Trade Deadline Recap

Well Former Islanders, as usually, were centerpieces during the silly day known as the Trade Deadline. Four FIs moved places in a day that featured 22 trades and 46 players changing addresses. In other news a notable FI signed an extension after rumors swirled that he was trade bait. Let us take a look at the FI deadline day:

TRADES

Of course the talk of the day was the trade that sent Phoenix Coyotes' center Olli Jokinen to the Calgary Flames in exchange for center Matthew Lombardi, winger Brandon Prust and a 1st Round Pick. Jokinen, who had struggled with the 'Yotes, bears the unenviable distinction of being the active player with the most regular season games yet no playoff appearance with 780 games under his belt. By joining the Northwest Division-leading Flames O-Jok has all but guaranteed some playoff experience this upcoming spring. On the season Jokinen had 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) on 57 games. In those 780 games Jokinen has 503 points on 229 goals and 274 assists. The Flames will be Jokinen's fifth team after stints with the Kings, Isles, Panthers and Coyotes.

Next up, in terms of relative importance, was the trade that made winger Bill Guerin the newest FI. The Isles relatively gave Guerin away for a conditional draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins who are quickly becoming a haven for FIs (see Satan, Fedotenko, Godard). The pick could be as low as the 5th Round or as high as the 3rd Round depending on the playoff success of the Pens. It became apparent from late last week that Guerin was a goner it was just a matter of finding out who the "mystery team" was a what the return would be. Aside from that trade and the Comrie-Campoli deal the Isles were relative quiet during this trade season. A 1,168 game veteran, Guerin is on the verge of 800 career points with 799 (403 goals, 396 assists) a feat he will accomplish with his 8th team after having played with the Devils, Oilers, Bruins, Stars, Sharks, Blues and Isles.

Currently injured center Petteri Nokelainen was dealt by the Boston Bruins to the Anaheim Ducks in return for defenseman Steve Montador. The gritty Nokelainen could make an impact soon for the Ducks if he can recover from a recent eye injury. On 33 games this season with the Bs Nokey had 3 assists. A 105 game "veteran," Nokelainen has 15 points on 8 goals and 7 assists in stints with the Isles and Bruins.


As part of a package deal d-man Jamie Heward was shipped out of Tampa Bay to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Heward, who is out with a concussion, will probably not suit up for the Leafs anytime soon. The Lightning balled up goaltender Olaf Kolzig, d-man Andy Rogers, Heward and a 4th Round Pick in exchange for prospect d-man Richard Petiot. One would hope for the Lightning that Petiot lives up to lofty expectations as they gave up a bundle of scraps for this young'en. Heward has only suited up for 13 games this season with Tampa Bay notching 2 assists before succumbing to a concussion brought on by a hit by Washington superstar Alex Ovechkin. A 394 game pro, Heward has 38 goals and 86 assists for 124 points. Toronto was Heward's original team. He has worn the jersey for the Leafs, Isles, Predators, Blue Jackets, Capitals, Kings and Lightning.

SIGNING

The Buffalo Sabres, who were supposedly shopping oft-injured center Tim Connolly, ended up signing the star to a 2 year extension worth $9 million ($4.5 million per season). Connolly, who has only ever known life as an Isle or Sabre, has played well in his limited 30 games with Buffalo this season scoring 11 goals and adding 16 assists for 27 points. A 468 game veteran, TimCo has 81 goals and 187 assists for 268 career points. If he can stay healthy over the next 2 seasons, Connolly's re-signing will be a boon for the Sabres.

Check in soon as we have officially begun the final push for the playoffs here at FIW.

FI Injury Report

As of the end of the week a total of 11 Former Islanders were on Injured Reserve for various ailments. Here is a brief look at these players:

Tim Connolly (Buffalo): The Sabres are used to winning when Tim Connolly is in the lineup. Problem is that TimCo has not been the lineup for more than 56 regular games of the last 3 seasons. He has had an impressive 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists) over than span. All that might change as Connolly is expected to suit up Friday night for his first game since November 14. The problems have been varied for Connolly who most recent trip to the IR was triggered by a rib injury.

Brent Sopel (Chicago): Chicago signed Sopel to an contract extension last season yet from the day the deal was inked Sopel has been hit with a variety of injuries. Sopel's most recent is the delightfully descriptive "upper-body injury". There is no real timetable for Sopel's return to the Blackhawk's blueline.




Raffi Torres (Columbus): Winger Torres is Lloyd's of London's worst nightmare - a walking injury waiting to happen. An injury last season cost Torres 50 games of the season while his recent arthroscopic knee surgery will cost him supposedly 2-4 weeks yet that time frame has come and gone as Torres was placed on IR on December 2. Torres is not yet ready to return to play and the mystery is when and if he will every really be ready to compete without some nagging injury haunting him.

Marc-Andre Bergeron (Minnesota): The saddest FI injury of the year so far has to be defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron who was leading the Wild blueliners in scoring. Bergeron suffered an "upper-body injury" in early December and has been on the IR since December 12. No details have arisen about the true nature of MAB's injury nor has an expected return date been announced yet.

Ruslan Fedotenko(Pittsburgh):Penguins' winger Fedotenko broke his hand in a one punch knockout of Atlanta Thrashers' forward Colby Armstrong only 2 minutes in to a January 6 game. Fedo will miss 4 to 6 weeks and has been placed on the IR retroactive to January 7.




Eric Brewer (St. Louis): The Blues' captain and d-man Eric Brewer has had a relatively healthy career until his recent herniated disk required surgery. St. Louis, currently without its leader, will spend what is most likely the rest of the season without Brewer's presence in the locker room. Brewer had surgery on December 17 and was placed of the IR retroactive to December 13.


Jamie Heward (Tampa Bay): To be brutally honest Jamie Heward's absence on the Lightning blueline will not really affect any outcomes considering the d-man has only suited up for 13 games so far this season but Heward is probably missing the ice. Heward was slammed head first in to the boards by Washington Capitals' superstar Alex Ovechkin in a game on New Year's Day. Considering the severity of the injury there is not expected return date and Heward was placed on IR as of January 2.

Roberto Luongo (Vancouver): Possibly the most notable injury in the league right now is the absence of Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo who suffered a groin injury during a November 22 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rumor has it that Luongo is almost ready to make a return, possibly in time for him to get a few starts in before the All-Star Game to which he has been tapped as a reserve goalie. Luongo was having a good start to the season before the injured sidelined him on IR since November 23.

Taylor Pyatt (Vancouver): The Canucks have a second injured FI in the form of winger Pyatt who broke his foot during a December 26 game. Pyatt is out "at least four weeks" and was placed on the IR on December 27. To make things worse it appears that T-Py played the whole game possibly compounding the injury with extra shifts.



Tom Poti (Washington): Capitals' d-man Tom Poti suffered a groin strain in late December landing him on the IR on December 23. The absence of Poti leaves a gaping whole on the Caps' blueline that is currently being filled by rookie Karl Alzner. There is no time table for a Poti return yet.




John Erskine (Washington): Another Caps' d-man also has his own injury woes. Erskine suffered a concussion during a November 24 game and was immediately placed on the IR list. There is no expected return date yet for Erskine who has never played more than 51 games on any given season.




Check here soon for more news and updates at FIW.

Saturday October 11

Saturday was a mad one around the league with nearly the full NHL in action. There were an unlucky 13 games on the schedule meaning 26 teams were battling for early season points. Former Islanders play major parts in 10, count em, 10 of those contests. Here is the brief-as-can-be yet thorough-and-in-depth look at those games:

Stephen Valiquette got to winning real quick on Saturday in his first start of the season for the New York Rangers. The Blueshirts stymied an attempted comback from the host Philadelphia Flyers to hold on for a 4-3 win. Vali stopped 25 of 28 shots faced to start the season off 1-0-0. Valiquette may or may not see increased playing time with the Rangers this season depending on starter Henrik Lundqvist's play but he sure has caught the respect of the Rangers' brass.

Montreal defenseman Roman Hamrlik kicked his season in to high gear by scoring his team's first goal of the game as the Canadiens thumped the host Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1. Hamrlik now has 1 point over the first 2 games of the season. The 2 games to score a goal was the fastest Hamrlik had tallied to start a season since the 2000-01 campaign when he scored on the opening day while in his first season with the Isles. Netting the lone goal for Toronto was winger Jason Blake. The powerplay goal was Blake's first of the season and it came in only the 2nd game of the year.

D-man Tom Poti continued to help offensively for his Washington Capitals as they doubled up on the visiting Chicago Blackhawks for a 4-2 win. Poti now has 2 points in 2 games and is on pace for an 82 point season. Go Tom!





Winger Richard Zednik needs no introduction. We all know now about the on-ice accident that nearly took his life. We all know that he has suffered his lumps and come out a stronger player for it. Now let us focus on his play which on Saturday was nearly the difference maker. Zednik recorded 2 even strength assists as the Florida Panthers pulled off a 3-2 home win over the Atlanta Thrashers. Dating back to last season, Zed is on fire in the regular season notching 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points over his last 8 games played. Zednik, neck guard and all, will look to continue his consistent work as the early season progresses.

Detroit goalie Chris Osgood took no time to reverse his fortunes after being on the losing end of the Red Wings opening night loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Osgood stopped 20 of 22 shots faced to backstop the Wings to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the host Ottawa Senators. Osgood improved to 1-1-0 on the season with a 2.52 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.


The Devil, you say? It took him 3 games but Miroslav Satan notched his first goal as a Penguin scoring the lone goal, a powerplay tally, as Pittsburgh wwas edged by the visiting New Jersey Devils 2-1 in OT. The only shot Miro through at the net went through as the Penguins through only 15 shots at Martin Brodeur. Satan now has 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) on 3 games with his new team.


New Tampa Bay d-man Jamie Heward dazzled with a pair of powerplay helpers as the Lightning blew a 3-0 lead to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes and fell 4-3 in OT. Heward now has 2 points in his first 3 games with Tampa and is currently tied for the team lead in points scored with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. As Nelson Muntz would say, "Ha ha!"


Hockey would not be without really French-y sounding last names and Saturday night's cavalcade of FIs was no exception. Getting involved in the scoring action was cannon-for-a-shot d-man Marc-Andre Bergeron who scored a powerplay goal for the Minnesota Wild in their 4-3 victory over the visiting Boston Bruins. A force on the blueline with the man advantage, the goal was Bergeron's first since February 16, a span of 13 games without. Not surprisingly, February 16 was also the time Bergeron netted his last powerplay goal.

New Coyotes' center Olli Jokinen wasted no time making an impact. Jokinen opened Phoenix' season scoring with a powerplay goal and added a powerplay assist later in the same frame for a multi-point effort. The goal O-Jok assisted eventually became the game winner as the 'Yotes beat the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1. A special teams kind of guy, it is not surprising to see Jokinen notch both points with the man advantage. His goal was even momentous for others as rookie Kyle Turris notched his first NHL assist and point on the tally. In other odd news, Columbus center Michael Peca has been suspended indefinitely after supposedly striking an official with his stick. Handed the suspension shortly after Columbus' opening night, Peca was forced to sit out the Phoenix game. Peca is claiming to have struck only the glass and not the ref after being angry over what he believed was a missed penalty call that immediately led to a Dallas goal. Forget all the Free Mumia crap, Free Peca! Free him now!

In their most recent song "Human," the Killers ask the questions "Are we human?/Or are we dancer?". If the latter be the case than Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo is the belle of the ball... Oh wait. Well either way, Luongo has started off strong for the Canucks as he has helped his team jump out to a quick 2-0-0 record. Not quite as solid as his first start, Luongo was still good enough stopping 19 of 23 shots as the Canucks overcame an early Calgary Flames' lead for a 5-4 OT win. Luongo has definitely overcome last season's poor finish when he dropped 7 of his last 8 starts. He is now 2-0-0 on the season with a 1.94 goals against average, a .296 save percentage and 1 shutout. Also getting involved in the action was Calgary newcomer and FI winger Todd Bertuzzi. It took only 2 games for Bert to score his first goal as a Flame as he dropped in the 2nd Calgary goal of the competition. Bertuzzi has 1 point over the first 2 games of the season.

Check back for more action-packed, bone-crunching, number-inducing FI news!