Isles Notes For 10/1

Coach Jeff Jackson has named Center, Anders Lee the Captain of Notre Dame fighting Irish this season.  Lee served as the Alternate Captain in 2011-12 as a Sophomore, and will take the next step in his hockey career as the lone Captain for his squad.

Coach Jackson has praised Lee for his off the ice character and his abilities as a player to be relied upon by his teammates.  "Anders has the locker room's ear and his teammates like him and respect him. It's a good combination - not just being the voice in the locker room but also being the heart of the locker room as well …”

Selected by the New York Islanders in the 6^th round, 152^nd over all in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Lee went 17 and 17 for 34 pts in 40 games played last season for Notre Dame.

The 22 year old Edina Minnesota native will serve his first game as Captain on October 7^th when his Irish face the USA Under-18 team.  Their regular season will open vs. Maine on Oct. 12^th.

Arthur Staple reported that the Bridgeport Sound Tigers training camp was open to the public on Saturday, with a couple autograph sessions on tap for attending fans.  The stacked Isles ladened line up looked like this:

On Saturday

F’s - Persson-Ullstrom-McDonald, Niederreiter-Nelson-Kabanov, Halmo-Sundstrom-Backman, DeFazio-Watkins-Riley, Gallant-MacKay.

D - de Haan-Wishart, Donovan-Hamonic, Ness-Landry, McIver-Cantin. Poulin, Nilsson & Reiter on the ice as well.

Casey Cizikas (groin) is day-to-day and is not practicing.

Today, the Camp line up was similar:

F’s – Persson-Ullstrom-McDonald; Niederreiter-Nelson-Kabanov; Halmo-Sundstrom-Backman; DeFazio-Watkins-Riley and Gallant-Clark-MacKay is the final BST line at this morning's practice.

D - de Haan-Wishart, Donovan-Hamonic, Ness-Landry, McIver-Cantin. Poulin, Nilsson & Reiter also on ice. 

Casey Cizikas was not on the ice again today.

Per Larry Brooks, “Wang wants $300M for Islanders; price way too high for investors seeking to lure storied alumni into mix. Todays Post.”

To paraphrase, B.D. Gallof contends that if anything, the supposed price tage of $300 million is a DEFINITIVE statement that Charles & co. are not giving team away.  This rumor involving the Isles, simply is not happening and fans should expect a million more of these rumors.  “I have no doubt bunch of LI’ ers are pushing notions of local heroes, European investors & more pie in sky as Nassau hopeful. Baseless.”

I think the LaFontaine story seems too perfect and Fairytale as a “solution” for the Isles problems to some fans. BD made good points. These types of rumors always resurface when there is no real Islanders news to be had.

We will have to wait and see to be sure.

Isles Notes:

Per Katie Strang on 9/27, “John Tavares will join Islanders teammate Mark Streit to play for Bern of the Swiss-A league.”

Arthur Staple reports on Tavares on his decision to play in SUI: "I wouldn't say it's b/c I don't think a CBA will get done. I feel like I need to play." 

Per Matias Strozyk on 9/27, “Lubomir Visnovsky has an elbow injury and is doubtful for Saturday's away game vs. Magnitogorsk. Has 2 pts in 3gp. Via Hokej.sk. “

Per nhlfreeagents.com, “South Carolina Stingrays signed forward Tyler McNeely to a one year contract .”

Per NHLhistorygirl, “1981—Isles traded Bob Lorimer & Dave Cameron to the Colorado Rockies for the Rockies' first round draft pick in 1983: Pat LaFontaine.”

NHL Notes:

The NHL and NHLPA met on 9/28 for their first formal session in weeks according to Katie Strang.  There were No core economic issues addressed. Don Fehr and Bettman had private meeting.  It has been mentioned by the league that the NHLPA to make the next move to facilitate talks on key economic issues of the lock out.  They would meet again the following day, but not discuss core elements.  Strang added that Legal issues, including grievances, on the agenda for the third straight day of talks on Sunday. HRR may resurface as well.  At the days conclusion, the two sides talked about player safety issues and CBA legal issues. Said it was productive.  The NHL has plans to review internally. 

The NHL, NHLPA to have conference call on pension issues tonight. Two sides will then meet tomorrow on HRR issues discussed Saturday.

Per Kevin Gibson, “92 lockedout NHLers are now officially signed in Europe. 29 of 30 NHL teams represented. VAN has no players officially signed, some rumoured.”

Per Elliotte Friedman, “NHL teams preparing for regular-season cancellations this week. Expectations games will be erased in two-week "blocks."