Live At The Draft Party

Okposo Net is live at Nassau Coliseum to bring you the pick(s) as they happen. The fans are in a festive mood, the Isles have provided a host of family activities, and a large crowd has come out despite the unsettled weather.

BREAKING: The Isles have traded their 2013 2nd round pick for veteran defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky.

With the 4th pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the Islanders have selected GRIFFIN REINHART.

Reinhart, who scored 12 goals last season for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League, is a 6'4", 207 pound native of West Vancouver, British Columbia.

Griffin is the son of Paul Reinhart, a former NHLer who saw time with the Flames and Canucks organizations.

With round one of the draft complete, the Islanders will select tomorrow at #34. They also hold picks #65, #103, #124, #125, #155, and #185.

Stay with us for complete coverage of Saturday's events.

BREAKING: Isles Dismiss Assistant Coaches

Via a tersely written press release, the Islanders dismissed assistant coaches Scott Allen and Dean Chynoweth. No replacements have yet been named.

Here's the one sentence press release, via the team.

More news as it becomes available.

Milestone Night For Kyle

Kyle Okposo reached a personal milestone with two goals on Thursday night (versus Pittsburgh). Okposo, who has struggled to score consistently all season, reached the 20 goal mark in a season for the first time in his professional career.

His play has been much better of late, evidenced by his five goals in the team's last four games. The pair also gets him over the 40 point threshold for the second time in his National Hockey League career.

His season line now stands at 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 total points.

He won't reach his career high of 52 points set back in the 2009-2010 season, nor will the team make the playoffs. However, his recent play may serve as a shot of confidence for the remaining five games of this campaign and into next season.

Kyle's career line as of this post is 64 G, 93 A, 157 PTS.

As someone who has followed his hockey career dating back to his days at the University of Minnesota, I am pleased for him. And I know he still has the will and ability to improve.

Nabokov: From Tolled To In The Fold

News broke on Wednesday morning of the New York Islanders re-signing goaltender Evgeni Nabokov to a one year deal. The team announced the deal via press release and Twitter at around 11:30 AM, though major news sources had the information just moments quicker.

The deal will pay Nabokov a reported $2.75 million in 2012-2013 and comes free of any movement restrictions. The soon-to-be 37-year old, who has been the team's steadiest goalie this season, can leave on his terms next year, if he so chooses. It also allows Islanders management to use the Russian as a trading chip next season, should it come to that.

As you'll remember, it was little more than a year ago that General Manager Garth Snow selected Nabokov on re-entry waivers, then tolled the goalie's contract after he chose not to play the end of the NHL season in New York.

It seems that with today's news the sides have clearly reconciled, with Nabokov saying “I’m thrilled to commit to this team for next season.”

While his season's line (17 wins, 2.56 GAA, .912 save %) will not nominate him for the Vezina Trophy this season, it has been his performance between the pipes and leadership that has prevented this season from become a true disaster.

Late Breakdowns Leave Isles Adrift

I'm not going to lie. I thought the season would turn out a lot better than it did. Unfortunately, Thursday's (3/13) game against Washington featured another blown lead, another overtime loss, and more fan angst.

Leading 4-1 late in the second period, the Islanders allowed three unanswered Capitals goals and lost in a shootout, 5-4.

The fact that this year's Islanders have failed to close so many winnable games has left me (and surely all of you) completely discouraged.

The scabs don't need to be picked again. Pointing fingers doesn't solve the glaring problems that plagues this team. But I am haunted by the fact that this team has let (and continues to let) so many points slip away. Against Washington (again), New Jersey, the Rangers, and so on. And that has just been within the last two weeks!

The Isles blew the lead yesterday in a game that typified the types of stumbles and missteps they have endured all season. Sure, there were good individual efforts, such as John Tavares' three points and Kyle Okposo's pair of assists.

However, the parts haven't nearly added up to a competitive sum.

Some fans and media are suggesting that the parts need to be replaced. Others have gone with the old motto of "You can't fire the players," suggesting that fresh coaching is the way to go.

I, however, don't think either is the right approach. I think that the only thing that can right this foundering ship is a major influx of talent. Only then will the fans become more receptive to season ticket renewal letters without bouts of anger and scorn.

Manager Garth Snow has his work cut out for him. He has little more than one able scoring line and some serviceable goalies (both of whom are pending free agents). He has some goaltending prospects in his deck and a possible scoring threat (Ryan Strome) on the way.

And that's about it.

He needs to completely rebuild a defense which was an utter failure, save for Travis Hamonic, Mark Streit, and Andy MacDonald. And even Streit didn't have a very good year.

If he can make trades for the Ryan Smiths and Christian Ehrhoffs of the world, and pay veterans like Brian Rolston over $5 million for very little, surely Garth can pull this off. Maybe not build a Vancouver-like powerhouse, but a team at least good enough to capture a #7 or #8 playoff seed.

Sure, it's nice that Tavares has set his career high in points and Matt Moulson has his third straight 30 goal season. But if it means missing the playoffs year after year then it's worth nothing.

To continue on this path is just wasting these players' careers. And that's a shame.

The young players who really care about this team and Long Island deserve better. I, who have been writing about this team for five seasons and have yet to attend a postseason game, deserve better.

Most importantly, the fans deserve better.

I hope that Charles Wang, with an understandably uncertain future in this market, at least allows Garth Snow to try this offseason. That's all we can ask.

Garth Dumps Vets At Deadline

In a move that nobody (and I mean nobody) saw coming, New York Islanders General Manager Garth Snow dropped a trading deadline day bomb at 3 PM on Monday. The Islanders moved LW Brian Rolston and D Mike Mottau to the Boston Bruins for two prospects.

The veterans, whom the Islanders had brought in at the beginning of the season to provide production and leadership for the youngsters on the Isles' roster, wound up not doing much of either. Snow, decided to pull the plug on the experiment, receiving Yannick Riendeau and Marc Cantin in return.

While it's not a trade that will have much impact for the big picture of the Islanders' rebuild, it does allow younger replacements such as Casey Cizikas, David Ullstrom, and perhaps Mark Katic to assume larger roles at the NHL level.

Unfairly or not, Mottau and Rolston had come to symbolize everything that was wrong with the veterans on this year's Islanders; too old, under-productive, and overpaid.

Perhaps two tweets best summarized Islanders fans' elation and what the trade means:

From Craig Buckser (@cbuckser): "Garth wins if the prospects are still breathing."

Taking a more analytical approach soon after was Eric Hornick (@ehornick): "Isles trade two players not part of their future, save $1.3 million doing so, and then add two players who could potentially develop."

While it won't help the Islanders make the playoffs this year, it sounds as if folks are pleased with the move. As they should be.

Isles Drop Rival Rangers 4-3

The game began with a Matt Moulson goal and ended the very same way.

The Islanders emerged 4-3 winners over the rival New York Rangers after 65 minutes of spirited hockey (plus a shootout) on Friday (2/24) night in Nassau.

In addition to a veteran goaltender (Evgeni Nabokov) and a kid (Casey Cizikas) making his league debut, the game showcased two players who were on opposite sides of the rivalry just two seasons ago. PA Parenteau played 22 games with the New York Rangers in 2009-2010 after languishing in their minor leagues for several years. In that same season, Martin Biron backed up Dwayne Roloson in 29 games for the Isles.

The pair has since switched allegiances, each player now having very good seasons for their respective teams.

Biron started the game for the Rangers, who have shot to the top of the Eastern Conference through steady scoring, superior goaltending, and a skilled defense. They came into the game a whopping 23 better than the Islanders in the standings.

But as any fan of either team knows, you can throw that out the window when the two rivals meet.

The aforementioned Moulson got the Islanders out to a 1-0 lead just 6:07 into the contest, taking a slick pass from John Tavares from behind the net and hammering it home.

PA Parenteau, who has been somewhat of a revelation for the Islanders, at times playing on the top line this season, netted another two goals in this contest. He rocketed a shot past Biron to double his team's lead at the 8:42 mark, and the Isles quieted those fans in the stands who chose to wear blue and red sweaters to the game.

After last year's breakout performance, Parenteau is making his case for a big payday this summer. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent, and there is some question as to what his fate will be on Long Island.

He is making General Manager Garth Snow's job very difficult, since the trading deadline is this coming Monday (2/27).

After a second Parenteau goal, this time on a power play at 8:11 of the second period, the Isles looked to be on their way to a victory. They had a 3-1 lead (Marc Staal had earlier narrowed the gap with a power play goal of his own) with a very steady Nabokov in goal.

Nabokov, who is also set to become a free agent this summer, is supposedly in discussions with the team about a contract extension, though at this point there is no substantive news to report.

Casey Cizikas, the 20 year old center, was called up and debuted with a baptism by fire. He played 11-plus minutes, including some power play time, and acquitted himself nicely according to Head Coach Jack Capuano.

"I thought he responded well. He works extremely hard. He gave us some good minutes tonight, won some key faceoffs too."

The game was chippy throughout, but there was only one major fight and it was early on. Matt Marin battled Stu Bickel to a draw in the first period.

The Islanders eventually squandered their lead but held on through a scoreless third period. Nabokov finished with 33 saves (not including those made in the shootout).

Frans Nielsen and Matt Moulson scored in that competition to bring the victory home for the Islanders, and their fans earned bragging rights, at least on this night.

The Islanders, who have just 21 games left to make a playoff run, will need to put together a long winning streak to have a realistic chance at the postseason. They play 13 of the remaining games on the road.

The first of those road contests will take place Sunday, in Ottawa. We'll have news of any team transactions that take place as well.

News and notes:

- Travis Hamonic returned from a ghoulish face injury which required surgery, but he played well and earned Capuano's praise. He played over 22 minutes after sitting out for nine games. The coach called him "a vocal young guy."

- Josh Bailey was scratched with back spasms.

- John Tavares had two assists to bump his season point total to 60. He won 20 of 33 (61%) faceoffs.

- The Islanders improved their record to 5-1 all-time in shootouts against the Rangers. Nabokov has never lost one as an Islander.