Some Positives For The NY Islanders Thus Far

BD Reports from Sunny Florida

It is another cool winters eve if Florida. A cigar is lit as I wax philosophic. Both fans twirl with a faint creak, as I watch the smoke swirl upwards.

Let’s talk some hockey…

Look, I know as well as you do hockey took a big backseat for what has been a wreck to all our nervous systems with the Lighthouse Project. We’ll go into that in a few days. In the meantime, Nick Giglia, as usual, has done a bang on job of reporting on it.
Let’s look at some of the good this year like:

John Tavares:

Oh he can’t skate? He’s a complete liability on the ice? Overrated?

As his former coach told us, as we discussed this past summer as I told you all not to worry about those Hedman and Duchene rumors…Tavs was, is and will be the real deal.

Poise. Positioning. Liquid-like hands. He has made himself a large part of the Isles offense leading the team in points.

Nobody can walk away from a game thinking any negatives. He has been better than advertised by that silly backseat analysis that was nitpicking over this past summer and early last year.

And what makes it truly warming…he’s going to get better.

Matt Moulson:

Isles fans who missed Jason Blake have found the new LA King castoff who has made himself an integral part of the Isles offense. He uses his size and makes teams pay when focusing on Okposo and Tavares.

Reminds me of Parrish, yet speedier and without that streakiness and confidence issues. Moulson is hungry and shows it everytimes he is on the ice.

He is what you call a fan favorite and the kind of story that just goes to show opportunity can bring out the best sometimes.

Dwayne Roloson:

Leadership matters. He doesn’t just get better play in front of him by accident. He took a bit to get going, looking a bit rusty in game 1, but has since shown that he was a brilliant signing for this young team.

Look no further to his goaltending to why they competed and held for ties early in the season.

Yes, he’s not young, but in a lot of ways he is the best goaltender they have had since DP’s all-star level season. Better than Osgood, Snow, Dunham or anyone else in the last decade or more.

Let’s drink to his health and longevity.

Jack Hillen:

On a team of lackluster defense, Hillen is showing some real growth in year 2. He’s plugged himself into the top half of the Isles defense and when Isles fans gasped as he went down to a puck recently, you realized how much he matters to a talent deficient defense.

Hillens growth might have placed himself permently in front of Bruno Gervais, Freddy Meyer, and even Brendan Witt on the depth chart. He has what the Isles have looked for in defense, despite not exactly big on size: speed, skill, potential and upside. These are things that might portend major changes after this season for those who I just listed as Hillen looks to be part of the Isles future.

Scott Gordon:

Year 2 of his 3 year deal is about growth and the results speak for themselves thus far. To be from last place to into the mix with only one good line on offense and a severely flawed defense is a testament.

Trent Hunter:

If he played all the games instead of going down to injury, he might be giving Tavares and Moulson some serious competition for points leader.

He plays a well-rounded game and I consider him part of their top two line futures. As does the Isles. He does whatever is asked of him.

He might not be the fastest, but he’s dangerous, banging, and scrappy. His positioning this year has been better and has really been a big help to the team since coming back for adding some scoring prowess beyond the top line while not exactly with counterparts that are top tier.

Andy Sutton:

Many seem to not realize his positive effect on the Isles and his ability to play the Gordon gameplan. Last year, before his longterm injury, he was one of the few with an excellent +/- rating indicating as such. Some were unconvinced.

Well, this year, be no longer. He has dished out hits like lunatic, yet stayed out of the penalty box. He has a meanstreak a mile long. And he’s been exactly what the Isles have needed in the 3-4 depth chart physical pivot.

Had the Yukon hit Sutton, the driver would have dragged out of the truck and beaten.

This team needs Sutton. If there are any deficiencies, it’s only because he’s been asked to do so much due to the severe lack on D due to talent and injuries.