Pre-Season Preview: New York Islanders vs. New Jersey Devils

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (1-2-0) vs. NEW JERSEY DEVILS (1-3-0)

The Essentials

September 30, 2011 - 7:05 PM

Prudential Center - Newark, NJ

TV: Islanders Web Site

The Season Series

9/24 vs. New Jersey - NYI - 6, NJ - 2
9/30 at New Jersey

The Goalies

NJ: Johan Hedberg, Jeff Frazee

NYI: Rick DiPietro, Kevin Poulin

The Rosters

New Jersey Devils

Zimbio

Mattias Tedenby - Adam Henrique - David Clarkson
Vladimir Zharkov - David Steckel - Steve Bernier
Chad Wiseman - Steven Zalewski - Stephen Gionta
Eric Boulton - Tim Sestito - Cam Janssen

Jay Leach - Matt Corrente
Mark Fraser - Peter Harrold
Alexander Urbom - Anton Stralman

New York Islanders

Zimbio

Blake Comeau - Marty Reasoner - Nino Niederreiter

Jay Pandolfo - Josh Bailey - P.A. Parenteau

Matt Martin - Ryan Strome - Tim Wallace

Trevor Gillies - Trevor Frischmon - Micheal Haley

Mark Streit - Steve Staios

Aaron Ness - Mark Eaton

Matt Donovan - Mike Mottau

Prospect Report: September 29, 2011

September 29, 2011

OHL - Mississauga - 6, Niagara - 4

Mitchell Theoret - 0 G, 2 A, -1, 0 PIM

Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, -1, 0 PIM

News: Steve Staios Signs With Islanders

Darren Dreger is reporting that Steve Staios, the 38 year old defenseman who was brought in on a try out contract, has signed a 1 year deal with the New York Islanders worth $800K with up to $1.6m in bonuses. 

AT: Solid signing and totally expected after his very solid training camp with the Isles. He was blocking shots, sound positionally and providing veteran leadership to a team that certainly could use it. It's a fair contract for someone who has had a great career, and if he stays healthy for 60+ games, was completely worth the money. Of course, it would've been nice if the Islanders had actually gone out and gotten a true top 4 defenseman, but I think that ship has sailed at this point.

CH: Staios has been outstanding during camp, outplaying many of his teammates for a spot in the Isles starting lineup. The contract value may be a little high, but since the team is dealing with the cap floor, this all but ensures them reaching it by October 8. But that's neither here nor there given the circumstances. The Isles needed help on the blueline and now they got it. The key is just for Staios to stay healthy, as Alex said. As we said when he came to camp, this was more about if Staios could A) stay healthy and B) play at an adequate level. His reputation speaks for itself, and it showed by them rewarding him with a contract..

Season Preview: Josh Bailey

Josh Bailey

Position: Center
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 187 lbs
Birthdate: October 2, 1989 (21 Years Old)
Birthplace: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Acquired: Draft - 1st Round, 9th Overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders/Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2010-2011 Stats (NYI): 70 GP - 11 G - 17 A - 28 P - 37 PIM
2010-2011 Stats (BPT): 11 GP - 6 G - 11 A - 17 P - 4 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Third Line Center

Last year: Bailey entered the third year of his entry level contract with a lot to prove. He started out on fire, with a huge first few weeks of the season. However, after suffering a hip flexor in Toronto in late October, Bailey completely regressed. He was sent to Bridgeport for 11 games and performed phenomenally down there, but it was status quo for him once he was called back up to the NHL. To be fair, Bailey played with a revolving door of linemates along with switching positions during the course of the season. That said, the season was extremely disappointing for a guy who had a lot to prove - especially given his great start.

Expectations: This is really a make-or-break year for Bailey. Even though he accepted a two year contract, the team will not continue to play him if he is not progressing at the same rate the team is. Bailey will have no excuse to not perform this year, even though he is currently slated to play on the third line. Instead of Jon Sim, Rob Schremp, Jeremy Colliton, and Jesse Joensuu on the other side of him and Blake Comeau, Bailey will have guys like Brian Rolston and Nino Niederreiter. This increase of talent complements Bailey's game well and should put him in a position to succeed. At this point, it's on Bailey to do just that.

Projections: GP 71 - 12 G - 19 A - 31 P

Thoughts:

CH: Bailey may be one of the biggest individual question marks on this year's Islanders. Yes, there is no question the Islanders rushed him, but four years later the onus needs to be put on the player. Bailey is not progressing at the same rate that other Islanders are, which makes puts him on the hot seat in regards to the team's future - even with a two year contract. Bailey's best skill right now is his defensive game, which is certainly a valuable skill to have. There's certainly plenty of time for a soon-to-be 22 year old center to develop into a good two-way center. But the fact is he is running out of time to make that impact here, because the Isles just don't have time to wait around for him anymore. With the potential that he has, it's not fair to write him off just yet. But the window is certainly closing.

AT: This is without a doubt a major year for Bailey to show where he belongs on this team, if at all. With centers such as Casey Cizikas, David Ullstrom, Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson all within a year or two of the NHL, this is Bailey's time to prove that he's the man for the job. Unless the chemistry that formed between Nielsen, Okposo and Grabner last year magically dissolves, Bailey will almost certainly find himself on a constant 3rd line center role with some combination of Brian Rolston, Blake Comeau and possibly Nino Niederreiter or perhaps another player, and that's fine. Having two two-way centers in Nielsen and Bailey down the middle would be great for this team. However, Bailey needs to produce offensively and give it 110% every single game, as he did neither last season. His stats suffered because of it and he was sent down to Bridgeport for a while, so hopefully for this year that was a bit of a wakeup call. In the beginning of last season for the first 8-10 games or so, Bailey was an absolute beast on the ice and was really showing his potential should he give it his all every game. That tapered off quickly and Bailey went through major stretches looking lethargic and producing absolutely nothing. That is not going to fly with a team that is so filled with depth at center, and it's not going to fly with a team trying to make the playoffs this year. It's your time and your opportunity, Josh. Make the most of it.

Prospect Report: September 28, 2011

September 28, 2011

KHL - Amur Khabarovsk - 4, Ak Bars - 0

Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 0 A, -1, 0 PIM

Season: 7 GP, 3 G, 1 A, +3, 0 PIM

Season Preview: P.A. Parenteau

P.A. Parenteau

Position: Right Wing
Height: 6'0"

Weight: 198 lbs
Birthdate: March 24th, 1983 (28 years old)
Birthplace: Hull, Quebec, Canada
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2010

2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 81 GP - 20 G - 33 A - 53 P - 46 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Top 9 Forward

Last year: Being given a shot on an NHL team permanently for the most time (and playing with a budding superstar in John Tavares on the first line at that), Parenteau took advantage of his opportunity and showed that, while with flaws, he can last on an NHL team and produce plenty. Parenteau put up a very respectable 53 points while helping to push forward a PP that so desperately missed Mark Streit last year. Parenteau was not very responsible defensively, and definitely had a lot of moments that made you question his general level of ability on an NHL level, but for what he was worth performed to a good level. He did improve as the season went on and seemed to learn the NHL game a bit more, and the chemistry he developed with Matt Moulson and John Tavares became extremely solid.

Expectations: Parenteau could end up on either the first line again with Tavares or Moulson or possibly even the 3rd or 4th line, depending on if the experiment with Nino Niederreiter on the first line is taken into the season by Jack Capuano. There certainly was great chemistry on the first line last year with Parenteau's playmaking ability, Moulson's accuracy and JT's all around game, but perhaps Capuano feels room for improvement on the first line with a future star in Niederreiter. It's all up to Capuano at this point, but we should still see a 45-50+ point season from Parenteau considering he will most likely be utilized on the PP at times again this year. Considering last year was technically his rookie year, it's not too lofty an expectation to expect an improvement.

Projections: GP 80 - 23 G - 35 A - 58 P

Thoughts:

AT: Parenteau was absolutely hammered for his defensive liability - and rightly so - by many fans for most of the season, but I thought he really picked up his game as the season went down the stretch. He certainly has ability and comes off as Matt Moulson Junior: an AHL castoff who was never considered for the NHL until one team finally gave him a shot. He might not have the pure shooting skill Moulson does, but he's fit in pretty well on the first line and chemistry is not something you remove easily. Parenteau re-signed with the Islanders for a 1 year deal, so they could be getting a 50+ point player for less than $1.5m for this coming year. Say what you want about Garth Snow, but that's using statistics and basic logic to win games. No, Parenteau isn't the player most people want on their first line, but if he's putting up 50+ points in his rookie season, he's someone you highly consider if you want to win.

CH: Parenteau did put a solid season together on the first line last year, but he is by no means a long-term option there. A stopgap in every sense of the word, the Islanders will need to upgrade his spot in the lineup to get better long term. This could be internal (Niederreiter/Strome) or external. That said, for this year he is fine on the first line. Like Alex said, he should put up somewhere around 50 points, but that's mostly due to playing with John Tavares. Either way, the trio of Matt Moulson, Tavares, and Parenteau clearly have chemistry. Given that the Isles could certainly use that production, I would not cry foul about him in the spot for this season. But next year, that will have to change barring a true breakout season from Parenteau.

Training Camp: Five Players Waived

The New York Islanders announced today that five players have been waived from the roster to be sent down to Bridgeport for the season. These players are Ty Wishart, Dylan Reese, Tim Wallace, Tomas Marcinko and Trevor Frischmon. 

AT: Nothing too unexpected here besides Ty Wishart, who most expected to make the team this year as an on and off scratch. Yes, Wishart has had an abysmal training camp, but this leaves him open to be claimed, which may indeed happen before the deadline passes tomorrow. Most would view this as completely losing out on the Roloson trade, but things like this happen. Prospects don't become what they're cracked up to be and some take too long to develop and can not stay in a stacked out system. This looks like the case for Wishart in both scenarios.

CH: Wishart is certainly the most surprising here, mostly because the other four were already penciled in for spots in Bridgeport. Marcinko, who is entering his fourth AHL season, is a defensive center for the Sound Tigers. Frischmon is somewhat in the same mold, but has more offensive skill and s a faster skater. Wallace is a pest-type player who has a very solid camp. With his forechecking ability and offensive talent, He should be playing top-6 minutes in the AHL and may even get a call-up this season. Dylan Reese is a very good AHL defenseman and should be the anchor of the defensive core. He will be counted on in all situations to be a key contributor now that Mark Katic is out long term.

Finally, we get to Wishart. This is somewhat of a surprise move given that he was acquired for the likes of Dwayne Roloson. But there's no question this is disappointing for everyone involved. Wishart was supposed to make the team out of camp, and the Isles probably expected him to. The fact is he had an awful camp and did not deserve to be on Long Island. This also opens the door for Steve Staios to be signed, which will help depth. Either way, I don't think Wishart will have a problem clearing waivers. After three pro seasons, he is past the point of his draft position having impact on his value. It's put up or shut up time for Wishart, and so far the results have not been too promising.

Prospect Report: September 27, 2011

SEL - Frolunda - 5, Timra - 0
Johan Sundstrom - 0 G, 0 A, 0 PIM
Season: 6 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 2 PIM

Season Preview: Brian Rolston

Brian Rolston

Position: Right Wing/Center
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 214 lbs
Birthdate: February 21, 1973 (38 years old)
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States
Acquired: Trade with New Jersey Devils - 2011

2010-2011 Team: New Jersey Devils
2010-2011 Stats: 65 GP - 14 G - 20 A - 34 P - 34 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Second/Third Line Wing

Last year: Rolston had a very interesting 2010-11 season, as he was a true victim of a salary cap world. Playing for the New Jersey Devils, Rolston was waived twice and was brought back to the NHL through re-entry waivers once without being claimed due to his high cap hit. After a first half in which he struggled, Rolston came back with a strong second half finishing the season with 34 points in 65 games, which averages over .5 points-per-game. Despite technically being part of New Jersey's AHL affiliate, he never played a game for Albany even after saying he would do what was best for the organization. Finally, in the summer of 2011, the Devils traded Rolston to the Islanders in a salary cap dump for Trent Hunter.

Expectations: The expectations for Rolston should be tempered, as he is not the player he was in his prime. His speed is still there, and his shot is most definitely still there - two qualities that help his game immensely. He is a good three-zone forward that could complement players like Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau very nicely. Rolston has been renowned as a leader everywhere he has gone, making him a candidate to be part of the leadership core of the team this season (along with Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo). All things being equal, the main goal for Rolston will be to stay healthy. There is little doubt that he will produce on the scoresheet when he is in the lineup, but he is starting to get up there in age, so a lot of his season could be judged on his durability.

Projections: GP 59 - 12 G - 18 A - 30 P

Thoughts:

CH: Rolston will spend much of his time this season playing the point on the powerplay, which should give the second unit some life with his booming shot. He will cause opponents to play their penalty kill differently, as opposed to having a guy like Kyle Okposo, predominantly a passer, on the point. The reason Mark Streit and Rolston don't work together on the first unit is because they are both lefties, making one-timers much more difficult. From that standpoint, it is more likely we see Okposo or Travis Hamonic on the first unit in that spot. Overall, Rolston is an improvement over Trent Hunter, so the Islanders will be better off for having him. His two-way play will be noticeable, which will make him a very effective part of this team. Like we said above, his main issue will be staying healthy. Rolston has already missed much of training camp, so he is already a little behind with no pre-season action. A game this weekend would do wonders for him as we head into the season next Saturday.

AT: Even at his age, Rolston packs an incredible slapper and great vision on the PP that the Isles will undoubtedly use. He's a playmaker and a passer first and foremost, but can even chip in over 20 goals if he stays healthy this year, especially if Josh Bailey finally picks up his game. The swap of Hunter with Rolston was a very positive one, as Rolston is a much better utilized player who can contribute efficiently in his area of expertise. He's another veteran along with Streit, Reasoner, Eaton and possibly Staios who can help mentor this young team towards the future with his years of experience, and should be a great leader in the lockerroom. Rolston, even though not worth his salary, is still a decent player who will contribute to this team both on and off the ice.

Quick Recap: Flames - 2, Islanders - 0

The Calgary Flames defeated the New York Islanders by a score of 2-0 at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight in Calgary, Alberta.

Boxscore
CGY: 1, NYI: 0 - Curtis Glencross; Matt Stajan, Jay Bouwmeester
CGY: 2, NYI: 0 - Lee Stempniak; Alex Tanguay, Chris Butler

Notables

- The Islanders sent a true "B" squad for a one-night trip to Western Canada, and it showed. The only true veterans on the team tonight were Blake Comeau, Marty Reasoner, Evgeni Nabokov, Steve Staios, Jay Pandolfo, and Milan Jurcina. Reasoner, Staios, and Pandolfo wore "A"s tonight for the Isles.

- Nabokov played well, stopping 15 of 16 shots. He wandered out of his net a little too much, but overall had a solid debut for the team. It's highly doubtful Isles GM Garth Snow will be looking to make any sort of move at that position at this time.

- A kid contingent of Ryan Strome, Calvin de Haan, Matt Donovan, and Kirill Kabanov played in this game. Donovan and de Haan led the team in ice time with 23 minutes and 22 minutes, respectively. Strome and Kabanov each had over 15 minutes of ice time as well, including a few powerplay shifts.

- The Islanders could not escape with injury, this time being hit twice. Milan Jurcina went down with a strained groin and Rhett Rakhshani, fresh off a concussion, succumbed to a knee injury.

AT: I think most of us expected this outcome, but I think the most notable thing to take out of this was the decent play of Nabokov after worries of rust and predictions based on his poor play in Russia. With a defense that was not playing too well tonight, Nabokov took advantage of his opportunity and looked pretty solid. That's about the only thing you can take out of a game like this. 

Next Game

The Islanders will play their fourth pre-season game of the season Friday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey against the Devils. Game time is 7:05 and it will be streamed in the New York area on the Islanders website.

Pre-Season Preview: New York Islanders vs. Calgary Flames

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (1-1-0) vs. CALGARY FLAMES (1-3-0)

The Essentials

September 27, 2011 - 9:05 PM

Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

TV: NHL Network (US), TSN (Canada)

The Season Series

9/27 at Calgary

The Goalies

CGY: Miikka Kiprusoff, Henrik Karlsson

NYI: Evegeni Nabokov, Mikko Koskinen

The Rosters

New York Islanders

Blake Comeau - Marty Reasoner - Rhett Rakhshani

Jay Pandolfo - Trevor Frischmon - Tim Wallace

Trevor Gillies - Ryan Strome - Kirill Kabanov

Justin DiBenedetto - David Ullstrom - Micheal Haley

Ty Wishart - Dylan Reese

Matt Donovan - Milan Jurcina

Calvin de Haan - Steve Staios

Calgary Flames

From http://flames.nhl.com/

Niklas Hagman - Olli Jokinen - Alex Tanguay
Curtis Glencross - Matt Stajan - Lee Stempniak
Tom Kostopolous - Roman Horak - David Moss
Lance Bouma - Paul Byron - Guillaume Desbiens

Jay Bouwmeester - Mark Giordano
Scott Hannan - Anton Babchuk
Jordan Henry - Derek Smith

Prospect Report: September 26, 2011

September 26, 2011

KHL - Ak Bars - 4, Siberia - 3

Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 0 A, +1, 0 PIM

Season: 6 GP, 3 G, 1 A, +4, 0 PIM

Season Preview: Milan Jurcina

Milan Jurcina

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 236 lbs
Birthdate: June 7th, 1983 (28 years old)
Birthplace: Liptovsky Mikulas, Czechoslovakia (Present day Slovakia)
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2010

2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 46 GP - 4 G - 13 A - 17 P - 30 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Bottom Pairing D-Man

Last year: Signed to a 1 year deal by the Islanders in the 2010 offseason, a usually overlooked Jurcina provided a pleasant stability on defense. Originally known for not using his body as much as he could, Jurcina stepped up his physical game when he returned from injuries and provided positional play that was above average for a lower pairing D-man. He contributed 125 hits to the team and ended up being a major physical presence that the Islanders so dearly needed. However, groin and hip injuries ended his year early, leaving him with only 46 games played for the season. Jurcina also re-signed with the Islanders for another year at $1.6M, a hefty raise from his $1M the year prior.

Expectations: Jurcina could be filling in any role from the top slot with Streit to pairing with Hamonic or MacDonald on the 2nd to returning to his chemistry with Mark Eaton on the 3rd pairing, as it should be. Jurcina, when healthy, provides us a stable defensive force who can also contribute offensively with his laser shot and smooth outlet passing. Health has been an issue for "Juice" the past two seasons, but a healthy offseason should help bring back some stability in his medical track record. If Juice continues his physical play, the Islanders will have some great snarl in the back end once more.

Projections: GP 64 - 6 G - 14 A - 20 P

Thoughts:

AT: Healthy Islanders defenseman? But we let go of Radek Martinek! Jokes aside, Jurcina is a very solid player who was underrated for years on defensively stacked Boston and Washington teams, and is finding a solid place in the lineup on the Islanders. His offensive skills already adding to the abilities of MacDonald, Streit and Hamonic are going to help spread out the O a bit more this year, as long as everyone stays healthy. Seems like such a dangerous and taboo word to say nowadays as if not to jinx anything. We know what we have with Juice and he's doing job of taking advantage of his opportunity here. He's still young at 28 and if he provides 60+ games and the same physical play he provided last year, could be re-signed to another contract. Once again, all boils down to health in the end. Anyone got a band-aid?

CH: Jurcina finally broke out last season after a tough season in 2009-10 where he was sidelined for almost half the season playing for the Capitals and Blue Jackets. Unfortunately, he was hurt a lot last year as well, so questions regarding his durability remain. However, he proved that he is a big, mobile, two-way defenseman who can use his body in front of the net and along the boards. He will never be a big hitter, such as Brendan Witt, but he is certainly more physical than he gets credit for. Jurcina's extension was well deserved, and he will play a huge part for the Islanders this upcoming season. He just needs to stay healthy, and if he does, it's not unreasonable to think another extension may be on the way for a defenseman just entering his prime.

Prospect Report: September 25, 2011

September 25, 2011

OHL - London - 2, Guelph - 1 (SO)

Andrey Pedan - DNP (One game suspension due to third man in)

Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM

WHL - Red Deer - 4, Edmonton - 3 (OT)
John Persson - 1 G, 1 A, Even, 4 PIM
Season: 2 GP, 1 G, 2 A, Even, 4 PIM

Season Preview: Rick DiPietro

NY Post

Rick DiPietro

Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 209 lbs
Birthdate: September 19th, 1981 (30 years old)
Birthplace: Winthrop, Massachusetts, United States
Acquired: Draft - 1st Round, 1st Overall, 2000 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats (STP): 26 GP - 8-14-4 - 3.44 GAA - .886 SV PCT
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Unknown as of this point, rotating with 3 goalies

Last year: After two frustrating seasons, in which DiPietro played only 13 games, the goaltender returned healthy enough to play 26 games during the 2010-11 season. DiPietro was extremely inconsistent, notching only 8 wins (including one shutout against New Jersey) in those games. His goals against and save percentage were close to the bottom of the league, which supported the notion that he was not the same goaltender he was between 2006-2008. However, some of this was due to the fact that DiPietro was not completely healthy. DiPietro landed on IR twice last season, including once after being knocked out by Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson in February. Overall, DiPietro split time over the course of the season with guys like Dwayne Roloson and Al Montoya, and did not re-establish himself as the Isles starting goaltender.

Expectations: With ten years left on his contract, DiPietro will surely need to be better this upcoming season. The Islanders have a lot invested in him, and considering their financial constraints, he will need to at least perform up to the value for which they are paying him. There are a ton of questions surrounding the goaltending situation, but with three goaltenders with a lot to offer, there will be hefty competition to earn the maximum amount of playing time. Islanders coach Jack Capuano seems sincere when he says that whoever is playing the best will play. For now, there is no reason to doubt him, which means that DiPietro will need to step his game up to play this season. Frankly, that's how it should be. He started off great with a solid pre-season debut in Boston. It's imperative that he maintain, or even exceed that level of play. If he does that, the Isles will be in a much better place.

Projections: 24 GP - 7-12-5 - 3.22 GAA - .888 SV %

Thoughts:

CH: Despite the prediction above, the truth is that DiPietro's season could go in one hundred different directions. After seeing him in Boston, he looks better. He was positionally as good as he has been in his career, he was moving laterally at an adequate speed, and he did not fumble the puck too often. But it's only two periods of the first pre-season game. How will his body hold up? Can he stay at that level of play? For now, it's just too difficult to predict. The good thing is that the Islanders once again have prepared for the worst by having Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov under contract. But they cannot continually go with three goalie rotations for the next ten years. Not with top prospects like Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson in the minors. So it will be very interesting to see how DiPietro responds this year. Because any record under .500 will certainly hurt the Isles playoff chances. The bottom line is simple: he needs to perform better than last year. Time will tell if he does.

AT: After his first offseason completely healthy (so far) and a promising start in Boston the other night, DiPietro finally appears to be ready to go for at least 40 games this season, if not more. His lateral movement seemed to return and his quickness in general was much more efficient than anything we'd seen last season. This was also playing with a limited defense against a nearly fully manned Boston squad, so that provides even more hope. At this point, it's just a wait and see game, but Jack Capuano NEEDS to make it clear that if Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov outperform DiPietro for the rest of the preseason, they should be on top of the totem pole. Management and the coaching staff need to send a message to the fans that they will not retain a player who is under-performing, and if need be will take the necessary steps to ensure the team is the best it can be. This is going to be a major season for DiPietro in his return to regular playing time, if the aforementioned even occurs.

Prospect Report: September 24, 2011

September 23, 2011

KHL - Metallurg - 4, Ak Bars - 3
Kirill Petrov - 1 G, 0 A, +1, 0 PIM
Season: 5 GP, 3 G, 1 A, +3, 0 PIM

SEL - AIK - 1, Frolunda - 0
Johan Sundstrom - 0 G, 0 A, 0 PIM
Season: 5 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 2 PIM

WHL - Tri-City - 4, Spokane - 1
Brenden Kichton - 0 G, 1 A, -1, 2 PIM
Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, -1, 2 PIM

Season Preview: Evgeni Nabokov

Evgeni Nabokov

Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs
Birthdate: July 25th, 1975 (36 years old)
Birthplace: Kamenogorsk, USSR (Kazakhstan)
Acquired: Claimed off waivers, 2011

2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders (DNP)/St. Petersburg (KHL)
2010-2011 Stats (STP): 22 GP - 8 W - 8 L - 3.02 GAA - .888 SV PCT
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Unknown as of this point, rotating with 3 goalies

Last year: Nabokov, after receiving no offers to his liking in the NHL, decided to play for St. Petersburg of the KHL. However, he performed very on a very subpar level, and soon decided to come back into the NHL. He was signed to a 1 year deal by the Detroit Red Wings, but he needed to go through waivers in first in order to play, leaving him susceptible to being claimed by any team. The Islanders were the lowest ranked team at the moment to put in a claim for him which meant they had priority, and claimed Nabokov off waivers. However, after his agent had stated Nabokov would play for whoever claimed him, Nabokov refused to report to Long Island. His contract was tolled by the Islanders, which leaves him with a year long contract for this year.

Expectations: Nabokov has been training on Long Island and still should have another year left in the tank if not more, so if the Islanders decide to hang on to him we could be in for a treat. Not long ago in the 09-10 season, Nabokov was absolutely lights out in the regular season, and could be again for the Islanders if he's chosen as the starter. We know the capability he has, but after gaining some rust and playing on a lesser level, it's worried some fans that he will not be able to compete on the level he used to be on. The only way to tell at this point is how he plays in the rest of pre-season. The most likely scenario at this point is that he rotates games with Rick DiPietro and Al Montoya.

Projections: 29 GP - 17 W - 12 L - 2.53 GAA - .910 SV PCT

Thoughts:

AT: We know the kind of goalie that Nabokov is, but after a pisspoor season in Russia, a terrible WCs and generally not playing as much as he should've been, you have to wonder how much rust is on Nabokov. If he proves that he can perform at his prior level however, he should be our #1 goalie. There is no question in my mind that he is a bonafide #1 who can lead this team back to the playoffs. If he's healthy and if he's back in form, DiPietro should take a seat. Whether that would actually happen is very questionable, but we may have a route back to the playoffs here. If they're seeking to return this franchise to greatness, that would be the way to do it.

CH: Personally, I am very excited to see Nabokov suit up for the Islanders this year. With the uncertainty surrounding an inconsistent Rick DiPietro and  an unproven Al Montoya, Nabokov has an opportunity to come in and prove that he is the same goaltender that won 40 games a season for the San Jose Sharks in the last decade. Yes, he had a poor season and yes, the relationship with the fans is not terribly strong at this time - but Nabokov may very well prove to be the team's best option in net. The Isles would be best suited to keep him around this season, because they are a more competitive team with three options in net as opposed to two. The goaltending situation is certainly a very interesting one, but at the very least is a good problem to have.

Recap: Islanders 6, Devils 2

The New York Islanders (1-1-0) defeated the New Jersey Devils (0-2-0) 6-2 in their 2nd preseason game and first and only game at home tonight at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Islanders captain Mark Streit played his first game in 17 months.

Boxscore:

(G, A)

1st Period
NYI 1: NJD 0 - Kyle Okposo (1), Michael Grabner (1)
NYI 2: NJD 0 - Mark Streit (1 - PP), Matt Moulson (1), Frans Niselsen (1)
NYI 2: NJD 1 - Nick Palmieri (1), Matthew Corrente (1), Matt Taormina (1)
2nd Period
NYI 3: NJD 1 - Frans Nielsen (1- PP), John Tavares (1), Mark Streit (1)
NYI 4: NJD 1 - Steve Staios (1), Mark Streit (2)
NYI 5: NJD 1 - Matt Moulson (1) - Unassisted
NYI 5: NJD 2 - Mattias Tedenby (1), David Clarkson (1), Patrik Elias (1)
3rd Period
NYI 6: NJD 2 - Matt Moulson (2 - PP), Travis Hamonic (1), Frans Nielsen (2)

Goaltending

Al Montoya - 8 saves on 9 shots, .888 SV PCT
Kevin Poulin - 16 saves on 17 shots, .940 SV PCT
Johan Hedberg - 20 saves on 26 shots, .769 SV PCT

Final Score: 6-2
Attendance: 7,107

Recap:

1st period - The game started off with the Islanders roaring out of the gate, clearly outplaying the Devils. As a whole the defense was performing to a much higher level, most likely due to the reinsertion of a #1 D-man in Streit returning to the lineup. Michael Grabner sent a beautiful pass over to Kyle Okposo at 10:35 in to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead, and 5 minutes later on a powerplay, Mark Streit showed he was back and better than ever by ripping a shot home to increase the Isles' lead by 2. A few minutes later, Nick Palmieri sent a shot past Al Montoya to help the Devils catch up, keeping the score at 2-1 as the 1st period ending.

2nd period - After a David Clarkson penalty, the Isles went back to the PP. After a nice setup by John Tavares, Frans Nielsen hammered home a goal to increase the lead to 3-1. Tryout veteran d-man Steve Staios ripped home a slapshot at 12:47 that was assisted by Mark Streit, giving Streit a 3 point night. Matt Moulson came in on the wing on a 2 on one and sniped one over the right shoulder of Johan Hedberg, giving the Isles a 5-1 lead. Trevor Gillies and Cam Janssen also had a nice scrap in the 2nd that was on all accounts a draw, and came about when Janssen landed a hit on Martin that sent him to the lockerroom. Towards the end of the period, Mattias Tedenby hit Kevin Poulin over his shoulder for his first goal of the preseason.

3rd period - The Islanders continued their overwhelming dominance in this game, both in scoring and with a little help by Trevor Gillies in his second fight with Cam Janssen of the night, which lasted upwards of a minute and left Cam Janssen bloodied. Shortly after on a powerplay, Matt Moulson put his second tally on the scoresheet with an assist from Nielsen, giving the Dane a 3 point night. The Devils gave Kevin Poulin a good run for his money in this period, but Poulin stayed solid and kept the Devils scoreless in the 3rd.

Notables:

- What can you possibly say about Islanders captain Mark Streit, playing his first game in 17 months? He played a very solid defensive game as he's always known for and showed that his shoulder had literally no rust on it from the time off. He was all over the ice and showed why we missed him so dearly last season, keeping the Isles powerplay very efficient, with the PP unit going 3 for 8 on the night. If you had no idea Streit had missed last season, there would be no way you would have known he hadn't played in such a long time. We welcome - and thank the hockey gods for - his return and hope to see more of this in the regular season. It was also notable that Streit played 23 minutes, more than any other Islander.

- A contract may just be being written up by Garth Snow right now for Steve Staios, who also had a fantastic defensive game. He was clearly playing his heart out to prove himself, and prove himself he did. His defensive work was on par with a top 4 d-man (I'm not insinuating anything...) and his goal tonight was fantastic. Staios clearly has taken this tryout contract very seriously and was playing like someone who truly deserves to make the team. If anything, even if he becomes the 7th d-man, he'd be a much better player for that position than Mike Mottau who was wholly unimpressive last night. Staios tonight proved exactly what hard work will get you.

- Beautiful assist to Kyle Okposo aside, Michael Grabner was absolutely on fire tonight. It still seems as if he needs to work on his hands as he had a few breakaways and missed one entirely wide of the net, but his defensive work with Okposo was fantastic. Everything that we saw from Grabner last season clearly carried over to this season, and if he keeps getting these chances I would not be surprised to see a 40 goal season out of Grabner this year. He's becoming an all around great player and has the potential to be... anything, really.

- After scaring the living daylights out of everyone with his second major knee injury last year, Kevin Poulin was lights out for most of the night. He made the saves he should've, and some he probably shouldn't have. His athleticism and lateral movement were still top notch, and his smart play continued. While every ounce of worry isn't completely gone, it's good to see him come back strong.

- Ryan Strome was playing with Jay Pandolfo and Tim Wallace, yet still was able to make himself noticed. His work ethic continues to be top notch and his time on the PP provided some great opportunities for the team. While his line assignment pretty much guaranteed he'll be sent back to Niagara, it was good just to see once again the type of player we have.

- Matt Moulson's snipe on his first goal proving - again - that he's no fluke. The skill is there and will remain. 30 goals again this season? I think that's a safe bet.

- John Tavares was setting up plays like it was his job tonight. Well, it is, but you get the point. He had one great attempt to Matt Moulson that was denied, and even though he only ended up with 1 assist, he could've easily had a 3-4 point night based on his play. He looked stronger and much bigger as well, as he's clearly been doing some heavy training in the offseason. Just makes you all the more excited for the regular season.

- Travis Hamonic continued his outstanding defensive work and had an absolute howitzer of a shot tipped in by Matt Moulson. While he's traditionally known for his defensive work which is outstanding, I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of his offensive side as well this year if he keeps it up.

- Frans Nielsen showed why he's such a great all around player, potting a beauty on the power play in the 2nd period and helping to dish out another in the 1st. He ended up with a 3 point night and had an overall great game.

- For such a small kid, Aaron Ness did a pretty good job at blocking shots and was generally very efficient defensively tonight. Very on par with what's to be expected of him this year at Bridgeport.

- Josh Bailey had an okay game. Certainly better than yesterday and playing with a bit more passion, but his play in general is worrisome for the season. He had some nice play set ups in the 2nd and played decently defensively, but in general he needs to become more aggressive to ensure he stays on the puck.

- Nino Niederreiter was not overly impressive, but that may very well be due to the fact that he was playing on the first line while not really ready for it. He could and may very well be slotted into the 3rd line right now. At the moment, I would go with PAP over him on the 1st line, and put Nino with some combination of him, Comeau, Rolston or Bailey on the 3rd line. It wouldn't even be the worst idea to send him back to the WHL for another year.

Thoughts:

AT: Overall, the team played a great game and really brought a lot of passion to the table that the Devils were clearly lacking. Very few players stood out in an ugly way, so that's always a general positive in my book. We see once again the kind of offensive power that this team has ready to go, and the defensive capability the team has, even without Andrew MacDonald on the roster. A game like this definitely made me even more excited for the regular season, and at this point the only thing you can hope for is a healthy team for the rest of the preseason.

CH: Just an all-around great game from the Isles tonight. They played well in all three zones - especially in the offensive zone. Their best players played like best players, which will be so important for this team going forward. On a night when the Isles played without MacDonald, Brian Rolston, Blake Comeau, P.A. Parenteau, and Marty Reasoner, they showed the potential is there to be a surprise team in the East.

Next game: The Islanders will face off against the Calgary Flames at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada at 9 PM Eastern Time on the NHL Network. The majority of the NHL roster should be playing for this one.

Pre-Season Preview: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islande

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (1-1-0) vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (0-1-0)

The Essentials

September 24, 2011 - 7:05 PM

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, NY

TV: Islanders Web Site

The Season Series

9/24 vs. New Jersey
9/30 at New Jersey

The Goalies

NJ: Johan Hedberg

NYI: Al Montoya, Kevin Poulin

The Rosters

New Jersey Devils

Forwards: Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, David Clarkson, Mattias Tedenby, Adam Henrique, Nick Palmieri, Stephane Veilleux, David Steckel, Vladimir Zharkov, Steve Bernier, Rod Pelley, Cam Janssen.


Defensemen: Matt Corrente, Mark Fayne, Mark Fraser, Anton Stralman, Henrik Tallinder, Matt Taormina

New York Islanders

Brian Bohl/NYSD

Matt Moulson - John Tavares - Nino Niederreiter

Kyle Okposo - Frans Nielsen - Michael Grabner

Jay Pandolfo - Ryan Strome - Tim Wallace

Matt Martin - Josh Bailey - Trevor Gillies

Mark Streit - Steve Staios

Mark Eaton - Milan Jurcina

Aaron Ness - Travis Hamonic

Prospect Report: September 23, 2011

September 22, 2011

OHL - Owen Sound - 6, Guelph - 4
Andrey Pedan - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM

WHL - Kootenay - 2, Red Deer - 3
John Persson - 0 G, 1 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, Even, 0 PIM

Season Preview: Marty Reasoner

Zimbio

Marty Reasoner

Position: Center
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190 lbs
Birthdate: February 26th, 1977 (34 years old)
Birthplace: Honeoye Falls, New York, United States
Acquired: Signed Free Agent from Florida Panthers (2011)

2010-2011 Team: Florida Panthers
2010-2011 Stats: 82 GP - 14 G - 18 A - 32 P - 22 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Fourth Line Center

Last year: Reasoner was traded to the Panthers in 2010 from the Atlanta Thrashers for AHLer Jeff Taffe. He went to Sunrise and had a very productive season for the Panthers as one of their alternate captains. Reasoner tied a career high in goals (14) and set a career high in points (32) playing a decent amount of minutes. While the Panthers did not make the playoffs, Reasoner showed that he is a good leader and solid veteran, which made him an attractive free agent for teams needing a veteran presence in their bottom-six.

Expectations: Reasoner was signed by the Islanders on July 1 on a two-year deal to fill the void that Zenon Konopka left. Not in the sense of being a rah-rah kind of player or one that would drop the gloves, but in being a quiet leader who puts up quality two-way play with average production. There's no reason to believe that Reasoner will not be able to fulfill what the Islanders expect of him, which makes his signing both solid and safe.

Projections: 79 GP - 11 G - 16 A - 27 P

Thoughts:

CH: While the fourth line center was not a huge priority, it was certainly a spot on the roster than needed to be upgraded. When Garth Snow went out and signed Reasoner, we all praised the move as it was clear that he was an upgrade over Zenon Konopka. At 34, he is a seasoned veteran and should provide good support for the young veterans and rookies on the team. He can play masterful PK and can even chip in on the scoresheet. Overall, Reasoner fits the mold of what the Islanders have been looking for: players with high-level hockey sense, ability to play in all three zones, and possess a high character personality for the locker room. He was not a huge upgrade in name, but the difference between Reasoner and his predecessor should become obvious fairly quickly.

AT: At last, a 4th line center who doesn't need to rush back to the bench after the faceoff as to not create a liability on the ice! Reasoner was a fantastic addition as he is a veteran of the game yet still young enough to produce, can play the penalty kill and take crucial faceoffs, and can play a multitude of other roles efficiently, such as the 3rd line center role should an injury occur to Josh Bailey or Frans Nielsen. Our 4th line center wasn't the biggest hole that needed to be filled, but it was filled with the best possible choice on the market, and for that I am grateful.

Recap: Bruins - 6, Islanders - 3

The Boston Bruins (1-0-1) defeated the New York Islanders (0-1-0) by a score of 6-3 at the TD Garden in Boston tonight.

Boxscore

NYI 1:0 - Reese; Colliton
NYI 2:0 - Reese; DiBenedetto
BOS 2:1 - Krejci; Lucic, Knight
BOS 2:2 - Bergeron; Marchand, Chara
NYI 3:2 - Frischmon; Marcinko, Pandolfo
BOS 3:3 - Seidenberg; Bergeron, Peverley
BOS 3:4 - Marchand; Bergeron, Peverley
BOS 3:5 - Boychuk; Bartkowski, Lucic
BOS 3:6 - Peverley

The Goalies
NYI: DiPietro - 20 saves on 22 shots (.909 Sv%)
NYI: Nilsson - 10 saves on 14 shots (.714 Sv%)
BOS: Thomas - 13 saves on 16 shots (.812 Sv%)

The Good

- Could probably file this under "The Surprising," but Rick DiPietro looked very good in his pre-season debut tonight. He was positionally very sound, putting less strain on his body. With the puck, he made smart plays - except when he got pick-pocketed by Patrice Bergeron. Most of all, he kept the Islanders in the game and left the game with the lead. For a Stanley Cup Bruins team that had a lot of its team in the lineup tonight, this was a very strong message to the staff that DiPietro should be looked at as the Islanders starter. Obviously, he will have to show much more - but a good first step nonetheless.

- The Isles de facto second line of Trevor Frischmon, Jay Pandolfo, and Jeremy Colliton (before his injury) was a forechecking machine. They battled really hard, played physical, read plays in the defensive zone (especially on the penalty kill), and delivered 15 minutes of fundamental hockey. They were all rewarded - Colliton and Pandolfo each had an assist, and Frischmon scored his first goal of the preseason.

- On the defensive side, Steve Staios played an all around solid game. Blocked shots, physicality, and hard work are all staples of his game. He certainly showed all that tonight. No question that if he plays like this throughout the pre-season, he will have earned himself a spot on the team.

- P.A. Parenteau played an extremely solid game tonight. Nothing flashy or spectacular, but he was good fundamentally and worked very hard in the corners.

The Bad

- Might as well start with the other goalie - Anders Nilsson. Nilsson was summoned to play the third period after Rick DiPietro put a solid first 40 minutes in. It certainly did not go as well for the top prospect. Nilsson gave up 4 goals on 14 shots, letting in a few softies while he was at it. He looked largely overwhelmed against a strong NHL team like Boston. But that is okay. Nilsson is only playing in his first pre-season North American game. It's more than a 5 minute learning curve. I still think there is little question that Nilsson will put a solid season together in Bridgeport. He just needs to get acclimated with the style first.

- The many defensive breakdowns of the evening. Overall, this led to about 4 goals including a few dreadful sequences involving Ty Wishart and Dylan Reese. Wishart played okay for the most part, and Reese had his moment with the two goals - but they were manhandled together for most of the night. Looking forward, the Isles need to avoid another injury disaster or else it could get really ugly at times.

- On Boston's second goal, Josh Bailey was nowhere to be found. He drifted over to Wishart's man, instead of taking the opposing center down low. This left Patrice Bergeron wide open in the slot, who drove a one-timer past Rick DiPietro to tie the game. Yes, it is the first game, but this stuff has to be corrected before the season starts.

- Mike Mottau is coming off a serious eye injury and a serious hip injury, so we will cut him some slack. But he did not have a good game at all tonight. He failed to cover the front of the net on Boston's first goal, and also was not reading plays well - including Boston's fourth goal on the 5-on-3 as he watched a pass go right past him through the crease. He certainly lost some ground on Steve Staios for the 6th defensive spot tonight.

- The Isles young pairing of Calvin de Haan and Matt Donovan had a lot of problems going up against the more seasoned Bruins tonight. Both were indecisive at times, which led to mistakes. We have harped on this for a while here, but both need to go down to Bridgeport and get acclimated to the pro game. There's still a chance we see de Haan here before the end of the year, but he is not ready for the NHL just yet. A little experience in the professional game will do him a world of good. There's no reason to rush him given the Isles have 8 potential options for the top-6 as it stands today.

The Ugly

- Aside from the Isles really losing steam in the third period against a much better team, the ugliest part to come from today's game is that they could not escape injury-free. This time, it was Jeremy Colliton leaving the game in the second period with an apparent groin injury.

AT: An all around decent game for the Islanders... in the first period. They certainly lost a lot of steam in the 2nd and 3rd periods, although when Boston is icing pretty much the equivalent to their Cup team from last year and the Isles are saving the majority of their starters for tomorrow, I suppose that can be expected. DiPietro played a very solid 2 periods and was showing flashes of the greatness he had prior to injury, though I won't get any hopes up until I see him play over 40 games in a season. His lateral movement was still a little iffy, but I suppose any goaltenders might be after a long offseason. As Carey mentioned, the notables here were the Pandolfo-Frischmon-Colliton line who was working very hard against high caliber NHL players. We expect 2/3rds of this line to be in the AHL for the year, so for them to compete so well shows off a lot of promise. After today's game, I would not be surprised if Pandolfo is chosen to helm the 4th line with Matt Martin and Marty Reasoner to really create a true 4th line in the NHL. Also as mentioned, P.A. Parenteau played a very solid game tonight, intercepting vital passes and playing a strong all around game. I know many wanted him off the first line as soon as possible, but if he's learned to refine his game like he showed tonight, I think a strong consideration to place him back on the 1st line should be made.

Overall it was an expected outcome of a game with the lineups that were active, so hopefully we see a more competitive game come tomorrow against the Devils.

Next Game

The Islanders will face off against the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night in the second half of this mini-series. Game time is 7:00 PM at the Nassau Coliseum. Figure most of the Islanders opening day roster, plus maybe a few big time prospects, will be in the game.

Training Camp: Mitchell Theoret Sent Back to Niagara

Another expected camp cut, Niagara IceDogs center Mitchell Theoret was sent back down to the OHL for another season with the IceDogs. He sustained an injury in mid-september in one of the Islanders rookie games with Boston and has been only been lightly skating since.

AT: Nothing wrong with this, and we'll see plenty more of these in the coming weeks before the regular season starts. I'm sure it was nice for Theoret to get to play with his buddy Strome in a big league level setting, but he was only a 4th liner on Niagara and had no chance of making the Islanders. Let's just hope his concussion is dealt with properly and he goes back to Niagara and gives a hell of a season.

CH: Theoret will get some solid playing time for the IceDogs when he is ready to go. It will be very interesting to see how he develops this year, given that he is property of an NHL organization now. Like Alex said, this was obviously bound to happen from the start. But it was a good learning experience for Theoret, who now has a much better idea of what it takes to be a pro hockey player.

Prospect Report: September 22, 2011

September 22, 2011

OHL - Guelph - 6, Windsor - 3
Andrey Pedan - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM

Pre-Season Preview: New York Islanders vs. Boston Bruins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (0-0-0) vs. BOSTON BRUINS (0-0-1)

The Essentials

September 23, 2011 - 7:05 PM

TD Garden - Boston, MA

TV: Islanders Web Site

The Season Series

9/23 - at Boston
10/1 - vs. Boston (at Bridgeport)

The Goalies

BOS: Tim Thomas, Anton Khudobin

NYI: Rick DiPietro, Anders Nilsson, Mikko Koskinen

The Rosters

Boston Bruins

Milan Lucic - Patrice Bergeron - Benoit Pouliot

Rich Peverley - David Krejci - Brad Marchand

Daniel Paille - Jamie Arniel - Zach Hamill

Alexander Kokhlachev - Jared Knight - Lane MacDermid

Zdeno Chara - Dennis Seidenberg

Johnny Boychuk - Steven Kampfer

Matt Bartkowski - Zach McKelvie

New York Islanders

Blake Comeau - Josh Bailey - P.A. Parenteau

Jay Pandolfo - Trevor Frischmon - Jeremy Colliton

Justin DiBenedetto - David Ullstrom - Micheal Haley

Tyler McNeely - Tomas Marcinko - Trevor Gillies

Steve Staios - Mike Mottau

Ty Wishart - Dylan Reese

Matt Donovan - Calvin de Haan

Season Preview: Mark Eaton

Mark Eaton

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 203 lbs
Birthdate: May 6th, 1977 (34 years old)
Birthplace: Wilmington, DE, US
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2010

2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 34 GP - 0 G - 3 A - 3 P - 8 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: 2nd/3rd pairing D-Man

Last year: Signed as a free agent after being a part of the very powerful Pittsburgh Penguins team for 4 years and winning a Stanley Cup with them in '09, Eaton was a very welcome addition to the Islanders blue line, providing a veteran presence and solid defensive work. His positional work was good and his discipline (as seen in his low penalty numbers) was excellent. He did what he did quietly, but kept players to the outside and blocked shots as much as he could. However, before he could put in a full year for the Islanders, he was sidelined by an injury to his hip in early January that required surgery, missing the rest of the season.

Expectations: Eaton should return healthy, and with Streit back and another year of experience under the belts of Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic, should be helping to create a very stable and efficient Islanders D corps. Depending on who finds better chemistry with who, Eaton could be finding himself on the 2nd D pairing with Andrew MacDonald or Travis Hamonic if another D-man is not signed. Milan Jurcina will also be in the mix for the last spot in the top 4, so training camp is going to continue to be interesting to see what kind of combination is created for opening night. Eaton will continue to provide his veteran presence and while not contributing offensively, should have another sound year as long as he stays healthy. Something that for the Islanders is never an easy task.

Projections: GP 64 - 1 G - 9 A - 10 P

Thoughts:

AT: Eaton was a great acquisition and pretty much exactly who the Islanders should be expected to sign considering their budget restraints and the fact that to higher tiered free agents, they are not an attractive team to play for. In his short time last season, Eaton did exactly what he was advertised as, and did so to a level that was very acceptable for his role. He has had a history of injuries however and this is the final year of his contract, so hopefully he can stay healthy for a good portion of the season to provide some stability on the blue line. He and Jurcina proved to be great signings, and if both of them can stay healthy the Islanders will have a much easier time this year.

CH: Eaton is a very solid, yet unspectacular defenseman. Having lived in Pittsburgh for a few years, I was familiar with his game and thought the Islanders made a quality signing when they agreed to a contract in 2010. Last year was difficult for Eaton, no question. But he did play a solid, smart game when he was healthy. He also established himself as a leader of the room, having been given an "A" by the coaching staff at points last season. This year should be a nice comeback year for Eaton, and if he plays to his capabilities and stays healthy, it's possible the Isles could look into keeping him for another year. But like Alex said, stability on the blueline is paramount and that is something Eaton provides.

Prospect Report: September 21, 2011

September 21, 2011

KHL: Ak Bars - 2, Motorist - 1
Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 4 GP, 2 G, 1 A, +2, 0 PIM

SEL - Frolunda - 2, Brynas - 0
Johan Sundstrom - 0 G, 0 A, 0 PIM
Season: 4 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 2 PIM

News: Mark Streit Named Captain of the New York Islanders

In rather unsurprising news, Mark Streit was named the 13th captain in New York Islanders history, taking over the title from the recently retired Doug Weight. Streit received this honor following a season where he was not able to play a single game, and will be returning healthy. The full press conference with Charles Wang, Mark Streit, Garth Snow and Jack Capuano is on the Islanders website.

 AT: Couldn't have asked for a more perfect choice. Though some had argued - and very legitimately so - that Tavares could have easily gotten it due to his high level of character and loyalty to the team, Streit was chosen due to his experience in the league, vocal leadership both on and off the ice, and ability to truly be seen as the leader of this team. In the 2009-2010 season when Doug Weight was injured, Streit was looked to for his leadership and was very successful in providing them for such a young team. Streit only has two more years left on his deal, but is going to be an integral part of this team for the next two years and hopefully beyond, health pending. I can only hope that Streit remains healthy as he had been prior to the freak injury he sustained in training camp, as we need someone like him to truly lead this team back to the playoffs. Congratulations, Mark!

CH: This was really the only sensible choice, to be honest. I was a big proponent of handing the captaincy over to John Tavares after he signed the extension, but that was all post-contract excitement. The fact is that Tavares is only 21 years old and may not be ready for that responsibility yet, even though his time may come very soon. Streit is a vet that's still in his prime, has the respect of everyone in both the organization and the league - including the refs. Streit also becomes the first Swiss captain in NHL history, which is undoubtedly an extreme honor for the defenseman. The fact is that the Islanders are much better off today with Streit as their captain, especially while they continue to let guys like Kyle Okposo and John Tavares develop into their roles. Well done.

Season Preview: Matt Martin

Matt Martin


Position: Left Wing/Right Wing
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 192 lbs
Birthdate: May 8th, 1989 (22 years old)
Birthplace: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Acquired: Draft - 5th Round, 148th Overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft


2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 68 GP - 5 G - 9 A - 14 P - 147 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Fourth Line Wing

Last year: Martin started off the year as the last cut, sent down to Bridgeport to play in a top-6 role. Soon after, he was called to the Islanders and never looked back. Martin played 68 games for the team last year, in which he was part of some pretty important moments. First, he was the one to really escalate the brawl-filled game against the Penguins with his takedown of Max Talbot. Second, he scored a huge goal in the waning seconds against the Flyers on the road to send the game to overtime. He also scored his first NHL goal against the Montreal Canadiens. Overall, it was a very productive rookie season for Martin as his game was refined completely from when we first saw him in 2009-10.

Expectations: Martin will continue his play on the fourth line if he has a strong training camp. The fact that he is ineligible for waivers does make him somewhat of a candidate to be sent down at the beginning of the year, but it seems improbable at this point. Martin really established himself as a solid fourth line player, but he will need to have a better season (or a similar one at worst) to show that he is a legitimate NHL player. He can definitely accomplish that through his high intensity play by sticking up for teammates and all-around physicality. Goals and assists may still be scarce for him this year, but playing with a veteran like Marty Reasoner will surely help him. Martin should get every opportunity to take the next step this year before becoming a restricted free agent after the year.

Projections: 62 GP - 8 G - 11 A - 19 P

Thoughts:

CH: I had the opportunity to meet and talk to Martin back when he was first drafted in 2008, and he was great. It really made rooting for him to make it easier, and when he started really progressing to the point where fans were excited over him, I knew he had a chance to make an impact. There is no question the time is now for Martin, and if he expands on what he did last year, there's little reason to think he can be a legitimate NHL player. I saw a comparison to Rangers forward Mike Rupp on Islandermania, and I think that is spot-on. A guy that will fight when he has to, but can also play the game. That is exactly the type of guy the Isles have needed for a while, and for a guy like Martin to fill that role will be ideal. But he needs to take the next step in his progression this year.

AT: Martin is a great kid with a hell of a lot of character with a lot of talent to boot. He's been mostly utilized on the 4th and rarely 3rd line role, but seeing what he was able to accomplish with Sarnia playing with Steven Stamkos and seeing his production on the 4th line last year showed me he has the capability to be a 15-20 goal scorer in the NHL. Last year, Martin really made an impact both on the ice and in the locker room, especially when he stuck up for fellow teammate Blake Comeau who was hit by a cheap shot from former Pens forward Max Talbot. Martin took notice and in the next game, in what some called a cheap shot of his own (and rightfully so), took a shot at Talbot that was a clear retaliatory hit. Some may call it cowardly, but it showed to me that we have a young player who is ready and willing to stick up for his teammates when necessary. From a 4th liner, that is exceptional.

Arena: ABLI Announces New Coliseum Plan

Randi Marshall from Newsday reports a new plan for the site of the Nassau Coliseum, this time created by the Association of Better Long Island. The plan is for $347 million, all privately funded, and includes $100 million for renovations of the Nassau Coliseum. The Coliseum will supposedly be made larger and taller, and will include extra seats and suites. According to the article, the plan also includes a minor league baseball stadium, ice rink, a parking garage, and retail/restaurant space.

The ABLI has not reached out to Charles Wang yet. However, County Executive Ed Mangano is aware of the potential plan.

Nassau County expects to call for a formal proposal stage before the end of the year.

CH: And here we go again. Without getting into the gory details, mostly because there are not, there's not much else to say other than I support any means to keep the Islanders in Nassau County (and New York as a whole). If that means sleeping with the enemy (in this case the ABLI), so be it. This certainly qualifies as "exploring all options," so I hope Charles Wang sits down and listens to what these guys have to say. But for now, there's not much else to report. This is the plan they are proposing. While the renovation may be a lowball for now, there's no reason to say that won't go up if it ever gets finalized. If they do end up winning the RFP, then so be it. I will be there rooting for it to get done for the Islanders and for Nassau County. The time of political and personal grudges needs to end. It's time to work together.

AT: As Carey said, even if it means getting involved with ABLI, who spearheaded the defeat of the referendum in August for what mostly seemed to be their own personal goals, I'm all for any plan to keep the Islanders in Nassau County. This can't be about personal relationships and feuds, it has to be about keeping those tax dollars on Long Island, not in Brooklyn or Queens. Hopefully both sides can suck up their pride and get something done so that a shovel is in the ground and a new or renovated coliseum is done in time for the 2015-2016 season. If not, the only people that will be hurting will be the fans and Nassau County residents once again.

Season Preview: Mike Mottau

Mike Mottau


Position: Defenseman

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190 lbs
Birthdate: March 19th, 1978 (33 years old)
Birthplace: Quincy, Massachusetts, US
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2010

2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 20 GP - 0 G - 3 A - 3 P - 8 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: 6th/7th D-Man

Last year: Signed on an emergency basis after the injury to Mark Streit, Mottau had an okay year with the Islanders. He was never expected to be more than nor did he play like more than a bottom pairing d-man, but he did so efficiently on a team that was decimated with injuries. He played a somewhat solid game until he was struck with an injury of his own when he was hit in the eye with a puck on November 21st, ending his season prematurely.


Expectations: Mottau should be filling the 7th d-man role, but if no other d-man is chosen to fill the 6th spot, no trade is made or Steve Staios wins it out, Mottau will take the 6th spot in the depth chart. He's a veteran to the game and was always known to be a very steady defender for the Devils, so we can expect a very similar style of play in a full season with Mottau. If he can stay healthy, he is a very stable d-man, and can help provide solid defense in the back end. It is more likely than anything however that he will fill the 7th D spot as intended.

Projections: 36 GP - 2 G - 4 A - 6 P

Thoughts:

AT: After Streit's freak accident injury, Mottau provided a pretty solid 20 minute game as a bottom pairing D-man. I do however believe that if placed in the permanent 6th d-man position, the Islanders are going to have a very tough time. He is great as a substitute, but not so much in the permanent bottom pairing role. I'm not saying we're going to be dead last if he's the 6th d-man, but if we're attempting to make the playoffs this year we're going to need to strive for a little better.

CH: The fact is that Mottau did not have a great first year with the Islanders. However, he has put together solid seasons before with the Devils, so there is potential for a serviceable NHL player there. That said, Alex is right. Mottau coming in as a 7th or even 8th defenseman on the depth chart would be ideal. Mottau will certainly be in consideration for the final starting spot though, alongside Ty Wishart, Steve Staios, and Calvin de Haan to a much lesser extent. But the fact is the Isles need a bigger upgrade for that sixth spot than what Mottau can give. Chances are he puts in an adequate season coming wdown from the press box as needed, but anything over 15 minutes for him per game will be pushing his limit.