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Hunter's 20 goal output last season was the second time he reached the milestone in his career. He scored 25 goals during his rookie season of 2003-04 and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy. In his three plus season's with the Islanders Hunter has scored 61 goals and 125 points in 244 games played while providing the team with hard-nosed grit. His physical play has been invaluable to the Islanders as Hunter has finished in the top 5 in the NHL among hit each of the past two seasons. "Letting Trent go was never a consideration for us," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He's an important piece to our team. That was never up for debate. We're glad he'll be in an Islanders uniform in September." islesinfo.com comment: What a great ruling and a definite bargain. I really thought Hunter would get what he was looking for which was reportedly close to $2 million (he was looking for $1.9 million to be exact). So Hunter ends up getting a raise of only $550,000. It would be nice to see if the Islanders can get him under a longer term deal during the season. At the same time, Hunter is always a wanted commodity around the league so I'm sure Snow will keep his ears open. But Hunter reportedly loves playing for the Islanders and he has a pretty good relationship with the team and fans.
Simon served 20 games of that suspension handed down by NHL Vice President Colin Campbell. He will have to sit out the first 5 games of the 2007-08 season to finish the suspension and then be re-instated. "Chris is just one of those old school guys who gave our team a little bit of everything last season," said Islanders head coach Ted Nolan, who coached Simon in junior hockey with Sault Ste. Marie. "We can't overstate Si's leadership. He'll have a big role with our team, just like last season." "I take a lot of pride in being an Islander and I didn't consider playing anywhere else this season but on Long Island," said Simon. "Everyone knows the respect I have for Ted Nolan but it goes well beyond that. Everyone connected with the Islanders, from the owner to the fans, have been first-class. I cannot wait to get the season started." "Our staff was unanimous in wanting to bring Chris Simon back," said general manager Garth Snow. "He's an outstanding leader and year after year he contributes on the offensive end." islesinfo.com comment: Not a bad move to bring him back. The Islanders didn't want Simon to go out with a black cloud over his head. And they do need a tough, physical presence. Simon's size will definitely help. But his lack of speed is a huge question mark. Also, he's a loose cannon. The last thing the Islanders need is him to lose his head again (even though some of us who strongly dislike the Rangers really didn't mind). They got him signed at a much more bargain price then they did last summer. So it won't hurt, especially if they don't re-sign Arron Asham. Simon's ability to drop the gloves and be an intimidator will be valuable.
"Signing Chris Campoli to a long-term contract was a priority of ours this off-season," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He's one of the most skilled young defensemen in the NHL and we're thrilled that he'll continue his development in an Islanders uniform." "I'm very grateful for the opportunity the Islanders have given me, showing a commitment with this long-term contract," Campoli said this afternoon from his offseason home in Ontario. “This is the only place where I want to play and now I'll be able to continue to establish myself as an NHL player as an Islander." In his first professional season of 2004-05 with Bridgeport (AHL), Campoli finished with 49 points, second on the team overall and first among Sound Tigers defensemen and rookies. He was also tied for sixth among AHL rookies in plus/minus with a rating of +13 and in power play goals with seven, while third among AHL defenseman in goals with 15 and fourth in points with 49. Campoli was also selected to the AHL's All-Rookie Team. Chris Campoli was selected in the seventh round (227th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. The new deal is worth $1.9 million. Campoli will earn $600,000 in 2007-08. islesinfo.com comment: The Islanders have REALLY mastered the art of shoveling BS to their fans. Garth Snow states Chris Campoli is "one of the MOST skilled young defensemen in the NHL" Friday, in a release the Islanders website stated Campoli was a "standout" defenseman. We certainly are not criticizing Campoli though. The position of defense takes the longest of any position to develop. Perhaps if Campoli can get back to the performance level he exhibited during his rookie season then he would be a much more valuable player and make the Islanders defense corp better. Snow is obviously very enamored with Campoli considering one of the big reasons he dealt Alexei Zhitnik was to open up a spot on the NHL team for Campoli. Chris would be much more effective when he gains some more confidence with the puck and takes more initiative creating and setting up plays as an offensive defenseman.
Steve Regier saw action in 1 game for the Islanders in 2006-07 and in 10 career NHL appearances he has been held scoreless. Last season with the Sound Tigers the soon to be 23 year old Regier scored 19 goals and 46 points in 77 games played. He is the fifth all time leading scorer in Bridgeport history with 42 goals and 106 points in 225 games played. Regier provides the Sound Tigers with good size at 6'5" and 205 lbs. With the addition of Darryl Bootland, Kip Brennan and Tim Jackman the Sound Tigers will have a much bigger lineup in 2007-08. Both Fata and Regier signed for $495,000 for 2007-08.
Last summer, Hunter accepted a similar one year deal for $1 million and wasn't offered a qualifying raise. The Islanders knew last week Hunter was going to file for arbitration. Hunter is very loyal and considers himself a true Islander, so whatever the results are it will be accepted by both sides. Trent Hunter's arbitration hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2007. - Islanders who filed for salary arbitration:
Prediction: Trent Hunter: He's a heart and soul type of player. Always leads the Islanders in hits and has been in the top 5 among hits in the entire NHL each of the last two seasons. Hunter this time around stands to gain a raise. It would be nice to get him at around $2 million a year. Yet you look at what Scott Hartnell got from Philadelphia, $4.5 million a year for five years, and Hunter is arguably a similar player. Hopefully the Islanders and Hunter won't be influenced by that ridiculous contract for Hartnell and he will get signed for a reasonable long term deal. History: In the summer of 2004 heading into the lockout, the Islanders also had 4 arbitration filers: Adrian Aucoin, Oleg Kvasha, Janne Niinimaa and Jason Blake. You may remember both Niinimaa and Blake were signed to 3 year deals before making it to arbitration while Aucoin and Kvasha were both awarded one year deals. Don't expect all four of this years filers to make it to arbitration either....In the Summer of 2005 the Islanders had 4 arbitration filers: Brent Sopel, Mike York, Trent Hunter and Justin Papineau. All four were once again signed before reaching arbitration with three of the four receiving one year deals.(Sopel received a 2 year deal) ... . In the summer of 2006 the Islanders had 2 arbitration filers: Mike York and Arron Asham. An arbitrator awarded York a one year deal worth $2.85 million, a $800,000 raise from his 2005-06 salary of $2.05 million. Asham was signed to a one year deal worth $950,000, a raise of $323,000, avoiding his scheduled arbitration hearing by one day.
Islanders Qualify Four The Islanders have extended qualifying offers to four of their group II restricted free agents: RW Trent Hunter, D Chris Campoli, LW Steve Regier and D Drew Fata. Not receiving qualifying offers were LW Andy Hilbert and G Billy Thompson.
islesinfo.com comment: Woopdee doo! I don't know why some people think this kid can score 30 goals as I've been hearing when he couldn't put the puck in the ocean last season. The only way he scores 30 is if he gets top line duty and first unit power play time for the entire year. Which may actually happen if the Islanders have to enter rebuilding mold. But if a soft player like Hilbert is on one of your first two lines then your team is in trouble. He has great speed, and some decent skills....but he just can't finish. Update: Just learned it's a two year deal worth $1.35 million. Not very happy about this. In other news, former Sound Tiger Brandon Nolan, Ted's son, signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes today.
Update July 21, 2007: Alexei Yashin has gone home. The Russian centre agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Locomotiv (Yaroslavl) of the Russian League on Friday, bolting the NHL after 12 seasons. Russian teams do not disclose financial terms but The Canadian Press can confirm the deal does not include an out clause to return to the NHL next season. "Alexei has a history with Yaroslavl, having played several games for them during the lockout," Todd Diamond, who represents Yashin along with Mark Gandler, told CP on Friday. "He feels comfortable with them, having a North American coach (Paul Gardner) and a former teammate, Randy Robitaille, being there as well next season." Diamond said other NHL teams came calling - although it's believed with low-ball offers - but that Yaroslavl was relentless in its bid. "They came after him very strongly," said Diamond. "He's going to go there and have a great year. We'll see where we are 10 months from now. "Right now the city is electric, everyone is excited, the arena will be packed and Alexei will play hard." The 33-year-old Yashin was an unrestricted free agent after the New York Islanders bought out the remaining four years of his 10-year contract. Yashin had 50 points (18-32) in 58 games last season, missing 24 games with a sprained knee, and falling out of favour with head coach Ted Nolan after a promising start to the season. He had no points in the Islanders' five-game playoff loss in the first round to the Buffalo Sabres. He has 781 points (337-444) in 850 career regular-season games in the NHL. His best NHL season was 1998-99 in Ottawa when he had 94 points (44-50) in 82 games. His departure means Ottawa's first two first-round picks in franchise history are no longer in the NHL, Yashin going second overall in the 1992 NHL entry draft and Alexandre Daigle - now playing in Davos, Switzerland - chosen first overall in 1993 by the Senators. The Islanders signed Yashin to a US$87.5 million, 10-year deal in 2001 after acquiring from Ottawa in exchange for top defenceman Zdeno Chara, a first-round pick the Senators used to draft top-line centre Jason Spezza, and winger Bill Muckalt. islesinfo.com comment: The comments by Diamond had me cracking up. He went to Lokomotiv because he wanted to play with Randy Robitaille?? Wow, I'd hate to be a fan of that team in Russia next season with those two slugs on it. Alexei Yashin has got to be THE most selfish player in the history of the NHL. This guy is going to get $2.2 million for the next 8 years from the Islanders, yet you mean to tell me he couldn't accept a $1 million offer from another team? He wasn't going to take less just because he received a buyout. He was going to get paid which only shows just how selfish he really is. What has Yashin ever accomplished in his 12 year NHL career? That he could hardly come close to helping any of his team's get past, or for the most part, to the second round of the playoffs? I'd be shocked if Yashin ever makes it back into the NHL with his baggage. He has now gone the route of another recent stiff, Oleg Kvasha and returned to his homeland, because they offered him more money. There are alot more players like this in the league. Players who really don't care about winning.....don't care about winning the Stanley Cup. It's all about them. I hate to say it, but many of them are European....and they still have no understanding of what it takes to win in the NHL or how important it is to win the Cup. At least now the Islanders are better without these types of players no matter where they finish in the future.
"Wade really earned this opportunity," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He has developed steadily with each season in Bridgeport and played well whenever the Islanders needed him. And, of course, Wade's play down the stretch was instrumental in our team making the playoffs. We're very excited that he'll be an Islander next season." "I've been a part of the Islanders family my entire pro career and I had no interest in going anywhere else," said Dubielewicz. "My family and I are thrilled at the opportunity Garth Snow and Ted Nolan have given me, and I'm very appreciative of that. I'd also like to thank everyone involved with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for helping me along the way. Although it's a big plus knowing I'll be an Islander next year, my plan is to come to camp in the best shape of my life and be ready for a great season for our team." Switching to a backup role will be a big change for
Dubielewicz, who played in the AHL All-Star game last season. Asked after
the season if he could handle long periods of inactivity behind DiPietro,
Dubielewicz said, "You have to be ready. I've always been very good
at coming into games. It's going to be something new. If Ricky goes on
these runs where he plays for six weeks straight, something you might see
is me going to Bridgeport to play a couple of games to stay fresh. Wade received $495,000 in 2006-07 on a two-way contract. islesinfo.com's Wade Dubielewicz profile.
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1998-2007 Tom Mascioli
