More on Pellerin

I got some "nasty" retorts about the Isles hiring of Scott Pellerin to coach the Sound Tigers, mainly because he is a Maine alum.

Perhaps this story from the Manchester (NH) Union Leader will make you feel just a little bit better   (Manchester is the Kings' #1 farm club): http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120613/SPORTS0702/706139915/1003/sports

Manchester ironically has a bunch of Islander ties -- Ron Hextall is their GM and Hubie McDonough is their director of player personnel.  Matt Moulson played parts of three seasons there, scoring at least 20 goals in each. 

Pellerin's signing means that both players who assisted on the first goal in Minnesota Wild history now have an Islander tie of sorts.  Jim Dowd played 3 of his 728 NHL games for the Isles and he had the other assist on the Wild's first goal, which was scored by Marian Gaborik.

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Isles ink Clark to Entry Level deal

Jason Clark has signed a 3-year ELC with the Isles, leaving Wisconsin after his sophomore season.

Those expecting immediate help for the Isles from Clark should bear in mind  the following:

http://host.madison.com/sports/college/hockey/uw-men-s-hockey-clark-the-latest-to-leave-badgers/article_f720a026-d02c-11e1-aca7-0019bb2963f4.html

"It's been difficult to get a read on how good Clark can be because injuries and illness have set him back numerous times during his career with the Badgers. He had surgery to repair labrum tears in both hips and battled a sinus infection. In all, Clark played 35 games, including 21 last season, and totalled two assists.

Eaves said Clark broached the possibility of leaving last Friday. A long talk spilled over into another meeting Monday when Clark told Eaves he was leaving, but would finish his summer school commitments. Eaves acknowledged that he didn't project Clark among his top six forwards heading into next season.

"It was a tough road for him here,'' Eaves said of Clark, who became the fifth UW underclassmen to leave after the 2011-12 season."

Read more: http://host.madison.com/sports/college/hockey/article_f720a026-d02c-11e1-aca7-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz20uxUAxn1

Clark certainly tweeted the right things on the way out (@_Clark17) "Hate goodbyes. Couldn't admire more the character of my UW Coaches teammates and Academic Advisors. Honestly, thank you guys for everything"

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

HNIC Elliotte Friedman on Isles/CBJ trade rumor

Good piece here:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/06/new-york-islanders-columbus-blue-jackets-draft-picks-trade.html

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Isles extend qualifying offers to 8; Comeau not qualified by Flames

These players are now considered to be Restricted FAs:

nyi.com

<<The Islanders have tendered qualifying offers to Sean Backman, Justin DiBenedetto, Mark Katic, Mikko Koskinen, Tomas Marcinko, Matt Martin, Rhett Rakhshani and Ty Wishart.>> 

Several of these players are committed to playing in Europe next season, but it does allow the Isles to maintain their NHL rights (ala Jesse Joensuu, who will give another crack at making the NHL this fall).

 
The Dallas Stars recently posted a good explanation of this process, excerpted below:

<<Teams are required to extend a one-year "qualifying offer" to any current restricted free agent by June 25 in order to receive the right of the first refusal or draft choice compensation should that respective player sign an offer sheet with another NHL club. The qualifying offers will expire at 4 p.m. (Central Time) on Thursday, July 15.

Qualifying offers fall into three categories:

1. A player whose prior year salary was equal or less than $660,000 must receive a qualifying offer of 110% of their prior year's salary.

2. A player whose prior year salary was more than $660,000 and up to $1 million must receive a qualifying offer of 105% of their prior year's salary (but in no event shall such qualifying offer exceed $1 million).

3. A player whose prior year salary was more than $1 million must receive a qualifying offer at 100% of their prior year's salary.

If a team does not give a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent, he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and can sign with any team with no compensation required to the player's former club.

>>

Mike Fornabaio notes the Isles did not qualify McNeely, Romano, Riendeau (obtained in the Rolston trade) and Alexandrov (obtained from Boston in late March for futures).  None of these players ever appeared in a game for the Isles. The non-qualifiers will become unrestricted FAs on Sunday.

Also not qualified today: Blake Comeau (per James Mirtle).  The Flames would have had to offer a $2.5 million QO to keep Comeau, who went 5-10-15 in 58 games for Calgary, after starting the season pointless in 16 games for the Isles. Comeau is still only 26, so I'm sure he'll get another chance somewhere, albeit at a significant pay cut.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Columbus Dispatch: Isles Offered CBJ Entire Draft

Others are disputing the particulars on this (particularly whether it was if Murray dropped to #2), but here is the Columbus blog from Aaron Portzline, who has covered the Blue Jackets throughout their entire history.

<<Isles Offered Entire Draft

Posted Jun 25, 2012 by Aaron Portzline

How highly did the Blue Jackets value defenseman Ryan Murray before taking him with the No. 2 overall pick in Friday's first round of the NHL Draft? Enough to turn down an eye-opening offer from the New York Islanders, who, according to numerous NHL sources, offered all of their picks -- one in each round -- for the right to move up from No. 4 to No. 2 for Murray.

That's right, for the Jackets' No. 2 pick, the Islanders offered pick Nos. 4, 34, 65, 103, 125, 155 and 185. The bounty would have given the Jackets the following picks: 4, 31, 34, 62, 65, 95, 103, 125, 152, 155, 182 and 185.

And if that weren't enough, the Jackets could have had the Kings' No. 30 if they wanted it.

Next week's development camp would have required two sheets of ice.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson offered a "no comment" when reached by The Dispatch late Sunday. After Friday's first round, he did mention a "very attractive" trade offer the Blue Jackets declined before selection Murray, a precocious prospect whom many think could play in the NHL this season.

The Islanders, unable to move up for Murray, drafted highly-touted defenseman Griffin Reinhart with the No. 4 pick. But they didn't stop there. The Islanders spent all seven of their picks on defensemen.

-- Aaron Portzline

>>

  http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/blogs/puck-rakers/2012/06/isles-offered-all-their-picks.html

>>

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

NHL Network's Craig Button on the Isles day

On Visnovsky trade:  "I love it...I love what the Isles are doing. I love it.. I love it.. I love it.."  "Second round pick next year? Way to go Garth Snow"

On Griffin Reinhart:  "This young man might end up being the best player in this draft.  He has got untapped potential.  He plays the game at such a high level.  Even though it does not appear he may not be the most intense guy, don't be confused, don't be fooled..  He can do anything the game requires, anything."

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Staios to Leafs front office?

Several sources are reporting that Steve Staios will indeed retire from the NHL and join the Maple Leafs front office.  http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/21/staios-on-verge-of-new-leafs-gig

Staios played 65 games in what now appears to be his final NHL season, reaching 1,001 career games in total.  He had 8 assists for the Isles and served as one of the team's assistant captains.

Staios was a -86 for his career, but that may be more of the result of the teams that he played on than his actual contribution.  He played in the playoffs only three seasons (33 games), escaping the opening round only in 2006, when Dwayne Roloson led the Oilers to the finals.

Staios, who will turn 39 in July, was drafted 27th overall (2nd round) in 1991 by St. Louis -- one pick after the Isles selected Ziggy Palffy. 

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick