Changes:
So Colin McDonald was placed (and now cleared) waivers
yesterday after just two games in the line up.
McDonald will join the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. McDonald was another recent victim of a
deeper team roster this season as well as the teams poor performance over the
last two games. Anders Lee has been
called up to add a spark to the teams scoring touch and hopefully add a
positive influence to the teams struggling 5 on 5 play.
Travis Hamonic remains touch and go after looking as if he
was in pain during practice the other day.
Losing Hamonic is a tough loss for the Isles blue line, but Lubo
Visnovsky is expected to make his return tonight after being taken off the IR
list. That, coupled with de Haan's
return and apparent avoidance of a much speculated disciplinary event (suspect
hit on Clarkson) will play well for the Islanders. Thomas Hickey seems fine after taking a skate to the face in
Tuesday's loss to Toronto. It can certainly be counted as another positive
outcome for the team, not to mention a lucky break for Hickey, who could have
just as easily been seriously hurt on the play.
It has been obvious that Mikhail Grabovski's recent absence
from the line up (and addition to IR retro to 10/16) has clearly made a
difference in team chemistry. You can plainly see it over the last two games.
What all this will mean in Boston tonight remains to be
seen, but it does show that Snow isn't willing to sit back and wait for things
play out after his team had 2 weak outings in subsequent loses following their
exciting 4 game winning streak to start the season. Boychuk and Johnson (most likely starter in net) will probably be
motivated to get by their first game back in Boston.
Charles in Charge:
Yesterday, the Islanders held a press conference, officially
introducing their new future ownership. Ownership partners Scott Malkin
and Jon Ledecky join Charles Wang as owners of the New York Islanders.
Wang will run things in a majority capacity for the next two years, and then
hand over the majority interest to Malkin & Ledecky, who are "thrilled
to be here," and feel, "it's a great honor to participate in the
tradition of the Islanders."
Charles Wang called the Islanders, "his baby," in
yesterdays press conference. He also
said that because he has such a strong attachment to his team, it took a while
to find an ownership group who would be as committed to the fan base and the
best interest of the team as he tried to be.
I am sure the $485M deal for turning over the teams majority ownership
helped his decision as well. Wang was
quoted as saying that the trials & tribulations of the Lighthouse Project
push was "hell" and says he's still "angry" he didn't get a
new arena here in Nassau.
Malkin was quoted in the Daily News about he and
Ledecky's partnership with Charles Wang, “It was Charles’ vision. It was
Charles’ team. What I’ve noticed in a few short weeks as an owner is how much
we still need to learn,” Malkin said. “The move to Barclays (Center), the new
arena, the expanded fan base; that’s fundamental to the opportunity for the
team. It took a lot of vision for Barclays Center to exist and we’re watching
and learning what the current ownership has in mind. At this point we’re
observing and reading the same press stories that you are.” Jon Ledecky said, "Charles remains in
charge of the team." He adds, "We're gonna be on a listening tour for
two years; listening to the fans, making sure they have a smooth transition to
Brooklyn." Malkin said, "that's a good question for a few years from now. Right now it's Charles' team," when asked how involved they'll be as owners of the Islanders.
When asked if Ledecky had a message for
Isles fans, he said, "Fifth ring." So I guess you can say its a "5th ring
to rule them all and in the Barclays, bind them."
Sorry, I'm a geek. I
know it. I'll stop now.
Isles Notes:
Per Arthur Staple, "Lee-Nelson-Strome,
Kulemin-Nielsen-Bailey. Other lines same at AM skate. D pairs in flux with
Hamonic not on ice."
"Capuano: Hamonic (upper body) out tonight, didn't make
trip up. Day to day. Johnson in goal. Viz with hickey."
Johnny Boychuk admits signing in-season extension with
Islanders is 'not out of the question.' Boychuk said, “Our team is going
to be unbelievable for quite some time - probably the next five years is going
to be an awesome time for this team. It’s not out of the question.”
Sound Tigers Notes:
The Sound Tigers have assigned Mark Nemec to Colorado of the
ECHL
***
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