[ThePundit]

I'm starting to get a little nervous that the only players Smith and Nolan are signing are ones they have former connections with. It makes me think that they don't know a lot of the newer players in the league since they've been out of the game. I could be wrong and only time will tell:


Chris Simon is being reunited with his junior hockey coach.

The gritty left wing on Tuesday signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders.

Simon, 34, was coached by the Islanders' Ted Nolan while with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League in 1991-92. Both are Ojibwa Indians and active in the First Nations community.

"I was extremely interested in coming to the Islanders and I'm very happy things worked out," Simon said. "I've known Ted for a long time and I'm so excited about having him as my coach again.

[blueandwhite]

Simon used to be big and bad. Then he disappeared from the radar. is he a good catch? will the relationship with Nolan work better, bring him back to the forefront? i wonder.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

Simon used to be big and bad. Then he disappeared from the radar. is he a good catch? will the relationship with Nolan work better, bring him back to the forefront? i wonder.

I like him...he is a tough guy...he also had a nice touch for a while...can he still score from the slot?

[ThePundit]

With the signings of guys in their mid 30's, it's pretty obvious the Isles are trying to win now - and why not? Look at Carolina. They were awful last year. I just hope this is a better mix of players than the ones Millbury brought in last year when he signed guys like Brent Sopel and Brad Lukovich and traded them just as fast.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

With the signings of guys in their mid 30's, it's pretty obvious the Isles are trying to win now - and why not? Look at Carolina. They were awful last year. I just hope this is a better mix of players than the ones Millbury brought in last year when he signed guys like Brent Sopel and Brad Lukovich and traded them just as fast.

I think Simon will be okay...his shots on goal were a 1/3 of what they were when he was in his hey day....

It could be worse...they could be going for Belfour