Mon 9:45 pm: Well, as I waited for an announcement or a change on the Islanders main website, neither came. So I emailed and was told -- "Um, maybe midweek."

Ain't that always the way? And so we wait for whateve it is that I played 2 questions trying to figure out.

Meanwhile I have a bone to pick with some Hockey fans, especially the ones that find fault with HockeyBuzz.com and the founder and owner, Eklund.

Inevitably, at least once a month I find myself debating the validity of not my work, but the website for which I do it. There was even one particular person who hates (repeat HATES) Eklund so much that he actually ANNOUNCES that his entire agenda is to bring down the website.

Um, Dude, that's hacking and not for nothing but I think there are Federal regulations against things like that. Also -- HEY!!! I work here and I kinda like it.

I have been told over and over again that I would be taken more seriuosly if I wrote elsewhere. I do write elsewhere and that has nothing to do with how seriously I am taken. It's a hockey blog. It's not research on contagious diseases. How seriously can I possibly be taken???

I defend HockeyBuzz and Eklund for a few reasons. First, because he has always treated me very well -- and left me alone. Few rules, no demands. Life is good.

Secondly, I've said it about 1,000 times: if not for Eklund Hockey would have never been relevant during the dark days of the 2004 lockout.

So, while I have to listen to detractors complain that the site is a pay for info site, one of my buddies Neil Mairs sends me a link to a rumor regarding Rick DiPietro on an ESPN.com, NHL rumor site.

What? Where? Huh? Yes, I live in a bubble. I didn't know this existed. Well, the funny thing is when I went to go click on what he wanted my opinion on, I was promptly told how much it would be to subscribe to get these "rumors from around the web." Dude -- I already get enough rumors from around the web, I want photo finish proof.

So tell me, why is it okay for ESPN.com to want money, but not okay for the guy who started the entire idea? Double standard? I believe so.

Side note: Today Ex-Islander Dave Scatchard announced his retirement from hockey. It was for health reasons and he commented that he would have liked to go out on his own terms. Sadly, he couldn't. I have some great memories of Scatchard playing on the Island. Most noteably was watching Scatch and Jason Blake both hit the ice four feet away from each other in an unusual display of synchronized shot blocking. It was a thing of beauty.

I also remember that it was an injured Dave Scatchard playing in a shoulder harness that no one knew about that caused Jason Blake to go after Ranger Chris Simon (I think) who was attacking a defenseless Scatchard who couldn't raise his arms past his shoulder.

Blake was immediately rounded up by Mark Messier who held him up by the neck of his jersey until he turned a pathetic shade of purple. I will never forgive Messier for that move no matter how important he is to hockey.

So Good Luck Scatchard.

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