Free Agent Targets?

What should the Islanders do in free agency?

Isles say take a big run at Jay Bouwmeester (if he's still there), and set reasonable deal targets for Mike Komisarek, Johnny Oduya and Craig Anderson (backup plan; one year deal for Manny Fernandez).

Second Round Pick Likely Headed For Bridgeport

Meet Islanders second round draft pick, and new Bridgeport Sound Tigers goalie, Mikko Koskinen.

Isles say he'll team with Nathan Lawson to form a good one-two prospect punch in net.

Isles Snag Top-Pair Blueliner At 12th Overall

The Islanders scouts believed they had a future top-pair defenseman staring at them in Calvin de Haan.

Isles say you take that at 12th overall

New York Islanders Take John Tavares First Overall

Welcome To Long Island John Tavares!

Isles say congratulations John Tavares! GO ISLES!!!!

The New York Islanders Select...

Isles say with the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft the Islanders select, from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, John Tavares.

Isles Target 15th to 17th Overall Pick

Looks like Islanders GM Garth Snow is using one of the Isles second round picks to move from 26th overall into the 15th to 17th overall range of the draft.

Isles say this won't happen until the pick comes up and their guy is still on the board.

Hat Day At The Draft

Isles say it's a Hat Day draft party and everyone's invited.

Draft Party, The Place To Be!

The excitement builds in Islander country.

Isles say if you're in the area the Islanders' draft party is a must!

Isles To Take Tavares: "We Want The Same Guy"

In a story for TSN.ca Garth Snow is quoted as saying;

"Well, when we won the draft lottery (on April 14) I was asked if I knew who we
were going to take, I said at the time that I had a pretty good idea but that I wasn't firmly committed to it until we went through the process of doing our due diligence on all the top guys. Let's just say the process re-affirmed what I thought back then. We want the same guy now that we wanted back then."

Isles say the Islanders are taking Tavares.

We're All Islanders

Isles say I love the New York Islanders.

Hat Day; A Beauty!

We celebrate the second last Hat Day before the draft!

Go Isles!!!!

New York Islanders: Next Captain

Who should be captain for the Islanders next year?

Isles say have three alternates (Streit, Weight, and Okposo), but no captain. Wait, to name a captain, until this young team matures and a leader develops among the young guys.

Islanders Degraded By Former Captain

In his address at Pittsburgh's cup parade, former New York Islanders' captain Bill Guerin said about his trade from the Islanders to the Penguins;

"...talk about, you know, upgrading. (chuckle)"

Isles say a disgusting remark; not what I expected from what Guerin was played up to be.

Is DP Still The Franchise Goalie?

Counting everything, injuries, level-of-play-to-date, propensity to wander, etc.; Is Rick DiPietro still the franchise goalie he was suppose to be?

Isles say yes.

Bossy Wins Calder Memorial Trophy

On June 12, 1978, Mike Bossy became the third Islanders player in five years to win the Calder Trophy. Denis Potvin won in 1974 and Bryan Trottier won in 1976. Bryan Berard won the Calder after his 1993-94 season with the Islanders.

Isles say Bossy was the greatest player ever.

The Trading Of Mark Streit

Isles say Mark Streit, as a 31 year old stud on a team just starting the rebuilding process, is in play to move up. Could the Islanders be reading IslesSay.blogspot.com?

Hat Day

Possibilities In Net For The Isles

So the Flyers are going to be signing Ray Emery on July 1st. Both Flyers goalies from 2008-09, Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki, are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. Does either become an option for the Islanders?

Isles say no; cheaper alternatives will be looked at.

Message to Isles Fans?

According to NewYorkIslanders.com, one thing the Islanders have maintained is that whoever they select with the top pick, the team is going to get a great player. Snow feels that it would simply be unfair and—in many ways—neglectful not to examine all of the possibilities. Snow is quoted as saying:

“We know it is a huge moment for this organization and we’re looking forward to it to. We were fortunate enough to win the lottery and I am ecstatic that we are in the driver’s seat. All of these players have been scouted by us not for days, weeks, or months, but for years. A lot goes into it and I need to be fair to my staff and be fair to the process we established three years ago when I got this position.”

Isles say sounds like a message to fans that believe Tavares is a given at number one.

Islanders Original Owner Dies

Roy Boe (centre), who was the original owner of the New York Islanders, has died. He was 79. Islanders ownder Charles Wang released the following statement:

“On behalf of the New York Islanders organization we would like to extend our sincere condolences to the entire Boe family. It was Roy Boe’s vision that enabled Long Island to become home of an NHL franchise and create a rich hockey history here.”

Boe owned the Islanders from 1972 until 1978. He also owned the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association and an AHL team in Worcester, Mass. In 2001 he founded the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, who remain the Isles minor league affiliate, which he sold to Wang in 2005.

Bailey's Development

After a slow start, Josh Bailey's play improved in the second half of the season. How will his develop progress in his second season?

Isles say Josh will get 50 points in his second year.

Islanders Looking to Move Up

The New York Islanders will make the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL Draft. IslesSay.blogspot.com has learned that they also want to use their 26th overall pick to move further up in the first round. Talks have been steady and are picking up.

Isles say don't rule out the Islanders moving into a second top five selection.

Bettman Urges Lighthouse Support

In his weekly NHL radio broadcast, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman urged Islanders fans to support Charles Wang and his proposed Lighthouse Project. Residents of Long Island and New York State should contact their local politicians.

Isles say Wang had been a godsend for the New York Islanders.

Next Year's Roster

2009 - 2010 New York Islanders Roster

Forwards

Comeau - Bailey - Okposo
Tambellini - Weight - Hunter
Bergenheim - Nielsen - Park
Sim - Thompson - Jackman

Defense

Streit - Gervais
Witt - Martinek
Sutton - Meyer
Hillen

Goalies

DiPietro
???

Isles say the roster is missing a big time goal scorer; any available in the draft?

Yay, It's Hat Day!

Isles say we're on the cusp of entering a new era in the history of the New York Islanders.

GO ISLES!!!!

Tavares: "I want to be an Islander."

In an interview with Chris Botta of islanderspointblank.com, John Tavares states: "Once and for all, I want to be clear that it would be a privilege to be drafted by the New York Islanders."

Isles say be good to have you John.

Wang Has "new plan" To Move Forward

Today the Long Island Regional Planning Council hosted a meeting that included a discussion about the Lighthouse Project. According to Jim Baumbach's blog 'The Final Score', toward the end of the discussion New York Islanders' owner Charles Wang announced he had a "new plan" in terms of the process to move forward.

Isles say please support the "new plan" for the Lighthouse Project process.

A Return Of The Architect

Bill Torrey has been put in charge of Florida's search for a new GM.

Isles say everything 'The Architect' touches turns to gold...

Does Hedman Bring Nastiness From Europe?

A stud defenseman needs a real physical aspect to their game, even some nastiness. Even a defenseman who can 'skate like the wind' needs to be able to get in a guy's face and back him down. Does Victor Hedman have that element in his game? Will he?

Isles say without a nastiness he may be good, but not dominant.