Kevin Schultz, Islanders Point Blank:

After enduring a few bad, losing seasons Capuano guided a young Islanders team to the playoffs this year. That’s got to be more than enough incentive for coach and team to continue to work together, but it’s not clear if Capuano is under contract for next season. The Islanders don’t release coach contract info but the prevailing wisdom seems to be that Capuano’s contract was up after this year (after three years at the helm, and that sounds like a standard contact, anyhow). Back in April, Newsday’s Arthur Staple wrote that Capuano’s contract was likely up:

There’s been no news of an extension, at least not yet, and with the Maine job vacant since early April — a seemingly extended amount of time — that has led to lots of speculation. That speculation has included Scott Pellerin, also a Maine alum, as well as Capuano.

Yesterday, College Hockey News cited two sources that said Maine was interested in Capuano:

A college hockey job still pays less than the lowest paying NHL gig, but its also carries more job security than the revolving door that the NHL coaching carousel can be. To add to that, Capuano’s son is going to be playing baseball at Maine this year.

To be clear, there’s no indication that Capuano has any interest in the Maine job. It would be surprising if the Islanders didn’t want to bring him back after this season, and equally surprising if the coach didn’t want to see through the fruits of his young team finally coming of age. But Maine, if they are indeed making overtures, holds a few cards with potential job security and his son.

Bruton, 26-years-old, scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 69 games last season with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League. He posted a -2 rating last year with Peoria.

Kevin Schultz, Islanders Point Blank:

For the sake of equal time, Point Blank is providing some insight into the vision of the other major player in the RFP –- the Madison Square Garden Group. Although MSG cannot offer the tease of six annual Islanders games -–  but the Garden, the NHL and seemingly everyone else can block it -– their proposal is not without merits. Take away those Islanders games and there’s as much, or arguably more, to admire about MSG’s plan than the Ratner plan.

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to bring the power and magic of The Madison Square Garden Company’s legendary brands to the Nassau Coliseum and the people of Long Island,” said Hank Ratner, President and CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company, in a statement provided to Point Blank.

“MSG has the unique experience, vision and team to realistically accomplish our bold re-imagining of the Nassau Coliseum site as a thriving, 365-day a year destination, with compelling offerings for all demographics. It’s an exciting new future, generating new jobs and revenue, while delivering a world-class sports and entertainment destination for all Long Islanders.”

Here are five notable highlights from the MSG plan:
1. MSG is committing $250 million of its own money to pay for the project. It is paying for the entire Coliseum development on its own and not asking for a dime from Nassau taypayers. In return for not investing anything, Nassau will get tens of millions of dollars in incremental revenue, along with a lot of new jobs.

2. The entire project, as proposed by MSG, would be completed in one phase. That means the Coliseum renovation, the new, 5-acre ‘Long Island Live!’ Entertainment district (restaurants, sports bars, clubs and leisure activities) and the renovated Exhibit Hall would be done in one shot. Bruce Ratner’s proposal is to finish the job –- and pay for it -– over several years. MSG’s plan also calls to leave nearly 10 acres for future development.

3. MSG seems convinced that its plan to have 14,500 seats (as opposed to Ratner’s 13,000) ensures that it will be able to lure A-level concerts and events similar to what the Garden, the Barclays and the Prudential Center in Newark get. MSG says it can commit to 330 events annually at the site; approximately 180 at the Coliseum, which will include the AHL, plus another 150 free events at ‘Long Island Live!’

4. While Ratner’s group owns and operates one venue, the MSG Group owns and operates 7: Madison Square Garden, the Theatre at MSG, LA Forum, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and (irony alert) the Wang Center in Boston (nope, not related to Charles). Since it operates venues of all sizes MSG has the experience, influence and leverage with every major promoter in the music and event business to book all kinds of acts for the Coliseum and ‘Long Island Live!’

5. The MSG Group has Scott Rechler, Wang’s ex-partner on the Lighthouse Project and a Long Island man who knows how to get projects done on Long Island with his RXR Realty firm. Having endured the Lighthouse drama, Rechler knows what Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead are looking for.

Over the last few weeks Islanders fans, including those in this comment section, have been surprisingly divided over Ratner’s offer of six annual Islanders games at the Coliseum. While many Long Island fans welcome that possible dream with open arms, many others are torn. Some wish the Islanders would just stick with one arena, since no other NHL franchise has such a radical home schedule. Others are tired of the emotional rollercoaster of losing the Islanders and now possibly getting a few games back.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post had an on-point analysis of that fan reaction yesterday.

“Stripped of reality, the idea to bring the Islanders back to their roots about once a month can pull at the heartstrings,” Brooks wrote.

“But really, do the fans on the Island — who are losing their franchise through no fault of their own — need to be reminded so up close and personally of what was once theirs a half-dozen times a year?”

From what Point Blank is hearing, Nassau County is not putting much stock in the promise of six Islanders games. Nassau is just looking for the best deal for Nassau. Keep in mind, County Executive Ed Mangano has to make his decision for all Nassau residents and not just Islanders fans.

When you consider that, it’s apparent that Madison Square Garden has given Mangano something to consider for the Coliseum site.

Kevin Schultz, Islanders Point Blank:

Image credit

The Islanders’ Nino Niederreiter finished the tournament with five goals and eight points in 10 games, including a goal and assist against the United States to send Switzerland to the final against Sweden.

The gold medal game was the only loss of the tournament for Switzerland, and it was a tough pill to swallow for Niederreiter.

“It’s a big success for… Switzerland,” Niederreiter told iSport, referring to the tournament as a whole. “But it’s hard to think of it that way. Maybe we will in a few hours, but now we really feel empty and [it's hard to describe].”

Boulton, 36-years-old, appeared in 15 games with the Islanders last season. He was a -4 on the ice, with six blocked shots and five shots on goal.

Kevin Schultz, Islanders Point Blank:

Ratner was asked about the recent news that the NHL and Madison Square Garden would each have to approve the Islanders playing six games at the Coliseum after they move to Brooklyn. This stems from Articles 4.2 and 4.3 of the NHL’s Constitution, according to ESPN.

“The NHL has to approve it,” Ratner replied, dodging MSG’s possible involvement in the process. “Given the fact that the team has been there before, the fans are gonna want it, I’m sure [the NHL will] approve it.”

Previous to that, the Executive Chairman of Forest City Ratner also fielded a question about ‘stealing’ the Islanders. Host Tom Keene said a few Long Islanders had expressed to him a sentiment that Ratner and his group, now attempting to develop the Coliseum, were ‘stealing’ the Islanders by taking them to the Barclays Center and ‘abandoning’ Long Island.

“The opposite!” Ratner exclaimed in response. “Basically what you have is the Islanders would have left this state. Charles Wang is really a hero here in the sense that he got offers to buy that team and move them out of state. What we really did together is save them, here, for New York State and we’re only a Long Island Railroad ride away. It’s very easy to get to. On top of that we’re going to play six games in Nassau if we wind up doing the Coliseum.”

Ratner and his group have unveiled an ambitious plan to completely revamp how the Coliseum looks. They are competing with three other groups for the right to make their plan reality, including one group headed by Madison Square Garden.

On the show, Ratner said that his group is “going to do the kind of architecture that we did at Barclays,” with the Coliseum. He also said that he felt the arena “is in a great location and it’s actually a pretty good arena in terms of sightlines, but it’s old.”

He also said that the main reason he and his group are getting into the arena business is because in the digital world, the future is live entertainment and live content.

When the Barclays Center first opened its doors, Brooklyn native and rap superstar Jay-Z kicked started the arena off with eight sold out shows. When asked if there would be a similar celebrity to open at Nassau Coliseum if the plan goes though, Ratner couldn’t discuss it, but said “of course we might.”

The award is given to “the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”

Moulson had only four penalty minutes while playing in 47 of 48 games, and averaging 19:09 of ice time per game. Moulson was pegged with two minor penalties in a three-game span in early February, then played the final 37 games without visiting the penalty box.

Moulson was a finalist for the Lady Bynd trophy last year.

If he wins, Moulson would be the third Islander to win the Lady Byng, following Pierre Turgeon (1993) and Mike Bossy (1983, 1984, 1986), according to NHL.com.

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning are also finalists.

The game is scheduled for 1/29/14 at 7:30PM.

From the NHL release, “The innovative nature of the Stadium Series affords the opportunity to have all three NHL teams in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area play, outdoors, at one of the most-recognized stadiums in the world,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We’ll be able to create a multi-faceted, multi-day experience for our fans, and we thank the teams, Coors Light, the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium for their support of this memorable NHL event.”

“It’s tough,” Matt Moulson said about being out. “It’s a crappy feeling obviously… I think you just replay all the games and shifts in your head. It’s almost mores stressful than playing. Actually thinking about all the stuff that went on and I think the only thing you can do is move on and get better and come back next year.”

Moulson has seen some highlights from saturday’s game, but he still hasn’t re-watched it in its entirety. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that one yet,” he said.

Matt Martin was equally as disappointed about not being on the ice any longer this season.

“It was hard for a lot of guys to watch hockey over the last few days and I’m sure it’s not going to get any easier,” he said. “It’s disappointing. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth, but we’re proud of what we accomplished this year and excited about moving forward.”

Martin, Moulson and the rest of the Islanders are understandably disappointed by the outcome of the year, but are already looking towards next year and what could be. Unlike this past season, the upcoming one will be a normal 82-game season and the squad knows that it will be slightly different than the 48-game one they just finished.

“It will obviously be more of a grind,” Josh Bailey said. “I don’t know if much changes, so I think maybe there will be a little more practice time for next year. Maybe that side of things will change, but an 82 game season certainly a lot more games being played and it’s more of a grind. Hopefully, knock on wood, we all stay healthy and give ourselves the best chance possible for next year.”

Michael Grabner noted that the Islanders will need to have more consistency next year. The team had inconsistent stretches this season and that will be something that will need to be addressed.

“82 games is going to be different than this year, so we can’t have any big lapses like we did the past two years,” Grabner said. “We have to come out strong, play consistent 82 games, and in the playoffs anything can happen.”

But looking back on this season, and the run the Isles had in final month and a half, is the respect the team has earned from around the league.

“I think we definitely made a lot of people aware that we’re here to compete,” Moulson said. “We’re not rolling over for anyone. We don’t care who we’re playing. You have to come back and do it again. You can’t just do it once. You have to come back and do it next year.”

Thanks to a negative perception around the league the Islanders have been viewed as a laughingstock. But thanks to the teams recent success things seem to be changing.

“No one took us seriously,” Martin said. “We were the butt of a lot of jokes for the three years that I’ve been here and that was hard for us. Obviously we take a lot of pride in what we do and to take the step we took this year and to kind of get that attention from the media, from the fans again was huge. Like I said, I don’t think anyone is going to take us lightly again next season.”

After the series against Pittsburgh, Islander head coach Jack Capuano said he received a “real nice” message from Penguins general manager Ray Shero. And John Tavares received compliments from the Penguins during the handshake line.

“Matt Cooke, Jarome Iginla said some nice things to me individually and I think our team as well,” Tavares told reporters. “Just about how hard we were to play against and it was battle. They knew it wasn’t easy and I think we gave them everything they could handle.”

But with new found respect comes new challenges and the Islanders realize that teams will be not be taking them for granted any longer.

“We’re not going to surprise anyone next year,” Kyle Okposo said in his final meeting with the media of the season. “I think this year teams may have taken us lightly, so that’s not going to happen. They’re going to bring their game when they come play us and we have to continue to get better.”

The Islanders will use the offseason to do just that and come back in September ready to get back to where they were. As Casey Cizikas said Tuesday afternoon, “it’s only 110 days until next season.”