Interesting Forbes magazine article on "Lockout Loans" for Players

How expensive will this get?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2012/09/12/will-nhl-players-fall-prey-to-predatory-lockout-loans-as-collective-bargaining-talks-linger/

 

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/Brooklyn

BD Gallof has a lengthy piece out on WFAN.com:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/09/12/gallof-while-nassau-postures-islanders-positioning-for-real-run-at-brooklyn/

The Skinny (per Gallof):

"...we will hear more on Nassau pushing out an effort to make
something happen out of nothing. ... But,
realistically, as per sources close to the Islanders situation have
stated to me, "It's a bunch of nonsense.".
..
Meanwhile, Wang has visited the Barclays, which is looking for a
tenant. Arena head Bruce Ratner and the Isles are in communication.
These are the real things, not the Nassau-written hot fiction."

 
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

Lubo an Islander ... again

Arbitrator upholds trade to Isles: http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=641297

So if (when) they play, the Isles hope to have the 2010-11 version of Visnovsky on the ice.  He was 6-21-27 in 68 games with the Ducks last season.  But, in 2010-11, Visnovsky went 18-50-68 in 81 games, and was on the ice for 146 of his team's goals -- the highest total in the NHL by a wide margin (13 more than Henrik Sedin).

 
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

A laugh as we approach NHL Armageddon ... again.

An ESPN contributor named Neil Greenberg raised quite a stir around these parts last winter when he failed to named John Tavares to his "Top 25 under 25" list.

Howie picked up on it, and noted: "You could make the case that John Tavares is among the best 25 players in the league, period, never mind under 25 years of age."   It helped that Tavares would then go score both goals in the game, including the overtime winner, earning him the tag "Mr. Marginal".   (You can enjoy Howie's rant here: http://islanderspointblank.com/news/video-howie-rose-trolls-neil-greenberg-for-not-including-john-tavares-in-top-25-list/ )

A week later, ESPN's John Buccigross rated Tavares #29 in the entire league.

http://www.nyiskinny.com/2012/01/espn-shows-isles-respect-tavares-and.html

In an exchange of tweets with CSN's Alan May, apparently Greenberg has seen the light (tongue firmly in cheek):

<<From: @ngreenberg
Sent: Sep 12, 2012 10:05a

Tavares RT: @MayHockeyCSN: If & when there's @NHL season, who wins MVP? Leading Scorer?
>>

Tavares, by the way, turns 22 next Thursday.

 

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

Arena News

While Nassau hires a law firm  (blah, blah, blah) 
http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/nassau-hires-law-firm-to-handle-coliseum-talks-1.3989367

Seattle reaches final agreement to build a new arena.  Now all they need are teams.
http://www.kgw.com/news/business/Final-deal-reached-on-Seattle-hoops-hockey-arena-169304716.html
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/McGinn-Arena-deal-reached-Sonics-fans-have-3854965.php

And this commentary piece: "Favorable, innovative arena deal a boon for Seattle"
http://seattletimes.com/html/jerrybrewer/2019119848_brewer11.html 

There are 123 games (less those to be lost in this silly lockout) remaining in the Coliseum lease.

 

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

THN on Griffin Reinhart

via yahoo sports canada...

<<Reinhart a tower of power

By Ryan Kennedy | The Hockey News – Tue, 4 Sep, 2012 3:43 PM EDT

If you like hockey, the junior ranks are more than happy to help, even if their big brother is fighting dad over allowance money right now. All three CHL circuits are playing pre-season games now, while tourneys in Europe provide another outlet. Here's a look at some of the kids we're excited to see in the NHL one day.

Griffin Reinhart, D – Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

One of the highest risers in the 2012 draft, Reinhart parlayed his size, skill and playoff success into top-five status amid a defense-heavy crop. His 6-foot-4, 202-pound frame and NHL bloodlines (Paul's middle son) make him an obvious candidate for greatness, but a wrist injury put a damper on his first full season in the Western League. Reinhart rebounded in 2011-12 by doubling his goal output to 12 and helping the Oil Kings to their first 'Dub' title.

"The first year is more about getting comfortable," Reinhart said. "But all through the playoffs and Memorial Cup this year I feel I really picked up my game and my intensity shot up, making me a better player."

Though Edmonton this year will be without key defender Mark Pysyk, who leaves for the pros, Reinhart believes last season provided some nice challenges and benchmarks.

"Just before Christmas we had a big homestand and won 11 in a row," he said. "Going into the holidays, some of the guys went off to the world juniors and we were able to step up, which gave us a lot of confidence."

Along with his size, Reinhart also has the hockey IQ inherited from his dad. His brothers play for Kootenay (older bro Max is a Calgary prospect, younger Sam is an elite talent draft eligible in 2014) and Griffin is the only blueliner in the bunch.

"I'm a two-way defender, able to shut down offensive guys on the other team," he said. "I'm a pretty simple player – not too flashy but I get the job done."

Reinhart wants to be more vocal this season and take on a bigger leadership role. With a WHL title and Memorial Cup experience already under his belt, he's in good shape to talk the talk. Drafted fourth overall by the New York Islanders in 2012.

>>

 

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

Laxdal on Reinhart

from the Edmonton Sun:

Former Islander Derek Laxdal is Griffin Reinhart's coach in Edmonton.  (Laxdal played 16 regular season games and 1 playoff game for the Islanders over the 1989-90 and 1990-91 campaigns.)

He's quoted in the Edmonton Sun over the weekend:

<<Laxdal did say he was surprised that Reinhart was taken in the No. 5 slot in the NHL draft (by the New York Islanders). He thought it would be even earlier.

"You know what? I thought Griff had a chance to go in the top 2 picks. He's an outstanding kid and an outstanding player and he's only going to get better and better. He's going to have a long NHL career and they're looking for longevity out of their draft picks. Obviously he got by a couple of picks there. But at the end of the day he's going to be a true NHL defenceman.

 >> 
Eric's note: With thanks to sharp-eyed reader Kevin Corey: the Sun story is incorrect.  Reinhart was taken 4th, not 5th.

In the Six Degrees of Hockey Separation story, Laxdal has an interesting footnote -- it is how he became an Islander.  He was acquired from Toronto in a long-forgotten 1989 trade along with Paul Gagne and one other player:  Jack Capuano (who appeared in the NHL before and after the trade, but never for the Isles).  Mike Stevens and Gilles Thibadeau went the other way in that deal.

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