Unfortunately, I think the Fourth of July weekend and all the drinking that comes along with it began earlier than necessary for several publications, specifically the Los Angeles Times and TSN. The beginnings of the 10-year, $100 million offer can be traced back to reports that leaked from TSN, but more specifically, a blog entrance on the Los Angeles Times stating that the Kings were losing ground to the Islanders, who would be using Kovalchuk as the focal point for the Lighthouse Project. Talk about taking one phone-call inquiry and running with it.

Unfortunately, that one phone call, and a text message to ESPN stating the Islanders had made contact with the Kovalchuk camp, was enough to have major media sources report is as fact. As bloggers, we aren’t entitled to much first hand information, and we rely on these “respectable” news sources. Unfortunately, that led us very wrong this time around, as did the constant tune of changing stories on Twitter.

In any case, I still stand by my belief that Kovalchuk would have been a great addition for the New York Islanders, for all the reasons I stated in my previous article, and for many, many more that I’m sure we could name together. His star-power, his ability to entertain, and his gift for scoring goals are deep needs of this young and rebuilding New York Islanders team, however, we must now move on from that idea, as it was never really more than just an idea.

So what forwards are left in free agency for the New York Islanders to pursue?

In terms of scoring talent, there are very few second-tier options left. Alexander Frolov has long been mentioned as one of the better forwards available in this free-agent crop, however, he has many detractors in Los Angeles claiming that he is highly inconsistent and he has a poor work ethic. As a player who has managed to put up between 50 and 71 points over the past five seasons in Los Angeles, it is obvious that he is very talented, but could he replicate those numbers on a young, inexperienced New York Islanders team? This is a very tough call. Considering I’ve only heard that the New York Rangers briefly spoke with his camp about signing the Russian forward and then walked away, I’m sure many other teams are holding the same concerns.

Another second-level forward available that has intrigued some is Lee Stempniak. Although he played decently in Toronto during the first three-quarters of last season, he did more than show he can play and score in this league with the Phoenix Coyotes, putting back 14 goals and 4 assists in the 18 regular season games he played with them. Unfortunately, he was less than stellar in the playoffs, registering 0 goals and 2 assists and a -4 rating in the 7 game series loss to the Detroit Red Wings. While he is obviously not a premier talent, Stempniak could easily find his way into the Islanders top-six forwards, as well as receiving quality power-play time. The question is, how long of a commitment would we need to make to him? A three-year deal seems to be the type of range that most of my colleagues would be comfortable seeing, however, the salary itself is what comes into question. While he was just “average” with the Maple Leafs, he played extremely well for the Coyotes to finish off the year.

Would you be interested in Stempniak? If so, for how long and how much? My opinion? Three years, $3.75 million per season.

Beyond these two forwards, who I believe stand out from the remaining free agents, there are several other decent players including:

Jere Lehtinen, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Dominic Moore, Kyle Wellwood, Bill Guerin, Frederik Modin, and Arron Asham.

Unfortunately, if you take the same approach I do, you don’t see anyone on this list that makes sense age-wise or fits into the Islanders current roster situation. Although the Islanders could use the toughness and grit that Arron Asham could bring to the lineup, I do not believe that Snow is interested in adding him in place of playing one of the younger guys from Bridgeport. With Zenon Konopka already signed, and with Gillies playing next to him on the wing, the Islanders do not need to worry too much in the fighting department.

Unfortunately, after the first day frenzy, and past Ilya Kovalchuk, it is a rather weak group of free agents. What do you think Snow’s next move in the forward department will be, if any at all?

-Justin M.

Email: IslesNet@Gmail.Com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/islesnet

1.He can score 40+ goals per season: When is the last time the Islanders had a 40-goal scorer? That’s right, Jason Blake, three seasons ago. To be fair, it was also just a very lucky season for Jason Blake, who immediately returned back to his third-line form with the Maple Leafs and now the Anaheim Ducks. Kovalchuk is an elite scoring forward, mentioned in the same sentence with names like Ovechkin, Gaborik, and Crosby when it comes to scoring goals. He would immediately become a deadly first-line player, and he would look incredible on the point next to Mark Streit. Imagine seeing them running the power play, passing back and forth , teeing up slap shot after slap shot on opposing goalies. Man, it’s been a while since we’ve seen something that sexy on our powerplay. He brings intimidation, which is something we haven’t had in years. When he lines up next year next to Tavares, and quite possibly another free agent, and when he puts back the first 50 goal season any Islander has had in years, will you be complaining that he’s getting paid like a superstar? I certainly wont. My season tickets will cost the same amount of money next year, it’s just the addition of entertainment value that my season tickets have lacked for the last 10 seasons.

2. Yes, he can play 5 on 5 hockey. I’m not sure where this notion came along that Kovalchuk can’t play 5-on-5 hockey that well. If you look at his numbers over the years, Kovalchuk has managed to score more than 3/4 of his career goals playing 5-on-5 hockey, which is something that Ovechkin can’t even say. What’s more than that, is that Kovalchuk has managed to keep his plus/minus reasonably fair considering that he has spent the majority of his career with the Atlanta Thrashers, a team that has struggled to ever provide support around him, and a team that may actually be one of the few that is managed worse than the New York Islanders.  Does Ovechkin play on the penalty kill? Does Gaborik play on the penalty kill? Why all of a sudden, now that the Islanders may finally be given the chance to sign an elite talent (yes, ELITE), does the fact that they don’t play on the penalty kill and play incredible defensively matter? I have seen Ovechkin toss pucks away in his own zone numerous times per game. Why does no one care? Because he scores 50+ goals a season! Outside of Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa, few elite scorers have ever sniffed penalty kill time, and that hasn’t changed anything for them.

3. He can attract other players: Year after year, the Nassau Coliseum and our facilities (or lack thereof) has become a “good” excuse for why we don’t sign any good players when free agency opens up. Do you want to know another “facility” in the league that is actually considered almost as bad as the Coliseum? Joe Louis Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings. Want to know why people still sign there? Because they win! Because they have good players on their roster, and good players enjoy playing with other good players. Having a full roster of good players is how you win these days (DUH!), something that Islanders management have only started to realize over the past few years. With up and coming premier talents in John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, and the 2010 draft class, the Islanders have some really good talent. Add a proven star in Ilya Kovalchuk to that list, and you will have other free agents thinking about joining a winning team, not about joining so they can enjoy the “newest model of treadmills, or the nicest free weight room they’ve ever seen. Good players reel in other good players, and Kovalchuk’s star-status is something that we could use to round out our somewhat-decent roster. It is time to put to rest that Long Island is not a “premier” destination. Have you looked at what cities like Detroit, Raleigh, and Philadelphia look like? In all fairness, they don’t hold a candle to the New York City nightlife, and they certainly don’t have beaches like Long Island. Give me a damn break with those excuses.

4. We have enough cap space to sign three Kovalchuk contracts. As it stands, the Islanders, barring incentives, are about $8 million under the SALARY FLOOR for next year, a feat that is hard for any team to accomplish these days with the bloated values of contracts. By signing Kovalchuk, the Islanders would find themselves hovering around the salary floor, giving them approximately $17 million in cap room during the 2010-2011 season. That kind of salary cap room is rare, with about 25-27 other teams in the league having anywhere from $10 million or less of cap room, while about 10 teams are literally right on the cap. With future extensions for Okposo, Tavares, Bailey, and the other prospects coming up, we obviously want to be very careful, however, we have enough room to sign them all to $7 million a year contracts and still have some cap space, that’s how well Snow has done financially. Furthermore, Yashin’s contract buyout dips down from a $4 million cap hit to only $2 million cap hit after this year, freeing up another $2 million. Also, we must remember that the salary cap increases anywhere from $1-2 million per year, freeing up even more space for the Islanders. If people are complaining that we are going to become Chicago Blackhawks 2.0, I think they better look again. The Islanders have kept players at such reasonable values that bringing in a player like Kovalchuk will not affect us financially, whatsoever! Bring on any “cap-ologist” and he will tell you the exact same thing!

5. We NEED the excitement. Let’s face it, the Islanders are drowning in mediocrity. Even with such great young talent on the roster, and other great talent coming up through the rankings, how many people can you honestly turn to and say “hey, how about those Islanders?” and actually have them give a damn. I am sick and tired of watching my parents, friends, and family discuss how great it was to watch the Islanders during the 80’s. Who gives a rat’s ass how they did over 30 years ago? How does that honestly effect how they do now? We NEED to find a way to get people excited about coming to the coliseum. We NEED to put an exciting product on the ice so that people want to pay to come and watch. Kovalchuk is an exciting player! Hell, he can electrify the crowd with one deke and a shot…that’s all it takes. The Islanders have a nice little core coming together, and the addition of a stud like Kovalchuk would really boost ticket sales, there is no questioning that. Even those against the Kovalchuk signing would still cough up a few hundred bucks to go with their families to watch what he can do next to Tavares. Remember how nice it was when the Islanders reeled off those big wins against the Red Wings, Sabres, and Devils in the middle of the year? People get excited over high-scoring wins, and Kovalchuk can certainly put goals up on that board. As nice as it is watching Okposo hustle through two guys or Tavares throw a nice deke around a defenseman, it won’t light up the building as much as a Russian sniper deking three guys at full throttle and then making a goaltender look silly. Excitement is what he brings, and excitement is what we need. We need it on the ice, and we need it off the ice…and Wang knows it!

There are many reasons why Kovalchuk and the Islanders make sense. I respect the opinion of the detractors, as their arguments hold justice to their beliefs, however, I truly believe in the fact that we need a legitimate superstar. John Tavares is going to be a star in this league, but he will never be a superstar, let’s face it. He will never be mentioned in the same sentence as Ovechkin, Crosby, Gaborik, or Kovalchuk, as he is simply not as flashy as these four. Furthermore, the Islanders will never have a legitimate shot at another superstar of his stature, as Crosby and Ovechkin certainly aren’t going where else but Pittsburgh and Washington, respectively.

I am the first to admit I was shocked to see the opportunity of Kovalchuk signing on Long Island become possible, but now that the steam has begun to move the train, I say we start moving full steam ahead. I understand that 10 years, $100 million is a little crazy, but rest assured, Snow believes that it is too. I would not doubt Snow putting together a more “reasonable” deal in order to solidify the services of the Russian sniper. Snow has not done wrong by us yet, and I dare believe that he will not. In Garth I trust.

Now please, Garth, please bring the excitement starved Islander fans a little bit of mid-summer fun. It won’t hurt when you find out you’ve sold over 1,500 new season ticket plans and about 2,000+ Kovalchuk jerseys by opening day. Oh, and the playoffs next season wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

-Justin M.

Email: IslesNet@Gmail.Com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/islesnet

ESPN was the first to report the receipt of a text message from Garth Snow stating his interest in Ilya Kovalchuk to be truthful. Shortly thereafter, TSN began reporting in Canada that their sources were hearing numbers in the 10-year, $90-$100 million dollar range. From that point on, tweets by respected hockey sources ranging from Darren Dregger to Lyle Richardson, and to the not-so-respected and infamous Eklund have been running rampant and leading to more and more speculation about Kovalchuk’s final destination point.

Although the Los Angeles Kings have long been considered the front-runner for the services of Ilya Kovalchuk, it has been nearly two full days since the opening of free agency, and still no deal has been struck between Dean Lombardi and Kovalchuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, indicating a difference in either term or value of the contract.  The longer the delay in reaching an agreement, the more obvious it was that other teams were going to get involved, however, few would expect the New York Islanders to be that team.

The New York Islanders, even after today’s signings of Mark Eaton, Milan Jurcina, Zenon Konopka, and P.A Parenteau, still fall around $6-$8 million dollars short of the salary floor, meaning that Garth Snow would need to acquire contracts over the coming months adding up to that value just in order for the team to be eligible to play. With that being the case, the thought of Kovalchuk being signed by the Islanders doesn’t seem too farfetched, now does it?

Obviously we hear about the financial issues, the problems with the once-optimistic Lighthouse Project, and the “circus” that the organization was under Mike Milbury, however, under a more stern and level-headed general manager in Garth Snow, the Islanders have not only brought back a decent amount of credibility off the ice, they have also stacked the prospect cupboards for the on-ice product, boasting future stars in John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Nino Niederreiter, and an assortment of others. With the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk to a line-up that improved tremendously last year, the Islanders could find themselves in the playoffs at the end of the 2010-2011 NHL regular season.

Most importantly, according to many of the tweets from respected sources on Twitter, Charles Wang wants to see Kovalchuk in an Islander jersey. With the release of Kate Murray’s scaled-down Lighthouse Project set to release sometime in the coming week, what a way for Wang to make a statement about the future of the Islanders in terms of on-ice product.

Will it get done? Its very early to say, but the fact that the Islanders have the cap room to do it, coupled with the fact that the ever-stubborn Charles Wang wants it to get done, things could become very interesting on Long Island this Fourth of July. If TSN and ESPN’s sources are held to be true, Kovalchuk could become the most expensive Fourth of July firework show on Long Island at 10 years, $100 million dollars.

Justin’s Note: It’s still a far way off, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. The Islanders not only need this elite talent to make the team better, but they need this to increase fan interest. At 10 years, $90 million dollars, Snow should take it and run. Even with substantial increases in contractual values for Tavares, Okposo, Bailey, Niederreiter, and all the prospects over the next few years, the Islanders will still be able to safely stay under the cap. Snow has proven to be a very smart and patient general manager over the past few seasons, and I put my faith behind him in this one. If he finds the right price, Islander fans and I will be jumping for joy.

Mark Streit: What more is there left to be said about Streit? From the minute he signed the contract that has been dubbed the “steal of free agency 2008,” until now, Mark Streit has outplayed his contractual value in every sense possible. When he first signed, many were skeptical about whether or not a number-six defenseman from Montreal really deserved that kind of money for just being phenomenal on the power-play, however, Garth Snow and company obviously saw something that they liked, and that intuition has not led them wrong. While his numbers last year (74GP, 16G, 40A, 56P, +5) were slightly better than this year’s (82GP, 11G, 39A, 49P, +/- 0), Mark Streit still proved to be a solid foundation from which to build upon. Besides three to four games in which he was slightly off, Mark Streit proved to the league once again that he is a legitimate top-pairing defenseman.

What makes Streit so dangerous in the “new-NHL” is not only his great skating and vision, but Streit’s tape-to-tape passing, as well as his willingness to join the rush allows him to be a threat all over the ice. While last year he was able to put up slightly better numbers, I believe this year Streit pursued the physical aspect of the game more, trying to prove that not only can he quarterback a power play, but that he can throw the body around and protect this net as well. There is little to criticize about his style, and I am happy that the Islanders will have Streit’s services for another three years at an extremely reasonable price. The only question surrounding Streit at this point is whether or not he will be the captain next year.

Overall Grade: A-

Andy Sutton: The oft-injured Andy Sutton came into training camp at the beginning of the season in easily the best condition of his professional career. After dropping 20-25 pounds during training in the offseason, Andy Sutton came to camp much quicker, and much more prepared to play the up-tempo pace required by head coach Scott Gordon’s system. What Sutton also brought with him this year was much quicker side-to-side movement, which was completely evident almost every night when he was throwing his body around and literally destroying opponents. It was a nice physical presence that was sorely needed on the Islanders defensive end. On the whole, Sutton came to play this season, and he demonstrated it over and over again.

Sutton’s speed not only helped his game, but it also helped his confidence. As the praise poured on from the start of the season, Sutton slowly but surely began to become more involved offensively, having no problem either leading a rush into the zone or following his forwards in as a fourth forward. His lighter frame allowed for faster skating, meaning it wasn’t as much of a task to have to recover from an offensive rush. Furthermore, Sutton’s passing and defensive presence improved tremendously this year, making him an all-around threat whenever he was on the ice. For good stretches throughout the season, Andy Sutton was easily the best defenseman we had, and he was one of the few that didn’t mind standing up for his teammates. Thanks in part to his tremendous play, we were able to bring back a second-round pick from the Ottawa Senators in this year’s NHL Draft.

The major question surrounding Andy now is whether or not a return to the Islanders is in the cards. With defensive prospects Travis Hamonic and Calvin deHaan signed for next year, as well as the emergence of Jack Hillen and Andrew MacDonald as legitimate NHL defensemen, Sutton’s wishes to return to the Islanders may be in question, especially with an increase in his personal value. If Sutton is to return, expect a 2-3 year contract at or less than the $3 million he was earning over the last three seasons. Anything more and he prices himself out of the Islanders range. No worry for Sutton, though, as I am sure he will be receiving calls from at least 15 teams on July 1^st.

Overall Grade: A-

Freddy Meyer: Once again, Freddy becomes one of the hardest defensemen to analyze and grade. Freddy is the type of player that needs to be playing long-term in order to demonstrate exactly what he can do, as when he is constantly in and out of the line-up or sits for long periods of time, he comes back very rusty and does not perform well. On the flip side, when Meyer is in the line-up for long periods of time, he proves to be a very reliable third-pairing defenseman, who although is small, can still throw the body around nicely.

Offensively, Meyer has never been a tremendous presence. He does not have any trouble in making the outlet pass or joining the rush when necessary, but considering his average speed, Meyer tends to stay back on the defensive end and maintain his defensive responsibilities. He is a fine passer, with average vision, and a decently hard shot, however, Meyer’s use on the power play is limited. Defensively, Meyer plays fairly well, and only encounters trouble when he loses a step to a man, as he does not have the speed to recover. Furthermore, Meyer’s positioning is sometimes questionable, but usually only after being out of the lineup for a long period of time.

Overall, I think Meyer is a good defenseman who takes care of his responsibilities. Is he part of a Stanley Cup winning defense? No, but I do believe he is solid.  For some odd reason, Gordon puts more faith in Gervais than in Meyer, which is nothing something that I can quite understand. If Meyer were given the opportunity to be a part of the team for all 82 games, I believe he would hold his own very nicely, and he would demonstrate his ability to perform at this level. Unfortunately, he has not been given that chance yet. Will he be back next year?

Overall Grade: C

Bruno Gervais: About a year after being drafted, Gervais was touted as being a surprise draft pick and someone with tremendous potential. Up until the second half of last year, that potential was untapped, and Gervais was struggling to maintain his place on the team. When paired with Streit for the second-half of the 2008-2009 NHL season, Gervais played well, demonstrating the potential that Garth Snow and company saw in him. He performed like a second-pairing defenseman, which I believe is the absolute maximum potential that he can reach, but even that is a far stretch right now. This year, when given a full-time role, I must admit I was very disappointed with Gervais, even when they tried pairing him next to Streit once again.

Besides defensive-end turnovers, which occurred very often, Gervais lacked any physical presence on the ice, giving the opportunity for forwards from other teams to overpower him and find easy access to the goal, a problem we’ve had for quite some time now. Furthermore, his contributions offensively do not justify his presence on the ice. The question here in lies: why do Snow and Gordon like him so much? I understand he is a nice guy, and I understand he is a great person to have in the locker room to settle the mood and for interviews, however, none of that wins hockey games, and poor defensive coverage, and a lack of offensive production should mean little to no ice time, or some time in the minors. He is still young, and I am sure there is some time left for improvement, but I just do not envision him becoming the number three defenseman that he has been touted as for so long. His size, speed, and aggressiveness do not justify it, and his timidity on the ice further emphasizes his flaws. A shot of confidence is needed, or maybe a change of scenery a la Chris Campoli, but something must change.

Hopefully the 2010-2011 NHL season brings along better luck for Gervais, but his play needs to turn quickly otherwise he may find himself as the Jeff Tambellini of Islanders defenseman. If Kohn demonstrates a more adept style at the NHL level, then maybe it is time to put Gervais in the minors.

Overall Grade: D+

Now that we’ve completed the Islanders defensive corps, I think it is fair to say an overhaul is necessary. Prospects Calvin deHaan and Travis Hamonic look extremely promising, with Pierre McGuire even comparing Hamonic to Shea Weber during the World Junior Championships. Both of these young individuals have tremendous talent and will definitely turn into great defensemen, however, the question that remains is will they make the squad this year? Garth Snow needs to pursue two top-four defensemen this offseason to bolster our backline, and so that Streit, MacDonald, and Hillen have reinforcements. With such affordable salaries on the back-line, the Islanders could spend a good amount of money and not put themselves in cap trouble.

Be sure to check back in the coming days for part 5, which will begin to analyze and grade the play of the Islanders forwards. As always, feel free to leave any comments or questions in the comments section, or send me an email at IslesNet@Gmail.Com.

-Justin

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/islesnet

Email: IslesNet@Gmail.Com

Updated News

Now, for the main article…

Today’s installment of “Grading the Islanders” returns to the Islanders defensive corps, taking a look at Jack Hillen and Andrew MacDonald. I was going to write an article regarding Radek Martinek, but with his lack of playing time this season, it is impossible to give him a grade. The only reason I critiqued DiPietro in my last article, even though he played he even less than Martinek, is because he has a fifteen-year contract, and has been dubbed “franchise player” for far too long. The expectations for Martinek, as well as his salary, have never been high enough for me to critique him as harshly as DiPietro.

In any case, let us look at our two young defensemen, both of whom I hold in high regard.

Jack Hillen: Jack was one of the very few and fortunate NHL players to be passed through the draft and still be signed out of college after four years, also playing one year in the United States Hockey League for the Tri-City Storm, but few people ever hear about that. As a standout player from Colorado College, several teams (the Dallas Stars, the New York Rangers, and the Detroit Red Wings, according to my knowledge) all inquired into the services of the small, but highly mobile defenseman. Although those other organizations have been more successful than the Islanders in recent times, Hillen signed in New York for the simple fact that he knew playing time would come much sooner, and he was right!

Although Jack did not make the team out of training camp this year, expectations were consistently held high for him, and we all knew that Martinek or Sutton would eventually go down, giving Jack an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and potential at the NHL level. Fortunately for the New York Islanders and himself, Jack has not disappointed, but rather, it has been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop over this season. In 69 games at the NHL level this season, Jack registered 3 goals, 18 assists, for 21 points and a fairly decent -5 rating. What’s more impressive are his 44 penalty minutes, a rather low and impressive number considering that Jack was thrust into duty against the opposition’s top lines almost every night, thanks to a lack of depth or quality on the Islanders backline.

Watching Hillen play this year, it has been easy to notice his tremendous all-around improvement. Jack’s fluid skating, which has always been praised by Snow, Jankowski, and Gordon, really began to show through when Jack became more confident. His speed up and down the ice, as well as his side to side movement to help cover an opponent, has been truly impressive, and he is allowing it to become a major part of his game. Furthermore, Jack’s offensive abilities, specifically his initial pass out of the zone, as well as his ability to lead a rush from end-to-end, have really demonstrated to Islander fans the potential that lies within this small-statured but talented young player.

With a good off-season of proper strength and conditioning, and the possible addition of several more pounds of muscle in order to endure a long, physical season, Jack will be given all the opportunity in the world next year to develop into one of the team’s top defensemen. I personally believe he had an exceptional season this year, and I look forward to watching him develop further next season. He has the ability to play like a solid number there defenseman, while also getting time on the power play. This offseason is the most important one for Jack’s all-around development, and I believe we are poised to see another tremendous year for the speedy defenseman!

Overall Grade: A-

Andrew MacDonald: When Andrew was taken in the 6^th round, 160^th overall at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, very few people thought he would be able to develop into a solid NHL player. That was the summer in which Neil Smith ran the Islanders draft board, and it had been a hectic year around the organization with overwhelming changes and upheaval. In any event, MacDonald seems to have become a pleasant surprise for all involved with the Islanders organization, and the fruits of development seem to be paying off at this moment in time. MacDonald is the perfect example of the good things that can come from being drafted, developed properly in juniors, and then slowly but surely moving your way up the organization’s minor league teams. A defenseman, regardless of draft position, takes a long time to become acclimated and prepared to play in the NHL, and rushing anyone into the league head-first can actually cause more long-term problems than success (please, Snow, keep this in mind for Hamonic and deHaan this October).

Andrew MacDonald, like Jack Hillen, impressed the Islanders at training camp; however, he was assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers due to a logjam on the Islanders defensive corps. Few thought that he would play a significant portion of the season with the Islanders, but with injuries to the defensive corps, as well as the demotion of Brendan Witt, MacDonald was given his chance in the middle of the season, and he never looked back. In 46 games at the NHL level this season, MacDonald posted 1 goal, 6 assists, for 7 points and a +4 plus/minus rating. For a rookie to come up to the NHL and post a +4 on a team as weak as the Islanders, it speaks volumes about his efforts on defense, as well as the overall sound game he began to play. What is also impressive are his 20 penalty minutes, a low number for a defenseman who didn’t even start the season in the NHL and was dealing with top-line talent come late-February and early March.

What I noticed most about MacDonald’s game as the season progressed for him was his ability to adapt to the NHL level. Although he looked a little nervous the first few games, he was rarely out of position, and he become obvious that he knew the system and understood his role in it. Furthermore, as his comfort level began to grow, his game began to flourish. There were several nights where I can clearly recall him being the best Islander defenseman on the ice, thanks in large part to his physical play when necessary, and his ability to still be good with the puck. MacDonald’s first pass out of the zone may not be as impressive as Hillen’s, but he rarely, if ever, turns over the puck in his own zone, and he rarely makes the bad play. His defensive play is solid, and his ability to recover on defense when a turnover occurs was also a treat to watch.

Andrew is a tremendously intelligent player, and I attribute that to great coaching and proper development through the system. It has been four years since he was drafted, but it is clear that MacDonald has been developed properly at every level, and this experience has taught him what is necessary to succeed at the next level. MacDonald has the potential to be a great second-pairing defenseman in the NHL, and that is why Snow and Jankowski rewarded him with a four-year, one-way contract extension this season. For a cap hit of $550,000 over the next four seasons, MacDonald is a steal, and I truly look forward to seeing him further develop at this level. Much like Hillen, this offseason is the most crucial for MacDonald, as he is all but guaranteed a spot at the NHL level next season, and proper strength and conditioning training this offseason could put him in great position to further stand out next season!

Overall Grade: B+

Obviously this has been one of the better “Grading the Islanders” segments to write, considering I believe both of these players to be phenomenal young individuals, and I think they will be a part of the organization for a long time. The real pleasure with these two individuals will be watching their development next year. Here is to hoping that they will continue to grow and develop!

Be sure to check back in the coming days for part four in this multiple part series that analyzes and grades the play of each of the Islanders. As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below in the comments section, or send me an email at IslesNet@Gmail.Com.

-Justin Marques

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/islesnet

Email: IslesNet@Gmail.Com

Rick DiPietro: What is there left to say for the first-ever goalie to be drafted number one back in 2000? The kid went from supreme prospect, to enticing goalie, to starting goalie for Team USA, to crippled old hag in a matter of a decade. When healthy and playing at the top of his game, DiPietro is easily one of the best goaltenders in the world. Those days, however, were about three years ago, and it doesn’t seem like they will be around for quite some time, if ever at all.

This past season, DiPietro was deemed healthy and medically cleared to play in the middle of the season, so he did what every professional hockey player would do…he played. Unfortunately, DiPietro’s injuries were obviously not healed well enough, as he had to be shut down after performing in only eight games. Just like last year when he was rushed back, DiPietro knew something wasn’t right, and now he is paying the price for it once more. All the excuses you can think of have been used by General Manager Garth Snow and company, however, none of them put DiPietro back on the ice, and none of them justify his obscene 15-year contract or his eternal absence.

Regardless of the fact he may have played decently while he was on the ice, his lack of health and inability to maintain form just don’t cut it anymore. I used to be the first individual to back up DiPietro and his lengthy contract, but now those days are long gone. When I think about having Roberto Luongo instead of Rick DiPietro, I get sick. With individuals such as Koskinen and Poulin coming through the ranks, it may be safe to say that DiPietro’s time on Long Island may end within the coming years. Then again, these are the New York Islanders, so you never know.

Final Grade: F

Brendan Witt: Although he used to be a solid physical presence on the defensive end, as well as a vocal leader in the locker-room, Witt’s days in the NHL seem to be ending. His physical style, as well as his shot-blocking abilities, seem to be catching up to him later in his career, and Witt has slowed down tremendously, becoming a liability on the ice whenever he plays.

In his 42 games this year with the New York Islanders, Witt posted a -18 rating as a top-four defenseman, a fair indicator that he has slowed down tremendously. Upon realizing that there was better talent in the minor’s that could blossom with an opportunity in the NHL, Scott Gordon and Garth Snow made the tough decision of sending Witt down to the minors. In Witt’s 27 games in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he was a -7, indicating furthermore that his game has even slowed down for a minor-league level.

This article is not to bash Witt, as I was a tremendous fan of his when he was with Washington and when he signed for the Islanders, but this article is just to indicate how he played this year and his grade. Witt was a great defenseman in his time, and a very respected player around the league for his hard-nosed style and his give-it-all mentality. Unfortunately, his time has come to an end, in my opinion, and I believe the Islanders will buy him out in June when the buy-out window opens. I thank him for his services, and I wish him the best of luck.

Final Grade: C-

Be sure to check back in the coming days for a look at the third-part in this multiple part series that grades the play and performance of the New York Islanders during the 2009-2010 NHL Season.

-Justin M.

Email: IslesNet@Gmail.Com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/islesnet

Another year of hockey has come and gone for the New York Islanders, and once again, the hopes and dreams of April, May, and June success lie within Draft Day rather than with the playoffs. C’est la vie, Islander fans.

Reflecting back on a season in which your team didn’t make the playoffs can be rather difficult. While there are obviously individuals who performed well, the team as a whole still did not perform well enough to make the playoffs. For the blue, white, and orange, this season was not a complete failure, but rather, a season of minor success mired by a lack of playoffs. If we consider the season to be the second season of what should be a four-year rebuild, than ultimately, the Islanders were somewhat successful in proving they are learning with the curve.

The overall success of the Islanders season will be discussed at a later date. For today, we embark on the first article of what will be many in a series covering the individual performances of the 2009-2010 New York Islanders. Each day, two players will be analyzed based on their overall performance throughout the season, and I will also provide a letter grade in accordance with how I feel they played. Today, in the first part of the series, we will take a look at goaltenders Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron.

Dwayne Roloson (pictured): Signed to a two-year deal this past summer, Roloson proved himself to be a legitimate number one goaltender once again in the NHL by single-handedly carrying the Islanders on his back to a rather respectable start. With a tremendous lack of quality defensemen, and a sub-par team overall playing in front of him every night, Roloson knew that it would be his job to keep this team competitive, and he did just that pretty much every night this season.

Although his final stats are not overwhelmingly impressive, one must remember the team that he played for this season truly lacked goal scoring, quality defense, and experience. In 50 games played this season, Roloson posted a record of 23-18-7, one shutout, a Goals Against Average of 3.00 and a Save Percentage of .907.  As I said before, not impressively overwhelming, however, very respectable when kept in context.

The calm, quiet mentality of Dwayne Roloson seems to provide excellent juxtaposition for the upbeat, laughing, and family-like environment that is the Islanders locker room. What he does bring along with him is a sense of respect, though, and I think that went a long way in his personal play this year. Dwayne Roloson is easily the team’s Most Valuable Player this year for the simple fact that he was able to steal games that the Islanders would have been blown out in last year. The only thing that keeps him from a perfect score is the fact that he had a lackluster run at the end of the season, and the Islanders failed to make the playoffs. A big thank you to him for showing up to play nearly every night.

Final Grade:  A-

Martin Biron:

Following the signing of Dwayne Roloson, the Islanders inked Scott Munroe from the Philadelphia Flyers minor-league organization to play as the back-up to Roloson until DiPietro was healthy. When all was said and done, however, Snow managed to secure another Philly netminder in Martin Biron. Although a number one goalie for the Flyers last year, Biron was let go and signed a rather low value contract with the Islanders for this past season ($1.4 million). With him on board, the Islanders knew they’d roll comfortably with a tandem of Roloson and Biron until DiPietro was one-hundred percent healthy. When he became healthy, Biron would be able to be traded to a team in need of solid goaltending for a nice prospect or a high round draft pick. Sounds like a sweet plan, eh?

Biron’s start to his Islander career was a shaky one, struggling mightily throughout the first half of the season, not only failing to make the big save, but also lacking the goal support that his teammates were providing for Roloson. His first impressive game, a 5-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres, showed what he was capable of, however, Islander fans did not get to see that until the end of the year again. According to several friends that are Flyers fans, Biron’s inconsistency is his biggest issue. Boy, did we learn that this year here on Long Island!

The middle part of Biron’s year was essentially taken away from him when Mr. Hip Injury himself returned to the scene. With DiPietro back in the fold, Biron became the equivalent of a third-string quarterback. He has to be at practice every day and work his tail off, but only so that he can enjoy a chili-cheese dog and some waffle fries during the games. A sad point for a goalie to reach, especially considering this goalie was making runs deep into the playoffs with a high-powered Flyers team the years leading up to this one.

Following the Olympic break, Biron seemed to once again find his form. Down the stretch and into the final games of the season, Scott Gordon would go with Biron over Roloson several times, considering Biron was the hot hand, Roloson seemed to be a little off, and DiPietro was once again shelved for the season (this is your key to laugh).  Besides ruining the Islanders draft position with his wins (yes, in my opinion, ruining!), Biron may have lined himself up nicely for a contract next year as a backup goalie somewhere throughout the NHL (Buffalo makes sense on all levels).

Considering his absence for quite some time from the Islanders lineup, it is hard to give Biron a full season grade. While he is a great guy, and definitely one of the most media-friendly hockey players in the NHL, that still does not mean wins, and it does not mean a return to the Islanders next year.

Final Grade: C+

Be sure to check back soon for part two of this series that will analyze and assess the play of each and every Islanders from the 2009-2010 season. Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter, as I post plenty of updates their throughout the day!

-Justin

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/IslesNet

Email: IslesNet@Gmail.Com

Yesterday marks the first day of the trade deadline, in my opinion. Now that the Olympic roster freeze has finally been lifted, general managers can finally get down to the nitty-gritty and piece together the final details of any deals they may have allowed to brew over the break. For any of those that believe that general managers did not talk much over break, look no further than the fact that Jordan Leopold was packed and simply waiting to fly to Pittsburgh on the first flight past 12:00AM today. There are many deals on the table, and many things that could go down in the blink of an eye. As Brian Burke stated, “the trade deadline is the day when everyone in the NHL loses their minds.” Considering the halt in roster moves for the past two weeks, I believe that today and the coming two days will prove to be quite interesting.  There is nothing better for fans than when general managers begin to feel a little pressure…well, unless you’re on the bad end of a deal as us Islander fans have been so many times.

Here is to hoping Garth Snow stays composed over the next few days. To be honest, there is no reason for Garth Snow to do anything crazy. Let us look at the two key players that SHOULD find their way out of Long Island in the next two days.

First, and foremost, is Andy Sutton. At 35 years old, and nearly 6-and-a-half feet tall, Andy Sutton is playing the best hockey of his career. A drop in weight and an increase in his physical play has seen Andy Sutton develop into a very solid, number three NHL defenseman that numerous NHL teams covet. His vision both on the offensive and defensive sides of the puck has led to an increase in blocked shots, and a better first pass out of his own zone. Ironically, and somewhat fortunate for Garth Snow, Sutton is also in the final year of a three-year deal that he signed with the Islanders, making him a perfect playoff rental for any team that believes they need depth.

Sutton has developed into a quality player for the Islanders, and there are many who believe that Garth Snow should take it upon himself to resign him to a multi-year contract, however, we must look at the bigger picture. While Sutton will be able to contribute at this level for another two seasons, at best, the rest of the Islanders squad is still rather young and only getting younger. During those two years, the Islanders cannot reasonably be considered a Stanley Cup contender, as it will be at least another three seasons before the Islanders can be considered a top-level team. That being the case, it may be beneficial in the long run to trade him and bring in younger players or picks that will aid in the rebuilding process. A difficult decision for sure, but one that I’m sure many Islander fans will agree with.

Furthermore, it has been brought up that since Sutton wants to say, maybe he will return in the offseason. Just because Sutton wants to resign here does not mean that he will come back in the offseason after a playoff run with another team. While it would be a classy move (a la Keith Tkachuk), it is very rare that a player returns to the team that traded him.

From the many words spreading throughout the blogosphere, interest in Andy Sutton is abundant, and that bodes well for Garth Snow and the Islanders interests. The more teams Snow can get involved in a bidding war, the better. I’d have to believe that a team would be willing to give up a first-round pick for a solid NHL defenseman, but only time will tell how “crazy” the NHL general managers get at this year’s deadline. Before you consider Sutton going for a first round pick, ask yourself if you’d like to see Garth Snow give up a first round pick for a player like Andy Sutton if the timing was right.

Second on Garth Snow’s list should be the trade of a goaltender. All year long I have stood behind Roloson as our number one goalie, and I still believe that if it were not for him, the Islanders would not even be considered in the playoff race at the moment. Granted, although only six points back, we need to be honest and admit the Islanders are not in the playoff race this season. Making the playoffs this season actually hurts the Islanders long-term plan, and with a daunting schedule ahead, I’d put our chances at making the playoffs this year at 20%.

That being said, I believe that Roloson needs to be the goalie to go. As a forty-year old netminder, Roloson’s value will never be higher, and Snow must capitalize on that this year. With only one-year and an affordable $2.5 million cap hit remaining on Roloson’s contract, there will be many teams willing to pay that money for a playoff proven goaltender who brings experience and leadership to a locker room. The question is, what will they be willing to pay the Islanders to acquire his services for the playoffs this year? My guess is as good as yours, but it doesn’t seem overly farfetched to believe that a first round pick could come back to the Islanders. Furthermore, trading Martin Biron only brings us back a third to fourth round pick, at best, which can’t hold a candle to the return that a Roloson trade would bring.

Think about teams such as Detroit, Philadelphia, and Chicago. All of these teams can be considered contenders, however, they all share one thing in common: shaky goaltending. While they allow their younger goalies to develop, Roloson could be used as the playoff starter this year, and as an affordable one-year stopgap until each organization puts forth a better netminder. Does it still seem too farfetched to think a first-rounder is out of the question?

What do you think Roloson’s value will be at 2:59PM on March 3^rd? Time will tell, but it may get even more interesting than the Andy Sutton saga.

While these two are obviously the big time focus of Garth Snow, I would not hesitate to include the following names in trade discussions: Richard Park, Martin Biron, Jon Sim, Jeff Tambellini, Sean Bergenheim, Blake Comeau, Freddy Meyer, Bruno Gervais, and Trent Hunter. Each has minimal value, but could still prove valuable to another team in one way or another.

This trade deadline is once again another defining moment for Garth Snow and the Islanders rebuilding plans. With the future looking somewhat brighter than it has in a long time, this deadline could only make the future brighter. What do you want to see happen?

-Justin Marques (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/islesnet

Side Note: Be sure to check back here on Hockey Independent on March 3^rd, as B.D. Gallof, myself, and the Hockey Independent Staff will be in the H.I. Chatroom discussing every trade and rumor that goes down. It should be a great day!

Since I have been gone, plenty has occurred, and my fellow bloggers have done an excellent job at providing coverage. Today’s blog delves into many different realms, looking specifically at the Islanders solid play as of late, Jeff Tambellini’s partial renaissance, and the success of Matt Moulson.

Islanders Overall Play:

There are few things as impossible to understand as streaks in professional sports. Things can be going great for a few games, and the next thing you know, you are losers of 10 out of 11 and you are dropping quickly from the playoff picture. In the case of the New York Islanders, the opposite is occurring. After starting the season with a 1-4-5 record, the Islanders have rolled off four straight wins. What makes these wins impressive are the teams that they have come against: Rangers, Sabres, Capitals, and Oilers. All of those teams, with the exception of the Oilers, hold winning records and have been playing excellent hockey early on this season.

So what is the reason for the sudden turnaround? I’d attribute it to several things:

First, the stellar play of both Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron. Although they cannot be blamed for the rough start to the season, Roloson and Biron have truly picked up their play over the last five games and have dominated games for the Islanders from time to time. Against the New York Rangers, Roloson stood on his head in many situations and allowed the Islanders to maintain that 3-1 lead. Against the Sabres, Martin Biron was as solid as you could ask for, and he made sure that an Islanders early lead and dominant play was not wasted. If Biron can keep up this type of play, the Islanders can look for a first-rounder come December when he is on the block!

Second, the secondary scoring factor. Through the first ten games (1-4-5), the Islanders were relying heavily on the top line of Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo, and John Tavares to provide the scoring, not only during 5 on 5 play, but also while on the power play. Opponents were able to find success against the Islanders by simply focusing all their efforts on shutting down the top line because they knew they would not need to worry about the other forward lines. Over the last four games, that has not been the case. With contributions from Jeff Tambellini, Richard Park, and even Brendan Witt (yes, you can laugh…even Brendan was laughing last night after scoring his second goal), the Islanders are finally starting to get some offense from areas other than the first line. If the rest of the Islanders line-up can continue to provide offense, the Islanders may be a deeper team than many assume.

Lastly, the return of Doug Weight has been a nice boost for the team. Regardless of the fact that he is one of the oldest players on the ice, and he isn’t as good as he used to be, Doug Weight still provides a tremendous amount of skill and presence on the ice that is immeasurable. When he is playing at the top of his game, it causes others to play at the top of theirs as well. Now that he is the captain of the Islanders, he is beginning to instill his work ethic within others, and that has shown over the last five games. When the captain is in the lineup, you can sure bet that the Islanders will be working their tails off.

Oh yeah, and it doesn’t hurt that Mark Streit is beginning to return to the form that he maintained all of last year. Is there anyone who would even argue that he is a top-10 defenseman in the league?

Jeff Tambellini:

I already covered this partially, but it is extremely hard to not get excited over the play of Jeff Tambellini lately.

Two years ago I wrote an article that asked the question of whether or not the Islanders were going to give him a chance, or whether they felt that was the end of the line for him. Two years later, Tambellini is in the second year of a two-year, one-way contract that has been quite the failure up until five games ago. After playing in the home-opener, Jeff Tambellini became a healthy scratch and many people felt that it may be the end for him with the acquisition of Rob Schremp from Edmonton. After an unfortunate injury to Trent Hunter (pectoral), and after Gordon felt that Schremp could use some more time to adjust to the system, Tambellini jumped in and has not looked back since.

In the past five games, Jeff Tambellini has contributed 5 goals, 1 assist, and a +4 plus/minus rating to secure his place in the lineup. While you could look at these numbers and say he just hit a small hot streak, I would beg to differ. The attitude and confidence surrounding Tambellini is different this time around, and that is showing with his play on the ice. Normally labeled as a perimeter player, Tambellini has had no problem as of late going to the net, scoring the dirty goals, and working in all facets of the game to prove his worth on the squad. Furthermore, he is finally getting to open ice and unleashing his shot that is easily one of the best on the Islanders.

After an apparently productive offseason in Vancouver in which Tambellini altered his normal offseason program (Katie Strang first reported this several days ago), Tambellini has that extra jump in his step, and is playing up to his potential….finally! Let us just hope he can keep this up for the remainder of the season.

Matt Moulson:

One of the first articles I wrote for Hockey Independent, “A New Face at Camp: Matt Moulson,” took at look at the Islanders free-agent signing, and my personal prediction that he would make the team. I love being able to say I was right. A Los Angeles castaway who could simply not crack the line-up, Moulson is now proving he can play in the NHL. After 14 games with the Islanders thus far, Moulson has contributed 6 goals, 5 assists, for 11 points and a +2 plus/minus rating. For a player who could not crack the NHL line-up last season, these are great numbers.

Furthermore, these numbers, in my opinion, are not a fluke. If you watch Moulson’s play, you can tell he belongs at the NHL level, and he has the physical presence and skill to remain at the NHL level. Moulson does not mind going to the net, nor does he mind standing in front of the net and burying the dirty goals that many players shy away from. On the boards, Moulson fights for each and every puck, and has been very successful at coming away from it this season. Furthermore, his vision has been a pleasant surprise, and he seems to constantly know where John Tavares and Kyle Okposo are; definitely a major reason for their overall success. If Moulson can continue this success, it would not be unreasonable to think a 25 goal, 25 assist season is in reach.

Maybe it’s the Islanders chance to catch another team’s castaway and turn him into a legit top-six forward.

Do you think he can hit those numbers?

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to send me an email at IslesNet@Gmail.Com or leave them below in the comments section. Be sure to check back soon, as I will be able to blog much more often now. Also, be sure to add me on twitter, as I post updates throughout the day on there. My link can be found on the ‘Writers Page’ at the top of the screen. Enjoy your hockey tonight!

-Justin

According to a printed report in the Long Island Press (http://www.longislandpress.com), Charles and Wang and Scott Rechler have apparently pulled the plug entirely on the Lighthouse Project, thanks in large part to the tremendous delay in approval by Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead.

While the Long Island Press has reported this, it still has yet to appear anywhere else as a first-hand account. Islanders Point Blank, as well as Katie Strang have both reported it, however, they have credited the Long Island Press when they spoke about it. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the course of the next twenty four hours, and whether or not Wang and Rechler will address the media.

Could it also be Wang’s biggest bluff yet? Hopefully we will know soon.

-Justin (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)

Although he appeared during the 2001-2002 playoffs for the Islanders, as well as eight games in 2002-2003 for the Islanders, Hunter’s true rookie season did not come until the 2003-2004 season, and he broke into the NHL in storm-like fashion. After compiling a team-high 25 goals (tied with Mariusz Czerkawski), 26 assists, and a team-high of 51 points (tied with Oleg Kvasha…this is your cue to laugh), Trent Hunter finished third in voting for the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year (ironically, again, behind Andrew Raycroft who played for the Bruins at the time).

Unfortunately for a developing player like Trent Hunter, the NHL went into a yearlong lockout immediately following his rookie campaign. For a player who had just had a highly successful season, it was very unfortunate for furthering his development.

The 2005-2006 season would be the first season back from the lockout, and Hunter’s second full season in the NHL. Although not as effective as his rookie season, Trent Hunter still managed to put up 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points. Since that season, Trent’s numbers are as followed:

2006-2007: 77 GP, 20 Goals, 15 Assists, 35 Points, 22 PIM

2007-2008: 82 GP, 12 Goals, 29 Assists, 41 Points, 43 PIM

2008-2009: 55GP, 14 Goals, 17 Assists, 31 Points, 41 PIM

For a player who had showed such a tremendous amount of promise in the American Hockey League, these numbers can be considered somewhat subpar. However, it has become visible that since the changeover from the old-style National Hockey League play to what many call the “New-NHL,” Hunter’s lack of speed has been his shortcoming. That does not mean he is ineffective, and this is where I must begin the Hunter Hate Debate.

Almost anytime the name Trent Hunter is mentioned in any Internet article, it seems to me that a majority of the passionate Islanders fan base becomes fired up over his inability to score goals and the fact that he is even playing on the third-line for us. The comments range anywhere from asking why he is in the NHL, to why he gets as much ice time as he does, to why he isn’t scoring 30 goals. The one thing I don’t understand though is why people overlook everything else he brings to the game.

If you watch every game that Trent Hunter plays in, you will obviously notice a guy that maybe isn’t as fast as those around him, however, you will not notice a guy who lacks effort, who lacks heart, and who lacks the desire to be there. Each and every shift, it is obvious that Hunter doesn’t mind taking the body to make the play, he doesn’t mind going into the corners and fighting for the puck, he doesn’t mind standing in front of the net to take a beating if it means that a goal will come about, and he doesn’t mind getting back into his own defensive zone to make the proper defensive player.

Furthermore, have you ever seen Hunter scrap for the puck along the boards with an opponent? Eight out of ten times, Hunter comes out of the scrap with the puck, and he proceeds to make an intelligent first pass. Rarely do you see a pass leave Hunter’s stick that doesn’t arrive at its desired destination, and you rarely see Hunter just give up the puck without any pressure on him. For a guy that is slower-footed, his intelligence and knowledge of the game truly help him to make up for his shortcomings. This is not something that can be said about several of the other Islanders on the current roster.

Trent Hunter is a third line winger, and he will remain a third-line winger for the better part of his NHL career. If you don’t agree with any of the points I made, or you still feel that he should be contributing more offensively, there are several things you must take into account. First, during the 2006-2007 season and the 2007-2008 season, Hunter was playing under a very defensive-minded, trap-style Ted Nolan that discouraged offense greatly. Under a more wide-open, offensive-minded Gordon, Hunter was doing extremely well offensively until his serious injury that knocked him out for quite a lengthy period of time.

If you still don’t buy into this, then here are some numbers from other talented third-liners that may strike interest into Hunter’s play:

Jordan Staal, third-line center for the Pittsburgh Penguins:

2008-2009: 82GP, 22 G, 27 A, 49 Points, 37 PIM

Sean Avery, 2007-2008 stats for the New York Rangers:

2007-2008: 57GP, 15G, 18A, 33 Points, 154 PIM

Tomas Holmstrom, third-line winger for the Detroit Red Wings:

2008-2009: 53GP, 14G, 23A, 37P, 38PIM

Two out of the three players on this list were integral members of teams that went to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. To take it further, Staal played appeared in 27 more games than Hunter last season, and his numbers are not that much better overall.

I can understand where a small amount of the Trent Hunter scrutiny comes about, however, for a player that is not only a leader on and off the ice, but also a smart and decent contributor on the ice, I cannot understand where the hatred and harsh words come about. Now that it is a new season, I can only hope that Hunter is able to play in Gordon’s wide-open system for 82 games so that we can see just what he can do when he is given the opportunity to perform offensively as well. In one game already this year, he has one goal and one assist, so it’s not a bad start by any means.

Trent Hunter is a good hockey player, and I think he is going to show that this season. Let us lay off the overly harsh words as he finally is on a platform to prove himself. It’s only his fifth full season in the NHL, and I think he will silence the large number of Hunter Haters.

What do you think?

-Justin (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)

What came shortly following that pick was truly unexpected…

Garth Snow and company, who also had the 26^th overall pick thanks to a fine trade earlier in the year with the Ottawa Senators, began their process of going after that “targeted player.” By moving up first from 26^th to 16^th, and then unexpectedly from 16^th to 12^th, the Islanders obviously had their minds set on one specific player who probably wouldn’t have been their much longer. With Zach Kassian, Chris Kreider, Jordan Schroeder, and many other big names still left on the board to help the Islanders weak offense, Garth Snow made a surprise splash by selecting Calvin de Haan, the projected 26^th overall pick.

Why, you ask, is this significant nearly three months after it happened? That answer is simple: Scott Gordon and Garth Snow are apparently thinking about keeping the youngster around for his first NHL season. If the Islanders go through with this, and sign him to an entry-level contract, I will be the first to say I am not a fan of this move. I don’t even think I’d advocate keeping him up here for nine games this season, and guaranteeing the beginning of his contract next year.

The average defenseman in hockey, upon being drafted, takes anywhere from two to five years to develop into a true top-six NHL defenseman. This estimate is obviously taking into account the fact that the kid has the potential and desire to work himself into an NHL defenseman, and isn’t just some early or late-round dud. Furthermore, this estimate does not include above-average star-players who can make the jump into the NHL right away, a la Victor Hedman (yes, I really do think he will be very successful in his first year).

Do not take my antipathy towards keeping him on the NHL roster this year as me disliking the player and/or the selection. On the contrary, I actually think the selection of Calvin de Haan was a rather intelligent pick for the Islanders, and I do think that he has loads of potential as a number two defenseman who can also run the power-play in the future. His above-average speed, his quick-feet, his excellent stick-handling abilities, and his vision for the game will allow him to develop into an excellent new-NHL type defenseman who can play both on both sides of the puck.

The reason I am against him staying on the island is simple. Calvin de Haan truly needs to develop and mature further as a hockey player and athlete before he can begin his development as an NHL player. While he may be of average height for an NHL player, he is still underweight, and not nearly strong enough to be working against some of the most talented, strong, and intelligent hockey players in the world. I just think it would be a shot to his confidence when he is getting run over numerous times.

While he has done well in his preseason games, it must be remembered that he has been going up against players from other teams who also will be sent down to juniors and the American Hockey League. Can you truly envision, at this moment in time, de Haan being able to press and contain Atlantic Division players such as Jordan Staal, Travis Zajac, and Daniel Briere?

Garth Snow, who is finally doing this rebuild in the proper manner, should continue to follow his stringent rules and allow the development to happen naturally. By allowing de Haan to put on muscle and develop his game further with his junior team in Canada this season, both the Islanders and de Haan will benefit in the long term. By rushing him into the NHL immediately, de Haan is going to be faced with a quick adjustment process, a shot to his confidence which is flying high after going 12^th overall, and he may develop bad habits to compensate for his immaturity and lack of strength.

We all know the expectations for the Islanders this season. Calvin de Haan is not going to make the projected 15^th place Islanders into a playoff team. The Islanders might as well allow him to develop properly so that when he steps on the ice next season, he will be truly ready to make a difference.

Wouldn’t you agree?

-Justin (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)

The Ottawa Senators beat writer for the Ottawa Citizen is reporting in today’s sports section that the performances of Senator prospects such as defenseman Erik Karlsson and center Peter Regin is forcing general manager Bryan Murray to keep his eyes open for any cap-clearing and roster-opening moves. One of the major names in play for a trade is none other than the extremely-hated Jarko Ruutu, who has not only become known for his heinous words and ways, but for his ability to put up some numbers as a fourth-line instigator and fighter.

To be fair, Ruutu would be able to find a good role here on the Islanders. He is a pretty decent skater, so it would not cause too much of an issue for him to be able to keep up in Scott Gordon’s up-tempo system, and he has averaged about 7 goals and 9 assists each year throughout his career. Furthermore, the Islanders need for an instigator and fighter would be answered by him, at least for the time being.

On the flipside, bringing in a player like Ruutu would be like bringing a whale into the room. He isn’t always the cleanest player on the ice, and the Islanders have had bad past experiences with a player very similar to him in Chris Simon. Furthermore, he isn’t considered the best all-around locker room guy, even if he is protecting his teammates on the ice. With two years left on his contract at $1.3 million per year (NHLNumbers.Com), it is quite a gamble.

Trade-wise, since this is obviously very important to this decision, I believe it would be relatively inexpensive for the Islanders to acquire him. Considering Ottawa’s desire to open up two roster spots and dump salary, the Islanders may only have to give up a late-round pick (5th or 6th) to acquire him.

So, I put the question on the table. Considering he is available, do you think that Garth Snow should try to acquire Jarko Ruutu?

I’ll post my opinion later tonight, as I don’t want to sway anyone one way or the other!

-Justin (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)

Alright, so obviously this is not a direct quote from Garth Snow himself, however, it still does not take away from the fact that there are several under-the-radar names that Garth Snow and Scott Gordon will be keeping their eyes on during this year’s training camp. Although we are already more than a week into the Islanders training camp, this player is still working his tail off, and still trying to make a name for himself in Saskatoon.

Matt Moulson: A 6’1, 210 pound speedy and skillful left-winger, Matt Moulson excelled in his four years at Cornell University, averaging over 35 points each season he was there. His senior year, as captain, Moulson put up 38 points and was a leader in every aspect of the game.

Although drafted 263rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Moulson and the Penguins never came to terms on a contract, and he became a free-agent after the three year window had passed. On September 1st, 2006, Moulson came to terms with the Los Angeles Kings on a three-year, entry-level contract, and he was immediately sent to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, as expected.

For all of the 2006-2007 season, and a majority of the 2007-2008 season, Moulson spent his time with Manchester, and he put up some very promising numbers (57 points and 56 points, respectively). When he finally got the call to come up to the big club throughout the 2007-2008 season, Moulson was able to put up 5 goals and 4 assists during his 22 game stint, including a goal in his NHL debut against the San Jose Sharks.

The 2008-2009 season would prove to be more difficult for the left-winger, as he was expecting to earn himself a full time position with the Los Angeles Kings. Although he held reasonable expectations, he failed to live up to his potential and was once again placed in the minors, only to appear in 7 NHL games over the course of the entire season.

On July 1st, 2009, Matt Moulson became a free agent. On July 6th, 2009, Moulson opted to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Islanders in hopes of establishing himself as an NHL player on a team that severely lacks offensive firepower.

As he enters this year’s training camp with his second NHL team, Moulson hopes to be able to crack the Islanders line-up. Currently, the Islanders depth chart up the left wing includes Jeff Tambellini, Sean Bergenheim, Blake Comeau, Jon Sim, and Jesse Joensuu, so it is obviously going to be quite a tough road for Moulson. To be fair to him, though, the Islanders depth chart up the left side does not nearly compare to that of the Kings (or many of the other NHL teams), therefore it is a smart career choice for him to take his shot here on Long Island. If anything positive comes out of this, it is that the other left-wingers vying for spots are going to have to work harder to beat out one other player.

Whether or not he cracks the lineup is still to be decided, but one thing is for sure, both Scott and Garth are going to be keeping a close eye on him.

Do you think Moulson can crack the lineup out of camp?

-Justin (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)

(Update): This article was written on Sunday night. Since then, Katie Strang has added a nice little piece on her Isles Files blog over at Newsday on Matt Moulson. Be sure to check it out!