It’s not everyday that you hear the entire fan base of an organization spew forth an expletive laden rant when reading “news” on an old player.

No, strike that from the record.

When you are a fan of the New York Islanders you have an unfortunate level of expectation this time of year. You also learn that the organization can be somewhat like a crazy relative in their decision making. You love the relative no doubt, but you may not understand the way they think or agree with their decisions all the time.

When I received an email on Greg Logan’s Yashin article Saturday night, I was out to dinner with my fiancé. I literally laughed out loud and she asked what was wrong. I told her about the story behind Yashin and the laughter spread across the table. Even casual hockey fans know a good joke when they hear one.

Fortunately, Logan’s story doesn’t mean the return of Yashin is set in stone. If you read it carefully you can see the ploy of Yashin’s agent - in the dark, without a flashlight. This is clearly an attempt to get his client attention, all the while making the Islanders look foolish (they need little help there Marc).

The two sides are said to have had talks, hopefully the talks involved abrupt laughter from Garth Snow and a dial tone. Gandler claims his player received big offers from Russian teams, but makes no mention of NHL interest. Chris Botta brings this to light and breaks things down in his blog yesterday. He also mentions the Newsday editors lack of reading articles before they title them - great stuff.

I will expand on this later, I am posting from my phone and wanted to get my feelings on this out there while it was fresh in my mind.

To reiterate, no matter the level of desperation by the Isles - just say no to Yashin.

Thank you!

Not since the likes of one Zigmund Palffy have I been more excited or intrigued by a player like Filatov. It’s not because he is the next Russian sensation - (although it helps), but it’s because of the way he makes skating and other hockey skills appear natural and free-flowing. Everything I have heard of Filatov, I have liked. He is well versed in English, has a desire for the game and appears to be successful at being a well rounded player. The most important part, he wants to play in North America.

Past Russian picks have slipped (See; Cherepanov last season) due in part because of a lack of a Russian transfer-agreement. One doesn’t have to look far at what the lack of a transfer agreement can cause - Alex Ovechkin and what the Capitals went through to get him into the states is one such case. Filatov’s openness about wanting to come to North America helps ease these fears.

There is a real possibility that Filatov will still be available when the Islanders are set to pick in the first round at the fifth position. The top ten picks are mostly made up of big, franchise type defensemen who teams are just drooling over (Isles included), but my hope is that Garth Snow uses his pick on Filatov because of the severe lack of offense.

Something that makes me feel the Islanders are leaning that way, apparently Nikita Filatov has been blogging about his experiences at the NHL Draft Combine in Toronto. The Islanders are listed as one of the main teams interested in him. He actually goes on to speak very highly of the organization and how he thinks it will be his fastest route to the NHL now that the Islanders are in full rebuild mode.

Here is an excerpt from the website (with full credit going to HFBoards member Belarus for translating and posting a link to the blog):

Perhaps the Islanders

The last day in Canada has passed in the company of Toronto’s representatives. I spoke to their scouts, which was a good talk, informal, the way I like.

Seems like the quartet of the clubs where I may wind up has been set. They are the Islanders, Columbus, Toronto and Phoenix. I have mentioned before to me there is no difference where I wind up in the NHL. It’s a privilege to play for any of these teams. Why I’ve determined that these franchises have the best chances of landing me? I’ve heard others were looking for defensemen, and these clubs would be fighting for forwards.

I would not regret if I am picked at 8 by Coyotes or at 5 by the Islanders. Though I’m ready for anything, as draft is unpredictable thing, and you may be traded right during the ceremony.

You may be surprised that I’ll be glad to go to a team that will not be a contender in the nearest future. The thing is it is easier to crack the line up on the team without superstars. For instance the Islanders are considered as underdog, but everything can change. Look at the Washington or Pittsburgh.

Overall, the Islanders is not a bad option. As far as I know there are no problems with the owner, the coach stays and they probably will play youngsters more as they let some veterans go. And to play in New York is better that to play in the city where hockey is not the main thing. Always full house, always interest for the game of hockey. It is possible I’ll spend one season in the minors. I’m not afraid of it. I know my shortcomings and will be working on them to be able to play for the main team in the next season.

Here is a link to the Russian website, for the non-believers - complete with a picture of Sparky skating across center ice at the Coliseum!

It is the small stuff like this that really makes me excited, especially knowing that I will be inside the very building (with press access to boot) as the Islanders make their selection. I really believe Garth Snow has a plan and will execute it the best he can come draft day. I know there are naysayers, but you know what - the table is set and we need to see how everything is played out.

I don’t know how this rumor got started, but it was posted on two separate message boards today. It basically said that Mike Comrie would be missing the remainder of the season due to a hip injury requiring surgery.

This rumor is not entirely true.

From what I gathered, Mike Comrie does have an injury to the hip and will indeed miss the game tomorrow - what happens after that depends on how fast whatever the injury is heals. As a hockey player, I can give my personal opinion on a hip injury, when they are minor. As I type this, I am nursing a hip pointer suffered tonight in my own game. If I had a game in the next night or so (I have a playoff game Sunday), I would likely sit out depending on how aggravating it is because it makes it harder to skate with such a nagging injury.

Also just wanted to throw some kudos to Isleschick at Islandermania, she actually confirmed the hip injury first.

Howdy ya’ll! You know it’s funny sometimes, I was just talking with Tom Liodice on AIM on how tonight was going to be a night off from posting - yet here I am feverishly typing away. I will make this one quick though because it’s got my brain working overtime (while trying to relax).

There was a bunch of discussion yesterday after the deadline about a deal that almost happened. Speculation ran rampant on who this player was. Garth Snow spoke of this deal in an interview on the Islanders Website. When asked the following question - The biggest story for some is that you didn’t make what would be classified as big moves. Did you come close? Garth answered:

Yes. To be honest, there was one pretty big deal that was close but just didn’t get done on either side. Things happen and don’t happen for a reason. It’s always something we can look into again down the road.

Greg Logan had tried to squeeze Snow for whatever he could on this non-move, what he did manage to get was interesting and he posted it in today’s story in Newsday:

Snow said he considered trading for an impact player who was not part of any other deal yesterday but decided against it because it would have required him to break up this team for the playoff run. The GM added that he never asked Satan to waive his no-trade clause.

For anyone wondering how the relationship between blogger and mainstream media is - I can tell you that it is good. Greg Logan has been one of the most welcoming voices around and he isn’t afraid to share or give his opinion to us. Just last night we happened to be speaking of this very subject. I pressed Greg for anything he had and he seemed to believe that the team involved was in the Western Conference. I spent the better part of today thinking about WHO this player could be because of the statement from Garth that it could happen again “down the road”.

Thinking back to yesterday’s moves - we dealt primarily with Western Conference teams - Anaheim, San Jose and a mid-western team in Minnesota. I don’t really see Anaheim dealing any impact players as they are pretty much a lock for the post season but they could move Doug Weight. Would they move Getzlav though? Minnesota I don’t know all that much about - but I sincerely doubt that they move Gaborik or Demitra. Do the Wild have any other impact players? This brings us to the Sharks - right off the bat everyone would say names like Roenick, Marleau and Grier. One name that jumps off the page at me is Jonathan Cheechoo.

Cheechoo is a player who has been holding his own for some time; he plays hard, hits hard and is a gritty player. One would say that he is a “Ted Nolan” type player - coincidentally he is the quintessential Nolan type player. Cheechoo was influenced by Ted Nolan growing up and Ted Nolan has helped Cheechoo throughout his career. Cheechoo and Nolan are both members of different First Nations’ tribes - Nolan has been a calming voice, father figure and role model for numerous players throughout the years, including the recently traded Chris Simon.

We may never find out who this deal was originally for, or we may find out if it ever does wind up happening it could go either way. Something that does gives this “almost move” merit is the fact that Garth had been working the phones and obviously dealt with San Jose during the day. Did discussions with the Sharks continue down to the zero hour of the deadline? The only thing that doesn’t change is Cheechoo’s connection and respect for Ted Nolan and this could lead to Jonathan finding himself in an Islanders sweater someday soon.

I think it’s time for another poll!!!

Let’s Vote!

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Just got done talking to an Islanders insider here at the Blog Box. We grilled them on some potential moves and when we got on the subject of Montreal his style of answering changed. When I asked him who could be coming our way and I brought up the Long Island boys - there was a clear period of thought and non-answering. Take it for what it’s worth, but that’s how rumors start. There could also be some potential interest in Hossa, although I don’t feel we have enough assets to make the move.

By Long Island boys I am talking about Chris Higgins and Mike Komisarek.

Just to let everyone in on a little joke today, I am wearing a Ryan Smyth t-shirt that my father got me as a joke for Christmas (He’s a Rangers fan). I figured I couldn’t bring the Islanders any bad luck and it would help warn off evil spirits.

More if and when it happens.

Hossa to Penguins! Yikes

Good morning trade deadline junkies!!! Nothing like taking the day off from work to fill everyone in with the latest trade and signing news ALL DAY!

Updated 8:09 AM

According to TSN, Mike Comrie has signed a 1 year contract extension!

Sources say the Islanders and centre Mike Comrie have agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal to keep the Edmonton, Alberta native in Long Island

Here is your latest Islanders news!

According to Darren Dreger on TSN, the Islanders and forward Mike Comrie are close to signing a one year contract extension.

As the NHL trade deadline rapidly approaches the New York Islanders may have potentially removed one of their trade targets from the market.

Sources say the Islanders and centre Mike Comrie are close to a one-year deal to keep the Edmonton native in Long Island.

In 63 games this season, Comrie leads the Islanders with 27 assists and 45 points. In 449 career games, the 27-year old has 141 goals and 166 assists for 307 points.

This past off-season he signed a one-year contract with the Isles after helping the Ottawa Senators reach the Stanley Cup finals

So between Newsday’s Greg Logan and now Darren Dreger (Who has more connections than Penn Station) this is two sources that have claimed Comrie is close to resigning. Should Comrie sign I expect a slight raise over this years contract as it’s only one year. That would tell me the team is satisfied with his play, but they feel he could be doing better - (read; not first line play).

Here we go folks! T-minus 7 hours 27 Minutes!