The 2010-11 season was like two mini seasons in one.
There was the first half where nothing looked any different.
Injuries were rampant.
Goaltending was porous.
Goals were hard to come by.
The defense was shoddy at best.
Progress of the younger players seemed to be at a standstill.
The coach was fired.
Then January came and everything seemed to turn around. No one really noticed until the Islanders decided to exact some street justice on the Penguins then the Islanders were on everyone's radar.
Call it what you want to call it I choose to call it the Islanders telling the rest of the NHL they still exist and are on their way back to prominence.
The Islanders had one of the best records in the NHL after the all star break and were consistently one of the hardest teams to play against.
Goaltending backstopped by Kevin Poulin and then Al Montoya solidified.
The defense, anchored by Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic vastly improved.
The offense, bolstered by the emergence of Calder Trophy nominee Michael Grabner and the continued development of John Tavares as well as Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen and PA Parenteau started to gel and produce.
Every one of the Islanders top players will be back next season and the injured Mark Streit will be back also.
Nino Niederreiter and Krill Kabanov are also favorites to make the team next season because they have been dominant in their respective leagues and appear NHL ready.
What does all this mean? It means the Islanders have the ability to be a playoff team again and really take that next step in returning to prominence in the NHL.
What will the Islanders line up look like next season line by line?
The first line will consist of John Tavares, looking to shatter the 30 goal mark, Matt Moulson and PA Parenteau. If you would have told me PA would have played on the Islanders top line scoring 20 goals and getting over 50 points I would have laughed at you.
The unit gelled late in the season and will be back in tact with Parenteau signing a one year extension and Moulson getting a three year extension preventing both from going free agent.
That in of itself, that the seam was able to hold onto a two time 30 goal scorer and a 20 goal scorer who would have otherwise been unrestricted free agents is a major victory.
The second line will consist of Frans Nielsen, Michael Grabner and Kyle Okposo. The stars of the line were Grabner and Nielsen who netted an amazing 13 short handed goals between them finishing first and second in the NHL in that department.
Okposo showed flashes of the promise he showed last season but struggled playing only 38 games after major shoulder surgery. He will be back 100% next season and should only make Grabner and Nielsen better.
The third line is where is gets a little more questionable as to who it actually may be because of all of the players the Islanders have on their roster. Being this is a speculative column I will take my best guess and say the third line will consist of Nino Niederrieter, Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau.
It is time for "El Nino" to be in the NHL and until he is ready to take his place in the top 6 of the Islander forwards, which may actually be next year at some point. He will debut on the team next season. There is nothing else for him to prove for the Portland Winter Hawks in the WHL.
He scored 36 goals and netted 60 points in 65 WHL games and has been carrying his team in the playoffs with eight goals and sixteen points in eight playoff games.
Its prime time for "El Nino."
Josh Bailey actually took a step back this season and was sent to Bridgeport where he regained some confidence and wound up with 28 points in 70 NHL games. It is so easy to forget that Bailey is only 21 years old as it seems as if he has been in the league for a long time.
He will look to rebound with the steady Blake Comeau who is also coming into his own after his 24 goal campaign this season.
The fourth line could be any combination of a few players, but I will go with the Islander resigning Zenon Konopka, and him playing with a rough and tumble line combination with Matt Martin and Michael Haley.
Yes I know I am leaving Trent Hunter out. He hasn't played a full season in 3 years and only played 17 games last season.
Hunter is a good banger and can clean up around the net but I question his durability.
I think if Hunter is healthy he could be on the 4th line in place of Haley with Haley being an injury replacement.
Another wild card could be Kirill Kabanov who is playing very well in the QMJHL right now and very well could be NHL ready for next season. If that is the case, then Haley starts in Bridgeport.
As we very well know around the Islanders there are always injuries and that is how guys like Hunter, Haley and Jesse Joensuu fit into the plans.
On defense the top tandem should be Milan Jurcina and Mark Streit providing the offense and defense one two punch.
Then we have Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald will both be back and playing together again and were the Islanders best defense tandem this season often playing against and very well against the opponents top players.
The 3rd defense tandem is totally up in the air as the Islanders have Mike Mottau, Mark Eaton, Ty Wishart, Jack Hillen, Mark Katic and Dylan Reese who could fill those two spots.
Who will it be? Ill go with Mottau and Eaton, just because they are the veterans with the most experience and could be a nice shut down tandem.
When someone gets hurt Katic and Hillen are next in like with Wishart right there also.
In goal, Al Montoya and Kevin Poulin should be the 1 and 2 goaltenders unless Rick Dipetro has some sort of career renaissance early next season or has a stellar pre season.
How can you look at the numbers Rick put up this season and say that's my number one goaltender.
Look at the numbers Poulin and Montoya put up, and there are your goaltenders for next season. Rick should be sent to Bridgeport to work on his game until he can consistently stop pucks.
What are your thoughts on what the Islander line up should be for next season?
Place your comments below.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
New York Islanders Name Capuano Coach - Will Draft 5th
The Islanders took care of thier most obvious piece of business very quickly this off season dropping the "interim" title from Head Coach Jack Capuano giving him the organizations full support.
Capuano's overall numbers came in below .500 as far as winning percentage but remember he started in the middle of a losing streak that basically torpedoed the entire season.
It took the Islanders a while to get used to his new free system that he instituted which takes players abilities and allows them the freedom to use their own creativity as opposed to a strict X's and O's hockey by numbers that former coack Scott Gordon employed.
I am sure the Islander young core is supportive of this as Cappy is a very popular coach with the guys and tells it like it is.
With a young team this is very important as the Islanders can continue to grow knowing the coach that righted the ship and turned the Islanders into one of the toughest teams to play against after the All-Star Break.
The Islanders will probably also have to name a new team captain assuming Doug Weight retires and I am saying right now that man should be Mark Streit.
If not Mark Streit then who?
Kyle Okposo? John Tavares? Frans Nielsen?
It should be interesting who the team elects but from an on ice stand point is almost irrelevant.
What is more relevant is the Islanders got rooked out of the fourth overall pick in the draft by the eighth seeded New Jersey Devils winning the draft lottery with a staggering 3.9% of doing so.
Thats right people a team that just signed one of the best scorers in the NHL to a 15 year 100 million dollar contract won the draft lottery.
The Islanders will draft fifth and have another blue chip prospect to add to the long list of prospects already in the organization.
Should the Islanders stand pat at fifth and just take the best available player?
Should they trade down and pile up more draft picks?
Should they attempt to trade up and get one of the top prospects?
Or maybe, just maybe is this team ready to trade a draft pick for an established player to bolster the line up for a playoff run.
The main question is, who is available via trade? The biggest issue with that is you just never know who is available come draft day.
Odds are the Islanders will pick the best player at their position in the draft and move forward with the young core that showed so much improvement this season.
The coach is in place and the young core is stable and will all be back.
The veteran defense will be back from injury.
All signs point to the Islanders being out of the draft lottery for a long time.
Capuano's overall numbers came in below .500 as far as winning percentage but remember he started in the middle of a losing streak that basically torpedoed the entire season.
It took the Islanders a while to get used to his new free system that he instituted which takes players abilities and allows them the freedom to use their own creativity as opposed to a strict X's and O's hockey by numbers that former coack Scott Gordon employed.
I am sure the Islander young core is supportive of this as Cappy is a very popular coach with the guys and tells it like it is.
With a young team this is very important as the Islanders can continue to grow knowing the coach that righted the ship and turned the Islanders into one of the toughest teams to play against after the All-Star Break.
The Islanders will probably also have to name a new team captain assuming Doug Weight retires and I am saying right now that man should be Mark Streit.
If not Mark Streit then who?
Kyle Okposo? John Tavares? Frans Nielsen?
It should be interesting who the team elects but from an on ice stand point is almost irrelevant.
What is more relevant is the Islanders got rooked out of the fourth overall pick in the draft by the eighth seeded New Jersey Devils winning the draft lottery with a staggering 3.9% of doing so.
Thats right people a team that just signed one of the best scorers in the NHL to a 15 year 100 million dollar contract won the draft lottery.
The Islanders will draft fifth and have another blue chip prospect to add to the long list of prospects already in the organization.
Should the Islanders stand pat at fifth and just take the best available player?
Should they trade down and pile up more draft picks?
Should they attempt to trade up and get one of the top prospects?
Or maybe, just maybe is this team ready to trade a draft pick for an established player to bolster the line up for a playoff run.
The main question is, who is available via trade? The biggest issue with that is you just never know who is available come draft day.
Odds are the Islanders will pick the best player at their position in the draft and move forward with the young core that showed so much improvement this season.
The coach is in place and the young core is stable and will all be back.
The veteran defense will be back from injury.
All signs point to the Islanders being out of the draft lottery for a long time.
Monday, April 4, 2011
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 excd 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. Whats 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.
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 excd 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. Whats 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.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
New York Islanders: State of the Franchise
The Islanders are winding down another NHL season without the playoffs.
Now that we got that fact out of the way lets talk about what is important moving forward.
For the first time in an awfully long time the core of the Islanders on ice product is stable, young and talented.
With the signing of Al Montoya the Islanders team for the 2011-12 season is pretty much set. All would be unrestricted free agents with the exception of Radek Martinek and Zenon Konopka have been resigned to the team.
That does not mean that pending restricted free agents Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey won't pose a problem to resign but all indications point to all players with the exception of Martinek back on the Island next season.
Ty Wishart and Jack Hillen are also restricted free agents but they should not pose a problem to resign.
Doug Weight will also probably not be back as he is leaning towards retirement after suffering through another injury riddled season.
The Islanders rewarded, and rightfully so Al Montoya with his first 1 way contract of his career ensuring he will be on the Island at least through the 2012 season.
The main concern to the Islanders next season will be health. Leading the NHL in man games lost to injury again this season with a mind boggling 550+ will add feul to that concern.
What can the team do to stay healthy?
Unfortunately there is nothing anyone can consciously do to stop from getting hurt. It is simply part of the game. Players will get hurt. That is an undeniable fact but the goal should be to lose as little man games as possible.
The string of injuries that the team endured this season most assuredly torpedoed this entire season and no matter how much the team has improved injuries can always kill your chances of a successful season.
That being said there is something brewing on Long Island that has a chance to be truly special.
Garth Snow should be commended for his amazing acquisitions of Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson and Al Montoya. What did Snow see in these guys that no one else did?
Whatever the answer may be no one is making fun of Garth Snow's management skills any more.
If the Islanders can take that next step, and the stars seem to be aligning for the team making a major splash in 2011-2012 then Snow should be given just as much credit for it that he received negative press for his hiring by Charles Wang in the first place.
Everyone made fun of the move. News reporters, TSN, ESPN, print media, The Hockey News, you name it no one gave Snow a chance and laughed at it.
No one is laughing any more. The Islanders are coming back and Snow is a major reason why.
Another large piece of open business is the coaching position. Snow has stated that he will not discuss it until the season is over.
Has Jack Capuano earned the full time coaching gig?
All signed would point to yes. If the team is going to commit to him they will need to get him signed right away to show the players that the guy that seemingly helped turn the season from an outright disaster to a return to respectability will be rewarded for his work, just like Montoya, Parenteau and Jurcina were.
Get Cappy and under contract. He has proven his worth and deserves to have the interim tag dropped.
One final note - Get Zenon Konopka a contract. He is the kind of guy that instills confidence and has given the Islanders the kind of attitude they have needed for so long.
Zenon has become the voice of the Islander players and instills pride in wearing the Islander jersey in the younger players around him.
Please post your thoughts below
Now that we got that fact out of the way lets talk about what is important moving forward.
For the first time in an awfully long time the core of the Islanders on ice product is stable, young and talented.
With the signing of Al Montoya the Islanders team for the 2011-12 season is pretty much set. All would be unrestricted free agents with the exception of Radek Martinek and Zenon Konopka have been resigned to the team.
That does not mean that pending restricted free agents Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey won't pose a problem to resign but all indications point to all players with the exception of Martinek back on the Island next season.
Ty Wishart and Jack Hillen are also restricted free agents but they should not pose a problem to resign.
Doug Weight will also probably not be back as he is leaning towards retirement after suffering through another injury riddled season.
The Islanders rewarded, and rightfully so Al Montoya with his first 1 way contract of his career ensuring he will be on the Island at least through the 2012 season.
The main concern to the Islanders next season will be health. Leading the NHL in man games lost to injury again this season with a mind boggling 550+ will add feul to that concern.
What can the team do to stay healthy?
Unfortunately there is nothing anyone can consciously do to stop from getting hurt. It is simply part of the game. Players will get hurt. That is an undeniable fact but the goal should be to lose as little man games as possible.
The string of injuries that the team endured this season most assuredly torpedoed this entire season and no matter how much the team has improved injuries can always kill your chances of a successful season.
That being said there is something brewing on Long Island that has a chance to be truly special.
Garth Snow should be commended for his amazing acquisitions of Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson and Al Montoya. What did Snow see in these guys that no one else did?
Whatever the answer may be no one is making fun of Garth Snow's management skills any more.
If the Islanders can take that next step, and the stars seem to be aligning for the team making a major splash in 2011-2012 then Snow should be given just as much credit for it that he received negative press for his hiring by Charles Wang in the first place.
Everyone made fun of the move. News reporters, TSN, ESPN, print media, The Hockey News, you name it no one gave Snow a chance and laughed at it.
No one is laughing any more. The Islanders are coming back and Snow is a major reason why.
Another large piece of open business is the coaching position. Snow has stated that he will not discuss it until the season is over.
Has Jack Capuano earned the full time coaching gig?
All signed would point to yes. If the team is going to commit to him they will need to get him signed right away to show the players that the guy that seemingly helped turn the season from an outright disaster to a return to respectability will be rewarded for his work, just like Montoya, Parenteau and Jurcina were.
Get Cappy and under contract. He has proven his worth and deserves to have the interim tag dropped.
One final note - Get Zenon Konopka a contract. He is the kind of guy that instills confidence and has given the Islanders the kind of attitude they have needed for so long.
Zenon has become the voice of the Islander players and instills pride in wearing the Islander jersey in the younger players around him.
Please post your thoughts below
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Finally.. The Islanders Have Come Back to the NHL
Browsing the Islanders stat sheet this season will not induce any dumbfounded looks of disbelief on how a season can go by and no player on the entire team has reached a certain seemingly easy to reach milestone.
The past 3 seasons the Islanders player stats were if not embarrassing, they were shameful.
Scanning back over the stat sheets from the past 3 years and you will see 3 players in the last 3 years with 50 points or more, and none with over 54.
The players? Mark Streit (56 in 2008-09), John Tavares (54 in 2009-10) and Kyle Okposo (52 in 2009-10)
In 2008-09 the Islanders, granted injury plagued as always had no forward with 40 points with only defenseman Mark Streit at 56 points leading the team.
Say what you want about making excuses for that, but it was embarrassing.
What about goal totals?
In those last 3 seasons we are speaking about, the Islanders only had 4 players top the 20 goal mark. Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin back in 2007-08, Matt Moulson and John Tavares last season.
In 2008-09 the Islanders had to set some kind of record for offensive futility, with no forward with 40 points and no player with 20 goals.
The last time the Islanders had a stat sheet that was not embarrassing to look at was in 2006-07 when they had six players with 20+ goals two with 30+ (Ryan Smyth) and one with 40 (Jason Blake.)
Also, Alexei Yashin scored 18 in 58 games.
After that season Ryan Smyth left the Islanders and took less money to sign with the Avalanche because he thought they had a better chance to win (that did not work out to well for him) and Jason Blake demanded a 5 year contract which he managed to get from the Maple Leafs.
The Islanders tried to re-tool that off season but it just didn't work and a new direction was needed to build a winner from within, not necessarily by choice but by necessity.
The Islanders 3 year period of horrid offensive numbers appear to be over.
Four 20 goal scorers, with PA Parenteau two away from 20. The Islanders have managed to put a team on the ice that is capable of beating anyone in the NHL and look good doing it.
6 players with 40+ points and John Tavares at 60.
Sure they had that awful win less streak that torpedoed any real chance of the playoffs.
That being said the Islanders have come back to the NHL despite over 500+ man games lost to injury the future is bright.
Garth Snow deserves so much credit for what he has put together.
Matt Moulson has netted back to back 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner has become an offensive force with his lightning speed and his 30 goals and has a real shot at the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
PA Parenteau has always had skills but if you would have told me he would put up the season he has, 18 goals and 30 assists so far I would have laughed at you.
John Tavares evolution continues as his offensive skills continue to show through as he improves every game. JT has a shot at his first 30 goal season with 26 goals so far.
Frans Nielsen has turned into a 2 way center that compliments the offensive first line of Tavares-Moulson-Parenteau playing with Micheal Grabner and Kyle Okposo.
This is the first time the Islanders have had two consistent lines playing together full time in at least 3 years.
No more shuffling lines to find what works because the chemistry is there.
Next season the Islanders top six and top two lines will return in tact for a full season of playing together.
In addition a healthy Mark Streit will be back to quarterback the power play.
Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic have become defense partners that play against the top players of the opposition and are playing extremely well as a unit.
Chemistry. This team has it. Finally.
The past 3 seasons the Islanders player stats were if not embarrassing, they were shameful.
Scanning back over the stat sheets from the past 3 years and you will see 3 players in the last 3 years with 50 points or more, and none with over 54.
The players? Mark Streit (56 in 2008-09), John Tavares (54 in 2009-10) and Kyle Okposo (52 in 2009-10)
In 2008-09 the Islanders, granted injury plagued as always had no forward with 40 points with only defenseman Mark Streit at 56 points leading the team.
Say what you want about making excuses for that, but it was embarrassing.
What about goal totals?
In those last 3 seasons we are speaking about, the Islanders only had 4 players top the 20 goal mark. Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin back in 2007-08, Matt Moulson and John Tavares last season.
In 2008-09 the Islanders had to set some kind of record for offensive futility, with no forward with 40 points and no player with 20 goals.
The last time the Islanders had a stat sheet that was not embarrassing to look at was in 2006-07 when they had six players with 20+ goals two with 30+ (Ryan Smyth) and one with 40 (Jason Blake.)
Also, Alexei Yashin scored 18 in 58 games.
After that season Ryan Smyth left the Islanders and took less money to sign with the Avalanche because he thought they had a better chance to win (that did not work out to well for him) and Jason Blake demanded a 5 year contract which he managed to get from the Maple Leafs.
The Islanders tried to re-tool that off season but it just didn't work and a new direction was needed to build a winner from within, not necessarily by choice but by necessity.
The Islanders 3 year period of horrid offensive numbers appear to be over.
Four 20 goal scorers, with PA Parenteau two away from 20. The Islanders have managed to put a team on the ice that is capable of beating anyone in the NHL and look good doing it.
6 players with 40+ points and John Tavares at 60.
Sure they had that awful win less streak that torpedoed any real chance of the playoffs.
That being said the Islanders have come back to the NHL despite over 500+ man games lost to injury the future is bright.
Garth Snow deserves so much credit for what he has put together.
Matt Moulson has netted back to back 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner has become an offensive force with his lightning speed and his 30 goals and has a real shot at the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
PA Parenteau has always had skills but if you would have told me he would put up the season he has, 18 goals and 30 assists so far I would have laughed at you.
John Tavares evolution continues as his offensive skills continue to show through as he improves every game. JT has a shot at his first 30 goal season with 26 goals so far.
Frans Nielsen has turned into a 2 way center that compliments the offensive first line of Tavares-Moulson-Parenteau playing with Micheal Grabner and Kyle Okposo.
This is the first time the Islanders have had two consistent lines playing together full time in at least 3 years.
No more shuffling lines to find what works because the chemistry is there.
Next season the Islanders top six and top two lines will return in tact for a full season of playing together.
In addition a healthy Mark Streit will be back to quarterback the power play.
Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic have become defense partners that play against the top players of the opposition and are playing extremely well as a unit.
Chemistry. This team has it. Finally.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
New York Islanders Resurgence Continues to Shape for the Future
Despite what Islander fans would call a speed bump in the 6-3 loss to the Rangers on March 15, the optimism surrounding the team is reaching a point where the fans are beginning to take notice.
The Islanders have been offering, as they absolutely should excellent ticket deals and 20 dollar games for fans to come and see the young Islanders play, knowing for once that people will walk away with a positive picture of what the team is doing.
Call it luck or whatever you want but Garth Snow and his staff deserve all the credit in the world for what is taking shape.
Snow pulled Matt Moulson out of obscurity and he has become a goal scorer netting two straight 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner was less of a stretch because he was a high draft pick and a good prospect but he has become the kind of player in such a short time that people eventually will pay to see.
Every time he is on the ice, he seems to do something incredible.
Franz Nielsen has turned into a two way center that by all rights should be contending for the Selke Trophy if not this season then in the near future.
Kyle Okposo is doing exactly what he should, using the rest of this season to get comfortable with his shoulder and with his line mates in what has become a very cohesive unit with Neilsen and Grabner.
Then there is PA Parenteau. A career minor leaguer albeit with skill has meshed very well with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. 17 goals, 30 assists and a nice 1 year contract extension are in his pocket.
Speaking of Tavares, he has become the offensive leader this team needs to build around and his development is moving along very nicely. He is almost scoring points at a point a game and has 26 goals and 34 assists. He is demonstrating that nose for the net that you cannot teach.
The Islanders young defense also looks promising. Travis Hamonic has made incredible strides this season as has Andre MacDonald who are playing against the NHL's best lines and making excellent statements about themselves moving forward.
Ty Wishart has played well and needs polish to his game but he has not embarrassed himself in his time in the NHL.
Zenon Konopka is not an offensive force. He is a force in other ways. Excellent on face offs, a good defensive forward, a good fighter and an excellent presence in the locker room. Snow needs to lock him up to a contract.
The only player you can say that has taken a step back this year is Josh Bailey even though he has shown flashes of brilliance he needs to get more consistent.
In goal the position looked like a black hole at time this season because of injuries.
Moving forward it looks as if the Islanders will be solid in net as 20 year old Kevin Poulin asserted himself very well.
Al Montoya played brilliantly since his acquisition and has played well enough to earn a spot on the team next season and will split time with Rick DiPietro, who is going to have to show this year that he is over his injury issues.
All in all, it should be an exciting end to the season as Garth Snow's vision has begun to show results on the ice.
6 months from now when camp opens for the Islanders it will be an exciting time to be an Islander fan for the first time in a long time the Islanders will have some real expectations to live up to.
The Islanders have been offering, as they absolutely should excellent ticket deals and 20 dollar games for fans to come and see the young Islanders play, knowing for once that people will walk away with a positive picture of what the team is doing.
Call it luck or whatever you want but Garth Snow and his staff deserve all the credit in the world for what is taking shape.
Snow pulled Matt Moulson out of obscurity and he has become a goal scorer netting two straight 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner was less of a stretch because he was a high draft pick and a good prospect but he has become the kind of player in such a short time that people eventually will pay to see.
Every time he is on the ice, he seems to do something incredible.
Franz Nielsen has turned into a two way center that by all rights should be contending for the Selke Trophy if not this season then in the near future.
Kyle Okposo is doing exactly what he should, using the rest of this season to get comfortable with his shoulder and with his line mates in what has become a very cohesive unit with Neilsen and Grabner.
Then there is PA Parenteau. A career minor leaguer albeit with skill has meshed very well with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. 17 goals, 30 assists and a nice 1 year contract extension are in his pocket.
Speaking of Tavares, he has become the offensive leader this team needs to build around and his development is moving along very nicely. He is almost scoring points at a point a game and has 26 goals and 34 assists. He is demonstrating that nose for the net that you cannot teach.
The Islanders young defense also looks promising. Travis Hamonic has made incredible strides this season as has Andre MacDonald who are playing against the NHL's best lines and making excellent statements about themselves moving forward.
Ty Wishart has played well and needs polish to his game but he has not embarrassed himself in his time in the NHL.
Zenon Konopka is not an offensive force. He is a force in other ways. Excellent on face offs, a good defensive forward, a good fighter and an excellent presence in the locker room. Snow needs to lock him up to a contract.
The only player you can say that has taken a step back this year is Josh Bailey even though he has shown flashes of brilliance he needs to get more consistent.
In goal the position looked like a black hole at time this season because of injuries.
Moving forward it looks as if the Islanders will be solid in net as 20 year old Kevin Poulin asserted himself very well.
Al Montoya played brilliantly since his acquisition and has played well enough to earn a spot on the team next season and will split time with Rick DiPietro, who is going to have to show this year that he is over his injury issues.
All in all, it should be an exciting end to the season as Garth Snow's vision has begun to show results on the ice.
6 months from now when camp opens for the Islanders it will be an exciting time to be an Islander fan for the first time in a long time the Islanders will have some real expectations to live up to.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Bad Guys - Listing the top 10 Most Hated Players in the NHL
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/626461-the-bad-guys-listing-the-10-most-hated-players-in-the-nhl
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