DiPietro On IR, Mottau Out For Season, Martin Suspended

So today it was tweeted by the Islanders official Twitter account that Rick DiPietro was placed on the IR due to knee swelling. At first I thought to myself "he's done" but Dee Karl pointed out in a blog that in order for the Isles to call someone up from Bridgeport, someone has to be placed on the IR due to the roster freeze and I guess the odd man out was DiPietro.

In the same tweet, the NY Islanders Twitter account also reported that defenseman Mike Mottau - who was just recently cleared to play after a puck to the eye - will be out for the remainder of the season due to a right hip labrum tear. Myself and many others don't understand how an eye injury goes from a hip injury, but it's another loss for the Islanders.

Fourth liner Matt Martin was suspended yesterday by the league after delivering a hit to Vernon Fiddler, which was called a charging penalty by the refs.

Tomorrow night the Islanders will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The puck drops at 7pm and the Islanders desperately need a win. It will be interesting to see who starts in goal. The last game played against the Lightning, the Islanders won in OT from a goal from Matt Moulson after Smith was battling with the puck with his glove. The refs took some time to review before it was called a goal.

Could Things Be Brewing in Islander Country?

This past Friday, it was announced by the Islanders' Twitter account that forward Jon Sim had been put on waivers. Again. Obviously, this has happened numerous times this season, so there is nothing strange about that.

Then on Saturday, Katie Strang of Newsday noted that Bridgeport SoundTigers goalie Nathan Lawson was called up on emergency recall by the Isles and was on the ice at morning skate alongside of Rick DiPietro and Dwayne Roloson. The emergency recall of Lawson was very strange news. Even stranger was when Strang then tweeted that Lawson was the first goalie off of the ice, meaning that he would be starting Saturday night's game against the Phoenix coyotes.

About an hour or so later, the Islanders then announced that DiPietro had some minor swelling in his knee.

Rumors began brewing that if Lawson was called up and starting over Roloson that perhaps Roloson was about to be traded. Maybe that would explain why Sim was also placed on waivers.

By game time, no trade had been announced, Sim had cleared waivers, was not assigned to Bridgeport, and then played against Phoenix. Lawson started, and Roloson backed him up.

No trade was announced after the game as well.

The NHL holiday trade freeze is now in effect. Lawson is still up with the Islanders.

It makes you think that once the trade freeze is lifted, maybe Roloson will be dealt. It seems like the only logical explanation for all of the crazy moves that the Islanders made within the roster on Saturday.

On a completely unrelated note, Pierre Lebrun of ESPN said in his live chat today that HNIC analyst and former Islander goaltender Glenn Healy has said that there is a rumor that a man by the name of Nelson Peltz has expressed some interest in buying the Islanders from Charles Wang.

Nelson Peltz is listed by Forbes as number 366 of 400 on the richest Americans list. He is a board director of Wendys/Arbys Group, the parent company of Wendys, Arbys, T.J. Cinanamons, and Pasta Connection. He is also the former owner of Snapple.

Peltz was born in Brooklyn, NY and now currently lives in Mt Kisco, NY, so he is a local boy.

This could be a great thing for the Islanders. He is a local boy so that should mean he would have no interest in moving the team (hopefully).

Hopefully Charles truly looks at this. At this point for Charles Wang, there is no point for him to own the Islanders any longer. His Lighthouse Project failed miserably. He loses millions of dollars of his own money year after year on this team. The team continues to lose on his watch. it is time for Charles to move on from the Islanders and sell the team. Whether he sells the team to Mr. Peltz, or someone else, his best option would be to sell this team.

The Islanders may currently be 6-18-6 on the year with 18 points, but things may be happening to secure their future. Who knows? At this point it is purely speculation. Let's just hope that whatever happens, the New York Islanders are still a team in 2016, and will continue to be a team for many many years to come.

Roloson Gone After Roster Freeze? It Appears So...

So we all know that the Islanders lost in a shootout last night to the Coyotes. Islander goals were scored by Jesse Joensuu, Michael Grabner, and Rob Schremp. The Islanders would take a lead in the game but in the end, the Coyotes came and tied it up.

You can't say the Islanders didn't play fairly well last night but losing is unacceptable. Enough is enough and this team needs to find a way to win games. They can't give up their leads coming into the third period. Even a roster shake up would probably help this team.

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Rumors:

Dwayne Roloson: When it was learned that Rick DiPietro would be out for last nights game due to "minor knee swelling", many started to speculate. The reason for speculation is because not only was DiPietro on the ice practicing with two other goaltenders, but Nathan Lawson - the goaltender that was called up from Bridgeport - got the start in goal over Dwayne Roloson, a proven goaltender. That tells you somethings up. And in fact, something is up.

It appears that Roloson was alerted yesterday that he will be traded. Also, the Isles may make a package deal involving Wisniewski, Comeau and Roloson.

Coach Jack Capuano says that "Tonight it was Nate (Lawson) and tomorrow it could be someone else." Interesting...

My Take: I don't believe the Islanders will package all three. I can see Comeau and Roloson going in a deal together, but all three being packaged isn't likely unless it's something bigger in return. Teams definitely want Wisniewski I am told, as well as Roloson. Now Comeau trade talks are starting to heat up as well.

So what do you think? Is Roloson staying or being traded? Also, who do you want to be traded for who and why? Tell us in comments.

Source: IncarceratedBob

Coyotes at Islanders: It's Lawson Time

Just about an hour ago, news broke that the Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro had been experiencing swelling in his right knee and it'll sideline him - at least for tonight's game. The last time I heard "knee swelling", DiPietro was out for the rest of the season.

So the Islanders called up goaltender Nathan Lawson from Bridgeport. Lawson, who is currently 2-4-2 on the season in the AHL, is expected to start tonight via the Islanders official Twitter account.

The Isles will look to go on a winning streak after defeating the Ducks in regulation by a score of 3-2 Thursday night. Hopefully they can keep their confidence going and go back to winning ways like they did earlier in the season.

Lawson tells the Islanders official Twitter account the following about his NHL debut tonight:

"It's a big opportunity, I've been waiting my whole life for this. So I just need to have fun, take everything in as it is and just go out there, have fun and play my game."

 Remember - The Islanders placed forward Jon Sim on waivers yesterday and he cleared today. Assuming Sim goes to Bridgeport, the Islanders still need to have another forward on their roster. So a possible signing up front may occur or a call up. It doesn't make sense though that Roloson isn't playing and Lawson is. We'll see.

New York Islanders Tribute With Goal Horn And Song

A video that I put together featuring the Islanders new goal song along with some celebrations! Enjoy!

Islanders vs Ducks Pregame Notes

Tonight the losers of six straight look to start a winning streak against the Anaheim Ducks. Starting in goal for the Islanders will be Rick DiPietro, who you could say has been playing well lately besides some bad bounces which led to a few goals.

Some good news for the Isles is that they'll be getting defenesman Milan Jurcina back after he suffered a  hamstring injury that sidelined him for a few weeks. Defenseman Radek Martinek will be in the lineup as well. He sat out for a game after taking a Zdeno Chara slap shot to the hand, which caused him some soreness.

The Islanders have to work the puck to the net and they can't spend time in their own zone. The Ducks are coming off a victory last night over the Capitals, and they may not have fresh legs so the Isles could use it as an advantage.

Your Sunday Islander Rumors

It's certainly clear that the Islanders have been struggling lately, losing 19 games out of 20 played. It appears that they might be interested in upgrading their team, and trying to shoot for the playoffs despite the current streak.

Here are some of the rumors I've been hearing over the past few days:

James Wisniewski: Todd Cordell tells me that several teams show interest in the Islanders defenseman, two of those teams being the San Jose Sharks and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Also, Nick Perri reports that the Rangers are looking for a defenseman.

My take: I don't think the Isles will move James unless they get a better player in return. With Mark Streit currently sidelined, they need the d-man in their lineup. The Rangers are looking for a defenseman, though, and if they offer enough to the Isles, Garth Snow might accept.

Bruch Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that the Islanders may be looking for a winger to help out former first overall pick John Tavares, who only has netted eight goals so far this season. It appears that Simon Gagne could be their guy.

My take: Tavares definitely needs someone on the wing so he can develop properly. Moulson's there to help him, but PA Parenteau doesn't seem to set him up too often. If the Isles can get Gagne, I'd say go for it. This trade would make sense in the long run (as Snow wants) because not only would it develop John, but it would add top six talent to the Isles lineup.

The Edmonton Journal reports that the Tampa Bay Lightning show interest in the Isles backup goaltender Dwayne Roloson.

My take: If the Islanders would be willing to trade Roloson and then call up one of the goaltenders from the Sound Tigers, in return they may be able to get Gagne. But first, Simon has to waive his no trade clause. If Garth Snow recives a good deal for Dwayne, there's no doubt Roloson will be traded, as he's entering his final year of the two year contract he was given.