There's a new attitude on Long Island

[Forkboy]

With less than a month to go before their first preseason game, one word aptly describes the New York Islanders as they head into the 2009-10 campaign.

Hope.

With owner Charles Wang's Lighthouse Project gaining momentum in recent months, combined with the selection of John Tavares with the No. 1 pick at the 2009 Entry Draft, things could finally be looking up for the former dynasty that last won a playoff series in 1993.

Wang is hoping to get an answer from the Town of Hempstead as to whether his $4 billion vision will be approved by Oct. 3 -- when the Isles open the regular season at the 37-year-old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If the Lighthouse Project is not approved, the Isles' future on Long Island will be on life support.

"The widespread support for the Lighthouse Project has been overwhelming," Wang said at a public hearing in Hempstead on Aug. 4. "We are closer than we've ever been before, but we're not there yet. We need to keep pushing ahead until we get the shovel in the ground."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=469978

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Hurricanes agree to terms with Yelle

RALEIGH, NC -- Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with center Stephane Yelle on a one-year, $550,000 contract.

"Stephane is a proven winner," said Rutherford. "He adds depth and experience to the Hurricanes at the center position, and he will contribute to the penalty kill."

Yelle, 35, is entering his 14th NHL season, and the Hurricanes will be his fourth NHL team. In 2008-09, he scored seven goals, earned 11 assists (18 points), posted a plus-6 plus/minus rating and had a 52.0 percent faceoff-win percentage in 77 regular-season games with Boston. He played in all 11 of the Bruins' postseason games, earning one assist and averaging 12:29 of ice time. The Ottawa, Ont., native has scored 92 goals, earned 165 assists (257 points) and accumulated 458 penalty minutes in 921 career NHL regular-season games with Colorado, Calgary and Boston. Yelle (6'2", 182 lbs.) was originally drafted by New Jersey in the eighth round, 186th overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001, as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=479919

[joeybee12]

1. New attitude? Cue Patti laBelle! n/t

[Forkboy]

2. Fucker....now I got an earworm!

x(

:)

[joeybee12]

3. I'm feeling good from my head to my shoes...

Know where I'm going' and I know what to do!

[inthebrain]

4. Things are definity shaping up there

It's still going to take time and it's amazing that the fans are on board and accepting of that fact.

The Lighthouse project is key but won't be the death of the Islanders on Long Island if it doesn't happen. There are offers from Queens and Broolyn to build the team a new arena if it doesn't happen in the town of Hempstead. Wang has stated his committment to keeping the Islanders on Long Island so Hamilton and KC can go fuck off!!!!

There seems to be an interesting defense core starting to develop in the system. Hamonic, Ness, DeHaan and Donovan all look to be going to the WJC which is a HUUUUUGE deal if your a franchise in need of some blue line talent. What we have on the blue line on the NHL level is very shoddy and injury prone. This years trade deadline I wouldn't be shocked to see Witt, Sutton or Martinek possibly moved. Brendan Witt might be the most attractive piece their.

The forwards look good right now with Tavares, Bailey, Okposo, Bergenheim and Neilsen. The have Joennsuu working in BPort who probably fills out as third line stuff. Petrov who was draft late in 08 has about two years left in Russia. His upside is considered higher than Filatov if he develops. Kid has good size and has shown a flare for putting the puck in the net.

At Center this team is probably the deepest it's been in years. Trivino should be interesting to watch at BU in his second year. Had a good run in the NCAA Championship and is gonne get more ice on the second line.

Rhett Rhakshanni begins his senior year in Denver and should be interesting to see how he pans out. That 06 draft was really kind to this team. His skill set is supposed to be a smidge below that of Okposo.


Things are lookin good on Long Island right now. All the Islanders really have to do is just stick with the plan. Right now it looks like they are going to become one of the deeper teams in the league if they keep drafting the way they are drafting and hold onto their chips. This year looks to be a nice leap forward. Not a playoff year but one with better overall play from a lot of the kids.

[MrSlayer]

5. In a season or two this team will be a force.

And it's about fucking time. Isles fans have been suffering for years.

[Forkboy]

6. They've really made some great moves in the offseason.

The goaltending situation is very solid (too solid when DiPietro comes back. Carrying three goalies is VERY rare...one of them will go, I bet). Tavares is going to be awesome, they've added some grit and muscle, etc. Everyone says they won't be a playoff contender, but you never know. What hurts is that pretty much everyone else in the East got better as well.

[inthebrain]

7. The don't really have a lot of muscle on that team

That's one of the biggest detractors heading into the season.

Matt Martin may fill the Steve Webb role but nobody knows. Gordon doesn't seem to have a lot of faith in the Wrecker either.

This team is still way too easily pushed around.

It's going to be a problem when they play Philly and Chris "Elbows" Pronger goes after JT, Bailey or Okposo. I don't look forward to seeing Witt drop the gloves either.

[Forkboy]

8. Pronger in the East.

x(

[MrSlayer]

9. Things can turn around easy in hockey.

But they are a really young team overall and they need to toughen up a bit. I don't think they'll finish last again at any rate. Nowhere to go but up as they say.