Andrew Gross
@AGrossNewsday
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Covering Isles for https://t.co/C31Sfe0pmN. Ex-Rangers and Devils reporter. I like playing drums. Loudly, if not well. Host of the award-winning Island Ice podcast
New York
Joined August 2009
A bad year is coming to an end. Dad, after a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s, passed away peacefully late yesterday. Dedicating 2021 to Dad, my first editor, and to all who lost loved ones in 2020. Wishing everybody health and happiness in the new year.
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Zach Parise sat alone at his locker the whole time the media was in there, staring straight ahead, at his skates. Finally, Kyle Palmieri, after he was done with his interviews, walked across the room and hugged his teammate, touching foreheads.No guarantee Parise, 38, plays again.
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During first intermission interview, Brian Boyle admits he cried after scoring first goal since return from chronic myeloid leukemia. "I've never cried after a goal before," Boyle told MSG. "That's a great feeling. It's everything.".
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Bo Horvat on how he and his wife settled on wearing No. 14 with #Isles after being No. 53 with Canucks:. "Four plus one is five and four minus one is three.".
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Barry Trotz just gave happy news that Brock Nelson's wife gave birth on day of Game 4, he played that night on no sleep.
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#Isles Barry Trotz on his late Mom: "This is the first time I've lost a parent, so it's very difficult. I have a better understanding when it happens to someone else and I just want to thank everybody who's reached out, not only in the Islanders' organizations, fans.".
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Years from now, all of you will be telling your grandkids about NHL playoff games at Nassau Coliseum. And as you describe it, you might not even believe it yourself. Because there will never be another building like this in the NHL, for all the good and all the bad.
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Bo Horvat said it's a relief to have contract signed. He and his wife had #Isles in their top five of destinations even before trade, just hearing about LI community and culture with the team.
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My wife is the best. On the left is a picture of my Dad, who passed away 13 months ago, giving me my first typing lesson. On the right is tonight, me back on Dad’s typewriter that my wife had restored and gave to me as an early birthday present. Incredibly emotional.
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Just got off the phone with Bob Nystrom to share memories of his old roommate, the late Clark Gillies: "The one thing that I need you to just say is that he's one of the greatest human beings that I've ever met.".
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Barzal on the ice now. Skating with Lee and Eberle. And he just scored. So, good day in #Isles world.
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Mathew Barzal on desire for long-term extension with #Isles: "I would love to be here on the Island. This is home. This is where I want to be. This is where I want to win. I think it's such a such a cool thing when a player plays his whole career with one team.".
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Thomas Hickey said he was thinking about his brother, called it an emotional night. Said doubt creeps in. Clarifies not doubt that he could still play in NHL but doubt that he would get the chance again. Said tonight was happiest moment for him in a while.
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Robin Lehner watches video tribute, taps the tattoo on his neck of Long Island. Love going all around.
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#Isles also confirm there is no return in the Andrew Ladd trade, just Ladd and the three picks to the Coyotes.
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Pageau says it's an "honor" to join #Isles , a team that will be "competing every year for the playoffs, for the championship.".
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Hurts now, but this #Isles team should be lauded for everything, Never stopped battling. Great team to be around.
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Johnny Boychuk is officially back with #Isles. He's been hired in a player development role. He's been on the ice this week as as a part of the coaching staff for development camp.
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Matt Martin said after meeting Clark Gillies, he always wanted to be like him. "He just represents everything being a New York Islander is.".
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Now ex-#Isles G Thomas Greiss on his Instagram account: "My time on Long Island was the best portion of my career. From the fans to ownership – I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Although there were ups and downs, New York became my home.".
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Trotz: I love this group, the character. And this building.
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Johnny Boychuk on the ice helping #Isles coaching staff run drills. In sweatsuit, not a uniform.
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#Isles fans will no doubt remember today as Bo Horvat's debut with the team. I will always remember today as my younger daughter's first day as a full-time New York State high school English teacher. So proud of her.
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Wishing all the best for #Isles great Mike Bossy, who, in an open letter, announced he was stepping away from his on-air role at TVA Sports as he's battling lung cancer.
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Brian Boyle picked to replace Taylor Hall in All Star Game.
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Trotz on Cizikas: "He's an Islander. You know it and I know it.".
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#Isles Mathew Barzal after agreeing to an eight-year, $73.2 million extension: “I love it here. I genuinely do.”. Barzal has said that all along about playing on Long Island. Backed it up big time.
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An "ecstatic" Matt Martin on trade to #Isles: "Coming back to the Islanders is exciting for me. In my heart, I was hoping for this. I love Long Island, it's always had a special place in my heart. In Toronto, I was still very much in touch with what was going on on Long Island.".
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Both Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat tell me they've gotten a ton of unsolicited texts from around the NHL speaking to what a good teammate and person Tony DeAngelo is and how he will be a good fit in the room.
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Trotz told #Isles, "I wish I could take your pain away." Said he wanted group to experience what he did in winning the Cup.
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All-Star Sidney Crosby voices what we all think: The NHL playoff format should be one through eight, not bracket format that forces second- and third-place teams in each division to meet in first round.
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Regarding RFA Mathew Barzal, newly-resigned #Isles D Ryan Pulock says two have talked in the offseason. Says goal for both was to have deals that worked for both sides in order to keep as much of this group together as possible. Pulock says they want to win here.
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Aatu Raty's first goal for Bridgeport is an OT winner as #Isles AHL affiliate wins a playoff series for the first time since 2003. Sweep Providence in best-of-three. Bridgeport will play Charlotte next.
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Patrick Roy immediately making his presence felt, stopping drills, correcting, loudly making points. Obviously excited to be pushing up his sleeves and getting into it with #Isles. Side note: It's weird seeing him hold a regular hockey stick, not a goalie stick.
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Barzal literally could not have a bigger smile on his face as he wraps up morning skate with #Isles.
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Also, not a done deal, and still a fluid situation, but sounds like Isles may have good news on John Tavares as well.
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Trotz: "I think if you can play on, you play on. Nobody felt sorry for us. Us and Ottawa were the guinea pigs at the start to get some data on this.".
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Travis Zajac: "I came from a team where if you weren't under 25, you didn't fit in." Talking about how comfortable he feels with this #Isles group.
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Ilya Sorokin said, of course, he watched highlights of Patrick Roy growing up in Russia. Said he, Martin Brodeur and Dominik Hasek are "legends.". Sorokin also, unprompted, took time to thank Lane Lambert for all Lambert has done for his career. Was sorry to see Lambert fired.
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So. right after the Bruins' Jim Montgomery talks about his struggle with alcohol, they give out free beer to audience at NHL Awards Show.
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Some news: Cal Clutterbuck will be a part of MSG studio crew for tomorrow’s season opener. Cal tells me he’s not ruling out playing again and he spent summer training. But there were no opportunities that made sense for him and family. He’ll do a few #Isles games in October.
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Mathew Barzal unable to hide his emotions during postgame presser. Very raw. Says he knows he's got years left in his career but he's thinking of some veterans like Andy Greene, Josh Bailey, etc. Wanted to win for them.
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#Isles Devon Toews on @RobinLehner message of support for ex-teammates: "We loved Lehnny when he was here. It kind of shows the community in our locker room and our organization. Even if someone leaves, you create lifelong friendships. We wish Lehnny all the best.".
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Steven Santini confirms his first NHL fight opponent, John Hayden, was one of his groomsmen. Have known each other since youth hockey, Santini grew up in Mahopac, N.Y. and Hayden lived for a time in Greenwich, Conn.
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Lehner: "Wow, thank you. Everybody who voted for me. My fantastic wife, who stuck this out with me. So many people to thank. I want to thank the New York Islanders organization. Lou, you’ve been amazing. Barry Trotz for thinking about the human first, I’ve got to respect that.".
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Cizikas: "There was no doubt. I want to retire an Islander.".
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#Isles Barry Trotz: "It was nice to wake up this morning and see New York Islanders not last in the Metro.".
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#Isles Barry Trotz: "Other than our goaltender, Nick Leddy was our best player by a country mile.".
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Canadiens have always been a very classy organization. Pre-game presentation is honoring #Isles 50th anniversary with highlights from their history against the Canadiens.
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Asked Kieffer Bellows in post-game scrum who had informed him he had gotten his first NHL point with an added secondary assist on Brassard's goal. He perked up, looked at me and said, "You.".Congrats Kieffer. Enjoy.
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Anders Lee is again on the ice today, working on his own at other end of ice during #Isles optional practice.
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Column upcoming. Taylor Hall: "I think I’ve played on some pretty bad hockey teams, if you want to put it bluntly. You get drafted No. 1 overall and it comes with the territory the first couple of seasons. Then, after that, it’s kind of like, ‘OK, what are we doing here?’”.
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#Isles Barry Trotz has no update on Semyon Varlamov. Says it's "unacceptable" to hurt your own goalie in warmups. Says it wasn't fair to Sorokin and wasn't fair to Varlamov. "We were junk today.".
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Absolutely devastated to hear of Clark Gillies' passing. Couldn't have been a finer gentleman. Enjoyed every time I got to talk to him.
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Travis Zajac signed a one-day contract with the Devils and announced his retirement. He will remain with the Devils' organization in an on/off-ice player development and consulting role, while also working to grow the club’s youth hockey initiatives.
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Clark Gillies just finished a beer and smashed the can against his head. That's Perfection.
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If this is #Isles opening night lineup, not too shabby at all:.Lee-Barzal-Wahlstrom/Palmieri.Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey.Parise-Pageau-Wahlstrom/Palmieri.Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck.Pelech-Pulock.Greene-Dobson.Chara-Mayfield.Varlamov/Sorokin.
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Matt Martin on Casey Cizikas: "I think I know where his heart is.".
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#Isles J-G Pageau on Coli crowd chanting for him: "The organization, the team, all the players, they all made me comfortable from Day 1. They really made me feel like I was part of the family. To add to this the fans did the same thing tonight. I feel very lucky to be here.".
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#Isles coach Barry Trotz on using Aatu Raty between Anthony Beauvillier and Kyle Palmieri: "I've played him with the varsity guys right through training camp. He has no issue with that. This guy is just a good hockey player.".
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#Isles Mat Barzal: "At the end of the day, hockey is the most entertaining sport.". I'm biased because I love hockey so much, but couldn't agree more with him. Others won't. That's OK.
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Nelson: on 9,000 fans at Coliseum "We wanted to win for them for a long time. It's nice to have them back in the building.".
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Lane Lambert, asked if it was "bothersome" that there was a missed high-stick on 'Canes winning goal that was no called replies, simply, "Yeah.". Brock Nelson said he'd never been part of a game where one team had six PPs and the other team had none.
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Trotz on Lightning: "They're a better team now than they were last year. And we took them to the brink, because we're better also.".
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That was cool. Ilya Sorokin was interviewed in-house on the big scoreboard. He's worked so hard on his English. Fact that he was comfortable enough to do that in front of an arena crowd should be admired.
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An angry Patrick Roy blasts #Isles for how they ended the game. Says if he had been playing he would have broken a stick but Ilya Sorokin is a “gentleman.” “Stopped competing in front of our own net.” Said team didn’t show respect to Sorokin.
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Mat Barzal was incredibly enthused about Bo Horvat's acquisition (and fact both are signed for following eight seasons). But he did get a little emotional when asked about Anthony Beauvillier's departure. Said Beau is a special person who will always be one of his best friends.
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Congrats to #Isles captain Anders Lee and wife Grace on the birth of their third child and first son. That’s why he missed Game No. 82 as a late scratch. Fantastic reason.
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Long Island traffic is, of course, notoriously awful. But I-95 from the New York border on through Connecticut is a special kind of hell.
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Sounds like positive news on #Isles Johnny Boychuk. This coming from his brother. David Boychuk also responded to a tweet asking whether Johnny was OK by saying, "A few extra zips but sounds like he should hire someone else to do his eyebrows from now on 👍🏽".
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Barzal wandering around #Isles practice facility without a noticeable limp. Had one last week.
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Congrats to Kyle Okposo. If this was it for him, what a way to go out.
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Chara says he has not made a decision on future plans. He just wants to go home now and be with his family and be a dad. And then he’ll start thinking about what he wants to do next.
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#Isles Mathew Barzal on Ilya Sorokin: "There hasn't been enough Vezina talk, really.". Barry Trotz: "He's absolutely correct on that.". Says Sorokin won't get votes b/c Isles aren't playoff-bound. Adds narrative in NY is Igor Shesterkin. "Our guy is right there.".
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#Isles Patrick Roy: "Now we're going home. Let's give some nice hockey to our fans. Let's give our fans some wins. I think they deserve it. They've been very patient with us.".
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New Stanley Cup odds from BetOnline.Caps 5/1.#Isles 7/1.Flames 8/1.Blues 8/1.Golden Knights 8/1.Blue Jackets 9/1.Bruins 12/1.Predators 12/1.Lightning 12/1.Leafs 12/1.Sharks 18/1.Stars 20/1.Jets 20/1 .Avs 25/1.Pens 40/1 .Hurricanes 50/1.
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Anders Lee calls it a "wonderful day" for him and his wife. Said his agent Neil Sheehy and Lou Lamoriello just kept working. Never felt like he was going to leave team. Said Lou and Neil had agreed to some things "in principle" that allowed Lou to pursue some "other things.".
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