If you aren't fired up about your New York Islanders this
year, it might be a good idea to choose another team already! With all the promising players drafted and developed
through the Isles system and those signed as free agents or brought here via
trade, this years team seems ready and genuinely excited to make the final
season at NVMC a memorable one. Garth
Snow has done a great job this off season and the entire organization seems to feel
it. We have yet to see if all this
enthusiasm will pan out and result in wins, but its becoming harder for even the biggest
detractors to dismiss the chances of this team to not only make the playoffs,
but be a serious threat in the eastern conference. Who knows, they may even win a few games in November.
Per Brett Cyrgalis, "Garth Snow on trades: "The
statement being made is we’re committed to making our team better. That’s the
biggest message." Garth Snow on FAN590.
In a few more days, everything will fall into place &
the Islanders will start the 2014-15 campaign in Carolina against the Hurricanes
and face those same Hurricanes in the season opener on Long Island.
Forwards: Conacher-Tavares-Okposo;
Grabovski-Nelson-Strome; Bailey-Nielsen-Kulemin; Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck;
Boulton-Lee-McDonald.
Defensive pairings: Boychuk & Leddy skated as a
pairing today.
It is understood that players who are exempt to waivers are
much more likely to be sent down than a player who could be lost (Jack Skille)
to another team. Along those lines, Arthur Staple speculates that the
most likely candidates to be sent down are Lee, Reinhart & Czuczman.
So if Viz, de Haan & Pulock were ready to go on Friday, that would
require both defensemen to be sent down to make room.
Pulock & de Haan skated before the team practice. Capuano hinted that Reinhart or Pulock
could be around to make the final roster.
The Islanders have placed Michael Grabner (9/26)
& Calvin deHaan (9/23) on retroactive injured reserve.
In other injury news, Staple: "Grabner (upper body) isn't close to returning, so he'll start on IR. For those who asked. Carkner (upper) as well for sure."
In other injury news, Staple: "Grabner (upper body) isn't close to returning, so he'll start on IR. For those who asked. Carkner (upper) as well for sure."
Injuries seem to be the only thing that can work against the team this season. Hopefully, they will be kept to a minimum. If not, the Islanders still have some depth in the system should the need arise.
Per Mark Weiner, Jack Capuano on JT & Okposo "They
didn't play very well in preseason. They are elite players but tried to get too
fancy out there." Star players will need to play like star players for the Isles this season. They will have to lead by example and take the reins of this teams success. The coaching staff led by Capuano will be in the hot seat from day one and will be expected to win. With the more complete roster and with the new additions made over the summer in all three areas, there are very little excuses left.
The Islanders two newest defensemen continued to make
headlines today with their first practice as members of the New York Islanders. They were enthusiastic, positive and seemed
excited to be a member of this Isles team.
Boychuk & Leddy said all the right things at practice today and appear
to be ready to make the most of their opportunity with the Islanders. Johnny Boychuk will wear #55 & Nick Leddy
will wear #2 for the Islanders.
Nick Leddy on FB, "I want to thank the @NHLBlackhawks and all the fans for everything!
Excited to start my new adventure with the @NYIslanders."
Leddy was on SiriusXMNHL today.
Johnny Boychuk, “I’m excited [to] get a bigger role there
I’m going to work hard & do what I do best I’m going to embrace the chance to
play on the island.”
“This is going to be a great team and people shouldn’t take
us lightly anymore,” Boychuk said. “They’ve done some good things and I think
it’s going to be a good challenge for every team to come in and play us.”
Per Capgeek, The Isles with only $6,467,190 in cap
space right now (25 men on roster).
Is it Friday yet?
Isles Notes:
On October 6th, Aaron Ness, David Leggio, Kevin Poulin and
Harry Zolnierczyk cleared waivers and were assigned to the BST.
Jack Skille was put on waivers by Snow with the intention of
sending him down to the BST as well, but he was claimed by Columbus. Per Aaron
Portzline, Skille was quoted as saying, "I left things on such a high note
with Columbus, and I was actually really bummed that we couldn’t figure
something out." Skille looked good in preseason and its a shame he wont get a chance to contribute to the Isles organization.
Per Newsday, Isles to wear modernized-fisherman jerseys during warm-ups this year.
"Also ahead this winter: a night on which during warm-ups players will wear a modernized version of the notorious "fisherman" logo that debuted in 1995, after which the jerseys will be auctioned off for charity."
NHL notes:
A reminder that NHL teams must be down to 23 man cap
compliant rosters by Tuesday.
Sound Tigers Notes:
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