Couldn’t agree more. The expectations for these guys have to be accounted for gradually over time. Young guys rarely turn into superstars over one season. Stamkos did, sure…but you highlighted the underlying factor there: a roster filled with already proven all-stars. The Islanders don’t have one…not one.

In time, they may be the 80 point, 50 goal scoring players as some fans suggest (and thrive for), and I don’t blame them. But everything takes time.

Nice post.

First of all I didn’t mention the Swine Flu or the hit from Phaneuf because it wasn’t relevent to the discussion. Okposo played in 80 games last year. Health wasn’t the problem. The problem is that Kyle takes 6 shots a game and 3 of them miss the net. I agree he needs to shelve the toe drag stuff, but that is part of learning the NHL game and when to use that and when not to. I don’t think playing the point on the PP has done him any good and I hope going into this season he’s not back there.

Bailey should have more confidence but I think your making this “contract season” more that it is. These guys are coming off entry level contracts and unless your Alexander Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby…your 2nd contract is just a tad better than your first.

I am not selling Tavares short. I do believe he will become a 50 goal scorer during his career. He has the desire and talent to do so. What he is lacking now is a supporting cast. Stamkos scored 51 goals last season…and he played with Marin St. Louis, last time I checked the Islanders don’t have someone of his stature to play with Tavares. Hence why 30-39 goals is more likely this season than 50.

The Martin comment is the one that stumps me. Martin played 76 games in the AHL last season and scored 31 points. He took only 126 shots (that’s less than 1.5 per game). Where have you seen in his game that he could or will be a 50 point guy? I never heard Scott Gordon compare Martin to a Tomas Holmstrom (which would be crazy since the kid played a total of 5 NHL games).

You state that I am selling these guys short. Your talking about 4 kids who are 22, 21 and 20 years old. I have tempered expectations for them after watching them develop over the past 2 seasons and seeing what Snow has given them to work with. The defense has been upgraded, and I like what I am seeing from the young forwards but I can’t pencil Okposo in for 80 points when he didn’t get to 50 points until the final game of the season. I can’t expect Tavares to score 40 goals when he went 37 games scoring just 9 points last year.

I believe Okposo can be an 80 point guy (go back and look at Jarome Iginla’s early stats as a young power forward), and Tavares could be a 50 goal guy but we need to give these kids time and I wont put that kind of pressure on them just yet.

Thanks for the comment

Bailey-should go off this season…confidence will finally be there…contract season.

Tavares-Dnt sell this young man short by saying 30 goals. The drive Tavares has shown throughout his junior career for scoring-let him shoot for 40 goals. I wouldnt be surprised if Tavares’s goal is 50.

Matt Martin- 30-35 point guy?! Nah-Gordon has a vision with this young man playing like a Holmstrom on the Redwings. I believe he can be a 50 point player.

Youre excited about the talent but youre selling these guys short.

I was not happy when Cablevision stole Joe Micheletti, so originally I wasn’t fond of Jaffe. Over the past few years I loved hearing his commentary and his excitment on the air (especially when the Islanders made the playoffs on easter Sunday against the Devils).

That being said, I do not see Goring as Howie’s partner very long. There has been rumors that the move to Goring was to be a temporary one as he’ll hold the seat until Doug Weight is ready to retire and take over.

Weight has a fantastic personality and would be a natural in the commentary chair.

Goring should be very interesting, as he is a very good hockey mind, he sometimes has a hard time getting his point across (which was his downfall as coach).

Okposo in the final 4 losses of the season was a -7 in games which the Islanders were outscored 24-12. He also had 2 goals 4 assists for 6 points in those losses.

Also, Okposo averaged 20:32 per game, where Nielsen averaged a tad over 17 minutes a game.

Yes the numbers swing way towards Nielsen….but again let’s look at the whole picture.

Agree with the issues facing the franchise…I hope to talk about that during the year as we’ve said many times recently…we’re entering a critical time for the New York Islanders franchise.

Petrov will either be with the Islanders or with Kazan…I don’t see how his agent allows the Isles to start him in Bridgeport on a 2 way contract when he’ll make more money tax free in the KHL, and after hearing Coach Gordon’s comments, I think he’s planning on keeping him regardless.

Nino and Kabanov should play another year in Juniors….with Nino being only 17 and Kabanov’s year being lost due to injury and stupidity it would only benefit him to spend the year in Moncton. Though I have to say, Kabanov’s personality is intoxicating…such a breath of fresh air. I think a lot of teams are going to be sorry they passed on this kid.

I agree with what you said about Nielsen and Okposo’s -22, but let’s be realistic here…the defense was not good at all last year (which i will go over in my next blog). That -22 was skewered a bit by the bad play around him. Nielsen is an outstanding defensive forward, but between his ability to take the puck away and his all out effort, Okposo was very good despite his numbers.

Mean streaks are not developed…players are born with them. I’m not sure Okposo has one (though I saw him flip out on Cal Clutterbuck when he decked Blake Comeau 2 years ago). I thnk Snow has realized that this team needed a bit of a edge and hence why Konopka, Gillies, Yablonski and Wisniewski are Islanders today.

Thanks for the comment….keep em coming!

Overall, I believe any of the young guns mentioned should likely remain with their junior teams, or perhaps in Petrov’s case he begins in Bridgeport. This is unless these kids come in and blow the doors off the place!