Brent Sutter

Can't escape the news all over the place that former Islander captain Brent Sutter is going to be coaching the Devils this season. I was a big fan of Brent's back in the day and I wish him nothing but the best of luck with the Devils. This so would be harder to swallow if we didn't have Ted Nolan coaching the Islanders, wouldn't you think?

Other news from around the league that intrigues me:

Sheldon Souray signed to play in Edmonton. I have to admit that I am glad that nothing came true regarding the rumors that the Isles were in the chase. Don't get me wrong, I think Souray is a heck of a player, but that gaudy -28 at even strength scares the heck out of me. Edmonton (stop me if you've heard this one before) overpaid for Souray--to the point of a five-year, $27 million contract. The guy certainly can bring it with that shot of his and watching both he and Marc-Andre Bergeron on the powerplay together would have been fun...it just wouldn't be $5.2 million dollars a year fun. Fiscal responsibility may not get you in the papers, but it does leave the team with cap room to improve the Islanders throughout the season. Losing Smyth was a crusher but it is hard to argue with anything the Islanders Jedi Council has been doing this summer.

Also, how cool is it that the Sabres will be hosting the Penguins on New Year's Day in an outdoor game at the Bills' stadium? I know the well-known (and shouty) hockey experts on ESPN's Around the Horn think it is a bad idea because of the college bowl games on New Year's Day but I think it is a great idea to have the outdoor game on January 1. Nobody cares about 85 freaking bowl games and no matter how many people watch it, highlights will be all over the news because it is so unusual. If there are 85 football games featuring teams no one cares about and one hockey game that is played outdoors featuring some of the most hearty fans and, oh by the way, the best player in the sport, it's going to get attention. Anything with Sidney Crosby in it that is used to sell the game is a good idea. I am seriously considering the Buffalo
road trip from Connecticut in the middle of winter!

Remember how last year there was that talk about the Isles and Rangers playing an outdoor game at Yankee Stadium? Well, that would have been great stuff. We're probably lucky it didn't happen because last winter was such a mild one. I wonder if it got approval from everyone involved (NHL; NBC; etc.) and then George Steinbrenner shot it down. We may never know. The Boss is getting up there these days and he might be dribbling his mush on one of those fancy Yashin-esque turtlenecks he
uses to hide the waddle.

Speaking of Yash, his agent is telling people that unless they cough up a contract worth a minimum of $2 million per, his client is going to play the next season in Russia. I think that means that Alexei is going to be very, very cold this winter.

Last but not least, David Beckham is arriving in the states today. Normally this space is not reserved for the gossip pages, but Beckham's arrival is a big deal. As a fan of Major League Soccer, I sort of see him as a necessary evil in growing the game on these shores. I guess he can still play but he is going to have to be something more than special to get his LA Galaxy out of last place.