**5:23 pm: Going on CCPTHockey Blogtalk Radio show at 6:05 pm ET with Su Ring as her guests & I discuss Training camp for the LA Kings w/ @megums, #BlueJackets w/ @bzarcher & the Caps with @dagmar27 and the Isles with -- well, me. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/connectpucktalk/2010/09/19/connect-community-puck-talk
11:06 am: **Also, don't forget to check out the Five Burning Questions around the Islanders on SBNation.com/NHL by Travis Hughes with a guest appearance by -- me.
**8:33 am Fuzzy photos addd at http://www.7thwoman.blogspot.com
*Updated: 10:15 pm. Part 2 of Day 2, which was like Day 1 for some of them.
Okay then! Matt Moulson was on the ice along with some of the other returning Islanders for the second group of players. Doug Weight looked fit and healthy and smiling from ear to ear. But as radiant as Doug Weight was on the ice that happiness to be back didn't overshadow the work at hand. Weight is one player that you can actually see not only plays the game, but thinks the game.
As Katie Strang of Newsday Tweeted, Doug was not shy in testing his repaired shoulder. He looked good and kept up with the younger players without a problem.
I didn't realize how much I missed watching Jack Hillen skate. There is nothing like it. I don't know of any other player who get can get that close to the ice with that much control.
Yet, unlike group one with Nino and Kirill and many of the hopefuls, Group two seemed a little more at ease. Even though Scott Gordon's whistle was relentless. Jeremy Yablonski worked up a sweat keeping up with the returning Islanders and Trent Hunter and Jon Sim playfully pushed and shoved each other while waiting their turn at the drills.
Butch Goring decided to take in the practice, just as he said he was looking forward to being around the team more. Sitting in the bleachers in a black sweater and being treated like royalty, he watched and smiled.
General Manager Garth Snow entertained some important people (I could tell they were important by the way everyone snapped to attention when they walked in) high above the ice, but never moving from his perch and always with an eye on the work below.
Johnny Z from YES! Islanders has a new website called Islanders Top Shelf, and he was there chatting it up with Trevor Gillies. I'm sure he's going to have some interesting things on his site about their conversation.
I really didn't have a plan for today so I didn't bother sticking around to ask questions. But the Islanders main website has a few good stories and Brian Compton from NHL.com has an article on Rick DiPietro's return and IslandersPointBlank probably has enough story lines to keep it going till next week.
But I do have video and some photos. The photos I'll post on my blogspot.
10 am Sat, 9/18/10:Of course I'm late. I'm always late. But at least there was coffee at the concession stand this time. It's a reporter full house today as I was wondering why there were so many cars in the parking lot. But the full team is here along with a contingent of family and friends. Yes, it's a big deal even for the players.
Andy Hilbert left the ice early and would not be returning. He has a mild groin strain (already). I saw Figren with a boot on his foot but Radek Martinek looks good as does Doug Weight.
Nate Lawson was on one side of the ice while Rick DiPietro was on the other. They both looked good. Although I almost didn't recognize Rick with those big blue pads. I did stop him to ask if they were new. "Nah, I had them." Funny I didn't recognize them, but then he did proceed to say. "I get new ones every year though. Gotta keep them fresh." A ha!
John Tavares looks like he gained as much weight as he wanted to. He looks much wider on the ice than he did last season. He should be stronger on his skates and harder to push off the puck this season.
Kirill Kabanov ran every shift full-tilt. He left the ice red and panting. But will he make the team? That all depends on what he does both on and off the ice. (Although tomorrow I will have some speculation that may get me in a bit of hot water.)
Trevor Gillies makes friends everywhere he goes, but I had to ask who the scary dude with the tats and Mohawk was. It's Yablonski. I will remember that and stay far away. (Trevor told Johnny Z that Jeremy is his best friend and a great guy. Um, I still plan to keep my distance.)
Bruno Gervais is more than ready to shave his head for the Clark Gillies Foundation tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm in Farmingdale. It's a great cause! Stop by if you're in the neighborhood.
Managed to grab Kirill 2010 for two seconds when he came by. I was curious if he had been able to speak with Kirill 2009. It seems his phone must be turned off because he hasn't been able to get through to him. He did say that the way the KHL is, and all the problems Petrov is having, he is not surprised he will not be released to the Islanders for camp.
The second group is on the ice and there is Dwayne Roloson along with Koskinen and Poulin. I wonder if they'll start calling him Grandpa now that he is officially the oldest member of the Islanders.
Rob Schremp is already clowning it up on the ice getting ready for the drills. But first ... a meeting.
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