News: New Jerseys Revealed

If you go to the Islanders website, they show pictures of the new jersey.

Pretty much, it's not good. I mean, it's not dreadful, but there are some things they could do to make it better. First of all, the numbers on the front have got to go. It just makes the jersey look busier. Also, the orange sleeves should be white and blue, respectively. I understand the piping on top, because I believe all teams will have that.

The thing that matters most to me, besides the team's play on the ice, is the face that the white jerseys have blue lettering and the blue jerseys have white lettering, which will make it very easy to watch on TV. If you noticed on the old orange jerseys, there was blue writing on the back, which made it much harder to read names and numbers. So that system is good.

Overall, not a bad start, but something tthat I hope they make variations to after the year, even though they probably won't. But hey, while these might not be ideal, we could be wearing these.

News: Josef Vasicek, Isles Agree To A 1-Year Deal

According to Islanders Insider, the Islanders and center Josef Vasicek have come to an agreement on a one-year deal. As of now, the monetary value is unknown.

The deal is for 750,000 dollars over 1 year, according to Eklund.

...for one, i am very happy that they passed on jason allison...just wanted to get that out of the way....now for vasicek...out of all the remaining players, i believe vasicek was the best fit for the islanders...i am not completely enamored by his game, but this deal will be very low risk...he is injury prone, which is why i'm happy it's only a one-year deal...

...but overall, i am happy with the signing...he is an upgrade over shawn bates for the 3rd line center, and provides a 2-way dynamic that only mike sillinger had...so like i said before, it will take the load off of sillinger in the long run, which is a very good thing for this team...

...i guess patience really is a virtue...

Rumor: Isles/Bruins Trade Winds?

At Hockeybuzz, Eklund alludes to a potential deal being struck between the Boston Bruins and the Islanders.

The first one involves the Islanders. The deal, as I have received it from two sources now, would send prospects and picks to Boston for a single player who I am quite frankly surprised to see in a deal. If the Islanders/Bruins deal can not be worked out expect the Isles to look to sign another player by week's end.

...okay, we'll start with this...i would be extremely, extremely shocked if marc savard or zdeno chara were the names that eklund was alluding to...so now that's out of the away, i'm going to speculate and say that the two people eklund was alluding to are patrice bergeron and phil kessel...

...we'll start with bergeron, who is a young star...2 70 point seasons in a row and he's only 21 years old...so he will not come cheaply...purely speculation here, but the islanders are going to have to start with kyle okposo...and after all is said and done, you may see an okposo, a 1st and 2nd, and campoli going for bergeron...at least, that's what boston would want, and since okposo is the only valuble prospect the islanders have (with tambellini and bergenheim to a much lesser extent), it's just not worth it...

..onto kessel, who's brother, blake, was drafted by the isles in the 6th round of this year's draft...this is who i believe the islanders are most focused on, because they already drafted blake...kessel would probably come cheaper than bergeron would, and i suspect, off-hand, that it would cost tambellini, gervais/campoli, and either a 1st or 2nd rounder...for that price, again, i would probably pass, but would be less opposed to it...

...the point is, the bruins are looking for defense, and the islanders at this time, with a complete shortage of defensive prospects, are not an ideal trading partner for boston, so i really do not see anything to come of this...

...but hey, ya never know...

Rumor: Center On The Way?

In the Andy Sutton article at Newsday, Greg Logan alludes to the fact that Garth Snow is now looking to fill the center position and may be looking to add Josef Vasicek, Jason Allison, or Peter Forsberg.

The acquisition of Sutton should put an end to rumors the Islanders are interested in trading for more defensive help. Snow likely will focus on strengthening the center position within the next week. Carolina free agent Josef Vasicek is a prime target, but the Islanders also have investigated free agents Jason Allison and Peter Forsberg. However, Forsberg has not recovered fully from his foot problems and might not be healthy enough to sign until sometime during the season.

...we'll start with vasicek here...vasicek would not be a bad option for the 3rd line center, and it may also be the effective end of the shawn bates era on long island...in fact, if any of these guys are signed, i would be shocked if batesy is back with the team next year...but he would be a good shutdown center and would also allow mike sillinger to play a little less, which is a good thing since his body really broke down at the end of last year...

...allison would be my last choice of these three guys...he is a purely offensive player and does not play a lick of defense, is slow, and hasn't played in the nhl for 2 years...unless he is paired with 2 forwards that play defense and are speedy...such as jeff tambellini and sean bergenheim...i would be opposed to this signing, even though the islanders need offense...again, this would probably cause sillinger to play a little less than he plays now, which again could be a good thing...but overall, i would probably pass on allison...

...plain and simple, peter forsberg would be the best player to come here since ziggy palffy, but he is always hurt...still, i would take him here in a heartbeat, but he won't come unless the money is right...and we're talking 7 million here...i love forsberg, but i'm not expecting much out of this...

...the player i want most out of these three that's realistic is vasicek, although i would prefer mike peca to both of them...although now that it seems peca may be going to the rangers...looks like vasicek is the winner...

...thanks to islander mania for the link...

News: Islanders Sign Andy Sutton

At Newsday, Greg Logan reports that the Islanders are set to sign defenseman Andy Sutton. Sutton was a member of the Thrashers last year and recorded 2 goals and 14 assists in 55 games.

...there was a big rumor that markov was going to be an islander but that never materialized, and this is a solid 2nd option...they needed a physical, stay-at-home defenseman and that's what he got...sutton also has a mean streak to him, which will help in front of the net...

...i wanted markov but i cant complain with this signing...very solid, and a huge improvement over what we had...but i still think snow needs to add one more defensive defenseman, such as markov or ossi vaananen...

UPDATE - 7:32 PM

...the islanders have made it official...andy sutton has signed a 3 year deal...monetary terms are unknown at this time...


UPDATE - 9:44

...according to Newsday, the deal is worth 9 million over 3 years...

Rumor: Markov, Marleau, Berard, and more

Over at Hockeybuzz, Eklund posts a lot of information that may include the Islanders.

Many of my sources are telling me that Danny Markov could very well be an Islander in the next few days...
I am also hearing The Pens have interest in Bryan Berard (e3). That is if the Isles don't grab him first. The Isles will be adding two players.

...im not a berard fan per se, but the man can run a powerplay, and assuming that he would be paired with witt or markov, it wouldn't be the absolute end of the world...but all things considered i would rather watch chris campoli develop than watch berard at this point...i said the islanders should add 2 d-men, but i wanted to add 2 defensive defensemen, so i would be a little dissapointed if they got berard...like i said though, we have no powerplay qb anymore since poti left, and berard would be a step in the right direction there...

On Marleau:
"There are four teams interested. The Habs and Leafs are 1 and 2, and one of the NY area teams is interested as well. The fourth team is off the record right now."

...because the rangers are up against the cap, i assume he means the islanders...i also have no idea how he expects the islanders to pull the trigger here...san jose will no doubt want 2 of okposo, bergenheim, and tambellini and at this point the islanders are in no position to sell off any more of the farm...so, as much as i like marleau...pass...

Eklund also links Jason Allison, Josef Vasicek, and Nolan Pratt to the Island.

Prospects: Scrimmage Stats From USA Camp

WCHA Blog has the updated stats for all of the players who were invited to the USA's evaluation camp for their junior national team.

Kyle Okposo is 2nd in points with 7. Rhett Rakhshani is right behind him with 5 points. Doug Rogers is in 4th place and tied with 4 others with 4 points. Brian Day has only added an assist.

...good to see 3 of our prospects doing well...i really hope they all make it as it would be a great learning experience for them all...

News: Asham Signs With New Jersey

Former Islander forward Arron Asham has signed with the New Jersey Devils, according to the Devils website.

Asham played for the Islanders from 2002-2003 to last season, 2006-2007. He had 11 goals and 12 assists last season.

...it's a good signing for the devils...asham will fit in nicely on their 4th line, probably taking over the role cam janssen had, and asham is a much more complete player than janssen...it sucks to see ash in the division, but those are the ropes and i wish him luck...

News: Sound Tigers Release Schedule

At their website, the Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have released their 2007-2008 schedule. The team will open on the road against the Hartford Wolfpack, the Rangers affiliate before their home opener against the Norfolk Admirals, the Tampa affiliate.

...thanks to tom liodice for the link...

Rumor: Isles Interested In Forsberg?

According to Spector's Hockey, the Islanders are among a list of 10 or so teams that are interested in signing free agent center Peter Forsberg.

Forsberg was hampered by a foot injury last year, but still scored 55 points in 57 games for Philadelphia and Nashville.

In addition to the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche, Dater claims Anaheim, Buffalo, Edmonton, Nashville, Pittsburgh and the NY Islanders are among those interested in his services. It's believed Forsberg's agent wants to land one more good-sized contract for his client, so it's doubtful he'd accept a "hometown discount" to return to the Avs.

...i would absolutely love to see peter forsberg as an islander, but if you look at those teams, a lot of them are much more appealing than the island...pretty much, other than edmonton, all of those teams are in a better position than the islanders and unless he gets blown away with an offer from snow, i don't see it happening...

Rumor: McCabe Very Unlikely

According to Spector at FOXSports, the Islanders will probably not be able to land Toronto defenseman Bryan McCabe in a trade.

The lingering belief that McCabe would waive that clause to return to the New York Islanders is based upon the fact he and his family summer on Long Island, where his wife's family lives.

This one has kicked around since the middle of last season but it's apparent that if McCabe wanted out of Toronto he'd have waived that clause months ago.

...there really isn't a deal that makes sense for both teams unless the islanders decided to move miro satan among other valuable parts, which isn't something the team has the luxury of doing right now...i think the safe bet is to try and land danny markov or andy sutton through free agency on short contracts and re-evaluate the defense after the season...

...credit to islandermania for the link...

Rumor: Islanders Interested In Allison

According to Dobberhockey, the Islanders are interested in signing free agent center Jason Allison.

Allison has not played in the NHL since 2005-2006.

The Islanders are reportedly interested in signing Jason Allison. Stay tuned for that one.

...at first, i was not a fan of allison's...he is slow, has not played in the nhl for 2 years now, and could be over the hill...but after thinking about it, i think he could be valubale on the 2nd line in a cheap contract playing with speedy players...he would really have to play with speedy players like jeff tambellini or sean bergenheim...this would allow mike sillinger and trent hunter to play at their best on the 3rd line...figure a satan, comrie, guerin, line followed by a fedotenko, allison, tambellini line...not too shabby...

News: Hunter Awarded 1.55 Million - Islanders Accept

According to TSN, an arbitrator awarded Islanders forward Trent Hunter a one-year contract worth 1.55 million for next season. The Islanders now have 48 hours to accept the award. If they choose not to, Hunter becomes an unrestricted free agent.

...like i said before, i'm really not happy that they could not get a long term deal worked out...the contract that the arbitrator awarded is more than fair and is extremely cap friendly...i'm sure the islanders will accept it and try to work on an extension either during the year or after next season...because if they don't, hunter becomes a ufa...but for now, good deal, and look for the isles to accept it very quickly...

...now go work on getting a defenseman, garth...

UPDATE - 2:45 PM

According to Newsday, the Islanders have accepted the award and have signed Hunter for next season.

...no surprises, just as expected...