ex-Isles voice lands in Desert

Steve Albert, who served as the TV-voice of the Islanders in the late 70s, including the 1979-80 Cup season, has been named the new TV-voice of the Phoenix Suns.

A somewhat bizarre story about it appears here: 

http://arizonasports.com/41/1562819/Suns-hire-new-TV-playbyplay-announcer

The story fails to note much of Steve's NBA experience... or that he is Kenny's uncle. :)

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

Visnovsky

Quick internet search shows numerous accounts of Visnovsky having some sort of no-trade clause in his contract. 

Why it didn't come up for a month after he was dealt?  That's an interesting question.  With potential lockout ahead, could he be just using this clause to get a signing bonus on future deal? (Under CBA you can't just convert salary to signing bonus for an existing year.)

Visnovsky's agent is Neil Sheehy, a Harvard grad.  I can't imagine that he would have forgotten that his client had this language in his contract.

 

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 proposal

The Islanders may eventually get to Barclays Center, but judging by the opening salvo in the NHL/NHLPA negotiations it may not be for their October pre-season game.

 

From Larry Brooks of the Post:

 

<<Fehr wrote: "We learned that the owners' proposal, if in effect in 2011-12, would have had the following effects:

 

"(1) Player compensation would have been reduced by $450 million, or 24 percent ... Using the definitions in effect under the current CBA, the '46%' player share in the proposal is really only '43% and change.'

"(2) The salary cap would have fall to an Upper limit of $50.8M, a Midpoint of $46.8M, and a floor of only $38.8M."

The NHL operated last year with an actual cap of $64.3 million and a floor of $48.8 million. If the current CBA were in place next year, the cap would be $70.2 million and the floor, $54.2 million.

Fehr continued in the memo: "(3) This would mean Player compensation would fall to below 2003/04 levels, notwithstanding the large revenue increases in the last few years."

 

NHL revenue has grown by nearly $1 billion, to approximately $3.2 billion, over the last seven seasons.

>>

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/same_ol_story_FJJVCxvs8klic3GyVwD9VP#ixzz21Gzt3Vhq

There are 123 games remaining on the Islanders' Coliseum lease.  How many of them will actually get played?

 

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

Adam Haber: Fresh ideas for Coliseum financing

A second LIBN piece today -- http://libn.com/2012/07/19/haber-fresh-ideas-for-nassau-coliseum-financing/

This one can be read by all.  Haber, a Wall Street vet, is the founder of the "Nassau County Suggestion Box" and is also a member of the Roslyn school board.

The piece begins:
"There is no doubt in my mind Nassau County desperately needs to build a new Coliseum and convention center to help retain the Islanders and create a viable outlet for residents to see sporting events, concerts and attend trade shows."
 

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

LIBN on Coliseum standoff

Desmond Ryan, Executive Director of "Association for a Better Long Island", which despite its name lobbied peopleto vote against the Coliseum project last summer, has an opinion piece on Long Island Business News.com (libn.com)  http://libn.com/2012/07/19/ryan-mangano-doesnt-need-wang-on-the-ice/

The piece is for subscribers only, so I can share just the title: "Mangano doesn't need Wang on the ice" and the first line "It is time for Charles Wang to end his silence."

Those who are able to read it should remember that Edward Blumenfeld is the President and Chairman of The Association for a Better Long Island.  Mr. Blumenfeld is a noted builder on Long Island (and a 50-year friend of Bernie Madoff).  Earlier this year, Blumenfeld's company "asked the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency for tax breaks to build a 5,400-square-foot parking and storage structure next to its Syosset headquarters on Robbins Lane. The $1.4 million building initially will be used to garage the company's fleet of vehicles."

Might be a spot in the center of Nassau County in about three years that would be a good spot for acres of parking...and no place to go.

 

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

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