Devellano: Players are cattle!

believe it or not...that's what the Red WIngs Senior Vice President said.

http://islandsportsnews.net/component/content/article/1-hockey/3443-one-on-one-with-jim-devellano-detroit-red-wings-senior-vp

Here's the complete quote:

""It's very complicated and way too much for the average Joe to understand, but having said that, I will tell you this: The owners can basically be viewed as the Ranch, and the players, and me included, are the cattle. The owners own the Ranch and allow the players to eat there. That's the way its always been and that the way it will be forever. And the owners simply aren't going to let a union push them around. It's not going to happen.""

Devellano, a 2009 Lester Patrick Award winner,  goes on to recommend a reversal in the 57/43 split. "Let the players take 43% and let the owners take 57%".

The interview was conducted by Scott Harrigan -- the founder and President of Island Sports News; the Island in this case is Vancouver Island (which is where Victoria BC is located).

 

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

HRR

Good piece by Elliotte Friedman on everyone's favorite topic: HRR. 
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/09/making-sense-of-hockey-related-revenue.html

Have to love the first sentence of Friedman's piece: "We're heading into Week 2 of the lockout, of this super stupidity, complete with cancelled exhibition games and a complete lack of negotiation."

Isles open in Pittsburgh 3 weeks from tonight! Yah, right.

(h/t @Emptynetters for the link)

 

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

Bye, bye Brooklyn

...at least for now.

Chris Botta reporting that the Isles/Devils game in Brooklyn will be "officially canceled".  Refund information forthcoming.

Hard to know how well the game would have done--and obviously the prospect of the lockout likely contributed to the ticket sales -- but right now you could have bought eights seats together 15 rows up between the blue line and red line (roughly equivalent to the 4th or 5th row of the 200s at the Coliseum).

 

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

Rangers voice Maloney rips NHL

I've always thought Dave Maloney calls a fairly straight-up game --this afternoon via Twitter he kept that streak intact.

Dave Maloney ‏@DaveMaloneyMSG
So you shut your league down 7 years ago and claim
victory and now you have to blow it up again. Am I missing something
here? #NHL
Long term lucrative extensions being offered and
agreed to down to the wire under a system that "doesn't work" I don't
get it #NHL
And finally. They agree not to talk. Great #NHLlockout  
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 Arena update from @randimarshall

With just over 24 hours before the league locks out its players (midnight tomorrow), and 123 games (less those lost in the lockout) before Nassau loses its team, Newsday's Randi Marshall has a series of tweets from one of the bidders....

3h   Randi Marshall ‏@randimarshall 
 
.<<.
Spoke to Ed Blumenfeld, Syosset developer vying for #isles arena site master developer candidacy. Blumenfeld says he wants to keep #isles

.Blumenfeld also says he didn't make a specific vision proposal - that his proposal was more about the qualifications he brings

Blumenfeld said if eventual plan includes minor league ballpark, the Mets (his former partners on old RFP effort) are
interested

..Blumenfeld says he's brought in former NHL exec and sports management expert to work with him -and hopes to work on plan with #isles... 

...no timetable from county on when decision will be made - but several sources say they expect it will be soon.

>>

And so it goes.

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 

Pre-lockout, Isles assign a lot of familiar names

It will be interesting to see if all of these players report -- particularly Travis Hamonic, who played 19 games in Bridgeport two seasons ago before joining the Isles. Hamonic was scheduled to make $875,000 this season in the NHL.  He'll make $65,000 if he played the full season in Bridgeport.

http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=641369

<<Islanders Assign 21 Players

Hamonic and Niederreiter Headline List Of Players Assigned To Sound Tigers

Friday, 09.14.2012 / 11:10 AM / News

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders announced today that 19 players have been assigned to the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The club also assigned two players to their respective junior teams.

The players assigned to the Sound Tigers include Marc Cantin, Casey Cizikas, Jason Clark, Calvin de Haan, Brandon DeFazio, Matt Donovan, Mike Halmo, Travis Hamonic, Kirill Kabanov, Jon Landry, Brock Nelson, Aaron Ness, Nino Niederreiter, Anders Nilsson, John Persson, Kevin Poulin, Blair Riley, Johan Sundstrom and David Ullstrom.

The Islanders' two junior assignments include Griffin Reinhart, who returns to the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League, and Ryan Strome, who rejoins the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Sound Tigers will begin training camp on Sept. 28 and play their season opener on Friday, Oct. 12 at the Connecticut Whale. Their home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13 against the Providence Bruins at Webster Bank Arena.

>>

 

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

Rebuilding team with 80s glory having arena $$$ issues -won't stay forever

The Islanders, no. (At least not in this story).

The Oilers,   http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/edmonton-rejects-oiler-bid-for-more-money-for-new-downtown-arena-1.954028

 

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

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