NEW YORK ISLANDER FAN CENTRAL

John Tavares First Star Of the Month In January

2012-02-01T12:22:00.002-05:00

Reports John Tavares has been named the first star of the month of January 2011 in the NHL with his comments.

NYIFC Comments:
Nothing to really add beyond our recent entries on his play and improvement is approaching super-star status, you see the one on one moves, the acceleration, his vision to find his teammates.

The best example of this was the game I saw in Philadelphia where I wrote it was best career game. A contest where he did not score, Nabokov was credited with forty saves and John Tavares was awarded the number one star because he was a threat to score virtually every time a puck came near him.

Well deserved honor, not just by statistics, but overall play.

Joey MacDonald was named third star of the month in November 2009, Rick DiPietro the second star in Feb 2007 here.

Our guess (could be incorrect) is Chris Osgood in October 2001 was the last New York Islander to win first a star of the month honor here.

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Kevin Poulin has been returned to Bridgeport per the Isles twitter feed.

NYIFC Comments:
That thud may well have been the trade in place that fell through or this is a paper transaction. New York and Bridgeport have games Friday.

The bottom line to all this is the standings and contract status, despite what fan bloggers (NYIFC) feel about Nabokov's play and recent durability and that he should have started in Carolina, the head coach has never named a #1 goaltender.

Mangano Words/Actions Prove He's No New York Islander Fan

2012-01-31T23:37:00.002-05:00

Twitter comments on the win in Carolina are posted.

Ed Mangano's true colors are showing more and more they are not New York Islander Blue and Orange, which has never been any shock.

Apparently Charles Wang's " friend " from last summer is turning on him recently making it clear to the media “Ask him,” regarding the Isles owner comment on Mangano's latest HUB plan, despite Mr Wang making clear he does not want negotiations in newspapers.

Tuesday, another cheap shot from Mangano, at what is a completely meaningless preseason game in Brooklyn because Charles Wang cannot move his Marriott hotel there. Instead, why doesn't Mr Mangano go to the game in Brooklyn with his County representatives and support the New York Islanders?

For that matter he can always attend the yearly scheduled Coliseum pre-season game?

Of course, the two million dollar bill for Mr Mangano's referendum on the Coliseum failing was expected to be the final time he would support a new Coliseum and he took a political hit, but make no mistake that was never any favor to Charles Wang, as written back in May 2011, it was ultimately to cover himself.

It should have been done behind closed doors like all other local sports teams received without any referendum.

That was a plan where taxpayer money automatically went into Nassau County's discretionary fund, regardless of how the Coliseum did for the next thirty years. When it failed, Mangano had his permanent out with the taxpayers support, it's no shock he's doing exactly that, with a process that is designed to take things back to the 1990's.

New York State will not be giving critical discretionary money to renovate or replace an arena vs other plans when the people involved submitting proposals directly have other interests. Stuart Rabinowicz wants revenue that helps Hofstra, not the New York Islanders and the same goes for Kevin Law and his LIA associates.

That's more of the usual political football that has gone on for over two decades, a new arena will never be a priority for them, nor will any arena plan ever be acceptable.

Our primary issue here with Ed Mangano is this sports fan does absolutely nothing to support Nassau County's team? His administration is not visible at games or team events, but he's out there supporting other area teams which we have noted and documented many times?

Where was Ed Mangano and his representatives during the Lighthouse Tournament?

Will they be in at the teams Casino night on Wednesday for the Isles Children's Foundation which will be live webcast by the club itself?

Instead Mr Mangano is out there honoring a New Jersey football teams 1986 championship, putting the county office in their colors, and hyping how it will help Nassau's economy?

Last I looked, it cost absolutely nothing to show some pride and be visible for your own local team and that goes for all of them from Mangano to Murray, Jacobs, Rabinowicz and Kevin Law.

Even Mike Bloomberg of all people, after what the Dolan's did during the West Side Stadium fight, goes to the taxpayer exempt Cablevision Garden and is sighted with Dolan, who told people he was going to a Ranger game after a blizzard last year?

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2012-01-31T17:38:00.001-05:00

New York Must Follow Bridgeport's 10-0-1 For Playoffs

2012-01-31T10:33:00.001-05:00

In many of our updates, we have written when New York has a ten game winning streak we can talk about the playoffs.

Bridgeport just did it.

New York must do the same to enter a realistic discussion, oddly they will be doing that with Kevin Poulin starting in goal/Nabokov backing up, Steve Staios in for Dylan Reese against Carolina who has no business sitting for Staios given the teams recent play unless Reese is hurt/sick.

Brian Rolston is also out which likely means Rhett Rakhshani dresses in the one move that makes sense pending a trade.

New York opens the post All-Star break, trailing four teams by ten points for two playoff spots and close to several others at the bottom, it's likely one of those teams will go on a winning streak.

How Bridgeport did it?
The highest marks have to be given to Head Coach, Brent Thompson with an incredible month going 10-0-1. The Sound Tigers winning/not losing in regulation run, places them at the top of a division that is comparable in standings to the NHL South East.

Many of those games goaltending and timely scoring decided the contest, with several players out injured, Anton Klementyev left the team after refusing ECHL assignment, for Lokomotov, playing this year in the Volga Conference in the M.H.L in Russia.

Casey Cizikas earned his all-star spot, replacing Calvin deHaan.

Now Bridgeport is getting healthy, but New York call-ups could again shake the mix, nothing but a strong second half will keep the Sound Tigers in a playoff spot.

How New York Can Do It?
Anything can happen. Chemistry can be found among struggling players at any time, sometimes all it takes is one goal for a player or a line to settle down and produce or a goaltender to simply start stealing games.

One line, some very strong special teams play, has carried the club out of the five/six game under holes, back to two or three under, but then they slide back again which is the pattern.

Ultimately that's not the start of anything, the club is not quitting.

Is it likely for Brian Rolston, Frans Nielsen, or the fourth line to produce big goals (or any) at even strength? No, we have seen too much of this season or some career resume's.

Matt Martin could score in juniors, he's not demonstrated that ability often at this level but has potential, same for Josh Bailey.

One line could get hot, Tavares line could go into a deep slump. Injuries are a constant.

The defense and goaltending with Nabokov seemingly healthy, even Dylan Reese mobility has been effective even if not productive. Obviously it's a better skating defense/transition unit without Staios and Mottau.

Of course, Hamonic's offensive game could improve, same with MacDonald, outside of Mark Streit, it's unlikely to expect any other current defender here to provide any kind of sustained production.

What is likely to happen? More of the same which is why there is no realistic discussion about playoffs until this team does what happened in Bridgeport.

Kevin Poulin and Rhett Rakhshani Recalls Mean What?

It could mean a lot of things with the trade deadline less than a month away, or simply time could be up for some players who have received a lot of games here to show what they can do.

Sure it could be more injury issues.

General Manager, Garth Snow, has to take every opportunity to improve his club as does his counter-parts, NHL trading is far different in the salary cap era before the buyers/sellers are established at the deadline.

For those who have followed the trade deadline in recent years there is usually a short stretch of activity around this time, the waiting game does not make as much sense as it used to.

Only the gm/player/agents know where negotiations stand with current UFA here, Snow, as always, will likely keep that quiet/respectful which is of course is the correct way.

Twenty nine other teams are all looking to improve, or to unload players who are not the answer for their organization. Many struggling clubs find no market to make the kind of trade to improve their core.

Right now they seemingly have a few extra forwards, three goaltenders, and a one game road trip before a stop-over in New York on the way to Ottawa. Sometimes players are called up in anticipation of trades that never take place.

Many teams recalled players from the AHL on Monday.

Market Value:
This is a very subjective subject, however if you want NYIFC guess on trade market value of some players likely available at this time, ok.

Bailey-See no trade unless it's for a similar or better talent at same age level.
Nabokov-3rd rounder to conditional second depending if his team advances in playoffs.
Montoya-5th rounder to 4th rounder.
Eaton-6th rounder to conditional fourth.
Nielsen-First rounder/likely top four defender which Snow will not get.
Parenteau-Second rounder will be asking price, Snow will not move him for that.
Rolston-Future considerations.
Staios-Future considerations, but given current depth chart on defense cannot go anywhere.
Mottau-See Staios if he is able to return at all. deHaan/Katic would need to return first.
Jurcina-6th rounder, conditional fifth but again depth chart.
Streit-Would take a first rounder and a defender of younger/similar ability but highly unlikely because no one here currently with that ability and those players not avaialble.
Reasoner-He's signed for 2012-13, see no trade at all based upon that.
Pandolfo-Future considerations, no market for a player who would likely clear waivers.
Koskinen-4th rounder, but Snow will likely qualify him as he enters RFA to see potential play out.
Anders Nilsson-Do not see him in any trade unless it's for similar potential/see Poulin.
Kevin Poulin-Prospect seemingly most ready, would likely be better to hold onto him and see if he can become a top goaltender here where his value would be much greater.

Updated:
Islanders website, announced a pre-season game in Brooklyn in 2012-13.

NYIFC Comments:
Ultimately in the big picture it means absolutely nothing, but nice to see a home game at another arena inside New York Islander territory.

You can bet Mr Dolan will do everything possible to hide it.

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2012-01-28T04:56:00.001-05:00

When Perception Ruins Reality II: Wang Payroll/Coliseum

2012-01-25T22:03:00.019-05:00

NYIFC presents some light reading during the break.

Some folks like to write (perhaps re-write) their own history, or are not aware of it?

Many of our fans do not follow what's transpired, do not remember or simply need to vent here or at NYIFC twitter feed.

It's tiring repeating the same things.

Charles Wang is not the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates or many baseball teams in modern stadiums, who had incentive to spend less money because they receive Yankee (aka NY taxpayer new ballpark money) luxury tax/revenue sharing money here and are more profitable because they spend less.

Charles Wang does not receive the 10-14m in revenue sharing here that Caps owner, Ted Lenosis does to front-load player contracts here as Dolan does with his 1981 Msg taxpayer exemption in the NHL's oldest building.

Nor did Charles Wang get Mr Vanderbeek's largely taxpayer funded building in Newark, with arena revenue. That money-losing facility is likely already headed for bankruptcy, those links have been posted here several times.

On May 6th 2011 NYIFC had a blog entry titled When Perception Ruins Reality: Wang's Payroll/Spending.

On August 4th 2011 post-referendum defeat NYIFC projected out the Coliseum end-game, long-term.

NYIFC Comments:
Folks, in the end you can be informed with the facts (not from NYIFC views) but what's been reported with supporting quotes, or you can simply vent and learn nothing?

This blog has tried to help keep folks informed.

As for the Coliseum, it's Nassau County's building. Charles Wang is a rent paying tenant who spent ninety million dollars to buy the Marroitt next door, unless he can find a buyer for it, he owns it permanently past the Isles current lease.

This means he cannot physically transport his hotel to Queens, Brooklyn or elsewhere, and it's likely here or nowhere for him to continue as owner nor is someone in those places building him a new arena or giving him revenue for it to make financial sense for him. Most do not know this or understand Wang-Rechler bought the hotel, Wang bought out Mr Rechler's share which we have posted the links to several times.

We knew what it would take for Charles Wang to sign a lease extension based on last summer? We knew what he would agree to for a renovation when partnered with Scott Rechler during the LH development.

Based on last summer he is no longer interested in developing on the property or constructing an arena for Nassau County, he made that clear during interviews he would likely not pay for a new Coliseum or is interested in a renovation nor would he have built a facility if the referendum was approved during News12 debate/interview.

There are two things in question, the first being what percent of the land does Charles Wang have rights to beyond owning the Marriott? One article reported it's the area between the hotel and the Coliseum (below) or the walk of champions area.

In 2005, it was reported Mr Wang's portion was a Forty foot wide easement connecting the hotel to the Coliseum.

The second would be is Scott Rechler part of the Dec 2009 Tom Suozzi/SMG sub-lease that is costing Mr Wang and/or Mr Rechler seventeen million dollars until 2015 to make Coliseum revenue from all events, and have some management rights or did Mr Wang also buy out Scott Rechler's interest?

Aside from that it's all speculation between Mr Ed (I do not go or send staff to LightHouse Tournament Charles Wang paid for again) Mangano. Hofstra President Stuart (the Isles should move to Belmont because I can expand Hofstra $ interest to HUB but we need a sports team here/not saying Isles must stay) Rabinowicz.

Whatever best serves Long Island Association (LIA) with Kevin Law/usual suspects (invite Bob Nystrom to one meeting) trying to get something done within Kate Murray/TOH limited flexible zone, that Wang/Rechler/Suozzi said was not economically viable that is now being echoed by other developers as that very expensive parking garage keeps coming back.

Only Jay Jacobs knows between paying for his New Jersey Giants/PSL, where he stands on the Coliseum today. No recent images of him wearing a Tavares jersey.

No, NYIFC has not forgotten our entries from last summer. Never forget the Cablevision Dolan's buying the property after all has failed, renovating the Coliseum for their own interest and sending the Isles packing when lease expires to save cable contract money until 2030, then expand their teams permanently into Nassau County as they did in Hartford and with the LA Forum.

It could ultimately be the one Nassau County has to accept as cash up front.

For now, Mr Mangano is likely headed back to early 90's with an RFQ as opposed to the RFP, for his next plan as the clock ticks down (or he intentionally runs it out) at a point construction/renovation must begin. There is no sign he will be meeting with Charles Wang as Mike Bloomberg, Cory Booker or Ed Koch did long ago to do what was necessary (in backroom) to retain those teams as apparently many Canadian cities have recently done on taxpayers backs without referendums.

Mr Mangano is also too busy celebrating the 25th anniversary of the NJ football Giants 1986 championship, pulling out the stops for this years game. Mr Suozzi's adminstration missed that memo in May 2005 for New York's hockey team.

Flyer owner, Ed (Smg managed Nassau Coliseum/NBC-Comcast Sports Network) Snider got his taxpayer funded Lighthouse (Philly Live) where the old spectrum was here.

Mr Wang/Rechler lost 20m and did over two hundred community meetings on one project, Mr Wang's tire-less work last summer got 67,000 people to vote for Mr Mangano's automatic tax increase for thirty years regardless how a new Coliseum did, with a referendum that no other local team had to endure.

Ok. Enough repeating old entries. Feel free to read them.

The information came from quoted articles/not sources, fan sites guessing on NHL payrolls or Michael Ozanian's guesswork with no team books at Forbes.

Charles Wang receives no break from NYIFC, however someone has to write what's transpired., others will demand he give Zach Parise 20-30 million dollars immediately for the 2012-13 hockey season (that's what front-loading is and what top players demand) and a lot more for the years afterward or our fans will not support the team with the 29th best attendance because they are tired of waiting and frustrated.

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum has a better championship tradition than Maple Leaf Garden, no current or past US facility (including Chicago Stadium/Boston Garden for NHL hockey) comes close. The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum should be respected and revered for the championship tradition the same as the Montreal Forum, while also understanding change is needed at the Coliseum.

That is a media perception game with a ton of double-standards. No hockey media person in Canada would stay employed long to write daily Maple Leaf Gardens was a dump daily from 1931-1999, or the Montreal Forum from 1924-1996 as people needed to stand next to a rail between seated sections.

No US hockey team has had a greater NHL dynasty than the New York Islanders, or has matched their success to date since 1983, no professional franchise ever won nineteen playoff series in a row as was witnessed in that building.

Change is needed, same as was necessary with the same respect and reverence.

Once again, ultimately, it's up to each individual.

Enjoy the break.

Status Quo Loss for New York On Ice/Media Disgrace Off Ice

2012-01-25T02:35:00.006-05:00

Not much that can be written about tonight's overtime loss our twitter feed did not have. Two games, no powerplays, despite several players hit high and worse.

I cannot tell you last time a home/home produced no powerplay for one team in both contests?

Officiating was a huge factor, Jack Capuano was very vocal, as Weight always is.

Many players did not pull punches in their post-game reaction.

Bottom line, it never changes end result, it took a miracle bounce to get the game to overtime for Parenteau to score, avoiding another devastating regulation loss.

Overall, the standings suggest it likely does not make any difference.

New York played much better than what I saw Monday, they were in a great position to take both points in regulation. Six games in eight days is a ton of hockey. Josh Bailey/Matt Martin have some chemistry short-handed.

Nielsen and others had high quality chances.

Still, too many passengers on offense. Milan Jurcina is not a top pairing defender, but he's all they have.

Montoya's reaction on one goal seemed like a legitimate goaltenders interference where the Leaf goalie got that call against Matt Martin. The shot off Jurcina in the third is the breaks, unless you want to blame Montoya, who played strong enough.
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NHL.non

Twelve out of thirteen NHL games played Tuesday were assigned a writer/correspondent by NHL.com, Toronto at New York was the exception.

Saturday, Carolina at New York was also not assigned a writer, the AP articles are smaller and smaller in Manhattan, or disappear.

Columbus at Tampa Bay were assigned a writer Tuesday.

Our twitter feed also went long and hard on the subject. Brian Compton of NHL.com, who's mailbag went silent recently was asked to comment on his twitter feed.

He did not respond, simply linking to the wire and staff reports a few moments later, but not responding directly.

Mr Compton wrote the preview.

NYIFC also requested comment from the Islanders official twitter with no response.

All NYIFC can do is ask fair questions and hope we receive a response.
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Unless something significant happens during all-star break, NYIFC will take the time off. Perhaps Matt Moulson is added for Ovechkin, who opted out?

Bridgeport has more hockey to play starting Wednesday on it's winning streak and getting healthy. Casey Cizikas replaces Calvin deHaan at the AHL showcase.

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2012-01-24T16:00:00.000-05:00