Analyzing The Hit

I have watched that tape of Kyle Okposo getting hit by Dion Phaneuf several times, and have come up with these two thoughts. Was a clean hit? The initial contact would appear to be looked as a clean hit. However, was it a cheap shot? No question. I don't care if he had his head down (attempting to dump the puck in, just look at the other Islanders forwards heading for the bench!) or not, you don't come over from the other side of the rink, when TWO other teammates appear to be in position to guard Okposo, and deliver an open-ice hit in a PRE-SEASON GAME while attempting a dump-in. I got several opinions and views of that hit.

"Phaneuf left his feet on impact, catching Okposo with a shoulder to the head as Okposo was looking down, rendering him completely defenseless. The impact of the hit knocked Okposo's helmet off, and once he hit the ice he lay motionless for several minutes while being tended to by the team's medical staff. After several minutes, Okposo was lifted onto a stretcher and carted off the ice."--Katie Strang of Newsday

"When he sees that on the ice he has to take it. You don't want to see people get hurt but Dion can't pass up that hit. That's a big part of his game. He is a physical defenceman."--Brent Sutter

"I thought it was a clean hit. I stepped up and used my shoulder.You don't like to see guys get hurt, but that's part of my job when the hits are there, to take them. "-Dion Phaneuf

The most important thing is this. Kyle will be OK. He flew back with the team, and will be evaluated later. But now most fans want to know: What will Garth Snow do? Will he bring in that enforcer that most have been craving for since the rest of the division got tougher? Or did the fans just witness things to come for their team? Who will "protect" John Tavares.

Bringing in an enforcer would be a good idea. However, the enforcer could not have been on the ice when the hit was made, and Okposo would still have the injuries. Sure the enforcer may have went out and tried to start a fight with Phaneuf, but the end result of the Islanders young star would still be the same...he is injured. When several players get off the bench, and your goalie goes out to defend a star player and teammate, there is a sense of family there, a willingness to step up for one another. That was important to see.

With Okposo out of the lineup, that leaves three top 6 forwards out which includes Bergenheim, and Weight. No one knows when any of them will be back, and for Islanders fans, this is not what they wanted to see. A repeat of injuries to this team could cripple the fan base that has longed for more winnig from their team. They don't want to talk about the Draft Lottery in November or December. They want their young team to win now. The puck is in Snow's zone. Let him make his move.

One Line Already Injured

From Katie Strang of Newsday:

Murky forecast however on the injury front for the Isles; While Weight and Bergenheim's groin strains are minor, the fact that Frans Nielsen had to fly back to NY to get his right knee examined after hurting it in practice Tuesday is not a good sign for him.

This is not what fans wanted to hear, especially with Nielsen who apparenlty has injured the same knee. So that leaves us with three top 6 forwards out of this lineup and we're only only two games into the preseason. That's the good news. Depending on the severity of the injuries, you have to wonder if the Islanders will bring up players like Smith, and Joensuu or look to the waiver wire, or possibly sign an over the hill rental until all three recover. Know this Isles fans: If Weight misses more than 20 games this year, and is helathy by the trade deadline, my guess is that he'll be traded for something. More to come.

Islanders vs Oilers Tonight

The Islanders continue their preseason tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. John Tavares will be in the lineup for the Islanders. A few days ago the Islanders lost to the Vancouver Canucks in the 2009 Kraft Hockeyville game 2-1. Jon Sim had the lone goal for the Islanders.

Former Islander Robert Nilsson, is slated to be in the lineup for Edmonton who defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1 last night.


NEW YORK ISLANDERS ROSTER

1 G Mikko Koskinen
3 D Calvin de Haan
8 D Bruno Gervais
10 RW Richard Park
11 C Nate Thompson
16 LW Jon Sim
20 LW Sean Bergenheim
25 D Andy Sutton
36 D Travis Hamonic
40 RW Joel Rechlicz
41 RW Robin Figren
44 D Freddy Meyer
45 RW Tyler Haskins
52 G Nathan Lawson
53 C Casey Cizikas
56 D Dustin Kohn
58 LW Jesse Joensuu
81 LW Justin DiBenedetto
91 C John Tavares
93 C Doug Weight

And So It Begins

Islanders fans, your season starts tonight at 10:00 against the Canucks. There are a total of 8 games before October, so don't expect to see Tavares in all of those games. What I like about this team already is that the training camp roster has all the NHL and AHL players signed. No invites of aging veterans (Satan, Parrish), no tryouts for other players.....this is your team. The players did not have a lot of a training camp, (although they have been skating for a week on Long Island, and of course on their own) so no injuries before any of the games. Here are a few things to know heading into the first game, and why the Islanders will be better than last years squad:

Stability. The Islanders brought back 97% of the players from last years team. That's improtant because most are younger players who will be building the Islanders franchise back up. There is a system in place again for the second straight year. Gordon now has a full year under his belt, and most of the players are familiar with it, both Islanders, and Sound Tigers. There should be no thinking about what to do. It should be natural to them and easier for everyone.

Better goalies. Not to knock MacDonald and Danis, but I'll take Roloson, and Biron over most NHL goalie tandems right now. You have two number one goaltenders to start the season, and over a stretch of say, 30 or so games, you know that the Islanders will be in most of those games. DiPietro is in camp in pads, and facing shots. Let him come back on his own time and then the Islanders will still have a dynamic backstop.

Healthier defense. Like I said, no major training camp, means less likely of injuries before the regular season. If the defense stays healthy, they could be a difference maker when you have quality goaltending to support you. In this camp pay attention to Calvin DeHaan. He may make a push to be kept around if he has a great camp.

More confidence in the younger players. The last twenty or so games for the Islanders last year was crucial because the younger players were given bigger roles, and they flourished in it. Players like Bailey, Comeau, Okposo, Tambellini, and Neilsen are all on the same page and have more confidence going into this season, and I believe that it will show on the score sheet and in the overall record.

John Tavares. Everyone on that team has taken him under their wing, especially roomate Doug Weight.  As I type this, there is chemistry being developed right now, and it will continue all year. Fans need to give him time. He's learning a lot, having fun, and he's getting used to his first pro training camp, pre-season, and of course a new profesional system.

Know this Islanders fans, the team has turned the corner, brighter days are ahead, and the Islanders are finally going in the right direction. What they still need is a lot of maximum effort from every player from the top line of the Islanders to the fourth line of the Sound Tigers. Last year ends at 10:00 tonight. No more talk about injuries, the draft, free agent signings etc. Start looking ahead, and get excited. Your season starts.....Tonight!!!!

Bergenheim The Next Blake: You Decide

 

     First and foremost, I have the great privilege of working with Dee Karl, (also known as the 7th Woman) on this particular blog. She was nice enough to give me a hand because the topic just so happens to be based on her favorite players, Sean Bergenheim, and Jason Blake. Since most fantasy experts are telling people to stay away from the Islanders players, except for maybe John Tavares, and Kyle Okposo, I wanted to show Hockey fans that there is more to this team then just those two future stars.

     My first player is Sean Bergenheim. Drafted in 2002, 22nd overall, he reminds me of a younger Jason Blake. As Dee put it" When Sean first suited up for the Islanders, without his number on his jersey, you would not have been able to tell if it was Blake or Bergie on the ice. They both are very fast, strong skaters that stay low to the ice. If you blink, you miss them going by you." So I did some stat comparisons between the two and came up with the following. Both are 5'10" and Bergenheim is 205lbs while Blake is listed as 180lbs. So we're looking at pretty much the same style of play. Dee took it a step further "He (Bergie) can be just as yappy, just as agitating and just as productive as the man who is eleven years his senior. Now that he is 205lbs, he is far more physical than Blake, but their work ethic is the same. They both will give 110%--most of the time. The downside to their similarity is they can both be despondent and moody should things not go the way they want them to."

     Despite the plethora of similarities between the two, they do have one major difference: age. Both started out their careers slow, both played fourth line minutes, and eventually moving up the lines. However, Bergenheim is 25 years old while Blake is 36. When Blake was 25 he was not in the NHL. He was playing for North Dakota in the college ranks, so Blake is definitely considered a late bloomer. As mentioned before, Bergenheim was drafted 22nd overall in 2002. Dee went on to say this "There were expectations placed on him that perhaps he wasn't ready for. I'm hoping that Sean's hands catch up to his feet, the same way as Jason's did. Maturity should bring "hockey-sense."

     However, if Bergenheim is in the same mold, then let's take a look at Jason's stats and find out when he started producing on a larger scale. I came to find out that after playing 194 games, Blake had 19 goals, 39 assists for 58 points. Then starting in the 2002-03 season, Jason amassed 25 goals and 55 points. Bergenheim has had some scary, similar numbers. In his career, Sean has played a total of 183 games, scoring 30 goals, and 57 points. Could this be his breakout year that everyone is hoping for? From a numbers standpoint, sure looks that way. I would have to say yes.

     I asked Dee if Sean could be as good as Blake, and here is her response. "Yes, I truly believe that Sean could be "just as good as Blake." I don't know if Sean will ever have a 40 goal season, but he will be improve. As long as he remains healthy, I think that Sean's stats could indeed eclipse Blake's by the end of his career. And due to the fact that he is much younger, he has a better chance at getting his name etched on the Stanley Cup one day."

     My final question to Dee was simple. Look into your crystal ball and tell me Bergenheims goals total for the year, points etc. "My Crystal Ball says that Sean should come away this season with at least 20 goals. Last season he only had 9 assists points, but then again, I can;t tell you how he will do in that aspect as I don't know who Scott Gordon will put him on a line with. Every coach that I have spoken to about Sean has told me that he can't play fourth line minutes. He has too much energy and being able to play 4th line is really a skill. So depending on how Gordon uses him is how well he will produce in the assists category. I'll just bet on the 20 goals. I will also bet on his feistiness, his competitive nature, his willingness to stick up for himself and his team mates and a willingness to work every shift like it was his last. This is still the kid that Scotty Bowman praised the first time he saw him. I've always felt that Sean hasn't received the respect he was due from the Islanders once he was drafted in 2002. I think a lot of that had to do with his management. Bergie is another "home-grown" talent on our depth chart. If he is used wisely, he'll have a great season.

     Since I'm a numbers person, I'm going to agree that we will see at least 20 goals from Bergenheim. That number seems to match his current progress, Fantasy players may want to keep an eye on him and Islanders fans shouldn't be looking at only Tavares and Okposo this year. For those of you who don't follow Dee, I encourage you to find her on Twitter @7thWoman, and on her website 7thWoman. She knows her Islanders, and after reading her work, you will also.

Six Choices For Wang

From Chris Botta at Fanhouse.com

"At least six municipalities will line up as suitors and attempt to bring in the New York Islanders if the NHL franchise opens itself up to offers of a new home, a league source has informed FanHouse."

"If Wang authorizes his staff to listen to offers from municipalities outside Nassau County on Oct. 4, it appears he will have plenty of options. As previously reported, leaders in Queens County, New York and Kansas City are two of the Islanders' potential suitors. The source refused to identify the other municipalities that are said to have expressed preliminary interest in being in business with the National Hockey League."

The story goes on to say that Balsillie is not interested in the purchase of the Islanders since he is involved with the purchasing and moving of the Coyotes. This will certainly put pressure on the town of Hempstead to get into gear and into action. From what I've been reading, The town is the ONLY reason that the Lighthouse project is not finalized. Every other branch of State Government, including the Governor, has given the Project the approval it needed. More to come later.

Branching Out Part II

I have been asked to Blog for NHLTALK202. I would like to thank them also for the opportunity. I will always have information flying all over the place this coming season, and we'll go from there and see where it leads. Please follow on Twitter: @ToddNHLTALK2 and as always myself: @Netminder39.

Coming up: In a day or so, the Islanders will be releasing players who will be trying out for the team. It should look interesting, but to be honest, I think fans should really look into the waiver wire, as the Islanders have the first pick. They could improve, or speed up the development process a hair, and pick up an extra defensman, LW/C or possibly an enforcer. Stay tuned, hockey is coming.

Schremp Could Be An Islander

From Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal

"Is this Rob Schremp's last stand?

The lightning rod for many Edmonton Oilers fans, who have griped that the 23-year-old forward hasn't been given a fair shake in the last few years, has a new two-way, one-year contract for $715,000 US in the National Hockey League and $70,000 in the minors.
But if Schremp fails to crack the Oilers roster and gets sent to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, there are strong indications the New York Islanders would take him on waivers."

My thanks goes to Hendricks Hockey for the tip. Schremp is defenitely on the Islanders fans radar, and this could be a bigger waiver draft for the Islanders than what most are realizing. The Islanders have the first choice in the waiver draft, so if the Islanders really want to restock the organization, it could start with Schremp.  Here is his bio: 5'11'' 200 lbs. From what I've been able to get from a few Oilers fans, he can score goals, but needs work on his defence. I know from reading that Islanders fans would love to have him. Schremp is a 1st round pick (25th overall) in the 2004 draft. 

Gordon & Okposo On The Olympics

From MSG.com

Islanders Sign Matt Martin

From NewYorkIslanders.com

The New York Islanders announced Friday that they have agreed to terms with forward, Matt Martin to a three-year entry level contract.

“We are excited to have Matt in our organization,” said Garth Snow, General Manager, New York Islanders. “He brings that special combination of size and ability that provide him a bright future as a professional.”

Martin is a player that many fans wanted signed before training camp. Another draft pick (5th round) by the Islanders from last year. He very well could be a diamond in the rough, and at 6'2" and 192 pounds, he still has some filling out to do, but brings a good amount of size and skill. Bridgeport should look really good this year with a lot of prospects ready to prove they belong. Martin may also see some NHL time, if the injury bug hits the Islanders hard again.

Islanders Add Hughes

From NewYorkIslanders.com

The New York Islanders have acquired Bobby Hughes from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for center Rob Hennigar, pending a physical.

Hughes played the last two seasons for the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany River Rats. The Richmond Hill, ON native totaled 23 points with the River Rats in 53 games played over the course of the two seasons. Hughes was originally selected by Carolina in the fourth round (123rd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year entry level contract with he team on April 10, 2007, making his professional debut for Albany in the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs against the Hershey Bears. The 5’10, 180 pound center played four years in the Ontario Hockey League for the Kingston Frontenacs where he finished his career with 103 goals and 150 assists for 253 points in 243 games.

Hennigar split last season between the Islanders AHL and ECHL affiliates, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Utah Grizzlies. He accumulated 13 points (three goals and 10 assists) in 34 games played for the Sound Tigers.

At least this is news for fans like myself. Personally, if Hughes can play a full season in Bridgeport, then Snow wins on improving the depth of the organization, as Hennigar struggled last season. This is not a major feat by any means, but the Soundtigers must get past the first round this year with the players on that roster, and Hughes just might make them better having the experience of the Calder Cup playoffs, and knowing what it takes to get over the hump.

DiPietro Has Been Found Skating

From Katie Strang of Newsday:

Yesterday, however, I spoke to Rick DiPietro about his rehab status. I know this is a topic that causes (and rightfully so) and breeds anxiety among lots of you, so I wanted to hear straight from him (and Garth) about how he's doing.

Basically, this is how Rick explained it to me: He is being cautious and easing his way back onto the ice. He began skating last week, will skate more again this week, get into pads soon and go from there. Given the organization's initial timeline (DP to begin skating in August, will be with team for Camp in September) and their off-season moves (signing both Roloson and Biron to ensure DiPietro doesn't rush back prematurely), it should not be surprising that he is where he is for the time being.

There is more to the story, so please see the rest of her piece. At least we know he's now skating, and that he is doing something hockey related. I hope he does come back on his own term, and in great shape to play this year. He has been missed. He's a competitor, and he's a winner. Given that there is enough goaltenders for him to just stay the course, most fans should only see DiPietro coming back as an added bonus to this season, and not in the games lost to injury column like last year.

Why Go To The Coliseum?

I have also put a recent post about this on HendricksHockey.com. Here are a few excerpts from it:

The average attendance is the lowest in the NHL.

The Islanders haven't had a lot of winning tradition lately.

There is more to do at the Jakie Robinson Rotunda than the Coliseum.

The players are getting better, but the younger fans need to be exposed to generate and "rebuild" the fan base.

Lot's of good stuff. Check it out.

Branching Out

I was asked by Jason at Hendricks Hockey to be there blogger for the New York Islanders. I am truly honored to be a part of it, and will do my best to keep Islanders fans updated both here and on Hendricks Hockey. I am also allowed to write basically anything hockey related. I've been given a lot of freedom. We'll take things slow over there, and see how things progress. Look for more news in the upcoming weeks heading into training camp.

Tavares Already Predicted To Win Calder

1. John Tavares, C, New York Islanders
We know; Tavares is the easy choice. But he’s also the most logical. Not only will he be the NHL’s poster boy for everything Calder this season, the OHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer is already the No. 1 center on his NHL team – and training camp hasn’t even started. Expect J.T. to win his team’s scoring race and make those around him better just about every night. This kid is special because he rises to the occasion when it matters most – the mark of a superstar, albeit in-the-making. There may not be too many occasions worth rising to on the Island this season, but Tavares will be out to prove all year why he’s been touted as the next great goal-scoring center since he was a 14-year-old. Now that’s a personal challenge worth rising to. -John Grigg from the Hockey News.

Islanders fans have at least two reason (Tavares, and Okposo) why they should be watching the Islanders this year. Anyone remember their last Calder winner? Bryan Berard, in 1997. It's been too long since the fans had something to be excited about. Well fans, start getting excited, and when you can, go to a few games, and feel the excitement.

Okposo Could Be On Olympic Squad

According to Craig Custance of the SportingNews:

"Burke said the tryouts for the Olympic team don't begin until the NHL season starts. But it's not too early to do some projecting. Here's a first look at how we see the 23-man roster shaping up."

Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders

Another young player who is on the verge of a break-out season.

Okposo was mentioned as one of the twelve forwards, which means it's his to lose. Many believe that Okposo will have a break-out season, so it will be exciting for Islanders fans just exactly a break-out season will look like.

Nathan Lawson Signed

From Katie Strang of Newsday:

"The Islanders have signed goaltender Nathan Lawson to a two-way contract. Lawson had a 2.16 GAA and a .927 save percentage in 31 games with Bridgeport last year ."

Now that Lawson is signed, that leaves Munroe, and Lawson for Bridgeport, whiich means Mikko Koskinen will likely start in Utah with the Grizzlies. But training camp is near so both Lawson, and Koskinen will battle to be the backup in Bridgeport.

Hope For Islanders

From NHL.com

"With less than a month to go before their first preseason game, one word aptly describes the New York Islanders as they head into the 2009-10 campaign.

Hope.

With owner Charles Wang's Lighthouse Project gaining momentum in recent months, combined with the selection of John Tavares with the No. 1 pick at the 2009 Entry Draft, things could finally be looking up for the former dynasty that last won a playoff series in 1993."

A very good read from Brian Compton. It basically goes over what as gone over the last few months for the Islanders. It covers John Tavares being drafted, the signing of Roloson, and Biron, and the future prospects as well as the future of the Lighthouse Project. For those who are not Islanders fans, it's a very good article to get caught up.

Bertuzzi Signs With Wings

Straight from TSN

The Detroit Red Wings added some size and veteran presence up front by agreeing on a one-year contract with former Red Wing Todd Bertuzzi.

The Grand Rapids Press, The Detroit Free Press and MLive.com claim the team was offering a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

Bertuzzi, 34, scored 15 goals and 29 assists in 66 games with the Calgary Flames last season. He played in eight games with the Red Wings in 2006-07, scoring two goals and four points and tallied three goals and seven points in 16 playoff games. He has played for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and Flames.

The Islanders selected Bertuzzi in the first round 23rd overall in the 1993 NHL entry draft. He has scored 255 goals with 369 assists in 859 games over his 13 year NHL career.

This is old news at this point but I was not home to post it, and he was one of my favorite Islanders in the mid-late 90's. Bertuzzi has not been the same since he hit Steve Moore a few years back. He is basically a third liner who may have one year left in him. Unless he has a Renaissance year, most fans will probably witness Bertuzzis last stand.

Tambellini & Comeau In The Hot Seat

A lot of Islanders fans are ready to dismiss Jeff Tambellini before the season begins. There is also a concern about Blake Comeau, and the possibility of losing his position to someone like Jesse Joensuu or Trevor Smith if they have a better camp.

For both players, there are no excuses this year. Both Tambellini, and Comeau need to step into their roles this year, and come out of the gate blazing. If they do not, then It will we worst for them then it was last year. Comeau was sent down at the beginning of the season last year because he was not ready with Gordons system. He remained down in Bridgeport until December. Since coming back though, he established new career highs in games played (53), assists (18), points (25), average time on ice (16:16) and shots (78)..(NYI.com)

Tambellini, was reduced to the fourth line for most of the regular season, after signing a two-year, one-way contract. Like Comeau, Tambellini struggled in the beginning of the season, was sent to Bridgeport for roughly a week, and then showed promise after December. Tambellini also established new career highs in games played (65), goals (7), assists (8), points (15), average time on ice (13:06), penalty minutes (32) and shots on goal (98) (NYI.com).

Now in all honesty these numbers are nothing to be impressed about. However, if we take a look from when Gordon decided to give the younger corp more ice time, this is what happened. In 37 games played, Comeau had 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points. Tambellini played in 33 games, scoring 5 goals (not including shoot outs) and had 4 assists for 9 points. Comeau primarily played on the third line, while Tambellini was on the fourth line.

If they were to continue that pace for an entire season, Comeau could be at 9 goals, 31 assists, for 40 points. Not bad, but definitely needs to score more goals on a third line. Tambellini, would be on pace for 12 goals, 10 assists, for 22 points. That is almost what a fourth line player should be doing. Problem is: Tambellini is not supposed to be on the fourth line.

Towards the end of the season, with Tambellini improving, came some praise from head coach Scott Gordon."Tambellini is starting to find his way around the net." "His consistency with finishing checks, getting in front of the net and in right places has resulted in him getting more opportunities." -Scott Gordon: March 9th, 2009

Comeau does have a slight advantage over Tambellini, in that Comeau is only 23, while Tambellini is 25, and Tambellini is now in a contract year. However, if someone from Bridgeport is looking good during the season, and Tambellini, or Comeau fail to get their careers going, don't be surprised if we were to see a call-up.

Islanders Have Interest In Dandenault

According to Hockey30.com, the Islanders appear interested in defenseman Mathieu Dandenault.

The article goes on that Dandenault may in fact sign with the Coyotes, but nothing has been official. Here are his stats for the last three years:

2008-09	Montreal	NHL	41	4	8	12	+7	17	46	8.70	0.29
2007-08	Montreal	NHL	61	9	5	14	-11	34	69	13.04	0.23
2006-07	Montreal	NHL	68	2	6	8	-8	40	54	3.70	0.12

He's listed as 6' 204 lbs. Maybe as an insurance policy for the Islanders, possibly as a camp invite.

Islanders Most Improved?

From Cjohnson202 of Hockey Leaks:

"I feel confident in naming the following five teams as the most improved."

5. New York Rangers:
4. Toronto Maple Leafs:

3. New York Islanders:

While you won't see the Islanders go from worst to first, the Islanders made big steps on moving towards a winning record. We start in the crease, where the team added not one starting goalie, but two, giving them a grand total of three. When all three are healthy and playing well, the Isles will be able to trade one of them (not Dipietro of coarse) for even more pieces to their puzzle. The team drafted future superstar John Tavares first overall, giving them the franchise player they desperately needed, while Andy Sutton should make their backend significantly better.

2. Montreal Canadiens:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning:

Nice to see some recognition, but I don't think adding two starting goaltenders will help the Islanders with winning records. First and foremost, you can only play one starting goaltender, albeit either Roloson, or Biron is an improvement over Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis. Tavares replacing anybody (except Okposo) on that team is an improvement, and It's not only just going to be Sutton being healthy on the defense that has to help this team. Everyone will have to play close to injury free this year if the Islanders want to make a significant improvement. Drafting Tavares clearly has made a positive out look for this team from other media outlets.

Donovan Making An Impression

From Katie Strang of Newsday:

"Just got off the phone with Assistant GM/Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Jankowski, who gave me an update on Islanders prospects Aaron Ness and Matt Donovan's performance at the U.S. junior evaluation camp in Lake Placid, NY

Jankowski, who watched both play in two intersquad games, said that while the Islanders have higher expectations for Ness, who the team drafted in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft, Donovan was the one to make the impression."

"We have lower expectations for Matt [compared to Ness] because he was a 4th-round pick and is a guy that will develop over the years, but he was a pleasant surprise for us. We have a lot of patience for a guy like Matt, who is just going into college and has a decent amount of time to develop as a player while working with high-quality coaches and playing against tough opponents. We knew he had high-end skill, but the most important thing was that he could show that at a higher level, which he did." Jankowski said.

I already have Matt Donovan down in a "Prospect Watch" section, which was updated late last season, so look him up. He could be a real promising player for the Islanders in a few years. The determining factor will be how much time is needed for Donovan to shine at the University of Denver. If he does have a good showing this year, watch the Islanders prospect ranking move up the boards a little.

Ice Girl Tryouts Today

The Developmental Year

There are many ways to rebuild a hockey team. You can be like the Canadiens, Rangers, and Bruins and trade and sign players to ridiculous contracts during the summer only to pray the team gels and makes the playoffs. That's a quick fix, and it works for them. The problem is, it did not get them very far into the playoffs. You can be like the Flyers a few years back. Have an injury plagued season, and in one summer, make a few good draft choices, sign and trade for some players, and.... HELLO, right back in the playoffs, like you never left. You can be like the Penguins and just lose for an extended period of time, draft the top prospects.....until you win the Cup.

The Islanders did not have the luxury of being able to rebuild like aforementioned teams. Why? By the time the Islanders finished the 2006-2007 season, they had virtually no prospects in the organization to trade, and Garth Snow realized over the summer that he could not sign high profile players. So a few players left, and then were replaced by players who did not meet expectations. After an injury filled 2007-2008 season where the Islanders finished with 78 points, Snow decided to rebuild, and use the "Plan." It was simple: Draft wisely, develop the draft picks, and sprinkle in a few free agents.

There are three other teams that have recently used the same "Plan" as the Islanders are using now, and it has worked for them: The Washington Caps, Chicago Blackhawks, and yes, the Florida Panthers. As far as I am concerned, these are the teams that the Islanders should be modeling from. They all had the same rough beginning, and with sticking to their respective plans, each team now has either a shot for the playoffs, or they can go deep into the playoffs. Let's compare the Islanders first year of their rebuild to the others.

At the start of each rebuild, each team was short on first round talent. Washington had 3 players, as did Florida and the Islanders prior to the rebuild (The Islanders drafted Bailey to make it 4, but was considered part of the rebuild). Chicago had one: Seabrook. Ironically the first year of their rebuild, the Caps and Hawks finished with 59 points, the Panthers finished with 60, and the Islanders finished with 61. So for me that is par for the course for year one.

In their rebuilding process in 2003-2004, and over the next 4 years, the Caps were able to draft 8 first rounders, including a first overall pick, developed them, and sprinkled in a few free agents.

This is what happened: 03-04: 59pts; 05-06: 70pts; 06-07: 70pts; 07-08: 94pts; 08-09: 108pts.

Chicago was similar. They ended up drafting 5 first rounders, including a first overall pick, developed them, traded and signed a few players, and these were there results.

03-04: 59pts; 05-06: 65pts; 06-07: 71pts; 07-08: 88pts; 08-09: 104pts.

Florida took longer, but still made strides. In 8 years, they have drafted 11 first rounders, developed, made a few trades, and signings with the end results being 93 points last season after beginning the rebuild with 60.

So where do the Islanders fit into their rebuild? Year 2 (05-06 for the other teams). But the Islanders have an advantage over the other teams. If you notice the years, the teams were in a lock out for one year, hence, stalling the development of their players. The Islanders have a chance to be in a rebuild for a shorter amount of time then the others.

Does this mean the Islanders should finish between 65-70 points? Not likely. The Islanders are on pace with Washington's rebuild program, picking up the first overall pick, and now you can include Bailey, and DeHann as the multiple picks for the rebuild. So where should the Islanders land next year? Welcome to the "Developmental Year" Islanders fans.

The Islanders have not had 5 or more first round picks (picked by the Islanders) and play on the same team since 95-96. That's almost 15 years folks. The last time that happened, most of them weren't on the team the next year. This cannot happen with this core. Instead of predicting how many points the Islanders will have or how many goals they will score, management should really look at each player and figure out a solid number and set it as a goal.

So for example, if the Islanders were not as injured last year, could they have scored 210 goals? Sure, sounds reasonable. So why don't they push the goal for 220? Most people are predicting the Islanders to finish between 15th and 13th (too early if you ask me). Why not set a goal for 80 points? Even if they get over 70, they're still ahead of the previous rebuilt teams, probably by a solid year.

Which brings me to this final note. If the "Developmental Year" proves to be a success, don't be surprised if the Islanders actually make the playoffs next year, and possibly make some noise. Who knows, if this team is healthy, and this year becomes a career year for many, you could be looking at a possible Cinderella team. But for now, be patient, let the rebuild, and the Islanders "Plan" continue, and look forward to watching this team. If anything, you'll see improvements, and they'll be fun to watch.

That Time Of Year

Usually about a month or so before training camp begins, most fans, bloggers, and "experts" start predicting where each team should land at the end of the season. For the Islanders it is not pretty. Most have the Islanders finishing 15th through 13th in the Eastern Conference, and almost guarantee that the Islanders will end up in the lottery, finishing in the bottom five of the League again.

There are a few faithful fans who believe that the Islanders have enough talent to challenge for a playoff spot, however, if I had to put a percentage on that I would say 3 percent. Some fans are already chanting Taylor Hall's name, and cannot wait for the draft to start before this season even begins.

I think it's just out of boredom that this happens, and most fans do not take into account that the Islanders are just starting a rebuilding process that may take some time. So really predicting where a team ends up is so premature and not needed because what most fans should be looking for is growth as an organization instead of the overall points of the team. Having said this, I'm going to be taking a look at how the rebuilding process is coming along, how long the rebuild will take, how far the Islanders are from the playoffs, and what the future may hold for this team.

I'm not predicting the overall points the Islanders will have this year. Instead I would like to set a goal for them to accomplish. In my next post, I will cover the rebuilding process, and compare them to other rebuilding teams of the past.

Satan Still a Possibilty?

From Newsday:

Satan, who played three seasons with the Islanders from 2005-2008, confirmed that his agent, Allan Walsh, has spoken with the Islanders about rejoining the team, but they have yet to resume discussions this week. Walsh first announced the dialogue between the two camps on his Twitter page on July 25, then gave an update three days later, saying, "We are still deep in talks with NYI on Miro."

"I know they spoke about it a few times last week," Satan said. "This week I don't think they have talked. Now, it's quiet again."

I think the Islanders are his last and only team that are "interested" in Satan. I just don't see the Islanders going after a veteran like Miro, when others are still out there to be had. Still anything is possible.

Zherdev Goes To KHL

From TSN:

A week after the New York Rangers walked away from Nikolai Zherdev's salary arbitration ruling, the free agent appears headed to the Russian based KHL.

According to RDS.ca, Zherdev is expected to sign a deal with Salavatovo Yuleav Ufa, a team that also employees former NHL'ers Alexander Perezhogin and Alexander Radulov.

Zherdev, 24, appeared in 82 games with the Rangers last season, registering 23 goals and 35 assists for 58 points, along with 39 penalty minutes. He was held scoreless in seven playoff contests.

The 6-2, 203-pounder has skated in 365 regular season contests with the Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, recording 99 goals and 140 assists for 239 points, along with 203 penalty minutes. The Kiev, Ukraine native was originally Columbus' first round choice, fourth overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Well, so much for hoping. Zherdev was the only free agent I wanted the Islanders to pursue. There are still a few players out there, but from what I'm reading, it appears that the Islanders will stand pat with the players that they have now. Roughly three+ weeks away from any kind of camp news, so I'll be looking into who will be invited to camp as an unsigned player.

Afinogenov On Isles Radar.

From SI.com: No word yet on the future home of Maxim Afinogenov, but the erstwhile Sabre is skating with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian league. There are rumors of two or three NHL teams desperate enough for offense that they've given him some consideration (including the Islanders and Rangers) but it's hard to believe either John Tortorella or Scott Gordon would put up with his extended periods of non-involvement. Odds are he'll find somewhere to float in Europe.

My thanks to Spectors Hockey for the link. Afinogenov, is an older version of Zherdev, so he is in the same boat.....no one seems to want him. If he could be more "involved" in say, a training camp invite, then the Islanders can make a decision. Until then, at least we know the Islanders have added him to their list.

Are The Islanders Still A Basement Team?

From the Hockey News.

The Islanders are predicted to finish 15th in the Conference again according to the Hockey News.

"Why: The John Tavares Era begins this year on Long Island – but unfortunately for Islanders fans, too much of their lousy past remains. Their thin pools of talent at just about every position and their ultra-tough competition in the Atlantic Division makes a playoff spot this year highly unlikely."

I'll have more on this later. They have not posted who will finish ahead of the Islanders in 14th place. My opinion, no way they finish last in the conference again. The Islanders maybe a top 5-10 lottery pick again, but certainly not in last in the conference. I think most Islander fans will be pleasantly surprised his year. More to come on this story. What's your thoughts?

Tavares Will Need Help

From Ryan Kennedy at the Hockey News.

"Which brings me to John Tavares and the Islanders. Looking up and down the New York roster right now, I’m not sure what GM Garth Snow’s master plan is. Tavares is a preternatural goal-scorer, but he can’t do it himself and the forward corps on Long Island is looking pretty thin."

There is no question that the Islanders, entering the second year of a rebuild, must now filter out some young players who will not be able hold their own on this team. This is the year where the Islanders offense will be looking for an identity: Who will score, who's the playmaker, who's going to crash the net, so on and for forth. The Islanders are thin (literally) in size, and this year will determine whether or not the Islanders are thin in quality.

Doug Weight mentoring Tavares this year will be beneficial for him, as he gets to know what goes on in the NHL for an entire year. But even Weight probably won't be around the whole time. Okposo, and Bailey will have to be healthy to make any kind of impact and make their names in the NHL. More should be expected from Okposo than Bailey, but at the same time, more goals from Bailey is needed.

The young core in Bridgeport are not yet ready. Believe this, the talent is there, it is just not developed enough for any of them to make the jump to the pros. Again what Bridgeport needs to do is show management that they can make the playoffs, and then go deep. Once that happens, then the Islanders can boast having very strong depth in the minors, waiting for their chance.

Having said all this, I agree with what Kennedy said: " Alex Tanguay, Maxim Afinogenov and Vaclav Prospal are all still out there and the Isles have loads of salary cap space." You can add Zherdev (my choice all along) to that list as well.

The Islanders will have plenty of players being moved during the season to make a trade for prospects, picks, or get a decent player in return. However, if the Islanders don't want to be in the cellar again, then signing another forward with some scoring potential, is necessary for both Tavares and the Islanders.

Okposo A Breakout Candidate

From NHL.com

"8. Kyle Okposo: New York Islanders--All the talk on the Island is about 2009 No. 1 pick John Tavares, but Okposo could earn himself a spot on the U.S. Olympic team with a strong start. He was the Isles' best player in the second half of last season, finishing with a team-high 18 goals, and the Isles are counting on him putting it together for 82 games."

Kyle Okposo was ranked 8th out of the 10 players mentioned. For a complete list, click the link above. Kyle will be looked upon as a scorer, and a leader in the locker room for this young team. Not sure if he will be playing on the first line yet or the second, but make no mistake, anything less than 20 goals will be considered a failure his standards.

Zherdev A Free Agent

From Kuklas Korner

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has exercised its right to walk away from the arbitrator’s award to Nikolai Zherdev, thereby allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

“With the additions we’ve been able to make this summer, we feel we’ve been able to add scoring and offense from the wing position,” stated Sather. “Following the arbitration process and subsequent award given, we feel it is in our best interest to walk away and continue to explore all available options to improve our roster.”

Now the Islanders must go after him. He's the only player I was hoping the Islanders would aquire, although Tanguay, for whatever reason, is also still available. Either one would do, but Zherdev is younger, and has more potential than Tanguay. Hopefully we'll find out where each one ends up.

Blake Comeau Signed

From NewYorkIslanders.com

The New York Islanders announced Monday that they have agreed to terms with forward, Blake Comeau to a two-year contract.

“We are excited to have Blake as part of our line-up,” said Garth Snow, General Manager, New York Islanders. “He is a versatile player who has great promise and is developing into a solid NHL player.”

Good for Blake. The roster is now full. Thompson is the only player with a two-way contract that will probably be sent down, leaving the possibility for one more player on the roster. I'm not sure the Islanders are near the cap floor after signing Comeau so I have to believe that Snow is still working on improving the team. As training camp approaches, I'll be taking a longer look at the Islanders this year, when I know who will be on the team.

Islanders Future is Tomorrow

If there was ever a time for Islanders fans to show their pride, it is tomorrow. The future of the New York Islanders starts August 4th at Hofstra University.

From Lighthouseli.com:

"

Lighthouse supporters, we need you. The long awaited public hearing has been scheduled by the Town of Hempstead, and Tuesday, August 4, 2009 is the day we've all been waiting for. The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. at the John Cranston Adams Playhouse on the campus of Hofstra University.

The public hearing is the time you need to let your voice be heard. Please make an effort to be a part of history in the making. Bring your friends and family and show your support for Long Island's future. You've been there for us before, and we need you to be there for us again.

Parking for the public hearing will be located on the north side of Hempstead Turnpike on the campus of Hofstra University in the student center parking lot. Signage will be up to direct those attending the hearing.

For more information please visit www.lighthouseli.com or the official blog of the Lighthouse Development Group the Light Post at lighthouseliblog.blogspot.com. Follow the Lighthouse project on Twitter at @lighthouse_li or join the "I support the Lighthouse at Long Island" on Facebook."

For those fans who may not know what this project is about I encourage you to watch the following video here.

It's not just about the Islanders, but for Long Island.

Rangers Now Have Decision

From Larry Brooks of the Post.

"So how complex a decision do you think it will be for GM Glen Sather to decide whether to keep Zherdev or let him go now that arbitrator Elliott Shiftman has awarded the winger a $3.9M contract for the 2009-10 season?

The Blueshirts have until tomorrow morning to either accept or walk away from the decision by Shiftman, who predictably took the easy way out by splitting the difference between the team's $3M submission and what, The Post has learned, was Zherdev's bid of $4.75M."

My belief is that the Rangers will walk away from this one. Brooks goes further into his article saying that Sather has already tried to trade Zherdev both before and after qualifying him. The Rangers have also signed Kotalik to a contract. Finally, there is not enough cap room for Zherdev and the remaining free agents on the Rangers.

I really do hope the Islanders can Sign Zherdev for 4 million, and put him on the top line and improve on the youth movement. He would be a big boost with his offensive numbers and his speed. Also assuming that Comeau cannot get signed yet, it may lead to something else this offseason.

Islanders Interested in Kessel & Sturm

From James Murphy of NESN.com

"So that is where the two parties stand. There were no reports of offer sheets, and while there have been recent rumors of the Islanders and Sharks inquiring about a Kessel trade and the Islanders possibly looking at Marco Sturm, follow-ups have turned up nothing substantial."

My thanks to KuklasKorner for the link. At least we now know that the Islanders have inquired about Kessel, and that Sturm is also on their radar. Sturm has a lot of speed, and could score a bunch of goals on a team like the Islanders. He could also help out on the power-play where he scores around one-third of his goals. We'll have to see if the Islanders are also after Zherdev after his arbitration meeting as he and Sturm will have close to the same contract.

Talking Arbitration

Talking Arbitration & Buy-Outs

This is a good update on the Zherdev arbitration case, plus where he might end up. Please click above.


My take: if what has been said is true then the Islanders must make a good inquiry about Zherdev. More later.



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Nikolai Zherdev Is A Must For Isles

On Friday, the New York Rangers will have an arbitration hearing against Nikolai Zherdev, in my opinion, the Rangers best offensive weapon from last year, to determine how much Zherdevs' next contract will be worth. Here is the low-down on what I've read. From Larry Brooks of the Post: "Now, with Zherdev seeking a contract believed in the neighborhood of $4.5M, there's little doubt the Blueshirts would walk away from an arbitration award that's even a nickel more than $3.25M, and thus make the 24-year-old winger an unrestricted free agent."

Why Zherdev? Well there are quite a few reasons. See instead of talking to "Sources" or scouts I actually read a few Rangers comments. They have seen him play the most last year, and this is what they had to say about Zherdev.

-Tremendous talent on the puck.
-Enormous upside
-Skates with explosive strides
-Best one-on-one players
-Oozes offense
-Great playmaker
-One of the best offensive players on a bad offensive team
-Offensive skills and upside are just too much to pass up

Of course there were some negative feedback which I found.

-"Lazy attitude" work ethic
-Disappears for shifts and whole stretches of games

When there was a poll conducted by the Daily News: Keep 'em or Dump 'em?, Zherdev was dumped off the team by 63 percent.

So why should the Islanders sign him to a contract? Here are a few:

-First and foremost, he can score goals, maybe a lot more if put in the right environment

-He has the potential to be a top line winger (can play both sides)

-He has the speed that is required of Scott Gordons system

-Despite not being solid defensively, Zherdev was a plus 6, second only to Ryan Callahan (+7).

-He's a 4th overall pick in the 2003 draft, 24 years of age, and is at the right age for the youth movement.

-If his arbitration is over 3.25 million but below 4 million, he may come at a cheaper discount than say Tanguay (reports of 4-5 million) and Comrie (4 million contract last year).

-It would plug up a first line hole, until Petrov is slated to join the NHL.

-The Islanders could boast a very fast, young, and potentially play as a spoiler team that would at least make trouble for the bubble teams this upcoming year. Maybe knock a few off this year.

The Islanders should at least look into Zherdevs request, and if the money is right, should take a gamble on a player with a lot of potential, and nothing to lose along with a number one pick in Tavares, a future scorer in Okposo, a playmaker in Bailey, enough goaltending to steal a few games, and a group of young players that are waiting to make their mark as Islanders. If you're a fan, you want something like this to fall on the Islanders lap. We wait for Friday.

Two Down, One To Go

From various sources:

Jack Hillen, has signed a two year deal with the Islanders.

"We are happy to have Jack signed. He proved to be a reliable defenseman and should continue to be a productive player for our team.” -Garth Snow

Now that Thompson and Hillen have signed their contracts, the final restricted free agent left is Comeau. Let's hope he does not pull a Bergenheim, and plays in Europe this year.

Coming Up Tomorrow

I'm currently doing some research involving a player I believe the Islanders should consider going after that does not hinder the youth movement. But until I can do more work on him, I'll keep the name hidden until tomorrow. Also working on a few stories involving the next few steps the Islanders need to make during this offseason. What do you think the Islanders should do next?

Slow Day

For now, there really is not anything going on. Just a few morsels to nibble on.

The Governor of New York is currently at the Coliseum, promoting the Light House Project.

The only two UFA players that are making any kind of headlines in Islanders Country appear to be Miro Satan, and Jason Williams. No names mentioned for a defenseman.

Satan I've already stated, so I'll move on to Jason Williams. From my take, he's a soft player, who needs talent around him to make him better. His skating is not great, but he can score goals, which is something this team is lacking. But do the Islanders need another 3rd liner? I don't think so.

Comeau is the only reason, why these two players are being mentioned. Satan and Williams may be more affordable for one year, a good trade deal later on in the season, and they can build up their value for next year. Comeau, if not signed, may end up playing in Europe this year, since he's already turned down a one-way contract, and is obviously looking for more money.

That would be a major step back for him, and his future, just ask Bergenheim.

The Islanders need first line talent. They may have it this year in Okposo, and maybe later on in Tavares. That's what this year will determine. This off season is still very much alive, and it continues into training camp. Fans need to stay patient, and let things unfold. The Islanders still have plenty of cap space, which could lead to a trade, or they will continue to acquire free agents at great deals. Nevertheless, the Islanders still need to tweak the team a little more for fans to be excited about.

Thompson Signed

From Newsday:

Forward Nate Thompson, who was scheduled to have an NHL arbitration
hearing on Monday, avoided that process by reaching agreement today
with the Islanders. He signed a one-year, two-way contract.

"Nate made an immediate impact last season, fitting right into our team system,” said Garth Snow, General Manager, New York Islanders. “He is the type of player every team looks for by giving an extra effort every time he steps on the ice.”-Garth Snow


This will give some flexibility to the roster. I had mentioned before, if Thompson did not have a good camp, that he would probably be waived.

Miro Satan Talking With Islanders

From Spector's Hockey:

RDS.CA: recently reported the NY Islanders are currently discussing a possible return to Long Island of Miroslav Satan, who played three seasons with the Islanders.

While Satan would help with the veteran side of scoring, this was the same guy who was demoted by the Penguins during the season, and could only come up with 17 goals last season. He would be at best a third liner, so unless Snow has a trade involved, or will not sign Blake Comeau, don't expect Satan back, as it goes against the youth movement.

UPDATE: 7.25.09 8:37pm This coming from Allan Walsh on Twitter.
"I can confirm we are currently in negotiations with the NYI on a contract for Miro Satan."

Oh boy. Well now that's two sources that cannot be ignored. I have to believe it's because of Comeau having major differences on how much he should be paid, and what Snow is willing to offer. More to come.

Charles Wang On WFAN

For those of you who missed the interview with Charles Wang on WFAN, or for those who would like to know what's going on with the Islanders plans on the Lighthouse Project, the team, and their future, please listen here. Later on in the evening, I will have my take on what, and how I thought of the interview, while also trying to have my own opinion on what will be the future of this team.

UPDATE 11:34PM: Just a few thoughts about what i thought of the whole interview. First and foremost, Mike Francesa was not prepared to interview Charles Wang. Too many mistakes were made, including a mislead about DiPietro being out the entire season. Francesa continued to ask the same questions, over and over again, with the interview quickly becoming a bore.

This comment came from Jim Baumbach of Newsday: "Francesa really knows very little about the Lighthouse Project and the issues surrounding it. He also seems to pushing Kate Murray's talking point that he should rebuild Nassau Coliseum instead of the Lighthouse Project. Which leaves out the fact that Nassau County owns the Coliseum, not Wang. Francesa has as much right to re-do the Coliseum as Wang does."

That right there folks is the big deal, Nassau, not Wang owns the Coliseum. Wake up Nassau, and Hempstead and make the right choices on August 4th, and October 3rd.

What's The Next Move?

I wanted to right about what the Islanders future moves could be for this remaining off season. The signing of Biron was certainly a surprise to many, including my self, but after reading Point Blank and having them state that DiPietro won't be available until at least Thanksgiving, the move by Snow was necessary.

Another major reason (more or less a 1a reason) for getting Biron is the upcoming schedule for the Islanders. Let us assume for now that DiPietro is in fact out until Thanksgiving. That's at least 25 games missed by DiPietro. Granted, Roloson will probably eat up 17-20 games, but Snow is very concerned about the remaining 5-8 games that would have been played by Monroe, who is definitely slated to be in Bridgeport this year. The signing of Biron gives the Islanders better than a 50% chance to steal a few games, and possibly improve the team an extra 7 points for that stretch of time.

But what about the rest of the team? Everyone wants a Tanguay signing. Who doesn't? The Islanders need an enforcer. The Atlantic Division have been on steroids since the free agency started July 1st except for the Islanders. So what exactly are the Islanders waiting for? Well first and foremost, they still have three players to sign in Comeau, Hillen, and Thompson. They were all given two-way deals, and from all the readings, these players want one-way deals. So let's pretend that all sign today to one-way contracts. What happens?

Let's start off with Thompson. The Islanders will probably put him, along with Sim on the waiver wire, and be sent down to the Bridge. Sorry Nate. But while they're being placed on waivers, I wouldn't be surprised if Snow looked into the waiver wire to pick up a tough enforcer who can play more than 5 minutes a game.

Now for Hillen. He's signed, which makes the Islanders have 7 defenceman. You can't sign a defensman unless you waive another d-man (Freddy Meyer perhaps). Other than that the Islanders would have to make a trade (Hello Sutton).

Comeau being signed has the same effect on the offense as it does the defense. The Islanders still need that enforcer, and with Comeau signed, and 7 defenceman, If a top 6 forward is signed, then you have a 22 man roster and a team is only allowed 21, then finally a trade would have to be made to make room on the roster.

Does Snow want to go that path? He's mentioned before that he really wasn't searching the free agency, and looked what happened. The first thing that needs to get done is sign the restricted free agents and then Islanders fans, assume your summer shopping is over until close to training camp. You'll probably end up with another surprise or two.

Biron an Islander

From the New York Post

Ensuring stability in nets regardless of the state of Rick DiPetro's health, the Islanders have signed free agent goaltender Martin Biron to a one-year, $1.4 million steal of a deal, The Post has learned.

From NewYorkIslanders.com

"Adding Marty gives us three bona-fide number one goalies," said Garth Snow, General Manager, New York Islanders. "We learned about the importance of stability in our line-up from last year and he now allows us to have another quality starter."

This is certainly an interesting move for the Islanders. This means that Munroe will in fact start the season in Bridgeport. Now there really is no rush for DiPietro to return this season. I'm sure Islanders fans are going to say that DiPietro will not be even close to playing, or that things are worse off than what management is telling everyone. But let's face facts. Dp was not going to play a lot of games this year anyways, so to have three quality goaltenders in camp, is nothing more than a great insurance policy, and the Islanders have enough depth to get through a tough first half schedule. If DiPietro is healthy, then Biron becomes an excellent trade option at the deadline.

The DP Factor

Both Point Blank, and Islanders Independent have good stories on DP today.

To summarize both is actually easy. DiPietro may not be ready to play by the start of the season. That's why Roloson was signed to a starting goaltender's salary for the next two years. The other decision by the Islanders was to sign Philly Phantom goalie Scott Munroe to a contract. That leaves the Islanders with a starting goaltender, and probably a good number 2. Roloson will play in most of the games with or without DiPietro, so both Roloson and Munroe signed and ready to play at the NHL level, is a much better combination than last years duo of MacDonald, and Danis. So Kudos goes to Garth Snow.

To make sure there is enough depth on the team in Bridgeport, the Islanders drafted second rounder Mikko Koskinen, who will be playing along side Nathan Lawson, who also was a happy surprise last year for the Islanders. They also drafted Anders Nilsson, and still have a few from previous drafts, that make this a very deep team in goal. So for those who wanted the Islanders to build from the goaltender out, you got your wish.

Here is my take. With Roloson signed for the next two years, that is how long Rick DiPietro has to fully recover, get rid of the rust, and become the starting goaltender again. With this current youth movement, and improvement out of the NHL cellar, there should not be a rush, like last year's mistake, and not have Rick step on the ice until he is 100% healthy.

If this team does improve during the course of the year and Dipietro is fully recovered, you now have folks what I will call the "DP Factor." You still have Roloson playing in the majority of games, but now you have another stellar starting goaltender as the backup. Not even the best teams in the East, nor League for that fact, will light up the lamp as much as they would like to. Not only will this give the Islanders a chance to win every game, but they just might be able to steal (highway robbery!!!) more than just a few games.

The Islanders have DiPietro under contract for a long term investment. They already have seen the consequences of rushing him and having an ill-ready DiPietro play for them. Don't risk short term gain with your long term investment.

Jonathan Cheechoo?

From SI.COM:

The Sharks would love to move Jonathan Cheechoo, but the market is not exactly bullish for lead-footed, 12-goal, third-liners who have $6 million coming to them over the next two seasons. Los Tiburones need to clear some cap space, so the former Rocket Richard Trophy-winner (56 goals in 2005-06) likely could be had for picks and/or mid-level prospects. Might make for an interesting reclamation project on a team looking to add some depth to its offense. Nashville, Ottawa, Minnesota and the Islanders might be in the running . . .

My thanks goes to Spector for his take on this rumor: "Cheechoo won't be moved unless he's part of a package with someone else as the centerpiece..."

My Take:

6 million for a third liner, who may resurrect himself with another team? Not a good idea for the Islanders. If we're not going to pay 5 million for Tanguay, it makes no sense to pay that much, and probably receive very little.

RFA Don't Sign there Qualifiers

Jack Hillen, Nate Thompson, and Blake Comeau, all elected not to sign their qualifying offers to the New York Islanders. Nate Thompson has arbitration rights, and is fighting for a one-way deal. The news of Comeau and Hillen was broken by Point Blank.

Here are the stats from all three players. Thompson has a total of 43 games played for the Islanders compiling a whopping 2 goals, 2 assists, for a combined total of 4 points and a plus/minus of a minus 11. I have to say that Thompson is looking for a one-way contract, because he is not going to earn any more money.

Blake Comeau, who ended up playing in Bridgeport the first quarter of the season, had a better year in totaling 7 goals, 18 assists for 25 points. His bright spot is that he appeared in 53 games. His plus/minus was a minus 17, again, I can only see Blake looking for a one-way contract. Comeau though has more upside then Thompson does.

Jack Hillen played in 40 games earning a goal and 5 assists for 6 points with a plus/minus rating of a minus 9. Again, like the other two, these numbers do not favor Hillen getting more money, and also could be looking for a one-way deal.

After reading different views, and looking at the numbers, I've come to my conclusion: This is not a big deal. Comeau right now is slated as the third line winger. If he is signed to a one-way deal, forget about signing anybody in the free agency. If Comeau has a really good year, he could be averaging 40 points a year, which is certainly a third line potential.

Hillen is probably the 7th defenseman on the depth chart of this team. Again he replaces Thomas Pock, which would be an improvemant. A one-way contract may not hurt. He certainly won't get the ice time he needs to fill in those holes of development, but I don't see for now the Islanders signing anyone else.

Thompson is a different story. If Thompson doesn't have a good camp, he could be waived anyways, so it won't matter if he wins arbitration or not, and he will be replaced on the occasion, by the occasional call-up enforcer.

If the following players do want one-way contracts, then a one year deal could keep them happy. However, if they are looking for a longer term deal, then they may have to accept their two-way contracts for two-three years, because the improving prospects will be coming up sooner rather than later, and all three players need to prove this year to the Islanders that they belong. They all want to be Islanders, just not Sound Tigers.