Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

'09 top draft picks make the cut, staying in NHL

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October 29

NHL.com

"Six players taken in the 2009 Entry Draft made their NHL team's opening-night roster. Making the League is one thing; staying there is another. But for the special six from this June's draft, they all passed their first major test. John Tavares (No. 1, Islanders), Victor Hedman (No. 2, Lightning), Matt Duchene (No. 3, Colorado), Evander Kane (No. 4, Thrashers), Dmitry Kulikov (No. 14, Panthers) and Ryan O'Reilly (No. 33, Avalanche) haven't all passed the 10-game threshold, but all have been told that they should look into permanent housing. Teams have nine games to evaluate their teenage prospects before having to make a decision on whether to keep them -- and activate their entry-level ..."

Schremp gets a break

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September 30

Edmonton Journal

"Rob Schremp's five-year relationship with the Edmonton Oilers is officially over after the New York Islanders on Tuesday put in a waiver claim on the 23-year-old forward. "It's exciting ...a new situation. I'm going in with open arms, ready to learn," the former Oilers centre told Long Island's Newsday paper after the Islanders took him on waivers Tuesday morning. Schremp, who was sent down to the American Hockey League by the Oilers with no strings attached year after year at training camp until this fall when he finally had to clear waivers, caught a break when the Islanders, who finished last in the NHL last season, grabbed him. They could have taken Schremp at the NHL entry draft in ..."

Arena flap puts cloud over debut of Tavares

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September 23

New York Post

"Islander super-rookie John Tavares plays his first game at Nassau Coliseum tonight in a debut fans have been anticipating since he was drafted first overall in June. But whether he or the team remain on Long Island long-term is unknown. With the Isles off in Kansas City playing the Kings in a preseason game last night, which they lost 4-2, owner Charles Wang was back at Hofstra, trying to convince local officials to back his "Lighthouse Project" -- a locally controversial mix of housing, office, entertainment and convention space that includes turning the Coliseum into a state-of-the-art arena. Wang has said the project is the only way of keeping the money-losing Isles on Long Island. ..."

Sillinger Hangs Up His Skates

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August 27

New York Post

"Islanders forward Mike Sillinger, sidelined by hip injuries the past two years, announced his retirement yesterday. The 38-year-old spent 17 seasons in the NHL and scored 240 goals. Also, Isles GM Garth Snow added that goalie Rick DiPietro has been skating since last week and "feels great.""

Islanders agree to terms with Blake Comeau

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August 4

Newsday

"The Islanders just announced that they have come to terms on a two-year deal with forward Blake Comeau. Comeau, who many expected to begin the 2008-2009 season with the Islanders but was sent down to Bridgeport to get better acclimated to Scott Gordon's new system, had 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists) in 53 games once he returned to the big club. "We are excited to have Blake as part of our line-up," Isles general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. "He is a versatile player who has great promise and is developing into a solid NHL player.""

Islanders expected to announce hiring of assistant Allen

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July 20

Newsday

"Islanders coach Scott Gordon is expected to complete his coaching staff Mondayby announcing the hiring of AHL assistant Scott Allen. Like Gordon, Allen grew up in the Boston area and is a veteran of the coaching ranks in the East Coast Hockey League. Allen coached in the American Hockey League for six of the past seven seasons, including the past two seasons as an assistant for the Quad City Flames, Calgary's top affiliate. But Allen began his coaching career as an assistant with the Johnstown Chiefs in the ECHL as an assistant in 1996-97 and then took over as head coach of the Chiefs for the next five seasons. He moved to the AHL as an assistant with San Antonio in 2002-03, took over as ..."

Islanders Have Their Pick of Blue Chippers in Draft

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June 26

New York Times

"Long Island may be a struggling hockey market in the eyes of some, but the full house expected at Nassau Coliseum on Friday night for the Islanders' draft party suggests otherwise. The expected crowd may be a sign of a growing interest in the N.H.L. entry draft across the continent. More likely, however, thousands of Islanders fans will gather to watch General Manager Garth Snow make the first overall pick on Versus' live telecast from Montreal and hope that the selection of one player can begin reviving the sagging fortunes of their once-proud club. That player is expected to be center John Tavares of the London Knights, the Ontario Hockey League's career scoring leader and most valuable ..."

Tavares? Hedman? Duchene? We'll know soon

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June 26

Newsday

"Throughout his junior career, goal-scoring machine John Tavares has been regarded as the surefire No. 1 pick in the NHL draft once he became eligible. But with Islanders general manager Garth Snow playing it close to the vest with the top pick, the suspense will continue until commissioner Gary Bettman steps to the podium at about 7:10 Friday nightat Bell Centre and says, "With the first pick in the 2009 draft, the Islanders select . . . '' Tavares, 6-6 Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman and late-closing center Matt Duchene, all of whom are being considered by Snow, will be on pins and needles. So, will No. 2 Tampa Bay and No. 3 Colorado, either of which could wind up with Tavares. Lightning ..."

Aaron Portzline looks ahead: New York Islanders

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June 24

Columbus Dispatch

columnist Aaron Portzline

"Mike Milbury, a TV expert these days, was the GM of the New York Islanders in the summer of 2000, the last time the Islanders held the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL entry draft. Milbury surprised many by drafting goaltender Rick DiPietro with the No. 1 overall pick, passing on Dany Heatley and Marian Gaborik. To make matters worse and clear a spot for DiPietro Milbury traded goaltender Roberto Luongo and center Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers for forwards Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish. Nearly a decade later, the Islanders still are digging out from under a long string of unconscionable decisions made by Milbury and a few others in the many years that followed. As a reward for having ..."

After the Big 3, it's open season

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June 21

Toronto Sun

"No curve balls are expected from the pitchers throwing out the first three names at the NHL draft. There's a slim chance the pitchers could change -- the Islanders, Lightning and Avalanche may yet be overwhelmed by a trade offer for their first pick on Friday night -- but a much better bet is they will choose John Tavares, Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene, respectively. "The first three picks have separated themselves," says Michael Oke, the chief scout for International Scouting Services. "Then, the next five to seven, everybody has a different opinion (as to where they'll go), but everybody thinks they'll be there." In putting together a mock draft for Sun Media, Oke and ISS director of ..."

Still a debate over who should be No.1

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June 21

Columbus Dispatch

"Ever since the 2008 NHL entry draft ended, a debate regarding this weekend's draft in Montreal has been in place: Who should be the No. 1 overall pick, playmaking center John Tavares or towering defenseman Victor Hedman? Now, there's a third name crowding the scene at the finish line, heart-and-soul center Matt Duchene. New York Islanders GM Garth Snow, who holds the No. 1 pick and doesn't plan on trading it, won't say whom he's leaning toward. "I made up my mind awhile ago," Snow told the New York Post. The safe bet remains Tavares, who has been a headline-maker in Canada since he was granted "exceptional player" status and allowed entry into the Ontario Hockey League as a 14-year-old. ..."

Isles can relocate - but not to Canada

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June 4

Montreal Gazette

"Gary Bettman has spent the past few weeks talking about the National Hockey League's concern for the fans in its existing franchises. Bettman's mantra has been: "We don't run out on cities." It's a noble sentiment, but it hasn't kept the NHL and some of its member clubs from threatening to abandon existing markets. A case in point is the New York Islanders, a once-proud franchise that would be happy to achieve mediocrity. Owner Charles Wang, who is trying to extort Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead into approving his plans for a multi-purpose development anchored by a renovated Nassau Coliseum, delivered a not-too-subtle threat after a public meeting with local politicians this week. ..."

Which option will Islanders' choose for NHL draft

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May 17

Newsday

"There are less than six weeks left until the June 26 NHL draft in which the Islanders hold the No. 1 pick ahead of Tampa Bay and Colorado. The consensus top three prospects are London center John Tavares, Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman and Brampton center Matt Duchene. Here are three of the many scenarios for how events could play out at the top of the draft: 1. John Tavares, the all-time leading goal scorer in the Ontario Hockey League, is the clear favorite among Islanders fans hoping to land a pure scorer to fill the team's most glaring need. But one major scouting service, "Redline Report," recently dropped Tavares behind Victor Hedman in its rankings, and Toronto general manager ..."

Duchene's play earning lots of talk as top pick

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April 22

Toronto Star

"Matt Duchene calls them "murmurings." Maybe. But it's hard not to believe that when a decent chunk of the hockey industry is saying with increasing volume that you might be better than John Tavares, the teenage phenom who laid his reputation across the 2009 NHL entry draft some time ago, it might start to feel a little louder to an 18-year-old than a murmur. More like a bellow. Or a crashing cymbal. "I'm trying not to get all caught up in it," Duchene said last night after jump-starting the Brampton Battalion to a come-from-behind, 4-3 playoff win over the Belleville Bulls."

Tavares doesn't plan holdout

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April 20

Globe and Mail

"John Tavares was thrilled when Brian Burke declared he would move heaven and earth to try to get him in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform. But if the New York Islanders use their first pick overall in the NHL entry draft on Tavares, as expected, Tavares will become an Islander. There will be no Eric Lindros-style holdout even though Tavares grew up in Oakville, Ont., worshipping Steve Thomas, Mats Sundin, Curtis Joseph and the Maple Leafs. "It was a big surprise to me," Tavares said of the declaration by Burke, the Leafs' president and general manager, that he will try to trade up in the draft to take Tavares. "Obviously, that doesn't happen very often. It was also flattering to have an NHL ..."

Chatty Leafs GM Won't Steal Isles' Top Pick

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April 19

New York Post

"The grandstand ing Brian Burke got the attention on TSN and in the Toronto newspapers that he apparently needs the way the rest of us need air to breathe, but the general manager of the Maple Leafs isn't going to get the first pick of the Entry Draft from the Islanders, no matter how often he announces his intention to get it from Garth Snow. Slap Shots has learned from a well-placed source that when Burke, as announced and as promised, placed a call to the winner of the lottery (the Islanders victorious in the postseason, quite the novelty, by the way), he was told by Snow that the Islanders would be willing to deal, all right . . . willing to deal for Toronto's seventh-overall selection, ..."

Could this be Burke's plot aimed at Tavares?

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April 18

Toronto Star

columnist Damien Cox

"So here's the scorecard so far. Two wins, one loss, one still up for grabs, one long shot in progress. That's where Brian Burke stands in his effort to use every and any means necessary to find hockey players for his Maple Leafs. The wins were U.S. collegians Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak, both of whom signed with the club earlier this month as free agents. The loss was Hobey Baker Award-winning defenceman Matt Gilroy, who inked a two-year, $3.5 million contract with the New York Rangers yesterday. So of the top three NCAA stars, the Leafs got two. Not bad."

Burke eyes draft dance partners

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April 16

Globe and Mail

"Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke may have found two willing partners in his effort to trade up in the NHL entry draft in June and land budding superstar John Tavares. New York Islanders GM Garth Snow and Tampa Bay Lightning counterpart Brian Lawton, who hold the Nos. 1 and 2 picks, respectively, in the 2009 draft, have both said they are at least willing to discuss a trade with Burke. Snow could not be reached for comment yesterday, but has indicated to reporters on Long Island that he will listen to any pitch for the team's first-overall selection. Lawton said the same thing yesterday - although he would not reveal if he is leaning toward keeping or trading the second pick. ..."

Burke playing dial-a-deal

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April 16

Toronto Star

"Neither the New York Islanders nor the Tampa Bay Lightning have closed the door on trading the top two picks in June's NHL entry draft. So Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke will continue trying to barge his way through in his pursuit of star centre John Tavares, the projected first overall pick. Burke, as he promised he would, has already started contacting teams above Toronto in the draft pecking order in an attempt to move up from the seventh slot. And he shows no signs of backing away from targeting Tavares."

Leaf target: John Tavares

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April 15

Toronto Star

"Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke was undoubtedly on the phone to the New York Islanders last night, performing a little reconnaissance and perhaps some long-distance arm twisting in his hot pursuit of junior phenom John Tavares.In a surprise revelation earlier in the day, Burke unveiled his ambitious plan to land Tavares, the projected No.1 pick in this year's NHL draft. "Once we figure out who's got the top couple of picks, we're going to go after them and see if we can move up," said Burke, confirming the London Knights star and Oakville native is his target."

Isles Weigh Move

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March 27

New York Post

"While the Islanders flew off to Detroit to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings, ownership tried to drum up interest in keeping the team on Long Island last night at a meeting at a hotel near Nassau Coliseum. The Isles still don't know where they'll be in a few years. If owner Charles Wang doesn't get the go-ahead from the community -- and local politicians -- on the Lighthouse project that he hopes to construct, whatever strides the rebuilding Isles make down the road may happen elsewhere. Last night's meeting was another attempt to prevent that from happening, but it's clear Wang's patience is wearing thin."

Islanders could be cast adrift

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March 10

Toronto Star

"Forget the Phoenix Coyotes, the Nashville Predators or any of the other NHL teams in the American Sunbelt: the next team to move just might be the New York Islanders, with their most likely destination being Kansas City. Isles owner and land developer Charles Wang has reached his wits end in trying to get local government on board with a $3 billion (U.S.) urban renewal project – dubbed the Lighthouse Project – that includes a "transformation" of the Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders' home since their inception in 1972."

It's D-Day For Guerin

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March 4

New York Post

"In a season filled with losses, injuries and various other calamities, it should probably come as no surprise that the days before the trade deadline have also been a fiasco for the Islanders. Bill Guerin was not present again yesterday when the Isles had an optional practice, as the team tries to work out a deal for its captain. If they don't before today's 3 p.m. deadline, Guerin is set to remain an Islander. At this point, anything is possible. "I know it's been tough on him," said center Doug Weight, Guerin's closest friend on the team. "It's been a crazy year and the last 48 hours it's been a real hard situation, actually 72 hours, the situation has spun out of control a little bit ..."

Deadline sellers unlikely to see big returns

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March 4

Toronto Star

"More and more, today's trade deadline appears to be a prelude to that which lies ahead. To a significant degree, much of what we'll see today – or don't see today – is the direct result of 30 clubs trying to forecast the future in terms of where the industry is heading and, in particular, where the salary cap may be headed. In fact, there were moves yesterday that were indicators of what teams are thinking. Nicklas Backstrom signed a new contract to be the starting goaltender with the Minnesota Wild, and the salary was significant, an average of $6 million per season."

GMs go down to the wire

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March 4

Toronto Star

"Coffee brewed, scouting charts laid out, and lists of wants and needs neatly organized, the general managers of the NHL's 30 teams will meet in boardrooms across North America this morning prior to the trade deadline. Around them will be their confidantes, assistants and scouting directors ready to dial phones, buzz the BlackBerrys, text the messages and e the mail. Reputations will be carved, saviours will be anointed, nerves will be frayed, and regrets – there'll be a few. If things begin as normal, the morning will go slowly from a public perspective: Perhaps a few fourth liners, or fifth defender for some low-round picks as selling GMs try to talk up the price to the buyers. Behind ..."

Let's make a deal

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March 3

Vancouver Sun

"The Canucks seem set with their top two forward lines, but with Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond struggling, GM Mike Gillis could be looking to upgrade his third line before Wednesday's trade deadline. Here are some possible replacement parts Gillis might consider from teams looking to deal: C Marty Reasoner, Atlanta: He's plus-nine on a terrible team and has chipped in with 10 goals and 23 points. His contract, worth $1 million this season, is up this summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. C Steve Reinprecht, Phoenix: He, too, becomes unrestricted this summer but comes with a bigger price tag. Reinprecht, who has 10 goals and 31 points this season, is making $2 million. C Jeff ..."

Trade winds are swirling

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March 3

Toronto Star

"An interesting note from the NHL trade deadline front: exactly 25 deals were completed in each of the last three deadline days. That number is expected to be surpassed tomorrow, when this season's deadline arrives. With Leafs GM Brian Burke leading the way, several NHL GMs have been frank about their trade prospects. Several players– Bill Guerin, Derek Morris, Nik Antropov and others – are on the trade block. There are also teams such as Ottawa, in the midst of a disappointing season, which will have to purge certain players in order to help with next season's budget. Here's a look at what's brewing around the NHL leading up to tomorrow's 3 p.m. (EST) deadline:"

Deadline provides good theatre

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March 2

Globe and Mail

columnist Eric Duhatschek

"This is how the sands can shift in the ridiculously close NHL standings, with the trading deadline less than 72 hours away: At the all-star break, during the final week of January, it looked as though the only bona fide seller in the Western Conference would be the 15th-place St. Louis Blues, a team undermined for much of the season by injuries, limited scoring and so-so goaltending. The Blues featured at least one tradable commodity - left winger/centre Keith Tkachuk - who would be of some interest to a contender. Every week, a new version of the Tkachuk to the Boston Bruins rumour made the rounds. In the meantime, the Blues quietly chipped away at the gap between them and eighth place. ..."

For Islanders, it's a win and Bill Guerin trade talk

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March 1

New York Daily News

"Being exiled onÂ an island as a member of a rebuilding and dead-last team is no way to play out any season late in one's distinguished hockey career. But now it fully appears that veteran Bill Guerin is about to be ex-Isled, as long as he chooses to be. A few days before Wednesday's trade deadline, the Islander captain was listed in the lineup but was not on the bench from the start ofÂ Saturday night's 2-0 win over the Sabres at the Coliseum. The Islanders all but confirmed a trade agreement was in place, with a team spokesman saying that "(Guerin) is healthy" and coach Scott Gordon adding afterward that GM Garth Snow "from what I understand, is going to talk about it (Sunday)." ..."

Guerin expected to be traded to contender today

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March 1

Newsday

"As exciting as the Islanders' 2-0 shutout of Buffalo was last night at the Coliseum, the greater drama occurred moments before faceoff when captain Bill Guerin was not on the bench after skating during warm-ups. That was the first tip-off of a trade expected to be announced today. A source close to Guerin, who recently agreed to waive his no-trade clause for a deal sending him to an Eastern Conference playoff contender, said the Islanders had a deal in place that awaited only his approval. The source called his no-show a "precautionary scratch" and indicated he will make his decision this morning. Another source with ties to Guerin indicated only that the team is not Boston or the Devils. ..."

Islanders pull Guerin off ice

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March 1

Sportsnet.ca

"Sources have told Sportsnet New York Islanders forward Bill Guerin was pulled off the ice prior to the team's game against the Buffalo Sabres to make certain he doesn't get injured. He has not been traded but a deal appears imminent. Bill Guerin, agreed to waive his no-trade clause if Snow can ship his veteran right-winger to an Eastern Conference team. In 61 games this season, the 38-year-old Guerin leads the Islanders in scoring with 16 goals and is second on the team with 36 points, but sports a minus-15 rating. Guerin is no stranger to being dealt ahead of the trade deadline; the St. Louis Blues sent Guerin to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 27, 2007."

Guerin Pulled from Isles' lineup

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March 1

TSN.ca

"A somewhat bizarre chain of events occurred Saturday night involving New York Islanders' forward Bill Guerin. Guerin was pulled from the team's lineup after the warmup, just prior to the game against the Buffalo Sabres. According to a source, Guerin is not hurt and there is a strong belief he was taken off the ice and out of New York's lineup in order to wait for a trade. Guerin, who would be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has a no-move clause and sources close to the veteran forward say he has not yet been asked to waive it. According to www.islanderspointblank.com, sources say the Islanders have a deal in principle to send Guerin 'to an Eastern team' which would be finalized on ..."

D-Day looms

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February 28

Edmonton Journal

"Trade deadline day, in the words of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, is a mixed bag -- "an awful day, an exciting day, a day full of magic, also a day full of very poor decision making." While we've basically had a league-wide roster freeze for the last five months because of salary cap issues with teams, the trade deadline is the one day where GMs actually try to appease (a) braying fans, (b) players who are looking for a jolt, and (c) coaches who can't transplant hands on Shean Donovan or get a heart that beats for Tyler Arnason. You always get some strange trade ideas on Internet sites -- like Edmonton Oilers unrestricted free agent Erik Cole and a fourth-round draft to ..."

Islanders fall to Maple Leafs in shootout amid trade talks

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February 27

New York Daily News

"As Wednesday's trade deadline approaches, the Islanders clearly will attempt to be sellers from the cellar. With all but a handful of teams still in the playoff hunt,Â Thursday night's 5-4 shootout loss to Toronto represented a rare game pitting two out-of-it teams whose carcasses can be plucked for the right price over the next few days. Having already extracted a first-round pick from Ottawa last week for center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli, Isles GM Garth Snow continues to field and make calls concerning the handful of marketable veterans on his roster. Isles captain Bill Guerin has expressed a desire to stay on Long Island, and controls the option of enforcing a ..."

NHL teams have stars in their eyes

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February 26

Buffalo News

"The NHL trade deadline is next Wednesday, and nobody is quite sure what to expect in the days ahead. Six teams were within nine points of fourth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference heading into Wednesday night. Eight points separated fifth-place Vancouver and 13th-place St. Louis in the West. Buy, sell or flip a coin? So many teams, so many players, so many possibilities. Several superstars are almost certain to change addresses, and several more are capable of pushing teams into contention. Here are a few items worth watching leading into Wednesday while pondering trade rumors du jour. STAR GAZING Jay Bouwmeester, D, Florida. General Manager Jacques Martin didn't rule out trading ..."

Wang: Options open on Islanders' relocation

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February 25

Newsday

"While saying he has no plans to move the Islanders off Long Island, team owner Charles Wang said yesterday he is keeping his options open. And, he insisted, he does have options - regardless of a clause in the team's contract with the county that requires the Islanders to play at Nassau Coliseum until 2015. Wang - speaking publicly for the first time since speculation emerged early this year about possible relocation of the team - said that an agreement he made with the county in 2007 to renovate the 36-year-old Coliseum and develop the area around it includes language that gives the team an out: Once the county executive submits a lease for the 150 acres of county-owned property, the ..."

Owner of NHL's Islanders keeps options open, including move to KC

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February 25

Kansas City Star

"Speaking publicly for the first time since his team scheduled a September exhibition game at the Sprint Center, New York Islanders owner Charles Wang said he's keeping his options open regarding a relocation of his NHL team. Wang is frustrated because he has yet to receive approval from Nassau County and other municipalities for his proposed Lighthouse Project, which includes a new arena as well as a luxury hotel, conference center, sports training center, housing units, retail stores and restaurants, minor-league baseball field and acres of underground parking. In an interview before Tuesday's Hempstead Town board meeting, Wang was asked by reporters if scheduling the Islanders in a ..."

All or nothing

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February 22

Toronto Sun

"Will the desperate Habs finally sever ties with Kovalev? Will the Panthers send big Bouwmeester packing to beef up their forward ranks? And what about Pronger, Havlat, Gaborik, Tkachuk... With the NHL trade deadline only 10 days away, Sun Media's Bruce Garrioch breaks down what each club needs -- and who's up for grabs as teams look to play let's make a deal. --- FLORIDA PANTHERS Needs: The Panthers have to decide what they're going to do with D Jay Bouwmeester, who won't be back next season. The club needs scoring up front and there's no question it would be able to fetch that in a trade. GM Jacques Martin could be the biggest player at the deadline. Who's available: D Jay Bouwmeester, D ..."

Isles, Streit looking into 'Future'

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February 16

New York Post

"Garth Snow and Scott Gordon aren't the only ones who are curious to see how the Islanders finish up this disastrous season, where the only real drama left is to see if they get the first pick in the draft. Mark Streit signed a five-year deal with the Isles in the offseason and, at 31, he figures to be on Long Island during the rest of his career's prime years. And he'd rather not go through another season like this one. That's why he'll be watching his teammates closely, as well. "There are jobs out there for the future," Streit said. "Obviously, some guys are gonna be here, some guys maybe not. But it's a good time for young guys - or all the guys - to show if they really want to be ..."

Goalie Carousel

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January 19

Edmonton Journal

"The Oilers may not have former Pittsburgh Penguins backup goalie Dany Sabourin long if the New York Islanders have any say. The Isles are in desperate need of a goalie with Rick DiPietro (knee) and Joey MacDonald (groin) out of action, and losing Wade Dubielewicz to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Islanders GM Garth Snow is on record as saying he won't trade a draft pick or prospect for a goalie, but would take Sabourin, who played in the same division with the Penguins, if he goes on waivers. The Islanders might also be considering former Canucks No. 2 goalie Curtis Sanford or John Grahame, who was released by Omsk in Russia."

Could Sasketoon be training ground for western move?

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January 18

Newsday

"From the looks of it, the rebuilding Islanders suddenly have a new theme: "Go west, young team." Their recent decision to schedule an exhibition game in Kansas City, where the Sprint Center is seeking an NHL tenant, was followed by the news that the Islanders have relocated their training camp to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from Moncton, New Brunswick. That appears to be no coincidence. The shift in focus to developing a following in Western Conference markets comes at a time when franchise owner Charles Wang is seeking approval from the Town of Hempstead for the Lighthouse Project to redevelop Nassau Coliseum and the surrounding 100-acre site. General manager Garth Snow yesterday confirmed a ..."

Dubie agrees; DP likely done

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January 16

Newsday

"The Islanders have reached an agreement with former goaltender Wade Dubielewicz on a contract for the rest of the season for the pro-rated portion of a $500,000 annual salary, according to an NHL source. The club has indicated plans to provide an update later today on the condition of starter Rick DiPietro, but the signing of Dubielewicz is a strong indicator that DiPietro might be done for the season because of continued swelling in his surgically repaired knee. Dubielewicz, who has been living with his family at their Connecticut home since receiving a buyout from Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League, is expected to practice with the Islanders tomorrow morning and ..."

Islanders: Kansas City, here we come

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January 16

New York Daily News

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas City yet. The Islanders may have fired an unintentional salvo - or was it? - at local politicians in their longstanding quest to renovate Nassau Coliseum and develop its existing acreage by agreeing to play a September exhibition game in Kansas City, a city campaigning for an NHL team. "I'm not worried about (the perception). It's a preseason game," GM Garth Snow said beforeÂ Thursday night's 2-1 loss to East-leading Boston. "The last few years, and even before I became GM, we always played preseason games in different markets." Isles owner Charles Wang, who was not available for comment, has maintained for years that he remains committed to keeping ..."

Quinn back on coaching radar

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January 10

Globe and Mail

"Pat Quinn put himself back on the radar of those tracking impending coaching vacancies in the NHL by taking the Canadian team to its fifth world junior hockey championship. It also created a frenzy of rumours this week that the team in the city where Quinn and his young charges won the gold medal last Monday - the Ottawa Senators - were about to fire head coach Craig Hartsburg or general manager Bryan Murray or both and hire Quinn. He also starred in rumours about Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish and Pittsburgh Penguins coach Michel Therrien, two others said to be on the firing line. Yes, Quinn said Friday from his home in Vancouver, he's been getting a lot of calls. The trouble ..."

Weight, Guerin are used to the trade rumors

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January 6

Newsday

"Trades are a fact of life in the NHL, where few players spend their entire careers with the same team no matter how good they are. The Islanders' visit to Edmonton to play the Oilers last night at Rexall Place stirred happy memories for captain Bill Guerin and center Doug Weight, both of whom still might be here if it had been left up to them. But after being reunited on the same team for the first half of this season, there's a possibility that Guerin and Weight could be on the move again by the March 4 trade deadline even though both have indicated a desire to remain with the Islanders. Entering last night's game, Guerin led the Isles with 13 goals and Weight, who had to sit out with a ..."

Weight, Guerin are used to the trade rumors

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January 6

Newsday

"Trades are a fact of life in the NHL, where few players spend their entire careers with the same team no matter how good they are. The Islanders' visit to Edmonton to play the Oilers last night at Rexall Place stirred happy memories for captain Bill Guerin and center Doug Weight, both of whom still might be here if it had been left up to them. But after being reunited on the same team for the first half of this season, there's a possibility that Guerin and Weight could be on the move again by the March 4 trade deadline even though both have indicated a desire to remain with the Islanders. Entering last night's game, Guerin led the Isles with 13 goals and Weight, who had to sit out with a ..."

Deal in the works?

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January 4

Toronto Sun

"Could some members of the Maple Leafs be fitted for a new jacket of the blue variety? The Columbus Blue Jackets have had scouts shadowing several teams lately, and had two at the game Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre between the Leafs and Buffalo Sabres. Nik Antropov and defenceman Pavel Kubina are said to interest Jackets general manager Scott Howson. And you have to figure Leafs GM Brian Burke, now just over a month on the job, is dying to make a deal. Burke apparently has told the Jackets that he gladly will move players with contracts to get draft picks in return. Columbus also has a big interest in New York Islanders centre Doug Weight, who said last week he does not want to ..."

Rick DiPietro KO'd by groin strain

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December 31

New York Daily News

"Carl Pavano, meet Rick DiPietro. Of course, the Islanders' franchise goaltender for life is not nearly as replaceable as the free-agent bust was for the deep-pocketed Yankees. Still, DiPietro's triumphant return from his latest injury was short-lived, as he sat out his second straight game Monday night against the Rangers with a strained groin suffered in his lone appearance in the past two months, a 4-1 win Friday against Toronto. "It's disappointing, but there's nothing we can do about it," coach Scott Gordon said before backup Joey MacDonald started for the 25th time in 26 games. "There's nothing you can do about it. Injuries are a part of sport. There's not anything he could've done ..."

Islanders Trade Rumors