Just spoke with DiPietro, who said he feels good and is excited for some semblance of normalcy heading into TC

First regular TC for DP in a while; said he's happy to be back on the ice w/ the guys and has been watching game tape 2 get ready

DP didn't make any projections on amt of starts or workload this ssn, said "knee feels good and we'll go from there"

Not to argue but even Joensuu himself said he might need one more year in the AHL. He said it was basically a three year plan to get him NHL ready. And Botta posted a while back that the Islanders were thinking one more year in the AHL would be beneficial for both Joensuu and Martin. So I don't think it's do or die for Joensuu to make the NHL roster this season. It is do or die for him to progress though at whatever level he's at.

I was questioning people practically writing off Joensuu if this wasn't his year. How many examples of "power forwards" do we need to list to show that it quite often takes more time with these types of players?

Joensuu is definitely one prospect that isn't being rushed!

5:00 pm: Point Blank has learned that Butch Goring has been hired by MSG Network and approved by the Islanders as the new color commentator on the team’s television broadcasts. Goring suceeds Billy Jaffe, whose four-year run in the job ended when the Islanders would not grant their approval to a contract negotiated between Jaffe’s agent and MSG Network, the employer.