Tues 4:07 pm: As Ed Mangano celebrates with Charles Wang and Brian Rosenberg that the vote to have a vote on 8/1 passes Nassau Legislature by a margin of 11 - 7, Casey Cizikas agrees to an entry level contract.

Monday 5 pm:Cizikas Loses Memorial Cup But May End With a Contract

I had started working on something at 6:30 am, but had to stop because of family obligations on this Memorial Day Monday. I was not being lazy as some commenter said elsewhere about those of us who didn’t “break the news.”

Yes, Casey Cizikas, 2009 draft pick and Mississauga captain, has until June 1st to become an Islander or end up back in the draft pool on June 24th in St. Paul Minnesota.

Casey is a curious case. His draft year was wrought with adversity that he had to overcome -- and he has. When you speak to Brian Trottier about young players whom he had a chance to help nurture, he speaks with the utmost pride about Casey Cizikas.

At the 2009 prospect camp, Cizakas was shy and uncomfortable when I asked to interview him. In 2010, he was a different kid. I caught him yapping at Matt Martin before they hit the ice for a scrimmage. In the locker room, he was confident and engaging. It seemed as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders.

It had been.

This year, Cizikas tallied 29 goals and 35 assists in 52 games as captain of the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors this season. Say that three times fast. Casey also represented Team Canada in this year's World Junior Hockey Championships. It’s been a good year.

And last night, before the final game was played for the Memorial Cup, I emailed the NY Islanders GM and asked if he was proud of his young prospect. “Very proud.” was the answer.

Casey plays with heart, guts and skill. But the Majors didn’t come away with the prize last night.

In the NHL.com article by Adam Kimelman, Casey is quoted as saying, "We let the emotions get the best of us in that period. We took some stupid penalties and they cost us. … You never want to kill penalties, four or five in a row, and it's definitely tough to do that."

According to the game blog, Cizikas almost turned the tide in the second period.

In a period dominated by Mississauga, the home team out shot Saint John, 15-6, and now holds a 24-17 edge for the game. Majors captain Casey Cizikas almost pulled his team even with one tick on the clock when he collected a feed from the left-wing corner and tried a stuffer at the left post on goalie Jacob DeSerres.

According to Kimelman, Casey said "We had our chances, we had tons of chances to score, just couldn't find the net. Their goalie played unbelievable tonight. He was the reason they won."

The Captain faced the media and did it eloquently.

By all accounts Casey needs time to turn into the professional they knew he could be when they drafted him in 2009. According to those accounts, he’ll get it after he signs his entry level contract sometime before sunset tomorrow.

The only thing is … somewhere in the back of my mind I don’t think this is the biggest thing coming down this off season. Nope. I just don’t.

Bailey & Haley on Brady & Lang on FAN590 AM radio.

So while I was trying to get out of the house this morning, I noticed on Twitter that Josh Bailey and Michael Haley were scheduled to be on the Brady & Lang show on Fan590 Toronto at 8 am. At 8:12 they still weren’t on and I was almost out the door. I managed to catch just a few minutes of it, but I am hopeful that Fan590.com will post the pod cast.

Here’s what they said in the first few minutes.

Bailey and Haley have been training partners and are now in the final stage of their first phase of the program they were given by their trainers. They’re now on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday routine. (Um, it’s not even June. These guys are working hard at it already.)

For Michael Haley, it’s a battle: a battle to stay in the line-up. “It was a huge step. Last year I played two games (with the Islanders). This year I wanted to try and stay. Injuries and stuff gave me a chance to play. It was a dream come true.”

Haley was treated as a goon by the media, but they failed to realize that he was one of Bridgeport’s better scoring threats. On Long Island, in the few games he played, he has already become a fan favorite. But then, any Islander that puts a beating on the cross-town rival Rangers would be.

Haley knows that he has to continue to EARN a spot on the team. “I’m not going to take anything for granted. If someone is going to take a spot away from me, I’m not going to make it easy.”

Haley, like so many other young Islanders got their start in Bridgeport. “We all have the same goal and hunger to prove ourselves. That’s why we were so good the second half of the season.”

The youth on the NY Islanders is a big selling point and a bonding experience for all of them. So often you hear the term, “this is a family.” According to Josh Bailey, “I think WE truly mean it when we say it. Garth Snow has done a great job bringing in the right people. It’s enjoyable to come to the rink every day.”

Josh is hopeful the Isles have better luck next season with their injuries. He called it a “shock” to have so many key players out of the line-up last season. When Brady and Lang brought up the goalie situation was reminiscent of the drummer from This is Spinal Tap, no one was sure if the two youngsters got the comparison.

“Rick is such a competitor.” Bailey said, “it’s tough to see him go through this. But I don’t think we’re worried.”

The storied heritage of the Islanders is important to this young core. They see the banners, they hear the stories. They know what the glory can be. “There’s so many fans that remember those days and are hungry for it. If we can give them some sort of success, they’ll pack the arena.“ Josh has been taught well by the best of them, Trottier, Bossy, Nystrom and Gillies who have all been around.

Bailey also said they enjoy being hated. “Ever since that Pittsburgh game, we became closer.” Now, that may not be what the Penguins fans want to hear, or even what the League wants to hear, but it is something that so many of the Islander greats have talked about.

This group, this young core, has no intention of being pushed around or discounted any longer.

No matter what building they play in.

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