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July 5th: Sleeping In? Update 4:01 pm WE HAVE A GOALIE

July 5, 2013, 8:14 AM ET [791 Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
4:01 pm: Not a blockbuster, but an announcement none-the-less, and as I said, while I was out. The NY Islanders have signed Travis Hamonic to a seven year extension.

Now, while I was out, I was listening to XM radio and the HNIC Radio guys said they were 'looking for the puke button' to report the extension and that "you only give 7 years to someone who has an "8" on their sweater." He called Travis Hamonic 'marginal' as a player.

Not nice guys.

2:17 pm: I am going to leave the computer for a little while. You can thank me for that if all of a sudden the Islanders make a blockbuster deal that knocks the NHL on it's ear.

1:33 pm: Okay another exit, Keith Aucoin has signed a one-year deal with St. Louis.

1:15 pm: The Flyers have signed ex-NYI Goalie Yann Danis to a one-year, two-way contract.

1:10 pm: Ex-NYI Jesee Joensuu has signed a two year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Congrats.

12:52 pm: And now another signing, Another forward, Pierre-Marc Bouchard to a 1 year, $2 million contract. Healthy last year, so that's good for the 29-year-old forward.

12:49 pm: From today's official press release on Nabokov:

Nabokov, 37, started 41-of-48 games this past season with the Islanders, posting a 23-11-7 record with three shutouts, a 2.50 goals-against average (GAA) and .910 save percentage (SV%). The Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, native’s 23 wins were one shy of the league lead; he climbed to 18th place on the National Hockey League’s all-time wins list


And he joked about still being young with Art Staple when he was asked if he could play 50 - 60 games next season. Yeah. Nabby wouldn't have done well anywhere else. And he is important to the room. This is good.


12:12 pm: Isles have also signed a forward, former Senator peter Reggin to a 1 yar deal worth $750. He may be just a spare part for Bridgeport because he was 0-3-3 in 27 games last season and didn't too well the year before.

12:01 pm: WE HAVE A GOALIE! AND HIS NAME IS NABBY!

1 year, 3.25 mill. For God's sake why did he put us through this!

Emery off the board Art Staple says they felt Nabokov was the best option for now.


9:25 am: Well, should we take Emery off the board (Emery---board---emery board)?



David Strehle David Strehle ‏@David_Strehle 4m
McKenzie's tweet makes it sound as if Emery to PHI is all but waiting to be announced when free agency opens up at noon.



8 am: Good Morning and Happy Friday. I hope you all had a safe holiday if you are on the south side of that hockey border we call Canada.

We have arrived at July 5th, Free Agent Day and there's a strong possibility that surprises await us. There is also a strong possibility that we will be bored out of our minds waiting for SOMETHING to happen while we watch TSN's Bob McKenzie stare at his phone on television.

With Danny Briere signed in Montreal, that's another FA off the board for the Islanders. We all know that Garth Snow doesn't like to rush things and sometimes he even waits until late August, right before camp, to bring in new talent. That may happen again this year.

However, the biggest need it seems is a goalie but the pool of FAs in that department is weak. My buddy Tony Stabile had this to say this morning:


Anthony Stabile Anthony Stabile ‏@tonystabile 1m
The #isles are in play for at least a few forwards and at least 1 maybe 2 goaltenders.



This was my favorite Tweet this morning, coming from a parady account, but it reflects the fanbase's thoughts on FA day:



Garth Faux Garth Faux ‏@GarthFaux 59m
I’m so hungover…good thing that my great boss, Charles Wang, gave me the day off today. #isles #murica #sleepitoff #july5th #quietday


Certainly our General Manager is not hung over, and he is surely working hard. But we have seen this day pass quietly for the Islanders many times before. So, if you have to work today, just check the web occassionally, if you are home, go grab a cup of coffee, sit back and let's watch the circus go by.

So who are you guys hoping Mr. Snow manages to snag today?









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