Mark Streit named Islanders Captain

Today, The NY Islanders announced that Mark Streit will be the teams new captain for the 2011-12 season and beyond. This is not a total shock as there have been stories from multiple sources saying that Streit is a strong leader on and off the ice. This will make Streit the 13th captain in Islanders History.

Streit is coming off a shoulder surgery and missed the entire 2010-2011 Islanders campaign. He suffered the injury during the preaseason last year during a Blue/White scrimmage game that was open to the public. Yes, the Isles’ die-hard faithful saw Streit’s season come to a strange and abrupt end. But that is in the past now.

Currently, Streit is skating with the team in training camp and is back healthy and ready to play. He has come a long way since his days as a swingman, playing for the Montreal Canadiens. He played both winger and defenseman for Montreal during the 2007-08 season. He later signed with the Islanders as an unrestricted free agent in 2008, with a  5-year, $20.5 million contract. He has two years left on his current deal.

Streit was captain of the Swiss National Team during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, a team that made it to the quarter finals that year.

It became apparent that the club wasn’t going to appoint Tavares as captain, at least not yet, at the press conference for his new 6-year deal signing. When asked about the new captaincy, Tavares stated that he wanted to be a leader on the ice, but that Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit would be very worthy choices. It looks like he was right.

Follow me on Twitter: @AMalmut

Islanders GM Garth Snow and Islanders center John Tavares

After another disappointing season where injuries piled up and playoff dreams were crushed early, there may still be a light at the end of the tunnel for the New York Islanders. Since the end of the regular season, there has been news aplenty on Long Island, and much of it being good news. Here’s the run down of recent developments:

————————————————

* Announcement of a new arena plan that will include a $400 million home for the New York Islanders, and a minor league baseball park. The Isles asks Nassau County residents to vote YES on August 1, 2011.

* Former Islanders Captain Doug Weight retires, and Isles GM Garth Snow announces Weight will fill two new positions; assistant coach and special assistant to the general manager.

* Islanders re-sign wingers Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner to 5-year contracts.

* Islanders sign prospect Casey Cizikas, a fourth round draft pick in 2009 that has exceeded expectations as captain of Mississauga (OHL).

————————————————

Islanders fans should expect the good news to continue. Despite the financial hardship of Nassau County, the new arena deal will likely be approved on August 1, especially if voters believe in the promises made by Islanders owner Charles Wang and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano – that in the end, the publicly funded arena won’t cost tax payers a dime. Before the summer is out, the long-term fate of the franchise will become clear.

As far as the on-ice product in concerned, things are getting interesting. The “Interim” title has been removed from Head Coach Jack Capuano’s name tag. John Tavares is developing into a franchise player. Garth Snow has shown commitment to his plan by locking up his young core players; Okposo, Grabner, and Moulson. Former All-Star defenseman, Mark Streit, will be returning to the roster for the 2011-12 season. Winger Blake Comeau has taken the next step in his development, after having his most productive season to date with 24 goals and 46 points in 77 games. Plus, the Isles expect veteran defensemen Mike Mottau, Mark Eaton, and Milan Jurcina to return from their injuries in time for training camp.

But, as with any professional team that finishes 27th overall in a 30-team league, question marks remain:

* Will center Josh Bailey take the next step in his development next season?

* Who will step up and become the next Islanders captain? Will that man be right for the job?

* Will Al Montoya be ready for training camp after tearing his meniscus (left knee) at the 2011 World Championships?  Note: It’s been reported surgery was successful.

* Will Rick DiPietro prove that he can consistently stay off injured reserve?

* Will free agents come to Long Island after learning a new arena deal may be in place? Does that really matter?

Even if Garth Snow is unable to answer these questions for certain, one thing is becoming evident - his plan seems to be working. Snow has been building through the draft since taking the general manager’s seat. Most teams don’t have the financial means or desirability (to free agents) to become “top dog”. And many Isles fans have been kicking and screaming that money hasn’t been spent to improve the on-ice product. Maybe it’s because the Islanders’ ownership has been losing millions for over a decade. Or maybe it’s because free agents don’t prefer the Islanders to other, more ‘successful’ franchises. Or maybe it could be that ownership doesn’t want to spend until an arena deal is guaranteed. All of these theories may have merit, but should fans think again?

Have a look at a team like the Chicago Blackhawks – they had to blow up their young core after winning the Stanley Cup because they were in a salary cap nightmare. They had the money to spend on Marian Hossa and other free agents to push them over the top, and it worked. But it was all for one cup, and one chance at glory. It may be worth it, depending upon who you talk to.

The point is this, Garth Snow has shown that he has the capability to effectively manage the salary cap - to his credit. If a young, high draft pick like John Tavares or Kyle Okposo need to be re-signed, the cap space is there to do so. If a player wants to get paid to be on this team long term, they have to prove themselves on the ice before the peanuts are handed out. It seems like the days of handing out 15-year contracts is over. The “DiPietro lesson” seems to have be learned. If the New York Islanders start making the playoffs year after year by filling their team with quality talent through the draft, that top-tier free agent acquisition will eventually come. Are they at this point yet? Absolutely not. But they have certainly put themselves in position to have that chance. If Nassau County residents vote yes on August 1, the chance at having a consistently competitive team becomes greater.

—————————————————————-

Feel free to comment, criticize, agree, or disagree. Thanks for reading.

Follow Adam on Twitter: @AMalmut

Here are the general consensus candidates. . .aka “The Big Three.”

#2 – Mark Streit – The Skilled Veteran

Mr. Streit has been the back-bone of the blue-line for the Islanders since he signed on the dotted line on June 1, 2008 as an unrestricted free agent. He was the Islanders’ lone representative at the 2008-09 NHL All-Star game and has led by example on the ice ever since. He was named captain of the Swiss national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Streit played well, but led the team to an 8th place finish. If Doug Weight doesn’t re-sign with the Islanders, Streit will be among a small group of seasoned veterans on a very young Islanders team.

Mark Streit 2009-2010 Statistics:
Goals: 11
Assists: 38
Points: 49
Plus/Minus:  (0) Even

———————————————————————————————–

#21 Kyle Okposo – Skilled Power Forward – Budding Star?

Okposo is young but he’s certainly no rookie – not anymore. He broke the 50-point mark in 2009-10 but was streaky over the course of the entire season. Between Okposo and teammate John Tavares, this blogger isn’t certain who should don the crown for being “King Post-Hitter.” There were many highlight-reel goals and assists from Okposo, but just as many close calls and missed opportunities. Okposo is a good player who has the potential to be a great one. Islanders fans have been yearning for a homegrown player with special talent, and Okposo looks to be one of them. He showed signs of being an emotional leader, but is he ready for the role of Captain? An oft-forgotten element to a good captain’s resume – being an excellent communicator, not just with the team on the bench, but also with the fans and the media – Okposo has all of these qualities and thus, must be considered for captaincy. Yet, he needs to “turn up the juice” in the point production department.

Kyle Okposo’s 2009-2010 Statistics:
Goals: 19
Assists: 33
Points: 52
Plus/Minus: -22

———————————————————————————————–

#91 John Tavares – 2009 First Overall Pick – “The Franchise”

Tavares was hyped and drafted to much fanfare in Islanders Country. Many fans may have expected a Crosby-like rookie season, but the rookie season hype took a nose-dive when Tavares seemed to hit a wall after a quick start. Tavares is certainly no slouch and put up a very respectable and team-leading point total in 2009-10 with 54 points – Not bad for a 19-year-old. He showed sporadic flashes of exceptional talent throughout the season and has the potential to be a team leader in points and jersey sales for years to come. Imagine – would a Tavares jersey look even better with a capital “C” sewn on? Absolutely. But the flashy young centerman has to earn it and has plenty of time to do so. After the Olympic break, Tavares returned to the Islanders refreshed and began to display why he was selected first overall in ’09. There are many young captains in the league (Toews 22, Ovechkin 24, Crosby 22) so it wouldn’t be fair to say “He’s too young to be ready.” Let the players and the organization decide.

John Tavares’ 2009-2010 Statistics:
Goals: 24
Assists: 30
Points: 54
Plus/Minus:  -15

There is still an outside chance that the new Islanders captain can arrive through free agency, but given the teams’ direction during the “Garth Snow Era”, the captain of the future should come from within the organization.

CAPTAINS OF THE PAST:

- Denis Potvin
- Alexei Yashin
- Clark Gillies
- Ed Westfall
- Kenny Jonsson
- Bill Guerin
- Doug Weight

. . .more

Feel free to comment, criticize, agree, or disagree. Thanks for reading.

Follow Adam on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AMalmut

What will the NYI roster look like in 2010-11?

As this blogger looks into his crystal ball, it would appear there is some writing on the wall as “year two” of the New York Islanders overhaul is coming to a close.

There have been some pleasant surprises this season, and also some let downs. The rosters have been frozen for the Olympic break but the March 3rd trade deadline looms near. An argument can be made that the Isles have substantial amount of “core” players. The big question is if it’s the proper time to start adding in some free agents to fill in the gaps.

The Islanders currently are sitting pretty in 13th place in the Eastern Conference but are only six points out of a playoff spot (as of 2/18/10). For a moment, let’s forget the implications of making or not making the playoffs. Let’s take a moment to identify the players who are here to stay for the long run, and which players are primed to be shown the door. Who is here to stay? Who will be the cast aways?

Here To Stay:

Matt Moulson – Matt has been the biggest pleasant surprise this season. He is second on the team in scoring, with 36 points and holds one of the best plus/minus stats on the team for the forward position (-1). He has 22 goals and is on pace for 29 goals and 47 points. Not bad for a guy that was a depth signing in September ’09. Matt Moulson should be paid after the close of the season, and handsomely. Factoring in the scoring touch and nose for the front of the net, it’s clear that this is no one-year-wonder. But, he’s currently on a one-year deal so Garth Snow better make a decision promptly after the season.

Andy Sutton – Sutton has had a phenomenal season and has shown he can play for a full season without injury – well, aside from that little two-game suspension served for squashing Pascal Dupuis’ face into the boards. He also has an expiring contract after this season and he can be a valuable trading chip. Even though Sutton is 34-years-old, I would sign this “old man” for another three years if I were an NHL team that is looking for toughness on the blue line. Sutton failed to live up to expectations prior to this season, and is playing suspiciously well for a guy in a contract year. Alas, his exceptional play and big hit mentality can not be ignored.

Matt Martin – This young man has only played four NHL games this season. In those games he has two assists and 22 penalty minutes. In only four games, he has shown the ability to hit and fight better than any other player on the current roster. If he plays out the rest of the season the way he’s played in his short two-week tenure, it will be hard not to keep this kid on the NHL squad permanently in 2010-11. He was brought in to crash-and-bang and that’s what he is doing – oh yeah, and he also parks himself in front of the net on the powerplay.

Andrew MacDonald – Another pleasant surprise, but on the defensive end. MacDonald proved he has a good shot, but most importantly, poise with the puck. He is a product of the Islanders farm system and has been groomed slowly and it shows in his game. He rarely panics and makes good decisions with the puck. He should definitely be a mainstay next season. Pay the man.

Cast Aways:

Richard Park – The only Korean player in the NHL was a savvy veteran that got under the skin of every opposing team on game night – up until this year. Park’s season has been filled with shots that miss the net, goals that were disallowed, and a plus/minus that can make a grown man cry (-20). His time in Islanders Country has come and gone.

Jon Sim – Chalk up another disappointing season for Mr. Sim. He was brought in to provide secondary scoring and to be a pest around the ice. Well, he got the pest part right – err, sometimes. He has one great game this season where he bothered the Boston Beanstalk, Zdeno Chara, to the point of madness. Other than that, his occasional goal and punching bag act got old quick.

Jeff Tambellini – Tamby showed scoring touch and was an ace in the shootout, but could never stick to the NHL roster under Ted Nolan or Scott Gordon. In his 170 NHL games, Tambellini has 18 goals and 45 points. Not so hot for former first-round pick who was supposed to be a top-six sniper. He has only played in 26 games this season and has been a healthy scratch for the rest. This young man will most likely need to find fortune with a new team in 2010-11.

Doug Weight – After being named Islanders Captain, Weight has slacked in the point production department. He has been nursing a shoulder injury since exhibition play, and turned 39 on January 21st. It would appear, judging by his play and an expiring contract, that Weight will be a one-year captain and hang up the skates for good after this season.

While this is an abbreviated list, these are the main players who are most likely to be added/subtracted to the 2010-11 roster. Who will replace the dearly departed? The answer remains to be seen.

Here is a list of players that are riding the pine and are teetering on an Islanders return next season;

LW – Sean Bergenheim – Bergy is a wrecking-ball type that works hard, has speed, and has had the ability to score. Though he has less than 10 goals on the season, he has ability but finds it hard to stay healthy.

D -Bruno Gervais – He showed flashed last year with a strong second half. He had a weak first half again this season and hasn’t shown positive progress.

C – Rob Schremp – Rob is a solid offensive producer who is still relatively green. The potential is there, and he will be given a chance to produce for the Islanders. If the Isles stay the course and build through the draft without picking up free agents, Schremp stays for at least another season. Schremp was picked up off waivers from Edmonton earlier in the season.

D- Freddy Meyer IV – Meyer is a gamer and would make an excellent seventh defenseman on any NHL team. A starter? Not so much. He is more of a utility fill-in player that is kept around for depth.

G – Martin Biron – Marty caught some bad luck this season. In most of his losses this season, the team has failed to score in front of him. He has had some good games but it’s difficult for him to keep the game under 2 goals. He has one shootout on the year.

Follow Adam on Twitter: Twitter.com/AMalmut

Speculation that the NY Islanders will move to Kansas City has come and gone.

Disclaimer: Before I begin my rant, I first want to let my friends from the American Midwest know that this blog has nothing to do with the state or city of Kansas or Missouri. Moreover, it has to with the mind-boggling chants that “hockey fans” continue to spew.

A Brief History: It was way back in January 2009, when the fight between The Lighthouse development partners (NY Islanders owner Charles B. Wang and RXR) began to get really dirty. Back then, local news outlets got word that the Islanders are going to play a pre-season game in Kansas City. It was that one little tidbit of information that sprung Islanders fans, NHL hockey fans, and the media into a frenzy. Many people in the New York area that are familiar with either hockey or sports in general have known about Charles Wang’s desire to build a new arena. For about 10 years now, The Lighthouse project has seen its share of bumps in the road and, of course, has yet to be green lighted. After the self-imposed “deadline” (October 3, 2009) had come and gone, Wang decided that it was best to “explore all options,” which include selling the team to the highest bidder. Since then, there has been a media blackout on the subject and Wang told reporters that he wishes not to talk to the media about his plans going forward. The fight between the Town of Hempstead and The Lighthouse on Long Island have come to a stand-still once again.

What’s next?: With the Islanders on-ice product beginning to swing upwards, this is where it will begin to get emotional for Islanders fans. Here are some options, in short form:

1. Wang sells and the Islanders move to Brooklyn, NY.
2. Wang sells and the Islanders move to Queens, NY.
3. Wang sells and the Islanders move out of state and, basically, cease to exist.
4a. Wang sells and new owner(s) build new arena in Nassau County.
4. Wang keeps the team on Long Island, because a scaled-down version of the massive Lighthouse project goes through.
5. Wang nixes the Lighthouse Project and decides to build a new arena only, minus the large-scale amenities, having a calming effect on the “traffic issues” that the Town of Hempstead has had such a problem with. (The TOH is claiming that the traffic studies provided by NY State and the Lighthouse project group are insufficient.) The Town of Hempstead has supposedly “approved” such a development. This option actually seems to be the least likely to happen, for one reason or another.

The Chant: I really don’t want to point the proverbial finger at any “specific” fans. I make my judgement based upon what I’ve seen and heard and can gather based upon the history of the Islanders/Rangers rivalry. The New York Islanders played the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, September, 22nd at 8 p.m. at the Sprint Center in Kansas City – with under 6,000 in attendance, the game was considered a failure. But in my experiences, whether at Madison Square Garden or at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, it has been some NY Rangers fans that have walked around the concourse and inside the arena that chant:  “Kansas City!” – followed by a series of claps as if they were cheering on their own team. Before anyone gets offended or misconstrues anything, let’s examine some history of chants between the NY Islanders and NY Rangers. And before I spout some examples, I’d like to note that it is this bloggers feeling that the NYR/NYI rivalry is one of the greatest in sports history – period. Now for some of the favorite chants:
——————————————————————————————————————-

NYI fans to Rangers fans:
1. “1940!” – This chant was a fan favorite before the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994. 1940 was the last time the Rangers held the Stanley Cup previously. It’s use was negated after the Rangers broke the long streak of no NHL championships.

NYR fans to Islanders fans:
1. “Potvin s*cks!” – This chant is still alive to this day. Apparently, former Islander defenseman, Denis Potvin, gave Ranger fans so much grief over the years to the point where it is still shouted – long after Potvins retirement. To many Islanders fans, this is just an acknowledgment of a great player that the NYI once possessed.

——————————————————————————————————————-

These are just two examples of the fan-to-fan exploits and expletives that people would shout at each other during the games. That can be considered rude or offensive to some, but to others, the chants can be endearing memories of joy and heartbreak that will last a lifetime. They’re part of the rivalry and part of hockey history.

There have been good moments and bad moments between these two clubs, but at least most of us Rangers and Islanders fans can agree to that. There have been fun chants to rib the other team and some can be meaner than others. But this “Kansas City!” chant from Rangers fans to Islanders fans bothers me. Let’s, for a moment, examine what is truly being said here when the fans chant “Kansas City!” - They are rubbing it in the Islanders fans’ collective faces that:

1.The Islanders may possibly be moving out of state, in this case Kansas City.

2. That this is something to celebrate and “ha ha ha, we finally have something good to hurt the Islanders fans with because their team will be gone.”

The Rant: Believe me, I am not naive enough to think that a good ribbing toward the rivalry team is out of order. In fact, I encourage it when it doesn’t get too personal, physical, or inappropriate to the point where parents can’t bring their children to the game in fear that they will be hurt. I understand that these chanters don’t speak for all fans and are, hopefully, part of the minority. But to celebrate the fact that a rival team may be physically moved away and destroy one of the best rivalries on sports, to me is one thing – a disgrace. It’s a disgrace to hockey history and a disgrace to a wonderful game that many of us grew up watching and even playing. This blogger, as an admitted Islander fan, would NEVER wish for the Rangers to be moved – ever. It would be a shameful act for me to the do so. I would miss those truly special times of the year when my family and I get to see the best games of the season. I get to see the most hated team face-off for 60 minutes against my most favorite team. For me, this is the Yankees against the Red Sox. This is the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys. This is one team against another that has the fans root more passionately on this day than any other. When the line of mutual respect is broken, much is lost. If one can’t respect the opposition and find a simple love for the game, it’s time to root for another team in another sport.

Extra note: For those who say I’m singling out Rangers fans and making pointed comments, I respond in saying – I am. I have yet to hear it from any divisional rival fans, not from Washington Capitals fans, Penguins fans (who are familiar with such a situation), Flyers fans, or Devils fans. But if there are fans from other teams that are cheering for ANY other team to move – I say shame on them. My heart goes out to the true Phoenix Coyotes fans who fear their team will move. Nobody should live and die with sports only, because there are more important things to worry about. But if you are passionate enough about your team to go and cheer for them when they win, and hope for better days when they lose, continue to support the great game of hockey and your favorite team.

Rick DiPietro missed the third game in his conditioning stint.

The Islanders website released a statement late Monday night. . . another speed bump?
Here is the link to Islanders Authorized.

Posting (12/14/09 – 10:45 p.m.) - Islanders General Manager Garth Snow has issued a statement about goaltender Rick DiPietro and his updated rehabilitation process.

“Ricky has been seen by the team doctors and most recently a specialist,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said.  “To make sure we are taking the proper steps in his rehabilitation, we will seek an additional opinion and should have a time-line by the end of the week.”

—————————————————————————————–

Posting (12/14/09 – 10:40 a.m.) - The Islanders have annouced that goaltender Rick DiPietro will not dress in the Sound Tigers’ game on Tuesday against the Portland Pirates.  He was originally scheduled to make his third and final start of his two-week AHL conditioning stint but due to soreness.  He is being evaluated today by team doctors.
—————————————————————————————–

It would be wrong for me to say that this is unbelievable, because it isn’t. Unfortunately for Rick DiPietro, this may be something that sticks with him for the rest of his career.

All of a sudden Garth Snow is looking mighty wise for drafting two goalies within the first three rounds of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The move was highly questioned at the time. Maybe it was that Islanders fans didn’t want to believe that “The Franchise” wouldn’t ever return to normal.

While Snow issued the statement that the team is being cautious, it isn’t difficult to read between the headlines on this one. It’s a shame too. Not only because the now 28-year-old DiPietro signed a 15-year deal and may not fulfill it, but he fell right before he seemed to be reaching his prime. He went down an All-Star and he is returning(maybe) as a pieced-together repair job.

Maybe this is a “precaution”.

Maybe we are witnessing the beginning of the end.

Maybe he will find a way to play for another 10 years.

He’s been rehabbing his knee for 11 months. And yet still, there is “soreness” and more complications. My heart goes out to the goaltender – he still loves the game and this blogger can’t begin to imagine the frustration of it all. Not as a fan, but as the man.

Islanders Face-Off against Philly and Laviolette

Tonight’s game of the night looks to be the New York Islanders(11-11-7) verses the Philadelphia Flyers(13-13-1) as Peter Laviolette looks to snag his first win as Flyers head coach.

In each of his two seasons with the Islanders, Laviolette led them to the playoffs after a long seven year drought. Now, as the new head coach in Philly, he will be looking to remedy the bad taste in Philly fans mouths from the previous two losses. In his Flyers debut, Laviolette led his team to a 8-2 drubbing at home delivered by the Washington Capitals. Oh yeah, and that little 3-1 loss last night in Montreal probably didn’t sit well either.

In Net (update): It looks like Ray Emery will miss six weeks as team officials say he will require abdominal surgery. Brian Boucher will likely start for the Flyers. Marty Biron will try and snuff out his former team for the Islanders.

Super-Witt: After his near death experience, Isles defenseman Brendan Witt will defy all odds and play tonight in Philadelphia despite being hit by a gold Yukon truck earlier in the day. As TSN reports, one witness claimed that “it was like seeing Clint Eastwood, but in hockey.” Even a non-hockey fan has to admire this type of toughness and commitment to team. There has been speculation that Witt has been playing injured even before his run-in with a motor vehicle, as he has been averaging close to 11 minutes in ice time per game.

At a Loss: While the Flyers are coming off a loss, so are the Islanders. One can argue that this is as close to a must-win as the Flyers have seen, but the Isles would like to gain even more than the two point lead they currently have over the Flyers in the standings. Alas, the Isles are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, whereas the Flyers are 2-8-0 in their last 10.

The last time the teams met, the Flyers beat the Islanders at home (2-1) on November 25, 2009.

The puck is set to drop at 7:05 est at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

Follow Adam on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AMalmut

Matt Moulson is the Cinderella story of the 09-10 season.

A new Cinderella has been crowned and her his name is Matt Moulson. The Mississauga, Ontario native has made the big time this season after signing a one-year deal with the New York Islanders. Moulson made the team out of training camp and never seemed to look back.

Moulson currently leads the Islanders in goals (14) and is tied with John Tavares with 22 points in 28 games (also leading in that category). Three of those goals came tonight in Moulson’s first career NHL hat-trick against the Atlanta Thrashers (12/03/09).

Moulson slapshot – Goal.
Moulson breakaway from a leading pass from Trent Hunter – Goal.
Moulson tip in front of the net – Goal.

He almost had a hat trick earlier in the season against the Boston Bruins, but the replay of what would be goal number three showed that Moulson’s stick never touched the puck. So he had the hardship that night of settling for two.

The 26-year-old just seems to find ways to get in front of the net and it’s been paying off – and it will surely fatten his wallet toward the end of the season.

Before this season, Moulson accumulated only six NHL goals in his two previous seasons playing for the L.A. Kings – granted that he only played in 29 NHL games for the Kings. But it would seem the Kings let a good one slip through the cracks and the Islanders picked up the pieces.

While Moulson proved he can score in the AHL (74 goals in three seasons with the Manchester Monarchs), he never received the chance to do so at the NHL level. Islanders General Manager, Garth Snow, most likely added Moulson with the expectation that he would add scoring power to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. But Luckily for the Isles, “Mighty Matt” showed he can do much more.

Speaking of expectations, it was the first overall draft pick, John Tavares, who was supposed to be the one adding the offensive prowess to a team that was lacking it the previous season – and quite frankly, he has. But Tavares came in as a rookie in a league where rookies generally struggle. Maybe it’s because the “new NHL” was reformed specifically to cater to these young athletes by removing the grab-and-clutch game that used to be the standard, and thus be the downfall of such young and physically underdeveloped players.

A game that was once men versus men has quickly become men and children verses other men and children. The direct result of these rule changes has been increased scoring league-wide and also more opportunities for younger players like Matt Moulson.

What will Martin Biron bring back in a trade?

Yes, it is still early to be talking about trading Marty Biron. But everyone who follows the Islanders closely knows that Rick DiPietro is on his way back by the end of the year. But let’s go over some of Biron’s statistics, shall we?

Games played: 13
Wins : 2
Losses: 8
OT Losses: 2
Goals against: 38
Save Percentage:  .907%
Goals Against Average:  3.04

To his credit, one of Biron’s wins was a shutout.

With Biron getting points in four of the 13 games he has played, it looks a lot worse than it seems. But if he doesn’t rebound and chalk some up in the “W” column, his trade value will no doubt be hurting for the Islanders come the trade deadline. That is if he isn’t moved before then.

But let’s look a little deeper into the Marty “The Backup” Biron situation.

I have watched every Isles game this season, and all of which Biron has made his starts. Putting his lone shutout on the year aside, he has looked OK in net. And we must take into consideration that the Islander’s defense has been a bit, well, let’s call them a lackluster defensive corp. Aside from Andy Sutton playing the best “D” he’s ever played, and Jack Hillen really coming into his own with some great puck control and movement skills, the rest of the NYI defensemen have struggled at best. Radek Martinek went down pretty early with a leg injury. Journeyman d-man Bruno Gervais has been atrocious to be polite. And aside from making a good play or two per game, Brendan Witt is no longer the player he once was. Speaking of which, the Islanders lone All-Star of the previous season, Mark Streit, has yet to match or come close to being the premier caliber point-grabber that he is capable of being.

The Bottom Line: Blame can be shared for Biron’s mediocre performances this season. Believe me, it is not only him. The interesting thing is that the Isles only seem to show up when Dwayne Roloson is between the pipes. And “Roli” has bailed the Islanders out on more than one occasion thus far. The Islanders currently find themselves in the middle of the pack, but are losing players to injury left and right (Sutton 2-4 weeks, Weight 4-6 weeks, Nielsen day-to-day). They can ill afford to lose another player at the top of the line-up.

What’s Next? — Hopefully for the Islanders, DiPietro gracefully fulfills and completes his rehabilitation process as he is set to join the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI affiliate) this upcoming Saturday. As reported by Newsday and TSN, DiPietro is looking forward to a mid-December return to the New York Islanders. As I stated in my previous blog, a ready DiPietro means an expendable Marty Biron.

The Value — If an NHL GM is looking to trade for Biron, What do the Islanders get in return? If Biron turns his so-so play around, he might be able to fetch a second-round draft choice if a team is very desperate for a goaltender (usually due to an injury to a starter). But chances are, even if he does improve going into the new year, he will likely be worth only a fourth or third-round pick at best. Unless, of course, he is packaged with other players and a larger deal is made.

But wait, there’s more! — General Manager Garth Snow has told Larry Brooks of the NY Post that owner Charles Wang has given Snow the “green light” to improve to team and make a trade, if need be, to improve the team for a playoff run. The only question that remains – What is Snow willing to give up for a top-tier player? Or will he avoid another Ryan Smyth fiasco and play “Let’s Make A Deal?”

What do YOU feel is Biron’s worth?

———————————————————————————-

Follow Adam on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AMalmut

Rick DiPietro returns to the Islanders.

As reported yesterday by Newsday’s Katie Strang, Rick DiPietro is set to return to full-time practice with the New York Islanders. The Islanders’ brass made the wise decision to let the oft-injured franchise net minder rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee properly. It was a long and grueling process but the time has finally come.

While fans and the team have been patient, one major question remains – When will “DP” return to game action?

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

It’s good to know that he will practice with the rest of the team on Monday, and I can only assume that the process will continue at a snails pace. A case can be made that DiPietro will not see game action in an Islanders uniform until mid-December at the earliest. As with any other player coming off a serious injury, DiPietro will most likely see time with the AHL affiliate, Bridgeport Sound Tigers – at least for a few games for condition purposes. Call it a test run.

For a moment, let’s assume that DiPietro will come back strong and begin to prove that he can be the player he was before his unfortunate run in with the injury gang. What will the Islanders do with Martin Biron? Will Scott Gordon cycle three goaltenders until the trade deadline set for March 3, 2010? And how many games will DiPietro be able to handle this season? There are so many questions, and even more games left to play. But as any NHL general manager would say, a glut in goal is a good problem to have.

If all goes according to plan, Garth Snow will be in very good position to add a piece or two if the Islanders are in playoff contention in March. And by the look of things, they very well could be. If the opposite happens and the Islanders slide, Biron can just as easily be moved for a mid-round draft pick to a team looking for help in the nets.

Since the Isles have been reasonably avoiding the injury bug, Doug Weight and Radek Martinek aside, things are looking up in Islander country. When “The Rick” makes his triumphant return, he will most likely be splitting time with current starter Dwayne Roloson. Roloson, who is most recently coming off a 58-save performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been stellar as of late.

"DP" Returns!

DiPietro last played on January 02, 2009, with an inflamed knee and let in five goals against. Something tells me that things will be a little different for the 28-year-old this upcoming new year.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Follow Adam on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AMalmut

Andy Sutton crushing Ales Hemsky (Oilers).

Jeff Tambellini - A New Hope?

A new star has risen up the NHL ranks and his name is . . . Jeff Tambellini?

Tambellini made the NHL.com top three stars this week and just in time for the New York Islanders who have lacked in the secondary scoring department for some time. He earned the honor by scoring his first career hat trick on Halloween night, 2009.

Before his triumphant night at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Tambellini has earned the enigma label with fans and the Isles brass alike. Being a prolific scorer at every level before the NHL, expectations were high for him even before he signed his one-way deal around two years ago. It wasn’t until this season where Tambellini began to show he knows the ways of the force. The goal-scoring force that is.

The beginning. . .Tambellini was a scratch in five games this season until he was given his shot to pitch in. Not only did he score in his first game back in the lineup, he posted a hat trick and a 2-goal game in eight games played this season.

The plot thickens. . . He is tied with Matt Moulson for a team-leading six goals – three of which came on the power play. Is in just now starting to be humorous that the Isles’ two goal leaders are from the LA Kings system? Maybe. Nevermind the fact he had a key shootout goal to help bring in the Islanders second win of the season either. And try and ignore the through-the-legs goal he put past Ryan Miller on his way to the hat trick. Can anyone still deny the skills?

A New Hope? . . . some may not be convinced yet, but Tambellini is really starting to look like the top-six sniper that he was meant to be. I realize that in his 96 NHL games played before this season he had only eight goals. But hey, some players are late bloomers. I remember a guy named Skywalker started off pretty slow, but he turned into a Jedi Knight after Yoda added some seasoning. Hopefully Scott Gordon can play the part of Yoda in this scenario, but that’s a post for another day. The question remains – will the force stay strong with Tambellini toward the end of the season or will it fizzle?

The fact of the matter is that Tambellini is starting to “get his nose dirty in front of the net,” as teammate Doug Weight alluded to in an interview with the press recently. That is how goal scorers produce, and that is how Tambellini has been producing this season.

Tambellini looks to continue his hot streak Monday night in Uniondale when the Islanders and Oilers face-off at 7pm.

Until next time. . .The Saga Continues. . .

Netminder Dwayne Roloson was ripped from the nets last night in the second period after letting in four goals on 12 shots – three of the goals could have been easily stopped. While Roloson and Marty Biron have yet to chalk one up in the Wins column, it is Roloson who has been visibly struggling to keep the NYI in games so far this season.

In the three games he started, Roloson is 0-2-1 with a GAA of 3.77, and is touting a .88 save percentage. The real problem for the Islanders and Roloson in net: The man can not stop a breakaway shot. In two shootouts this season, Roloson has stopped one shot – and that was on a whiff by the puck handler. That is not to mention the penalty shot that Buffalo forward Clark MacArthur eased passed “Roli” last night. If your favorite hockey team(pick any) is treading down the ice with a 1-on-1 chance, start the celebration early by clinking a definitive cheers to your buddy’s drinking glass – It’s going to be a goal.

Roloson has shown that he is capable of sound positional play in the Islanders’ five games thus far. But like his teammates, he has to prove that he can get it done for 60-plus minutes per night.

—-

Much like his pal between the pipes, Josh Bailey is having a troubling start to his sophomore season. In five games, Bailey has posted only one assist and is a minus-3. Stats never tell the entire story, but those who have watched the games so far can tell you that something is wrong here. Bailey usually wins half of his face-offs during a game, but he holds a face-off percentage of less than 50 percent in three out of the five games played – Not so good for a team that’s having trouble possessing the puck.

Speculation from last season is that he was rushed into action because Isles GM Garth Snow “felt pressure” to justify trading down twice within the top-10 of last year’s NHL Entry Draft. Whether the speculation is true or not, it is apparent that Bailey needed more time to be groomed. It may be possible that there is a confidence issue here – especially after Bailey’s off-season effort to add weight and muscle. Several Newsday reporters suggested during the pre-season that Bailey “looked bigger”.

Expectations were high for the Islander’s budding stars, but only Okposo, Tavares, and surprisingly Matt Moulson have earned their keep thus far. The rhetoric during training camp from many players was the need to have a fast start. With struggling goalies and holes on defense, the Islanders with have to play full 60-minute games to make up for their bad start to October.

The redemption must begin tonight at 7pm when the Islanders host the sliding San Jose Sharks.

Tues – 8:35pm Est.

Tough guy Jeremy Reich leaves with a broken wrist in the Islanders final preseason against the New Jersey Devils. The injury occured during a fight in the first period.

Reich was fighting for a roster spot to open the season with the Islanders’ big club. This injury ends the winger’s hope of making the team out of camp.

Hockey Smile - Chris Neil (Getty)

Whenever I see another toothless face as a watch NHL hockey, I begin to wonder what effect it has on the players. To look at this analytically, we must understand how important teeth are to the human body and how a lack of chompers can effect us both medically and socially.

There are three major uses for teeth in human beings:

1. Eating – This is the most obvious one. If a person has a full set of teeth, they are then free to eat any type of food they choose. If a person has damaged or diseased teeth, it becomes very difficult to consume foods like meat and bread.

2. Attracting a lover – It’s usually not widely talked about on a daily basis, but having a nice smile is a secondary sex characteristic. For whatever reason, a person tends to look away or sometimes even run away when they see an open pie-hole with nothing left but a black pit of despair where teeth once were.

3. Intimidation – (This is an oldie but goodie). Teeth are not as important for humans anymore in this regard, but most predatory animals have used their teeth to put fear into the hearts of their enemies.

What value does a mangled grill have in the National Hockey League?

If you answered number three (intimidation), you are correct. When you look at a player and he’s smiling at you with no teeth in the front, you know one thing – This guy must be tough.

Imagine yourself as an NHLer at center-ice before the face-off. You then look to your left and see a well-conditioned, toothless, and angry Chris Neil (Ottawa) as he asks you “You wanna go?”. What then runs through any sane man’s mind are questions like “Do I feel lucky?” or a more thoughtful and calmer man would say “I wonder where his teeth went?”. Unfortunately for that bloke, his smile is about to match Chris Neil’s.

If you’re an NHL general manager, you know that team toughness is still very much part of the game – even in the “new” NHL where the roughhousing and grab-and-clutch parts of the game have been drawn down to a minimum. While there aren’t as many fights in the regular season as there is in preseason, fighting is still part of the game and players still lose their teeth.

What intrigues me is how the players feel about their damaged mandibles. Do they wear it as a badge of honor, as if to say, “Yup, I play pro hockey.” ? Or it is a begrudging situation where the players realize that it’s a rough game played by rough men?

I like to think it’s a little of both.

Maybe somebody should ask Mark Parrish.

Sept 17. 10:25pm EST -

Islanders forward Kyle Okposo was taken off the ice on a stretcher after an open-ice hit by Calgary defenseman Dion Phanuef. The hit came midway through the second period of a preseason game in Calgary on Thursday Night. No news yet on how serious the injury is, but whenever a player leaves on a stretcher it’s not good.

Okposo was the Islanders second leading point scorer last year with 39 points.

More to come . . .

Here is the video of the hit:

Kyle Okposo hit by Phaneuf

————————————————————————————————-

UPDATE: As per Katie Strang of Newsday, Okposo was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with a mild concussion. He was cleared to fly back with the team.

Jon Sim vs. Jeremy Reich

The New York Islanders made the decision not to add any new faces at forward this season. At least not any “big name” guys. But what Isles GM Garth Snow did do, as he did last year, is add players to their AHL affiliate (Bridgeport Sound Tigers) that can come in and fill any gaps when the inevitable injury bug hits.

There are 11 forward spots that a filled and spoken for on the roster – including the first overall pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, John Tavares. That leaves one forward position up for grabs and trust me, there will be a battle for that last spot. Let’s have a look at who the contenders are for that last spot:

Jon Sim (LW) – Sim had a difficult season last year (To say the least). When he was signed to a 3-year deal in 2006-2007, his first season as an Islander ended within the first two games as he went down with a severe knee injury. He returned last year and struggled immensely. In the 49 games Sim played, he managed only nine goals and six assists for 15 points. Later in the season when the Islanders were clearly out of the playoff race, Sim was a healthy scratch several games in a row before clearing wavers and being sent down to the Sound Tigers. While he was with the AHL affiliate, he was said to be their best forward by Bridgeport coach Jack Capuano. Alas, Sim returns for his final contract year to fight for a roster spot that he at one time had a claim to.

Jeremy Reich (LW/RW) – Reich is mostly known as an AHL pugilist, but he spent 58 games with the Boston Bruins during the 2007-2008 season and accumulated 78 PIM. Looking beyond his tough guy reputation, Reich showed some decent scoring touch and hockey sense as he potted 21 goals and added 13 assists for the Providence Bruins last season. Reich spent his first exhibition game this season punching the faces of the Vancouver Canucks during the Hockeyville game in Terrace, BC.

Jesse Joensuu (C/LW) - The 6′ 4″ second rounder appeared in seven games for the Isles last season and proved he had a knack for being in front of the net. In those seven games, Joensuu had one goal and two assists for three points. He also appeared in 71 games for the Sound Tigers, racking up 20 goals and 39 points. While he may never be a huge point-getter in the NHL, Joensuu has good speed for a big man and has the intangibles to do the little things right.

Sleeper Pick –

Matt Moulson (LW) - Moulson has spent the past three season in the Los Angeles Kings system and has had some success. In 2007-2008 he spent 22 games with the big club and scored five goals in those contests. He returned the following year for only seven games to pot one goal. While his NHL opportunities were few, Moulson was one of the better forwards for the Manchester Monarchs(AHL). In his 208 games as a Monarch, Moulson posted 78 goals and 168 points over the coarse of three seasons.

The roster spot is open to players I haven’t mentioned, of course, but these are my educated guesses. While we may not know who will win the battle for the Islanders final roster spot, we do know one thing – Hockey is back!