Isles Defense and Camp Notes

 

On the same day that Lubo Visnovski was on the team bus with Slovan Bratislava in the KHL, instead of reporting to Islanders training camp by the manatory 10 a.m. deadline, the Islanders brought back Radek Martinek with a one year contract.  Martinek appeared in 453 regular season and 9 playoff games with his original stint as an Islander that lasted 9 seasons.  A stable and solidly positional defensemen, Martinek wasn't previously resigned by the Islanders due his problematic injury history.  Last season, Martinek was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, but suited up for just 7 games, scoring once with a -3 rating due to injury.  As a depth acquisition, it will be a good signing if he can remain healthy and contribute more that the 87 he has played in his last 3 seasons as an NHL pro.  The Islanders selected Martinek in the eight round, 228th overall of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

 

 

Islanders claim Buffalo Defensemen, Joe Finley, a former first-round draft pick (27th overall) of the Washington Capitals in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.  Finley is listed at 6-8, 247 pounds.  B.D. Gallof mentions, Lindy Ruff said in Sabres training camp in 2011 that Joe Finley is the second-best big man skater he's ever seen behind Tyler Myers.  Ruff adds, "He skates very well, he’s able to handle the puck, and his first pass has been good. When you have that size and that reach, you’ve got an automatic advantage over a lot of players.”

 

 

 

The Islanders will have a blue and white scrimmage vs. BST on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Coliseum. Free admission/parking and game will be streamed. 

 

Per Arthur Staple, Some more info for Weds Isles scrimmage: $1 soda, hot dogs and popcorn and 25% off all items in the team store.

 

Isles Notes:

Today at Isles training camp:

Forwards: Moulson-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Nielsen-Boyes, Ullstrom-Cizikas-McDonald, Martin-Reasoner-Strome-Boulton.

Per Katie Strang, Told Visnovsky will NOT be reporting to Islanders camp this morning for "personal reasons." Still unclear whether he stays in KHL.  Team is within rights to suspend player who doesn't show up for camp. KHL has said repeatedly they'd respect agreement w/NHL.  Via Bill Daly on Visnovsky: "The KHL has repeatedly said that they will not permit him to play, so I guess we will have to see what happens."  If the issue cant be resolved between NHL and KHL, Strang adds, IIHF has not yet received any official letter of complaint from the NHL on Visnovsky issue. That is likely next step if not resolved.

Arthur Staple adds, NHL's Bill Daly via email: "(Visnovsky) will not be allowed to play in the KHL without the Isles consent."  And Isles will not be granting Visnovsky consent to play in KHL.

@FredPoulin98, $3M salary/ $5.6M cap hit --Visnovsky has been paid $25M last 4 yrs; would "only" be due abt $1.8 for this short ssn.

Per Arthur Staple, The Islanders place Defensemen, Ty Wishart on waivers to make room at camp for Joe Finley.

Camp opened yesterday and the Islanders have officially recalled Cizikas, Hamonic, Landry, C. McDonald, Ullstrom and Wishart from the Sound Tigers.  Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart have officially been recalled from their junior teams.

Per Arthur Staple, Lines for first Isles practice of '13: Moulson-Tavares-Okposo, Ullstrom-Nielsen-Boyes, McDonald-Cizikas-Strome, Martin-Reasoner-Boulton.

D pairs: MacDonald-Hamonic, Streit-Martinek (wearing No. 4), Landry-Carkner, Reinhart-Wishart. Nabokov, DiPietro in goal.

Injuries:  Grabner (abs), Bailey (knee), Joensuu (groin) not on ice.  Michael Grabner (abs) went for further tests after physical, checked out fine.

Snow on Niederreiter: "It's an opportunity for him to get quality minutes (in BPT). It's more conducive for him to be there at this point."

Jack Capuano concerned about PK with Bailey out. Says more about why Cizikas is here -- filling roles, not just who's playing best in BPT.

Per NHLhistorygirl, On this date in 1988, Isles Denis Potvin became the first defenseman in NHL history to score 300 career goals.

Per Bob McKenzie, former Islander, Mike Mottau's signed a two-way deal with TOR that pays him in $850K in NHL, $300K in AHL although he has $225K minor league guarantee. 850/300 are 82 games.

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

1/13

BST vs. ALB

Forwards - Halmo-Nelson-Niederreiter, Persson-Sundstrom-Backman, DeFazio-Campbell-Riley, Combs-Costello-Gallant.

Defensive pairings - Hill-Maggio, Donovan-Jackson, Ness-McIver.

Matt Watkins out of the lineup today. Defenseman Dan Maggio will make AHL & BST debut, DeFazio/McIver/Riley wear assistant captain "A"s.

Sound Tigers without D-men Hamonic, Wishart & Landry, forwards Cizikas, McDonald & Ullstrom, all recalled by Isles for training camp.

Sound Tigers WIN! @SquatchDonovan nets game-winner w/ 1:16 left in third per, @thelnino25 scores twice, Costello/Ness w/ 3 pts each in 5-4 W.

Joe Bondi‏@Knight_of_Cups_

@TheSoundTigers Donovan and Nino came out 2 play! Maybe showing why they wanted call up 2 camp. Big win & great game by everyone. #BST. 

 

 

NHL Notes:

Per Erik Erlendsson, FYI, roster deadline is 3 p.m. on Friday to submit to the league, meaning noon Thursday is deadline to put players on waivers to send to AHL.

Per Neil Smith, the NHL Entry Draft June 30 at Newark's Prudential Center, Trading Deadline is April 3rd and Free Agency begins July 5, 2013 this year.

Per Nick Kypreous, Two biggest names not reporting for NHL training camp today remain Canadiens PK Subban and Stars Jamie Benn. Told both not close to deals.

Per Ryan Pinder, 114 players deleted today from AHL rosters, as NHL training camps began... At least by my count on the league's transaction page!

Pricing for NHL Center Ice will be $49.99 for the season.  Not free as first speculated.