"

"I just told them we had some interest in Billy (Guerin), but not at the price you're asking." In late February and early March, it was pretty obvious to anyone observing the Penguins as to what their biggest needs were: top-line wingers to play alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and some of the toughness they lost the previous offseason when Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts and Jarkko Ruutu exited Pittsburgh as free agents.

Less than a month earlier, the Penguins had completed a trade with the Anaheim Ducks -- dealing from a position of strength to fill a position of weakness -- by sending puck-moving defenseman Ryan Whitney out west in exchange for forward Chris Kunitz and top prospect Eric Tangradi. On deadline day, Shero put the finishing touches on his roster by claiming gritty veteran Craig Adams on waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks, and trading a conditional draft pick to the New York Islanders for Bill Guerin. The condition on the pick was as follows: If the Penguins missed the playoffs, the Islanders would receive a fifth-round pick. If the Penguins qualified for the postseason and lost in the opening round, the Islanders would receive a fourth-round pick. And if the Penguins qualified for the postseason and advanced beyond the opening round (which they did), the Islanders would receive a third-round pick.

So how did it all come about? Well, let's rewind back to Feb. 28 when the first Guerin rumors started to fly. There were a number of factors at play, including the trade being completed, and the fact that Guerin's contract included a no-movement clause, meaning he would have the right to veto any trade that was not to his liking. Once the initial rumors surfaced (from FanHouse's Christopher Botta at his Islanders Point Blank blog), it became a waiting game until the team confirmed the deal.

It's still unknown as to which teams were in the bidding at that point, though it's not hard to speculate. Guerin preferred to remain in the Eastern Conference, and likely would have wanted to play for a team that had a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup. At the time, that would have limited the options to Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, and perhaps the Rangers or Devils. The asking price could have been as much as a first or second-round pick.

It's a fair guess that Washington was one of the teams making the strongest push, especially since one of their first moves this offseason was the signing of veteran winger Mike Knuble -- who fills a role similar to what Guerin would have filled -- to a two-year contract. Of course, at this point it's all guesswork since every team denied being part of the trade talks.

Including the Penguins.

"It wasn't us," said Shero. "It was another team. I'm not sure who that was, but it wasn't us because I didn't have the cap room at that time. I knew what I didn't want to give up, and I didn't want to give up a first-round pick in a deal at the deadline. We had done that the year before in the (Marian) Hossa deal. Really, it was two first-round picks: the first-round pick and (Angelo) Esposito who was a first-round pick the year before, so I didn't want to do that for our franchise, so really the asking price at that point for me was too steep."

Shero continued: "With the Islanders and (general manager) Garth Snow, I just told them we had some interest in Billy but not at the price you're asking. He was waiting on something else, but we just kept in touch and it went down to a couple days before the deadline. He called back and I told him what I would offer him in a trade. I think at that point Garth was really good about it because he really wanted to treat Billy well and give him an opportunity. I don't think there was any doubt once Pittsburgh was on the table that Billy would waive his no-trade to come to here. It was a pretty quick decision for him and his family. I think in the end Garth did a good thing for the Islanders, which ended up being a third-round draft pick, and it worked out well for us."

Worked out well would probably be an understatement. Skating on the Penguins' top line with Crosby and Kunitz, Guerin registered 12 points in 17 regular season games, and was a force in the postseason with a career-best 15 points in 24 games, including an overtime game-winner in the Penguins' opening round win against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was also the first person to get the Cup from Crosby following Game 7 in Detroit. Things worked out so well for Guerin and the Penguins that the two sides came together on a one-year contract extension following the season.

"For Billy it was a case of here's where I want to be, and he wanted to be treated with respect," said Shero. "Obviously he made a big contribution to our team so at the end it wasn't a real long negotiation at all. We were both up front and honest with each other that this is where he wanted to play, this is where his family wanted to be, and he understood it was going to be one year and the number worked out for us and him."

******

Making trades in today's NHL isn't quite the same as it was six or seven years ago. The addition of the salary cap has certainly limited what teams can do, and adds another dynamic to the process of constructing your roster. Clubs no longer have a bottomless pit of money like they had in the pre-lockout NHL. (Of course, there are ways around the salary cap if you don't mind signing guys to 12-year contract extensions).

"It's much more difficult with the cap and a 23-man roster now," said Shero. "Plus, there's still some teams on a tight budget and that's the way they have to operate. Decisions you make are going to affect your salary cap and more and more now, you're also looking for future years. What's going to be the commitment? Does that guy have terms left on his contract? So even if you like a player, if you really don't want to be tied up contractually moving forward, if a player has three years left on his contract then you take him out of consideration for your team if that's not where you want to go in the future with your cap. So there's a lot of things to think about when you're looking at a potential trade."

Aside from the financial aspects, teams also have different evaluation tools when it comes to identifying players. In early August, I spoke with Chris Snow, director of hockey operations for the Minnesota Wild, who is now working for one of Shero's former right-hand man, Chuck Fletcher, and how they use statistical analysis as a tool in evaluating players -- something the Penguins aren't overly involved in when it comes to identifying potential trade targets.

"We do some statistics," said Shero, with an emphasis on the "some" aspect. "We mainly break things down with scouting and video, but we've taken a look at a lot of the statistical analysis out there but at the end of the day I'm not quite certain what they're telling us, to be honest with you. Again, we do use some of it, but I can't say we're overly involved in breaking down the statistics. I mean, we're not in the Moneyball thing here, in my opinion, so we're not really into that at this point."

Anatomy of a Trade: Bill Guerin Goes to the Penguins originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Six Landing Spots for Phil Kessel

Christopher Botta — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Rangers, Sharks

Dany Heatley has now been traded, but Phil Kessel is on the market. Here's a look at where the latter could end up by the start of the regular season.

Edmonton Oilers - The Oilers surprise us sometimes. The Western Canadian rebels have signed restricted free agents to offer sheets and leaped into the Heatley sweepstakes. Since free agents don't line up to sign there -- a darn shame, if you ask me -- the Oilers must acquire any big guns like Kessel through trades.

GM Steve Tambellini has cap space and some good, young, inexpensive players he can move. Boston GM Peter Chiarelli can also say to the young American, "Okay, Phil. You wanted out? Best wishes in Alberta." When Kessel scores in bunches on the fast track in Edmonton, at least it will be in a galaxy far from Beantown.

Nashville Predators - The Predators have the assets and interest, so they cannot be left off this list. Making a move for Kessel would be a bold stroke for the Predators, who could use one to break through as a serious contender in the West.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Bossman Brian Burke is in a jam. He's talked big -- man, I love this guy -- but hasn't delivered. He was public in his passion for John Tavares (he couldn't move up in the draft). He blustered about how every player on his team could be traded (actually, not really). Burke has been very successful wooing free agents from the NHL, college and Europe with Maple Leafs loonies.

Still, he's John Wayne without making the big score. The Leafs are without question a leading contender for Kessel. The biggest reason why it may not happen? Burke has been so loud about it, Chiarelli may be telling himself he'll trade Kessel anywhere except Toronto. Still, if it's his best offer, the Boston GM can't refuse.

New York Islanders - Garth Snow's rebuilding club may not have the key NHL player to satisfy Boston, a contender in the present. Kyle Okposo -- with his large shoulders and relentless approach, he looks and plays like a Bruin -- is not available. What the Islanders do have is about $137 million in cap space and enough collegiate and junior prospects and future draft selections to make two Kessel trades if they wanted to.

Acquiring Kessel wouldn't exactly blow the Islanders' rebuilding program. He turns 22 the day before the team's season opener. The Islanders drafted his brother Blake, a defenseman at the University of New Hampshire, in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.

New York Rangers - GM Glen Sather does not have much cap space. He also does not have a true No. 1 center, making a team with Marian Gaborik and potentially Phil Kessel on it ripe for a lot of bagel analogies. Still, since the beginning of time, the Rangers have always been in the mix for star players. As Sather proved with his Houdini-esque, somebody-had-pictures unloading of cap anchor Scott Gomez on Montreal (for assets!), you can't count him out of the Kessel Watch.

Boston Bruins - History illustrates that in nine out of 10 perceived stalemates like this, the team and its young star eventually realize they need each other. Here is Chiarelli last week: "I want Phil to be on our team. If it means moving players, I'll do it. If it means matching offer sheets, I'll do it."

This may take a while -- and could get nastier -- but don't be surprised if Kessel and the Bruins renew their vows.

Six Landing Spots for Phil Kessel originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who Might Be Interested in the Islanders?

Adam Gretz — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, NHL Fans, NHL Economics

FanHouse's Chris Botta reported Wednesday morning that at least six municipalities are waiting should the New York Islanders begin searching for a new home on Oct. 4, one day after the deadline owner Charles Wang has set for the Lighthouse Project to be resolved.

It goes without saying that the best solution for the Islanders -- and their fans -- is for the team to remain on Long Island. I think we're all rooting for that, but let's just for a second pretend that the worst case scenario plays out, and on Oct. 4 the Islanders are forced to begin listening to offers from other markets. Who might come calling?

Here are some guesses ranging from the logical and obvious, to perhaps the illogical and not-so-obvious. In other words, we're throwing darts at a map.

Kansas City, Missouri. An obvious choice. Kansas City has a brand new, 19,000-seat state-of-the-art arena that is collecting dust as it currently has no team to play in it. It was a potential landing spot for the Pittsburgh Penguins three years ago, and is scheduled to host an Islanders exhibition game against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, Sep. 22 -- the same day as a re-zoning hearing for the Lighthouse Project.

Hamilton, Ontario. In Chris' initial report, he quotes a Jim Balsillie spokesperson as saying "at this juncture, I can confirm Jim's only interest is in purchasing the Phoenix Coyotes and relocating them to Hamilton." But doesn't he have to say that at this point? The bottom line is, until there's a team playing in Hamilton it's going to be mentioned as a possibility -- and will be a possibility -- whenever another market appears even the slightest bit vulnerable. And, let's face it, Jim Balsillie will be a thorn in Gary Bettman's side and will not stop until he gets a team of his own, even if he has to knock on the door of every club in the NHL, one by one. He's already attempted to get Pittsburgh, Nashville and Phoenix. Why not the Islanders at some point, as well?

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Hey, they tried -- and, ultimately, failed -- to land the St. Louis Blues in the early 1980s, and the town of roughly 260,000 is playing host to the Islanders' training camp next week. They also have two preseason games scheduled there this month: Sep. 19 against the Edmonton Oilers and Sep. 20 vs. Calgary Flames. The arena in town -- the Credit Union Centre -- is likely too small for big league hockey (it currently holds 11,300, but is being expanded to nearly 15,000 in time for the 2010 World Junior Championships) so that's an obvious drawback, as is the overall size of the market.

Las Vegas, Nevada. Why not? Sin City has no professional sports teams, but it's dipped its toes in the pool in recent years by hosting the NBA All-Star game and bringing in the NHL awards ceremony this past summer.

Queens, New York. Could this be the next best solution if the Lighthouse Project falls though? Wang was raised in Queens, the borough has showed interest in the past, and it's located on Long Island. The team keeps its name, Wang gets to say he kept the team on Long Island, and everybody is happy. The problem, as is always the case, is a building to play in. Can Queens build a new hockey arena so soon after the construction of the gargantuan Citi Field?

Portland, Oregon. The only part of the United States that doesn't currently house an NHL team is the Pacific Northwest. The NBA's Trailblazers are currently the only game in town, and the Rose Garden is a relatively new building -- which eliminates the problem of finding a place to play, or funding the construction of a new one -- that can hold over 18,000 for hockey. Another possibility might be ...

Seattle, Washington. There's an opening in the Seattle sports schedule since the Sonics bolted for Oklahoma City prior to this season. The problem, as always, is the arena situation, especially since the Sonics used the lack of a new building as an excuse to skip town. Built in 1964 (and renovated in 1994) KeyArena could still be viable for the short-term, but something new would likely be needed for the long-term. Plus, it's not like the Pacific Northwest is unfamiliar with hockey, even though there's not an NHL team in the area. Seattle is currently home to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

Other guesses both in, and out, of New York: Suffolk County, Brooklyn, and the old standbys Hartford and Winnipeg.

Who Might Be Interested in the Islanders? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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