Didn’t get to see much skating Wednesday in Syosset… because they didn’t skate.
Apparently it was the day off the ice. (Oh well — it was my day off, too, technically.) O’Marra and Comeau both made their first appearances. Steve Regier — who, at least one reader will be happy to know, has put on about eight pounds — was laid up with a tweaked groin, a little upset about it, but hey, better now than in October. Sounds like most of the guys have shown up in good shape. John Sullo noted that Dustin Kohn has grown another inch, making it three since last year’s training camp.
Nothing official on the coaches, though there’s a clear rumor, but you know what they say about what rumors and a nickel’ll get you? That’s right, nothing. (The subway’s two bucks now, Grandpa. And you need this funky card.)
More later, perhaps.
As for that Pat Quinn rumor in Wilkes-Barre, did they mean Pat Quinn, the former Flyers and Canucks and Kings and Leafs coach, or Patrick Quinn, our arts and entertainment editor? I would be less shocked by the latter. But not totally shocked. Stuff happens in this business, as we’ve learned. Sometimes deserved, sometimes not, sometimes somewhere in between. Here’s some of each:
–Robbie Ftorek, while not coaching Lowell this season, isn’t on the Islanders’ radar for a Bridgeport coach.
–Shouts out to Andrew Ferraro, whose blog notes how Billy Tibbetts is trying out for the Bruins… through a NESN reality show. Now that’s must-see TV. (If I had NESN.)
–Hail and farewell to John Wiedeman, a class act who’s off to Chicago.
–Amazing storm yesterday. I was in Queens at about 5:30 when the skies opened up and all the water in the heavens poured down on the City, and there was still room enough for lightning and air enough for thunder. All that was missing were the frogs. Was very glad I had pulled off the highway. It was bad enough running through Midtown last night after Storm, Phase 2 (or Phase 3, actually — there was an earlier one.)
–Lots of old Tigers signings around the league world. Captain America threw his mighty shield and came up with Ben Guite to Colorado. Also, Eric Manlow signed a two-year AHL deal with Hamilton. Blaine Down is apparently off from Italy to Denmark, the Herning Blue Fox, where Kevin Bolibruck played last year before going to Germany for the upcoming season. Hearsay: Jeff Hamilton might be drawing some one-way offers around the league, though no specifics. And still nothing final on Rob Collins, either.
–Lastly, Bruce Berlet up in Hartford has Washington signing Alexandre Giroux and Hershey signing Chad Wiseman. Nice pickups.