New York Islanders, Chris Botta and the NHL Awards

The Islanders have a rookie in Micheal Grabner who will get serious consideration for the coveted Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

The Islanders also have a talented young forward in Frans Nielsen who may get a nomination for the Selke Trophy as the premier defensive forward in the NHL.

Both nominations are very well deserved to be sure.

This should be great news right?

The New York sports writers have voted to abstain 17-3 from voting for this years NHL awards.

They are doing this in protest of Chris Botta being axed from the Islanders for what was perceived as stepping over the line in some capacity.

I am not going to sit here and take sides on that dispute. What's done is done and there is nothing that can be done about it and quite frankly it doesn't matter what I think.

What matters is now the sports writers in their infinite wisdom have decided to punish Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen.

I have one question: Why?

Why punish innocents? What stand do you think you are making against the Islanders by doing this?

The Islanders are not going to restore Botta's press credentials because of this ridiculous "stand" by the writers.

Why in the name of King Clancy would the writers punish two players that deserve every accolade they have coming to them, in effect taking away 20 votes that should go their way come ballot box time?

It makes absolutely no sense in the slightest and will turn the Islanders ire towards the writers who cover the team.

I have respect for Botta and he is a talented writer. The Islanders chose to revoke his press credential and what exactly went down has absolutely nothing to do with the players.

The New York sports writers should absolutely one hundred percent reverse this pointless, ridiculous stand they have made against the young players of the Islanders.

No matter what they think they are absolutely in the wrong here and should do what is right and cast their votes for the players they believe deserve the awards they are nominated for whoever they are.

This decision is akin to not voting for president because you don't like the fact that the government has thrown a writer out of the White House.

It is stupid, pointless and childish.

Let the New York sports writers know that what they are doing is wrong and misguided any way you can and get Grabner and Nielsen get the votes they are entitled to.