Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Bad news for Kitchener and Portland?

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Both the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes are making fans of the Kitchener Rangers and Portland Winter Hawks sweat today with news that they've inked their 2010 first round picks to entry level deals.

Carolina put Jeff Skinner's name on a deal and the Islanders followed suit by signing Nino Niederreiter to a 3 year deal.


We've been saying for weeks that we thought New York was going to Keep the "Swiss Can't Miss" but I recently spoke to someone involved with the Winter Hawks who was still holding out hope they would get him back. Garth Snow today said on twitter
"We are ready to take the next step and be a playoff team."
That tells me they are keeping Niederreiter go along with their stable of young studs.

As for Skinner, he tore up the Traverse City prospects tournament and after signing a deal today will get a real long look with the Canes, atleast 9 NHL games in my opinion before they decide on the sharp shooters future. Tonight we'll speak with Carolina head amateur scout Tony MacDonald to get a better insight on Skinner's future.

If he stays it could be a triple whammy for Kitchener who might also lose John Moore and Jeremy Morin to the AHL.

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