Campoli & Sutton Out

For now, Campoli and Sutton will miss some significant time, and they are the reasons that the Islanders picked up Pock off waivers from the Rangers.

A few players have been injured, but Campoli is a concern, especially that bone crushing hit he took from Michael Ryder could sideline him indefinite.

Greg Logan stated in Newsday that the players from last year are getting accustomed to the new style of Scott Gordon's where there is a greater need for skating and stopping in stead of looping around.

The Islanders need time. Time to heal. Time to develop. Time to win.

Islanders Claim Pock

Straight from NewYorkIslanders.com

The New York Islanders have claimed defenseman Thomas Pock off waivers from the New York Rangers. Pock has played in 59 career NHL games and has scored seven goals with seven assists for 14 points.

Last season, Pock played in one game with the Rangers and went scoreless. He also played in 74 games with the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League and scored seven goals with 37 assists for 44 points. Pock finished tied for 11th among AHL defensemen in assists last season.

With the amount of good defenseman we already have, the Islanders certainly improved in the minors, but is there more to this? Stay tuned.

What Injury?

According to Chris Botta's web page on Point Blank, it would appear that the General Managers have taken it upon themselves to not disclose any injury about any of there players. You'll be lucky enough if someone says it's an "Lower-body" injury.

As a fan, i'm not too happy with this move, as I would like to know what is going on with my team. For a die hard fan, the Islanders are like your extended family, and you are worried about the players, and who else is coming in, and how long these players will be out for, especially after what happened last year. We'll see how this is handled, but I don't think he media will stand for this for long.

Islanders Lose 4-0 Last Night

You can get more details from everyone else about the game. But a quick summary of it goes like this: The Islanders stopped playing in the second period, and got burned by the more veteran influenced, Flyers. Gordon's system does work, if it's run for a full game, not two periods worth. There were more fights then there were goals for the Islanders. At one point the Islanders were out-shooting the Flyers, but in the end, the Flyers out shot the Isles 24-22.

Snow Loves Schneider

After reading a live chat with Newsdays Greg Logan, it appears that Snow would love to get his hands on Schneider. Logan has suggested that Gervais, or Meyer would be the possible trade baits. In my poinion, because of their low salaries, they would make the most sense for Burke so then he can sign Selanne to a deal.

Now I've stated before, I don't like bringing in someone older. However I do see this scenario happening. My reason is simple. Jack Hillen, a free agent signing last year, maybe ready for the NHL sooner rather than later. Trade Meyer or Gervais, for Schneider. Defense is improved for the next 60 or so games. If the Islanders are no longer in contention, then trade Schneider at the deadline for another pick, and bring up Hillen to finish off the season and gain more experience then he did with his two-game stint last year against the Rangers.

This trade will only go down if the Islanders feel that Hillen is ready by the end of the year, and they are willing to part with either Gervais or Meyer.

Why Schneider?

Mathieu Schneider maybe placed on waivers and according to Hockeybuzz, the Islanders have interest in picking him up and his salary.

Assuming this is somewhat true, I beg to ask this question: WHY? We would be getting older, soaking up more money than we want to, and it would take more ice time away from the development of other young defenceman.

This is reliving the past when Schneider was our only All-Star in 1996.

Time to move on, and stick to the youth.

Sillinger Not Starting Season

It's now public knowledge that Mike Sillinger is still recovering from major hip surgery. Who then will replace him? Coach Gordon has already stated that Weight will be the number one center, and that would leave Comrie, for now, as the number two center. Here are your options:

Richard Park, Andy Hilbert, Frans Neilson, or Ben Walter.

Unless Walter has a stellar camp, I believe he'll be sent down, for now.

Neilson is a good penalty killer but I feel lacks the scoring touch for the immediate future.

That leaves us with Hilbert or Park.

My prediction: Park. Unless Hilbert can find the back of INSIDE the net like he used to when
he played for Gordon down in Providence during the preseason, look for Park to take the third line job.