Here we go….1-10 Only….

1. Edmonton Oilers – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C Red Deer (WHL)– RNH is the best player in the draft, and with the number 1 pick, you use that on the best player. It just so happens that Edmonton is in need of a Number one Center and RNH is just that. He is as dynamic as they come and will look great centering Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.

2. Colorado Avalanche – Adam Larsson D Skelleftea (SEL) – Many mocks are saying Colorado takes Gabriel Landeskog with this pick, but remember 2 things, first Defenseman like Larsson don’t grow on trees, and second, Colorado also has the 12th pick as part of the Erik Johnson/Chris Stewart trade. After trading top young defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in that deal, he’ll be replaced with the smooth skating Larsson. The Avs will target wingers with that 12th pick.

3. Florida Panthers – Sean Couturier C Drummondville (QMJHL) – This is the wild card pick here. Florida already has 2 top young defenseman in Dmitri Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson, and they also drafted wingers Nick Bjugstad and Quinton Howden in last year’s 1st round. Florida GM Dale Tallon will look for the big 2 way center in Sean Couturier here. Tallon (who drafted Jonathan Toews with Chicago) knows the importance of having a player such as Couturier and won’t let an opportunity to get a top 2 way player pass him up.

4. New Jersey Devils – Jonathan Huberdeau C Saint John’s (QMJHL) – The Devils are already stacked at LW with both Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise, and with a lack of a true number 1 center in their system (Travis Zajac is the closest they have), the Devils take the super talented Huberdeau here. One scout was quoted as saying that he’s never seen a junior player take such a big leap in just one year as Huberdeau has. The Devils will have a player they can slot right into their lineup and not look back.

5. New York Islanders – Gabriel Landeskog LW Kitchener (OHL) – Landeskog is a steal for the Islanders at 5. He is the most NHL ready player in the draft and will look great playing with John Tavares and Nino Niederreiter on the Isles first line. With 3 picks in the top 50, GM Garth Snow can take his time and add another big defenseman early in the second round or as he likes to do, trade his way back into the late first round.

6. Ottawa Senators – Ryan Strome C Niagra (OHL) – Strome is a highly skilled offensive player who will slot in nicely behind Jason Spezza (if Ottawa keeps him). Having 2 top defensive prospects in David Rundblad and Jared Cowan, Ottawa will add some firepower with Strome.

7. Atlanta Thrashers – Dougie Hamilton D Niagra (OHL) – Back to back Niagra picks here as Atlanta takes the big 2 way Hamilton with the 7th pick. Atlanta has Big Buff and Tobias Enstrom on D already but after taking Evander Kane and Alexander Burmistrov in the last 2 drafts, it’s back to building a strong D for the Thrashers.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets – Ryan Murphy D Kitchener (OHL) – With Fedor Tyutin considered their only offensive defenseman on the NHL team, and with young and very talented John Moore working his way to Ohio, the Blue Jackets take the explosive but smallish Ryan Murphy. Some scouts think if Murphy was 6’0, he would be the number one overall pick. He has outstanding skating and offensive skills, his only issues is he’s listed as 5’10 160lbs. Either way, the Jackets get themselves a heck of a player at number 8.

9. Boston Bruins – Jamieson Olesiak D Northeastern (NCAA) – Olesiak is a player who needs at least another year of college but he’s 6’7 and extremely tough. He would form a nasty tandem with Norris finalist Zdeno Chara and the Bruins can afford to wait a year or 2 for Olesiak to fine tune his skills.

10. Minnesota Wild – Mike Zibanejad C Djurgarden (SEL) – Zibanejad is a fast riser on the 2011 ISS list. He has great skill and will look great with fellow 1st round pick Mikael Granlund. The Wild have chosen more gritty players such as Colton Gillies and James Sheppard in years past, but the Zibanejad has too high a ceiling for Minnesota to pass up.

My next Mock Draft will be a full 30 team pick, but it’s too early to tell what the later teams will do (especially since the draft order hasn’t been set yet.

Thoughts??

Kabanov was late to the first day of camp (the day you take your physical) and it was all downhill from there. Kabanov was late a second time, and just scooted in at the last second on a few other occasions. As GM Garth Snow explained during a pre-season interview, “If he comes late, he ruins that day of camp, and probably the next day as well since he’s probably hasn’t had breakfast or proper fluids and after his skating punishment for being late, he’ll be tired”. Kabanov, instead of getting valuable ice time during pre-season games, sat for all but one game and received limited ice time during that affair. He was reassigned to back to the QMJHL without a contract.

After being traded early in the season by Moncton to the Lewiston MAINEiacs, Kabanov finally may have figured out that it’s not all about him on the ice. His biggest problem to that point was that on the ice, the talk of being the “next Ovechkin” had sunk in a little too much and he started to believe that he was too good to back check, and do all the other necessary things that good hockey players do. After his trade to Lewiston, he seems to have turned a corner. Kabanov, in 37 games had 28 points and finished with a +8 rating (remember this is a guy who didn’t have much of a camp and missed time early in the season with a “personal matter”). Since the playoffs have started, Kabanov has really picked up his game. In 11 playoff games, Kabanov has 16 points and is a +7. In their 2nd round series against Montreal, Kabanov had a point in each game including 2 in the clincher. On the Lewiston website, there is a poll asking fans which feat was most impressive during the Montreal series, 23% (the most) chose the fact that Kabanov had a point in each of the 6 games.

Not only has Kabanov’s play on the ice improved, he was also nominated by the QMJHL for their Humanitarian Award. Kabanov, even when injured, would greet fans coming into the arena before the game and would be extremely generous donating his time taking many trips to locals schools and hospitals all season long.

The Islanders have to be a least a little encouraged by the reports they are receiving on Kabanov, it was never a matter of talent, it was just if he could get his head on straight. It seems, for the time being at least, that he’s doing just that.

Isles Notes….

I’m currently working on my final grades blog for the Islanders this season, I hope to have it finished early next week.

Speaking of the Lewiston MAINEiacs, their next opponent is the Saint John Sea Dogs (top 2011 prospect Jonathan Huberdeau plays for Saint John), starting tonight. If you wish, you can listen to the game through the Lewiston website here… http://www.lewistonhockey.com/

Speaking of Huberdeau, he has been on fire during the Saint John playoff run racking up 21 points in just 9 games. He and fellow top prospect Sean Couturier were named 1st team QMJHL all stars for the 2010-2011 season.

Couturier, was awarded the Michael Bossy Trophy (a sign maybe??) at the annual QMJHL awards for best professional prospect. Couturier is going to be a hell of a hockey player and I don’t expect him to be around long come the NHL draft. His name should be one of the first 6 called.

I have already pre-ordered my ISS 2011 NHL Draft Report and I will receive it sometime in the end of May, until then I’ll be doing my usual research of the top prospects and hope to have a mock draft done by early June.

After the Islanders were spurned by a whining Evgeni Nabokov. Then left in a lurch when oft-injured Rick DiPietro went down with a season ending injury (that’s as lightly as I could put it) and top prospect Kevin Poulin went down with a dislocated kneecap. As if the Islanders weren’t decimated by injuries already, left GM Garth Snow to scramble to find a goalie on the trade market. Islander fans were speculating names like Mike Smith and Michael Leighton, Snow struck a deal with Phoenix to acquire former Ranger 1st round pick Al Montoya for just a 6th round pick. From there, it would seem that former Sound Tiger, Nathan Lawson would be given the opportunity to win himself a job for next season. After a few bad outings (and that’s putting it lightly), Montoya was summoned into duty. After 2 relief appearances, Monty (as they call him), earned himself a start against the high powered Los Angeles Kings. He was brilliant in a 3-0 shutout that night and hasn’t looked back since.

Montoya, who was drafted by the Rangers 6th overall in the 2004 NHL Draft, was chosen 1 year before the beginning of the Henrik Lundqvist era at the Garden. Montoya, hung around the Rangers system by was hopelessly blocked by Lundqvist. On deadline day 2008, the Rangers shipped Montoya to the Phoenix Coyotes in a deal that saw the Rangers acquire Fredrik Sjostrom. From there Montoya saw himself injured and again blocked, this time by waiver acquisition Ilya Bryzgalov. It wouldn’t be till Snow came calling that Montoya would get another NHL opportunity and as it seems right now, is taking full advantage of it.

Snow, over the past few seasons has found some absolute gems (Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner, PA Parenteau and Milan Jurcina just to name a few off this year’s roster). Though Montoya may be the most impressive considering how under the gun he was to get someone (showing his trademark patience), and how little he had to give up (again considering the circumstances). If you watch the games, you see the calmness and confidence Montoya has brought to the Islanders defense, and the outstanding play is a direct result of how quickly he and the defense in front of him has gelled.

Heading into the summer, Snow has to be thinking about how he intends to shore up his goaltending for next season, since it’s his biggest hole. Montoya, without a doubt, has earned himself another contract and the opportunity to come back next year. It also, in my opinion, should give him the opportunity to be the 1A to DiPietro come next season. As we have seen, Rick isn’t ready to handle the #1 job yet (if ever). Having Montoya to slpit time with him (until Kevin Poulin is ready in a year or 2) gives the Islanders some options and allows the team to bring Poulin along slowly.

Regardless of what Montoya has done, Snow has to sit his friend (DiPietro) down and set him straight. After everything that has happened the past 2 season, heading out to fight Johnson was the absolute wrong thing to do. It set back his rehab and left the Islanders with more questions they don’t want to have to answer. You have seen enforcers (Eric Cairns had this problem a few times) where they suffer a hand injury and are unable to fight. Well, 4 knee surgeries and 2 1/2 season in the trainers room should be all that Ricky needed to not tussle with Johnson.

What’s done is done, and because of the Johnson fight, Montoya is here, and he deserves to stay.

As we all know Garth Snow has been shopping defenseman Radek Martinek, and Center Rob Schremp. He’s been listening to offers for Zenon Konopka and i’m sure he’ll hear other offers for some of his other “fringe players”. Just because it’s the deadline and the Islanders are again looking at being a lottery team, doesn’t mean that Garth can’t further the cause a bit more. The market for defenseman and depth players is high this year and I could see Garth moving more than just the above players.

It goes without saying that Martinek will be moved, (I have a feeling he’s been sitting not to make his injury any worse). He should catch at least a 2nd rounder, depending on how desperate the acquiring team is, whether a prospect is included as well. Schremp as we all know is now on waivers, and if no one claims him, he should be in Bridgeport before long. Z, as everyone calls him, may be enough of an asset to fetch Snow another 2nd rounder, though I think that may be shooting high (though if Ian White can get a 2nd rounder, why not Konopka).

A player that definitely could be moved is Blake Comeau. Comeau, who is having a statistically strong season, has seen his top 6 minutes diminish as the season has gone on, and Michael Grabner has improved. In my opinion, a players like Comeau, who makes a small salary, is not going to see top 6 minutes (considering he isn’t now and the Islanders have Nino Niederreiter and another top 5 talent coming in June), could be a very valuable player come tomorrow afternoon. I don’t think it’s a slam dunk, but Comeau is someone who could be in play.

Now I know people have heard the names Bogosian and Penner thrown around today on the Internet, I say those names are not coming to Long Island. Not that a trade for either of those guys wouldn’t make sense (Bogosian more than Penner), but I don’t see it happening. I personally would call Atlanta and at least have a discussion about a Josh Bailey for Zach Bogosian deal as it may be a perfect move for both players and quite frankly both teams as well. Bogosian would join a defense crew that includes Streit, Hamonic, MacDonald, de Haan, Wishart and Jurcina and Bailey could be on a line with the likes of Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler. Not saying it’s going to happen, or that it’s even been discussed, but if I were GM, I would look into it. Both of these kids could use a fresh start.

So in review, if Snow does in fact acquire 2nd rounders for Martinek and Konopka and who knows what for Comeau, it could be a fairly busy day for Islanders country, and if that were the case, Garth would own 4 picks in the 2nd round this coming June….more than enough to get him back into the 1st round to snag another top 30 prospect.

18 hours and counting….

If you consider everything that has happened this season, starting with training camp all the way through to Kevin Poulin’s dislocated kneecap, it’s amazing the Islanders have been able to play as well as they have over the past 6 weeks. Let’s take a look….

1. Training camp trip to China cancelled

Not that many people thought it would be a smart idea sending your team around the world for training camp, but the Isles had their camp set and exhibition schedule already set when the plans to hold camp in China fell through. It left the Islanders scrambling to make alternate plans and probably lead to some of the chaos that was Islanders Camp 2010.

2. Mark Streit’s akward fall

With a little more than half a period left in a scrimmage at the Nassau Coliseum, Matt Moulson shoved defenseman Mark Streit who fell awkwardly into the boards and skated directly off the ice in tremendous pain. That’s the last time any of us have seen #2 on the ice since. Streit, who is one of the strongest skaters in the league, suffered a torn labrum and a torn rotator cuff and will be sidelined until at least March if not the rest of the season. Losing your top defenseman before opening night for most of the season is a pretty big hurdle to overcome….but then we found out…

3. Kyle Okposo shoulder as well….

Yup, Kyle Okposo, the Islanders best all around forward, was lost until the All Star Break with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Okposo, who doesn’t really know when it happened, knew from last season he had a problem with his shoulder. Losing one of your top scorers, PP point man, penalty killer and young leader was a back breaker. That would be enough for most teams for a whole season…but there’s more.

4. Andrew MacDonald’s broken hand

Promising defenseman Andrew MacDonald broke his hand blocking a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning and was lost for 15 games. The Islanders won only 1 of those 15 games which basically torpedoed their season. The young MacDonald has been a revelation playing more than 22 minutes a night and forming a great tandem with rookie Travis Hamonic. MacDonald will be a strong number 3 defenseman for a long time on Long Island, but his broken hand was a huge blow to this young team.

5. Mike Mottau and Mark Eaton lost for the season…

The GM Garth Snow signed Mark Eaton and Mike Mottau to bolster the Islanders defense, I don’t think anyone saw these 2, who normally stay fairly healthy, playing a combined 54 games with 6 assists and a -14. The fact that both needed season ending hip surgery goes to show you that the black cloud is firmly hanging over the Coliseum this year.

6. Trent Hunter and The Captain MIA

I’m absolutely sure the team was counting on vets Hunter and Weight to carry some of the scoring load and take some pressure off the youngsters, that hasn’t exactly worked out. Hunter, out since November, is finished for the season with a torn MCL and will require surgery. Weight, has been out with back issues since early December and has recently been seen skating….in an Islanders jogging suit. The lack of a Captain (going on 2 years now) is without a doubt a detriment to this young team.

7. Nabokov

Need I say more? The immature and very dumb decision not to report will cost Mr. Nabokov, as the Islanders will most likely toll his contract and force him to either report to Long Island next September, or risk never playing in the NHL again. Either way, with injuries to starter (and I use that word lightly) Rick DiPietro and top prospect Kevin Poulin, Nabokov’s decision has hurt the Islanders.

8. DiPietro’s poor decision

I’m not talking about the fact he came out of his net and gave Matt Cooke a little shove (as we’ve seen Cooke is as dirty a player as there is in professional hockey), the problem, was his fight with big Brent Johnson. If you watch the video of the fight (you won’t have a problem finding it), you’ll see the smile on Ricky’s face right before Johnson buries him with a vicious left hook. It looked like it was a game to Ricky, and the result of him taking that fight with Johnson so lightly (or light heartedly), cost him 4-6 weeks. It also doesn’t allow him to finish the season healthy and go into next camp without the question of whether or not he still has the ability to stay healthy and be a number 1 NHL goaltender.

9. Poulin’s fall

No less than a week after DiPietro went down with his facial fractures, top prospect Kevin Poulin (during warm ups) gets his skate caught and dislocates his left knee cap, prematurely ending his season. Poulin, had the opportunity to send a strong message to management that he is the heir apparent to the Islanders goaltending woes (not that he hasn’t given them something to think about), but to finish the season on the Island could have really pushed him to the front of the line. Either way, Poulin has cemented himself as a top goaltending prospect, not just within the Islanders organization, but throughout the NHL.

Now there has been some thing’s I haven’t mentioned, Josh Bailey’s struggles being the major one, but there have been plenty of good things as well. The re-signing of Matt Moulson to a 3 year contract is a big one, the emergence of rookie sensation Michael Grabner has been huge, the solid play (albeit earlier than they would have liked) of Travis Hamonic and the continued development of John Tavares (54 points in 82 games last year, and he has 41 points in just 52 games already this year) are things to watch the final 28 games of 2011.

Isles Notes

The Isles have recalled G Al Montoya and expect him to get the start tonight. The team also recalled Michael Haley, which should signal that the Islanders will not allow the Pens to push them around.

I know we’ve talked about it before, but has there been a bigger steal this century than the Islanders grabbing Michael Grabner off waivers? For as brilliant as Dale Tallon is, he has made some awful moves over the years.

After reading both articles about Zenon Konopka, I totally give him a pass, it’s not like he’s the first one who’s been misquoted buy a member of the Canadian press.

Good for Mikko Koskinen to get his first NHL win last night, I fully expect him become a good backup NHL goaltender (see Nashville’s Anders Lindback).

Tonight, I fully expect there to be a very fun filled game against the Pens. Though we have a huge disadvantage in goal, I think it’ll be a very spirited game where the Isles will make sure to send a message early to the Pens that they aren’t going to let them take free shots at them.

Excuse me if I sound like a broken record, but Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro will be shelved 4-6 weeks with facial fractures and knee swelling following his fight with Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson.

DiPietro, who was trying to stay healthy for an entire season, (that would have been the first time he would have been able to accomplish this since 2007-2008) has seemingly sabotaged himself this time. Not that I don’t blame him for sticking up for his teammates, but this is the kind of behavior that has gotten him in trouble before.

This injury leaves the Islanders in a huge hole as backup Nathan Lawson is already out 2-4 weeks with a knee injury and Evgeni Nabokov has refused assignment and is under suspension. With only 2 goalies in Bridgeport, the Isles are left with 20 year old Kevin Poulin to do the heavy lifting until Garth Snow can pull a rabbit out of his hat and get himself another goaltender here before tomorrow night (Mike Smith is available in Tampa Bay).

Does this mean that DiPietro’s career is over….no, but it does mean that he will have to endure another season of having to prove he can play more than a few games without injuring himself, and anyone will tell you, I have been a big believer and supporter of Rick during his time here….but I’m even starting to doubt it’s possible.

The Islanders have endured a very disappointing first half. After losing 21 of 23, GM Garth Snow fired Head Coach Scott Gordon and replaced him with AHL coach Jack Capuano who has been able to relax things and there has been some improvement. The team has had some bright spots (the play of young defenseman Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic and the scoring and skating ability of Michael Grabner). But has also had to deal the with Evgeni Nabokov situation (which the team has handled perfectly in my opinion).

Without further delay….here are my Mid Season Grades….

John Tavares – 18-18-36- -21 – Grade B+

Tavares struggled through the first part of the season (as everybody did) and took the losing streak very hard (probably as he’s never been a part of anything like that in his young career). After Capuano took over, Tavares has played much better and is on pace for his first 30 goal season (the first of many we all hope). He has played his best with PA Parenteau and Matt Moulson on his wings (2 offensively minded wingers, shocking I know). With an infusion of some veteran talent, Tavares’ numbers should sky rocket. His -21 is an eye sore, but if you count how many late or empty net goals that have been scored with Tavares on the ice…that number would probably be in half.

PA Parenteau – 12-18-30- -11 – Grade B

Parenteau has been a pleasant surprise, as he has jelled with Tavares and Moulson to form a potent top line, and he has been a very positive presence in the locker room. His skating leaves a lot to be desired and he is sometimes a turnover machine, but Parenteau for his salary has been a very solid addition to this team. He most certainly should garner some attention at the deadline, if the team decides it won’t bring him back next season.

Blake Comeau – 13-17-30- -15 – Grade B-

Comeau has surpassed any offensive expectations with his 13 goals and 30 points so far. We are still waiting for him to become that Dustin Brown type player who can score 25 goals and gives you 3-5 hits a game. Comeau is at his best when he’s running around the ice, nailing people with his crushing hits and creating scoring opportunities. If some coach can get him to play like that on a nightly basis, the Islanders will have a heck of a player on their hands.

Matt Moulson – 17-12-29- -13 – Grade B

Moulson, who has recently signed a new 3 year contract extension with the Islanders, has had a bit of a rocky 1st half, and he still managed to score 17 goals. With his future on Long Island secure, I think you’ll see a much more relaxed Matt Moulson the rest of the season. He should still manage his 30 goals for a second straight season and hopefully will continue to be the great success story that he’s become.

Frans Nielsen – 5-16-21- -1- Grade B

Nielsen gets a B here since his goal scoring is down. His defense continues to be top notch and would be an annual Selke Finalist if he played on a better team. Nielsen, who was sold to fans as a second line center, is a very valuable player and every successful team needs a player of his caliber. It’s just a shame he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.

Michael Grabner – 15-6-21- +1- Grade A

Grabner, who amazingly was waived by the Florida Panthers after training camp, has become a big part of the Islanders rebuild. Grabner now has 15 goals and is averaging less than 14 minutes a game. He gets no power play time (which I’m still trying to figure out), and I’m a little surprised why I haven’t seen him a least tried on Tavares’ wing yet. The kid has amazing speed (proof of which him winning the fastest skater event at the ASG), and always seems to make something happen when he’s on the ice. He’s not a perfect player, but the Isles struck gold when they claimed this kid.

Rob Schremp – 7-12-19- -12 – Grade C+

Schremp has been up and down so far this season. He missed a chunk of time with a back injury, and at times has looked lost on the ice. He has games where he looks dominant with the puck with his amazing hands and moves, and at other times, he’s tossed off the puck and gives it up. Capuano has stated that with Schremp it’s about puck control, and it’s something he needs working on moving forward. He seems to have some chemistry with Comeau and that’s something to watch in the second half.

Andrew MacDonald – 1-16-17- -2- Grade A

MacDonald missed 15 games with a broken hand, it’s no wonder the Islanders won only one game after he went down with his injury. He has become a wonder on defense, and the team has played so much better with him in the lineup. The Islanders are 14-16-4 with him in the lineup, and 1-11-3 with him out of the lineup. He took over the #1 defenseman title once James Wisniewski was dealt to Montreal, and he hasn’t missed a beat. MacDonald seems to get better every night and he’s been paired with top prospect Travis Hamonic for the better part of the last 20 games. With 17 points in 34 games, it’ll be interesting to see if A-Mac can keep that pace up for a full season.

Josh Bailey – 6-9-15- -7- Grade D

I love Josh Bailey, but man is he having a rough go of it. He has 9 points since his recall from a month long stay in Bridgeport, and 3 of those points came in the same game. Bailey, has definitely taken a step back in his development and it’s up the team to help him. He’s a hard worker, and has come to camp in fantastic shape, but the Islanders are going to have to figure out something soon before Bailey’s development is stunted for good.

Doug Weight – 2-7-9- -3- Grade D

Weight, who came into camp saying he felt better than he had in years, suffered a back injury and his been mostly out of the lineup. He has already begun his transition into his post playing days career, as he has worked with the team in a coach’s capacity and most expect that he’ll continue with the Islanders after he retires at the end of this season. Though he still is the captain of this team, it definitely hurts not having him on the bench during the game. The fact team brought him back to play instead of being part of management is the mistake here. Weight is a excellent person and should be a great ambassador for the franchise moving forward.

Milan Jurcina – 3-6-9- 0- Grade B

Jurcina has been a huge surprise for the Islanders. He has been a steadying force on the blue line, and has used his size more than he has in the past. He has an absolute rocket of a shot the he definitely needs to use more, and has truly enjoyed his time on Long Island. He signed an extension for next season and should be a solid player moving forward.

Travis Hamonic – 0-8-8- -7- Grade B

Hamonic, who the Islanders envisioned spending the entire season in Bridgeport, has been a huge addition to this team. You sometimes forget he’s just a 20 year old kid back there. He has provided more size and physicality than most expected and I still believe he’ll be able to rack up some points too. Look for him to find a permanent residence on the Islanders blue line for many years to come.

Jack Hillen – 3-4-7- -8 – Grade C

Hillen, who just 2 years ago was logging big minutes for Scott Gordon, has definitely dropped down the depth chart. He started the season in the press box (benched for vets Mike Mottau and Mark Eaton), but has now worked his way back into the lineup and is doing a somewhat solid job. His offensive numbers were terrible until a recent hot streak has him a 7 points in 35 games. Either way, next season with Calvin de Haan ready to make the jump from Juniors, and returning members of this year’s D (Jurcina, MacDonald, Hamonic, Streit, Eaton and possible Wishart), Hillen will be relegated to 7th defenseman duty if not he’ll be with another organization.

Radek Martinek – 1-5-6- -7 – Grade C

Martinek’s biggest obstacle in the past has been staying healthy, and for the most part he’s done so this season. He did miss a few games with a lower body issue, but has come back and is playing about 17 minutes a night (way down from the 20+ minutes he was playing a few years ago). It’s a good bet that Martinek will be moved at the deadline. He makes no money and can still be a solid defenseman.

Zenon Konopka – 1-5-6- -9 – Grade C+

Konopka has been very good for the Islanders. He is a huge presence in the room, has lead his team to change the team’s goal song, he made sure to remind the Canadian media that the Islanders aren’t doormats anymore (unfortunately the Isles went out and were hammered by the struggling Senators that same night). ZK’s been a great faceoff guy and someone who’ll drop the gloves with anyone. He’s a guy who you love to have on your team. Hate to see his -9 which is why he gets a C+.

Trent Hunter – 1-3-4- -3 – Grade F

Hunter, who is only 30, has had a tremendous problem staying healthy the past few seasons. He’s only played 17 games so far this year, and has just 4 points. His last game played (back in November) he had 2 of those points. That means the former 25 goal scorer and Calder runner up, had just 2 points (both assists) in his first 16 games this season. Completely unacceptable for someone making $2 million a season.

Bruno Gervais – 0-4-4- -11 – Grade F

Bruno, once considered a top defense prospect of the Islanders, has had a horrible first half. He spent the first month in the press box, and since he’s come back, he has done very little on the ice. His -11 is the 2nd worst among d-men (partner Dylan Reese is a -12 as is injured Mike Mottau). Bruno is a great guy and has been a model Islander since he’s been here, but his play has shown he just isn’t an NHL defenseman.

Trevor Gillies – 1-0-1- -2 – grade B

Gillies, who usually sees about 4 minutes of ice time a night, has been exactly what the islanders need. He’s the best teammate a player could ask for, he does his job and doesn’t complain about spending 2 periods on the bench and is among the top heavy weights in the game. Gillies, is as easy a guy to talk to that exists and the Islanders should have no second thoughts about bringing him back next season.

Mark Eaton – 0-3-3- -12 – Grade D

If you want an example of a UFA signing that just hasn’t worked out….look at Eaton. Eaton, who signed a 2 year deal, played just 34 games and is out for the remainder of the season with hip surgery. When he was in the lineup, he didn’t pay poorly, though he was thrust into a bigger role than he was supposed to be when Mark Streit’s injury occurred in training camp. Needless to say, Eaton will be back next year.

Mike Mottau – 0-3-3- -12- Grade F

Here is an example of just sheer bad luck. Mottau signed a 2 year deal right before training camp began (after Streit’s injury). He went on to play 20 uninspiring games earning a -12 rating and it all ended with him getting hit in the face with a shot from the point. To boot, he suffered a tear in his hip that required season ending surgery. The grade F is more about his missing the whole season than about his play on the ice. He’ll be back next season as well.

Dylan Reese – 0-1-1 -12 – Grade F

Reese, who played very well as an injury replacement last season, has been terrible this year. He spent the first part of the season at Bridgeport, even wore an “A”, but has been a mess since returning. He has played with Bruno Gervais, which could be part of his problem, but really, a -12 on a team that most D-men are in the single digits is unacceptable, especially in 19 games played.

Jesse Joensuu – 3-1-4- -8- Grade F

Joensuu gets an F since he had a perfect chance to make his mark and stick with the Islanders and he blew it. Joensuu has always been a solid player for BST, but has been unable to solidify his game at the NHL level. His entry level agreement is up at the end of this season and I don’t expect the Islanders to re-sign him.

Rick DiPietro – 7-9-4 3.42GAA .890% – Grade C

For the first time in 2 years, DiPietro came to camp as a player and not on a rehab assignment. Getting back into the rigors of playing in goal every night in the NHL is something that takes getting used to. Rick seems to finally getting his groove back. His number are very pedestrian, but if you take out this 2 games in which the Islanders were shelled by Philly and Carolina at the beginning of “the streak” his GAA would be 3.08 and his save % would be .901. Not too shabby for someone who has spent most of the past 2 seasons hurt. With some solid goaltending prospects coming up behind him, DP needs to reestablish himself as the franchise’s number 1 goaltender.

Kevin Poulin – 2-2-1- 2.59GAA .925% Grade A

Poulin, is the Islanders number 1 goaltending prospect and soon will be one of the NHL’s top prospects too. He has wowed his coaches in Bridgeport and has been equally as impressive in the NHL. He seems extremely poised for a 20 year old and seems to get better as the game goes on. No doubt he’ll be a number 1 goaltender for someone sooner rather than later.

Nathan Lawson – 0-3-1 4.19GAA .894% Grade D-

Lawson, who had a perfect opportunity to make a name for himself, and possibly get himself a job next seasons as Rick DiPietro’s caddy, came in and hasn’t played well at all. Poulin has outplayed him, and Capuano doesn’t seem to have much confidence in him. I would expect the Isles to sign a veteran backup in the off season and Lawson will be looking for work.

Jack Capuano Grade B

Cap has done a respectable job. He seems easy going, and the players definitely respond to him. After wins, you can see him in the locker room congratulating players and you can see when he’s disappointed in a players performance. The difference between him and Gordon, is Gordon could never show weakness or a willingness to change anything, where as Capuano seems to realize his has a young team and sometimes things have to change quickly. He seems much more adept to making in game changes, where as Gordon was reluctant to do so. Either way, Capuano should be returned to BST next season to continue to work with the Islanders young players and a veteran head coach should be hired.

Management Grade B

Garth Snow took some early heat from everyone for his team starting off terrible, then firing Gordon, then the banning of popular blogger Chris Botta, with all of that, he’s still done a pretty good job so far this year. He grabbed rookie sensation Michael Grabner off waivers from the Florida Panthers, he was able to acquire a mid 2nd round pick plus an additional 5th rounder for defenseman James Wisniewski (who was a -18 at the time of the trade). He acquired a good prospect in Ty Wishart for 41 year old goaltender Dwayne Roloson, and did an excellent job handling the whole Evgeni Nabokov situation. Snow has done an great job this season, though this coming off season will be his biggest test as the Islanders will need to make significant strides next season or risk losing any leverage at all against Nassau County.

You’ll notice I left out Kyle Okposo and some other players, only because you can’t judge anything Kyle has done to this point as a plus or minus. Besides, you pretty much know what you’re going to get with Okposo.

Isles Notes

I think it’s total BS the NHL decided that each franchise shouldn’t have a representative at the All Star Game. I don’t give a damn about the skills competition and to me that doesn’t count. If Grabner was good enough to win the faster skater, than he should have played in the game. I didn’t watch any of the festivities (the draft, the skills or the game) and I really don’t care what happened. If the NHL wants to isolate some of their franchises, then they should prepare for some areas to not give a shit.

I have 2 words for Evgeni Nabokov and they aren’t happy birthday. If you don’t want to fulfill your contract and come to Long Island fine. Here’s a guy who plays at his worst in the playoffs and he wants to go to a team that is trying to get into the playoffs? If he had any brains at all, he’d come here, play his 15-20 games the rest of the season in a pressure free environment and get a contract somewhere else next season. Whatever dude…have fun hitting the market as a 37 year old in 2012 (after your contract is tolled next season).

The Islanders recalled Ty Wishart from BST today along with Dylan Reese and Kevin Poulin, looking forward to seeing this kid out there.

Who would have thought the Islanders would be in better financial position than the Mets???….talk about weird times.

With the chances of the Islanders choosing in the top 3 this year a near certainty, the names you should be watching are Sean Courturier, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Adam Larsson.

Congrats to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, they announced their new uniforms for next season today and also announced that each full season ticket holder would receive one. On top of that the jersey will be fitted with a microchip that you can scan at the concession or merchandise stands to receive your discount. What a great idea!!!!! (HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT)

Wishart, who is 6’4″ 220 lbs, has been playing for the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. He is 4-14-18 in 31 games and is a +13. He is considered by the scouting reports I have read to have top defense paring ability. He has continually worked on his own zone coverage and by his +13 this season, it seems he’s getting it. Wishart will report to Bridgeport of the AHL as per the Islanders press release.

Snow, who seems hell bent on moving his veterans well before the deadline, has moved away from the playoffs or bust movement that was the talk of the team in training camp. After the horrific 21 of 22 streak, it left the team in a hole that would be hard for any team to crawl out of. Why not get the most for his players that he can? With Wisniewski being a -18, a mid 2nd round pick and a conditional 5th rounder was a nice haul for a modest defenseman who’s on his 4th team in 6 seasons. A B+ prospect for a 41 year old goalie (though playing extremely well), is a very good haul. If you look at the rest of the NHL, find me a team who needs a number 1 goaltender, now find me a team who would be willing to trade it’s top prospect or 1st round draft pick for a rental player, let alone a player who is nearing the end of his career. (say what you want about Roloson, and I think he’s an outstanding goaltender, but how many more years can he play at this level?)

The real question now is who is next?

More to come as I am completely dumbfounded by this move at this time.

Updated 5:35

I understand Garth Snow making this move if he thinks Wisniewski wont re-sign with the Islanders and this is the best deal he’ll get (considering his -18, I would say Snow got a decent return for Wisniewski). What I don’t understand is who will step into his minutes? Do they go to Travis Hamonic? Is it too much to ask a 20 year old with 14 NHL games under his belt to become a number 1 defenseman? Is there another deal to be made? I don’t see it if there is, it’s possible since i’ve been told there wont be a conference call about this trade, maybe another is on the horizon. Either way, this leaves a huge hole on the Islanders blueline (which has just returned to being healthy and has been playing extremely well).

The second problem I have with this trade is the timing. Look, Wisniewski isn’t Nicklas Lidstrom, far from it, but coming off 4 wins in 5 games (against some good opponents) what are you telling the fans, who have been staying home for most of the season before this trade? If you are just going to play Bruno Gervais and expect fans to be excited about that it’s not going to happen. Bruno is a great kid and has been an excellent representative for the team to have out in the community, but he isn’t a wow me kind of hockey player. Never has been and never will be. Are you telling fans that you know you’re a lottery team this year and fans need to accept that? You know that the Islanders aren’t a better team now that Wisniewski is gone, his compensation wont be known for another 6 months, so again, why now?

The only answer I can think of is Wisniewski wanted out. I can tell you personally that losing did not sit well with this guy. Was it Wisniewski who made the infamous “country club” comment? I think so, since that’s the intense personality that he displayed from the moment he was acquired back in July. Even in post game interviews you could see that he would be dumbfounded after games. Now, you have to take into consideration that this will be his 4th team in 6th seasons, so could it a personality issue? I don’t think so, but you can’t discount it.

All in all, the Islanders got good value for Wisniewski but once again are left to answer questions about their roster and about their intentions.

In the midst of one of the worst streaks in team history, there is no denying, the Islanders organization is a disaster. Top to bottom, there is no other way to put it. The owner is under fire due to a lack of spending for the on ice product, which at best is a bottom 3 team at this point and an attempt to raise ticket and parking prices on a team that has finished in the bottom 5 of the standings the past 4 years. The GM is under fire for a reluctance to make a move to improve and for banning a popular blogger from the Coliseum press box. The team is under fire considering they have won 1 of their last 18 games. Needless to say, the fans are disgusted, the media is attacking on a daily basis, as the team sinks deeper and deeper at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Is it possible to lock up the lottery pick by Christmas? After looking at a bunch of issues that I’ve talked about with different fans and friends, here are 8 things the Islanders can do to turn things around.

1. Close the top 10 rows of the Coliseum and move everyone down.
The Isles woulnd’t be the first team to do it, the Lightning (who used to be a top NHL draw) does it, heck even the Mets used to do it to the Upper Deck at Shea Stadium years ago. The team is drawing an average of 10,770 (which isn’t totally accurate) which is the lowest average they’ve had since the turn of the century. This idea would allow the rink to give the illusion of being fuller than it actually is and would allow fans a closer look at the game. Obviously the prices would have to be adjusted since the reason the 300’s are so popular is because they are semi affordable. All in all, it would be a nice olive branch to fans….as would my next idea…

2. Reinstate Chris Botta.
The Islanders have made their point on this one. As someone who read’s Chris’ blog on a daily basis, and has an incredible amount of respect for his contacts and knowledge of the game, I completely understand where Garth came from on this. I for one think Botta has learned his lesson and giving him access again would give the fans the coverage they crave and deserve. It would give the team some good will with the Internet crowd and with the MSM (main stream media) as well. Have Snow and Botta sit across from each other and hash this out, both are classy professionals and I’m sure one conversation will get their relationship back on track.

3. Hire Bob Hartley.
As one anonymous player was quoted yesterday “it’s like a country club in here”, there obviously needs to be a new voice in the room. I like Jack Capuano a lot, but he is still from the old regime and a new coach is desperately needed. Hartley is that guy. He has worked very well with young teams in the past and he isn’t afraid to let his players know when their play is unacceptable. Hiring Hartley would be a good step back towards respectability.

4. Hire a scouting director with some experience.
After letting Ryan Jankowski go (who amazingly gets credit for every Islander draft pick if you ask some fans), the Islanders have yet to announce a replacement. It doesn’t mean his job isn’t being handled by someone else, it just means no replacement was ever named. The team, which doesn’t sink much into it’s on ice product, should dump some additional funds into scouting and hire someone to run their draft. A Jim Devellano comes to mind (though I don’t see him making a return to Long Island at this point in his career). But someone of that stature would be another step towards respectability.

5. Make a trade!
The team is awaiting Kyle Okposo’s return, that should not preclude them from making a move. It’s painfully obvious that the Islanders do not have enough scoring (watching Jon Sim on the power play over and over again should be your first clue). The Isles have many prospects, though most of them are in Juniors or college. They need to bring in someone who can score. It would squelch some of the “cap floor” comments and would also improve the on ice product, and hence maybe sell a few more tickets.

6. Give Season Ticket Holders something!
Over the past few seasons, the Islanders used to treat their season ticket holders to many different amenities. A BBQ kicking off the season, with a free autograph session with the entire team (it’s now open to all fans, and a donation to the Islanders Children’s foundation must be made to attend), season ticket holders may enter an hour earlier than the general public. There would be some sort of gift, a shirt, sweatshirt, a jersey, a collectable….something would always come in the mail. There would be giveaways (bobbleheads, hats, calender’s…etc). That well has completely dried up. The season ticket holders get nothing now. These are your most loyal fans, the ones that invest in the team each year whether they suck or not. Give them something…anything! A signed puck, a jersey, a sweatshirt…anything would be appreciated. Again, make a connection to your fans, and not just the ones sitting in the 100’s.

7. Talk to the Fans!
If you ask around, the biggest complaint Islanders fans have, there is no communication with management. I know Garth is not one to hop in front of the camera’s, and Charles has been amazingly quiet since the fall of the Lighthouse project but this has to stop. Someone has to come to the forefront and speak to the fans. In the beginning there would be town hall sessions, open houses at the Coliseum, anything to keep the fans informed. That has completely stopped and has become a point of contention amongst the fans i’ve spoken to. The last thing an organization wants to do is isolate your fan base, the Islanders are dangerously close to doing that. Someone needs to talk to the fans and let them know what’s happening……and finally….

8. Induct John Tonelli into the Islanders HOF.
A few years back the team created the Islanders HOF and announced each year a different player would be inducted. Bob Bourne was the first after the originals (Bossy, Trottier, Smith, Gillies, Nystrom, Torrey and Arbour). No one has been inducted since. There is a laundry list of players that should be in there and Tonelli is the first. A huge fan favorite during his time on Long Island, it again would be a treat for the fans and the right thing to do for a player who did so much for the Islanders during his career.

Since there is nothing else to say about the team’s current play, I’ll leave my ideas as the basis for this blog.

As always your comments are welcomed and encouraged.

The change behind the bench was not only necessary, but probably overdue. Scott Gordon is not a bad coach, and isn’t a bad person either, he has been dealt a team of players who are not playing well together and he was out of ideas of how to coax wins out of them any longer. Maybe a new voice and a “simplifying of some things”, as Doug Weight put it, will be enough to get the Isles back on the road to mediocrity. What gets them on the road to success is another matter entirely.

I’m tired of hearing fans who killed Mike Milbury for dealing away Roberto Luongo, Bryan McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi, Olli Jokinen…etc are now are killing Snow for his rebuilding stage. The fact he keeps his roster spots open for younger players and “Bargain Finds”, is the way the Islanders are choosing to go nowadays. Charles Wang has lost nearly $200 million dollars since he’s bought the franchise. He has been trying to build his team a new home since the second he signed ownership papers only to be used and abused by the people we elect and call Nassau County politicians. Here’s a secret for you, no matter who owns the Islanders, they will lose money…that owner may put money into the team for a season or 2….but once the losses start piling up, they are going to do exactly what Charles is doing, only while they’re doing it, they’ll be checking out Quebec, Hamilton and Las Vegas instead of Uniondale and Flushing. Charles isn’t perfect, but you can’t blame him for wanting to cut down on his losses until he has a clearer picture as to where the Islanders will be playing after the 2015 season. What you would like to see, is when the arena issue is finally settled, you’d like to see Charles immediately charge forward with a big trade, free agent signing, or something to show the fans that he was just waiting for his certainty.

Now, you ask how the Islanders can get better?

The first step took place today, placing a new voice behind the bench. As of tomorrow morning, Garth Snow should be formulating a list of new head coaches and start interviewing immediately. The Islanders might be a mess now, but there are coaches out there who would love this job. The Islanders have a wealth of young talent, and once the arena situation comes to a decision (which will eventually happen), the owner has the funds and has shown a willingness to spend on the team. I personally would love to see the team bring up a few kids from the Bridge to shake things up, maybe make a trade to bring in some veteran scoring help in the meantime though i’m not holding my breath on either of these requests.

Finally, I spoke with a friend of mine on twitter today, @greenlanternjet. His real name is Jeff Capellini and he is a die hard Islanders and Jets fan. I told him this afternoon that I was writing a “scathing” blog about the state of the team, the only thing is, the more I look at the situation, the more I understand it. I don’t like it, and I feel my elected leaders are more to blame than Scott Gordon is for the state of my beloved franchise, but I understand it. I get the whole rebuild since it’s the right thing to do, I get the whole try not to commit too much money until you’re sure where you’ll be playing and bringing in the cash in a few years, and I understand that $200 million dollars is a lot to shell out without a light at the end of the tunnel. So Jeff, as much as this blog might be lacking a “scathing” tone, I think you’ll understand it.

More later as I have a lot to say about this topic.

11:09 – Isles holding a 11:15 Conference Call with Garth Snow…I’ll be live blogging it.

11:15 – Conference Call beginning now..

11:22 – Katie Strang has the first question (duh). Snow “Jack’s done a great job in Bridgeport, and has a knowledge of the players in the room.”

11:27 – Snow “It’s disappointing” “we’ve lost 10 games in a row, sometimes you have to make tough decisions”

11:28 – ESPN’s Scott Burnside asking if Snow made any calls outside of the organization for an established coach. His answer was in so many words no.

11:31 – Snow will not commit to Capuano for the full season.

11:33 – “Scott’s done an excellent job, it’s an unfortunate situation we’re in”

11:35 – End of Call….

More later as I have to put all this together.

If you translate all of this into English….it means the Islanders are in deep trouble.

First of all, during the course of their 7 game losing streak, the Islanders have been outscored 31-12. They have not scored a 1st period goal in 5 games, and the stat that just blows my mind, not once during this losing streak, have the Islanders held a lead. Those are some scary statistics. The question I get most is, how can a team that gained points in 6 of the first 7 games, be this terrible now? My opinion, the players on the ice have a history of inconsistency, so you’ll have stretches the team will look like contenders, and other times they look like a lottery team. Guys like Comeau, Hunter, Parenteau and Schremp have always been considered streaky. That’s what we’ve seen so far this year. Now that the effort has been back, the scoring has gone on hiatus. In a nutshell, the only way the Islanders are going to compete, is they have to outwork the opposing team each and every shift. Without that, well, go back and watch the game against the Hurricanes last week.

Now, let’s discuss the 800lb gorilla in the room. Scott Gordon’s job security. First of all, anyone in the Islanders organization can give him a vote of confidence, Garth can say that he feels the Isles will snap out of it, it means nothing to me. Gordon’s job as coach is to find a way to have the players on his team improve (part of the reason he was hired was he was supposed to be great with young players) and to win. He’s done a questionable job on the first part, and not a lot of the second part. I had this discussion with fellow blogger Rob McGowan (thehockeywriters.com) yesterday, Rob feels that changing coaches at this point wouldn’t serve any purpose, and changing coaching styles isn’t what’s right for this team, and he may be correct, my opinion is that Gordon has had a minimal affect over the past 2 + seasons and changing coaches wouldn’t hurt at this point. I’m not saying Gordon is a bad coach, but seriously last season he had an 18 point improvement over the season before, his first season Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis were his goaltenders, and his top goal scorer had just 18 goals (Kyle Okposo). Last season he had Dwayne Roloson and Marty Biron plus Snow added top offensive players Matt Moulson and 1st overall pick John Tavares, who combined added 54 goals. Of course there was going to be an improvement. The Islanders finished 5th to last in the NHL and if they hadn’t tied Pittsburgh in the 3rd period of the final game (only to lose in OT) they would have had tied for 3rd worst. Last ugly stat….(promise) The Islanders have won just 6 games on the road this calendar year.

Needless to say, if the Islanders struggle in Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles, and come home having lost 10 games in a row, the pressure on Scott Gordon and Garth Snow to make a move, will be tremendous. Something will have to be done, either a trade to shake up the roster, or maybe a change behind the bench. Who knows, but at this point, you have to admit things are dangerously close to being out of control for both Gordon and Snow.

Five straight losses, has the fan base in a tizzy. In less than three weeks the Islanders have gone from contender to an “AHL franchise”. According to fans in a live chat last night, we can blame everyone from Rick DiPietro, Scott Gordon, Charles Wang, Gary Bettman, Garth Snow, Mike Milbury, Doug Weight, Radek Martinek, Bruno Gervais, etc for this epic collapse (yes there is sarcasm in that statement). The Islanders got off to a good start, and they have put up two really bad games in a row….let’s not burn down the village folks. Don’t get me wrong, there are some major concerns for this team, but anyone who thought it was a foregone conclusion that the Islanders were a playoff team (especially after the extended losses of Streit and Okposo) was just not being realistic. This season was going to be a battle from beginning to end, and gaining points in 4 out of the first 6 games was exactly what it was, a good start.

Let’s get into some of the troubling things I’ve seen over the past few games.

DiPietro

We all knew it was going take DiPietro some time to get his game back in order. That to me isn’t the troubling thing. What bothers me most, is it seems the team plays much better in front of Roloson than it does for DiPietro. Maybe it’s because they aren’t used to him, I have no idea, but I’ve watched the games against Montreal and then the last 2 against Philly and Carolina and you’re watching two completely different teams. The rumors or thoughts that his teammates just don’t like him is just untrue. I’ve seen DiPietro around his teammates and he is just one of the guys, so I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I know what the answer is, all I know is that someone in the know needs to figure it out and soon. Now, remember that the Islanders are playing 3 defenseman short now with MacDonald, Streit and Jurcina all out, it can’t go unsaid that since Hillen and Gervais have been back in the lineup the defense has not looked anywhere as crisp as it did the first 10 games.

Line Combinations

OK, first, I know you’re down 5-1 in the 3rd period, but can someone please explain to me why Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen, Rob Schremp, and Doug Weight are all out on the same power play? You have every playmaker on the team on the ice at the same time, and your top goal scorers are on the bench. Second, why isn’t Michael Grabner on the Power Play? He has obviously shown he can score, put him out there, let’s see what he can do. In a game where the whole teams seems to be standing around watching the game, put your “4th line guys” out there. Hunter and Martin should have been given more ice time and a chance to jump start the team.

Checking

Other than Matt Martin, (who has 26 hits in his first 4 games this season), the team has stopped hitting. For example, the Islanders had 22 hits registered against the Hurricanes, 8 of them belonged to Martin. That means the other 23 other players had a grand total of 14 hits for the entire game, and Martin only played about 11 minutes. You can give Bailey a pass since you don’t know if he’s 100% yet, Hunter does what he can, and Konopka is Konopka, but Comeau, Moulson and Wisniewski have to pick up the slack a little.

Ugly +/-

I know some of it has to do with the Power Play being so good, but Wisniewski and Mottau are -10 and Tavares is a -9…..eeeeek

What Does it All Mean?

It means the Islanders are in trouble. There are no breaks in the schedule as after Ottawa tonight, they have their blood bath rematch with Philly on Saturday night, followed by a West Coast swing next week. They need to get going before they are buried in last place by the time they start to get a little healthy.

I won’t mention that Scott Gordon is in the final year of his contract or the fact that during my interview with Isles GM Garth Snow his response was “winning” to a question about Gordon’s long term security on Long Island. It’s way too early in the season for that kind of talk, but if this continues, that conversation will heat up fast.

Notes….

Dwayne Roloson will be in net tonight, and I am interested to see how the team responds to having him back there.

Please tell me why it’s such a big story that Sidney Crosby decided to drop the gloves last night?….it’s not like he fought Steve Ott, Matt Niskanen is the Stars equivalent to Jack Hillen.

Note to Coach Gordon….please, please, please give Michael Grabner a chance on the PP…..

Coach says some player’s ice time will be affected after last night’s debacle…..we’ll see…

Last night the Islanders played without number one defenseman Mark Streit, forwards Kyle Okposo, Rob Schremp and Josh Bailey and then lost stalwart Andrew MacDonald midway through the second period with a hand injury. With all of that, the team was still able to finish off the Tampa Bay Lightning and earn back to back wins on the road. The reason?…it’s simple, the defense. The defense, though unspectacular, has been rock solid in front of hot goalie tandem Rick DiPietro and Dwayne Roloson. They have allotted the offense to relax and do their thing, and they have responded with much better 3rd periods, which in turn has resulted in wins, and not last minute collapses, which is what we saw last year. New comers Mike Mottau, James Wisniewski and Milan Jurcina have been a huge upgrade and coupled with the return of Radek Martinek, have given the Islanders some experience and grit on the backline.

Now, offensively, the Islanders have some kids who can put the puck in the net. You have to be impressed with young forwards Michael Grabner and Nino Niederreiter, as are both responsible enough to be on the ice late in a close game, and have the potential to put the puck in the net. Having Weight center them is a fantastic idea, and has paid off as both have scored off Weight passes in the past week. John Tavares looks like he’s added a slap shot to his arsenal of weapons as he scored the game winner in Toronto off a wicked one timer and blasted a few shots on Dan Ellis last night. The more I watch Tavares, the more I think he’s going to have a very good season. He’s just more relentless on the puck, doesn’t seem to be falling down as much as last year, and as we all know, his offensive skills are outstanding.

All in all, this team has surprised some, and with DiPietro healthy, the December return of Kyle Okposo and an All Star Break return for Mark Streit could be all this team needs to find itself back in the playoff hunt come March 1st.

Isles Notes

I didn’t like how MacDonald went off the ice and I’m afraid he broke his hand or wrist. MacDonald is extremely solid and would be a huge loss if he misses significant time. Hopefully we’ll hear something soon.

Anyone notice Wisniewski has 6 points in 5 games and they are all on the Power Play?

I love Blake Comeau, but that boy needs to hit more. If he throws his body around the way he did Opening Night, he’d be a force in this league. He had 6 hits in his first 2 games (against Dallas and the Rangers), and has had 3 hits since.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the new white uniforms???

Rick Rypien = Bad decision (6 games per TSN’s Bob McKenzie)

Random movie note….Jackass 3D, hysterical…only wanted to puke like 3 times (and yes that’s a good thing).

Can anyone imagine how good defensively this team will be once Mark Streit comes back?

Michael Grabner is like a cheetah on skates….takes huge strides.

Vinny Lecavalier is not the same player he was 2 years ago.

Random TV note….Detroit 187 may be the best police show since NYPD Blue.

Isles back on the ice Sat in Fort Lauderdale….enjoy the weekend!

John Tavares who suffered what the Islanders termed a “mild concussion” (not that’s there is anything mild about concussions) and did not return. With Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo already on the shelf, this would normally be the equivalent of losing a wing on a 747. Though with a rejuvenated Doug Weight, a healthy (albeit rusty) Rick DiPietro and a newly bolstered defense corp with James Wisniewski leading the way, the Islanders we’re able to scratch their way back from 2 goals down to force overtime against the Dallas Stars. Here’s my take on what we saw Saturday night.

DiPietro had a rough 1st period

Rick DiPietro, playing his first game on Coliseum ice since this shutout against the Toronto Maple Leafs last December, had what you would call a bad period. He gave up 1 soft goal and was a little rusty leaving some big rebounds out in front. He settled down and had a fine game the rest of the way. He made some big saves when he had to, and considering the lack of playing time the team has had in front of him, I think it shows promise. In the locker room, DiPietro was completely disgusted with that second goal and the fact he felt the team earned a point in spite of his play. That’s just Rick being hard on himself, as the last 2 goals he had no shot on.

Bolstered Defense

The new defense showed some real good things, and that they definitely are a work in progress. While James Wisniewski introduced himself to Islanders Country with a rocket from the point that turned out to be a power play goal and a hit that left 6’2″ Jamie Benn with rubber bands for legs. Milan Jurcina showed that he can use this tremendous frame to toss people around. Mike Mottau played a solid if unspectacular game. Andrew MacDonald looked great firing his incredibly heavy shot from the point. Radek Martinek was his usual underrated self and Mark Eaton is going to be a huge player for this team. He is extremely smart hockey player who from a defensive standpoint will lessen the blow that is Mark Streit’s absence. Now, there were some blown coverages, and some giveaways in the neutral zone, but I think over time, this group is going to be just fine.

No Offense?

Did anyone think the opening night offensive star would have been Doug Weight? Weight who is completely healthy for the first time in 2 seasons, played a fantastic game. He had a jump in his step, he showed his trademark soft hands, and ended up with a 3 point night. He also ended up the top line center after Tavares left the game. I thought Blake Comeau had a fantastic game. He was physical, he took 2 penalties both of which were bad calls (the one in overtime was ridiculous), and he played as if he were a man on a mission. I can’t help but wonder if this is the year he puts it all together. Matt Moulson had his usual dirty game, parking himself in front of the opposing net and scoring the tying goal on the doorstep as he did many times last season. Josh Bailey has matured in a way that I don’t even recognize him out there. He’s a completely different player and he looks primed for a breakout season. El Nino, as they call him, impressed me in his 12 minutes of ice time, and was almost giddy when he talked about his reception from the crowd during introductions. What impressed me most?….that fact that Tavares and Okposo weren’t in the lineup, and this team kept firing away at a goalie who nearly stood on his head for his team. They earned that point and never gave up

Attendance

Opening night at the Coliseum has always been a sellout. If you want to tell me the Yankees were playing in the Bronx, that’s fine, if you want to tell me fans we’re protesting the new ticket prices maybe, maybe not. All I know is I got to the Coliseum at 4:30 and there were roughly a thousand people tailgating in the parking lot. I can also tell you, that building was loud. When the tying goal was scored you would never have known there was 3,000 short of a sellout. So think of whatever you’d like to think about attendance numbers or what not, it was a good showing by the fans and a nice show put on by the team and the players as well.

Notes

Sorry this is a little late, my daughter is sick and teething and that is not a good combination.

As if we needed confirmation, John Tavares will be out of the lineup today against the Rangers, if I had to guess, I’d say Friday or Saturday is a good return date for him.

DiPietro gets the start this afternoon. He has had some of his best games against the Rangers in his career so I would expect a solid performance from him today.

I would expect Michael Grabner to make his Islanders debut today. Watch this kid as he could be the faster skater on the ice.

The defense should stay the same as well as they’ll need to gel together. It doesn’t bode well for Jack Hillen getting back into the lineup quickly.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, no one should be wearing #27.

I’ll be at today’s game, enjoying it from my seat in Section 309. As much as I love the Blog Box, it’ll be nice to watch the game as a fan today.

Enjoy!

New Additions

The Islanders will debut several new additions tonight. The most exciting will be 18 year old Nino Niederreiter, who was the 5th overall pick back in June. Niederreiter with his display of maturity, speed and skill will have at the very least 9 additional games to prove he belongs. The defense will debut 4 new members as Mark Eaton, James Wisniewski, Mike Mottau and Milan Jurcina all have joined the Islanders over the summer. Not shockingly Bruno Gervais and Jack Hillen are in the sky box tonight. Hillen who was very solid last season, has not impressed the coaching staff this camp and found himself with reduced minutes and playing in B scrimmages. All the returning defesneman from last season had to know it was going to be a battle for ice time this camp with solid additions Eaton and Wisniewski, and with top prospects Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic banging on the door, Hillen and Gervais have just not shown enough to be in the lineup everyday. Finally the team will debut 2 new forwards in Zenon Konopka and PA Parenteau. Konopka lead the NHL in fighting majors last season and is amazingly enough, is very proficient in the face off circle (not a traditional combination). Konopka and Trevor Gillies will be tasked with keeping teams honest with their physical play. Snow is hoping to have similar results with Parenteau that he had with now 30 goal scorer Matt Moulson. Parenteau has terrific hands and a knack for scoring clutch goals in the AHL, but has never been given a real shot, he’ll finally get that shot as he’s now playing on the right side of John Tavares’ line.

Who gets the minutes?

Streit was the leader on defense playing in every situation, Okposo was the the same amongst the forwards. Who takes those minutes? In a perfect world, Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and Blake Comeau step up and make Okposo’s absence less of a burden on goalies DiPietro and Roloson. With Streit, amazingly it shouldn’t be as bad as originally thought. With the addition of the professional Mottau, the majority should be spread out to Wisniewski, Mottau, Eaton and hopefully a healthy Radek Martinek. Since the Islanders power play was ranked 27th in the NHL last season….it really can’t go anywhere but up, so hopefully the newly bolstered defense will lessen the blow of losing it’s top player.

Healthy Ricky?

For the first time in 3 years Rick DiPietro enters camp as a player not as a patient. He was able to train as a normal athlete this summer and not have to worry about rehabilitating an injury in addition to getting ready for camp. The team has obviously learned from prior mistakes with DP and have agreed to days off in advance. He looks healthy, he’s seems back to his old self and that is nothing but good news for Islanders fans. With a healthy Ricky, it also gives them a top flight backup in Dwayne Roloson. Roloson who will be 41 this year isn’t suited for 60-70 games anymore, but should fill in nicely for his 25 – 35 games he’ll get into this year.

Lame Duck Coach?

Scott Gordon has done an admirable job with this team. I still feel he has yet to show he can lead this team to the next level, which is why i believe he hasn’t received a contract extension as of yet. It’s not that I believe that it isn’t possible that he can, I just feel he has yet to do it. Why I think the team will take into account that Streit and Okposo will both miss extensive time, though he’s been given the talent to show more improvement over last season’s 18 point jump.

I’m not going to sit here and predict how this season is going to play out. But I will tell you the Islanders do have enough talent to hang around to the deadline and give Snow a chance to acquire someone to push them over the top. Of course this all depends on health, which no one can predict.

Notes

Along with Jack Hillen and Bruno Gervias, newly acquired forward Michael Grabner will sit out tonight and Monday’s games.

Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan will drop the puck for the ceremonial face off tonight. Considering what he has done with the Jets, I hope some of it rubs off on the Islanders.

At some point this season, every hockey fan should see Edmonton’s 2 prized rookies Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall play. I watched the Edmonton/Calgary game the other night and these 2 kids are ubertalented. They are going to make that team into something special very quickly.

Bridgeport has named Andy Hilbert and Dylan Reese Assistant Captains this year. Mark Wotton has been the Sound Tigers Captain for the past 3 seasons.

Enjoy the game tonight folks…..as always, comments are welcome and encouraged.

The Islanders have claimed RW Michael Grabner off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Grabner could be a steal as he is a highly regarded prospect who was part of the Keith Ballard deal at the Draft in June.

www.hockeysfuture.com listed Grabner as Florida’s 4th best prospect and had his potential listed as a 1st or 2nd line player with excellent skating and scoring ability.

The acquisition should ease the loss of Kyle Okposo for the Islanders and wont force the team to keep 1st round selection Nino Niederreiter if he isn’t ready. In a corresponding move the team has placed Andy Hilbert on waivers.

Here is a link to his prospect file at the aforementioned hockeysfuture.com