Kukla's Korner Hockey
Category: New-York-Islanders
Barclays Center - A Unique Hockey Venue For The Islanders
by Paul on 06/11/13 at 11:09 AM ET
Comments (2)
from Kevin Schultz of Islanders Point Blank,
When Barclays was initially being constructed under the design of architect Frank Gehry, the arena considered whether to make it a basketball-only facility or a dual basketball-hockey facility. After Gehry was removed from the job for driving costs higher the arena had to make a decision on how to continue. Given that at the time the Islanders looked like a long shot to head to Brooklyn – this was in 2009 – the arena moved forward with construction as a basketball-only facility. Now that the Islanders have bolted for Brooklyn, the arena is being retrofit for hockey.
The Barclays Center is certainly going to be a unique hockey setup. With an off-center scoreboard and seating issues on one end, the Barclays’ setup for hockey is going to be much different than anything the NHL currently has in use.
With a history that contains four consecutive Stanley Cups, multitudes of miraculous overtime victories, record-length contracts and a former felon owner, the Islanders have been a part of many unique situations before. The Team That Has Always Been Different now has a new, unique looking home to go with their unique name and history. And they should embrace it.
more with pictures showing the setup...
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Will A Team Pay Streit $15M Over 3 Years?
by Paul on 06/05/13 at 12:25 PM ET
Comments (9)
from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,
In other contract developments potentially affecting the Oilers, with New York Islanders captain Mark Streit turning his back on the Isles’ three-year offer of about $14 million, the Oilers would almost certainly have interest with his ties to head coach Ralph Krueger, as Krueger once coached Streit on the Swiss national team.
The problem is Streit turns 36 in December and wants at least $5 million per for three years, and his play has dropped off the last two years. He’s still a good on the power play, but he’s not a strong defender.
With the NHL salary cap coming down to $64.3 million for 2013-14, I don’t see the Oilers giving him $5 million or more per season, not for three years.
- Also, there is NHL interest in forward Linus Omark’s rights. The one-time Oiler (they hold his rights) led the Swiss league in scoring this year. The Oilers don’t have a fourth-round draft pick in June — I suspect that’s what they’re trying to get for Omark.
more Oilers talk...
Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: mark+streit
Let’s Play Two At Yankee Stadium
by Paul on 05/15/13 at 01:58 PM ET
Comments (2)
NEW YORK (May 15, 2013) – Two outdoor regular-season NHL® games will be played at Yankee Stadium during the 2013-14 season as part of the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ the National Hockey League announced today.
The two games scheduled for Yankee Stadium are:
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils
Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 12:30 p.m. ET
New York Rangers at New York Islanders
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 7:30 p.m. ET
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Islanders Now Have Something To Build On
by Paul on 05/12/13 at 09:21 AM ET
Comments (1)
from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,
The path here, to the overtime of Game 6 of the first round and to accompanying accolades was actually the easy part. It’s not about being quirky anymore. It’s about solidifying. About building on a solid foundation. About getting from here to there by becoming the type of franchise that can attract marquee free agents.
It won’t be about the building in Brooklyn. It will be about the organization.
The Islanders have been playing with house money against the Penguins, and I bet you thought it was Charles Wang’s money. This is the last time for that.
One round doesn’t quite qualify as a joy ride. But it has sure been fun. The Islanders have raised the echoes. They have raised expectations.
Now comes the hard part. Now it gets serious. It’s about time.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Penguins Win In Overtime To Move On To The EC Semi-Finals
by Paul on 05/11/13 at 10:08 PM ET
Comments (11)
Brooks Orpik scores his first ever playoff goal in OT.
The Penguins will now face the Senators in the 2nd round.
added 10:19pm, video of the OT goal...
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
All Eyes On Vokoun
by Paul on 05/09/13 at 02:53 PM ET
Comments (9)
from Stu Hackel of Sports Illustrated,
The eyes of Pittsburgh -- and the rest of the NHL -- will be trained on the Penguins' goal where Marc-André Fleury won't be standing in the crease when Game 5 of their series against the Islanders begins.
Instead of the athletic 28-year-old Fleury, who has 79 games of playoff experience, two trips to the final round, and a Stanley Cup on his resume, 36-year-old veteran Tomas Vokoun will guard the net. A veteran who distinguished himself on too many non-playoff clubs over the years, Vokoun has but 11 postseason appearances -- none since 2007 for Nashville -- and has never won a playoff series.
The switch is a gamble that Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has to make because Fleury has gone from being a springtime hero to springtime liability in the last few years. He's been unable to cover up the low corners, and he's comically fumbled the puck and had it leak through him. We've seen it before and we're seeing it again. Doubt has crept into his mind and affected his teammates, and you can't win in the playoffs with doubt surrounding your goalie.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Game By Game The Islanders Gain Confidence
by Paul on 05/08/13 at 01:11 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Katie Strang of ESPN,
Even without top-pair defenseman Andrew MacDonald, who was forced from the game with an upper-body injury in the second period, the Islanders seem encouraged by their chances from here on out.
They’ll take momentum into Game 5 and the knowledge that these Penguins are a beatable team.
Although an inexperienced squad, the Islanders have matured, both from earlier this season and maybe even earlier this series, into one capable of managing the momentum swings and surges within a game.
“We put so much effort into getting here, there was no doubt we wanted to make the most of this opportunity," Tavares said. "We weren’t just satisfied being here. We believe in this room, obviously. ... There are a lot of guys stepping up for us here and that’s what we need.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Video- The Scrum At The End Of The Pens/Islanders Game
by Paul on 05/08/13 at 09:04 AM ET
Comments (25)
Some talk late last night and this morning about this scrum at the end of the game. It's playoff hockey, nothing out of the ordinary about this.
Evgeni Malkin and Travis Hamonic did receive 5 for fighting, but I don't see anything that would deserve further discipline, but that is just my opinion.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: evgeni+malkin,
travis+hamonic
Video- A Bad Night For Marc-Andre Fleury
by Paul on 05/07/13 at 10:30 PM ET
Comments (16)
Islanders and Penguins now tied 2-2 in the series.
You have to think Vokoun gets the start in game 5 for the Penguins.(Nabokov wasn't great either, but good in the 3rd when it counted the most.)
Here is goal #6 given up by Fleury tonight.
And below, watch the 3rd goal given up by Fleury.
He just is off his game and maybe a night off will do him good.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: marc-andre+fleury
Islanders Like Their Chances
by Paul on 05/07/13 at 03:04 PM ET
Comments (5)
from Katie Strang of ESPN,
Following a Game 1 rout in which the Isles were easily dispatched 5-0, they have rebounded well with a win in Game 2 and a strong performance in Game 3, despite falling in overtime.
But it's not just about their ability to compete with the top-seeded Penguins. The Islanders believe they can pull off the upset.
"We know we can beat them," said second-line center Frans Nielsen. "We want this to go as far as possible. This series, we've felt they have a lot of guys on their team that can't skate with us. So we want this one to go to seven, because we want to get [it] as tough as possible."
Nielsen said speed has been the Islanders' biggest advantage.
"I think when we're moving our feet, they've got guys up front, on the [defense] that we can see are struggling a little bit," he said. "We've gotta skate with 'em. If we stop skating, we don't have a chance.”
more and a look at the Penguins' injuries...
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
About Kukla's Korner Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at pk@kuklaskorner.com
Most Recent Blog Posts
Coyotes’ fate not necessarily in the NHL’s hands
The [crappier] the ice, the better it is for Boston?
Report: Sharks and Logan Couture reach contract extension
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville declares Marian Hossa ‘day-to-day’ with ‘upper-body’ injury
Boston out-classes Chicago, takes 2-1 series lead via 2-0 win in Game 3
Cherry chats with the top prospects
Hossa out, Chara nearly out—warm-ups are dangerous!
Video- Hockey Night In Canada SCF Game 3 Opening Montage