September 21, 2011
Fischler Report: Tavares, Fighting and More ...
by Stan Fischler/Columnist
* JOHN TAVARES’ newly-signed – six year, $33 million contract – indicates that he wants to play for the Islanders “for a long time” and is splendid news for Charles Wang’s organization. On the one hand, it reaffirms that the club’s franchise player likes skating in Uniondale and favors management and the coaching staff led by Jack Capuano. Furthermore, JT sees a future in a team that has been unfairly maligned for years. “This is where I want to live, play and ultimately lead our team to a Stanley Cup,” said Tavares. On top of that Tavares refutes the Canadian columnists who have been suggesting that JT wants out of Garth Snow’s team. Likewise, it almost guarantees that John’s linemate -- and close buddy -- Matt Moulson will be skating side by side with Tavares for several seasons.
* EVGENI MALKIN faces the biggest challenge for any mega star. Minus his captain and colleague Sid Crosby, the Rapid Russian must prove his worth, while pacing the Kid-less Penguins. Since Crosby’s return is as dubious as ever, Malkin becomes the main man in Pitt.
GOSSIP
Word out of Brooklyn is that the Nets’ prospective arena will feature an 85 by 200 feet - NHL standard - hockey rink. However, because of the Flatbush building’s design will hold about 14,000 for hockey. That’s fewer seats than any of the 30 structures in Bettman, Inc. … Terry Pegula’s rebuilding of the Sabres proves that Buffalo’s new owner means business about constructing a nucleus of young aces. The recent contract extension – seven years, $38.5 million -- of potential Norris Trophy winner Tyler Myers underlines the point. “You want to avoid contentious contract negotiations,” said Buffalo’s g.m., Darcy Regier, “and create a relationship that is a win-win situation. We want to recognize Tyler for his ability now and in the future.”
Met area eyes are on the Islanders and Devils regarding their choice as the C-man. If Garth Snow and Jack Capuano go with a young fellow, the likely choices are John Tavares or Kyle Okposo. Otherwise it has to be Mark Streit. In Newark, the race appears neck and neck between Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk. … Visiting the NHL store in Manhattan, Jonathan Toews and Steve Stamkos were asked about teams to watch in the 2011-2012. Toews, playing up to the crowd, chirped “One of these days we’ll have to watch for the Islanders.” As for Stamkos’ view, “Buffalo really improved in the off-season. The Sabres are the team to watch in the East.”
LAFONTAINE’S CHARITY RIDE FROM TORONTO TO NEW YORK CITY:
Former NHLers Pat LaFontaine and Steve Webb have embarked on a bike ride like none before -- a 550-mile journey starting from the Hall of Fame in Toronto to the NHL Store in New York City.
Their trek began on Monday. LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage Foundation (www.CiCi16.org) helps children’s hospitals build and provide interactive game rooms along with mobile Xbox kiosks.
Webb’s W20 Foundation (www.w20foundation.org) provides partial academic scholarships for young student ice hockey players in an effort to help the pursuit of their hockey dreams.
Webb will also contribute a portion of the ride’s proceeds to the Alzheimer and Dementia Research in Ontario.
Both LaFontaine and Webb hope to complete the mission in 48 hours.
“It will certainly be a challenge to complete the ride in just under two days this year, but many will benefit from it. That should be a huge motivator for us,” said Webb.
LaFontaine added “We’ll be motivated by all those kids going through the hardest times of their life and I know that will give us strength to finish.”
MEDIA -- RICK DIPIETRO SPEAKS, BIG-TIME
One of the most overlooked yet incisive NHL reporters is Brett Cyrgalis, who covers the Islanders for the New York Post.
In a remarkably candid interview with Rick DiPietro, the Post’s man in Uniondale unearthed these thoughts on the following topics:
DEALING WITH THE MEDIA:
You get poked and prodded with enough of the right questions, you’re going to [get] aggravated. Sometimes you feel like you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t, just because you don’t want to throw around clichés the whole time. Then there are going to be times when a person’s true feelings come out. You know, that’s what the people want, right? They want you to be real, and show emotion and show you care.
PRESSURE BECAUSE OF THE LONG-TERM CONTRACT:
The bigger the contract, the more pressure there is. Throughout a long-term contract like that, there will be years when you’re underpaid and there will be years when you’re overpaid. That’s just the commitment both sides make. Winning cures everything. The Stanley Cup and being successful here will definitely validate the contract.
BOUNCING BACK FROM ADVERSITY:
I put more pressure on myself to be successful than anyone could. It [really] kills me not to be what I expected to be so far. I’m trying hard now to rectify that. G.M. Garth Snow added, I think the best word to describe what Rick has gone through the last few years is resilient. With his resiliency to get back to his level when he was an All-Star, playing 50 games, I give him a lot of credit.
GOALTENDING BATTLE WITH EVGENI NABOKOV:
Hopefully he has a good camp, and, you know, I’m coming to go to work. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business it’s not to take anything for granted. One thing I do every summer- well, more this summer- is make sure I come to camp as ready to go as I’ve ever been.
NEW ISLANDERS ARENA:
The best way to get people to want a new arena or to push for a new arena is to win hockey games and make the playoffs and be successful. That’s everyone’s main focus.
MORE GOSSIP
One of the silliest -- yet media-necessary -- areas of speculation is what Martin Brodeur will do after the 2011-2012 season. The Devils' icon has carefully answered all queries, leaving everything in the "iffy" stage. What really matters is that everything hinges on the quality-level of Mister Goalie's efforts from October through Spring. And, more importantly, whether Brodeur can guide New Jersey back into a playoff berth.
If you're looking for a top-notch hockey kids book, get a copy of "The Puck Hog" by Christie Casciano. It's published by North Country Books (www.northcountrybooks.com). Christie is a TV news anchor in Syracuse, N.Y. She knows of what she writes having two youth hockey players of her own in the family. "I wrote this book because I love youth hockey and I want to encourage the values of fair play, playing together as a team, playing hard and having fun," adds Christie. ... Writing in the Buffalo News, columnist Bucky Gleason pointed out that new Sabres forward Ville Leino phoned his former teammate -- and ex-Sabre -- Daniel Briere to get a capsule comment about Buffalo. Leino: "Dan was excited for me and said, 'You're going to love it there.' He said the people are really, really nice and that it's a nice city. He said he loved it in Buffalo and would come back any day." Anyone with a six-year $27 million contract should like just about any place east of Timbuctu.
TWO VIEWS ON HOCKEY FIGHTING
Debates continue over whether fighting should be abolished in the NHL.
Brandon Prust of the Rangers believes that it should not be eliminated.
In an interview with Rangers beat writer Andrew Gross of the Bergen Record, the Blueshirts middleweight put it this way when asked about those who believe fighting should either be eliminated altogether or modified by the NHL:
"I don't think the game should be changed. I’m pro-fighter. I believe it should be in the game. That’s what makes our game unique.
“We have the ability to police our own game. It’s a tough job but it’s a job I chose and I love doing it. I love sticking up for my teammates and I love knowing that my teammates know that I’ll be there for them.”
Prust won't get any support from Boston Globe columnist Kevin Paul Dupont who reflects on the off-season deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak.
"It's time for fighting to be taken out of the game," writes Dupont. "The deaths of the three young men don't make that case in its entirety. But I'm convinced they make part of it, adding more to a mosaic that probably never will be fully understood.
“Sometimes, though, you just have to say there's enough of the picture to complete the idea."
The very same Dupont is hoping that Brendan Shanahan "pushes to have all head shots taken out of the game.”
