Okposo Net

A Night For Nabby and Nielsen

2012-02-07T21:52:00.007-05:00

Philadelphia's Wells Fargo/Wachovia/First Union/Core States Center has been a house of horrors for the Islanders. But after breaking their impossibly long drought in that building last month, the blue and orange squad from New York is suddenly rolling there.

It took a Herculean 45 save effort from Evegeni Nabokov and a shootout, but suddenly the Islanders have won two in a row in the building that formerly struck fear in their hearts.

With Travis Hamonic out for several weeks (announced as two by the team) after facial surgery stemming from a puck to the face, young Aaron Ness made his NHL debut.

Amidst a patchwork defensive corps (Dylan Reese would leave this game due to injury), Ness saw 14:25 of action in his league premiere.

The story of the night, other than Nabokov's spectacular night between the pipes, belonged to "The Great Dane," Frans Nielsen.

Nielsen, who would have been an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, was inked to a four-year, $11 million extension, announced during the game.

How did the 27-year old celebrate? With one of his patented backhanded goals in the shootout against Philadelphia netminder Ilya Bryzgalov, of course. It gave the Islanders the lead in the so-called "skills competition" and turned out to be the only one they would need on this night (John Tavares added an insurance goal soon after).

The Islanders were 1-0 shootout winners, escaping Philly with an improbable 2 points in the standings. Their season record stands at 22-22-8 with 30 regular season games remaining. It'll be a tough task for them to make the playoffs, but their play is much improved over the last few months.

It's not a stretch to think that this team is finally becoming a regular playoff contender for the coming years after so much heartache and disappointment.

One glaring weakness, exposed again on this night by their paltry 18 shot effort, is the inconsistent scoring. If a top-liner doesn't have a big night, goals just don't seem to come. This lack of offensive depth must be addressed in the offseason, perhaps earlier.

The trading deadline for Garth Snow and the league's general managers is February 27th.

Kyle Okposo, this page's primary focus, rang a shot off the post but recorded no goals for the ninth game in his last ten. John Tavares and Frans Nielsen each needed an assist to reach 100 in their careers, but will have to wait at least until Thursday (2/9) night against Montreal.

The team sits just four goals shy of scoring 10,000 in franchise history. I'll be on hand on Thursday night in Nassau to see if they get it done.

Tavares 2, Hurricanes 1

2012-01-21T21:46:00.004-05:00

What can I say about John Tavares that hasn't already been said?

Sometimes it boggles my mind that the guy was born in 1990. On nights like Saturday (1/21), when he provided all the Islanders' offense needed to get a win, one can easily forget that he's just 21 years old.

Tavares, coupled with another outstanding effort in goal (32 saves) from Evgeni Nabokov, led the Islanders to victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. 2-1 was the final score, in overtime. For the Islanders, it was their third straight win, tying their season-high streak.

During the game, Isles' broadcaster Howie Rose went off on what can only be described as a five minute long rant against ESPN writer Neil Greenberg. Greenberg, who had failed to place Tavares in a certain "25 young players under (age) 25" list, was excoriated by Rose.

While I'm not sure a public flogging (Rose did not say the writer's name on air) is the route I would have chosen to make the point, Rose happened to be right in this case. How can anyone of fair mind who watches ice hockey for a living exclude the Islanders' star from that group?

Not only is Tavares one of the 25 best young players, he's one of the best in the league right now.

With his 2 points (both coming as goals) on Saturday night, he now has 169 points in 207 career games (0.816 PPG). He passed Dave Scatchard on the Islanders all-time scoring list and tied Jude Drouin. Next within John's sights are Shawn Bates (170), J-P Parise, and Claude Lapointe (both at 171).

While Tavares has found his form, perhaps the Islanders are coming into theirs as well. They are now just 2 games under .500 for the season and are teasing their fans with thoughts of a playoff run.

It's still premature to think about meaningful April hockey, but the team is just eight points out of a playoff spot. If they clean up against Toronto and Carolina (who they play twice and once more, respectively) to end January, the playoff whispers on Long Island will grow by many decibels.

Either way, the selection of John Tavares in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft looks like General Manager Garth Snow's masterstroke. Even if he isn't on your list quite yet.

Bailey Beats Bob And The Philly Curse

2012-01-19T21:42:00.004-05:00

I can't figure the Islanders out.

They put up an absolute stinker at home against Nashville, digging a hole so deep that the game is effectively over after one period. They then travel to Washington and Philadelphia, dominate both teams, and let up a single goal over six periods.

Confounding, to say the least.

Whatever the reason (and a lot of it has had to do with goaltender Evegni Nabokov's top form lately), the Islanders finally broke their "0-for-Philly" streak on Thurdsay (1/19) night.

With 40 saves and riding a shutout streak of 159:11, the Islanders earned two points in a place that hasn't been very kind to them in almost five calendar years, Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center.

It had been since April 7, 2007, a miserable streak of 13 games since the Islanders had last won in the City of Brotherly Love. But Matt Moulson, Josh Bailey, Mark Streit, and Michael Grabner powered the Isles to a 4-1 win.

Sergei 'Bob' Bobrovsky, who had been previously unbeaten by New York, took the loss. He's now 7-1-0 against the Blue and Orange.

As the home broadcasters were saying, it's a huge monkey finally off the back of a team trying to claw its way back into playoff contention.

There were some notable events in the game that deserve mention, besides Nabokov's masterpiece. Josh Bailey tallied a breakaway shorthanded goal for his 100th career NHL point.

John Tavares continued his slow takeover of the league with his 45th and 46th points of the season, but more importantly his 11th game in a row recording at least one. It ties the top mark in the league this year, set by Boston's David Krejci.

Lastly, the Islanders became only the second team in the league this season (Chicago) with three 40-point scorers (Tavares, Moulson, Parenteau).

Hopefully the Carolina Hurricanes and a little snow in the forecast won't be able to slow the suddenly surging Isles down on Saturday (1/21) night. They are still ten points out of a playoff spot, but looking to make up ground quickly in their upcoming games.

***
News and Notes:

- Kyle Okposo had an assist on Moulson's goal, upping his season total to 12. He has 23 points in 42 games (11-12-23).

First Line Just Fine

2012-01-10T22:33:00.005-05:00

What's working this year for the Islanders?

The first line, at least since Head Coach Jack Capuano moved Kyle Okposo back into it.

Over the last six games that John Tavares, Matt Moulson, and Kyle have played as a unit, the trio has notched a collective 26 points, or 4.333 per game.

The breakdown is as follows: Moulson had scored 4 goals and 4 assists. Tavares has a whopping 12 points at 3 goals and 9 assists. Kyle has chipped in with a mere 3 goals and 3 assists. He contributed a goal and an assist in the win over Detroit on Tuesday (1/10) night.

In that game, a 5-1 win (aren't they all so easy against the Red Wings?), Evgeni Nabokov was the winning goaltender. He now sits one win away from 300 in his NHL career.

Looking ahead to future Islanders scorers, top prospect Ryan Strome stayed hot in the Ontario Hockey League.

Fresh off his 3G-6A-9P World Juniors stint, Strome didn't miss a beat as he scored a goal and assisted twice on Saturday night for Niagara. He is having a very nice season for the IceDogs, as you can clearly see here.

Let's hope he can come to Long Island next year (or at the end of this season) and add some secondary scoring that the team desperately needs.

Milestone Goal, Isles Cold, and Strome

2011-12-23T22:56:00.002-05:00

It is with a small sense of pride that I can announce the following: Kyle Okposo scored his 50th National Hockey League goal on Friday (12/23) night.

His wrist shot beat Toronto goaltender James Reimer's glove with 4:15 remaining in the first period of the game. Unfortunately, Kyle's Islanders found themselves trailing 3-0 at the time. While they did attempt a spirited comeback, twice narrowing Toronto's lead to one goal, they lost yet again.

As someone who has covered him since his college days, I can tell you it has been a long and sometimes uneven road for Kyle so far as an NHL player.

Fans will surely remember his very public departure from the University of Minnesota as a sophomore in 2008. However, he immediately took the American Hockey League by storm as a professional, scoring 28 points with Bridgeport in an abbreviated season.

He went on to have a solid 9 game "tryout" of sorts with the Islanders in that same whirlwind season.

"Okie," as his teammates call him, opened eyes in the following seasons, putting up solid 39 and 52 point efforts in his first two full campaigns. Fans viewed him as a star in the making; management as a core piece of the rebuild.

His career hasn't been without pitfalls, though. He missed more than half of last season due to a preseason shoulder injury. Before that there was a concussion suffered at the hands of Dion Phaneuf, also in a preseason game.

People also became concerned when he went through terrible goalless droughts, such as when he began this season without scoring for 15 games.

That said, Kyle still appears to have his best years ahead of him. He has rebounded with 6 goals in his last 15 games. He's signed long term on Long Island and seems to enjoy playing and living in Nassau County. What has been missing has been a playoff berth.

All that said, he has put up some solid numbers so far in his career, 50 goals and 79 assists in 222 games. It works out to 0.58 points per game.

Congratulations to him for reaching what is hopefully the first of many goal scoring thresholds in his career.

***
News and Notes:

- The Islanders' 5-3 loss to Toronto, coupled with Thursday night's 4-2 loss at Madison Square Garden to the New York Rangers leaves them at 11-16-6 on the season. With a mere 28 points earned in 33 games, they have basically fallen out of the Eastern Conference playoff race before Christmas.

- On a brighter note, beginning on Monday (12/26) you'll be able to watch top Isles prospect Ryan Strome on the NHL Network. He'll be playing on Team Canada in the IIHF 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

He, along with Islanders draft pick Andrey Pedan (Team Russia) will participate in the annual event that features many of the NHL's stars of the future. Prospective top 2012 draft picks Nail Yakupov (Russia) and Mikhail Grigorenko (Russia) are also expected to participate.

I'm hoping for a big tournament from Strome; hopefully a dominant one. Islanders fans could use the knowledge that a bona fide scorer is on the way to their team in the near future.

Okposo Shines But Isles Falter

2011-12-16T00:14:00.006-05:00

Kyle Okposo had a good game and earned himself a star on Thursday (12/15) night, but his team was unable to beat the Stars that hail from Dallas. Kyle had an assist on Michael Grabner's game tying goal and scored the goal that gave his team the lead, but it didn't hold up as his New York Islanders lost 3-2.

Kevin Poulin, making his first NHL start in goal this season, played well enough to win, saving 26 Dallas shots, but was the victim of a weak defense and an insufficient offense.

Head Coach Jack Capuano, visibly upset after the game, noted that the Islanders should have and could have won the game. "A few mistakes in the third cost us the game," he explained, as the Isles allowed third period goals to Brendan Morrow and Jamie Benn and lost for the first time in regulation this season when leading after two periods.

Back to Okposo for a moment, though. He has scored five goals in his last 11 games and has 6 points in December (7 games). He fed Grabner nicely with a pass that clunked in off of the Austrian's skate at 16:38 of the first frame. The play was reviewed but was ruled a valid goal.

Kyle's goal, the "dirty" type which he tapped in after a scramble in front of Dallas netminder Richard Bachman, is the type of goal that Kyle (and the team in general) needs to score more often.

Okposo's statistical line for the seasons now reads 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points. The Islanders, somewhat less impressively, sit at 9-14-6, last in the Eastern Conference.

***
News and Notes:

- Brian Rolston suffered a concussion during the course of the game, this coming on the heels of the news that defenseman Steve Staios had done the same during the last game. Capuano hadn't received an update on Rolston's condition after the game.

- Mike Mottau played 18:29 in what was his 300th career NHL game.

- On the flip side, Calvin DeHaan made his NHL debut, playing 13:01, recording two hits and a +1.

- Late in the game, Michael Grabner appeared to leave the ice clutching his face. There was no word on an injury.

- The Islanders were 0-3 on the power play.

- The franchise once again falls to .500, now 1322-1322-347-80 all-time.

Holy Mouley! Isles' Offense Comes Alive!

2011-12-03T23:17:00.007-05:00

If you're a person who likes to look ahead at a team's schedule (like I am), you couldn't have felt too optimistic about the road trip the New York Islanders began at the end of November. Looking at their opponents; New Jersey, Buffalo, Chicago, and Dallas, was likely enough to give even the most stout fan a case of heartburn.

Islanders fans, however, have learned to expect the unexpected. After some tough fought battles and seesaw games, the Islanders managed to take seven of the eight possible points from those teams listed above.

Matt Moulson, who scored seven goals during the stretch, nearly single-handedly won the contest in Dallas (12/3). His four goals staved off a potentially devastating mid-game collapse. Moulson, who struck early for two goals, watched as his defense and goaltender, Rick DiPietro, let the Stars knot the game at 3 in the second period.

Moulson sprung into action, though, restoring the lead for the Isles, capping a five goal flurry by both sides in the span of 3:09. He added a goal in the third period to give him his first four goal game in the NHL.

John Tavares, who hasn't hit the net in 13 games, has stayed productive. He has had more than his share of close calls, but in the meantime has notched 9 assists during his goal scoring drought.

P.A. Parenteau has contributed as well, putting up 7 points on the road trip.

Though he has looked better of late and scored in Chicago, Kyle Okposo hasn't yet hit a steady scoring stride with more than 20 games played. His curious tweet last week makes you wonder if his past injuries were bothering him this season more than he led most of us to believe.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention Al Montoya. Montoya is absolutely carrying the team in net right now. I'm not going to pile on the Rick DiPietro hate-wagon, but Al has made one big save after another of late at crucial moments. His season numbers between the pipes are an outstanding 2.17 GAA and a 93.1 save percentage.

The defense needs tightening up; there are only a few D-men playing really well. It's not my style to single players out who are underperforming, but Mike Mottau has been poor, Milan Jurcina has had some serious defensive lapses, and before he was injured I felt that Andy MacDonald was capable of better play (he left with an injury with a -9, worst among the team's defensemen).

However, the Isles won 3-2 in New Jersey, slipped by Buffalo with another single goal margin (2-1), and escaped Chicago and Dallas with two 5-4 games (a shootout loss and a win, respectively).

Looking at the bigger picture, as I tend to, here are some franchise notes I jotted down after the most recent win:

- John Tavares has now cracked the top 50 in franchise scoring. His 142 points equal former captain Mike Peca's Islanders total.

- With his four goal game on Saturday night, Moulson passed both Lorne Henning and J-P Parise in the Islanders franchise goals leader column (74).

- Also in Saturday night's affair, DiPietro and Michael Grabner left with groin injuries. More seriously, Nino Niederreiter, fresh off his first goal of the season, left with concussion like symptoms. The hit by Mark Fistric that sent him off has to result in a suspension. Replays showed the Stars player's skates leaving the ice during the hit.

- Congratulations to David Ullstrom for his first NHL point, scored in Buffalo on 11/29.

- Lastly, the Islanders franchise regained their position above .500 after spending a day below the mark. They now sit at 1321-1319-347-79 (W-L-T-OTL) all-time.

Kyle Breaks Out!

2011-11-23T22:16:00.003-05:00

Kyle Okposo finally had the night that everyone has been waiting for. Over the course of a single period, he broke his goal scoring drought, doubled his season's points total, and silenced his critics.

The only thing missing was an Islanders win.

On Wednesday (11/23) night, the Islanders hosted the Philadelphia Flyers, a team that has traditionally given them fits. Coming into the game the Isles had dropped 24 of their last 26 to their southerly neighbors.

It looked to be more of the same in store for New York, as just 18 seconds into the game a puck found its way past starter Rick DiPietro. Andrej Meszaros scored on the first shot of the game.

The script would change, however, just 19 seconds later, as Kyle took a brilliant pass from Michael Grabner and lit Ilya Bryzgalov's lamp.

Before most of the crowd of 11,086 had settled into their seats, two goals had been scored.

Okposo, playing with a sense of determination as yet unseen this season, gave the Islanders the lead with a pretty "tic-tac-toe" type goal at 10:26. Grabner had a hand in this one too, thrusting the puck to Josh Bailey who got it to Kyle's stick blade.

The Isles led 2-1, and suddenly thoughts of the team's (and Kyle's) scoring woes were a thing of the past.

Not sated by two quick goals after such a long and miserable drought, Kyle turned around and assisted Grabner on a goal with about 1:30 to go in the period. The outburst of scoring, coming after 142-plus minutes of nothing, coupled with the fact that they were outplaying Philadelphia, was astounding.

The problem was that the Islanders had forty more minutes to get through.

During the first break, Peter Laviolette showed why he is a good coach. He yanked his starting goaltender and ushered Sergei Bobrovsky into the game.

Though Kyle played well (going end to end with the puck during one rush after making a nice defensive play, as an example), he and his mates were unable to solve Bobrovsky. "Bob" made 23 saves and was the benefactor of some quirky goals allowed by DiPietro.

Though they forced the game to overtime, and even had a man advantage during the extra session, the Islanders lost their 13th of their last 15 games.

Taking away the positives, though, Kyle appears to have put whatever was troubling him aside, at least for now. He looks like the young star that everyone saw for the last three seasons. He has regained a very nice chemistry with linemates Michael Grabner and Frans Neilsen, and even with Josh Bailey.

The Islanders haven't been able to have a game where they get scoring out of both of their top two lines on the same night. When they do, they're going to win the game easily.

Unfortunately for now, coach Jack Capuano is left to still tinker with his roster in order to get it tuned properly, and Islanders fans are left with a slightly less festive Thanksgiving mood.

Will Kyle Be Back?

2011-11-20T17:13:00.005-05:00

I had a moment to ask a very angry Coach Jack Capuano about Kyle's status for Monday's game (at the 2:30 mark) . While he didn't provide a definitive answer, one would imagine that after the stink bomb the Islanders put up against Boston on Saturday night (11/19), another shakeup will be afoot.

I expect Kyle to return on Monday night in Pittsburgh. I believe the message intended for Okposo and the team has been sent (and clearly received).

Unfortunately for the Isles, Sidney Crosby will be making a return of his own in Monday's game. As you know, he has been sidelined all season with the lingering effects of a concussion from last season.

Finally, a new face to look for in the Islanders' lineup is David Ullstrom. The young forward was called up as the corresponding move to goalie Al Montoya's placement on the injured reserve list. The young Swede has put up a 12-2-14 line at Bridgeport in 17 games.

There will be a lot to watch for tomorrow night. Hopefully Capuano rallies his troops in what has been a very difficult venue for the Islanders over the past few seasons.

Isles Win as Kyle Still Sits

2011-11-18T00:07:00.003-05:00

Coming in to Thursday (11/17) night's game against Montreal, the Islanders were sitting precariously on the cusp of an unpleasant milestone.

The franchise, whose all-time record stood at 1317-1316-347-77 (W-L-T-OTL) before the puck dropped, was in danger of falling to .500 for the first time since 1978.

They were also facing a hot squad in the Montreal Canadiens, winners of 7 of their last 10 games. The one small advantage the Islanders perhaps held was that the Habs had played Carolina on Wednesday night.

Fortunately for the Isles, a bit of unpleasant history was averted.

The Islanders secured a 4-3 win, though they took an unconventional route to victory.

Evegeni Nabokov, part of the "three-headed monster" in goal (that has worked surprisingly better than expected this season) was injured just under eight minutes in. Rick DiPietro, the eventual winner, replaced him.

After an even first period, it took a lucky carom off the boards behind the goal and a misplay of the carom by Canadiens' goaltender Peter Budaj to gift wrap a goal for the home team.

P.A. Parenteau, the twenty goal scorer from last season, wasted no time in capitalizing on the mistake. For Parenteau, it was his third goal of the year.

Invigorated by a rare lead, Josh Bailey helped Jay Pandolfo score another one with just 3:01 gone in the period. For Pandolfo, it was a double milestone, as it was both his first goal as an Islander and number 100 in his NHL career.

Mark Streit tripled the home fans' pleasure with a goal of his own at 9:01. Of note, the goal was the first this season by an Islanders defenseman at even strength.

The tide turned against the Isles soon, though, as two poor defensive plays led to Montreal goals. The fans, and perhaps the coaches, were having flashbacks of the game against Colorado earlier in the season in which the Isles frittered away a 3-0 lead.

Matt Moulson righted the ship towards the end of the period, however. Matt has been hot of late, scoring four goals in his last five games. John Tavares and the aforementioned DiPietro assisted on the effort.

Though they allowed a late power play goal to Brian Gionta which set up a tense finish, the Islanders held on and secured a much needed victory.

The sentiment in the locker room after the win was both one of relief and a sense of a deserved payoff after some recent games filled with hard work and no points.

The Islanders get a chance to take another step in the right direction on Saturday night (11/19). More on that game below.

***
News and notes:

- Somewhat surprisingly, Kyle Okposo was a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game. It was reported elsewhere that he has watched all of his shifts from this season on video. I fully expect him to return to the ice for Saturday night's tilt against the Boston Bruins.

- Speaking of Saturday night, Islanders legend (and the team's first captain) Ed Westfall will be honored in a pregame ceremony. He will be inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame, and will even call a period of hockey with "Jiggs" McDonald. It should be a fun evening.

- Nabokov left the game with a reported groin injury. He will be re-evaluated on Friday. Rick DiPietro, making his second relief appearance of the year, filled in ably by saving 24 of the 27 shots he faced.

- Lastly, this game featured a unique personnel quirk. It was believed to be the first time that four Swiss-born players had ever played in the same NHL game. The teams had two apiece; Mark Streit and Nino Niederreiter for the Islanders and Raphael Diaz and Yannick Weber for the Habs.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

2011-11-11T00:12:00.004-05:00

I'm going to keep this one short because after last night's gut-wrenching 4-3 overtime loss in Colorado, I'm completely deflated. So here we go...

The Good:

Josh Bailey (!) opened the scoring by netting his first goal of the season. One of the glaring underachievers so far this season (yes, Kyle obviously belongs in that category), Bailey ended his drought under five minutes into the contest.

Brian Rolston doubled the Islanders' lead less than a minute into the second period. P.A. Parenteau and Neilsen assisted the effort.

Michael Grabner looked like the Grabner of last season, scoring a beautiful goal (his 5th of the season) fed by Matt Moulson and having two other breakaway chances in which he did not score. (Who could have known how big those missed opportunities would be later in the game?)

Kyle Okposo gets partial credit in this column, as does starting goaltender Al Montoya. Kyle was strong on the puck during this game and chased down a few loose ones. One of his passes sprung Grabner on an aforementioned breakaway chance.

Montoya was good; very good in fact. For half or 2/3 of the game. There's the rub.

The Bad:

Montoya was run over several times during the game. Did it take a toll on him? Perhaps. Or maybe the thin air exhausted him. Or perhaps, and most likely, his defense allowed him to see 51 shots on the night, easily a season high for the team.

The Islanders blew a 3-0 lead and all of the good momentum they had built. Yes, just frittered it away during the final 20 minutes. Completely inexcusable, especially in a game in which they were at times (literally) running circles around the competition.

Also frittered away was a point that was desperately needed in the standings. Normally I'm a "glass half-full" kind of guy. Not on this one.

The Ugly:

Kyle's goalless drought now stands at 13 games this season. His season line is 0-3-3 so far. Ugly indeed.

Moving on, and sadly we must again discuss the officiating.

I really don't believe in blaming officials for a team's woes. However, the Islanders have been on the wrong end of some terrible calls this season.

Whether it was phantom tripping calls, no-calls, or very minor infractions that were whistled, the Isles had it all go against them in this game. Some of Colorado's power plays should never have even taken place. Oh well. Some among you will say that the Islanders should have overcome those bad calls, and maybe you're right, but on this night the poor officiating was egregious.

To add insult to injury, a rumor circulated around Twitter after the game that goalie Evgeni Nabokov had been traded to Columbus for defenseman Fedor Tyutin.

The rumor was, of course, unfounded.

***
If a trade is made (and believe me, the Isles need to shed a goalie in the worst way), you'll find out right here. The Islanders send me (and my fellow bloggers) press releases, you know.

The Isles get a chance to redeem themselves on Sunday night in Vancouver at 9 PM.

Brutal Call Beats Isles

2011-10-29T23:47:00.006-04:00

The Islanders gave a full sixty minute effort on Saturday (10/29) night against San Jose, according to Coach Jack Capuano. They generated many good chances and matched the effort of one of the best teams in hockey.

Unfortunately, it was a phantom penalty call that doomed New York in the overtime period, causing them to potentially miss out on what would have been a hard-earned second point.

Rick DiPietro made his first start of the season, seeing his first "real" action (wink, wink) of the year and playing well. Though he allowed a power play goal just 17 seconds into the contest, he was solid all night, making 27 saves and cutting down on the bad habits that have plagued him in the past.

It was a good night for John Tavares and Michael Grabner too, both of whom scored. For Tavares, it was his 7th time lighting the lamp this season, while it was number three for Grabner.

Kyle, still goalless for the season, found Grabner with a pretty feed that the Austrian slipped right past San Jose netminder Thomas Greiss. That goal gave the Islanders a temporary 2-1 lead midway through the game. It didn't last, though, as an efficient San Jose side struck back less than two minutes later.

Kyle sits at three points, as you can see on the right-hand side of this page. He played 15:30, and to be fair, took a really bad and unnecessary elbowing penalty near the end of regulation time. It didn't cost his team the game, luckily.

The thing that did cost the game was a terrible delay of game call by the referees on Travis Hamonic that seemingly everyone in the building saw clearly. Everyone, that is, except the four men on the ice that really mattered. Hamonic was trying to get a pass toward John Tavares when the puck careened out of bounds.

Assistant Doug Weight nearly went berserk on the bench when the call was made, to no avail. He had good reason to be upset, as subsequent replays showed the puck hitting the glass on the way out of play.

Given a power play, it took Brent Burns only 38 seconds to sink the deflated Islanders. A very good all around effort by the home team was ruined.

The call was the topic of discussion in the postgame debriefing session, though the players were careful to avoid blaming the referees directly for the loss.

Hamonic explained how the events unfolded. "I chipped the puck off the glass. Obviously the call was what the call was. I don't think there's much else to say about that."

His teammate John Tavares had similar thoughts, saying, "It's a tough call at the end. You know, it happens...we've just got to put it behind us...tough break."

Perhaps the coach had the most fitting last words on the entire mess, when asked if he received an explanation from the officials. "They just didn't see it."

Despite the debacle, Thursday (11/3) will be your next chance to see the Islanders as they take on the Winnipeg Jets at Nassau Coliseum. It will be nice to see the Jets play their first game in New York after a long hiatus. I'm looking forward to that one, and hopefully the Isles breaking their five game losing streak that they are currently on.

***
News and Notes:

- Prior to the game, the Islanders honored the 1992-1993 team. They remain, somewhat sadly, the last Islanders team to advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was thrilling to see players like Pierre Turgeon, Darius Kasparaitis, and Patrick Flatley return to the Coliseum ice.

- 11,742 fans attended the game despite the presence of an unusually timed winter storm hitting the area.

- The Isles were 2-for-4 on the power play, improving to a cool 21.2% success rate on the season (7-for-33).

Deuces Wild In Pittsburgh

2011-10-27T22:13:00.006-04:00

Kyle Okposo's 200th National Hockey League game turned out to be wilder than expected.

The theme of the game was "two," though the visiting Islanders weren't able to secure two points against Pittsburgh at the CONSOL Energy Center on Thursday (10/27) night.

The Islanders held a 2-0 lead at one point, their opening goal coming on Frans Nielsen's second goal of the year. Kyle earned an assist on the play. It was, you guessed it, his second assist (and point) of the season.

In the second period, the Islanders offense again went to sleep, as it has done a few too many times this season. The visitors were only able to muster two shots against Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury.

Still, the Isles held a lead entering the third period, saved by the good goaltending of Evgeni Nabakov and at least two goals saved by his posts.

Matt Martin doubled the lead 45 seconds into the third period. The lead didn't hold, though. Chris Kunitz and James Neal brought the Pens back.

With the game tied at two, and with no goals scored in the overtime period, the Islanders used their second goalie of the evening.

Nabokov had apparently fallen ill (according to Coach Jack Capuano) late in regulation or overtime, and Rick DiPietro, who had seen no ice time this season, was called upon.

He saved two of the three shots he faced, allowing an Evgeni Malkin shot to squeak under him, but the Islanders didn't score on any of their shootout opportunities.

The final score from Pittsburgh: Penguins 3, Islanders 2. A single point earned, and a lot of head scratching afterward from fans and media.

We must take the coach at his word, but I guarantee there will be a lot of hand wringing over the timing of his decision. This is, after all, the Islanders we are talking about. Everything is scrutinized to death. Lets hope the injury turns out to be very minor.

Luckily, the Islanders only have one day off before they return to the ice.

On Saturday (10/29) night they'll take on the San Jose Sharks. The team plans to honor the 1992-1993 squad that defeated the then-Stanley Cup Champion Penguins and played in the Eastern Conference Finals.

A banner was raised for that team. After the events of this wild game, the goalie situation will be up in the air too.

Confidence Building Win Over Rivals

2011-10-16T00:56:00.008-04:00

After a deflating loss to Florida on Opening Night (10/8), the New York Islanders had a chance to put up a meaningful win in front of another sell out crowd last night (10/15). They seized upon the opportunity, gaining a 4-2 decision over the rival New York Rangers.

The Rangers, who opened their season in Europe and won't play a home game until October 27th (due to renovations currently underway in their home arena), had a good amount of support (as they usually do these days) at Nassau Coliseum. But their blue-sweatered supporters were quieted in the first period by a significantly improved home team, and they headed for the exits after John Tavares had once again worked his magic.

Tavares, fresh off a four point night in the Isles' win over Tampa Bay (10/13), matched the output against the Rangers. Unlike in that game, he netted a hat trick, the third of his career.

The Islanders, who had gone with the same lineup in their first three games, tweaked things a bit before this match. Scratched from the lineup, somewhat surprisingly, was Blake Comeau. Trevor Gillies saw his first action of the season. Additionally, starting in goal, in his first NHL game since April 10, 2010, was Evegeni Nabakov.

Nabokov played well, saving 29 of the 31 shots he faced. There was mild concern for his well-being midway through the third period, when he was slow to get up out of his crouch and was seen flexing his legs. A trainer was not needed on the ice, however, and he assured the media after the game that his movements were only due to a puck catching him in a "place where there was no protection." Okay, Nabby, we feel your pain.

The first star of the night was clearly Tavares, though, despite very good efforts from P.A. Parenteau (3 assists), Mark Streit (2 assists, 24:50 played), and the fourth line (Coach Jack Capuano has consistently praised them).

Tavares is currently tied for the league lead in scoring with David Legwand (Nashville) and Toronto's Phil Kessel. Back-to-back 4 point nights will do that for a player.

The only tone of concern, as the Islanders sit at 3-1 and prepare for their first road trip, has to be the secondary production. Lines two and three have barely clicked at all. It has been nice to have the top line carry the team so far, but players like Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner haven't yet found the net with regularity. Okposo has just a lone assist this season and Grabner scored his only goal from it.

Coach Capuano also spoke of some defensive fumbles that he'd like to see cleaned up before his team next hits the ice.

"We can play better. We had some breakdowns. [The Rangers] had some really good scoring opportunities." He continued, "We have to get better in certain areas of our game, for sure."

But that's a worry for another day. The Islanders will have four days off before they play again (at Tampa Bay on 10/20).

Right now, Isles fans, your team is 3-1 and goaltending hasn't been an issue. Enjoy it.

Spreading the Joy of Hockey

2011-10-14T11:42:00.002-04:00

Last night (10/13) I did something I hadn't done in a very long time. I attended an ice hockey game as a fan.

My friend Simon has been visiting New York (he's from England) this week, and I was hoping to give him a quintessentially American (or in this case, North American) sports experience. I was also hoping to select a match-up that would be filled with action, enough scoring to keep him interested, and hopefully one that resulted in a New York Islanders win.

I purchased two seats in the lower bowl so that he would be close enough to the game to really feel part of it. I was also optimistic that a game involving Tampa Bay and the Islanders would have a fair amount of goal scoring in it.

I chose wisely.

Just 36 seconds into his introduction to the NHL, Simon watched John Tavares race down the ice, fire a shot that was saved, only to see big Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman swipe the rebounding puck into his own team's net with his hand.

The crowd was elated at the good fortune that had fallen upon the home side. Simon was all smiles and I had a sense that he was a hockey fan in the making.

After an equalizing goal from Tampa Bay's #91, Steven Stamkos, at 7:10 of the same period, the Isles' offensive onslaught began.

Matt Moulson and Tavares hooked up 2:18 later on a pretty goal to recapture the lead, then Moulson returned the favor at the 15:15 mark. "JT" had a quick 3 point night and the Isles had a 3-1 lead.

But he wasn't done.

With time running down in the first, we were able to witness a fourth home goal, this time from P.A. Parenteau. Right there to pick up another assist, was, of course, John Tavares.

4 points in one period! Simon had seen a full game inside of twenty minutes.

With Al Montoya continuing to play a with a special kind of focus in goal and a 5th Isles goal (Grabner from Okposo) for good measure, the Islanders cruised to a somewhat easy victory.

A few concession stand snacks were enjoyed, a visit to a sports bar was made immediately following the win, and a great win was celebrated.

I always tell people that sports beings people, even those of diverse backgrounds and speaking different languages, together. I know Islanders fans all over the world; from Germany, Sweden, Japan, and so on. I know some blind fans who love a game that they can't even see.

I think last night proved my point yet again. I imagine that this morning the Islanders have one more fan from England they didn't have 24 hours ago.

***
News and Notes:

- Tavares' scoring outburst was the first time an Islander scored 4 points in a period since Niklas Andersson in 1996. (Thanks to Isles' statistician Eric Hornick for that one).

- 2011 draft pick Ryan Strome, just returned to the Ontario Hockey League, opened his season with a hat trick for his Niagara IceDogs. Yes, in case you hadn't heard, he's one to watch.

- Evgeni Nabakov dressed as Montoya's backup but saw no action. Rick DiPietro is out with a concussion, the team announced.

- The Isles improve to 2-1-0-0 on the season, with a home game against the rival New York Rangers on Saturday (10/15) night.

It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

2011-10-09T00:25:00.002-04:00

"The season is a marathon, not a sprint."

You hear the above phrase uttered a lot when people discuss the baseball season. It can also be applied to the hockey season. Despite the Islanders laying a 2-0 egg to Florida in front of a sold out crowd on Opening Night (10/8), all is not lost.

Sure, I would have liked to have seen a more solid and consistent effort from the Islanders in front of a loud packed house on Saturday night. The fans were ready to see potential and promise turned into profits, at least with respect to the on-ice product. Mike Bossy was on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck, the player introductions were spectacular, and the decibels were deafening.

Unfortunately, the air came out of the balloon once the game started.

While the team didn't send the crowd running for the exits with a total stink-bomb, they did leave their fans wanting much more than they received after a long summer.

Al Montoya was given the nod as the starting goaltender by Jack Capuano in the coach's first NHL season opener. Montoya played well, saving 27 of the 29 shots he faced.

At 16:37 of the opening period, Stephen Weiss banked home a loose puck that tricked through Montoya's pads and seemed to stick in the crease. Florida, who had out shot, out-physicaled, and out-everythinged the Isles, were up 1-0. The fans, who expected a goal barrage from the Isles, were checking their ticket stubs to make sure they were at the right show. Just 3:08 later, reeling a bit from Florida's shot barrage and after taking consecutive penalties, Montoya allowed a 5-on-3 slap shot to hit the twine.

On a night with far too many Islanders penalties, lines that seemed out of sync, far too few shots, and heaps of defensive mistakes, 2-0 was the final.

The crowd, enticed all summer by thoughts of a young and potent crop of scorers, didn't get to hear the new "mystery" goal song even once.

After the game, Capuano went to his familiar "too many passengers" line and said that the team couldn't take any periods off. He didn't have a look of worry on his face; maybe one of slight embarrassment due to his team stumbling out of the gate.

With a short turnaround for an afternoon game on Monday (10/10) and 81 games remaining, I suspect that the Islanders' performance will be much improved for the matinee.

Here's Hockey!

2011-10-04T02:48:00.005-04:00

A special treat for you as we get closer to the opening game, only four short days away!

(And a special thank you to my friend Jan from Punkrock, Football, Drinks and other boring stuff).

Underwhelming Effort in Calgary

2011-09-27T23:36:00.002-04:00

I'm going to keep this one short. There was very little to take away from the Islanders' 2-0 loss in Calgary on Tuesday (9/27) night.

The good news, I suppose, is that it was only preseason and the Islanders dressed a team of mostly prospects and guys fighting for jobs. Additionally, goaltender Evgeni Nabokov looked fairly good for a guy who hadn't played a real game in, well, forever. He saved 15 of 16 shots in two periods of work.

The numbers pretty much tell the story: 13 total shots on goal for the Isles. 0 for 3 on the power play. No shots from Ryan Strome or Kirill Kabanov to even make Flames goaltender Henrik Karlsson sweat.

In a word: meh. But that's what preseason is for.

I don't know if it was the cross-continent flight or just a lack of NHL readiness by some of the guys on the ice, but I was hoping to see a better effort. Matt Donovan showed a bit, if I had to pick a player wearing white.

Compounding the woeful display were the injuries that struck Milan Jurcina (strained left groin) and Rhett Rakhshani (injured left knee).

The Islanders' top two lines, barring injuries, are basically set and have looked good this season. Defensively, Mark Streit has looked like a man on a mission after being named captain last week.

But if the Islanders want to be a playoff team this season, as Kyle Okposo told me they must be, they'll need to get a better showing from their role players than they had in this tilt.

Blood Drive Before the Game

2011-09-23T13:01:00.004-04:00

If you're going to come out to Saturday (9/24) night's preseason game, I would ask you to strongly consider helping your community beforehand.

I realize that there are a lot of good causes out there, and many of you give your time and money generously, but this is something that may directly save a life: The American Red Cross blood drive.

Hopefully you or your loved ones will never be in a situation where you need blood, but if you do it is comforting to know that a supply will be available. It's more important than you think.

As a "thank you" from the New York Islanders, you'll also receive a pair of tickets to a future weeknight game (first 200 fans). So it's a win-win all around.

For more information, please see the official website. I hope you'll think about giving.

Tavares Extension and Rookies to Watch

2011-09-14T16:10:00.003-04:00

I had been waiting until something official was announced, but it seems that whispers of a long term extension for center John Tavares are true. TSN is reporting the contract as a 6-year, $33 million deal. That's quite an early birthday present from Garth Snow. Tavares will turn 21 years old next Tuesday (September 20th).

I have no idea what John's beverage of choice is, but I imagine he'll be able to afford plenty of it now.

Garth Snow has done an excellent job of acquiring and keeping his young core of players on Long Island. This is another feather in his cap. In the last several months he has locked Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson, and now Tavares in to long term deals. Well done, Garth.

I didn't think much of it at the time, but yesterday I noticed the players' dressing room at Nassau Coliseum had been freshly painted. Over the door sit images of 4 Stanley Cups and the word COMMITMENT beneath.

Mr. Snow has certainly taken the word to heart and put his trust in what he has assembled.

***
Speaking of assembling a championship caliber team, the pieces of future Islanders teams were on display the last two nights.

The Islanders held two rookie games against Boston's rookies, and while the first game didn't go so well for the young Isles, Tuesday night's showing was much better. They won 7-2, and a few players really shined.

Without too much analysis, here are some young guys who impressed me:

Nino Niederreiter - He is going to make the Islanders out of training camp. After a decent 9 game look last season, he is poised for a full time role in the NHL. Am I crazy to think he might even have a big impact at the NHL level? Could he score 20 goals? I wouldn't rule it out.

Ryan Strome - The early returns have it looking like Garth and company have struck draft day gold. He's a long shot to make the Islanders right now, but I wouldn't rule out a nine game trial with the big club at some point this season. He put up 106 points in the OHL last year. Can he improve upon it?

Casey Cizikas - A center taken in the 2009 entry draft. He's not John Tavares, but who is? He played a really nice two games, scored some goals, and didn't shy away from contact.

David Ullstrom - Another center that looked pretty good to me. The young Swede wearing the 41 sweater scored 41 points (17-24-41) at Bridgeport last season.

Tyler McNeely - The Northeastern University product took me by surprise this week. I would imagine he'll see a lot of playing time at Bridgeport (AHL) this coming season after a short 10 game stint there last year.

Anders Nilsson - The Isles have a logjam at goal, but the large Swede has been working with goalie guru Sudarshan "Sudsie" Maharaj and looked really solid in the win. He squared up nicely against Boston's shots and made some nice saves when his team was on a 5-on-3 penalty kill.

"Decade Nights" and Isles Hall of Fame Thoughts

2011-09-12T02:28:00.007-04:00

The 2011-2012 season is right around the corner! As many of you know, this will be the Islanders' 40th season on Long Island. Management has already put a number of tributes in place to honor the special season (just look at that beautiful logo on the ice).

In a nod to their storied history, the Islanders will hold four “Decade Nights” throughout the season. On each night, a vital member of the Islanders' past glories will be inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame.

Ed Westfall, the face of the early Islanders, will be honored on November 19th. Number 18, who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League, will be inducted on a night when the Islanders face the only other franchise he played for, the defending champion Boston Bruins. As most of you know, he was the first captain in Islanders history and is a fine choice to represent the decade of the 1970s.

Ken Morrow, who I had the pleasure of meeting, was a critical part of the 1980 "Miracle" Olympic team and the Islanders Stanley Cup dynasty. In a career spent entirely on Long Island, he was a great defenseman during the Cup years. I am still amazed at his +53 rating during the 1981-1982 season, arguably the greatest Islanders team ever (54-16-10, 118 points). His night will be held on New Year's Eve, December 31st.

Pat Flatley, who tallied 488 points in his Islanders career, will be honored as the player of the 1990s. He was the fifth captain in team history, and captained the last Islanders squad to win a playoff series (1992-1993). (Hopefully we won't be able to say that much longer, but I digress). Islanders Hall of Fame honors will be bestowed upon him on January 14th, 2012.

The last of the honorees will be Swedish defenseman, and one of my personal favorites, Kenny Jonsson. The quiet defenseman's work is sometimes overlooked by fans, but he was a key to the teams that returned the Isles back to respectability in the early 2000s. He is now a coach in his native Sweden, but will return to Long Island for a very special evening on February 11th, 2012.

***
While I am pleased that the Islanders are choosing to swell the ranks of their Hall of Fame with the above men, I have one constructive criticism of its setup.

The aforementioned men all played vital parts in franchise history. They will each be honored with a bronze plaque and have their names added to the banner that hangs from the Nassau Coliseum roof.

However, I believe Halls of Fame are for the people to enjoy, and a way for the fans to connect with their team's history.

The Islanders currently mount their plaques immediately outside the home dressing room, in the hallway. The players pass images of former great Islanders on their way out to the ice. Many of these men have been honored in the NHL Hall of Fame in Toronto also. The idea is to inspire the players to greatness.

However, I think the team would be better served moving the plaques to a public area where they could be seen and enjoyed by the fans. I know there are plans to do this if and when the Islanders get a new building. I just think it should be done now. Perhaps the lower concourse, where the New York Sports Hall of Fame once occupied space, could be used.

I once visited Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. At the time the building was old, the team was miserable, and the entire atmosphere was bland. But one thing they did right was to have their Hall of Fame plaques on display in the concourse. Fans could stop by, read them, touch them, and perhaps hear a story from a family member about a player.

Similarly, the New York Mets now have a public Hall of Fame, a great improvement over what they had at Shea Stadium.

It serves the Islanders no purpose to have their legends tucked away in an area that the fans can't access.

I know it seems petty, but I think it would be a positive change for the new season.

***
Fans, remember that the Rookie game versus Boston is on Tuesday night (9/13) at 7 PM at Nassau Coliseum. See you there!

10 (Islanders) People To Follow On Twitter

2011-08-23T13:14:00.008-04:00

I was initially hesitant to join Twitter; I certainly didn't feel that I needed another time vampire in my life. My attitude has changed, however, and I find that social media can be a great way to get current Islanders news, opinions, and connect with your fellow fans.

Here's a list of 10 "Islanders essentials" that every Isles fan should be following, if they aren't already:

10. @NYIslanders. The official team account. News, press releases, special offers, etc. Tweets straight from the mother ship.

9. @KatieStrangNYI. Newsday's beat reporter. If the Islanders conducted their business from an underground bunker 30 floors below Fort Knox she would still get the story.

8. @ChrisBottaNHL. The former team employee hasn't turned his back on the club. He gives his own take on all things Islanders and provides a popular comment section/sounding board for the fans.

7. @Islesblogger. My fellow Blog Box member not only plays hockey, but lives hockey. He always has an interesting take on the current events in Islanderland.

6. @grabs40. Michael Grabner's account. Tweets are directly from the Islander forward. He's easily the most interactive player on the roster.

5. @RobCarlinMSG. Islanders and Mets superfan. It also help that he's MSG Network's pre- and post-game reporter for all Islanders games.

4. @7thWoman. Everybody knows Dee, right? She'll let you know what she's thinking, eating, wearing, and more. And somehow she ties it all in to the Islanders. I don't know she does it, but I appreciate it.

3. @IslesRM. A superb writer for 'The Checking Line' who got his start (and continues to write for) the Islanders Blog Box. When he's not watching or playing hockey, he's educating your kids.

2. This one's a tie. Everyone loves Matt Moulson (@MMoulson). Everyone except Kyle Okposo (@bookerT2116), that is. Honestly, along with Grabner the duo has a healthy friendship/rivalry. On *and* off the ice.

1. Lastly, me (@RealKenDick)! I know, shameless. But I do find following the Islanders incredibly fun. I have always said that the day it stops being fun is the day I stop writing/Tweeting. So far, it's still fun. And I am very much looking forward to this upcoming season.

So there you have it, folks. Get on Twitter and enjoy!

A Trade and a Vote

2011-07-28T16:31:00.002-04:00

News emerged today that the Islanders traded Trent Hunter to area rivals New Jersey in exchange for 37 year-old left wing Brian Rolston.

I like the deal for several reasons.

First off, one of (Islanders General Manager) Garth Snow's core philosophies is having veteran leadership in place. Rolston, the 16-year NHL veteran and former Stanley Cup Champion, certainly qualifies. He'll be brought in to help mentor a still-young team of which expectations are steadily growing. After four barren seasons, a postseason berth is expected of the squad that Snow has meticulously crafted, mostly through the draft.

In my mind at least, despite his age, Rolston is still an effective point producer. If I had to guess, I would say that 20 goals are not out of reach for Rolston, barring injury. Of course, that's the biggest risk at his age.

As an aside, you'll remember that the last man brought in for leadership, Doug Weight, didn't spend a lot of time on the active roster. But I digress.

Additionally, this move also adds by a bit of subtraction, though that seems a bit harsh.

After a stellar 51 point rookie season back in 2003-2004, I became a Trent Hunter fan. He was a big right wing who had been productive at Bridgeport, and had seemingly made a smooth transition to the Island. Not one to lavish quotes on the press, he did his talking with his hockey stick.

Unfortunately, it was shortly after that when Hunter went into the Witness Protection Program, so to speak. He was invisible on a lot of nights, and in more recent times, injured. Over his next three seasons he averaged only 16 goals, down from '03-'04's 25. His production slipped even further as the injuries claimed a lot of his playing time.

Lastly, the move eases fears that the Islanders would have trouble reaching the salary cap floor. Rolston's salary cap is over $5 million for the upcoming season, while Hunter would have been on the books for the next two years at $2 million apiece.

The Islanders will gladly take on the money after the aborted Ehrhoff deal, and will be glad to get out from an extra year of a non-productive salary cap in the following season, especially with John Tavares set to get a big pay raise at this time next year.

As long as Rolston stays healthy, it's a good move for all parties involved.

***
As you surely know, Monday (8/1/11) is D-Day on Long Island. If you are a citizen of Nassau County, I urge you to get out and vote for the new arena plan, and vote 'yes.'

The plan has broad support from unions, fans, and many citizens, and will provide jobs for our suffering construction sector.

In talking with a Rangers fan, of all people, he recently told me has was voting 'yes' because, simply put, he was afraid of a scenario for Nassau County where nothing was built on the site.

There are many reasons to vote yes, whether your primary concern is the local economy, ice hockey, having a top-notch venue for your kids to see the newest acts, or just the civic pride that comes with having a new landmark.

So please take 5 minutes out of your day on Monday to find your polling place and vote yes. Like today's trade, it seems like a good move for all involved.

Introducing: Mei Ushu

2011-07-17T22:45:00.003-04:00

I’m a big believer in the power of sports to bring people together. There is something magical in unifying a group with diverse backgrounds toward a singular goal.

The Islanders, from what I can tell, believe in this message as well. This past week I had the pleasure of again covering Prospect Mini-Camp at Nassau Coliseum. It’s a weeklong event designed to showcase new draft picks, prospects, and local players in a professional atmosphere. It’s also a great chance for fans, scouts, and management to have a look at players they may not yet be fully familiar with. In short, it’s a look into the future.

The Blue and White Scrimmage and Skills Competition, held on Saturday night, caps off the week.

Invited by the New York Islanders, players travel for the camp from near and far. Hockey hotbeds such as Sweden, Russia, and Canada, are normally, of course, represented. Some non-traditional areas produced players this year as well, like Lithuania, Switzerland, and Japan.

Anyone who knows me would say I like to focus on the Japanese sports scene. So I took some interest when I saw that Mei Ushu had been invited to join the festivities.

Mr. Ushu is a 6’0”, 196 pound ninensei (“second year player,” or sophomore) who plays his college hockey at the prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo. He’s a 20-year-old defenseman who has also been selected to his homeland’s national team.

When I first met him early in the week, his size caught my attention. Coupled with his youth, I realized that just those two factors could add up to him being a legitimate NHL prospect down the road.

When speaking to him more in-depth a second time, after he had completed the scrimmage and skills events, he mentioned that he would like to add some more muscle and work on his skating. It’s a fairly common sentiment among many of the young players and prospects.

Nerves, he admitted, were a problem prior to playing on the Nassau Coliseum ice, but Coach Jack Capuano said that Ushu handled himself nicely and “fit in just well” in the scrimmage game (played in front of 5,000+). Both men admitted to having bit of a language barrier, but Mei told me that he seemed to become more comfortable with his surroundings as the week went on. He and his mates found ways to communicate.

This was his first trip to the United States, I was told.

One final thing that troubled Ushu was the size of the rink. In Japan they play with the wider, international size hockey rink (200 feet x 98 feet). He seemed to adjust well, though I did see him make one error near his own blue line very close to the sideboards.

Asked what he’ll take away from the experience, he mentioned that he learned how to prepare better for games mentally, and picked up tips on puck movement from his defensive teammates.

He’ll return to Japan on Tuesday of this week. His immediate plans are to continue playing for Waseda, and he will attend some camps for Asia League ice hockey and Japan’s Under-22 team.

I hope he will return to Long Island next year, so we can see what progress he has made. I also hope he continues to chase his goals, perhaps even as far as becoming the first Japanese defenseman to play in the National Hockey League.

He was a pleasure to meet and speak with, and I wish him well.

Special thanks to Taka Shirai and Kazuhide Yamanouchi for their assistance this week. You can follow Mei Ushi (@Meichel23) [Japanese] on Twitter, as well as the author (@RealKenDick).

Impressions From Prospect Camp

2011-07-14T16:59:00.004-04:00

There's scarcely anything in hockey more enjoyable for me than getting to meet the newest members of the New York Islanders. Prospect mini-camp week is my chance to view many of the young players management believes will be the next stars on Long Island.

It's done at this time of year when hockey is dormant, in a fairly relaxed atmosphere, which makes for an easier transition to the pro game for the players, and fewer barriers exist for media and bloggers when trying to converse with them.

One of the newest selections, fresh out of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (chosen at #34 overall), is Scott Mayfield. An affable and approachable 18 year old with a winning smile, the tall (6'4") defenseman told me that his being passed over in the first round will be a motivating factor for him.

"It was kind of tough sitting there Friday night (1st round). I sat there for 30 picks and wasn't called, but at the same time I can use it for more motivation." But, he added, now that the matter is settled, he "couldn't be happier [to be a part of] this organization. Everything's more professional here."

Mayfield is committed to the University of Denver, where fellow prospects Rhett Rakhshani and Matt Donovan played their college hockey. He's working on the offensive facets of his game after saying that his numbers were down last season, he's looking to add some weight, and is simply taking in his new environment.

He even tried an Italian ice, which he was told is something of a Long Island specialty.

As the first players went off the ice and the new shift emerged from the bowels of the arena, news broke that Jeremy Collition had been signed to a new deal.

The second shift, or the White Team, as they're being called in advance of Saturday night's prospect game, allowed me to have a look at Mei Ushu. He's a big kid, listed at 6'0" and 196 pounds, a sophomore from Waseda University in Japan.

I introduced myself and wished the young man good luck, but I'll have more on him after the game on Saturday.

When the second group was winding down their activities, I had a few moments with two important members of the Islanders, both who hope to move their careers and team(s) from the "potential" column into tangible results. I am referring to Kirill Kabanov and Coach Jack Capuano.

Kabanov, who perhaps didn't leave such great impressions in his bosses minds last season, seems a bit more focused on his game this year. He told me he's working to be as good in the defensive zone as he is in the offensive one, including blocking shots and back checking. He also has his mother joining him on Long Island this summer as well to help keep tabs on him.

During his down time, he's enjoying tennis and the beach like any other soon-to-be 19 year old. He's making sure that he's on time this year, and I even witnessed him sharing a moment with fellow prospect Andrey Pedan, with whom he shares a common language. While they were engaged in a private conversation, perhaps Kirill was imparting some 'veteran' (of mini-camp, at least) wisdom to the Lithuanian defenseman.

Jack Capuano summed up the day by saying that the camp is about putting aside college rivalries, working together as members of the Islanders family, and getting a change to meet potential teammates of the future.

The coach mentioned Brock Nelson as a player who had improved from last year. He also liked "where Calvin [DeHaan] is mentally," believing that this camp will be used for him to "make a statement."

Let's hope that's the mindset of all of the attendees, and that they put on an impressive show on Saturday night.

The People Have Spoken

2011-06-27T14:22:00.002-04:00

Thank you to all of those who voted in the 'Who Should Be Captain' poll. The results are in, and the overwhelming majority of you believe Mark Streit should wear the 'C' in 2011-2012.

Nearly 60% of respondents chose the Swiss native. I imagine he will be strongly considered for the captaincy. He is in the midst of a long term contract that tied him to Long Island, has been a top scoring defenseman when healthy, and has led by example. His quiet demeanor suits him well for the top role.

Finishing second in the polling was Kyle Okposo (24%). Kyle has become one of the young 'faces' of the franchise, but has he done enough to earn the 'C'?

Kyle has played under 200 games as an Islander due to various ailments over his first few seasons. He, like Streit, is more of a quiet leader who lets his game talk for him.

However, the ink has just dried on a fresh five year contract that keeps him an Islander through 2016. He is also one of the longest tenured "young" Islanders (at age 23) with parts of four seasons under his belt. And though people may be reading too much into it, he was asked to announce the selection of #5 pick Ryan Strome at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.

John Tavares finished with nearly 10% of the total votes. I think this is just a case of him being too young, despite evidence of his overwhelming talent. I think he's certainly in line for an 'A' on his sweater this coming season.

Lastly, 'other' received 5 votes (8%). I'm not quite sure who people had in mind, as nobody left a comment proposing an alternative to the three listed. Trent Hunter and Rick DiPietro have the most tenure with the Islanders at this point, though I can't see either being awarded with a 'C' (and generally goaltenders are prohibited from becoming captains).

I think the people got it right. I expect Mark Streit to be named the new captain, succeeding the recently retired Doug Weight. I wouldn't rule out Kyle being the honoree, but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

If you have any further thoughts or names, I'd love to hear them.

Bonne Chance, Bruno!

2011-06-25T12:26:00.004-04:00

Just moments ago it was announced that Bruno Gervais was traded to Tampa Bay for future considerations.

It's bittersweet for me, as the 2003 draft pick was one of my first interviews as a member of the Blog Box. He is known for his wild sense of humor and as a great guy in the locker room. Unfortunately, his defensive shortcomings and contract status (Restricted Free Agent) have made this the time for him to move on.

In Tampa Bay, Gervais will be reunited with former Islanders Nate Thompson, Dwayne Roloson, and Sean Bergenheim.

I wish him success with his new team. 'Bonne Chance!' to the Quebec native.

The Full List of Picks

2011-06-24T21:00:00.012-04:00

Here's a handy guide to help you sort through the complete draft for the Islanders in 2011. Picks are subject to change, of course.

(Round) Overall #

(1) 5. Ryan Strome - Center - Niagra IceDogs (OHL)
(2) 34. Scott Mayfield - Defense - Youngstown (USHL)
(2) 50. Johan Sundstrom - Center - Frolunda (SEL)
(3) 63. Andrey Pedan - Defense - Guelph (OHL)
(4) 95. Robbie Russo - Defense - US Nat'l Development Team (USHL)
(5) 125. John Persson - Left Wing - Red Deer (WHL)
(5) 127. Brenden Kichton - Defense - Spokane (WHL)
(7) 185. Mitchell Theoret - Left Wing - Niagra IceDogs (OHL)

Draft Party Live Blog

2011-06-24T19:09:00.017-04:00

Keeping with tradition, I'll be liveblogging from the NHL draft party (sorry, not the actual draft this year). Check this space for the pick at #5 and any other Isles related news and/or trades.

UPDATE: With Kyle at the podium, the Islanders selected Ryan Strome from the Niagra IceDogs.

ANALYSIS: I really like the pick. Stats aside, he trains with John Tavares and is friendly with Matt Moulson. So there's already familiarity, and perhaps a bond.

The overiding theme when discussing Strome is that he is a wonderful playmaker and makes those around him better. His whopping amount of assists on last year's stat line shows that.

Dishing the puck isn't his only game, though. He netted 33 goals with the IceDogs last season and was the Ontario Hockey League's top point producer with a very healthy 1.63 points per game. Searching for his name on Youtube reveals a heap of highlight video goals. What great stuff to watch.

The pundits on TSN and elsewhere are salivating over seeing him potentially teamed with John Tavares on the Islanders. Of course, we have to keep in mind he'll probably be slated for a little more seasoning down in the minors before he hits the Island. He will not be rushed to the National Hockey League.

It's nice to see the Islanders stacked with so much young talent. I can't remember the last time I felt this optimistic heading into an Islanders season.

As Trevor Gillies told the crowd at the draft party, 'I wish the season would start right now.'

I've been hearing that from a lot of people, for good reason.

***
Additionally, you can follow new Islander Ryan Strome on Twitter at @Strome18.

Don't forget, rounds 2-7 are tomorrow, where scouting departments really earn their money. You can see the full list of pick and names in the post following (above) this one.

Who Should Be Captain?

2011-06-12T19:34:00.002-04:00

Since the NHL entry draft is still two full weeks away and my predictions on the subject are notoriously incorrect, let's take things in a different direction.

Since this is a Islanders blog and doesn't cover the full NHL, there hasn't been a whole lot to discuss since the captain retired.

There are a few candidates worthy of wearing the 'C' next season. I have my thoughts on the subject, but I'd like to see what the fans think. I have set up a poll on the right hand side of this page. Please click on your choice and I'll share the results with everyone (along with my thoughts) when the poll closes in two weeks.

If you would like to leave a comment or make a case for a player, the comments section is always open.

Also, friends, don't forget about the draft party on Friday, June 24th at Nassau Coliseum. I'll be there. Will you?

Tearful Weight Terminates His Playing Career

2011-05-26T13:36:00.002-04:00

In a ceremony filled with tears, laughs, and nostalgia, Doug Weight announced his retirement as an NHL player on Thursday. Flanked by Islanders General Manager Garth Snow and team owner Charles Wang on a dais, Weight read a prepared statement but at times was overcome with emotion. His family, former teammates from several franchises, and a large amount of Islanders staff were on hand to join the Islanders captain for his "day of celebration."

While his playing days are over, it was revealed that Doug will stay with the Islanders as an assistant coach and special advisor to the General Manager. In a career filled with many high points, he noted that he regretted not being healthy enough to perform at a high standard for the Isles. He stated many times during the day, though, that he believes he has plenty to offer the team in a non-playing role.

Having watched Weight on the ice for many years, I knew what kind of player he was. While he often wasn't the most offensively talented piece on many of his teams (not to take away from a 1033 point career), you can see why he was a captain for two franchises. It's more than having a "presence" in a room, as Garth Snow put it. The man reeks of class.

The thing that most struck me was that even though his greatest achievements came in places other than New York, he acts and talks as if he had played on Long Island for 15 years. He and his family have made the Island their permanent home. His donations to local charities were highlighted. And most of all, he is a revered figure by young Isles such as John Tavares and Matt Moulson, who were on hand. It's hard to believe that he played only 107 games an Islander.

Despite being 40 years old, Weight called himself "green" with respect to management and coaching, and admitted that he has a lot to learn. Though he felt blessed to lift the Cup (with Carolina in 2006), he speaks in a manner that tells you he is eager to do it again. Unfortunately, his body will no longer allow it on the ice. But he noted that he is hopeful of repeating the scene "on the other side of the boards," as he put it.

So on this day congratulations, and thank you, to Doug Weight. I join a legion of hockey fans today in appreciation of his career.

Kyle Signs For Five

2011-05-25T17:13:00.005-04:00

The next player to be featured in my "Signs For Five" series is Kyle Okposo. You'll surely remember that just less then two weeks ago Michael Grabner signed a long term deal. On the heels of this news, Islanders' General Manager Garth Snow today made another bold and swift move to lock up one of his young star players. Kyle Okposo signed a new five year deal as well.

The official word came from the Islanders this afternoon. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

With Doug Weight's retirement expected to be announced tomorrow, speculation has begun over who will assume the duties as team captain. Mark Streit is a very worthy candidate. Kyle's name could be another in the mix. I know from speaking with him many times over the past few years that he would be honored and humbled at even the suggestion of it.

It goes without saying that today's move is right not only for Okposo, but for the Islanders, the fans, and the future of this team. There is no player working harder to restore the franchise to glory than Kyle.

If I learn anything further this evening, you can be sure that it will be posted here.

Please visit this site tomorrow when I have some thoughts following Doug Weight's announcement at Nassau Coliseum. Thanks for reading, as always.

***
Update: Newsday's Islanders beat writer Katie Strang recently tweeted with details of Kyle's new contract.

Draft One Month Away!

2011-05-24T01:49:00.003-04:00

It hasn't been my intention to let so much time elapse between posts. Goodness knows there has been a lot of news surrounding the Islanders, including a pretty important arena vote scheduled to take place on August 1st.

While the aforementioned date is important, there's another important date coming up before it. I have my calendar circled on the date exactly one month from today. It's one of my favorite days in the sports year: the NHL entry draft.

Having attended the draft in the past, I can tell you that it somewhat makes up for a poor season on the ice. I experienced the nervous anticipation, terror, and absolute jubilation that led up to the 2009 selection of John Tavares. And that was only in the hour leading up to the selection.

It's an important day for the franchise. It's the culmination of months of hard work by the scouting staff and hundreds of collective days of travel. And it shapes franchises. Perhaps not immediately, but it does. For better and worse.

This year, in case you haven't heard, the Islanders will make their first selection from the 5 spot. And much like in the past few years, save perhaps for the Tavares pick, I have no idea how Garth Snow is going to use the pick.

I've been going over the mock draft lists. Some of my fellow bloggers have their own. I have gravitated toward this one recently. I like it because it provides a prospect's statistics and a short biography in an easy-to-use format. I'm not sure that their guesses will be accurate, but then again whose routinely are?

What I do know is what I want out of this draft, and it's different than most years. That the Isles should select the player available whom they feel has the most talent goes without saying. I am a big believer that talent trumps character. I think the selection of Kirill Kabanov will eventually bear that out.

But I think I'd also like the player selected this year to be a bit of a character, in the mold of a Kabanov or a Michael Grabner. A kid who will help forge the identity of this Islanders team. A counterbalance to the no-nonsense approach of players like Tavares and Josh Bailey.

With the impending departure of Zenon Konopka, I feel the Islanders are losing a bit of their personality. I believe it is to the team's detriment.

I'm not saying they need a Sean Avery in the locker room. Far from it. Just someone who, down the line, of course, could be another "face" of the Islanders. It would certainly make this team even more fun for us all to watch and root for in the future.

Maybe they'll pick him on June 24th. I know I'll be watching.

Grabner Signs For Five

2011-05-13T13:22:00.004-04:00

As the New York Islanders chase the franchise's fifth Stanley Cup in the coming years, they have now identified another one of the players who will be joining the pursuit.

Despite the calendar reading Friday the 13th, five was the lucky number of the day for the Isles and winger Michael Grabner. "Grabs," as he's affectionately known by fans and teammates, signed a 5-year contract for a reported $15 million.

It's great news not only for Grabner, who has had quite a whirlwind year that included 34 goals as a rookie and the birth of a son, but for Islanders fans.

It also signals that General Manager Garth Snow (and, by extension, owner Charles Wang) is committed to not only identifying the pieces that will help build a championship caliber team, but holding on to them.

Even if Grabner is unable to repeat his 2010-2011 goal performance in the coming years, we must collectively remember that he's only 23 years old. His speed and his skill will certainly help those players around him to increase their scoring opportunities.

It's a very reasonable deal for both sides. At about $3 million per season, the deal is in line with the contract extension fellow top scorer Matt Moulson received earlier this year.

The Islanders didn't have to make this move today. After all, Grabner was only coming into restricted free agency. But I'm glad they did.

Nino Advances to the Championship

2011-05-03T02:21:00.005-04:00

Nino Niederreiter will play for a championship in 2010-2011. His Portland Winterhawks (Western Hockey League) defeated Spokane on Monday night by a 6-3 score and won their conference final four games to two. In the victory, Nino scored the final goal of the game to go along with an earlier assist.

Beginning on Friday night, Portland will take on Kootenay for the right to raise the Ed Chynoweth Cup. For Nino, it will hopefully give him a chance to experience and play under the pressure of truly meaningful games before he becomes a full-time NHL player. Nearly everyone I have spoken with expects that next step to come in October, 2011.

Niederreiter has had little trouble handling pressure to this point. As you'll recall, he followed a nine game NHL stint with a 70 point (41-29-70) regular season for Portland. Nino has been a major contributor in the playoff run that followed, scoring 8 goals and 15 assists in the sixteen games that ensued. He'll get at least four more games, we now know. If he maintains this pace, he'll likely finish as the WHL's playoff points leader.

Congratulations to Nino. It would be nice for his many fans, myself included, to see him win the Cup. But it will be infinitely nicer to see him donning the blue and orange sweater next season and scoring goals as the Islanders' newest young winger.

To follow Nino on Twitter, please check http://twitter.com/hawksnids22. To follow the author, click http://twitter.com/RealKenDick.

Checking In On Nino

2011-04-25T01:24:00.002-04:00

I haven't written anything in a while. That's solely due to the riveting NHL playoff action that I have been glued to the television watching. There is other playoff action going on, too; some that even involves Islanders. Nino Niederreiter has been having a productive playoffs in the Western Hockey League.

Nino reached the 20 point mark on Sunday evening as his Portland Winterhawks evened their Western Conference Final series (versus the Spokane Chiefs) at one win apiece.

Nino has put up seven goals and 13 assists with a +6 over his first 12 playoff games. While he's still one goal shy of last year's 8, he has surpassed the point total from a season ago (16) and has a minimum of three games yet to play in this campaign.

Personally, I can't wait to see him get to training camp and infuse the left side of the Islanders with some scoring.

If you are a Twitter user and wish to follow Nino, his username is @hawksnids22. Good luck to Nino the rest of the way!

Jack Cap is Back

2011-04-12T12:48:00.002-04:00

To nobody's surprise, Jack Capuano had the "interim" tag removed from his former title as "Interim Head Coach" of the New York Islanders. His staff will also be retained.

As I wrote here, I believe this is the right move for the budding talent on the franchise. It doesn't matter that Capuano isn't a "big name" in coaching right now. He seems to be the right fit for the franchise at this time.

Furthermore, at some point in their careers all "legends" of coaching were unproven.

Congratulations to the Islanders for doing the right thing with Mr. Capuano.

(The official team press release can be found here).

Kyle Sums Up the Season

2011-04-09T01:25:00.003-04:00

The final home game of the 2010-2011 season for the New York Islanders had everyone in a talkative mood. The normally reserved John Tavares gave extra lengthy answers that had me in the dressing room long enough to miss coach Jack Capuano's debrief. Of particular interest, as always, was what Kyle Okposo had to say. He shared a few of his thoughts looking back at the campaign for the team and his own performance.

"We had a different attitude," Kyle noted about the club in the second half of the season. "We had a little bit of swagger in our step, a little bit of jam in our game." He continued, "The thing that impressed me about the guys is how they responded after everything that happened in the first half of the season."

In case you forgot, or willingly chose to erase it from your memory, some of those things included Kyle missing 44 games with a shoulder injury that required surgery, Scott Gordon being dismissed as Head Coach, and the team losing 20 of 21 games at one point.

The team rebounded, however, to play 25-20-8 over their last 53 games (with one more remaining), and that's with their recent 1-5-1 spell included.

"We came together as a team and we're competing," was his explanation for the turnaround.

Though that line doesn't explain much, the competitive spirit was on display Friday night, as the scrappy Isles closed out the home portion of their schedule.

Oddly enough, the game seemed to be a microcosm of the entire season.

The Islanders fell down 2-0 to Pittsburgh, the Islanders rallied back to tie with the help of their young guns (Blake Comeau scored twice), and fell back down 3-2 in the third period. The Islanders, refusing to bend to a superior team, tied the game once again with just 35 seconds left to play.

They fell just short, losing in a shootout, 4-3. The same could be said about the season, as who knows what would have happened with a fairly healthy roster?

As for his abbreviated season, Kyle noted that he "didn't really really like the way [he] played for a lot of [the season]." He admitted that it's tough coming back from an injury but at times things "weren't clicking" for him, as he put it. He mentioned that he has a long summer of work ahead of him to become the player he feels he can and should be.

And so it will be a long summer without hockey, but everyone I talk to seems to think the team turned a corner this year, to use a cliche. I have noticed it and written about it, reflected statistically and in the attitudes of the young players who will make up the bulk of next year's roster. Don't forget that the team is poised to add some more firepower, too, with Nino Niederreiter expected to play one of the left wing slots and Mark Streit set to return.

I guess I can best conclude with some lines I posted on Twitter (@RealKenDick) after the final horn had sounded.

"Good night, Nassau Coliseum. See you next October. You will be filled with loud and happy fans in 2011-2012."

I honestly believe it will happen.

***
News and Notes:

- Blake Comeau's two goals put him at 24, tying the most he has scored in a professional season (Kelowna Rockets, WHL, 2004-05). It is 7 more than his previous NHL high, set last season.

- Kyle assisted on Travis Hamonic's game-tying goal. For Kyle, it was his 14th assist of the season.

- The game was a sellout, with 16,250 on hand to see it. For most of the game, the crowd was loud and into the action.

- Matt Moulson had a goal disallowed with 1:38 left to play, as the referees ruled that John Tavares was in the crease.

- After the game, the Islanders gave many fans their game-used sweaters as a token of their appreciation.

Winning Cures Everything

2011-04-06T23:42:00.002-04:00

The New York Islanders played another "encouraging loss" in Boston on Wednesday (4/6) evening. Rookie phenom Michael Grabner scored a power play goal and a short handed goal in the losing effort. Grabner has lit the lamp 33 times this season and has now surpassed the 50 point threshold.

For a team playing so undermanned that they had to sign a defenseman to a tryout contract before the game, the Islanders put up a spirited effort. Additionally, the loss temporarily improved their potential NHL entry draft standing. If the season ended today and the lottery odds came out as expected, the Isles would select 4th overall in June.

The time for encouraging losses, however, is over. As I've said many times before, the pieces are in place for a winning team. Not just for next season, but for many more after that.

The Islanders are on the verge of something special. For you New York area baseball fans out there, this team feels similar to the way the Mets did in 1984 or the Yankees felt a decade later, in 1994. Both teams were two years away from greatness. And both had very good seasons marred by disappointing endings the following season. That is, before they both won the championship the following year.

So that's where we are. Next year, if the team performs as I expect them to, there won't be talk of the number of man-games lost, draft positioning, attendance, arena shortcomings, or disputes over media credentials.

Because winning takes the headlines away from that nonsense. It cures all.

***
There has been some debate about what is "wrong" with Kyle Okposo. People have asked me if he's hurt, unlucky, or something else.

Honestly, when I see him charging hard to the net but not scoring I am willing to chalk it up to bad luck. I don't know of a health issue and I don't see evidence of a lingering one. I know in the past he has been a very streaky scorer. I think the points will be there for him next season. Michael Grabner told me last week that the linemates have a good relationship and work well together, though Grabner seems to be the big beneficiary on the scoresheet right now.

Lastly, while Grabner will likely be nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy (league rookie of the year), he won't win. Not because of any behind the scenes voting shenanigans, but because Carolina's Jeff Skinner had a slightly better season.

If I had a vote, I'd vote for Skinner, even though Grabner has surprised and amazed me at times this season. It's just my opinion, folks; yours may differ. Kudos to Garth Snow, yet again, for finding a player that was on nobody's radar and hitting the jackpot.

I'll Bet This Pair of Jacks

2011-03-31T23:45:00.008-04:00

Yes folks, it was a good night in Islanderland.

With the rival New York Rangers fighting for their playoff lives fresh off a 1-0 loss at the hands of Buffalo, you would think the Islanders would have faced a desperate team flying out of the gate. Instead, the visiting Rangers received a thorough dismantling by the hometown Islanders on Thursday (3/31) night, who sent them back to Manhattan with their tails between their legs.

6-2 was the final score in a fight and penalty filled affair. Of note, Michael Grabner was out of the lineup awaiting the birth of his son. Frans Neilsen was injured by Marian Gaborik toward the end of the first period. League pest Sean Avery had his eye bloodied by Islander Michael Haley. Most importantly, the Rangers' most vital player, Henrik Lundqvist, was beaten for four second period goals and pulled to start the third. The visiting Rangers fans sat quietly on their hands as the Islanders racked up goals and most were on the highway with ten minutes remaining in the game.

Was it any wonder why Rangers coach John Tortorella wasn't in a chatty mood after the game?

But, let's remember, this was just one game. The Islanders aren't a playoff team in 2010-2011. But there are two men who might ensure they are in 2011-2012: Jack Capuano and Jack Hillen.

Much has already been said about Capuano elsewhere. The players have responded to his coaching style and subtle changes in system and attitude after the dismissal of Scott Gordon. And this is not a knock against Gordon. But the proof lies in Capuano's 26-26-9 record since he assumed the top role. Keep in mind many of those games have been played with a depleted lineup, much like this latest one.

However, Jack brings a laissez-faire approach to his coaching; it's apparent in his postgame debriefs, win or lose. He usually has a smile on his face and doesn't get overly technical in his explanations, unlike his predecessor. The players seem looser when I interact with them. Some of that is natural growth as players and as a team.

But others have said it and I'll go ahead and write it: the Islanders would be crazy to move forward with anyone other than Capuano next season.

He might fail, but he has earned a fair chance to guide this team under a new contract.

One other person I briefly want to mention worthy of a shot is Jack Hillen. I know he's not considered a top candidate for what should be an improved defense next year, but I think if the team is in need of a final defenseman on the roster it should be Jack. I'd certainly prefer him to Bruno Gervais if it comes down to a numbers game. To be clear, I have nothing against Bruno; he is a funny and polite young guy. In fact, he was one of my first interviews four seasons ago. I like Bruno very much.

I'm not sure there will be roster room for both men next year. I just happen to think Hillen is more capable in the defensive end.

Getting back to the here and now, Capuano praised Hillen's work after the 6-2 victory.

The coach simply stated, "He's skating." He continued, "We wanted our net front [defense] to activate. He was a big part of our breakout tonight and I can't say enough about the way Jack is playing right now."

I think going into next year, if I'm really seeing what I think I'm seeing as this season winds down, I'll be happy to bet on both Jacks.

***
News and notes:

- The aforementioned Hillen played 22:13, made four hits, and was a +2.

- Kyle Okposo had several good chances and went hard to the net more than once, but was again blanked on the scoring sheet. He's stuck at 5 goals and 13 assists.

- Six different Islanders scored and Isles goalie Al Montoya made 25 saves for the win.

- Statistical wizard Eric Hornick reports that this was the Islanders' largest margin of victory over the Rangers since February 20th, 1992.

- The Rangers were 0-for-8 on power play chances.

Montoya Signs an Extension

2011-03-29T15:57:00.002-04:00

Next season's goaltending situation cleared a bit today when it was announced that goalie Al Montoya signed a one-year contract extension with the New York Islanders. Montoya, brought over in mid-season from Phoenix in exchange for a 6th round draft pick in the upcoming draft, has performed yeoman's work on Long Island. His play in the midst of an injury filled season earned him the security for next year.

His record currently stands at 8-4-4 with a 2.35 Goals Against Average. He'll certainly have a few more starts before the books close on the 2010-2011 season.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Islanders.

El Niño Update

2011-03-28T02:27:00.003-04:00

As you may have read, I'm excited about next year's team. You may also know that I take a special interest in Islanders prospects. In my mind, Nino Niederreiter is the number one guy to watch right now. I have no doubt that he'll be a member of the New York Islanders next season.

That said, "El Niño" (who gave him that nickname anyway?) is tearing through the minor league playoffs again. Fresh off a 41-29-70 regular season (in 55 games), Niederreiter has stayed hot with two goals and three assists in his first two postseason games. In Game 2 of the series, his three point night (2G, 1A) earned him the honor of being named the 'first star' of the game.

In case you have forgotten, Nino performed well in last season's playoffs for his Western Hockey League Portland Winterhawks, putting up an 8-8-16 line in 13 games. His team came into the playoffs as a five seed and advanced one round, eventually losing in the Conference Semi-Finals.

This season it's a different story, as he is playing with a much stronger team. Portland earned the top seed in the Western Conference. He has more firepower around him, and he's a year older and more experienced.

He's off to a splendid start, and I'll provide periodic updates. The Winterhawks are up 2 games to 0 in their best of 7 series against Everett. Game 3 is on Wednesday, March 30th.

On The Cusp

2011-03-26T22:24:00.004-04:00

The title of this post has a double meaning. While the Islanders are on the cusp of playoff elimination for the 2010-2011 season (one point gained by Buffalo or lost by the Islanders will seal their fate), they are also nearing a better, happier fate.

While I believed the Islanders were going to be a playoff team this season, it just didn't happen. A combination off injuries, inconsistent play, and some bad luck doomed them. And though by now I sound like a broken record, seemingly saying it at the end of every season, I really think next year they're going to be the story of the year.

Let me put it this way: For years I have bemoaned the Islanders' lack of scoring punch. That argument no longer has legs. I don't think we need to keep saying that for the first time in a long time the Isles have a legitimate top two lines. The team is on pace to score 229 goals this season, and that's without full years from Kyle Okposo and blue-liner Mark Streit. And I'll throw another name into the mix that I think will help the team next season: Nino Niederreiter.

Nino, who had a trial with the Isles at the start of the season, is having a terrific season in the Western Hockey League. He has 41 goals in 55 games, which prorated over a full season makes him one of that league's top goal scorers. Naysayers will mention that he hasn't done anything in the NHL yet, and they have a point, but I'm pretty high on him.

Now add a defense with some burgeoning young stars (Hamonic, MacDonald, and likely DeHaan) and veterans like Mark Streit to the mix, plus presumably another top 5 draft talent (who the Isles always seem to rush right to the NHL), and it starts to come together. If Garth Snow signs a free agent over the summer, even better. Which leaves only one remaining question mark: goaltending.

I'm not going to pretend to know what the goalie situation next season will be. I'm pretty sure Rick will be given a shot. ;) I'd like to see Kevin Poulin establish his career. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.

***
As for the game at hand, the East-leading Philadelphia Flyers came to town on Saturday (3/26) night. Head Coach Jack Capuano liked the way his Islanders competed, but they didn't finish their chances. Young Philadelphia forward James van Reimsdyk netted a hat trick, the first of his career, and the Islanders fell 4-1.

But the theme in the dressing room after the loss was all about the future. Rick DiPietro, the losing goalie, sounded a very positive tone for next season.

"I'd like to get everyone healthy here, " he began. "I wish we had a time machine to get to October and start the new season." On the other hand, he noted that the slew of injuries allowed some younger players to assume leadership roles and sped up their maturity. He viewed that as a positive outcome in a bad situation.

He lamented that the team never really had a chance to play as a full unit, even in training camp. They lead the league in man-games lost, with well over 500.

But he, like this author, certainly feels that the Islanders are on the cusp of very good things next season.

***
News and notes:

- The Islanders were eliminated when Buffalo defeated New Jersey before the Isles fell to Philadephia.

- Earlier in the week, defensemen Mark Streit and Andy MacDonald were declared out for the remainder of the season.

-Kyle Okposo had several chances to score, including a pretty 2-on-1 with line mate Michael Grabner. Kyle did not record a point, though.

- The attendance at Nassau Coliseum was 15,458.

Isles Stay Afloat, Barely

2011-03-21T01:29:00.005-04:00

For the entirety of my hockey-viewing life, the Islanders have been an above-.500 franchise. Though it was touch-and-go for a while, they will remain so after this season.

The low point came December 16th, 2010, when the Islanders were in very real danger of falling to .500 if they lost to Anaheim that night. With me looking on, three first period goals and 30 saves from Rick DiPietro held off a Ducks comeback and some unpleasant history. The Isles won 3-2 and stayed a winning franchise.

Had they lost, it would have been the first time since 1978 that the Isles were .500 or below. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but I am proud of what this team has accomplished over the years. Though they play a big part, it's not only the Stanley Cup history that makes being a fan of this team worthwhile. Six division titles, 3 conference titles, 7 100+ point seasons, and the retired numbers all add to the lore.

So currently at 9 games above .500 (1311-1302-347-73) with 9 games remaining, we can be sure that at least in 2010-2011 the Isles will not dip into losing territory. And I take a measure of pride in that.

After flirting with the dark side of .500, I think things are about to take a very positive turn on Long Island. But that's a topic for another day and another post.

(Though this contained my original research, official team statistician Eric Hornick wrote an even more in-depth piece about the Isles' history of the .500 mark back in December. Please check out the incredibly detailed work on his own blog, Forever 1940).

Rick Returns; Grabner Hits 30

2011-03-20T00:12:00.003-04:00

When we last saw Rick DiPietro, he was getting his face crushed by goalie Brent Johnson of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I'm happy to say that Rick played his first game since that incident on Saturday (3/19) night, and secured the win as well.

The Islanders defeated the Florida Panthers, 4-3, in a shootout. The win pulled the Isles into a tie with Florida at 68 points. Neither team will make the postseason, though. For Florida, this will be their tenth consecutive season outside of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Islanders fans, having missed 'only' four seasons of playoffs, have it relatively good, I suppose. Perhaps 'good' isn't the right word...

Michael Grabner, waiver wire pickup extraordinaire, notched his 30th goal of the season. What a find he has been. Though he may not win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie, he deserves serious consideration.

Kyle, on the other hand, is in another one of his funks. He took a -3 in the game, and one friend of mine expressed concerned that he doesn't look completely healthy. While I don't think that's the case, I would like to see Kyle silence his critics with a goal and/or a few points in the upcoming games.

The Isles next take on Tampa Bay on Tuesday, the return home for games against Atlanta and conference leaders Philadelphia. The season, as a Rangers fan friend gently reminded me, has only 9 games remaining.

Milestones Are Hit But Isles Miss

2011-03-16T00:22:00.005-04:00

It'll be a short post tonight because losses always seem to leave me a bit uninspired.

From a team perspective, Tuesday night's 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers was disheartening. The Islanders had no life in the first period, falling behind within the first four minutes of the game. The team was down 2-0 at the end of the first period before deciding to play up to their abilities. They were able to score two goals of their own within the first four minutes of the middle frame, but it was all downhill from there as the Isles went back to sleep. Their defense was shoddy and Al Montoya didn't have a particularly good night either, allowing five goals to get behind him in forty minutes.

It was, however, a night for personal milestones. Matt Moulson reached his 30th goal (after a scoring change) for the second consecutive season. The shaggy forward plucked out of obscurity by General Manager Garth Snow became the first Islander to accomplish the feat since Mariusz Czerkawski did it in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons. Congratulations, Matt.

Even more exciting, on the night when John Tavares played his 150th career NHL game, he netted his 50th career goal. He became the youngest Islander to reach the mark, surpassing Bryan Trottier's record. With 60 points already in the bank this year (and 54 from last), he has quickly amassed a robust 114 career points (50-64-114).

If J.T. is able to notch four more goals in the team's eleven remaining games, he and Moulson will become the first Islander teammates since Alexei Yashin and Mark Parrish in 2001-2002 to each score 30. Though there was a time when I didn't think he'd get there, I am starting to believe 30 goals is very possible for the 20 year-old sophomore.

*(Michael Grabner currently sits at 28 goals this year; see the 'News and notes' section below for more on this).

The Islanders continue to try to play spoiler on Friday, as they travel to Carolina to take on the playoff-hopeful Hurricanes.

***
News and notes:

- Kyle was held off the scoring sheet for his second straight game, and goalless for his sixth. Knowing that he has a history of streaky play, I am not worried about his game, as he would still be on pace for near 50 points this season had he not lost so much time to injury.

- Russian prospect Kirill Petrov didn't have a good regular season (8-11-19 in 49 games), but it appears he had a decent playoffs, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists in 6 games. His Kontinental Hockey League team, Yugra, was eliminated by Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

- Should Moulson, Grabner, and Tavares all reach 30 goals this season, they will become the first Islanders trio to perform the feat since Steve Thomas, Pierre Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, and Derek King all did it in 1993-1994.

Okposo To Appear In Midtown

2011-03-13T00:42:00.002-05:00

A quick reminder for you, as Kyle Okposo and friends (Michael Grabner, Andrew MacDonald, and Frans Nielsen) will be appearing at the NHL team store in Manhattan. The event will take place on Monday, March 14th and will be hosted by the affable Billy Jaffe. A question and answer session with the players will begin at 4 PM.

For more details please visit the official team site.

The Islanders will take on the Rangers the following evening at Madison Square Garden.

Isles Bite Back Against Boston

2011-03-12T00:58:00.002-05:00

First things first: though they are in the middle of a resurgence, the Islanders won’t be making the playoffs this year. I make that statement with some degree of certainty, because even though they sit “only” 10 points out of eighth place, to leap over five teams while they play each other is nearly impossible. The math just doesn’t work. Especially in a league that gives a point to teams for doing little more than showing up each night.

Keeping that in mind, the Islanders again faced an elite “measuring stick” opponent on Friday night, as they hosted Boston and their suddenly controversial big man Zdeno Chara. Chara injured Montreal’s Max Pacioretty with a hit two games prior. No suspension was handed out. Because of this, Islanders fans booed him each time he touched the puck as if he was Dale Hunter.

Al Montoya started in goal for the Islanders. It was the first time I had seen Montoya play in person. He played well, stopping 26 shots. He allowed a first period goal to Nathan Horton with about 3 and one half minutes left in the frame.

But in a game that my colleagues and I agreed was “groan-worthy” early on, the Isles didn’t convert their opportunities while Boston did. Later faced with a 5-on-3 power play, Montoya couldn’t prevent a second goal.

The momentum of the game then suddenly turned. Matt Moulson netted his 29th goal of the season just before the second period ended. Michael Grabner fired a goal behind Tim Thomas early in the third to tie the game. The building was rocking, and it wasn't the visiting fans making the noise.

John Tavares had a sweet backhanded pass to help Moulson on his goal, while Kyle Okposo assisted on Garbner’s. For Kyle, it was assist number 11.

He didn’t have to wait too long for number twelve, assisting on Jack Hillen’s go-ahead goal just 4 minutes and 30 seconds later. The Islanders were buzzing and all of a sudden Boston had their fans groaning and looking stunned.

"I think that's a huge goal at the end of the second [period]," Kyle said after the game. "A two goal deficit especially against a great team like Boston is tough to overcome."

The Islanders sealed the 4-2 comeback victory when P.A. Parenteau was mugged on his way to an empty net goal. The officials made the correct call and awarded the tally.

For his two assist effort, Kyle earned the second star of the game. In 25 games, he has 16 points.

Coach Jack Capuano was pleased after the game, making sure to mention that the attitude in locker room is very relaxed at this point in the season. Critics will say that it's because they don't have much to play for except in a spoiler's role, but the stats confirm that the Islanders have been one of hockey's best teams since the All-Star break.

Though I don't give them much of a shot for postseason play this year, I am looking forward to seeing three players (Moulson, Grabner, and Tavares) reach the 30 goal mark. With full healthy seasons from Kyle and Mark Streit added to the mix, hopefully this time next year we will be talking about the Islanders clinching a playoff spot.

Like Kyle, I Have Returned

2011-03-08T22:23:00.002-05:00

For the first time in what seems forever, I watched live Islanders hockey! After having to endure a near complete lack of Internet coverage and then a fried laptop power adapter, everything is back in working order.

My return game was a treat. The Isles won an overtime seesaw thriller against Toronto (3/8) when Blake Comeau netted the overtime winner. Comeau, who is having a breakout season (though last season's numbers were quite respectable), is now one goal away from scoring 20.

Kyle Okposo had an assist in a game which could have seen a lot more goals for New York, if only those pesky goalposts wouldn't have gotten in the way. The team hit posts at least four times, it looked like. Nevertheless, after 24 games played Kyle is sitting on four goals and 10 assists.

Though I've missed most of it (and I promise that won't happen again), the Islanders are experiencing a bit of a resurgence. Thanks to the New York Daily News' Peter Botte, we learn that the Isles are 21-14-5 in their last 40 games, the most points in their division since December 16th.

Even I hadn't realized they've been playing that well.

Though the team is on the brink of division title elimination (and realistically won't make the playoffs either), I am fairly pleased. I am also genuinely excited for next year. It's too bad they suffered such a long dry spell earlier this season, or I'd be excited about *this* season.

Though I missed most of his games, goalie Al Montoya has been a revelation. Before tonight's three goals (did I mention the Isles won 4-3?) his Goals Against Average was a slim 1.93. Good stuff.

I'll have a detailed post of why I'm optimistic for 2011-2012 posted soon. For my regular readers, I truly apologize for missing such a large chunk of games. Just know that I was taking care of family obligations, and everything is fine now.

Let's watch the last 14 games of this season out in style together! See you all Friday night from the Coliseum.

Gotta Stay Away

2011-02-18T17:40:00.001-05:00

In my continued absence, the Islanders have been on a roll.

Until last night (2/17), that is.

As I strolled past a television with ESPN playing, I noticed the Isles in an early 3-0 hole. They eventually lost 6-3 to a stronger Boston Bruins team, ending their four game winning streak.

Despite the loss, some positives have emerged of late.

The Islanders announced the signing of winger P.A. Parenteau to a one-year contract extension on Thursday. I would say that behind Michael Grabner, Parenteau has been the surprise offensive pickup of the year for General Manager Garth Snow. Coming into Thursday’s action, Parenteau had recorded 14 goals and 21 assists. Though it’s sometimes en vogue to criticize Snow, he really perfomed nicely by adding those two offensive pieces. In his official statement, Parenteau said that he was happy to be on Long Island and part of the Islanders organization.

On the scoring front, I noticed that while the goals haven’t quite yet flowed, Kyle did record a three assist game. For his truncated season total (remember, he missed the first 44 games) Kyle is at two goals and 7 assists.

Moving on, though it may not have been exciting to many others, Al Montoya made his Islanders debut recently. The former Rangers draft pick had played in five NHL games, all with Phoenix. The bad news is that due to circumstances beyond their control, the Islanders have used six (!) goaltenders this season. I don’t think anyone expected to see names like Montoya, Mikko Koskinen, or Nathan Lawson on the roster in 2010-2011.

Finally, I missed a wild game against Pittsburgh. Not only did I lose out on seeing my home team score 9 goals, but there were several wild scraps that resulted in well over 300 combined penalty minutes in the contest. The melees also resulted in suspensions for Trevor Gillies and Matt Martin, though I have no idea whether they were warranted or not. I’ll have to review the game footage at a later date.

So, to sum up, it seems that I have missed some pretty wild stuff. I hope the scoring continues. And if the winning keeps up, I'll gladly stay in exile for another month.

Okie Downs the Habs

2011-02-11T17:41:00.002-05:00

The hockey world doesn't stop while I am out of touch. Unfortunately, events beyond my control have left me with an intermittent Internet connection while I am in Nevada for the month. I've tried to keep up with the Islanders news while I'm out of town, but it's hard.

Though I didn't get to see it, I am very proud that Kyle scored the game winning goal in the shootout against Montreal on Thursday (2/10) night. I am also very pleased that Mikko Koskinen recorded his first NHL win. I was there with a few of my fellow bloggers when the affable (and tall) Koskinen was drafted, in, of all places, Montreal.

I saw that the Islanders picked up Al Montoya in a minor league deal. I really only remember him for his famous goalie fight as a member of the Rangers.

The Islanders take on a depleted Pittsburgh team tonight (2/11), a very winnable game. I can only hope to catch highlights of the tilt. But I am pleased that the team has a small bit of momentum, confidence, and perhaps some of the shenanigans surrounding the goaltending situation are dying down a bit.

I'll say this: While the team might not be great this season, they certainly haven't been boring.

I'll be checking in when I can. Good luck to them.

Signing off from my desert outpost...

Okposo Reaches A Career Milestone

2011-02-01T21:56:00.003-05:00

The All-Star break apparently gave Kyle Okposo the rest he needed to get back in form.

On Tuesday (2/1) night Kyle played his best game since returning from injury while leading the Islanders to an encouraging win. In the team's first game back from the hiatus, Kyle's sixth this season, he scored two goals and an assist. The Islanders won 4-1 in Atlanta against a fairly listless Thrashers team.

With the three points, he now has 100 for his career.

At first, defenseman Travis Hamonic looked as if he was going to be the story of the evening. With his team down 1-0, he netted his first career goal early in the second period. But Kyle rewrote the narrative as he reached the first significant step in hopefully rewriting the franchise's record books.

"It started to weigh on me a little bit, but it felt really nice to get that one," he said about his mini goal drought since returning. Okposo had mustered only one assist his first five games.

The goal seemed to awaken something in the forward, as he charged on just one minute later and assisted on a P.A. Parenteau goal. But Kyle wasn't content with stopping there.

His third point came at 11:19 of the third period, a delightful 2-on-1 goal aided by this year's best story, Michael Grabner. It was Kyle's third career three point game.

Unfortunately for Islanders fans, it seems as if Okposo reaches his milestones on the road. After the game, MSG Network's Rob Carlin took Kyle down memory lane, recalling his first NHL goal. That one was scored in New Jersey.

If he keeps having nights like this one, though, I don't suppose we'll hear too many complaints from the Long Island faithful.

***
News and Notes:

- Kyle became the 70th Islander in history to score at least 100 points with the franchise.

- Young goaltender Kevin Poulin recorded his third career NHL win, saving 25 shots and lowering his Goals Against Average to 2.37.

- John Tavares netted two assists, and looks to be next to break the century mark for points, currently having 92.

- Ex-Islander Freddy Meyer scored Atlanta's lone goal, though his team threatened for more in the first period and were denied by both Poulin and his goalposts.

Moulson Commits Long Term

2011-01-27T17:26:00.003-05:00

Some positive news emerged for the Islanders today, as they signed potential free agent winger Matt Moulson to a three year contract.

Moulson, one of the most prolific scorers among the current Islanders, led the team in goals (30) in 2009-2010 and is 47-30-77 during his career with the team.

While I didn't speak with Mouslon directly, shorty after the news broke Moulson used social media to tell his fans he was "extremely excited to have another 3 years with a great organization...I love LI and am honored to be a part of this team."

I know the fans are equally pleased to keep the 27-year old Ontario native in New York as well. He is a terrific presence for John Tavares in the locker room, extremely affable, and a fine interview on most nights. His hockey skills are an added bonus, in my view.

Kudos to Garth Snow and Islanders management for holding on to a vital asset.

The Universal Language of Hockey

2011-01-24T00:40:00.013-05:00

I'll admit one thing: I can be a bit of a curmudgeon. So when Charles Wang and the Islanders hosted their annual Lighthouse International Youth Hockey Tournament for the past three years, it didn't register on my radar.

I really didn't care too much about some wobbly 11 and 12-year-olds trudging up and down the ice, half of the team falling to their rears when they reached the opposing blue line. Especially when I could see the Islanders do that on any given night.

So it came as a real surprise to me when I showed up at Nassau Coliseum this past weekend and saw real skill on the ice. Whether it was little Kenshiro Sasaki from Japan cutting through defenders or Team Finland putting up 32 goals over two games on the same day, a lot of these kids could play. And even though the crowds weren't close to capacity, the energy from local parents in the seats cheering their sons (and a few daughters) on was easy to see.

Rather than relay the results from the games, or tell you that the Finns were the eventual champions, the tournament is about more than that. For most of the foreign players, this event allowed them to travel to the United States for the first time in their young lives. As if that wasn't significant enough.

"I think this [tournament] will provide the kids with memories, maybe not for right now, but some years into the future," Finnish coach Juha Peri opined. Playing in an NHL arena is special for the team as well, he said, though Finland does have an outstanding top professional league which has produced a crop of stars over the years. Peri explained that this was the largest venue any of the players had ever skated in.

One of the members from Team China also mentioned the Coliseum as something completely new and exciting for him. Wang Jinghao, who wears #22, said the arena was very colorful (though some Islanders fans might not feel the same way). He went on to say that he was used to a much harder ice surface back home, due to the frigid temperatures of northern China, which can typically dip down to around –13 degrees Farenheit (-25 Celcius).

Every child I spoke with was eager to see what New York City and Long Island offers its citizens. For that, tournament organizer Michelle Winter and her staff also scheduled trips for the youngsters to a local Dave and Buster's arcade, a banquet for all of the participants, autograph sessions with Islanders players, and even a national television appearance.

Though I believe any trip to the New York metro area is exciting and educational, this was more than just about scenery and making the tourist rounds. Charles Wang's tournament is about making friends and memories for life, uniting cultures, and sports acting as a universal language.

The head coach of Team Japan, Kenji Kousaka, said it best. "Children have the power to make a friend. Even though they do not speak [a common] language, they try to make a friend through hockey."

There were many examples of international friendship that I witnessed this weekend; too many to cite, in fact. But I promise you it went on in the post-game handshakes, in the hotel lobby, during shared meals, and who-knows-where else.

When the Islanders promoted the tournament via press release earlier this month, the heading on the mailing read "Hockey Unites Cultures on Long Island". If that was the goal here, I believe it has been reached. And there was some surprisingly skilled hockey played too, by the way.

For their help this weekend, I wish to extend many thanks to Taka Shirai, Chihiro Shinzaki, Coach Kenji Kousaka, Coach Juha Peri, Elias Viljanen, Wang Jinghao, Michelle Winter, Katrina Doell, Dyan LeBourdais, David Hochman, and of course, Charles Wang.

Please enjoy a selection of photos from the championship game played between Finland and Japan (click to enlarge):

Early action from ice level as Japan (red) and Finland (black/gold) battle for the title.

The contest was close throughout.

The players from Finland watching their mates from the bench.

Team Japan celebrates and changes lines following a goal.

Finland wins a game that was tight until the very end. Final score: Finland 6, Japan 4.

The two squads pose for a mixed picture immediately following the final horn.

New York Islanders General Manager presents medals to runner-up Japan.

The victors are presented with gold.

Charles Wang, owner of the Islanders, fields questions and praises the participants.

Representatives from all eight tournament teams are present at center ice before the NHL game begins.

Kyle Returns But Isles Falter

2011-01-21T00:02:00.002-05:00

The much-anticipated return of Kyle Okposo took place on Thursday (1/20) night, and I can report that he looked good. It would have been a better night if the Islanders as a whole had looked good over sixty minutes. However, as they often do, they started slowly, fell behind early, and never recovered.

The Islanders dropped Kyle's season debut 2-1 to Washington. Although the Caps are a far more talented team, the Islanders had chances (including six unconverted power play chances) against neophyte goalie Braden Holtby. Instead they dug a two goal hole and played almost all but the first 3:41 from behind.

"I thought we played a pretty good game in spurts," Kyle explained after his debut. "I thought we dominated a lot of the play tonight." He lamented that defensive breakdowns led to goals by Jason Chimera and Nicklas Backstrom, which in turn led to the loss.

As for his own health, Kyle reported no difficulties. "After I got that first [contact] out of the way I knew my shoulder was strong," referring to his surgically repaired right rotator cuff.

He admitted his timing was slightly off, but that can be expected after a 44 game layoff. "Other than that my legs felt good."

The numbers testify to Kyle's statement, as the box score shows he logged 18:05 of ice time, took 8 shots (including a few missed ones that resonated loudly off the boards), dished out a hit, and earned 6:26 on the power play.

Everyone who watched from the press box noticed that Kyle was willing to get into the slot to fire off his shots, a few times going hard to the net too. His game as a power forward doesn't seem to have suffered during the hiatus.

He did admit to a mistake in the defensive zone which directly led to the game's first goal. "I was backchecking on [Backstrom] and I knew he was looking for Ovechkin and I just pulled back at the last second. He kind of slipped through my legs and got by me and that was all the time that he needed to pass it in front."

Coach Jack Capuano, who last coached Kyle in Bridgeport in March of 2008, seemed happy with the way KO's comeback turned out.

"I was pleased. The one thing I was a little concerned about was the physicality of the game and the wall play, the play down low and the 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 battles." The coach summed it up by declaring, "I thought he handled it pretty well."

With that said, the coach felt that Kyle would be ready and able to face Buffalo on Friday (1/21) night.

***
News and Notes:

- Also making his return from an injury (groin) was center Frans Nielsen. Nielsen earned 16:27 of ice time, 4:46 of it on the power play. He did not record a point.

- Michael Grabner scored the lone Islanders goal. Rick DiPietro started in net and saved 22 of 24 shots on goal.

- After the game, Rick DiPietro felt the lingering effects of flu-like symptoms he experienced earlier in the week. He took IV fluids but did not travel on the team plane to Buffalo.

- Attendance was 9,119.

He's Back!

2011-01-19T12:59:00.003-05:00

The Islanders announced today (1/19) that Kyle Okposo has completed the rehabilitation of his shoulder injury and will play tomorrow. The Islanders will host the Washington Capitals at Nassau Coliseum.

Okposo missed the first 44 games of the season when he injured his rotator cuff in a pre-season incident. Surgery was performed by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic.

I know that Islanders fans everywhere are elated at this development. The team finally welcomes back the man who contributed 52 points (19 goals, 33 assists) last season.

Here's a happy Kyle today letting a few media members know that he's ready to go. Let's hope his injury woes are over for good.

Tavares Hits His Stride

2011-01-16T02:19:00.008-05:00

Rarely do I single out one player as a game-changer in most Islanders wins. Saturday's (1/15) 5-3 win over Buffalo was a team effort, but the 'man of the match' (to borrow a phrase from English football) was clearly John Tavares.

It is rewarding to watch a metamorphosis take place. Though I have never witnessed it firsthand in nature, I feel that I am seeing something akin to the process whenever I watch John Tavares on the ice of late.

Since draft day, we fans have always sensed that J.T. had an innate talent for scoring. His Ontario Hockey League stats told us as much. Now, midway through his second season with the Islanders, he is transforming 'potential' into ability, and it is a treat to watch. As it must similarly be for the scientist in the field to observe a larva mature into an adult.

The suddenly accelerated development of Tavares was on display again against the Sabres. Tavares, who had already recorded 16 points over his previous 14 games (including 7 goals), netted a natural hat trick. While the feat is hard to perform on any night, Tavares bested one of the league's finest and highly honored goalies, Ryan Miller. In a span of 5 minutes and 46 seconds.

"He's one of the best in the league -- one of the best in the world," said the young forward of Miller following the game.

Tavares, who failed in a chance to bank at least one more goal against Miller, had no complaints with accepting the three goals and the win. "I've worked on a lot of things, [gotten] better in a lot of areas, and it's nice to get rewarded and have the team get rewarded."

The last part of that statement is telling, because though the results may not have shown up from the outset, this team has been just that, a team, since Opening Night. Tavares, while accepting the personal recognition that comes with a hat trick, mentioned his linemates first when discussing the game's events.

Linemate Matt Moulson earned the game's second star with three assists, while P.A. Parenteau had two and nearly set up Tavares early on with a 2-on-0 breakaway.

Blake Comeau scored his 13th goal of the year following Tavares' trick, while goaltender Rick DiPietro stopped 40 of Buffalo's 43 shots on goal.

Thomas Vanek, Tyler Ennis, and Jochen Hecht had the goals for Buffalo, the first two men scoring on power plays.

***
News and Notes:

- J.T.'s hat trick was his second of the year (and career), the first coming on 10/23 against Florida. He now has 18 points and 15 assists in 2010-2011.

- With the win, the Isles improved to 14-22-7, the identical record that Edmonton holds. The two clubs are tied for 28th in the league, with only New Jersey situated below them in the league standings.

- The Islanders take on the aforementioned Devils at home on Monday (1/17). The game will begin at 1 PM due to holiday scheduling.

Still A Slow Go For Okposo

2011-01-12T15:22:00.002-05:00

News from the team came out today, and it was a mixed bag. While Kyle Okposo skated in his first full-team practice on Wednesday (1/12), there is still no timetable for his return.

While I'm glad he is getting closer to game action, I honestly thought that he was farther along in the recuperative process. I was hoping that #21 would be back playing games by now, but of course his doctors' cautious pace outweigh my selfish desires. Hopefully he'll get the "all clear" soon enough.

Isles Can't Maintain Holiday Heat

2011-01-07T00:12:00.007-05:00

Since I last checked in here, a flurry of activity has taken place. By now everyone knows from a myriad of sources that Dwayne Roloson was traded shortly after Wisniewski departed. We then saw Rick DiPietro and Mark Eaton hurt themselves, while the goal crease welcomed some new faces.

Tonight (1/6) the newest Islander to join the brotherhood (and the media guide) was Kevin Poulin. It wasn't intended to be his debut, but after fellow rookie Nathan Lawson started and allowed two quick goals to Edmonton, Poulin was thrown into the fire, so to speak.

Poulin, whose debut was highly anticipated by those following his minor league travails, performed admirably under the sudden pressure but failed to bring the streaking Isles a win. Edmonton won a 2-1 battle, cooling off a New York team that had won six of their previous seven games. Nevertheless, he should be applauded for stopping all 19 shots he faced in his National Hockey League debut.

Someone else worthy of applause of late has been John Tavares. He doesn't get a lot of press on this site but he and his linemates have had a big hand in getting the Islanders on a winning roll. After some worry that he hadn't performed up to expectations of a #1 overall pick, some even suggesting that he had regressed from last season, J.T. quieted his critics with 14 points over his previous nine games. Five of those points came as goals. Even my untrained eyes can see that he has found a comfort level playing alongside Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau.

While I have the opportunity, let me just say that Islanders management should take this opportunity to sign Matt Moulson past this season, as they risk losing him to free agency on July 1. Just as Garth Snow took care of defenseman Milan Jurcina this week by signing him to a one year, $1.6 million extension, he too should treat last year's top goalscorer in a similar fashion. The only difference is that Moulson has proven himself worthy of a multi-year deal.

Finally, as we're now into January, we await word on a set date for Kyle Okposo's return. He has been seen skating at Iceworks and must be getting close. With 96 career points to his name, it will be my pleasure to see him bank his 100th later this season. Plus, I'm sure he doesn't want to let a suddenly charging Tavares (currently at 81 career points) draw much closer to him.

I'll be back with any news regarding this blog's namesake as we hear it. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and new year, and thank you for your readership.

***
News and notes:

- The Islanders will play the 3,000 career game in franchise history on Sunday, 1/9. After getting within one loss of being a .500 franchise, the Islanders have recovered of late and currently sit at 3,004 points (1295-1289-347-67) all-time.

- Blake Comeau scored the lone goal in the Islanders loss Thursday night.

Islanders See The Wiz Off

2010-12-28T17:47:00.003-05:00

In a move that is perplexing a lot of Islanders fans, today the team shipped defenseman James Wisniewski to Montreal. In return the Isles received a second round pick in the next entry draft and a condition 5th round pick in 2012.

Brad Kurtzberg has the full story here. It give me pleasure to feature Brad's work since he has been a terrific friend of this website and does an outstanding job covering the Isles for Inside Hockey.

As for my own expectations, I thought the Islanders might wait until the trading deadline to move Wisniewski, but apparently General Manager Garth Snow believes he is getting maximum value in this deal. The trade comes as no surprise to me (as Wisniewski is a free agent at the end of the season and wouldn't have re-signed), just the timing of it.

Isles Stay Hot During A Blizzard

2010-12-26T23:36:00.008-05:00

The Islanders played a game on Sunday (12/26) night in front of a crowd at about 19% of full capacity. I was scheduled to be there, but it would have taken either a hefty paycheck or a complete loss of sanity on my part to get me out into the blizzard conditions on Long Island. The Islanders, who wished to postpone the tilt, petitioned the league for a cancellation but were rebuffed.

Silly (some might say stupid or even reckless) league directives aside, the Islanders and Montreal played in front of a crowd of 3,136 hearty souls, most of them Canadiens fans.

We New York fans appreciate our Canadian visitors spending their money at our rink, but they left disappointed. The Islanders toppled the Northeast Division leaders by a 4-1 score behind strong games from Dwayne Roloson, P.A. Parenteau, and Frans Nielsen. Blake Comeau opened the game's scoring with his eighth tally of the year, and Michael Grabner matched Comeau's total with a nifty second period goal. The Islanders led 2-0 after two periods.

In the third period the Islanders solidified their win with an event that hasn't happened since Opening Night: a two power play goal period. Parenteau and James Wisniewski were the scorers and Roloson was the willing benefactor. He stopped 38 Montreal shots (of 39) to earn the win and first star of the game.

The win puts the Islanders on a five game point streak, as they've taken nine of a possible ten points over than span. While still well out of playoff contention, the uptick in effort and results is appreciated by their loyal fanbase.

News and Notes:
***

- Due to the weather, any fan that had a ticket to the 12/26 game can exchange their ticket to any future Islanders home game. Complete information via the team website can be found here.

- Forward John Tavares notched his 20th point of the season in this game.

- While there is no date for his return, it seems early to mid-January is a realistic timetable for Kyle Okposo's return to NHL action.

- The Isles take on the New York Rangers in a snowy New York City on Monday (12/27) night.

Introducing: Nathan Lawson

2010-12-18T22:12:00.006-05:00

I'm not one of those people who pretends to know things when they don't. I'd rather admit that I don't know something than look like a fool pretending to. In the case of Saturday night's starting goalie, Nathan Lawson, I don't know much about him. And as for why the Islanders decided to start him, well, that's anyone's guess.

What I can tell you about Lawson is that he has been waiting for a shot to play in the National Hockey League for over three seasons. I might also mention that he played collegiate hockey at Alaska-Anchorage, putting up a GAA over over 3.00 each season there. Then there's the matter of his 3.78 GAA and .890 save percentage at Bridgeport this season.

So with the team issuing a brief statement about veteran goaltender Rick DiPietro experiencing some knee swelling on Saturday (12/18) morning, the decision was made to call up Lawson on an emergency basis. It was then determined that he would get that night's start against Phoenix.

But why not start Dwyane Roloson, who has 527 more games of experience in the NHL?

Well, this has been a season of curious decisions on the Island. And you can add this one to the list. Head coach Jack Capuano said earlier in the day that he knew Lawson from his time coaching in Bridgeport. And that if Lawson was going to be a part of the Islanders roster then he was going to start.

Well, I guess if you were going to make him drive the 60 or so miles it shouldn't be in vain, right?

Before I create the impression of being too negative, I should just say that I am happy for the guy, and in fairness, Lawson acquitted himself fairly well in what had to be the most nerve-racking start of his life. He lost in a shootout, 4-3, but saved 32 shots. I suppose the part of the game that annoyed me was seeing Lawson and the Isles blow a late lead and then being unable to stop any shots in the shootout.

Oh well, chalk it up to inexperience.

So now we observers are left with starting goaltender speculation, injury speculation (the team said DiPietro's swelling was "minor" and the goalie himself wasn't worried), and potential trade speculation. The beat goes on for Islanders fans.

So to recap, the Islanders lost, rumors are sure to abound, and I didn't really introduce Nate Lawson at all. On the other hand, at least I finally found a use for the neat little 'Lawson' logo.

A-Mac's Coming Out Party

2010-12-17T00:03:00.005-05:00

And now for something positive: The Islanders were 3-2 winners against Anaheim on Thursday (12/16) night! But even more encouraging was the play of defenseman Andy MacDonald.

Against a bigger and stronger Anaheim team, MacDonald and fellow youngster Travis Hamonic performed the heavy lifting against the Ducks' front line seemingly all evening. Paired together, MacDonald paced the team with 25:53 in ice time, while Hamonic chipped in 23:38 of his own.

"I thought the two young kids were up to the challenge and played extremely well," said a jubilant head coach Jack Capuano after the game. 'Cap', as he's known, earned his second win as the head coach of the Islanders in a season that has been short on smiles.

MacDonald, the third-year man out of Nova Scotia, set career highs (as far as we can tell, some of the data is incomplete) in hits and blocked shots. He surpassed his former career high of seven blocked shots, set on March 2nd, 2010, against Chicago, by one. Along with the eight blocks were a solid five hits. He took four shots and would up a +1 on the night.

"It's been a rough go lately," a relieved MacDonald said after the game. "The important thing is that we got two points and something to build on."

They got the lead and eventually the two points by hammering three goals home in 99 seconds, the flurry beginning with about 5 minutes left to play in the first period. P.A. Parenteau, Blake Comeau, and Matt Moulson were the scorers.

The key to defeating a more talented Anaheim side, at least according to MacDonald, was being "strong on pucks and tying up [opponent's] sticks." Denying Anaheim's potent scorers shooting lanes was another winning approach the Isles took. Furthermore, he felt it was his best game since returning from a broken hand at the beginning of this month.

While MacDonald's Herculean effort earned him the second star of the game, the first standout on this night was goaltender rick DiPietro. DiPietro saved 30 pucks and stymied a late comeback attempt. It was a nice rebound after his last start, a game in which he and his teammates frittered away a lead against Atlanta.

***
News and notes:

- The Islanders broke a six game losing streak. The poor attendance continues, however, with an announced crowd of 7,659 in the house.

- Defenseman Milan Jurcina returned to action after being sidelined for 18 games with a hamstring injury. He logged 13:19 of ice time.

- Former Islander Jason Blake hurt his old team with his sixth goal of the season and an assist.

- The Islanders next take on Phoenix Saturday (12/18) evening, who lost to the New York Rangers 4-3 in overtime on Thursday.

Worst Season Ever?

2010-12-14T00:25:00.002-05:00

Remember a while go when I asked if the Islanders were for real? At the time the team was 4-1-2 and off to a surprisingly hot start. Who could have known that the optimism expressed at that point in the season might wind up the high point of the year?

As an Islanders fan, I have lived through a lot. The Tommy Soderstrom era, for example. Butch Goring's coaching tenure (no, disrespect intended to Mr. Goring, who is a lovely man). Mike Milbury (as a coach and GM). And that's just relating to events on the ice.

I can't recall, however, a season shaping up as hopeless as this one. Staggering to believe, I know. After Monday (12/13) night's 5-0 whipping in Nashville, the Islanders have lost 20 of their last 21 games. Again, 'staggering' is the only word that comes to my mind. They sit last in the league with a pitiful 15 points to show for their effort. They are 21 points out of a playoff spot before the Christmas holiday. The New Jersey Devils, who have been equally inept this season, are the only team remotely close to the Islanders in the standings, in a league which gives teams points almost by accident. Unreal.

And the blame has been equally shared by all involved. Whether it's Rick DiPietro sleeping in goal one night, or the utter lack of offense, or Garth Snow saying he has no financial restraints while building a patchwork roster that says otherwise, or an owner who gives the appearance that he no longer wants to spend one more dime than he has to.

Of course injuries have devastated the roster. But they seem to every year on Long Island, and yet the team hasn't gone through a spell of hockey this awful in recent seasons.

I am usually an optimistic person. Sometimes unrealistically so. But this is getting ridiculous. I hope for improvement, of course, but right now I see no way for it to occur. On any front. And that includes the return to the ice of Kyle Okposo.

At this point I am only hopeful of a return to somewhat competitive hockey. And the entry draft in June.

***
News and Notes:

- Prospect Rhett Rakhshani made his Islanders debut, playing 11:44 and recording no shots on goal. He was drafted out of the University of Denver in 2006, 93 picks after the Islanders selected Okposo.

Good News For Kyle

2010-12-04T13:46:00.002-05:00

Some encouraging news emerged today, as Newsday's Katie Strang reported that Kyle Okposo skated in full gear today (12/4). While there is no date for his return yet, this is the best news the fanbase has received in a while.

It can't be emphasized enough how important Kyle's return to the undermanned Islanders will be, whenever it occurs. The team has scored a woeful 51 goals in 24 games, so any boost in offense will be greatly appreciated.

Stay with us as Kyle's return to the ice gets closer.

Isles See Seesaw Scrap Slip Away

2010-12-03T00:03:00.005-05:00

Thursday (12/2) night featured several buzz-worthy match-ups in the sporting world; fans in places like Ottawa and Cleveland had circled the date months in advance to see former players return. The Islanders perhaps had anticipated the evening too, as a visit by the hated New York Rangers normally provides excitement on par with anything the three other major leagues can provide. Local fans, though, seemed to have a differing opinion as the game failed to sell out. Though the game was action-packed, nobody mistook it for great hockey. In the end, the Rangers slipped out of the building with two points, and the Isles slipped a bit further down the standings.

The Rangers blew out to an early two goal lead as Erik Christensen and Ryan Callahan put the puck past goalie Rick DiPietro. DiPietro, who had made it clear earlier in the day that he enjoys beating his team's archrivals, didn't get much help from his teammates in the first period. Most of the play was in the Islanders' defensive zone, and providing a team so many chances will kill you every time. That proved to be the case here too, though Zenon Konopka got a trickling puck past Marty Biron in the last minute of play to cut the Ranger lead in half.

Just as heavyweights Trevor Gillies and Derek Boogaard traded blows earlier, so too would their teams for the rest of the game. The Isles stung the Rangers with consecutive goals in the middle period, taking a 3-2 lead. Matt Moulson banked his 9th goal of the year, while Rob Schremp contributed his 3rd.

The Rangers weren't stunned for long, as they recovered and recaptured the lead thanks to Slovak star Marian Gaborik, after Brandon Prust had previously tied it.

"He's just a good player," DiPietro said of Gaborik later on. "You get opportunities like that...a guy's going to take advantage of it."

Gaborik certainly took advantage of his opportunities on this night, widening the Rangers' lead to 5-3 as the third period opened. Goals from Michael Grabner and Blake Comeau added to the craziness of the affair as the game was again tied, this time at 5 goals apiece.

Unfortunately while the details of the tying goal were still coming over the public address system, Gaborik scored again and hats came flying onto the ice surface. It was his 8th tally of the year, and Sean Avery's third assist of the night. The Islanders had about five and a half minutes to mount another comeback, but could not. 6-5 was the final, with Gaborik and Avery earning the game's first and second stars respectively.

Turnovers were key, Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano mentioned after the loss. "Both teams had opportunities. When it was 5-5 I felt pretty good about our chances," he added.

The Isles will have another shot at the Rangers, and they won't have to wait more than 24 hours. The two teams meet on Madison Square Garden ice on Friday (12/3) for the completion of the home-and-home series.

***
News and Notes:

- Travis Hamonic recorded his first NHL point in the game.

- Matt Martin and Mike Sauer fought after Gillies/Boogaard had set the tone earlier.

- Capuano announced that Dwayne Roloson will be Friday night's starting goalie.

- The Isles have taken only 5 of their last 32 possible points, and 15 over the entire season (5-13-5).

- 13,742 paid to see the game.

The Streak Is Dead!

2010-11-27T03:05:00.006-05:00

The New York Islanders woke up from their month-long nightmare on Friday (11/26) afternoon. The team had gone without a win in 14 straight games, one shy of the franchise record.

Rick DiPietro was in fine form as the Isles blanked the New Jersey Devils 2-0. Jesse Joensuu gave the Isles a lead that they would never relinquish just 1:32 into play. He was fed a beautiful pass from Frans Nielsen, scoring what might have been the Isles' prettiest goal of the season.

The Devils were punchless, though they tested Rick DiPietro 29 times. He turned aside all shot attempts and recorded his 16th career shutout.

Rob Schremp, whose name was mispronounced on ESPN's highlight package, netted the other goal for the boys in orange and blue.

Jack Capuano, who took the coaching helm during the streak, won his first game as an NHL head coach.

The Islanders now look forward to December 2nd and 3rd, when they play a home-and-home series against one of the few teams they have beaten this year, the New York Rangers.

***
News and Notes:

- Right wing Trent Hunter is out indefinitely after suffering a Grade III Medial collateral ligament tear.

Hamonic's Here

2010-11-23T19:30:00.002-05:00

I'm not going to lie. I liked Travis Hamonic a lot when I saw him over the summer. When I stood next to him I fully noticed how large he is. We're talking big ol' strapping farm boy big. A description for which, as a native of St. Malo, Manitoba (population: 1,100), he certainly qualifies.

I felt that Travis the man-child might have been ready for the NHL out of training camp, as I wrote here. The Islanders thought differently, but now short on defensemen after Mike Mottau's serious injury on Sunday, Hamonic has been called up.

Hamonic will get his first chance to show his skills at hockey's highest level on Wednesday (11/24) night against Columbus. I wish him a successful debut.

Save Our Ship!

2010-11-20T22:57:00.005-05:00

The Islanders took on the Florida Panthers tonight (11/20) looking to avoid deepening their winless streak to twelve games. Florida was the opponent, a team only 5 points up the standings from the bottom-dwelling Isles.

The Panthers came out firing early, testing goalie Dwanye Roloson. In fact, their first shot rang off Roli’s post. He allowed nothing, and the Isles steadied themselves.

Matt Moulson gave the home crowd something to cheer about, scoring on a blast at 13:07 of the first period.

Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last. Roloson allowed four second period goals (from Santorelli twice, Reasoner, and Weiss). The crowd of 9,157 rained boos down on the Isles as the period concluded.

Down by three goals entering the final stanza, the Isles tried to rectify their sad situtation. They fired 21 shots at Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun to no avail. Vokoun earned the second star of the game on the merit of his 39 total saves.

After the game the scene in the locker room was predictably downbeat. New coach Jack Capuano was willing to look at the mistakes as part of an adjustment period, but still found time to insist that making such errors are inexcusable. “We had a couple of passengers tonight.” He continued, “As we move forward they have to be held accountable.”

Roloson, who took his 9th consecutive loss, says that the team remains upbeat. I can’t imagine how he can say this, especially when he looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. I can’t (and wouldn’t) ask him if my hunch is right, but it’s not only in his body language, but in that of most of the players in the room too. Mark Eaton, who wasn’t especially talkative after the game, noted that their play had already cost one man his job.

Unfortunately there is no prospect of improvement on the horizon. Though scouts from other teams were in attendance, the current roster is in no shape to make a trade. And I can’t imagine franchises are too interested in any of the Islanders’ offensive pieces currently on the ice, save for perhaps tonight’s scorer (Moulson).

Even if Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit were healthy and available, would they make that much of an impact? The team has scored a second-from-worst 40 goals and has a –26 goal differential. While the Isles miss the pair, I can’t say that they’d be in contention for a playoff spot even at full strength.

The Islanders will have a chance to pick up their first win in 13 tries tomorrow night in Atlanta. I would like to see an offensive outburst and a win, but realistically I’m afraid it will be more of the same for this team in distress.

New Coach, Same Result

2010-11-17T22:44:00.007-05:00

The title of this post, while factual, is a bit misleading. The Islanders did not make Jack Capuano a winner in his National Hockey League debut on Wednesday (11/17), but things did looked different. Though they are now winless in 11 straight games and have only one "loser point" to show for their work, the effort looked better.

One change I noticed was a difference in John Tavares' play. He had time and space to maneuver in the offensive zone. He doesn't have the speed of a player like Steven Stamkos, who he is sometimes compared to due to their similar draft positions, but he has the talent to become an elite scorer. This was on display against Stamkos and his mates as Tavares netted the type of goal that needs to be the centerpiece of his game, cleaning up rebounds. It was his 7th of the year, tied with Matt Moulson, who also banked his own 7th goal of 2010 in the game.

The two strikes were far from enough offense, though, as the Islanders lost 4-2 to Tampa Bay. Taking penalties in the offensive zone and going dry on all four power play chances (including a major) will just not do.

The announcers claimed that the Islanders looked more relaxed since Scott Gordon's dismissal. This wasn't a jab at Gordon, but rather an explanation of a concerted attempt by the downtrodden Isles to get back to looking at hockey as a fun game. Some of that talk was also heard from the players in the post-game debriefings.

The cold facts are that no magic bullet exists for Capuano and his team right now. They are undermanned and lack very much scoring punch. As everyone also knows, the Islanders remain dead last in the league standings.

While things seemed markedly better for this game, the fact is that the franchise has a lot of work to do (both on and off the ice) to right the ship. Compiling the problem was that fewer people are in the crowd to notice any changes (8,025 on this night) these days. And most of that task lies with people other than Capuano.

It seems like we've been here before, doesn't it?

Gordon Out, Capuano In as Head Coach

2010-11-15T13:56:00.003-05:00

In a somewhat unsurprising move, this morning the Islanders fired Head Coach Scott Gordon. I say unsurprising because when a team loses 10 of their first 17 games (the last 10 in a row, mind you) changes need to be made. Brigdeport (AHL) head coach Jack Capuano will be the interim head coach.

I am struggling to say something that hasn't already been said elsewhere. I guess the feeling I come away with is that the change is mostly cosmetic. Sure, it's a new voice in the room, but under Capuano the roster will be the same, the system will be the same, and the culture will likely be the same. Capuano can't make Mark Streit or Kyle Okposo come back from injured reserve any quicker. He can't help Rick DiPietro regain his form, if that's even possible at this point, sooner. And he certainly can't draft new players to infuse the team with scoring.

Capuano was Kyle's first (and only) head coach in the American Hockey League. Most of the current home grown Islanders have played for him. Those who haven't are certainly familiar with Capuano from this preseason's camps and scrimmages, which now seem light years in the past. Maybe a new voice in the dressing room is exactly what the Islanders need to reclaim their season. I'm just not sure how different it is.

As for Gordon, he'll stay in the organization as an assistant to the General Manager. That move seems to be en vogue these days in sports -- giving the guy you've just fired a different role. I can't say I understand it other than for financial reasons. Sometimes it's best to just cut ties and move on.

Before you think I am being too harsh on Gordon, let me say that I and seemingly everyone who is around the team likes him. He is as normal and down to earth as someone in his position can be. However in the National Hockey League, like in any other business, you win or you're out. For Gordon, a coaching record of 64-94-23 (.417) over 2-plus seasons was not good enough.

Capuano will get his first shot at a win on Wednesday (11/17) night.

Westward Hole!

2010-11-11T00:27:00.002-05:00

In what must be the quickest swing of fortune and fan emotion in the history of sports, the New York Islanders have gone from the top of their conference to the bottom. And it took fewer than three calendar weeks.

The Isles, who haven't even had a lead in any of the contests, have lost eight games in a row. It may get worse before it gets better, too, since the team will take on San Jose and Los Angeles before the week is through. Those squads are a lot better than the Anaheim team the Isles were shut out (1-0) by on Wednesday (11/10) night.

I was worried (and warned by other writers earlier this season) that goals might be hard to come by this season for the Islanders. The injury to Kyle Okposo only compounded the fear. But after a while a team has to play the hand they're dealt and find a way to at least compete each night. It looks right now as if the will to play, let alone win, has evaporated. The home announcers said as much after the broadcast.

I don't have the answers on how to turn this around. Fans, who tend to overreact, are calling for the ouster of Head Coach Scott Gordon. I don't believe that would change much with this team. Especially if he is just replaced by one of his assistants.

What I do know is that when you outplay, outshoot, and are given six power play chances against a team that played the previous night, you should be able to score at least a lone goal. The Islanders didn't, and now run the risk of returning home from California on a ten game losing streak.

Is it time to push the 'panic' button and make changes to the roster? I don't know. Would playing still-developing players like Travis Hamonic and/or Calvin DeHaan at the NHL level change things on defense? How do you add goals to an anemic offense?

If the Islanders want to climb out of their hole, they'll need to address these issues, and quickly.

Isles Making A Habit of Losing By Five

2010-11-03T21:34:00.004-04:00

Fresh off a 6-1 drubbing in Philadelphia last weekend, the Islanders headed down to Carolina looking to right their ship. Unfortunately, after a lackluster performance it seems as if they only succeeded in taking on more water.

The Carolina Hurricanes came into the tilt with the same number of points as the Islanders, but the teams looked vastly different on the ice. As every fan knows, the Islanders have been decimated by injuries, but there is simply no good reason to lose 7-2 to a middle-of-the-pack team like Carolina.

After a hot start to the season, the Islanders have lost five games in a row. And it has been a team effort. The goaltending, especially that of Rick DiPietro, has been poor. The defense has been poor. The scoring hasn't been nearly enough. General effort on the ice has looked lackadaisical. And so on.

In his post game television interview, a clearly frustrated Coach Scott Gordon said he has spoken with individual players about this malaise. He believes that lessons should have already been learned. The breaks out of the defensive zone and play away from the puck have been some of the sources of concern for him.

He did sound one tone of optimism, though, in that the Isles will have another chance to make things right tomorrow night (11/4) in Ottawa. He felt that was better than a long layoff with players stewing over the losing streak.

Let's hope things improve, because the season is still young and far from a lost cause. But the excitement that surrounded their hot start has all but vanished.

***
News and notes:

- Michael Grabner and P.A. Parenteau were the scorers for the Islanders, each netting their third goals of the season.

- Rob Schremp returned from an injury that had sidelined him for the team's first 11 games. He saw 13:14 of ice time and was a -4 in the game.

- Goaltender Dwayne Roloson is expected to start the game in Ottawa. Roloson holds a 2.40 Goals Against Average this season, while Rick DiPietro has allowed 13 goals over his last two starts.

- Carolina center Jonathan Matsumoto scored the first two goals of his NHL career.

No News On Okposo Return

2010-10-30T03:27:00.003-04:00

Normally I wouldn't post something that adds no value to this site, but I am aware people are thirsty for information. I have noticed that the most searched item on the Internet with regards to Kyle Okposo is news on his injury and a date for his return from it.

As it stands now, we must go with the information the Islanders have issued, which is, frankly, very little. We know it was a shoulder injury, surgery was performed on it in Cleveland, and Kyle was expected to be out until December.

While it is the team's policy to forbid Kyle from speaking to the media while he is on Injured Reserve, he has attended several home games. His arm has been immobilized in a sling when he has been seen, and that's about it.

As soon as anything further is learned, it will be posted here. I apologize for the non-revealing nature of this post, but there really is nothing new to report. If you had missed any of the details of the Kyle saga so far this season, then I hope you found this brief recap helpful.

***
UPDATED:
It has come to my attention that Kyle will be the in-studio guest on MSG Network's Hockey Night Live at 9:30 PM tonight (10/30). Hopefully we will learn more about his return.

'El Nino' Blows Off The Island

2010-10-28T12:19:00.005-04:00

This afternoon the New York Islanders announced that 2010 first round draft pick Nino Niederreiter will return to Portland after nine games in the National Hockey League.

There has been plenty of speculation in the last few days over how to handle the 18 year-old Swiss native. His play was solid but not the type of performance that would make management believe he is, at least at this time, an everyday NHL player. He recorded one goal and and one assist during his nine game stint.

Niederreiter will take his skills to the Western Hockey League, where he can develop for the season without the worry of his NHL service time clock ticking.

Though I rarely share my personal opinions on roster moves in this space, I feel it is the right move returning 'El Nino,' as the fans have named him. I always like bringing prospects along slowly. His time in the WHL should only help his development.

Getting to Know Mr. Snow, Part Two

2010-10-26T21:15:00.016-04:00

"I'm just so excited about where we are as a team."

That was Garth Snow's proclamation to me just over one month ago when I took part in a preseason 'blogger's round table' with the general manager of the New York Islanders. He was excited and ready to see the team that he built perform on the ice. Now in his fifth season in a role that he had been suddenly thrust into during the tumultuous summer of 2006, Snow seemed at ease discussing a range of topics with those in attendance that afternoon.

"When I was in college the reason why I was motivated to get my degree and my Master's Degree was that I wasn't sure [if] I was going to be a pro hockey player," Snow revealed. He eventually became one, though, having been selected 114th overall in the 1987 draft by Quebec. He went on to a fairly accomplished career, as it would turn out, spending twelve seasons in the NHL and winning 135 games.

But to hear him tell it, becoming a general manager, assistant GM, college coach, or even a college athletic director were roles that he envisioned for himself when his playing days were through. "Those were the things that intrigued me if I didn't make it to the NHL."

Snow says he doesn't miss playing, but adds an exception. "I miss the feeling of taking your equipment off after you've just won a game. And that bond you have inside the locker room." He continued, "You go on the road and steal two points. It's just a great feeling celebrating on the other team's ice. Or the intensity of playoff hockey."

The group asked him several questions about this year's team and his approach on improving it further. During his tenure Snow has built a reputation as a shrewd deal maker and master of the "scrap heap" find.

He pledges to do "whatever is allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement" to improve the Islanders, including targeting other team's restricted free agents.

On the subject of trades, he told the group that he only judges potential ones on the impact it has for his club. He's not willing to "mortgage the future" at the trading deadline, as he put it. And he plans on keeping the Islanders' young core together with contract extensions in the near future.

Despite living in an age of intrusive and constant media, especially with the rise of social media, Snow still does things the old fashioned way. He's not a Twitter user, and keeps information such as potential draft picks within a very small circle. He claims that only he and Charles Wang knew of the impeding pick of John Tavares minutes before the selection was made. It was also that kind of secrecy that allowed the team to trade down in the previous year's draft and select center Josh Bailey.

While the Isles have hit some very large injury potholes since our talk, the team is still outperforming what most so-called "experts" predicted. And that is by design. He lauded the merits of captain Doug Weight, saying that Weight handles many team issues that never make it out of the locker room. And Snow personally discusses contract issues and training camp invitations with players and/or their agents, citing three examples (Richard Park, Andy Hilbert, and Jon Sim) from the previous summer. He explained the reasoning behind each decision and his need for payroll flexibility. So if you were wondering if Snow is hands-on, I think you have your answer.

But according to Snow, how long he and head coach Scott Gordon coach stay in their current jobs all comes down to winning.

"We obviously have a passionate fan base," said Snow. "Fans that live and die [for] this team. Our goal is to obviously make the playoffs and once you get in to compete for a Stanley Cup."

He is confident that he has the Islanders on the right path. He used Bailey's growth as a player as an example of the greater team maturation that has taken place right before his (and the fans') eyes. "I think [they're] going to be a fun team to watch. It's a good mix of skill, speed, and toughness. But at the end of the day you've got to win."

Are the Islanders For Real?

2010-10-22T00:37:00.003-04:00

I'm going to keep this post a bit shorter than normal, but I would really welcome fan feedback on this issue. This evening I was lucky enough to watch the Islanders defeat Tampa Bay in overtime with fellow blogger John Zadrozny of Yes! Islanders.

During the course of the game, and again during the extremely long video review of the game winning goal, John and I got into a debate. And this is what being a fan is about, in essence. We were just two guys, sitting in a pub somewhere, watching a team we love, and having a disagreement. Make no mistake, we both want the team to succeed and make us proud; we just look at the season from different perspectives.

The Islanders currently sit atop the Eastern Conference with 10 points. We are both elated. But the question is thus: How many games need to pass until we can accurately say that the Islanders are "for real?"

Of course, your definition might vary from ours. To some of you that might mean being a playoff team. To others it might mean finishing above .500 even if falling short of the top eight.

The coach and others have insisted that the goal this year is to make the playoffs. In my book, any team that considers itself playoff worthy, perhaps solid enough to stage an early round upset, even, is definitely "real."

The way they are playing now, with no clear scoring leader and a team of lunch pail "no names" (at least by NHL marketing standards), I'm inclined to think that they can succeed. I would like to see them keep it up for at least 20 games before I declare them "for real." Author and 'Hockey Insider' columnist Brad Kurtzberg agrees with my take. At the 1/4 pole, if they're still on their current points pace, he declares the Islanders legitimate.

John disagrees, though. He would like to see a sustained level of play for nearly 40 games. Half of a season.

So, fans, what's your take? Will the Isles cool off and begin their slide down the standings in a few games (like we've come to expect in the past)? Will they sustain this trend of squeaking points out almost every night? And how long must they keep up their act before you're ready to declare that they're back as a threat in the East?

Jurcina. Who Knew?

2010-10-16T22:55:00.015-04:00

Prior to Saturday night’s (10/16) game against the Colorado Avalanche, Milan Jurcina’s high water mark for goals in a season was six. And that was in his rookie campaign with Boston back in 2005-2006.

The great news for the Islanders and their fans was that he scored one-third of that total against Colorado’s Craig Anderson on this night, leading the Islanders to an important win and a pair of big points.

The Isles, who banked only one of a possible four points on their short road trip to Washington and Pittsburgh, needed a convincing win to reassure their fans (and perhaps themselves) that the hard work they have been putting in really does pay off.

After an opening period rife with scoring chances for both sides, especially a few that could have been converted by the Islanders, the score stood deadlocked at 0-0 and the shots on goals were fairly even as well. The distribution favored Colorado, but only slightly at 9-7.

It took a shorthanded goal, and by defenseman Milan Jurcina at that, but the Islanders led 1-0 at the 13:06 mark of the second. Coach Scott Gordon had been unhappy with the way the Islanders had been performing in the period up until that point, but the strike was just what they needed. Josh Bailey, who added 13 pounds in the offseason, most of it seemingly muscle, assisted on the goal.

Just five more minutes passed before “Rocket” Jurcina (as the venerable Stan Fischler named him after the game) struck again, this time from a very tough angle. Suddenly, and somewhat unexpectedly, the Isles held a two goal margin. According to Jurcina, this was his first two goal game on his ledger since he performed the feat 4 seasons prior with the Bruins.

Bailey, not content with just an assist, lit the lamp 59 seconds later and suddenly it was the Avalanche feeling buried. The Islanders seemed to be on their way to an easy victory courtesy of the quick 3 goal outburst and spotless play in net from Dwayne Roloson.

Chris Stewart, who sparred with Zenon Konopka just 5 seconds into the game, got one back for the visitors at 2:19 in the 3rd. New York General Manager Garth Snow's newest acquisition, Michael Grabner, soon payed dividends though, ballooning the lead back up to three goals with his first goal as a member of the franchise.

Colorado scored one more before the final horn blew, but John Tavares sealed the victory for New York with an empty netter. For Tavares, it was his first goal of the season. He returned after a two game absence from a mild concussion, insisting that he felt fine on the ice.

“It was huge. We needed something like that,” first-star Jurcina said after the win.

His brief analysis was dead on, as the win propelled the Isles to the top of their division at 2-1-2, though it is a bit early to be concerned with standings. Points are points, though, and any they pick up now will be fewer that they’ll need to scrap for later in the season. If the Islanders are serious about making the playoffs this year, and all the talk in the locker room echoes that sentiment, then this was a vital victory for the team from Uniondale.

Next up for the Isles: They head out of town for games against Toronto, both Florida teams, and Montreal. Only one more home game is on the horizon in October for the Islanders, 10/29 against the Canadiens.

***
News and Notes:

- Kyle Okposo was present, shoulder in a sling, at tonight’s home game. He was unavailable for comment, though.

- Trent Hunter was scratched from this one as he recovers from a foot injury he suffered earlier in the week.

Nino Nets His First But Isles Fall

2010-10-13T21:36:00.006-04:00

The outcome for the New York Islanders was a familiar one on Wednesday (10/13) night; another close contest decided by one goal against the Washington Capitals. While the final score was disappointing, several areas of the Isles' effort were impressive and/or improving. Rather than dwelling on the negatives (like a late Blake Comeau penalty that led to Washington's game winning goal), let's look at the positives.

Obviously the story of the night for New York was Nino Niederreiter's first NHL goal. It came off of a handsome pass from Doug Weight and gave the Isles an early and unexpected lead just 3:14 into the game. History was made too, as Nino became the youngest Islander to score a goal in franchise history.

Video does a much better job than I can of describing the 18 year-old's goal and the emotions that followed, so I'll just let you have a look below (courtesy of the NY Islanders):

Another pleasant surprise was the quickness of newcomer Michael Grabner. The Islanders have been missing a winger with real breakaway speed that can penetrate opposing defenses. Grabner, who had the secondary assist on Nino's goal, may be that guy. Though he played only 13:17 in this one, I felt that Grabner brought an element of excitement to the Isles' offense that it sorely needed. It will be interesting to see if Grabner is allotted further duties while the Isles are missing some important forwards.

What can be said about goaltender Dwayne Roloson that hasn't been already? Fresh off his 41st birthday, "Rolie" kept the Isles in the game the entire night against a team with tremendous scoring capability. Though Alex Ovechkin eventually solved him on a screened shot and then later a deflected one, kudos to Dwayne for helping an undermanned squad hang in against the Caps for 56 minutes. Roloson saved 24 shots in his first assignment of the season. The Islanders had their chances to make him a winner on this evening, but it didn't happen.

Finally, with James "The Wiz" Wisniewski out for a gesture that surely everyone has seen by now, the defense outperformed my expectations. Milan Jurcina and Mike Mottau stepped up admirably on the blue line, while returnees Jack Hillen and Andy MacDonald were solid as usual. It should also be noted that Jurcina and MacDonald feature cannon-like shots. I'll keep an eye on how the coaches choose to use each man's skill set in the future.

The Isles will move on to play a Pittsburgh team that has struggled out of the gate (1-3-0). Friday (10/15) will provide Islanders fans and players with their first look not only at the Penguins, but also their brand new Consol Energy Center. We'll see if New York can add to Pittsburgh's early season misery.

Isles Soldier On Despite Setbacks

2010-10-09T22:46:00.014-04:00

Another year of Islanders hockey has arrived, and by now everyone knows about the preseason setbacks suffered by the club. Despite injuries to vital pieces Kyle Okposo, Mark Streit, and Rob Schremp, the Islanders must attempt to stay afloat in the standings despite their sudden and unexpected predicament.

Tonight (10/9) the curtain came up on the 2010-2011 season, and despite the pessimism from traditional media outlets I am staying positive. It’s the only way to be as a fan of this franchise. Our day will come. I am sure of it.

That said, the Islanders faced a fairly tough assignment for their first test, the Dallas Stars. The Stars, fresh off a win in New Jersey on Friday night, are somewhat of a non-traditional opening night opponent for the Islanders.

At 7 PM, the crowd was rollicking and ready to welcome in a new season of hockey. Rick DiPietro received one of the biggest roars of approval during pregame introductions. They cheered again when New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, sporting a white Billy Smith sweater, dropped the ceremonial puck to start the season.

Dallas committed back-to-back penalties early on; both were killed off. However when Blake Comeau was sent of for boarding soon after, the Stars wasted no time capitalizing on their chance and sending the Isles to a 1-0 deficit.

Stephane Robidas added another Dallas goal at 11:56 of the first period and the proverbial air seemed to come out of the crowd. After the break the Isles came out and made some really good chances for themselves, but neither Matt Moulson nor Josh Bailey could convert either into a goal.

However, the Isles struck back with a power play goal of their own at 6:21 in the second. New acquisition James Wisniewski blasted the puck in from the point to slice the Dallas lead in half. However another newcomer, P.A. Parenteau, made a costly error while handling the puck that allowed Dallas to bump their lead back up to 2 goals.

Penalties continued to be the theme as the Isles soon found themselves on a 5-on-3 advantage. The venerable captain, Doug Weight, looking spry, netted his first goal of the season to cut Dallas’ lead to 3-2. The Islanders then traded goals and found themselves down 4-3 with 10 minutes left in the game.

Then something happened that likely wouldn’t have happened in past years. On a late powerplay, with the crowd roaring, the Islanders tied the game at 4 goals apiece. Matt Moulson, who netted 30 last season, got the equalizer. They had a chance to win in regulation when Robidas went off for a delay of game infraction, but nothing came of it. Overtime or a shootout would decide this one.

Though the Isles were unable to score in the shootout and Rick DiPietro allowed a Mike Ribiero goal, the talk was very positive from the Islanders all around. Coach Scott Gordon was pleased with the efforts of rookie Nino Niederreiter and a healthy Doug Weight. I also checked in with newcomer P.A. Parenteau who said that the crowd was great and he was initially nervous, but happy with his first game as a New York Islander.

My take? The game might be a harbinger of things to come for this squad that is still learning on the fly. While it was disappointing that they were nearly buried in an early hole, I really admire the fight and scrap that they showed. Just seeing the team tie the game late was a thrilling change; I really felt they were going to win, in fact. Outshooting your opponent 47-22 for an entire game never hurts either. I hope that keeps up.

That will likely be the theme this year. Another season of early struggles, but learning on the go how to both entertain and win when the odds are stacked against them.

***
News and notes:

- John Tavares left the game with a mild concussion. There was no further information available from team officials or the coach.

- Kyle Okposo remains in New York, not Minnesota, as he and Mark Streit begin their arduous trips down the road back from shoulder injuries.

- Nino Niederreiter's family made the trip from Switzerland to see his first NHL game. I only wish he had scored in front of them.

- Lastly, Scott Gordon would not commit to playing either DiPietro or Roloson for Monday's matinee against the Rangers. My guess would be that he'll go with Roloson.

Quick Notes From A Saturday Night

2010-10-03T03:05:00.002-04:00

While I couldn't attend the Islanders' preseason game on Saturday night (10/2) in Nassau due to a prior commitment, I did manage to scrape together a few notes and thoughts:

- Of utmost importance to readers of this site, Kyle Okposo had successful surgery on his injured shoulder, reports Newsday's Katie Strang. When a timetable for his return becomes known we will post it here.

- In a similar vein, the same doctor performed surgery on fellow assistant captain Mark Streit in Cleveland. Word is that Streit's procedure also went well, though he is expected to return later in the season than Kyle, perhaps February.

- The Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils in the aforementioned home exhibition by a 2-1 score. Rick DiPietro was solid in goal, saving 25 of the 26 shots he faced. Also returning to the ice was Doug Weight, the team's captain. Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau netted the goals for the winning side.

- Goalie Manny Legace didn't fare as well in the split squad game in Quebec City. The Islanders' "B" team was steamrolled 7-2 by Montreal. Nino Niederreiter was slashed on the leg in this game and left the ice. No word yet on the severity of his injury.

- The Islanders issued a release announcing that Rob Figren, Kevin Poulin, Anton Klementyev and Tony Romano had been reassigned to the minor league Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Also of note, Dustin Kohn was placed on waivers.

- Lastly, the regular season opens just one week from now on Saturday, October 9th. My goal from that night onward is to function less as a news aggregator, but to give you all the vital storylines, images, and opinions from this critical season of New York Islanders hockey.

Okposo Out Indefinitely, Surgery Required

2010-09-28T14:07:00.005-04:00

The team has just issued a terse statement on the status of Kyle Okposo:

"The New York Islanders have announced that forward Kyle Okposo has an injured right shoulder that requires surgery and will keep him out indefinitely."

What a great beginning to this season, wouldn't you say?

I'll have more on this situation as we learn the details.

UPDATE (3:20PM): According to Newsday's Katie Strang via Twitter, Kyle has a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The report also says that he may be back by December.

Disturbing Injury News

2010-09-26T18:01:00.003-04:00

It didn't look good when defenseman Mark Streit left the Nassau Coliseum ice hunched over on Saturday afternoon, and now it appears that Islanders fans' worst fears have come true. Although there hasn't been an official announcement yet from the team, Newsday's Katie Strang posted this disturbing piece of news on Twitter. Streit will miss a significant portion of the season, a huge blow to the defensive corps.

Additionally, Strang reports that Kyle Okposo will have another specialist look at his shoulder tomorrow. Hopefully Kyle and the team are being overly cautious, but this is somewhat discouraging news for a team snakebitten by injuries in recent seasons.

Lastly, and perhaps only marginally related to team health, the Islanders announced that they are inviting five players to camp on tryout bids.

Dean McAmmond, Manny Legace, Anders Eriksson, Krys Kolanos, and Joel Martin will get shots at earning jobs with New York.

Who Gets Hurt In A Scrimmage?

2010-09-25T14:25:00.010-04:00

Mark Streit does, apparently. While the Islanders don't yet know if there is a legitimate cause for concern or not, Streit did leave today's Blue versus White scrimmage with an apparent shoulder injury. Streit fell awkwardly into the boards after a check from behind from Matt Moulson. Coach Scott Gordon said that more information won't be known until tomorrow (9/26) or Monday.

In other injury news, Kyle Okposo was seen sitting among the crowd of 2,000 or so sporting shorts and his Minnesota Twins hat. Rob Figren was also seen in the seats nursing his ailing foot. Also missing, but unseen, was recovering captain Doug Weight.

Rick DiPietro was also doing his best to injure himself (we kid), at one point belly-flopping towards the boards while chasing down a loose puck. He also got into a bit of a scrum with Jon Sim, though the goalie described the action as a "love tap." At the end of the day Rick mentioned that 11 AM was an odd time to play hockey, but said he was no worse for wear after the event. That's good to hear.

The white team emerged the victor after a makeshift "overtime" skills competition, 5-4. The coach thought the day's event served the team well heading into their pre-season games, though he did not go into much further detail.

More news on the Weight situation as it unfolds.

Getting to Know Mr. Snow

2010-09-22T21:04:00.002-04:00

This afternoon I had the great privilege of participating in the first (and hopefully not the final) "roundtable discussion" with Islanders management. Dee Karl, Tony Stabile, and I were guests of General Manager Garth Snow. There were no guidelines set or any off-topic areas to be avoided. There have never been any such rules, nor are we ever fed potential story lines by those who oversee the Blog Box. Just so you know.

I bring this up because just hours prior to our meeting with Garth emerged the unsettling news that prospect Kirill Kabanov had again been late to a team practice. While potential discipline for Kabanov falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the coaching staff, as far as I know, it does lead me into a convenient segue on a topic that I broached with Mr. Snow.

I was eager to discover how involved he is in the drafting process, since the success or failure of picks like Kabanov reflect directly on his reputation as a General Manager.

"I'm always hands-on in regards to the meetings with the scouting staff," Snow told the group. "If I don't get a chance to see a player first-hand [then] I'll see him though video." He continued in greater detail explaining the process, insisting that the communication he has with the team's regional scouts is the quintessence of the drafting process. "I go right to the [scout] that's seen [the player] twenty, thirty times."

He characterized the time leading up to the draft and the event itself as "fun." He noted that while it's an unrealistic goal, "every team wants to get every pick right," and that's his goal as well. Furthermore, he feels that he and his staff need to be especially correct about first round picks, due to their high value and ability to alter a franchise's course. By "correct" he meant in assessing both their talent and attitude.

Which brings us back to today's events.

While neither Garth nor any team officials commented on Kirill Kabanov's situation, it doesn't take much cognitive ability to realize that the Islanders are extremely upset with the young man. Garth, when speaking on other topics unrelated directly to drafting, stressed more than once how important the character of the men on the teams he builds is to him. He encapsulated that sentiment by sharing a motto of sorts: "Good people can do great things. And I believe that."

This past July I interviwed Kabanov for the first time. By now you all know his basic story: A 1st-round hockey talent that fell in the draft due to off-ice issues. In my brief assessment of him I noted how Kirill charmed the media, saying the right things. If you read the entire piece, though, I wondered if he was really as genuine as he wished to appear.

While Kabanov hasn't committed unforgivable transgressions, I am beginning to believe that my initial "read" of him was accurate. His actions are speaking for him, and not well. On the bright side, though, as fans, many of us are forgiving. Hopefully for his sake, Garth Snow's, and the team's, his youth works in his favor and not against him. He still has time to correct his immaturity and learn from this camp experience.

***

With respect to Garth Snow, this is only the first of many topics that were covered during the roundtable chat. There will be other installments following this one on various subjects. Garth was generous enough to give us about an hour of his time (and almost as much recorded audio!), so we still have a lot to cover.

Hopefully I'll see some of you at Saturday (9/25) morning's scrimmage. Don't be afraid to stop, say hello, and talk Islanders hockey with me!

Some News From Media Day

2010-09-21T15:33:00.002-04:00

While prior commitments didn't allow me to join the New York Islanders at today's media day, there was an announcement made a few moments ago. The Islanders have signed Swiss winger Nino Niederreiter to an entry-level deal.

The Islanders are obviously high on the 18-year old Niederreiter, whom you will recall was the team's 1st round draft selection (5th overall) this June. Many fans and media are speculating that the signing is a precursor to Niederreiter making the NHL squad out of training camp.

View the Islanders' full version of the announcement here.

Checking In From Rookie Camp

2010-09-14T13:10:00.007-04:00

Rookie camp is underway on Long Island, as Scott Gordon and his coaches take up the first task of their 2010-2011 NHL season. Specifically, it's the task of evaluating and teaching some of the heralded young talent that General Manager Garth Snow has stockpiled for the team over the last few seasons.

Gordon, who shared some post-skate thoughts with the few of us in attendance, said that this week is about giving the rookies a chance to display their talents. "Every player has his own special abilities and it's important that they show those," the coach declared. He went on to say that he wasn't overly concerned with this group's mistakes, realizing that they are inexperienced and aren't really expected to perform as a team.

"An opportunity is put in front of them. What they do with it ultimately rests in their hands." He summarized his role nicely, saying, "As a coach you try to teach; your objective is to give the players a game plan that allows them to be successful. Along the way you try to have a little fun with it."

I'm not sure if the players would agree with that last sentiment, though, as we saw a few instances of Gordon taking players to task on the ice. Kirill Kabanov's Day 1 tardiness earned him some extra sprint skating after the session, and more than a few times Gordon halted drills with his whistle to correct players on their positioning.

While we didn't recognize all of the names on the ice, we did all keep our eyes glued to Calvin DeHaan, goalie Mikko Koskinen, Travis Hamonic, Nino Niederreiter, and the aforementioned Kabanov, who sported a bright orange sweater.

We are also happy to report that Calvin DeHaan said he is fully recovered from last season's injury, and is undeterred by the defensive logjam ahead of him on the Islanders depth chart. He mentioned that he has been working on his strength and conditioning with coach Jesse Demers for the last four weeks. DeHaan will be heading to Boston tomorrow when the Isles' prospects play a game against their Bruins counterparts at the TD Garden.

Stay with us for more camp news and views later this week.

Scott Gordon, (Bridgeport head coach) Jack Capuano, and the Isles coaching staff impart their wisdom upon the youngsters.

So Close You Can Smell It

2010-09-12T01:58:00.005-04:00

As the title implies, the days are getting shorter and hockey season is nearly upon us again.

But first a few notes to our loyal readers: we haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. We're still here, and are primed to give you more frequent and deeper coverage than ever before.

The Blog Box, with new leadership and the continued blessing of the New York Islanders franchise, rolls on into its fourth season this autumn. Opening Night may not be until October, but we're ready to deliver news and views from training camp, which begins in just a few short days.

Most of the players have arrived on Long Island, ready for another dose of Coach Scott Gordon's tutelage. For a few of the boys it will be their first camp with the Islanders, so we hope to hear from them first. We'll also catch up with Doug Weight, Kyle, and anyone else who'll grant us a few minutes of their time.

While we're not here to paint a completely rosy picture, we must say that many people we've been in contact with expect bigger things from the young Isles this season. We're excited, and we hope our forthcoming stories will encourage you to be too.

Islanders fans have hungered for a team to be proud of, and the page may finally be turning on the rebuild. The Blog Box is also changing, though you won't notice it here. We, the bloggers, are taking our cues from people with a real vision of what the Blog Box can be, which is a refreshing and positive change. Expect more interactivity and videos, for sure. We may even have a special treat for you by the middle of next week.

To our new readers, thank you for choosing Okposo Net. To those of you who have been with us a while, thank you as well, and please stick with us for what promises to be another exciting campaign.

Kyle Bats With the Minnesota Twins

2010-08-24T18:35:00.004-04:00

Kyle Okposo checked in with Islanders TV recently when they filmed a fun, short clip of him taking batting practice with the Minnesota Twins. Kyle, as most of you know, is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota and has told me many times that he is a big Twins fan.

The Twins, currently in first place in their division, let Kyle take some batting practice swings against manager Ron Gardenhire. The clip, which can be seen here, also shows Kyle meeting some of his hometown baseball heroes, such as Joe Mauer. It looks like it was a fun day for all involved.

As I am also a big baseball fan (the Twins being one of my favorite teams), it is only right that I offer an opinion on Kyle's baseball 'skills':

My crude MLB scouting report on Kyle Okposo (20-80 scale): Batting: 70, Throwing: 20. I think he'd better stick to hockey. :)

Will Travis Hamonic Make the Team?

2010-08-23T22:35:00.004-04:00

"I definitely feel ready." - Travis Hamonic

With each passing day we get closer to September and training camp, and while most people are not yet thinking about hockey, I am. Though I love summer weather and all of the outdoor activities that come with it, I look forward to getting back ice-side and seeing young players compete for jobs with our Islanders.

And one positional battle that I'm especially looking forward to seeing involves young defenseman Travis Hamonic.

If you recall, Hamonic was drafted during the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry draft in Ottawa, Ontario. At draft time he measured in at 6'2" and 215 pounds, but told us this summer that he was specifically trying to bulk up.

"I’m going to continue to put on a couple more pounds of muscle mass and grow and get stronger and get fitter in the weight room," he said after his Long Island Blue vs. Orange scrimmage appearance. He mentioned that he would be spending time in Winnipeg this summer skating with pros in order to prepare himself for the coming preseason camp.

"It's going to be all mindset and physical set," Hamonic continued. "I've got to make sure that I come in knowing that I have an opportunity to make the team. The coaching staff is definitely going to do what they feel is right with me and I'm going to do it with a smile on my face."

Hamonic went on to further make his case by saying "I've had a lot of success in Juniors," but now that he's 20 years old "things have changed from last year" and it's time to "turn a page" into professional hockey.

Well, Hamonic did turn a page of sorts this spring when the Islanders inked him to a 3-year entry level pro contract. So the Islanders are obviously happy with his development to this point, but while the ink was drying on the paperwork they went out and radically reshaped their defense. So the question to be asked is not if Hamonic can make the team out of camp, but will he?

Most of the projections I have seen put Travis as an eventual top 4 defenseman. But with the signings of Mark Eaton, Milan Jurcina, and the trade for James Wisniewski it seems as if Travis is bound to get squeezed down the depth chart, if not out of the picture for this season completely. With a healthy Radek Martinek back and Mark Streit going nowhere, I'm also wondering what will come of the Hillen/MacDonald/Gervais battle for the last spots on D.

So, is Hamonic destined for Bridgeport (AHL) this season? Well, if he looks as improved in camp as he did on both sides of the puck in the scrimmage, it will be tough to ship him out. If there are a flurry of early injuries at the NHL level then he'll definitely be in the mix. But I think even if he comes out and knocks everyone's socks off this preseason, the Islanders will still be hard pressed to move him ahead of their veterans. In a fact, a mandatory year of pro development at Bridgeport may already be the plan for the 20-year old, as far as we know. And this is why I love the preseason. Because the only way we're going to know is by letting it all shake out next month.

Let's Learn More About Brock Nelson

2010-08-15T15:52:00.003-04:00

When we last saw Brock Nelson, he had taken part in the Islanders summer Orange-Blue scrimmage and was preparing for World Juniors evaluation camp. We had a chance to speak with Brock after his Long Island appearance and get his thoughts on a few things, and we have an update on his recent performance.

If you remember, the Islanders selected Nelson with the final pick (30th) in the first round back in June's entry draft. Admittedly, we didn't know much about the young centerman at the time.

Currently enrolled at the University of North Dakota and already taking summer classes, Brock first told us about his draft day experience. He mentioned that it was a bit of a surprise and an honor for the Isles to move up and snatch him in the first round. Nearing the end of Day 1, he and his family expected to hear Brock's name called on the second day of the draft, but felt elated when they heard the New York Islanders select him just before the end of the round.

It was equally thrilling for Brock to get the chance to play in an NHL arena (at the scrimmage) just weeks removed from high school, though he admitted that he didn't get to speak very much with the Islanders coaching staff or some of their young stars. He did speak a bit about his congratulatory phone call from Kyle Okposo, who just wished him the best and told Brock to have fun at this time in his life.

With regards to the scrimmage itself, we can happily report that Brock did not look out of place, but noted that the one area he wishes to improve is his overall strength. He knows that the NHL game is much faster than anything he has experienced to this point in his career. He was also sure to praise Long Island and its fans; always a good move in our book. He mentioned the prospect fishing trip and their Mets game as two of the week's highlights.

More recently Brock has shined at the World Junior development camp in an attempt to make that squad in December. His 2 goal, 1 assist (in 3 games) performance in Lake Placid apparently impressed both the USA coaching staff and that of the Islanders. The talk now is of how much an asset his large frame may be to the Isles in the future. He told us that he models his game after Anze Kopitar's; not a bad player to emulate.

As the summer drags on, we'll have a few more tidbits from other prospects who participated in the scrimmage. Come September and October Okposo Net expects to bring you greater and more frequent access to Islanders players and prospects unlike ever before. We are getting very excited about the coming season, and we hope you are too.

Garth Listens to Us

2010-07-30T23:14:00.009-04:00

It was just mere days ago that we implored general manager Garth Snow to pick up the pace on the trade front. Well, tonight (7/30) he listened, acquiring defenseman James Wisniewski from Anaheim for a conditional third round draft pick in 2011. It's a small price to pay for improving the blueline corps, and we applaud Garth.

Looking at the numbers, last season Wisniewski netted 3 goals and 27 assists. Looking back over his last 3 NHL campaigns, if he remains healthy he appears to be good for around a 30 point season with a few goals sprinkled into that total. Furthermore, word on J.W. (sorry, we're getting tired of typing his surname) is that he can actually play defense. In the team-issued press release regarding the deal, Garth Snow was quick to point out that Wisniewski brings an "added element of toughness" to the team.

It remains to be seen what this means for one of the other Islanders d-men, most likely Bruno Gervais. Will there be another transaction to follow in order to solve the sudden logjam? We await Garth's next move.

Follow Up: Perception Is Reality

2010-07-28T14:35:00.003-04:00

Rather than just bemoaning the current state of the Islanders (hey, it's what we do best), we should have taken another step and suggested some ways to improve. Well, our good friend Rob McGowan of the The Hockey Writers has just done that. Please check out his newest piece at once.

As stated yesterday, we too would have liked to have seen Alex Frolov come to the Island. We agree with Rob's initial suggestions, but would stay away from Paul Kariya. Remember, McGowan is referring only to currently available free agents. In any event, take a few moments to read and share your thoughts with Rob.

Perception Is Reality

2010-07-27T16:01:00.006-04:00

The New York Islanders are having a fairly good summer, though you wouldn't know it if you talked to many of their fans this offseason. Garth Snow set out to improve his team's spotty defense; he added free agents Mark Eaton and Milan Jurcina to help. It is also expected that at least one of team's highly touted defensive prospects will see time in Uniondale during the upcoming season. Garth addressed team toughness a bit by adding "Big Z" to the mix. (At least they'll have someone watching the prized forwards' backs this season, if nothing else). The team also retained 30-goal scorer Matt Moulson's services without having to endure a messy arbitration hearing. The affable winger received a one year deal worth $2.45 million. Sounds good, right?

But to hear many Islanders fans speak, the offseason has been one of loss and management buffoonery. Exiled from the club over the last three months have been former great Bryan Trottier, assistant general manager Ryan Jankowski, and broadcaster (and all around good guy) Billy Jaffe. Whether these forced departures were executed based on merit, economics, or who-know-what else, the timing of each was like a monthly slap in the face to the team's loyal fans.

As if that wasn't bad enough, there was the entire Ilya Kovalchuk sideshow that the Islanders somehow drew themselves into. Rumors circulated that the Isles were a bidder for his services, then had made an offer, then had done nothing at all. Fans, desperate for a magic bullet, lapped up these stories each day. It all amounted to nothing. The Islanders would have been better served to have never made a peep about Kovalchuk.

To top it all off, a further indignation was suffered today when Alexander Frolov signed with the New York Rangers. Your opinion may differ, but we think the winger would have been the perfect addition to the young Isles squad. We love good players coming off of a down year, and Frolov fit a need for the Isles. He would have beefed up the scoring from the left side, and he would have come fairly cheaply (he signed for 1 year/$3 million). But now he's with the Islanders' archrival.

The truth of the matter is that Garth Snow has been patient and mostly done what he has promised. But this upcoming season is the one where it is all supposed to come together. Scott Gordon will enter the third and final season of his coaching contract, and the fans are expecting a playoff birth. The promise of 'potential' can only take you so far before people expect results. And we are fast approaching that time.

Say what you will about how fickle and pessimistic the fans can be, but the harsh reality is that it has been almost 20 years since they have had something go berserk (in a good way) over. As one fan told us, the team has essentially become the "Los Angeles Clippers of the NHL." Ouch.

Maybe Garth Snow needs to snap us all back to reality and tell us to stop living in the past, much the way Nick Saban did with Alabama's college football program. But he can have the same effect without saying anything at all. He needs to again deliver a transformative transaction. Have a moment that will not only change the roster of the team, but the culture around it. We understand he doesn't want to lose his way with the rebuild. But he also noted that he would make intelligent signings (which he has) and trades to augment the process. On the last point, he has come up a bit short.

Perhaps it's too late for it to happen this offseason, but we're a long way from the start of 2010-2011 playoff hockey. Until the Islanders secure their spot, the negative perceptions, whether fair or not, will continue to be the reality on Long Island.

The Curious Case of Kirill Kabanov

2010-07-13T23:14:00.010-04:00

Most of the talk following the successful Blue versus Orange scrimmage last week has centered around young prospect Kirill Kabanov. We had a few minutes alone with Kabanov after the scrimmage and asked him about his life leading up to his selection. He shed some light on what it's like to grow up playing hockey in post-Soviet Russia, as well as his desire to make the NHL. While he can at most times be charming and engaging, there still seems to be an impish side to him lying just beneath the surface.

The impression that most people took away from his performance last Saturday night - and it was a performance - is that Kabanov is a uniquely talented showman. He loved being the center of attention, it seemed, and wanted to give the people what they paid to see. He tried shootout moves that dazzled, even if ultimately failing to put the puck in the net. But Kirill must know by now that hope is a plentiful commodity these days on the Nassau ice, and Kabanov did his best to add his brand of fuel to the speculative fire.

Afterward, Kabanov told us that practices in Russia can be a toil. Up at 6 AM, 4 hours on the ice a day before a full day of school, sometimes even waiting at the rink to practice. And that's before you factor in Moscow's traffic, which he said might mean another 3 or 4 hours per day in a car.

But since he has been a child his coaches have reared him on the dream of becoming an NHL player. Pressed for examples of his favorite players, he named two in Valeri Kharlamov and Ilya Kovalchuk; one a fine product of the old Soviet system and the latter a modern-day great. His commitment to his rigorous schedule and belief in reaching his goal seems genuine, contrary to the pre-draft cautionary tales that were as much associated with his name as his talent.

However, when confronted directly on that unsavory topic, Kabanov tried to deflect by half-heartedly saying things like "Sure, I'll do my best" and insisting that he really is, after all, a "good boy."

At this point in his development he has said all the right things about the Islanders, the fans, and New York. He went so far as to pledge that by this time next year he'll have a map of Long Island tattooed over his heart. One wonders, though, if this is genuine affection or just flattery.

You hope that for the sake of the young man and his team that it is all legitimate, because it would be a real shame if he wound up the NHL's version of 'Nook LaLoosh'. There is no question from the brief sample we saw that the talent on the ice is real. Does Kabanov have the complete package, including the maturity, to become a star? Time will tell.

A Subtle Change to Okposo Net

2010-07-10T15:10:00.002-04:00

The cloak of anonymity is being lifted from Okposo Net! From this point forward, author pseudonyms will no longer be used. When this blog began several years ago, we felt it was important to protect the identities of the bloggers on the site for several reasons. However, these perceived dangers never materialized, so today we're lifting the veil of secrecy. Hopefully this move will also encourage more readers to comment and interact with us.

Speaking of interacting, we hope we'll see some of you at the prospect scrimmage tonight at Nassau Coliseum. We'll be there, so stop and say hello if you're so inclined.

--Ken

Prospect Mini Camp Underway

2010-07-08T00:43:00.004-04:00

Longtime readers of this site know that in addition to bringing you constant news about Kyle Okposo and his teammates, we're always keen on sharing some of the overlooked stories too. Whether it was interviewing Shuhei Kuji last year or talking F1 racing with Sean Bergenheim, it has always been a treat and a challenge to find stories that folks may not have heard.

You also might have noticed along the way that we love seeing and discussing the up and coming young Islanders. Prospect mini camp has always been one of our favorite events in to attend, which is why we were dismayed when we found out that our schedule didn't allow us to cover the camp this summer. The mini camp is always a chance for our editor, Ken, to both unearth some interesting angles and routinely embarrass himself in front of prospects as he attempts to speak their native tongue, whether it be Japanese, Russian, or English.

And this year two of the most intriguing prospects this season happen to come from Russia, Kirill Petrov and Kirill Kabanov.

Let's begin with Kabanov, as his name is probably fresher in everyone's minds. The 17 year old (he'll turn 18 on July 16th) Muscovite was selected in the 2010 NHL draft in the 3rd round. Almost everyone regarded the pick as a "low-risk, high reward" selection for the Islanders. At one time, there was talk of Kabanov being a first round pick, perhaps even #1 overall. Well, it didn't happen for the young Russian, as he developed a reputation of being difficult, having his commitment to teams and work ethic questioned, and rumors pervaded of him spending more time in tattoo parlors than on the ice. (For anyone who is interested in confirming that the young man's body is not "covered in tattoos," you can see some of them midway through this YouTube video. The clip actually makes him seem pretty normal, but rumors have a way of snowballing, we suppose).

Kabanov is using mini camp week to dispel these myths and show his talent, and initial reports that we've read are all positive.

Along with Kabanov at the camp this week is the other half of "The Kirills," Mr. Petrov. The story surrounding him was not so much his attitude, but whether or not he was willing and able to play in the US. Currently signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian KHL, Petrov has made it clear to the team that he is dedicated to one day becoming an Islander. He is willing to take on the challenge, whatever it entails for him, including 'paying his dues' in the minors. That's refreshing to hear, if he stays true to that course.

The only thing Islanders fans want to see right now is the rebuild progress steadily, and for the Russian duo to perhaps be part of it. Not only for the success of the young men and the team, but to reassure people that the scouting department and management of the club really do know what they are doing.

In addition to 'The Kirills,' there are scores of other stories that usually emerge from mini camp. Since we can't be there, we advise you to check the official team site's daily mini camp blog and our sister sites in the Blog Box (linked on the right side of our main page).

Lastly, for those of you interested in seeing the youngsters for yourselves, a prospect scrimmage and skills competition will be open to the public on Saturday (7/10) night. Tickets to the event and information can be found here. We wish all of the prospects luck in their journey to become New York Islanders.

Isles Add Bruiser Konopka

2010-07-02T15:57:00.003-04:00

While the Islanders haven't added much scoring punch to their lineup, they added some punch of the traditional variety by signing Zenon Konopka moments ago.

Konopka is a tough 4th line center who is basically known for doing things like this. With 265 penalty minutes last season for Tampa Bay, he certainly adds an element of toughness that the fans have been clamoring for.

Not yet addressed, however, is the Isles' dire need to improve their team speed and scoring ability. None of the four signings, save perhaps Jurcina, comes with a shot good enough to score regularly. While there are some big names still available, it remains to be seen if the Islanders make a pitch to sign a top 6 forward or are content to sit on the sidelines.

Here's Some News

2010-07-02T15:00:00.007-04:00

Contrary to reports, apparently Garth Snow did not leave the office early for the long holiday weekend. A flurry of signings came in on Friday afternoon, with the Isles inking Mark Eaton, P.A. Parenteau, and Milan Jurcina to new deals.

At 33, Eaton is the most battle tested veteran of the trio and figures to have the greatest impact for the Isles next season. We will update with the terms of the deals when we receive the information. If any other moves are made, we'll of course have them too.

UPDATE: Eaton signs a two year deal for $2.5 million per season. Parenteau's and Jurcina's deals are of the one year variety, with Jurcina set to make $1 million and P.A. a cool $600,000.

Free Agency Opens Tomorrow

2010-06-30T18:31:00.003-04:00

In case you were unsure about the date, the NHL's free agency period opens tomorrow, July 1st. General Manager Garth Snow will have some work to do this off-season, as his Islanders will look to bulk up their defense, as well as trying to improve other areas. Hopefully Garth can find some nice value forwards too, as the team has been woefully lacking in left-side scoring over the past few seasons (though Matt Moulson's breakout campaign last year was a delightful surprise). Overall team speed may need to be addressed too.

While we all wait on the team's minor league prospects to develop, many fans feel that making the playoffs in 2010-2011 should and can be a realistic goal for the team. With a deep free agent class about to set off a spending frenzy, we'll be watching and hoping that Garth is active in the coming days. If he is, we'll have the news right here as soon as any deals are confirmed.