You know folks, I attempted to write a post for this site a couple days ago. A way to get me back into the fray here at the site I created, Battle of New York. I realized that I had been gone so long, that I did not know how to work the Wordpress system to get it published.

So I sat there in my office. And I suddenly realized, “Through my own fault, I just don’t matter here anymore”.

It comes with heavy heart that I announce that I am officially quitting Battle of New York for good, effective immediately.

There are some people to thank. Lenny, Hasan and Grosek (who will always be Clown Banner to me, but who cares) for doing an admirable job while I slept, wrote for other blogs and was genuinely lazy.

And of course, I thank Derek, who shaped this site into what it is more than even I did. I thank you for taking my idea and running with it, you’ve done a hell of a job.

Who really knows though, I may just come back someday. Seems to be all I ever do. But it’d only be if I knew I could truly make an impact here, and that’s just not the case at this point in time.

See you soon, folks.

-Steve

While Newark may not be known for it, it is home to many amazing sculptures on its many public properties (including some by Gutzon Borglum, the man behind Mt. Rushmore).  Today, it is being reported in the Star Ledger that well-known sculptor and Devils fan, Jon Krawczyk, will be providing a sculpture for the Prudential Center’s Edison Pl. and Mulberry St. corner (the corner closest to Newark Penn Station).  The sculpture is described as being a “3-story, brushed stainless steel hockey player” that will “reflect light like a diamond in all different colors.”

Krawczyk will be transporting his sculpture across the country from his Malibu, CA studio/workshop to Newark, NJ.  Along the way, he plans to stop by at some NHL arenas as a bit of a road trip.  The statue will be installed before the Devils Home Opener, but may be installed as early as September 6th, as he has a show at the Broadfoot & Broadfoot gallery in Manhattan.

Hopefully I can get a hold of some pictures of the sculpture so we can get a preview of it.

If you would like to see some of Jon Krawczyk’s other works, you can find them here at his site.

But 3 stories??  Wow… that’s gonna be huge.

Rick Jeanneret will continue to be able to excitedly scream, “Mill-eeeeeee-rrrrrr!!!!!!”

Perhaps our Sabre blogger jumped the gun a bit on his latest entry. Or maybe Larry Quinn or Darcy Regier read it.

According to TSN, the Sabres have reached agreement with goalie Ryan Miller on a five-year contract extension worth a reported $31.25 million. The 28 year-old who Buffalo stole in the fifth round back in the 1999 NHL Draft went 36-27-10 with a 2.64 GAA and .906 save percentage plus three shutouts in 76 games in 2007-08.

Over the past three seasons, Miller’s won 106 games while dropping only 57 in regulation with another 19 OT/SO losses. He was entering the final year of his contract and would’ve been eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. So, it was essential that the Sabres organization got this done or they possibly could’ve lost another big piece.

You had to figure the East Lansing, Michigan native’s hometown team the Red Wings would’ve been involved. That will now be prevented and restore their fans’ trust moving forward.

There’s still some work to be done upstate with leading setup man Jason Pominville. At least for once, Buffalo kept one of its star players.

Did Brian Sanborn have something to do with it? Inquiring minds want to know.

Friday 10/10 Islanders at Devils 7 PM

Monday 10/13 Devils at Rangers 7 PM

Monday 10/27 Rangers at Islanders 7 PM

Tuesday 11/4 Islanders at Rangers 7 PM

Wednesday 11/12 Rangers at Devils 7 PM

Friday 11/21 Islanders at Devils 7 PM

Friday 12/12 Rangers at Devils 7 PM

Saturday 12/27 Devils at Rangers 7:30 PM

Monday 12/29 Islanders at Rangers 7 PM

Tuesday 1/13 Rangers at Islanders 7 PM

Saturday 1/17 Devils at Islanders 7 PM

Monday 2/9 Rangers at Devils 7 PM

Wednesday 2/11 Islanders at Devils 7 PM

Wednesday 2/18 Islanders at Rangers 7 PM

Saturday 2/21 Devils at Islanders 7 PM

Thursday 3/5 Rangers at Islanders 7 PM

Saturday 3/7 Devils at Islanders 2 PM

Monday 3/30 Devils at Rangers 7 PM

We are now 17 days after the “Free Agency Frenzy” started on July 1st, 2008, and the insane signing poured in one by one, and made me laugh almost every hour on the hour. And now that the frenzy has died offa bit and we are reduced to “Doug Janik is a Hawk’ threads actually being started somewhere on a hockey message board near you, teams begin to turn to their attention to what they have in the cupboard, how much $ are we under the cap, what prospects can make the big club in October 2008, what top players will be re-signed?

I just know that I struck a nerve for a LOT of Sabres fans with my last comment.

Re-Sign top players? What exactly is that? Sure, the Sabres re-signed Daniel Paille to a two year contract, and the terms of the contract ($900k in 2008-2009 and $1.35M in 2009-2010) are very favorable given Paille’s production, and I give the Sabres Front office a great grade for that signing.

But the Paille re-signing is just supposed to be a opening preview for the main ‘movie’ that Sabres fans are yearning to see called Operation: Re-Sign Jason Pominville and Ryan Miller: Starring Sabres Owner Tom Golisano and GM Darcy Regier. Rated $$.

Sabres GM Darcy Regier and the Sabres ‘braintrust’ generally had a policy in place where he does not discuss contract extensions during the season, and we saw how that backfired with the Drury and Briere exodus on July 1, 2007. We were told after that dark day by Regier and Larry Quinn that ‘things will be different around here.” Most Sabres fans figured ‘hey, maybe they learned their lesson, let’s give them a chance. Defenceman Brian Campbell is next, let’s see how the Sabres handle that issue’

Fast forward to today, and let Campbell know that Chicago has some darn good pizza, and oh, say hello to Patrick Kane please!.

Now here we are again, and Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller is one year away from UFA. Miller is now considered by many to be the ‘face of the franchise”, you would assume (you KNOW what happens when you assume don’t you?!) that the Sabres will be making Miller a TOP priority this off-season and avoid another lost July in 2009.

The same goes for Jason Pominville, a young emerging forward who is a 30+ goal scorer, and is a huge part of the Sabres high tempo offensive system. You would THINK the Sabres will ensure the census bureau people used to account for the ‘Population of Pominville’ will stay in Western New York, correct?

Go take a look at the history of this franchise and the inability to bring back high level players. Dominik Hasek. Michael Peca. Alexander Mogilny. Daniel Briere. Chris Drury. Brian Campbell. Pretty sad list, isn’t it??

When does it become valid for a Sabres fan to being growing impatient with the Miller and Pominville siituation? Fugghedaboudit! The Sabres WILL get it right this time, I just know it!!

But all of the sudden, I have “Foolin’ by Def Leppard humming in my mind.

Gee, I wonder why?!?!?

Just a couple of quick tidbits over the past couple of days in case you missed it:

-The Rangers re-signed restricted forward Nigel Dawes to a one-year $600,000 deal. In 61 games during his rookie season, the 23 year-old Manitoban who the Original Six club selected in the fifth round back in 2003 posted 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points while pacing them with a plus-11 rating. His four deciding tallies tied with Sean Avery for third on the team and put him in a tie for second among rookies.

No surprise here that the Blueshirts brought the promising left wing back. He really made strides last season improving his overall speed and really becoming an effective forechecker. His passing also was very underrated. Figure Dawes to take that next step up this Fall with 20-25 goals a possibility.

Recently acquired forward Dan Fritsche was also re-signed.

In other club news, the team signed 24 year-old Russian defenseman Vladimir Denisov. He played in 66 games for Lake Erie of the AHL registering two goals and six assists for eight points while racking up 111 penalty minutes.

-The Oilers re-signed center Shawn Horcoff to a six-year $33 million extension. The new contract will keep him in Edmonton through 2014-15. In 53 games this past season, the 29 year-old from British Columbia tallied 21 goals and 29 helpers for 50 points bouncing back from a disappointing 2006-07 in which he had just one more point (51) while posting a minus-22 rating in 27 more games played.

Horcoff’s a nice playmaking pivot but giving him six years seems a bit much as by the end of the contract, he’ll be 35 going on 36. Is he really a $5 million dollar player? I guess in today’s crazy NHL, that’s the case.

-In a couple of minor signings, the Thrashers added former Edmonton veteran forward Marty Reasoner while Calgary brought back ex-Ranger 1999 first round pick Jamie Lundmark. It’s ashame what became of his career after the Blueshirts ruined him letting the Edmonton native waste away in Hartford before barely playing him in New York. Why did the Flames even bring him back? Amazingly, he’s only 27. So, we’ll see if he’s got anything left after splitting the past year in Moscow and Lake Erie.

As for Reasoner, I always liked him as he was a decent skater who put forth an honest effort fitting in well on Edmonton after starting his career with St. Louis. The 31 year-old Rochester native will probably play on the fourth line with Atlanta.

-The Islanders re-signed forwards Sean Bergenheim and Jeff Tambellini. The 24 year-old Bergenheim attained career highs in games (78), goals (10), assists (12), points (22) and PIM (62) last season after spending 2006-07 with Frolunda in Sweden posting near a point-a-game. He’s a solid energy player who can play in a third line role and agitate the opposition.

As for Tambellini who the Isles acquired from Los Angeles a couple of years prior, the former Kings’ 2003 first round selection has yet to develop scoring just one goal while adding three helpers in 31 games last season on Long Island. For some reason, GM Garth Snow gave the 24 year-old Calgary native a two-year contract. They’re only paying him $1.175 million which is an average of less than 600 K. Still, it would’ve made more sense to give Tambellini a year and see how he does.

-Other minor signings included the Blues inking former Leaf D Andy Wozniewski while the Sharks added a pair of veteran blueliners in Matt Kinch and Brett Westgarth.

-The Sabres re-signed forward Daniel Paille to a multi-year deal. The former Buffalo 2002 first rounder achieved new career bests in games (77), goals (19), assists (16), points (35) and plus/minus (9) while registering three shorthanded goals. For some reason, the 24 year-old out of Welland, Ontario didn’t have a link in the original TSN story. Doesn’t that seem odd considering the kind of season he had? As our Buffalo blogger might say, it’s a Buffalo thing. If it were the Leafs, well…Seems like a decent move anyway.

-From the bizarro world last night, the Kings reportedly have hired Terry Murray as their new coach giving him a three-year deal to replace Marc Crawford. He was an assistant with the Flyers the last four seasons. He hasn’t coached since 2000-01 with the Panthers.

Murray’s best known for guiding the Flyers to the Stanley Cup 11 years ago before referring to them going down 3-0 to Detroit as a “choking situation,” sealing his fate. I doubt he’ll be able to utter those words with the porous Kings. Best of luck.

The NHL will officially announce their full 2008-09 schedule tomorrow at 3 PM but bits and pieces have already been leaked.  Mark Thursday, October 9 on your calendar as the day the NHL season officially begins (well in North America anyway), though none of those games have been announced yet. 

According to Tom Gulutti, the Devils will play their season and home opener against the New York Islanders on Friday, October 10 - which is also the Islanders’ first game of the season.  New Jersey will follow that up with a visit to Pittsburgh the next night, possibly the home opener for the Eastern Conference Champions.  Other confirmed games for the Devils include home and away dates with the Kings (via the Kings’ website) on January 10th in LA and February 7th at the Rock, and a December 31st matchup in Dallas against Sean Avery’s new team, the Stars.  LA, Dallas and Chicago will be the three teams from the Western Conference that the Devils match up with twice.

As far as the other locals, the Islanders’ home opener is Saturday, October 11 against the St. Louis Blues, the day after their season opener.  Of course, the Rangers will open with an overseas ‘home-and-home’ with the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 4th and 5th.  The only other Ranger-related scheduling note I can report as of now is that they also are playing Dallas twice, proving the NHL has a sense of humor by scheduling Avery for two games each against his favorite nemesis and former team.

In other related scheduling news, the NHL has announced its third outdoor game - and second in the US - for January 1, 2009 12 PM at Wrigley Field between two original six teams, the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. 

And proving the NHL can at least get it right some of the time, all the Canadian teams from the Eastern Conference (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto) are having a home-and-home with the Canadian teams in the Western Conference (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton).

In a predictable move, the Rangers traded fourth line antagonist Ryan Hollweg to the Maple Leafs yesterday in exchange for a 2009 fifth round pick.

The 25 year-old Downey, California native who the Blueshirts made a 2001 eighth round pick played three seasons on Broadway bringing his spunky physical hitting style and edgy play with him becoming a fan favorite despite a penchant for undisciplined penalties. In 200 career games as a Ranger, Hollweg finishes with 12 points (5-7-12) while racking up 311 penalty minutes.

His best season was in 2005-06 as a rookie when he netted five points (2-3-5) in 52 contests while playing what became known as the HMO Line (Hollweg, Moore, Ortmeyer). It was the trio’s solid forechecking style and energy which became popular with Ranger fans who hadn’t seen a team qualify for the postseason since 1996-97. While that line didn’t finish a lot of plays, they helped set the tone in what became the Original Six club’s first playoff berth in nine years.

The last couple of seasons, Hollweg played with checking center Blair Betts and club enforcer Colton Orr. They also had solid chemistry but it was clear that Ryan’s days were numbered due to better players in their system such as former first rounders Lauri Korpikoski and Hugh Jessiman, who both could finally be ready to crack the lineup this Fall. Team President and GM Glen Sather also went out and added depth players like Aaron Voros, Dan Fritsche and Patrick Rismiller which also helped spell the end for the left wing who also shifted out of position to center when needed.

Though expendable and easily replaced, I along with many other Ranger fans will miss Hollweg as he was fun to watch and very entertaining off the ice going by the tag Hollywood for his hilarious movie character impersonations and crazy style. That white tux outfit at the team celebrity poker function was comical epitomizing what kind of character he was.

Best of luck in Toronto buddy. I’m sure he’ll fit right in.

Breaking News…with credit going to Newsday for breaking it. Ted Nolan and the New York Islanders have mutually agreed to part ways due to a difference in philosophy.

What a shock. I’m really not all that surprised as there were a few rumblings that he might get replaced. You really have to wonder about the former Jack Adams winner now. After only two seasons on Long Island in which he guided an overachieving bunch to a postseason appearance in 2006-07, he’s once again gone.

The Islander organization led by GM Garth Snow wanted to go in a different direction emphasizing the growth of the team’s prospects. Nolan also had asked for an extension while still under contract but was denied by club owner Charles Wang.

“There were philosophical differences between Ted and myself. Since last season and continuing into the summer, I have realized we don’t share the same philosophies. I’d like to thank Ted for his two years with the team and wish him the best,” Snow told the AP Wire.

As for why a rift between the two took three months to decide invoking memories of Neil Smith’s brief tenure on the Meadowbrook, Snow had this to say:

“I understand there could be some criticism, and if there is, it can fall on me. What I can tell you is there was a process. I spoke with Ted regularly following the season and when the draft and free agency ended. Our strong belief about our philosophical differences led me to believe, and Ted as well, that we needed to part ways. I know this decision will be best for not only the team and our fans, but for Ted as well.”

At the moment, there’s no successor. Former coaches John Tortorella, Bob Hartley and Paul Maurice all figure to be on the list of possible replacements.

Nolan finishes his two seasons as Islanders coach with a respectable 75-68-21 record yet it still wasn’t enough to save his job proving again how fragile the coaching carousel can be.

Where the Islanders go from here is anybody’s guess.

In case you never realized, Jay Feaster still was part of the Lightning organization though he hardly had a say in of the team’s moves under their crazy new management which has become quite forwardsessed that it plans on fielding the first ever NHL roster without any defensemen on it.

We here at Battle of NY feel this is a novel concept and considering that the last time Barry Melrose was behind the bench with the highscoring Kings some 13 years ago, it makes logical sense. Did I really just say that?!?!?!?!?! Well, of course because it’s fairly obvious that the new people running the Tampa franchise apparently must’ve had a previous job with Disney.

Hey. You got to appreciate this philosophy. I’m sure Mickey, Minnie, Daffy and Goofy would be proud.

Apparently, Feaster got tired of being the gopher boy watching the Lightning version of Dumb and Dumber sign forward after forward including Mark Recchi when they already added Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts. They’re apparently going to rename themselves the Pens.

Remember, Feaster once was a GM of a laughingstock before turning it into a Stanley Cup champion. But when it was apparent that he wasn’t calling the shots (would he really ask Dan Boyle to waive his no-trade and even toss in physical vet Brad Lukowich), he did the wise thing and handed in his resignation.

While this was taking place, you got to figure John Tortorella was somewhere on a beach laughing at this.

It’s true. The Lightning have apparently decided to become a circus. And well, why not? They should enjoy the cellar for quite a while.

Well, at least they still got one of the game’s best in Vincent Lecavalier.