Some Other Stuff I'm Thinking About on a Boring Day at Work

First off, how did I miss reporting that the Isles now have a working agreement with a team called the Odessa Jackalopes of the CHL. That means that the team now has the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) as their top developmental team and the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL to go along with the Jackalopes.

I know what you're thinking. Say it with me: what the heck is a Jackalope?

Well, for starters, it at first sounds like it could be the product of an unholy union between a jackass and an antelope. Makes sense, right? So I looked it up on Wikipedia because Wikipedia is about 85% correct at any time and/or space. This is that they said:

"...the jackalope is a cross between a jackrabbit and an antelope, hence it's name."

Punctuation aside, you have to marvel at how Wikipedia has made life easier for people like me who are only concerned with a quick corroboration that may or may not be about 85% correct.

So, you know, I was close. Makes sense since the logo above looks like a pissed-off rabbit.

Item #2: Did you see how the Wild cut fish with Mark Parrish? Were you surprised that we never really had anything about that here? Well, there's a simple reason: we were wrapped up in The Comcast Incident at the time.

Now, this being an Islanders (Forum of One) and Mark Parrish being a popular former Islander, does that mean he could make his way back to the team? I don't see why not. He had his best years playing on Long Island and is going to feel like he has something to prove. The Islanders, we all know, are going to need some goals to come from somewhere. Why not from Mark Parrish?

All of this speculation really boils down to the fact that Snow and Gordon are committed to The Kids and making Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau the players we hope that they'll become. There's a lot of qualified leadership in the room right now and from comments made by Bill Guerin and Doug Weight, the guys are on board with the edict and see themselves as players who are giving back to the next generation of guys.

Does Mark Parrish fit into this plan? Maybe. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he came back to the Islanders in one of those one-year/prove yourself kind of deals. Saying that, it also would not surprise me if Parrish found his way to Peter Laviolette's Carolina squad, either.

Item #3: The prank "Favre" jersey given to John Bailey at his introductory presser. Man, I gotta tell you, that was funny. I'm a Giants fan who's opinion of Favre has taken a turn south since his flip-flop-and-fly over the past off-season. But still, with all of the hype and press the Jets have been getting, it was still fun to see Bill Guerin and Doug Weight have a little fun at the rookie's expense.

And you know, rumor is that Bailey is going to get a very long look in camp after his performance with the other Islanders rookies this summer. Word is that the team told him to look into getting a place on the Island so you have got to think they are expecting him to make a serious push in training camp. With Doug Weight, a (hopefully) healed Mike Sillinger, Mike Comrie; and others pushing for time at center, Bailey is going to have a tough road ahead but all indications are that this is a pretty good kid with some skill. Does that mean he is NHL ready at age 18? We'll see.

Well, there you go. Another free post for everyone. We'll have more on the Scott Gordon press conferences and whatnot later tonight or tomorrow morning. We also are working on a special supplement to The Hockey News' Ranking of the NHL logos. I'll be joined in this by The First Lady of NYIFORLIFE.com, my wife and fashion consultant, Linzi, and it should be up here some time this week.