That's what many reports have been saying, although there have not been any definitive confirmations made just yet. Simon, who was traded from the Islanders to the Wild at the deadline this year after serving a 30-game suspension for the Jarkko Ruutu-stomping incident, is rumored to be joining Russian Superleague team, Vityaz Chekhov, next season.
Responding to the rumors, initially reported by The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Wild Vice President of Communications and Broadcast could not confirm Simon's status and said, "At this point, it's purely speculation."
Also, Chris Simon's long-time agent, Larry Kelly could not verify the news, but said if a deal was made for Simon to play in Russia, he was not involved.
Will let you know as I learn more....
--KS
Comments (21)
Ok, so the clear 1st question is how long until Nolan follows him over there?
I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole. LOL............Sir W
I'll do you one better Sir W ... I will not touch that one with a 12 foot pole.... LOL!!
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Regarding Joe T's AKA Tazz's post from previous thread ... You're talking about my ex-girlfriend Dawn ... hey she wasn't all looks ... lol ... she had a great personality too. LOL!! Actually she was very smart too ... she ended up gracing Long Island and probably still lives there. Her friends were definitely not hard on the eyes ... you used to hit on Dawn's tiny 5 foot nothing friend I remember all the time and she told you that you were too short. Now that was hillarious....
I did or do have a myspace .. just run my name in the search to find me. I haven't been on it in almost 2 years ... and the last time I even checked was after my current girlfriend "pimped" it up for me ... I don't even know if I remember the password ... but give it a shot... I'll respond to the rest of your posts via myspace then.
If a Simon falls in Russia and no one cares....does he make a sound?
The only thing that makes this newsworthy is that we can all breathe a sigh of relief that Nolan won't be able to bring him back. Sending an alcoholic to Russia is like sending a crack addict to a Rangers game....er something like that.
Come on now!! Simon to Russia, who cares.... but an Islanders business club!! Wow..!! That's something to raise some eyebrows!!
I can just see Rainbow Wighead in a business suit!!! LOL
What will his business card say... "Can I supersize your order"???
I would pay to see one of these business meetings... I bet the bar scene in Star Wars would not beat this one!!
Hope you are enjoying your spring! Can't wait for the draft to see who the Icelanders will imprison for the next few years.
Only in NY.........
Does someone with "Yonkers" in their handle try to make a funny about being "imprisoned" on LI.
Talk about dead men walking.
"Lost in Yonkers" just added a new meaning Phil.
My HS girlfriend once asked me to kiss her where it stinks so I drove her to Yonkers.
Yonkers is the place where Phil McCracken lives. What a cess pool. Does anyone go to Yonkers for anything? I had a game at the rink in Yonkers ages ago. I thought I knew what fear was leaving the Abe Stark rink at Coney Island in the 80s then I went to Yonkers.
Why is Newsday reporting on Simon going to Russia? Who cares? That has nothing to do with the Islanders anymore.
What I'd really like to see is some speculative reporting on possible draft/FA moves. This is more BLAH, than BLOG.
Right now the islanders are 5 punds of crap in a 3 pound bag... Where do the spare parts go?
Who's signed through 2008-09... and for how long?
Can we expect to see Hilbert, Park AND Sillinger on the team next year? They are all signed, but if all three are on the team I can't see them being much different. Especially with Sim being available again and the emergence of Comeau, Okposo and Bergenhiem... there's just no room for mediocrity and development.
What's up with Dubie? Does he have a future on LI?
Give us something to talk about... but I did like the Alkie:Russia and Crackhead:MSG analogy...
An instant classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CrXdk2wZHo
Simon was the closest thing the Isles had to a player with guts. This faggy team needs 5 Simons...we are softer than ice cream and boring as grass growing.
Screw the Islanders and good luck Chris!
JP I am guessing that it all comes down to who has the final say on the roster. If Snow has his way you will see more younger players make the team. If Nolan sets the roster you will probably see Hilbert, Park and the same crew as last year.
It's hard to say on the Island. I know what happens on other NHL teams but in Wangland the team is run buy committee. So who knows?..............Sir William
I have no problem with guys like Park and Hilbert on the team.
They are excellent 4th line and PK players.
It's the nonexistent 1st line as well as poorly producing 2 and 3rd lines that are the problem with this squad.
It's guys like Tank, Satan and Backtodanet that need to be replaced.
(And I was not impressed with Hunter this past year. but he's under contract now).
505 I agree. Although the need for both Park and Hilbert is debateable. I would go with Park and dump Hilbert.
Snow has made it clear that Tambellini will make the team and play on the first PP unit.
Comeau is probably a lock, as is Bergy.
Guerrin, Comrie, Hunter, Sillinger and Sim will all grab a spot.
If you exclude Hilbert that leaves 3 spots open.
Does Bates rate a shot?
Nilssen?
What about free agents? If they sign anyone that closes another spot.
That's why I think when the music stops, Hilbert will be left without a spot. I guess they could carry him as a healthy scratch.
Who ever makes this team will tell you a lot about who is really running the show. By the tone of Wang's comments I put my money on Snow. He seems pretty comfortable in his role, whereas Ted looks a little unsure of himself. Could be the contract situation.
It's a tough spot for Nolan to be in this year. There are a ton of NHL jobs open right now. If they all get filled this year, it would close a bunch out for the following year, after his contract is up.
It will be a very interesting training camp...............Sir William
Oh Yeah. I forgot about Okposo. He certainly gets a roster spot
So then that leaves 2 at the most.
What about Colliton, Walter and any other Bridgeporter?
It seems almost certain that the pick this year will be a D man.
Unlees they deicde to gamble on Filitov.
Taking a good look at the forwards, it appears that we will be esentially trading Satan, Joe V and Tank for Comeau, Okposo and FA? or whoever makes the team.
Essentialy that group is not a whole lot different then last years.
It really makes no sense for Snow to hold onto Colliton, Neilsen, Walter, Hilbert and Bates if they are not going to make the team
They are all past the AHL age and if he is not going to use them, I would guess he will attempt to get something for them in some sort of package even if it's only picks....Sir W
Based on todays roster:
Comrie-Guerrin- Okposo? or Free Agent
Comeau-Tambellini- Okposo or Sim
Sillinger-Hunter Bergy? Sim?
Park- Sim, Hibert, Colliton, Neisen, Walter,
Bates, Winkin, Blikin and Nod .
The left side I think is set in stone. The players on the right side depend on who fits in where. Snow has repeatedly stated that Tambs will play second line minutes and PP minutes so I think you can count on it. If Nolan resists?......Sir W
You guys bring up some interesting issues regarding the lineup ... In just over a month we got the Entry Draft and then following that FA period opens.... lets not forget about arbitration and waivers during training camp ... this really opens up a lot of variables before the drop of the puck come October .... Who knows what is brewing in Snow's crystal ball ... and other GMs for that matter.
Maybe someone wants a servicable Guerin .... just throwing that out there. Scoring was down in the NHL last season ... so it's safe to say everyone is looking to eek out a little more offense... and you can count on the NHL governors trying to come up with a gimick for more scoring. I think when goaltending equipment is looked into we may see some change ... maybe.
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Anyone have any thoughts about the Isles blue line this season? Berard coming back? What about the new acquisition Hillen? Will he be playing up? Someone mentioned Kessel and Katic in the previous thread about them passing Kohn up on the depth chart ... yeah ... that is safe to say ... and lets not forget about MacDonald.
Isles have some solid depth for 3rd pair defenseman ... they need to get a top pair going soon. Campoli and Gervais are not that pair of the future. One of the reasons I think Snow is going to grab a stud d-man at the draft.
You guys bring up some interesting issues regarding the lineup ... In just over a month we got the Entry Draft and then following that FA period opens.... lets not forget about arbitration and waivers during training camp ... this really opens up a lot of variables before the drop of the puck come October .... Who knows what is brewing in Snow's crystal ball ... and other GMs for that matter.
Maybe someone wants a servicable Guerin .... just throwing that out there. Scoring was down in the NHL last season ... so it's safe to say everyone is looking to eek out a little more offense... and you can count on the NHL governors trying to come up with a gimick for more scoring. I think when goaltending equipment is looked into we may see some change ... maybe.
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Anyone have any thoughts about the Isles blue line this season? Berard coming back? What about the new acquisition Hillen? Will he be playing up? Someone mentioned Kessel and Katic in the previous thread about them passing Kohn up on the depth chart ... yeah ... that is safe to say ... and lets not forget about MacDonald.
Isles have some solid depth for 3rd pair defenseman ... they need to get a top pair going soon. Campoli and Gervais are not that pair of the future. One of the reasons I think Snow is going to grab a stud d-man at the draft.
I thought Campoli played well all season until the injury.
Gervais....acceptable.
Berard- bye bye
Davison - bye bye
Witt/Sutton/Martinek/Campoli/Gervais/Meyer
are not a bad top 6....Throw in Hillen as a healthy scratch.
No outstanding O-type d-men but a very solid D-corps.
Let's not forget Drew Fata either, who played some quality games at the end of the season.
Which tells me Snow will be grabbing an O-type d-man in the draft. (But not necessarily the 1st round).
The blue line is not in need of a major overhaul. (yet)
Unlike the 1st 3 lines.
I'd like to see both hilbert and park. If our pk forwards are hilber,silly,park, and hunter I've got no beef with that...as long as they see most minutes on the pk
Wow, some interesting choices coming up when you really look at the roster, and maybe not a lot of room for FAs...thanks for the breakdown SW. I truly believe Snow is telling the truth when he says that they'll draft the best player available, but with the glaring need for a real scoring threat, and the Isles much more likely to be able to grab that in the form of a draft pick, I guess I see Snow hoping that a guy like Filatov is still available.
As 505 said, using a 2nd rounder in this draft to take a d-man to develop is probably a pretty solid approach if there is top 5 offense left on the board at the 5th pick. If not, I say the d-man gets selected at 5, and they plug the hole with another short-term signing (a la Tank/Vasicek/Comri/Guerin) with the hope that by mid-season Tambellini and Okposo are playing 1st line minutes. So, if everything works out, maybe by December we see our top two lines as:
Tambellini-Comrie-Okposo
Guerin-FA-Comeau/Bergenheim
If Sillinger returns, I think the 3rd line is probabaly set as:
Sim-Sillinger-Hunter
4th line is wide open IMO, but will likely include Park/Hilbert with the center position TBD.
I'd like to see both hilbert and park. If our pk forwards are hilber,silly,park, and hunter I've got no beef with that...as long as they see most minutes on the pk