Finally, we can try and recover
some sort of normalcy and resume NHL play.
Shortly after Team USA won gold at the 2013WJC, the NHL and
NHLPA agreed to a framework for the new CBA after a Lockout of 113 days.
The agreement will allow league play to resume around the third week on
January once it passes a BoG vote on Wednesday. Per Pierre LeBrun," NHL
sent out memo to teams tonight saying Jan 19 puck drop is most probable,
however if ratification process goes fast, Jan 15 still in play." That will give teams about a week to crash
into the regular season, ready to go.
As we know, a shortened season length will mean more conference games
are to be played in a smaller window of time.
This will mean very little room for losing sreaks and could mean a
greater possibility of injuries.
Anthony Stabile adds,
"Isles have 2 injuries headed into camp, Grabner with torn abs, and
Hamonic coming off a concussion. Hamonic is close, not sure on
Grabner." While watching
Bridgeport this season, we have seen bubble players injured this season like Casey Cizikas (Lower Body), Kirill
Kabanov (Wrist), Brock Nelson (Jaw), David Ullstrom (Upper Body) and Calvin deHaan (Shoulder/Out for Season). These types of injuries could keep the
Islanders from seeing what some of these players could really offer the Isles coming
out of camp.
Per Arthur Staple, "Isles have made no decisions on
bringing Ryan Strome/Griffin Reinhart to camp. Need to know CBA rules before
burning year of contract. Isles also
still have to see what shape their team is in -- physicals, conditioning, etc.
Not likely to be any FAs added for camp."
With the Barclay's center in
play, The Islanders will be more a attractive destination for free agents and
with a lower position in the salary cap bracket, more trades can be made to
address the issues facing the team. The
most glaring is with their defense. The
team will be closely watching their crop of blueline prospects brought into the
system over the last few years.
Arthur Staple notes, John
Tavares, Mark Streit, Josh Bailey, Andrew MacDonald, Frans Neilsen, Jesse Joensuu and Lubomir Visnovsky need to make their way back from Europe. Streits's captancy and time on the Island
may be coming to an end. The chance of
the Isles trading him for assets may happen in his final contract year or he
could be resigned and remain captain.
Staple reports, "Evgeni Nabokov had been skating with some SJ Sharks in CA, was about to
consider some Europe options when lockout settled. 'Nothing is like
playing games, but I know I'm in good shape and it's not a new environment this
time. It'll be easier."
Jon Rowson, Visnovsky after
today's (Bratislava) game "I got an offer from Slovan and I am considering
it". Has a valid NHL contract with NYI though." What more can you say about this guy and the
nightmare his acquisition has brought the organization and fans. It is well known, Lubo wants to play where he wants to play, but I think he may be forced to honor his NHL contract with the Isles. Do they really want a guy like that taking up a roster spot? We will just have to wait and see.
UPDATE:
Per Arthur Staple: L. Visnovsky has decided to stay in Slovakia
for the rest of the season, via his agent.
Statement from L. Visnovsky: "I have decided to stay and continue
my career in the KHL for the remainder of the 2012-13 season..."
Neil Sheehy, Visnovsky's agent,
reiterates his client is not upset with Isles.
"The situation would have been the same with any NHL team .... I
have made no decisions on next season. My focus now is on Slovan Bratislava,
and enjoying my family in my home country."
Islanders had no comment today, but Bill Daly did. "We have an agreement with the KHL that would preclude Mr. Visnovsky from continuing to play in the KHL once the lockout is officially lifted," Daly said. "I assume that agreement will be respected."
In any case, I think that the situation is similar to what Nabov faced, if Lubo ever wants to return to the NHL, he will be Islanders property for that season, now or later. This is not a story that the NHL or NHLPA wants in the news just after the new CBA framework was announced.
After all the preliminary league
stuff has fallen into place, we can more accurately see all the pieces come
together for the 2013 season. There
will be a brief training camp with an initial decision on prospects, an
assessment of current players and a period of trades and free agents to
entertain. I think the Islanders will be
in the fight for a bottom playoff spot, but may not make it this season. But I
do think they will make more strides within a difficult atlantic division schedule, get a decent pick in the draft, start
to be more aggressive with free agents and big money trades this summer as
promises of Brooklyn get a little closer.
My earlier assessments of Isles will need to be revised and I will try
and do a new and more comprehensive season prieview in the next week.
Lets get the machine in motion
and look forward to a new season on the Island.
Isles Notes:
Per Eric Hornick, "Tavares avg. 1.5 PPG in NLA RT @SwissNHL:#NLA stats tonight: Thornton 2G;
Kane 1G/1A; Desharnais 2A; Weber, Taveres 1G; Sbisa 1A."
Per Arthur Staple, " As for
the "Justin Schultz" CBA rule (four years from draft year to sign a
contract), NHL proposed extending that time, and PA rejected it. Which means Isles pick Anders Lee could
still become a FA this summer."
Sound Tigers Notes:
1/7
BST vs. POR
Capuano travelling with BST
Final BST scratch is Jordan
Hill. Starters: Persson-Cizikas-McDonald, Donovan-Wishart, Nilsson in net.
(7-7-0, 2.96 GAA, .899 SV%).
Pirates hold on for 2-1 win,
Visentin stops 39 shots as the Sound Tigers applied plenty of pressure in 3rd
but couldn't find equalizer.
Casey Cizikas injured after
being hit by puck, day to day.
NHL Notes:
A tentative agreement has been
reached between NHL and NHLPA - Lock out is over and players returning to NHL
camps soon. Board of Governers will
vote to ratify new CBA coming on wednesday.
Per Katie Strang, Can confirm
following terms: 10-yr deal with opt-out after 8 yrs, 7-yr contract term limits
(8 to re-sign) and '13-14 cap of $64.3 m.
Per Pierre LeBrun, "On
first-year cap: upper limit is $60 M but teams can spend up to $70.2 M. Cap
floor is $44 M."
Aaron Ward, "reporting Year
2 cap at $64.3 M, I can add that Year 2 floor will be $44 M."
Per Darren Dreger, "Draft
lottery will change. All 14 teams fully eligible for 1st pick overall.
Weighting system may remain, but 4-move restriction out. Sup discipline: Shanahan 1st, appeal with
Bettman 2nd. For 6 or more games neutral third party will decide if necessary. Confirming revenue sharing will spread $200
million. Additionally, $60 mil PA initiated growth fund also included."
Per Pierre LeBrun, "NHL is
proposing April 5 trade deadline regardless of start date. But NHLPA and NHL
still haven't agreed on critical dates. So we'll see . NHL had hoped to change opening of free
agency to July 10 but the players stood firm and it remains July 1 in new
CBA."
Per Larry Brooks, "Not to
belabor the obvious, but this agreement is suspiciously close to the PA's Dec.
6 proposal to which the NHL responded with a tantrum."
Other Notes:
@NHLFREEAGENTS, List of
notable unsigned RFAs Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly, Michael Del Zotto, P.K. Subban
and Dmitri Kulikov."
Per Bob McKenzie," Just a
low rumble for now, but there are whispers KHL teams may be offering
"inducements" to get RUS stars to stay and not return to NHL. In last 24 hours, multiple sources told me
NHL teams would do well to have roll call because it's possible a RUS player or
two may not show. things to keep in
mind: 1. Many RUS stars publicly stated earlier this season they might stay the
entire the year in the KHL. 2. NHL-KHL
have post-Radulov pact to honor contracts. That said, been suggested to me this
entire issue could heat up again. We'll see."
Per Craig Button, "Rare
'Hat Trick' accomplished. Gold at U-17, U-18 & World Junior by USA
players."
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