Update: The NHL announced Wisniewski has been suspended two games.

By now I am pretty sure everyone has either heard of or watched the uh, "gesture" between Islanders defenseman James Wisniewski and Rangers forward Sean Avery.

What's that? You haven't? Lucky for you, video is after the jump. [Warning: NSFW, or at least implicitly graphic-ish if you don't believe this was all about ice cream.]

Okay, what Wisniewski did COULD HAVE been wrong, but that's up to the interpretation of the viewer. So, being as funny as everyone is here (right Dom?) we decided to open this up to you guys for what was REALLY meant.

A few short Rules before you offer your line:

Continue reading this post »

What an afternoon, huh?

With all the moves or more like non-moves out of the Islanders today -- I am sitting on hold waiting for a conference call with Islanders GM Garth Snow to start. I will be sure to post all the lurid and interesting details after it's over.

More in a few!

Edit: Well that was interesting, the volume on the call was so low that I think I made out about four words Snow said. They really couldn't seem to get anything right today.

There will be a release sent out shortly - hopefully I can at least get his quotes THAT way. My sincerest appologies, the technical difficulties were completely out of my control.

Update, while awaiting the team's release: Botta and the press corps got some tight-lipped quotes out of Snow, but he wouldn't budge about the first Guerin deal that fell through. Per Botta:

We tried to see if [Snow] had any frustration with a possible trade partner pulling the rug out on a Guerin deal. We asked if he was angered by any of his colleagues. Snow said no.

Update #2, Sorry for the delay. From the official Islanders press release regarding all roster moves made today:

The New York Islanders have traded Bill Guerin to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a conditional 2009 fifth round draft selection. The team has also activated defenseman Thomas Pock and center Nate Thompson from the Injured Reserve while reassigning winger Jon Sim to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.

The conditions of the Guerin/Pittsburgh trade are as follows: If Pittsburgh reaches the playoffs, the draft pick is upgraded to a fourth round selection. If Pittsburgh advances past the first round and Guerin plays in 50 percent of those first round games, the draft pick gets further upgraded to a third round selection. The fifth round selection originally belonged to Tampa Bay.

“The entire Islanders organization has the utmost respect for Bill Guerin and we sincerely thank him for his time on Long Island and as the team’s captain,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow.

Guerin recorded 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 61 games with the Islanders this season. Since signing with the team as a free agent on July 5, 2007, he played in 142 games and recorded 39 goals and 41 assists for 80 points. Guerin was the 11th captain in franchise history.

Sim, who cleared waivers earlier today, has played in 49 games with the Islanders this season and scored nine goals and six assists for 15 points. In 51 career games with the Islanders he has scored nine goals with seven assists for 16 points and 44 penalty minutes. Sim was signed by the Islanders as a free agent on July 1, 2007.

Breaking news:

The New York Islanders have traded Bill Guerin to the Pittsburgh Penguins -- no word on who comes back just yet.

More when we figure this out...

Update: For a conditional draft pick?

A 5th-rounder, which can become as much as a *3rd-round pick if the Penguins win a round in the playoffs.

[*Dom edit: Wait, and that's only if he plays half the playoff games?! Damn! Anything else you need, Mr. Shero?!]

OK, I am officially disapointed. Penguins fans react at Pensburgh.

For all the lumps Garth Snow took at the end of last season for allowing the likes of Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko and Josef Vasicek (not even in the NHL this season) to walk for nothing in the off season when they drew little interest come deadline time -- should Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero be blasted in the same respect? I doubt he will, while Snow will likely continue to be vilified due to his "inexperience."

Miroslav Satan

#81 / Right Wing / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 6-3

Weight: 192

Born: Oct 22, 1974

Satan, who has 35 points in 65 games, has struggled to find chemistry on a team chocked full of talent with Crosby and Malkin among others. Now he has found himself clearing waivers, with no teams interested in him for the second time in two seasons.

It's unfortunate that a player's value -- one with Satan's talent -- continues to dwindle season after season. He could be a victim of the "new NHL," or he could just be showing some age. Nobody really knows for sure.

The one thing I am almost positive of: Garth Snow will be viewed in the negative, while this non-move will not tarnish the image of Ray Shero in the least. Seems as if there is a bit of a double standard there.

Edited 5:53pm

Pensburgh reports that Miroslav Satan was sent down to Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate. Ouch.

Not the most breaking news in the world, but the guys on TSN's Trade Centre speak about the benefits of acquiring Doug Weight despite his injury for a stretch run. They even mentioned how Dougie would be a good fit for Chicago as they need a veteran centerman.

Peter Laviolette - a guest host on the show today, says Weight is "a no-maintenance guy in the room who knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup".

At least they think he will somehow still be in play. More if it develops, naturally.

Do you think Doug Weight will be moved today, despite his injury? Vote below!

[Updated, as reporters hang out at Islanders practice for scraps.]

Islesblogger here, Isles captain Bill Guerin is MIA after taking part in warmups.

Islanders Point Blank thinks he may have been dealt and then comes back to all but confirm that.

I had noticed that MacAmmond was on a different line with Sim and Bailey, now I know why I guess. I called up to the pressbox but they know as little as us. I guess it started early for us this year, I wonder who is next.

I am sure we will know more soon.

More in a few, live from the game.

[Update Sunday a.m.: Sounds like there is a deal in place, waiting for Guerin to accept, and this was a precautionary scratch. TSN says Guerin wouldn't know the team until this morning. Islander Point Blank received texts from a trusted source saying something is holding it up, and it could take all day.]

Well - what do we have here? It's the new guy? Let's razz that noob!

In all seriousness, I am not really "NEW" in every facet of the word - more fresh than anything else. For those of you that know me, you know that I try my best to run as tight a ship as possible over on my site Islesblogger - for the foreseeable future I intend on doing the bloggy blog thing at both properties.

Honestly, Dom and I are still trying to come up with some sort of game plan for 'yall - we will strive to keep things fresh and interesting and give every Hockey Fan, not just Islanders fans a place to talk hockey on a regular basis. That's the great thing about what the folks here at SBN have done, they make it easy to cross into "enemy" territory on a mission to incite compelling and in depth conversation.

Down to the nitty gritty shall we?

Some may know who I am, others may not - let's give a brief run down:

My name is Michael Schuerlein, I am from lovely Long Island, NY and have been a HUGE Isles fan for the better part of my 28 years on earth. I like to consider myself a student of the game as well, as I play in roller and ice hockey leagues all year long.

My blogging background consists of Islesblogger as we previously mentioned and extensive experience in the Automotive industry, both in print and online.

I am a Charter Member of the Islanders Blog Box as well as a season ticket holder - so you know I have a bunch of things to talk about. I try to give my view as a player and a season ticket holder when I blog, just to give as honest of a perspective as possible.

For those who may not have followed my previous entries as close as I would hope - I have done some exciting things over the course of the last year and a half:

• Covered the trade deadline LIVE from Nassau Coliseum last season
• Attended the 2008 Entry Draft in Ottawa as credentialed media and was one of the first to break the Toronto-Islanders deal that would signal the start of many future trades that afternoon.
• Had numerous appearances on Islanders TV interviewing Josh Bailey, Doug Weight and being interviewed at the draft in Ottawa.
• Numerous appearances on several internet radio shows, mentions in Sports Illustrated, ESPN and Uniwatchblog.

Pretty exciting stuff, I hope that everything I bring over to SBN and Lighthouse Hockey helps each site to grow and expand to their fullest potential. I look forward to enjoying the ride!