Imagine the surprise of Islanders fans everywhere, when on April 1st (also known as April Fools Day) and at this stage of the season the Islanders announced they signed an NCAA prospect defenseman out of nowhere. Well, I know that I was surprised and did a bit of a double take when I read the headline.

After doing a bit reading up on Hillen, he was apparently a sought after prospect whom decided to sign with the Islanders - citing Snow’s “honesty and commitment to building around youth”. To me that’s a pretty good sign when scoring leader of all d-men in NCAA division 1 hockey signs on with your club as a free agent. Hillen will be thrown right in the fire on Thursday night when the Islanders host the rival New York Rangers. Welcome to New York, Long Island Jack!

Here is a bit more information from the Islanders website:

The New York Islanders have agreed to terms on a 2-year contract with Jack Hillen, the leading scorer among defensemen in NCAA Division I hockey.

The 22-year old Hillen, who completed four years at Colorado College by being named Defenseman of the Year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 2007-08, will join the Islanders for practice on Wednesday and could make his NHL debut later this week. The Islanders host the New York Rangers on Thursday at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and play the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

In 41 games this season with Colorado College, the 5-11, 200-pound native of Minnesota had six goals and 31 assists for a Division I-leading 37 points among defensemen.

“We are very proud that Jack made the decision to join the Islanders,” said general manager Garth Snow. “He was one of the prized college free agents for good reason. He is an excellent puck-moving defenseman and our scouting staff is really impressed by his competitive spirit. Jack Hillen becomes a major addition to our list of top prospects.”

“I liked the way Garth Snow and Islanders management came after me with honesty and a commitment,” Hillen said this afternoon, soon after signing his contract. “They are building a team around a core of exciting young players. I know Kyle Okposo well from playing against him and he had many glowing things to say about how the organization has treated him. The Islanders were the perfect fit for me.”

If this prospect pans out, you can add him to an ever growing list of prospects who continue to impress. The season may be ending in 3 games, but it will be little bits of good news such as this that will keep Islanders hockey interesting throughout the off season.

I know you likely just got finished reading some negativity about the recent stretch of games, but how about some positives?

The Islanders and Finnish forward prospect Jesse Joensuu have agreed to terms on a 3 year entry level contract. While this may not be help for “today”, it is great to see the Islanders locking up some of their more talented prospects. They have really decimated the talent pool down in Bridgeport due to injuries and you will likely see some of the call ups - Tambellini, Comeau, Nielsen and Colliton try to make the team out of camp next season.

Per the Islanders Website:

The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with Finnish right wing prospect Jesse Joensuu on a three-year entry level contract that will begin with the 2008-09 season. Drafted in the second round (60th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Joensuu is coming off a breakout season for Assat Pori of the Finnish Elite League where he led his team with 17 goals with 18 assists for 35 points in 56 games.

Playing for his hometown team in Pori, Finland for the past four seasons, the 20-year old Joensuu (pronounced yo-EN-su) has already played in over 200 professional games in his native Finland. In that time, he has scored a total of 43 goals with 44 assists for 87 points.

“We are excited to have Jesse signed as an official member of the New York Islanders organization,” said Ryan Jankowski, the Islanders assistant general manager and Director of Amateur Scouting. “We have seen Jesse’s commitment and improvement since drafting him and along with his talent, Jesse brings to our franchise many aspects we are looking for in future Islanders.”

Brendan Witt nominated for Masterton Trophy

In another bit of positive news today, Greg Logan reports on his blog that the PHWA has nominated Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt for the Masterton Trophy, which represents perseverance and dedication to hockey. Witt has been playing through various bumps and bruises all year and just recently through a sprained knee. Witt is the type of guy who throws his body around to block shots and take his guy out of the play when he can - so I am not really surprised to see him recognized for his selfless efforts.

Per Greg Logan’s blog entry:

Following the Islanders’ practice this morning, I had the pleasure of informing defenseman Brendan Witt that he is the Islanders’ nominee for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey. The award is sponsored by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and while it has been perceived as an award for a player coming back from injury, the plan this season is to emphasize the contributions of players who have maintained a high standard of play over a long period.

Witt fits that description perfectly, and he also has maintained a community service commitment that the PHWA takes into consideration in determining the eventual winner out of the 29 players nominated (the Rangers chapter chose not to submit a nominee this season). There will be a story in tomorrow’s Newsday that includes Witt’s reaction to the nomination and coach Ted Nolan’s comments praising one of his alternate captains, but since the full interview couldn’t be contained in the newspaper story, I’ll include more of Witt’s comments here.

Congratulations Witt, hopefully you’re a lock for the hardware! You actions certainly don’t go unnoticed here. While I don’t fancy myself a professional althlete by any means - I look up to your dedication and strength to play through injuries. I have the utmost respect for playing with an injured knee, because I have been nursing my knee for a while (MRI shortly - wish me luck).

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!

Garth came through before the deadline in a major way tonight and secured one more big piece of the Islanders future. Tonight the Islanders announced that forward Trent Hunter has been signed to a 5 year $10-Million dollar contract extension!

This is great news for the Islanders as Hunter would have reached unrestricted free agency this coming July 1st, so locking up a player that has grown up in our organization and farm system was so important because had he not been signed would have certainly either been trade bait or tested the waters this summer. Greg Logan had a great blog entry on this as the news broke just over 40 minutes ago:

As a two-way power forward who has shown a scoring touch in the past, Hunter had attracted interest from other playoff contenders, but general manager Garth Snow made a long-term commitment to a player he wanted as part of the Islanders core group.

It was a significant move because of the message it sends to other Isles in line to become free agents this summer that now is the time to decide if their future is on Long Island. No one wanted that more than Hunter, who is in his fourth full season with the Islanders.

The Islanders are yet to release an official written release on their website, but Garth Snow was interviewed by iTV, which can be viewed here.

DiPietro on what it means to lock up a player like Hunter,

“The big thing for us is that Snowy has made it clear our main focus is on winning the Stanley Cup,” DiPietro said tonight. “They felt Trent is a big piece. I feel great for Trent and his family. I know it’s been his goal to stay on Long Island.”

In my own opinion, Hunter is that guy who loves to go into the corners and cycle the puck, and he does so very effectively. He isn’t afraid to take the body or drive to the front of the net either. He is great at starting the Islanders forecheck and while he may not be the offensive threat he was projected to be, is generally the one who starts the offense down low and that is one of the most important parts of the game. I am extremely happy for Hunter and glad he will be around for a while!