I was planning on writing a piece today, as soon as I got home about recent reports of John Tavares' departure from the Island, and Alexei Yashin's return.
However, when I got home, instead of finding Islander news awaiting for me, I instead found news of a plane crash in Russia which killed at least 43 people. The majority of these 43 were members of the Lokomotiv team in the KHL. Several ex-NHL players such as Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Karel Rachunek, Karlis Skrastins, Devil prospect Alexander Vasyunov, and former Islanders Josef Vasicek, Alexander Karpovtsev, and Brad McCrimmon.
There were 2 people lucky enough to have survived, if you can call them lucky that is. A crew member who's name hasn't been released, and forward Alexander Galimov have survived the crash, although Galimov has reportedly suffered burns on 80-90% of his body, and I expect similar injuries to have struck the surviving crew member.
Although it may not count for much, I feel it only just that in the memory of these players and passengers who died in this tragedy, to postpone any blog entries to tomorrow. I know it has been said several times, but as one who's brother is about to board a plane to travel across the world to Italy, my thoughts and prayers truly are with those who were lost in the crash, those who miraculously survived it, and most of all with those who were affected by it.
RIP
Vitaly Aikeyenko
Mikhail Balandin
Gennady Churilov
Pavol Demitra
Robert Dietrich
Marat Kalimulin
Alexander Kalyanin
Andrei Kiryukhin
Nikita Klyukin
Stefan Liv
Jan Marek
Sergei Ostapchuk
Karel Rachunek
Ruslan Salei
Maxim Shuvalov
Karlis Skrastins
Pavel Snurnitsyn
Daniil Sobchenko
Ivan Tkachenko
Pavel Trakhanov
Yuri Urychev
Josef Vasicek
Alexander Vasyunov
Alexander Vyukhin
Arten Yarchuk
Brad McCrimmon
Alexander Karpovtsev
Igor Korolev
Yuri Bakhvalov
Aleksandr Belyavev
Nikolai Krivonosov
Yevgeni Kunnov
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Vladimir Piskunov
Yevgeni Sidorov
Andrei Zimin
Andrei Solomentsev
Igor Zhivelov
Nadezhda Maksumova
Vladimir Matyushin
Elena Sarmatova
Elena Shavina
Sergey Zhuravlev
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
New York Islanders Reportedly Invite Bryan McCabe to Training Camp
The New York Islanders have reportedly sent yet another camp invite. After inviting ex-Devil Jay Pandolfo to this year's training camp, the Islanders have reportedly sent an invite to free agent veteran defenseman, Bryan McCabe.
There have been rumors for a while now that Islander GM, Garth Snow, was interested in bringing in McCabe, and that McCabe was interested in coming back to the Islanders. The only thing that was standing between them was that Snow wanted McCabe to attend training camp on a tryout basis before signing him, while McCabe wanted the deal first instead of having to attend training camp before signing the deal.
I don't know whether the invite means that they've come onto an agreement, seeing as there's been no reports about McCabe actually accepting the invite as of yet, but I do expect an agreement to be in place between the two sides. Snow's not the type to just invite a player to training camp, and hope they accept.
That being said, I can't think of many available players who are a better fit for the Islanders then McCabe. For one thing, he's the best option available to help the Islanders get to the salary cap floor. I expect that any deal that may or may not take place to be around 1 year, 2/2.1 million. Throw in Bailey's eventual new contract, and Nino's salary in the likely event he makes the roster, and the Islanders should be fine.
McCabe is also a perfect option for the second power play line with that big shot of his, and can play 17-19 minutes a night, which will provide useful when trying to ease Mark Streit back into the game. McCabe can also be a hard hitter, and has recently been taking less penalties then he usually did earlier in his career as he has averaged 53 PIMS per season the last 3 years.
Putting McCabe's possible addition into account, I see the defensive lines looking something like this next year, pardoning any injuries of course.
Hamonic-MacDonald
Pairing worked out very well last year, and I see it taking place again this year.
Jurcina-Streit
Jurcina counters Streit's offensive capabilities with a big body which he uses well in his zone, whether to apply hits or block shots. Jurcina also has a bullet of a shot himself, but unlike Streit, Jurcina has a right handed shot. This helps him get off his bullet of a one-timer, as Streit has a left handed shot, and also makes him the best partner to help Streit get off his own bullet. Out of all the defensemen the Islanders currently have, I see Jurcina as the best fit to play with Streit for his defensive capabilities, and his right handed shot.
Eaton-McCabe
In the scenario that McCabe does sign, Eaton is the best fit as being his partner. Eaton is a defensive defenseman all the way, and can help erase any mistakes which McCabe may or may not make while playing in his own zone. This partnership will also allow McCabe to make more offensive plays knowing that Eaton is beside him to cover for him.
Personally, I definitely see this deal coming together. Whether it takes place now or at the end of September is anyone's guess, but I will hazard the guess that Bryan McCabe will indeed re-join the Islanders come opening night.
Comments encouraged!!
There have been rumors for a while now that Islander GM, Garth Snow, was interested in bringing in McCabe, and that McCabe was interested in coming back to the Islanders. The only thing that was standing between them was that Snow wanted McCabe to attend training camp on a tryout basis before signing him, while McCabe wanted the deal first instead of having to attend training camp before signing the deal.
I don't know whether the invite means that they've come onto an agreement, seeing as there's been no reports about McCabe actually accepting the invite as of yet, but I do expect an agreement to be in place between the two sides. Snow's not the type to just invite a player to training camp, and hope they accept.
That being said, I can't think of many available players who are a better fit for the Islanders then McCabe. For one thing, he's the best option available to help the Islanders get to the salary cap floor. I expect that any deal that may or may not take place to be around 1 year, 2/2.1 million. Throw in Bailey's eventual new contract, and Nino's salary in the likely event he makes the roster, and the Islanders should be fine.
McCabe is also a perfect option for the second power play line with that big shot of his, and can play 17-19 minutes a night, which will provide useful when trying to ease Mark Streit back into the game. McCabe can also be a hard hitter, and has recently been taking less penalties then he usually did earlier in his career as he has averaged 53 PIMS per season the last 3 years.
Putting McCabe's possible addition into account, I see the defensive lines looking something like this next year, pardoning any injuries of course.
Hamonic-MacDonald
Pairing worked out very well last year, and I see it taking place again this year.
Jurcina-Streit
Jurcina counters Streit's offensive capabilities with a big body which he uses well in his zone, whether to apply hits or block shots. Jurcina also has a bullet of a shot himself, but unlike Streit, Jurcina has a right handed shot. This helps him get off his bullet of a one-timer, as Streit has a left handed shot, and also makes him the best partner to help Streit get off his own bullet. Out of all the defensemen the Islanders currently have, I see Jurcina as the best fit to play with Streit for his defensive capabilities, and his right handed shot.
Eaton-McCabe
In the scenario that McCabe does sign, Eaton is the best fit as being his partner. Eaton is a defensive defenseman all the way, and can help erase any mistakes which McCabe may or may not make while playing in his own zone. This partnership will also allow McCabe to make more offensive plays knowing that Eaton is beside him to cover for him.
Personally, I definitely see this deal coming together. Whether it takes place now or at the end of September is anyone's guess, but I will hazard the guess that Bryan McCabe will indeed re-join the Islanders come opening night.
Comments encouraged!!
Jay Pandolfo Invited to Training Camp
The Islanders made some news yesterday as the news came out that Jay Pandolfo, a forward who spent his entire NHL career with the New Jersey Devils and last year in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons.
While with the Devils, Pandolfo posted 99 goals, and 124 assists for 223 points in 819 games played. While in Springfield, however, Pandolfo posted 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in only 12 games played, as he only played with them on a tryout basis.
As one can see by the stats Pandolfo posted during his time in the NHL, Pandolfo has next to no chance of making the team. The Islanders are already offensively established as it is, and signing Pandolfo to anything more then a tryout contract would definitely be a step back, and not a step forward.
If Pandolfo somehow does make the team, whether due to injuries or play or whatever, I see him as nothing more then a 4th line player, and truly doubt he would get any ice time on the 1-3 lines, unless the Islanders are completely demolished by injuries that is.
The likeliest scenario is that that the Islanders are simply doing this to help Pandolfo get back into rhythm, and maybe showcase his talents to other teams who might be more in need of those talents. Pandolfo, could also use his 13 years of NHL experience to provide some more leadership to the Islanders group of young players and rookies.
Either way, it's highly unlikely that Pandolfo will wear an Islander uniform come the Islanders' season opener.
Feel Free to Comment!!
While with the Devils, Pandolfo posted 99 goals, and 124 assists for 223 points in 819 games played. While in Springfield, however, Pandolfo posted 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in only 12 games played, as he only played with them on a tryout basis.
As one can see by the stats Pandolfo posted during his time in the NHL, Pandolfo has next to no chance of making the team. The Islanders are already offensively established as it is, and signing Pandolfo to anything more then a tryout contract would definitely be a step back, and not a step forward.
If Pandolfo somehow does make the team, whether due to injuries or play or whatever, I see him as nothing more then a 4th line player, and truly doubt he would get any ice time on the 1-3 lines, unless the Islanders are completely demolished by injuries that is.
The likeliest scenario is that that the Islanders are simply doing this to help Pandolfo get back into rhythm, and maybe showcase his talents to other teams who might be more in need of those talents. Pandolfo, could also use his 13 years of NHL experience to provide some more leadership to the Islanders group of young players and rookies.
Either way, it's highly unlikely that Pandolfo will wear an Islander uniform come the Islanders' season opener.
Feel Free to Comment!!
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