Mottau Joins Islanders and Elite Eight

Hobey Baker winner cum NHL journeyman Mike Mottau completes the New York area trifecta today by signing with a two-year, $1.6M contract with the Islanders. That got me thinking. Who else has played for the Rangers, Devils and Islanders?

It must be early in the morning, because I got as far as Vladimir Malakhov before my brain froze. But thanks to HockeyDB and NHL.com, I've filled in the gaps. Here are the eight players who've donned (or will don in Mottau's case) all three sweaters:

Forwards
Pat Conacher
Sergei Nemchinov

Defensemen
Joel Bouchard
Vladimir Malakhov
Mike Mottau

Goalies
Mike Dunham
John Vanbiesbrouck
Kevin Weekes

Oops, he did it again

After waiting almost 10 years for another shot at the show, controversial coach Ted Nolan was dismissed as a result of tension with Isles GM Garth Snow.

"Ted has helped us achieve some success over the last two seasons, however it has become clear that we have philosophical differences and have decided together to part ways," said Snow. "Since last season and continuing into the summer, I have realized we do not share the same philosophies. I would like to thank Ted for his two years with the team and wish him the best."...

Added Nolan: "While I am disappointed I will not be coaching the Islanders next season, there have been philosophical differences and we’ve agreed it’s a good time for me to move on. I want to thank the Islanders organization for giving me a chance to coach in the NHL again. I have tremendous respect for what the team is trying to do and I wish them well."

- Team release

As I'm sure you recall, in 1997 Nolan lost a battle with then Sabres GM John Muckler. Dominik Hasek wasn't that hot on Nolan either. Sound familiar?

Nolan may not leave the Island with the same scar on his reputation as he did in Buffalo, but his willingness to make thinly veiled comments to the press about Snow won't warm him to other GMs looking to hire a new head coach. Snow and Nolan were at odds over a youth movement. Snow wanted to play the kids. Nolan wanted to win and let the world know Snow didn't give him the players to do so.

If Nolan had the same job security as Barry Trotz in Nashville, it might have been an easier pill to swallow. But Nolan needed to win. Not to keep his job in New York - you'd have to be a masochist or an extremely inexperienced GM to want that - but to prove to the league that he belongs in the NHL. Nolan hit the unemployment line before he had a chance to redefine himself.

The Kings are currently the only other team with a coaching vacancy. They are in the midst of a youth movement themselves, but Nolan was successful in the junior ranks where youth abounds. More likely though, he'll join the ranks of Bob Hartley, John Tortella, Paul Maurice, Marc Crawford, et al who sit and wait for the inevitable firings of the 08-09 season.

Update: Greg Logan of Newsday has all the juicy tidbits here and here.

Suspension coming for Simon

What does a guy have to do to get kicked out of the NHL?

With the Islanders pressing for a game-tying goal, Chris Simon slew foots Penguins megapest Jarkkko Ruutu and then stomps on his foot before slinking into the bench. You'll be hard-pressed to find a Ruutu fan that doesn't live in Pittsburgh or wear #15 for the Blackhawks, but even his punk arse doesn't deserve what could have been a very ugly injury. Here's the video.

This incident caps a history of suspensions for dirty play by Simon, who most recently had to sit out 25 games for his two handed chop to the face of the Rangers' Ryan Hollweg. This will surely land Simon an equally long ban, if he's not forced to sit out the rest of the season.

I don't remember Simon being such a knob when he played for the Rangers, but then again that was during a seven year span most Blueshirt fans try to forget. Ironically, Simon's one-year deal with the Isles includes a $325K games played bonus. I joked that it was insurance against him losing his mind again. I certainly didn't think the comment would be so prophetic.

Update: The NHL suspended Simon for 30 games, the longest ban in league history. The previous record was a 25-game suspension, shared by Simon (for for the Hollweg incident) and Jesse Boulerice (still serving). Simon is eligible to return to the Islanders' line-up on February 21st vs. the Lightning.

Rangers-Islanders Brawl

Well, it didn't take long for the first goalie fight of the season. Rick DiPietro and Al Montoya went at it after a line brawl erupted in front of DiPietro's net. Here you go, fight fans:



And the winner is...DiPietro!

I'm not sure why if a player is suspended, you're still allowed to dress him for pre-season action. From the game report and highlights, it appears as if Chris Simon was gunning for Ryan Hollweg as the game went on. You'd think it'd be the other way around. After all, it was Hollweg who took it in the yams.

There were a few other scraps in the game as well. Here's the undercard:
Sutton vs. Dubinsky
Hilbert vs. Pock
Brennan vs. Strudwick
Orr vs. Simon

Without two points on the line, this game was sure to dissolve as it did. The spectacle could have been avoided if either Simon or Hollweg were healthy scratches. (Tell me again why Simon should be allowed to play under suspension?)

Perhaps it's better they got it out of their system while the games mean very little. I'd hate to see Simon take another head whack at someone rather than just drop his gloves, though it seems just a matter of time before his name goes down in history with Marty McSorley's.

Ouch, my eyes!

The Islanders unveiled their new RBK Edge jersey. It's not pretty and I'm not talking about DiPietro:


Wow, makes you miss the fisherman.

The Sabres jerseys grow on you in an arena football sort of way, but this is all over the place...neck tie, piping, chest numbers, two-tone sleeves. Adding the kitchen sink as well would have weighted the players down, which is not in keeping with the Edge design.

The Isles will debut the duds when they face the Rangers on September 24. Plenty of time for Avery to prepare a few jersey inspired insults.

Paul Bunyon's back

I mean, the Isles resigned Chris Simon, the blue ox who felled the Rangers' Ryan Hollweg with one fine chop. I suppose his $325K games played bonus is insurance against Simon getting the boot again for doing something equally stupid.

I liked Simon as a Ranger, a hard-working, team-first player during a time when those were rare at MSG...at least in a home jersey. It's too bad history will only remember him losing his cool (repeatedly).

You hear that, Pronger? Stanley Cup, Norris Trophy, or smashing a guy's head in because you're "tall". Which will be your legacy?

The Return of Al Arbour

Being a Rangers fan, it's difficult for me to say anything nice about the Islanders. But I have to give it up to Ted Nolan, Crazy Wang and the NHL for making it possible for Al Arbour to return to coach his 1,500th Islanders game.

Here's to hoping the combined braintrust of NHL and Versus will nationally televise the November 3 game vs. the Pens...but somehow I doubt it will bump bullriding on a Saturday night.