KoC gets a mention from 7th Woman!

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Dee-Karl/How-Hard-Will-The-Injury-Bug-Bite-at-Camp/129/38188

Thanks Dee!

Camp Rosters

According to the camp notes, the Islanders have been put into the following groups.

Group A
Comeau-Reasoner-Wallace
Grabner-Nielsen-Okposo
Pandolfo-Frischmon-Colliton
Martin-Strome-Kabanov
Marcinko-Gillies

Eaton-Jurcina
Wishart-Reese
Donovan-de Haan

Goalies
DiPietro
Montoya
Koskinen

Group B
Moulson-Tavares-Niederreiter
Rolston-Bailey-Parenteau
McNeely-Cizikas-Backman
DiBenedetto-Ullstrom-Haley
Gallant-Romano

Streit-Mottau
Ness-Hamonic
Olson-Klementyev
MacDonald

Goalies
Nabokov
Poulin
Nilsson

J.T. is locked in until 2018

John Tavares signed a $33 million dollar, 6 year extension to remain an Islander until 2018.  This is the best news, we as fans have gotten in an off-season that has had quite a few positive events to the credit of Mr. Wang and Mr. Snow.

If you were an outsider who listened to the Canadian media and random hockey writers you would expect Tavares to wait out his 3 year entry contract with the Islanders and move on to a real team.  Why not expect him to sign with a team that mattered and that was actually taken seriously by the hockey world.  He would never re-sign with the laughingstock Islanders.  Really?

Yes.  Really.  If you ask anyone who has followed this team for a while, we have seen a slow and steady improving rebuild.  One assembled with a core of talented young players and low risk acquisitions that bloomed into solid assets under the Islanders’ watch.  J.T. noticed this as well, but doesn’t understand the negative perceptions.

"That's just very disappointing to me," Tavares told ESPN.com’s Katie Strang. "I think that's wrong judgment about our organization."

He added, "People might have a misperception about our hockey team, and I know we can get buried under the radar, but I know what it's about here."

On his experience playing with the Islanders, he said, "They have a great coaching staff that has helped me become the player I am."

By having John Tavares buy into their plan, the Islanders show the rest of the NHL that they are doing the right things from within to make an impression on their core of young talent.  It is the kind of thing that defies the rumors and gives the once proud team a second step towards credibility.  If things finally go their way on Long Island and injuries don’t set the plan back again, the team should have a good chance to compete for a playoff spot.

What’s next, signing big-time free agents?

Islander Notes:

Josh Bailey signs for two years, $2.1 Million.

Mara and Staios invited to camp.  Staios accepts and will wear #44.

Mark Katic needs shoulder surgery and will be out indefinitely.

Rhett Rakhshani and Mitchell Theoret have been diagnosed with a concussion and will be out indefinitely.

J.T. commits to Long Island?

Arthur Staple was right.  Darren Dreger reports that John Tavares has signed an extension: 6 years. $4mil, $5 mil, $6 mil, $6 mil, $6MIL, $6 MIL.  In 161 games with the Islanders, Tavares is 53 and 68 for 121 pts.  Official announcement scheduled for Thursday at 1pm. 

Could he also be the Islanders new Captain?

Notes:

Trent Hunter has been invited to try out for the L.A. Kings.

Blake Kessel, former Isles pick, signs two year entry level deal with PHI at $925K per year.

Islanders-Bruins Rookie Game 2

Islanders 7

Bruins 2

Five seconds into the game, there were three fights.  Some would say it was a statement about injured teammate Rhett Rakhshani (Brett Gallant vs.Tyler Randell ) and all around Islander pride.  So many players have impressed with their efforts.

The team play, especially crisp passing and special teams were much improved over last night’s game.  The positives were the play of Strome, McNeely, DiBenedetto and Nilsson who seemed to improve throughout the game.  Cizikas had another strong game and I thought Romano and Kichton made their presence felt as well.  de Haan is so steady and Kabanov seems to be improving each time I see him play.

Negatives were Katic suffering a separated shoulder and Theoret leaving the ice, reason unknown at this point.

*******************************************************************

Tonight's rematch will see the Islander rookies look to even the score vs. the Boston rookies.  Tonight’s game is open to the fans.  Advantage, Isles. 

Changes for tonight’s game will see Anders Nilsson get the start in goal and F Rhett Rakhshani will be out with concussion.

F:  McNeely, Niederreiter, Strome.

     DiBenedetto, Ullstrom, Romano.

     Kabanov, Cizikas, Persson.

     Theoret, Olson, Gallant.

·         Olson moving to forward in Rakhshani's absence

D:  We will have to wait and see.

#    Pos  Player                         
1    G      Mikko Koskinen           
45  G      Anders Nilsson            
60  G      Kevin Poulin                
8    C      Ryan Strome               
24  D      Calvin de Haan           
25  LW   Nino Niederreiter        
33  D      Benn Olson                
41  C      David Ullstrom           
46  D      Matt Donovan           
48  D      Anton Klementyev    
49  RW   Rhett Rakhshani       
53  C      Casey Cizikas          
54  C      Tony Romano           
55  D      Aaron Ness              
56  LW   John Persson          
58  D      Brenden Kichton     
59  LW   Brett Gallant             
61  LW   Mitchell Theoret       
62  RW   Tyler McNeely          
63  D      Art Bidlevskii             

64  D      Andrey Pedan          
71  D      Mark Katic                  
77  LW   Kirill Kabanov            

81  C      Justin DiBenedetto     

Islanders-Bruins Rookie Game 1

The Islanders’ rookies went down to the Bruins rookies 8-5 only after a late comeback fell short.

Positives were the play of Niederreiter, Kabanov and de Haan.  Persson and Cizikas made an impression as well.  Negatives were the play of Koskinen (.500 sv%) and that Rhakshani went down with a concussion early and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

Some improvements need to be made before tomorrow’s game on defense and cutting down the sloppy mistakes, especially on PP/PK.

*******************************************************************

Soundtigers Head Coach Brent Thompson and asst. coach Eric Boguniecki

Wearing A's tonight are Rakhshani, DiBenedetto, and Katic.

F:  Rakhshani-Ullstrom-DiBenedetto

     Niederreiter-Strome-McNeely

     Kabanov- Cizikas-Persson

     Gallant-Romano-Theoret

D: Katic-de Haan

     Donovan-Ness

     Pedan-Bidlevskii

     Kichton-Olson

G: Koskinen

Isles Notes:

Katie Strang has moved on to ESPN.com. Arthur Staple to cover the Islanders for Newsday.

In other news:

Sadly, it has been reported that lone team survivor and Lokomotiv forward, Alexander Galimov passed away today from his injuries sustained in the crash.  R.I.P.

Photo taken from Greg Wyshynski @ Puck Daddy.

J.T. and the Gremlin in NYC

John Tavares and Michael Grabner were spotted at the NHL store located on 47th & 6th 1185 Avenue of the Americas while taking part in a 2011 Players’ media tour today.  Tavares spoke to various hockey media about his love of Long Island and the pride he has in being an Islander.  “I have no plans on leaving,” Tavares said.  “I'm committed to Long Island."  (Pierre LeBrun)

John Tavares spoke with NHL.com’s Brian Compton about the Captaincy on Long Island.  "I'd love to be (captain)," Tavares said Thursday morning. "I definitely understand maybe I am still too young and just need to worry about the game, but if it was presented to me, it definitely would be something I would talk about and make sure it's the right decision for the group and for myself as well. I'd love to be a leader of this team."

"Mark Streit and Kyle are great guys and are going to be highly recommended, for sure. But I still feel I'll be a big leader no matter what, and I'll still have a lot of responsibility in a lot of ways. Whatever way it goes, it's going to be a guy that definitely deserves it and will do a great job at it. If I get the opportunity, it would be a huge honor."

Michael Grabner was victorious in a competition with J.T. that included salesmanship and retail skills within the NHL store.

Isles Notes:

Islanders to induct Ed Westfall, Ken Morrow, Pat Flatley, and Kenny Jonsson into the team Hall of Fame as part 40th anniversary season celebration.

Nabokov “excited” to be at Islanders camp.

Per Dee Karl, Brian McCabe was invited to the Islanders 2011 training camp.

Richard Park has signed a one year, two way deal with the Pittsburg Penguins.