Sports Business Daily is reporting that the NHL and ESPN are in talks to bring the league back to ESPN2 by 2008-09.

Congrats to our own graphic master, Dustin for creating the new banner for Battle of California. It’s as awesome as ours is.

Now, if only Earl would respond to my E-mails, we’d have perfect harmony in this here blogosphere!

Just kidding, Earl.

Hey, unfortunately one of our Ranger bloggers had to leave us, so thanks Alex for the short, but sweet work he did for us.

If anyone’s interested in blogging about the Rangers day-to-day, please E-mail me at SMLepore@comcast.net

We’re gonna toy around with the podcast, and see if we can make it easier tonight. Check in throughout tomorrow.

It could be. I’m going to be experimenting this week with making a podcast. Probably just myself solo the first time around, but then we’ll attempt to bring the rest of the Battle roster, as well as folks from 2MA and around the NHL.

Ah, how great a hiatus can be.

The NHLPA reports that the Islanders have signed Chris Simon for $475,000 next season. No word as to whether the contract is for longer than one year.

In other news, where is the signing of a solid D-man? I’m waiting……….

So long and good riddance Mr. Yashin. I really hope signing in mother Russia works out for you, NOT! The key to this deal, “No out clause.” If Alexei has a change of heart(I know he has no heart)…Ok, if he changes his mind he still can’t come back to the NHL for this year. I am sure Yashin and ex-Islander Randy Robitaille are going to rip up the Russian league for years to come playing together for the Yaroslavl Locomotiv.

Yashin’s agent Todd Diamond sounded eagerly optimistic about the signing, “Right now the city(Yaroslavl) is electric, everyone is excited, the arena will be packed and Alexei will play hard.” Sounds like this Todd Diamond has a wonderful sense of humor and is still enjoying the commission money he is getting paid from Alexei’s Islander contract.

Thats right folks, Al Arbour is returning behind the bench to coach his 1500 game(with the Islanders that is). Oh, and Campoli got signed for 3 more years. Gotta love off season Islander news!

Its nice to see Ted Nolan pay homage to Al like this, but honestly couldn’t have Teddy picked a less formidable opponent? I’d like to see Arbour make game number 1500 a big W, but going up against the Penguins is a daunting task. Maybe the Isles could’ve tried to squeeze in this PR move when Phoenix was in town or maybe its just that Al likes a challenge, I don’t know. Either way it’ll be a good trip down memory lane and it’ll be sure to stir up some of those memories of when the Islanders were, you know, good and stuff.

Quick Hiatus Break for new jerseys:

Pens

Predators

Canes are available at NHL08.com

From KK

Over the Summer, diehard Devils fan, Battle of NY blogger, and Kukla’s Korner “broadcast contributor” Steve Lepore will chronicle his trips to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ during it’s ongoing construction, on target for a grande opening on October 25th (for a Bon Jovi Concert) and a Devils opening October 27th (against the Senators).
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By Steve Lepore

Sure, it can be a daunting place to visit. Once in a while, you’ll be propositioned by a man selling cheap roses for Valentine’s Day (even though it’s the middle of July) and the supposed “Newark Boys & Girls Clubs” selling M & M’s. But there’s something that’s a little lost in all the perception and the supposed “evil” that comes out of New Jersey’s second most dangerous city (#1 is Camden, which is basically a suburb of Philly, but no one complains about Flyers games being in a bad neighborhood).

Newark has some stunningly beautiful scenery. The architechture of the buildings, many constructed in the 1960s and 70s, fits the “Brick City” moniker Newark has embraced. The arena will be no different, and add to a beautiful Newark skyline that includes the Prudential building and the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, deemed it’s name by John Paul II in a late 90’s visit that was attended by President Clinton. The perception of Newark as a city of renissance is long gone, but the business and the architechture they started back then are still here.

That’s why, as I headed down toward the Prudential Center on the corner of Broad and Market (Broad Street Bullies? Cam Janssen will have something to say about the moniker) I realized: boy, this place could be something. This is coming from someone who worked for New Jersey’s largets city’s other professional sports franchise: The Newark Bears. Okay, they’re sort of a “minor league” team. But they’re independent of the majors, so who’s to say if their pros or not. What I’m trying to say is that Newark could become a sports town, united by Jeff Vanderbeek’s vision of a sports and entertainment destination for everyone. Remember, the Devils are coming here to be the anchor tenant, but there’s also Seton Hall hoops - in a location much closer to the West Orange main campus than the Meadowlands is - and a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise, while Vanderbeek claims “the usual suspects” (AFL, NLL, etc.) are also in talks to bring clubs here. Hopefully, the Devils are building something.

So after a short visit, and some pictures (I didn’t get as close as these guys, but I tried) I headed home. As I drove back to my suburban home, I saw a huge billboard on the way. It was in big, bold, black letters on a white background and said:

“Stop the Newark Killings! From the Newark Teachers Union.”

It reminded me that there’s a long way to go. In both promoting the sport in the city, and in the teacher’s union’s long fight with the city itself.

But it’ll be a journey that Devils fans will no doubt enjoy.