Recap: Isles Rookies - 7, Bruins Rookies - 2

The Islanders and Bruins completed their two game mini-series tonight at the Nassau Coliseum, with each team winning one game. The Isles rebounded strongly after Monday night's defeat with a dominant 7-2 performance over the Bruins. 

Boxscore (Incomplete)

NYI 1:0 - McNeely (1); Niederreiter (1), Donovan (1)
NYI 2:0 - Strome (1); McNeely (2), Kichton (1)
NYI 3:0 - Strome (2); McNeely (3), Niederreiter (2)
NYI 4:0 - Cizikas (1); Kabanov (2), Ness (2)
NYI 5:0 - Niederreiter (3); Strome (2), Ness (3)
NYI 6:0 - DiBenedetto (1)
NYI 7:0 - Cizikas (2)
BOS 7:1 - Cunningham (1)
BOS 7:2 - Cunningham (2)

The Good

- Have to start here with the outstanding play of goaltender Anders Nilsson. From start to finish, Nilsson was magnificent and was the best Islander out there - despite the score. He made approximately 35 saves in the victory, including a showstopper on a 5-on-3 going lateral from side to side and a nice glove save on Ryan Spooner. He was technically sound with good rebound control. No question Nilsson's potential is sky high.

- The chemistry that Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Strome are forming cannot be ignored. They completely feed off each other. For Niederreiter, he was all over the ice engaging and initiating the play. We got a good taste of the blistering shot that Strome has on his two goals. They were complemented by an under the radar player, Tyler McNeely, who added two goals of his own. McNeely will really be a player to watch for the Sound Tigers this season.

- Speaking of chemistry, it looks like prospects Casey Cizikas and Kirill Kabanov have formed a little of their own. Cizikas is all over the ice at all times, is incredibly solid defensively and really showed his skills off tonight. And while were on skillful players, Kabanov really has a boatload of it. But the play that defined Kabanov's night was using his speed to beat two Bruins players for an icing, circling the net and finding Cizikas wide open who finished the play. These two guys, originally drafted as projects, could really be coming into their own.

- On the defense side, Andrei Pedan had a strong first period. Though he faded throughout the game (including getting beat bad on the second Boston goal), the potential he has is obvious. Very solid in all three zones tonight, especially on that 5-on-3.

- You can see the potential that David Ullstrom has. He is responsible in his own zone, is skilled with the puck, and has great hockey sense overall. He just needs to put it together, but plays like where he drove the net in the third period are what makes me excited about this kid. Compared from yesterday to today, he was much better.

- Very fun start to the game with Benn Olson, Brett Gallant, and Art Bidlevskii all getting into fights in the first three seconds of the game tonight. No question it was retribution for the hit on Rhett Rakhshani last night.Things calmed down a little after that, but it was certainly a fun start to the game.

- On a personal note, it was a very fun two nights at the Nassau Coliseum. Tonight was a lot cleaner than Monday, but overall the young Isles looked good out there (they won the aggregate 12-9). Looking forward to the pre-season game, and then the regular season. It's our first season writing about the team and we could not be more excited about it.

The Bad

- While he did rack up a few assists tonight, it seems that Aaron Ness is still off his game. He made a lot of risky plays, including getting beat on the first Boston goal. When the puck is on his stick, he is calm and collected, but otherwise he seems panicky. No question that he is a project and will require a lot of seasoning at the AHL level - much like Mark Katic.

- John Persson never really got it going tonight, even though he had a strong game on Monday. Disappointing, especially because his linemates (Kabanov/Cizikas) played outstanding tonight. Nothing too terrible from him, just extremely invisible.

- It's not fair to call him a lost cause, but Long Island native Tony Romano did not look very good again. He looked slow and tentative, and given his "veteran" status of the team should have been better. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts in the main camp and when he is ultimately sent down.

The Ugly

- Another game, another injury (or two). This time, Mark Katic left the game hunched over in the first period. Turns out Katic suffered a dislocated shoulder, which should keep him out for a little bit. He'll be re-evaluated on Friday, so hopefully it was just something they needed to pop in. But the Isles really need to find a way to avoid the injury bug. That's two of Bridgeport's better players down with injuries in the first two rookie games of the season.

Final Thoughts

CH: The Isles, as a whole, were dominant tonight. They played hard for each other, pressured the Bruins in their own zone, and played like they wanted a victory. It showed on the scoreboard. To me, however, the most important aspect is that the Isles top players played like their top players. Guys like Strome and Niederreiter were dominant, and given their skill level - they should have been. These guys are maturing very quickly, which will certainly make for interesting training camp competitions over the next few years. Even though last night was a loss, these two games showed how good the potential of this team can be. But potential is just a word. Now it's time to move on - training camp starts Friday.

AT:

From the get go (including the 3 fights in 5 seconds!), the Islanders were flat out the better team. No doubt about it. Boston had some impressive players (their goalie DeMichiel really stood out with some of his saves) and some really great chances, but in the end the Islanders totally overpowered them. For me, a few players really stood out. One was Ryan Strome. This kid looks like he is beyond his years x10. His outlet passing, ability to read the direction a D-man will be taking, and his general speed and accuracy are absolutely mind boggling. His one goal which came on a 3 on 2 where he just sniped it into the top right corner was absolutely phenomenal. Another player was Nino Niederreiter, who was looking incredibly strong and set up some great plays for Ryan Strome and Tyler McNeely, even though his goal scoring prowess is usually what he is noted for. Finally, Kirill Kabanov although invisible at times was hustling all game, and had one great play where he beat out the icing and fed the puck to Cizikas in a phenomenal show of chemistry. Honorable mentions include Andrey Pedan who was throwing some big hits and playing great D and Tyler McNeely who was almost always involved in the play.

However, the one player who was the absolute MVP in my opinion was Anders Nilsson. What a game this kid had. Perhaps it's due to playing with older players in the SEL, but he looks like he's ready for the pros with his play. For his size and style, the athleticism he shows is a great indication of the future. I can not wait to see him play in Bridgeport.

Overall, a very fun game that I was very happy to be able to go to (thanks again Carey!). Can't wait for training camp to officially start!

Next Game

Training camp for the Islanders officially starts Friday with player physicals (among other things). The Isles first pre-season game of the year is scheduled for next Friday, September 23 against the same Bruins in Boston.

Rookie Game 2 Preview: Bruins Rookies vs. Islanders Rookies

BOSTON BRUINS (1-0) vs. NY ISLANDERS (0-1)

The Essentials

September 13, 2011 - 7:05 PM

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, NY

TV: Islanders Web Site

The Season Series

9/12/11 - BOS 8, NYI 5

The Goalies

BOS: Michael Hutchinson

NYI: Anders Nilsson

The Rosters

Boston Bruins

FORWARDS: Anthony Camara, Carter Camper, Craig Cunningham, Dylan Hood, Alexander Khokhlachev, Jared Knight, Kyle MacKinnon, Adam Presizniuk, Tyler Randell, Calle Ridderwall, Yannick Riendeau, Ryan Spooner, Conor Stokes.

DEFENSEMEN: Ryan Button, Marc Cantin, Charlie Dodero, Dougie Hamilton, Zach McKelvie, Kevan Miller, David Warsofsky.

New York Islanders

David Ullstrom - Justin DiBenedetto

Nino Niederreiter - Ryan Strome - Tyler McNeely

Kirill Kabanov - Casey Cizikas - John Persson

Brett Gallant - Tony Romano - Mitchell Theoret

Mark Katic - Calvin de Haan

Matt Donovan - Aaron Ness

Andrey Pedan - Art Bidlveskii

Brenden Kichton - Benn Olson

Recap: Bruins Rookies - 8, Isles Rookies - 5

Tonight at the Nassau Coliseum, the 2011-12 rookie pre-season began with the Boston Bruins rookies defeating the Islanders by a score of 8-5. 

Boxscore

BOS 1:0 - Spooner (1); Randell (1)

NYI 1:1 - Niederreiter (1); Strome (1), de Haan (1)

BOS 2:1 - Hood (1); Spooner (1), Cantin (1)

NYI 2:2 - Persson (1); Kabanov (1)

NYI 2:3 - Kabanov (1); Ness (1), Cizikas (1)

BOS 3:3 - Spooner (2); Warsofsky (1), Riendeau (1)

BOS 4:3 - Knight (1); Cunningham (1)

BOS 5:3 - Warsofsky (1); Hood (1), Cunningham (1)

BOS 6:3 - Riendeau (1); Spooner (2)

NYI 6:4 - de Haan (1); Cizikas (2), Theoret (1)

NYI 6:5 - Niederreiter (2); McNeely (1), de Haan (2)

BOS 7:5 - Camper (1)

BOS 8:5 - Knight (2) EN

The Good

- Nino Niederreiter was engaged physically and mentally, and had an outstanding game with and without the puck. His two goals are absolutely indicative of his play.

- Ryan Strome played the best of any draft year first rounder as an Islander that I have seen. He is fast, smart, and skillful - the complete package. His dish to Niederreiter on the first Islander goal was a thing of beauty. On a side note, Tyler McNeely was a nice complement on that line. Do not count McNeely out as a darkhorse to do some damage at Bridgeport this season.

- Speaking of darkhorses, Casey Cizikas was outstanding on the PK tonight. But we knew that already. What we may not have known is how skilled he is with the pick. Two assists tonight, including a couple of beautiful passes to John Persson.

- Kirill Kabanov showed the immense amount of skill that he has, but I would like to see him acclimate himself more physically. That said, he stood his ground in front of the net and in the corners, which led to a very nice deflection goal. Going into those dirty areas is what will get him into the NHL.

- On the defensive side, Calvin de Haan played a magnificent game. He was a tad rusty without the puck, especially in odd-man rushes, but with the puck he is smart, quick, decisive, and a perfect candidate to lead the team to transition up the ice. There is no question the talent is there, but he definitely needs to start the season in the AHL.

- Finally, Justin DiBenedetto was a sparkplug tonight. The guy was all over the ice forechecking and backchecking. In fact, the team took on that type of personality as a whole. They play very hard for each other, which is what you want to see from a group of guys who are growing up together.

- I should mention on the Bruins side - Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Spooner were incredibly impressive tonight.

The Bad

- Let's start with the defense where Aaron Ness and Mark Katic had some issues back there tonight. Katic was a little better, but was caught out of position a few times and did not make great decisions on the powerplay. Ness, on the other hand, looked more nervous than anything. I'm interested to see how Ness responds tomorrow in front of a bigger crowd, especially since he was able to get that first shift out of the way.

- David Ullstrom was very inconsistent tonight. He had some good shifts, including a beautiful rush to the net. But then he had some not so good shifts. Turnovers, trying to do too much, bad passes etc. He was very physical tonight, which is a good sign and what he needs to do to make a difference. No question he has potential, so he's another one I am looking to watch tomorrow night.

- Brett Gallant and Tony Romano two-thirds of the fourth line just did not cut it tonight. Romano looked slow and tentative, where he should be making quick decisions at this point of his career. Gallant took some really dumb penalties and played like the tryout that he is on.

The Ugly

- Tough moment in the first period when Rhett Rakhshani was hit up high along the boards. Turns out that Rakhshani suffered a concussion on the hit, which means he will be out until his symptoms subside. You hate to see his happen in the first period of the season. We should find out more info on Rakhshani's condition going forward sometime tomorrow, but do not expect him to be anywhere near the lineup for the game tomorrow.

- As a whole, the defense coverage in the slot needs to be a lot better. Sure, some of the goals that went in could (or even should) have been saved, but overall the Isles were sloppy in the D zone. While they had good transition, there were sequences where it bit them in the behind. That needs to be corrected going forward - tomorrow would be a good start.

The Very Ugly

- Few words can describe how shaky Mikko Koskinen was tonight. His positioning was off, his rebound control was worse, and the results were the worst. I realize this is the first game back after a long summer, so in a sense it is only fair to cut Koskinen some slack - but the numbers do not lie. Koskinen gave up 7 goals against on 14 shots against. A 50% save percentage. Maybe Koskinen will get another shot, but as it stands he is certainly number six out of six on the depth cart.

Next Game

The Islander Rookies and Bruin Rookies will face off again tomorrow night in the second half of this mini-series. Game time is 7:00 PM at the Nassau Coliseum. This game IS open to the public.

News: Arthur Staple replacing Katie Strang as Newsday's Isles beat writer

In a bit of a mixup in terms of reporting, Katie Strang has moved up in the sports journalism world and joined the team at ESPN New York to cover all of the metro area teams including the Isles, Rangers and Devils. Arthur Staple, a backup beat writer who is very knowledgeable of both the Islanders and Rangers, will be taking over and you can follow him at his Twitter account for constant updates regarding the Islanders. There is no indication of whether Staple is the permanent replacement or just a temp, but best wishes to Katie, and welcome aboard Arthur!

Rookie Game 1 Preview: Bruins Rookies vs. Islanders Rookies

BOSTON BRUINS (0-0) vs. NY ISLANDERS (0-0)

The Essentials

September 12, 2011 - 7:05 PM

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, NY

TV: Islanders Web Site

*THIS GAME IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC*

The Goalies

BOS: Michael Hutchinson 

NYI: Mikko Koskinen 

The Rosters

Boston Bruins

FORWARDS: Anthony Camara, Carter Camper, Craig Cunningham, Dylan Hood, Alexander Khokhlachev, Jared Knight, Kyle MacKinnon, Adam Presizniuk, Tyler Randell, Calle Ridderwall, Yannick Riendeau, Ryan Spooner, Conor Stokes.

DEFENSEMEN: Ryan Button, Marc Cantin, Charlie Dodero, Dougie Hamilton, Zach McKelvie, Kevan Miller, David Warsofsky.

 

New York Islanders

Rhett Rakhshani - David Ullstrom - Justin DiBenedetto

Nino Niederreiter - Ryan Strome - Tyler McNeely

Kirill Kabanov - Casey Cizikas - John Persson

Brett Gallant - Tony Romano - Mitchell Theoret

Mark Katic - Calvin de Haan

Matt Donovan - Aaron Ness

Andrey Pedan - Art Bidlveskii

Brenden Kichton - Benn Olson

Season Preview: Dylan Reese

Dylan Reese

Position: Defense
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 205
Birthdate: August 29, 1984 (27 years old)
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Acquired: Trade with Columbus Blue Jackets (3/1/10)

2010-2011 Teams: Bridgeport Sound Tigers/New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats (BPT): 37 GP - 4 G - 14 A - 18 P - 30 PIM

2010-2011 Stats (NYI): 27 GP - 0 G - 6 A - 6 P - 15 PIM

2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Team Role: Top 4 Defenseman

Last year: Reese played his first full year in the Islanders organization last year for both the AHL Sound  Tigers and NHL Islanders. He started the year in Bridgeport, but was called up fairly quickly after the Isles were decimated by injuries. After a solid debut in 2009-10, Reese regressed a bit as he struggled at the NHL level. He was playing in a position that was above his means, which led to sloppiness and mistakes. For Bridgeport, he was better, putting up a very respectable 18 points in 37 games. There is no question that he is a valued asset organizationally. However, he showed last year that he is not what the Isles should be looking for long-term.

Expectations: In a bit of a surprise, the Islanders qualified Reese over Jack Hillen, because they knew Hillen could not be used in an AHL role. Reese will be expected to come back as the 9th-10th defenseman on the depth chart, while providing veteran leadership and solid play in the AHL. While he may see some NHL time if the Islanders are decimated by injuries, Reese's main role will be as a veteran minor leaguer. Every team needs those - in fact, that's a main thing the Isles were missing last year. So while from an Islanders standpoint, he's neither in the long term plans nor expected to contribute, he is a nice asset to have to provide strength to a Bridgeport team that needs it in the worst way.

Projections: (AHL) GP 64 - 9 G - 20 A - 29 P

Thoughts:

CH: There is little question that Reese struggled at the NHL level last year. But we need to look at the big picture to understand the true value of a guy like Reese. He was not kept to play at the NHL level - he may not have even been kept for depth purposes. With guys like Mark Katic and Calvin de Haan waiting in the wings, along with guys like Ty Wishart right there, he may not even get a chance this year. If he does, it means the Isles have been hurt by injuries again. But the fact is that Reese is a solid AHL defenseman at worst, and could easily be considered a very good one. So his presence at the AHL level should only help. Depth is a great thing to have and was something the AHL team was really missing last year. And it's something that Reese can help provide for 2011-12.

AT: At this point Reese is not considered anything more than depth, but with the defensive injuries to Eaton, MacDonald, Streit and Jurcina last year, there's nothing wrong with that. With Calvin De Haan, Matt Donovan and Aaron Ness most likely playing full seasons with Bridgeport this year, it's uncertain where he will find himself on Bridgeport's depth chart, but considering the fact that he's a seasoned veteran who has been called up before, he would be above CDH, Donovan and Ness on the call up chart if need be. All Reese needs to do is continue to provide a veteran presence on the team and contribute offensively here and there and he will fill his role exceptionally.

Season Preview: Anders Nilsson

Anders Nilsson

Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 220 lbs
Birthdate: March 19th, 1990 (21 years old)
Birthplace: Lulea, Sweden
Acquired: Draft, Round 3, 62nd overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Team: Lulea (Swedeish Elite League)
2010-2011 Stats: 31 GP - 1.92 GAA - .918 SV PCT (Playoffs: 13 GP, 1.96 GAA, .931 SV PCT)
2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Team Role: Second String Goaltender

Last year: Nilsson exceeded all expectations last year in the SEL, putting up outstanding numbers both in the regular season and playoffs. His 1.92 GAA in the regular season was the best in the entire league, a league that is comprised mostly of players older than he is. Although Lulea did not eventually end up winning the championship despite their strong season, behind Nilsson's 31 games, Lulea proved to be a force in a very competitive league. Nilsson's quickness and abilities considering his large body impressed all in the league and led to him signing his ELC before the deadline with the Islanders organization.

Expectations: Nilsson will be joining a very packed out goalie system in Bridgeport, with Mikko Koskinen and Kevin Poulin both having slots last season. However, with the injury bug hitting so many goaltenders last year, better safe than sorry. While it is possible that the team will rotate the 3 goalies, one may end up going to the ECHL, unfortunately. With a healthy Kevin Poulin and newcomer Nilsson in the pipes splitting games, Bridgeport seems to have a decision most teams would love to have: which of our 2 incredible goalies do we start with? Nilsson will undoubtedly have to adjust to the North American game, but once he finds his groove he should be a very worthy second string goaltender. This is all assuming Koskinen doesn't have a better camp of course, but as of right now it seems as if Poulin and Nilsson are the top 2 goaltenders on the Bridgeport depth chart. With a revitalized defense and increased production from the additions made in the offseason, Nilsson should have a very solid team to help him keep the puck out of the net.

Projections: 32 GP - 20 W - 12 L - 2.32 GAA - .910 SV PCT

Thoughts: 

AT: Nilsson was yet another goalie picked (along with Poulin and Koskinen) because of the uncertainty of the future of Rick DiPietro. With what he's shown so far, it's hard not to be tempted to push him further and further up the depth chart. For once, the Isles have really solid depth down in Bridgeport in goal, and considering Nilsson is older and has played with players older than him, could even be called up to the NHL if absolutely necessary - although let's pray it never is. Nilsson should split a good bulk of the games with Poulin, with Poulin getting the majority to prep him for the NHL next year. One (or both) of these goalies are definitely in the future of the Islanders, and I for one can not wait to see them blossom into the outstanding players we know they are.

CH: Nilsson was one of the top goalies in the SEL for Lulea last season, so it's reasonable to assume that he could put in a solid year for the Sound Tigers at the very least. The leagues are somewhat similar in talent, so really this should be an adjustment to get accustomed to the North American game. Watching Nilsson play at the prospect camp and scrimmage, you can see the talent this player has. He is huge in net, extremely quick and agile, and very smart. Casey Cizikas was amazed at how good he was - after the skills competition he went back to the bench saying "wow." It's very reasonable to put Poulin and Nilsson at the same tier of goaltending, which will make for a great competition. As it stands, he is one of the goalies of the Islanders future. But he needs to get started at the AHL first.

Season Preview: David Ullstrom

David Ullstrom

Position: Center
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 198
Birthdate: April 22, 1989 (22 years old)

Credit: IslesInfo

Birthplace: Jonkoping, Sweden
Acquired: Draft, Round 4, 102nd overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Teams: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2010-2011 Stats (BPT): 67 GP - 17 G - 24 A - 41 P - 36 PIM
2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Team Role: Top 6 Forward

Last year: Ullstrom came onto the North American scene last season, putting together a very solid season for a poor Bridgeport team. He scored 17 goals and 41 points over the course of his 67 game season, playing in a prominent role. This was a major change for Ullstrom, who is a player that played in the SEL as a teenager in limited minutes. Ullstrom proved last year that he is not a throwaway prospect, and makes the competition at forward much tougher.

Expectations: Ullstrom is going to be counted on this season to be one of the Tigers' more productive player. Now that Ullstrom is acquainted with the North American game, he should be ready to go and have a true AHL breakout season next year. He will be playing top-6 minutes all year, possibly with Rhett Rakhshani or Tim Wallace - two proven productive players in their own right. Whether the Isles are relying too heavily on their young players at the AHL level is up for debate. What is not up for debate is the fact that Ullstrom needs to be outstanding for the Tigers to make a playoff push this year.

Projections: GP 71 - 22 G - 31 A - 53 P

Thoughts:

CH: One of our common themes over the course of the AHL spectrum is that we are expecting every player to progress at a level that benefits the organization. Of course, if that was always the case the Isles would be in a great position. Since that is not the case, it's clear there are players that have the potential to regress over the next season. It is my belief that David Ullstrom is not one of these players. The tools are there - he can play good two-way hockey at a high level. What Ullstrom needs to do is further put his skills together to put forth a high-level, consistent season from top to bottom. It's already possible that he sees some NHL if injuries hit, but what he can do to expedite that process is continue to develop his all-around game while being productive on the scoreboard. Like most prospects, Ullstrom is certainly one to watch this season.

AT: A young player who I still have high hopes for, Ullstrom needs to have a very strong year in order to be considered for the system. With Brock Nelson, Ryan Strome, Anders Lee (though he may end up playing wing in the pros), Johan Sundstrom and Casey Cizikas in the fold, center depth is incredibly heavy. We know he has the vision to become a top 9 forward in the NHL, and it would be really great to see that come to pass. I doubt he's ever going to find his way onto the top line, but if for some reason Frans Nielsen is not retained then he would be a nice fill in considering his defensive prowess and puckhandling skills. If he can put it together and a slot opens up for him, he would be a fantastic addition to the Isles. This is a big season for him to see where he winds up on the depth chart.

Trade: David Toews Traded to Chicago for Future Considerations

David Toews, a center and 2008 3rd round pick, was traded by the Islanders to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations earlier today.

AT: Toews, a center playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL after disappointing seasons at the University of North Dakota, was traded to the team that his brother, Jonathan Toews, is currently the captain of. Toews was yet another center in the Islanders system and with his unimpressive play (albeit very strong playoffs stats-wise) had not been invited to the Blue and White scrimmage due to the Islanders' stated intentions of having no plans to sign him. So, it's good he'll get a chance to find a nice home in Chicago with the help of big brother Jon. Better there than being stuck behind a plethora of centers far ahead of him in the depth charts. As for what the Islanders are getting in return... who knows? Toews was not even a consideration in the Islanders system and considered a bust universally, so we shouldn't be expecting anything other than maybe a 7th round pick. Regardless, good luck to David, and best wishes on better success in Chi-town.

CH: Agreed. Some picks you win with, and some you lose with. Unfortunately, this is one the Isles lost on. But that happens, and sometimes you just have to pull the plug. The Isles did it last year with Jyri Niemi, as they traded him to the Rangers in 2010 for a 6th round pick. We will see what the Isles get back, but expect nothing more than a 7th round pick or low level prospect. This is just a favor to Toews, which is more than fine. Like Alex said, best of luck to David in all of his future endeavors.

News: Isles To Induct Four Into Hall Of Fame

Credit: NY Islanders

The New York Islanders kicked off their 40th anniversary celebration by announcing five key dates for a celebration of the team's historic achievements, including four decade nights where memorable Islanders will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. The team plans to honor Ed Westfall (70s), Ken Morrow (80s), Patrick Flatley (90s), and Kenny Jonsson (00s) throughout the 2011-12 season.

CH: This is absolutely awesome. Both Alex and I have been critical of the team's off-the-ice moves over the past month or so, but this is exactly the jolt the fans needed as the team heads into training camp. While the team overdid the celebrations of the team's past in the early part of the post-lockout era, there has been nothing substantial as far as bringing back legends back for a celebratory occasion since 2008. Since the last celebration, the Core of the Four weekend, the amount of new, core Islanders that have joined the organization is immense. In fact, it is almost the whole team - headlined by John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, Mark Streit, and Travis Hamonic (among many others). Only Blake Comeau and Rick DiPietro remain from the 07-08 team that was in attendance for that celebration.

It's time the Islanders start to embrace their history once again, which falls right into their "commitment" campaign for the season. Guys like Tavares and Okposo - yeah, they know about the history of the team. All they have to do is look up at the six retired numbers and four Stanley Cup champion banners. But now, they will get a first hand look at the history of the Islanders. They'll see the packed Coliseum (no question these games will be sellouts) and the outpouring of love fans have for the four inductees. For this first time, these celebrations will be seen more as a transition from old greats to new greats than a mindless way to sell tickets (all while Mike Comrie and Ruslan Fedontenko headline the lineup).

As far as the actual inductees go, there is plenty of time for all of the deserving players to get inducted. Yes, you can name the "snubs" - John Tonelli, Pat LaFontaine, Pierre Turgeon - to name a few. But this is not about them. They will get their day. Instead we should celebrate Ed Westfall, a huge reason those banners are in the rafters even if he didn't win any Cups himself. Ken Morrow, the first player to win an Olympic gold medal and Stanley Cup in the same year. Pat Flatley, the captain of the 1993 team whose commitment to the Islanders is almost unmatched (hey, can't completely forgive him for that Ranger stint). Kenny Jonsson, the steadiest, most underrated defenseman in the game, who played over 500 games as an Islander.

They all deserve this honor, and they all deserve to be celebrated. What better time than now? Time to bridge the gap between the past and the present, as the team looks ahead to cementing their future.

AT: For a team that at the moment really only has its history to look to for inspiration amidst arena troubles, a lack of free agent signings and being a general mockery at times around the league, having something like this is a really great decision on behalf of the Isles. Four fantastic players who helped represent each generation of Islanders hockey. Westfall, the first captain of the team, Ken Morrow, a member of the 1980 "miracle on ice" USA team and all 4 Stanley Cups, Flatley, a strong role player in the early 90's Isles playoff teams, and Jonsson, one of the best d-men to ever play for the team. Some may scoff at the snubs as Carey mentioned, but these are just 4 with many more to come. It's not as if everyone is making it, just those who really have contributed to the rich history that we hold so dear to us in this time of trouble. Kudos to the Isles for bringing back the HOF ceremonies, and I can't wait to see it in person. A new day is dawning in Islander country, but let's not forget the players who helped this team see better days in a time prior.