VIDEO — Prospect Andrey Pedan with Two Goals in OHL Playoff Game (Update)
Kevin Schultz , Islanders Point Blank:
Update, 11:06am: The Islanders have until June 1 to sign Pedan, otherwise he can re-enter the draft. Any non-collegiate player who was under 20 when drafted can re-enter if they go un-signed for two years.
Original Story: The Islanders have a ton of defensive prospects in the system, partially due to the 2012 “We’re Only Gonna Take Defenders Draft.” In 2011, the Islanders took four defenders: Scott Mayfield in round two, Andrey Pedan in three, Robbie Russo in four and that guy who has been in the news lately, Brenden Kichton, in five. Mayfield and Kitchon may get entry level deals this summer but also doing good things is Pedan. To read more of this story, click here
Two new #BST faces (though not John Persson) — former Dartmouth D Mike Keenan, and a big goalie. Presumably AT…oh, Anders Nilsson.— Michael Fornabaio (@fornabaioctp) March 20, 2013
The St. Catharine’s Standard, the hometown paper of the Niagara IceDogs, had a feature today on Ryan Strome. In it, Strome’s coach Marty Williamson calls him the best IceDog player of all, over the likes of Dougie Hamilton, Alex Pietrangelo and others: To read more of this story, click here
THE MORNING SKATE — Lots of Contract Talk for Vets, College Kids
Kevin Schultz , Islanders Point Blank:
The Islanders have a lot of decisions to make in the next couple weeks, as the trade deadline looms on April 3rd at 3pm. The team has a number of veteran free agents who could either be moved or re-signed, among them are Evgeni Nabokov, Brad Boyes, Mark Streit, Lubomir Visnovsky, Marty Reasoner and Tim Thomas.
In today’s Newsday, Arthur Staple notes that talks are either underway or will be soon for Nabokov, Streit and Visnovsky. Visnovsky, obviously the longest shot of the three to re-sign, is at least open to listening. Whether that is just polite courtesy or actual interest, remains to be seen. To read more of this story, click here
Over the weekend, Kenny Reiter started Saturday and Sunday’s games for the Sound Tigers, after Kevin Poulin was called up to the Island. Missing was Anders Nilsson, the Islanders other young goaltending prospect in the AHL, who hasn’t been seen on the ice in February. To read more of this story, click here
There Were 242 Penalty Minutes in Last Night’s Sound Tigers Game (Video)
Kevin Schultz , Islanders Point Blank:
The Sound Tigers lost 5-2 to Springfield last night, but that’s not necessarily going to be the newsmaking headline when there were 242 penalty minutes combined between the two teams. Here’s the full highlight video, with the fights starting around the 3:00 mark.
THE MORNING SKATE — Nino and Donovan at the AHL All-Star Game
Kevin Schultz , Islanders Point Blank:
Last night the AHL All-Star Game took place in Providence, RI and it featured two Sound Tigers: Matt Donovan and Nino Niederreiter. Both were voted as starters for the game for the Eastern Conference, certainly a positive for the players and organization. The West won the game 7-6 — low scoring for an ASG, maybe? — and the only tally for the two Sound Tigers was a between-the-legs second assist from Niederreiter.
Sunday night was the skills competition and Donovan took part in the hardest shot contest:
