With fall comes a new start

Who ever thought the fall would bring about a new start? This year, it seems to be the case — for me and the Isles!

The new season is about to begin and there has already been prognostications of all kinds. The Islanders are moving to Quebec…no Kansas City….wait, Saskatoon…or is it Hamilton? The other popular prediction has the Islanders finishing the season in last place in the Atlantic…the Conference…the League.

Wow. Some big words and commentary when you consider that not a single game has been played, and there is still several years left on a pretty clear cut lease for the Isles. In case you dont know, the team will be remaining in Nassau County until 2015.

Moving the Islanders has to be inferred. After all we have an invasion coming in from Quebec during the season. How strange is this? Can we therefore conclude that we are moving to Manhattan because Rangers fans travel to the NVMC for games? Can we be certain that we will become the LaValle Islanders because there are tons of Habs fans that make the trip to Long Island for games? (LaValle is a burb of Montreal). Maybe we are going to join the Flyers in Philly since they too attend many of our games. The Broad Street Islanders? Just does not have the right ring does it. Am I the only one who thinks the whole “moving thing” has gone a bit round the bend?

As for where the team will finish — well, now that is a more substantial discussion.

There seems to be a good core of youth on Long Island, and perhaps I am alone in feeling the team today is better then the team that finished 2009-10. The sheer maturation of Okposo, Bailey and Tavares, along with what should be improvements from Comeau, Neilsen and Schremp should up the ante on the offensive side of the puck. The blue line is improved with the addition of Wisniewski and Eaton. I think people are underestimating the value of Jurcina and we can’t forget that MacDonald and Hillen should continue to grow. Overall team toughness has also been addressed. So tell me exactly how this team can be worse? To suggest the Islanders will be worse this season over last years results may only happen if the injury bug bites down on us once more.

Im not one for predictions on how the year will end — particularly since no one has played a game. What I will predict is that this team is improving. There is excitement for the future. We have amassed a stable of solid young talant, and while none of them have “proven it” in the NHL, the hope is there — and that hope is starting to blossom into reality. We saw glimpses of it last season with Tavares, Bailey, Okposo, Neilsen, Comeau, Schremp, MacDonald and Hillen. Do we add to that one of our stud defenseman this season? One of the Krills? I doubt it this season, but if they come to camp and knock over the staff with their play, then they deserve to make it!

ON THE ICE: Going into camp there still remains one big nagging question. Rick DiPietro. Is there anything there? Can he play 30-40 games a season? Will the knee hold up? The hips? How about the at times his .10¢ head? We will find out as the weeks unfold.

OFF THE ICE: Clearly the largest issue remains post 2015. Murray’s plan is untenable, the owner has no clue how to work the political forces and seems soft on how to manage the media properly. There is no clear end game and with the thunderous silence from Mr. Wang & Co., the void of information is being filled with panic, detractors, and prognosticators.

HIP CHECK: What’s the deal with hate on Butchie being in the booth? I am as disappointed in the loss of Jaffe, but Butchie is going to be fine. What do people want from the color guy? He does not need to deliver a soliloquy or his version of the Gettysburg Address…he just needs to talk Isles hockey and analyze. His only concern — don’t say anything negative about the team. Is it me, or does the Isles brass act childish when it comes to this topic?

I’d like to thank the folks at Hockey Independent for the opportunity to talk Islanders hockey with you.

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day and is as hungry to see the 2010-11 Isles in action!