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Monday, February 28, 2011

Islanders and Rangers stay quiet at the NHL Trade Deadline

We'll have a lot more on the trade deadline on Tomorrows show, but we'll kick things off on her.

As expected the Islanders stayed pat at the deadline. They were apparently shopping around Veteran defensemen Radek Martinek and center Zenon Konopka. Reports out of Newsday had the asking price for both players at a 2nd round draft pick.

-It was speculated and reported through out the day that Zenon Konopka was nearly on his way to Anaheim, Islanders GM, Garth Snow, told Newsday's Katies Strang that talks never passed the preliminary stage.

The only move made that was Islander related was the waiver claim of Rob Schremp by the Atlanta Thrashers.

-The New York Rangers could not pull off a deal that would have landed coveted forward Brad Richards from the Dallas Stars. According to reports the Stars GM was asking too much for Richards, which included asking for several of the Rangers talented young players.

The Rangers did acquire John Mitchell from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 7th round pick in the draft.   A deal made mostly to bolster up the Rangers farm system.

-The New Jersey Devils may have made the biggest trade of the day, as far as New York teams go. They sent Veteran Jason Arnott to the Washington Capitals in exchange for David Steckel and a 2nd round draft pick in the 2012 draft. A move that made sense for both teams, Arnott had been shopped around by the Devils and Washington was in need for a veteran center man.

For full recap of today's deadline make sure to tune into the Power Play tomorrow at 5pm on WCWPSports.org.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Calvin de Haan on the Power Play

In cased you missed it, due to a late start for the interview, here is Matt and my self's  conversation with the Islanders top defensive prospect.



Program Note: The Power Play with special Guest Calvin de Haan

It's Tuesday and that means another installment of the Power Play on WCWP Sports. This week we're talking:

-Special Guest: Islanders prospect and Oshawa Generals captain Calvin de Haan.

-Islanders/Devils Playoff chances this season.

-Rangers loss of Marian Gaborik.

-Islanders extension of PA Parenteau.

-Michael Grabner's chances for Rookie of the Year. 

So make sure you tune in!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Islanders defeat the Kings 3-0; Post Game Audio

Covered tonight's Islanders-Kings game at the Coliseum. Make sure you Check out the coverage at Islanders Hockey Blog and NHL Hot Stove, but thought I'd share the post game audio from the Isles 3-0 win.

Al Montoya


Ty Wishart


Michael Grabner

Jack Capuano




Friday, February 18, 2011

Stories from the New York Islanders Press Box: PA Parenteau Interview


I was down at the Nassau Coliseum this afternoon working on a few stories and decided to talk to Islanders winger PA Parenteau about his contract extension he signed with the team. On most days I would walk over to the player I was going to interview, say hello how are you and begin the interview and today was no different.

Sitting next Parenteau was his good buddy, roommate, teammate, and the Islanders most outspoken player Zenon Konopka. Konopka, for those who don't know, is a very charismatic and loves to joke around. So it should have come as no surprise when he started to engage himself into the conversation I was having with PA Parenteau.



Now that wasn't the first time I've seen the guys chirp each other while someone was talking to a member of the media, but it was the first time I was encountered one on one in the situation. During past experiences this would happen when one player was with a larger group of reporters or talking to the beat writer (aka Newsday's Katie Strang). 

An interesting day indeed covering the New York Islanders and another story to tell about my continuing adventures in the press box of the New York Islanders

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Paul Steigerwald is an Idiot

The slug fest that took place at the Nassau Coliseum Friday left Penguins fans and med with a bad taste in their mouths. That group includes Penguins TV broadcaster Paul Steigerwald, who voiced his unprofessional opion live on air Friday night.


Talk about being professional, ehh. Instead of sticking to the facts and talking about the actions on the ice, he interjects his obvious homerisms and bias. This display is not only pathetic, but sickening that thousands of fans were subjected to it and will absorb it like sponges. But what do you expect from a man who makes poor jokes like this
.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Exciting Night in New York Hockey

It was a crazy night in NY hockey, both the Islanders and Devils won in dramatic fashion. Yes, both teams are in the NHL basement but they put on a good show.

The Devils had two special events happen last night in Toronto. One, Jacques Lemaire reached his 600th career win as an NHL coach. Lemaire joins an elite club of NHL coaches that include Leafs head coach Ron Wilson, former Islanders coach Al Arbour, Scotty Bowman, Pat Quinn, and Mike Keenan.

The second event was Ilya Kovalchuck scoring a goal. Not only did he score a goal, but scored the game winning goal in grand fashion.


With that goal Kovalchuck now has four goals in his last five games and more importantly showed he can still score if he really wants to. Kovalchuck has 18 goals so far this season. In 82 games last season he had 41.

Down the road in Montreal the Isles and Mikko Koskinen rebounded from a tough lose to the Maple leafs. Koskinen stoped 37 shots which includes this sick save on James Wisniewski


Then in the shootout Koskinen was perfect stopping all four shots he faced and Kyle Okposo scored the game winner on the fourth shootout attempt.


Another good night of hockey tonight, Islanders battle the Penguins in Uniondale at 7:00, the Devils host the San Jose Sharks at 7:00, and the Rangers travel to Atlanta to take on the Thrashers at 7:30.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Morning Skate 2/10/11

(A compilation of the mornings hockey headlines around New York and the rest of the hockey world.)


Michael Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post looks at the crazy goaltending situation going on right now on Long Island and in Bridgeport (CT Post)

Former New York Islanders Speed skating coach, Barbara Williams was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday. "Williams made a career out of helping hockey players become more powerful and fluid on the ice. After her dynastic stint with the Islanders, she also coached the New Jersey Devils, four minor league hockey teams and tutored more than 200 pro players." (Dix Hills Patch)


Islanders beat writer Katie Strang previews tonights Islanders vs Canadians match up at the Bell Centre. Kevin Poulin will get his second career NHL start. (Newsday)


Chris Hessel of NYIFYI sat down with Islanders rookie Ty Wishart for a little get to know session. (NYIFYI)


The New York Rangers will be without captain Chris Drury for the next six weeks. Drury is schedualed to undergo Knee surgery. (NY Daily News)


Despite a five game losing streak, the New York Rangers are just as confident as ever. (NY Post)


Glen Sather may NOT be shopping Marian Gaborik, but he is willing to listen to offers for the struggling star. Trading him would clear up cap space the Rangers desperatly need this off season. (Blueshirt Banter)


The New Jersey Devils acquired defensemen  Jay Leach from the San Jose Sharks (ESPN New York)


The New Jersey Devils will lose defensemen Anton Volchenkov for three games. Volchenkov was suspended yesterday by the NHL for elbowing Zach Boychuck (Newark Star Ledger)


New York's three metro hockey teams are suffering a drop in TV viewer ship this season. Hardly a suprise for the Islanders and Devils, but the Rangers have played great hockey this season. (Slapshot Blog)


Quebec City is closer to getting a new arena to attract back an NHL franchise. It was announced that the city of Quebec and the government of Quebec will split the bill for a brand new arena. (Globe and Mail)


The IIHF is making a push to reform how Russian players names are spelled around the hockey world. (Puck Daddy)


And finally in honor of Al Montoya's return to New York, his five minutes of fame. 

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Power Play Podcast

Did you miss tonight's episode of the Power Play? No Problem! Here is tonight's episode featuring guest James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail and Kevin DeLury of the New York Rangers Blog. Thanks to both our guests for joining us.  

James Mirtle Interview

Matt and I spoke to James Mirtle today on the Power Play about tonights Islanders and Maple Leafs game and more.

Sean Avery not a complete jerk

As much as I dislike Sean Avery, he actually surprised me this weekend when veered away from his usual scumbagness. Last Thursday during an interview with the Toronto Sun Avery declared he would stand up for anyone openly gay hockey player.

Per the Toronto Sun: "If there's a kid in Canada or wherever, who is playing and really loves the game and wants to keep playing but he's worried about coming out, I'd tell him to pick up the phone and call (NHLPA executive director) Donald Fehr and tell him to book me a (plane) ticket.
"I'll stand beside him in the dressing room while he tells his teammates he is gay. Maybe if Sean Avery is there, they would have less of a problem with it."

Avery went on to say later that he believed that there are probably a few gay players in the NHL but are too afraid to come out.

As an avid Avery hater I have to say that Avery's words are a welcomed change of pace in the NHL. The league has been one of the most progressive when it comes to accepting homosexuality and Avery's words are another step in the right direction.

Avery has gone up a notch in my book.