Okposo and Bailey give Islanders fans reason to be excited

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

It was just one of six goals in yesterday's scrimmage at the Islanders' rookie camp, but it looked like a blueprint for the future. No.1 draft pick Josh Bailey penetrated the right circle and dished perfectly to budding rookie star Kyle Okposo in the slot, where he flicked it left to defenseman Andy MacDonald, who buried the shot.

You never know, but the decision to put Bailey, the ninth overall pick in June, on the same line with Okposo, the seventh overall pick from the 2006 draft, could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

Read the entire story here.

As the article points out, Bailey will most likely return to Windsor of the OHL, but the future definitely looks bright for these two talented youngsters.

Nolan done on the Island

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

The two-year marriage of inconvenience between Islanders general manager Garth Snow and coach Ted Nolan ended today. Irreconcilable differences over the direction of the franchise led to a mutual decision by Snow and Nolan, who met earlier this morning at Nassau Coliseum, to part ways.

Nolan quickly gained popularity with Islanders fans in his first season when his motivational touch and hard-working style of play produced an eighth-place finish in the Eastern Conference and a playoff berth by a team most experts picked to finish near the bottom of the NHL. But last season’s playoff hopes faded because of injuries and a series of distracting internal disputes between Nolan and Snow, and several key players apparently lost faith in the coach’s methods.

Read the entire report here.

It was known that Snow and Nolan had been squabbling for a while now, so this move comes as no real surprise. In fact, it was probably the right move for the organization to make instead of bringing this controversy to training camp. The Isles need to make sure they hire a new coach who has a willingness to develop young players, as Nolan is considered a coach that prefers playing veterans.

Nolan and Snow feuding on the Island

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

Contacted recently at the hockey camp he runs in Ontario, Nolan was asked if he's confident he will be coaching the Islanders when training camp begins in mid-September. "I'm confident in my ability to coach," Nolan said. "I know I've got one year left on my contract, and I'm going to make it the best year of my coaching career. Hopefully, it will get me another one."

To date, Nolan has received no assurances from the organization that he will be the coach. Snow, who declined comment, is emphasizing the development of young players as opposed to acquiring the veterans Nolan prefers.

Read the entire article here.

If Snow doesn't believe Nolan will play the team's youngsters enough, he is better off bringing in a new coach who will develop these players and build towards the future. The Islanders, as currently constructed, are nowhere near a playoff team and are building for a couple years down the road.

Never mind the fact that the two have been squabbling over other issues as well. In my opinion, this issue needs to be resolved prior to the season, otherwise a circus atmosphere will set in at training camp and the team's focus will be shifted away from the rink.

Witt signs extension with Islanders

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

It doesn’t exactly fit in with the Islanders’ youth movement, but for those who value team toughness, it should come as good news that general manager Garth Snow has rewarded 33-year-old defenseman Brendan Witt with a two-year contract extension worth $6 million. Terms of the deal were disclosed Tuesday night.

Read the entire entry from On the Islanders Beat here.

Witt is now locked in for the next three years at $8.5 million total. That is a respectable number for a solid stay-at-home defenseman with strong leadership skills. While Witt is not part of the youth movement on the Island, he will set a good example for the young players on the roster.