Potvin passes Orr

In another edition of NY's Greatest Hockey Rivalry, Denis Potvin passes Bobby Orr in career points in a 2-2 tie at MSG.  Premieres tonight at 7 on MSG Network.
(Also airs at  2AM, 10AM and 4PM tomorrow and at noon Saturday)

This game was played during winter break of my senior year in College -- could it really be this long ago???

A bit more on Potvin passing Orr, twice: http://www.nyiskinny.com/2011/12/isles-40-in-40-31.html

Stan's memories here: http://www.msg.com/blogs/stan-fischler/rangers-islanders--december-20--1985--potvin-breaks-orr-s-record.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

Hamonic drawing rave reviews

From Elliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts:

<<Another New York Islander getting good reviews is Travis Hamonic. "A beast," said one scout. I mentioned this last year, but a couple of teammates said he just had to understand how good he is. Sounds like he's figuring it out.
>>

That followed a mention on Nino Niederreiter (9-9-18, leading Sound Tigers in both goals and points) and how good the AHL has been for him.

Complete column here: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/11/30-thoughts-harding-has-kindred-hockey-spirit-in-sigalet.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

Mazel Tov! Jaffe/Nystrom to lead US to Maccabi games

Congrats to Billy & Eric. Ann Arbor should be proud of the two Michigan men!

http://t.co/AfCT6XbS

<<Jaffe and Nystrom to lead US Ice Hockey bid

November 29, 2012

Team USA have named William (Billy) Jaffe and Eric Nystrom as Head Coach and Assistant Coach for the USA Team Ice Hockey squad competing at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in July 2013 in Israel.

Jaffe, an NHL Network analyst, and Nystrom, an NHL Dallas Stars player, were selected by co-chairs Phil Pulley and Devra Schorr.

Jaffe participated at the 15th Maccabiah Games as the captain of the Open Men's Ice Hockey team, leading them to a silver medal. He also played hockey for the University of Michigan from 1987 to 1989. After many years as the color analyst for the New York Islanders, Versus Network, MSG Network, NESN and Rogers Sportsnet, he currently works as an analyst for the NHL Network.

"Going to Israel in 1997 as the team captain was a fun learning and cultural experience that I wouldn't have had if it wasn't for Ice Hockey," Jaffe said.

"My expectations are to help the players understand what a wonderful opportunity it is to experience something unique and special like the Maccabiah Games. It will be an incredible athletic and life experience."

Nystrom will be assisting Jaffe and expects to set a great example for each one of the athletes on the team. He has experience representing the United States at many different levels; from the under-18 Juniors World Cup to representing the United States in the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2010. He also attended the University of Michigan, qualifying for the All Rookie team during his debut season and becoming the captain during his final year at the University. He has also played on many different Teams in the NHL including the Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild and currently the Dallas Stars.

"It's an exciting day for Maccabi USA to have an NHL player and analyst as the coaching staff for the Open Men's Ice Hockey Team," Schorr commented. "Their contribution to the team will elevate the Games as a whole, along with the support of professional players participating in the return of Ice Hockey at the Maccabiah Games.

"The selection of Billy and Eric was not easy, given the significant number of highly qualified applicants for these coveted coaching positions. Many elite players will participate as members of the USA Open Men's Team due to the appointment of Billy and Eric as coaches."

>>

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

Sometimes the best trades you make...

...are the ones you don't.

Five months ago, the Isles were rumored to be discussing a deal with Columbus in which they would have sent all of their draft choices to the Blue Jackets in exchange for the second overall pick.

That pick, Ryan Murray, will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury:  http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=646456

Murray signed a 3-year contract with the Blue Jackets last summer (that will roll forward because he will not appear in the NHL this year).

 

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 Payroll Range implications

The NHLPA proposal includes the following:
" +8M/-8M payroll range becomes +/- 20% of midpoint beginning in 2013/14

The Upper Limit may not fall below 67.25 M in any year of the agreement.  This is half way between the 11/12 Upper Limit (64.3 M) and the 12/13 UL (70.2 M). "

What does this mean?

Based on the original numbers for 2012/13, the Upper Limit was 70.2M which meant that the Lower Limit was 54.2M and the midpoint was 62.2M.

At the 50% midpoint, the midpoint would fall to 54.56M (+ an additional 182M/30 teams to equal about 60.6M)

Under the PA's proposal the range would widen significantly.  For example, it the midpoint was 60M next year, the Upper Limit would be 72M and the Lower Limit would be 48M.  This would be a range of 24M, vs the 16M that exists today. 

The higher the midpoint goes, the wider the range would become (the opposite would hold true as the midpoint becomes smaller).  It would always be larger than the current $16M as long as the midpoint stayed above $40M (as 20% of 40M is $8M).

The PA's clause that the Upper Limit would not fall below 67.25M would become relevant if the midpoint dropped below $56.0416M (120% of $56.0416 is $67.25); the midpoint was 56.3M in 2011-12 but given the change from 57% to 50% would more likely be in play over the next few years.

The PA's proposal would allow the high spending teams to spend 50% more than the cap floor teams (120% / 80% = 1.5); under the expired CBA the range from low to high was only 30% (70.2M / 54.2M =1.295).

The ratio between cap and floor has changed significantly under the expired CBA.  In 2005-06, the cap was 39M and the floor was 21.5M, meaning the cap was 81% higher than the floor (39M / 21.5M = 1.81)  The PA's proposal would move the ratio back in the direction of the ratio when the last contract was signed.

 

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

Turkey Eve

While the turkeys met in Manhattan today, game #18 of the season should have been played tonight.

Thanksgiving Eve has been a traditional home night for the Isles and based on results BTL (Between the Lockouts) let's just say it would be a good night for the Nets to play at home starting in 2015.

The Isles at played at home on this night 15 times since the 1994 lockout wiped Thanksgiving off the NHL calendar, missing only 1999, 2004 (lockout) and now 2012 (lockout).  After going 5-0-2 between 1995-2002  (losing in OT to Theo Fleury and the Rangers in 2000 and tying (remember those) Ottawa two years later), the Isles have gone 1-4-3 in the last eight (including 1-3-3 since the last lockout).  You'll recall last Thanksgiving Eve, when Daniel Briere scored the tying and winning (OT) goals after the Isles had an early 3-1 lead.  A locked-out Alan Hahn tweeted afterwards "DiPietro was loss for words (rare) for those ridiculous bounces that led to goals".

Game 18 is an interesting reference point, because that means the Isles were scheduled to play 64 games after tonight -- which is equal to the intra-conference games under the current schedule format.

Will we get anywhere close to those 64 games? Who knows.  The issue for the NHL and for the players should be the growing sentiment among fans and sponsors of "who cares".

At least there's football tomorrow.  Happy Thanksgiving.

 

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

Bruce Ratner to Rebuild Hub

...and what an interesting development this is.

According to LIBN http://libn.com/2012/11/19/monti-ratner-picked-for-nassau-hub-project/   Bruce Ratner, who helped lure the Islanders to Brooklyn, will be "selected to either rebuild the aging Coliseum at the site or construct a new sports/convention arena that will be designed by Populous, an internationally known arena architect".

Populous (formerly HOK sport) has designed premier sporting venues around the world, including the Olympic Stadium in London and CitiField.  Ironically, the company is headquartered in ... wait for it... Kansas City, Missouri.

The development rights for the 77-acre parcel will be awarded to Donald Monti of Plainview-based Renaissance Downtowns,according to LIBN.

The Ratner angle may help explain Charles Wang's rather gracious comments about Ed Mangano when the Isles announced their move 3 1/2 weeks ago.

Monti was interviewed by Islanders Point Blank over the summer http://islanderspointblank.com/news/exclusive-renaissance-downtowns-ceo-donald-monti-if-charles-wants-to-stay-here-i-think-we-can-help-make-it-happen/ and stated his intention to keep the Islanders on Long Island.

"I go back to the four successive years that they won the Cup and at that time I was a season ticket holder. To me it would be an absolute shame for any area to lose a professional franchise. What's going to keep the Islanders here is a positive momentum and we have to make sure that's the message that resonates constantly. I think I'm the only respondent that's committed to do that."

Monti wasn't right on one point: "Certainly Brooklyn beats Kansas City," Monti said when the subject of the Islanders moving in 2015 was broached. "But there's something that tells me if Brooklyn could have been done, it would have been done."

With Ratner involved in this project one has to wonder whether the Islanders' time at the Coliseum could end before 2015.  If the NHL could get an agreement done with its players anytime soon (and preserve a 64-game season), it would appear that there would be 114 games left on the Coliseum lease for the Isles.  

I wonder how many of those 114 might end up being played in their new home in Brooklyn.

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