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.

Season Preview: Mitchell Theoret

Mitchell Theoret
Position: Center
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 196 lbs
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Acquired: Draft, 7th round, 185th overall, 2011

2010-2011 Team: Niagara IceDogs
2010-2011 Stats: 9 G - 11 A - 20 P - 52 PIM
2011-2012 Team: Niagara IceDogs
Team Role: Top-9 Center

Last year: Theoret played a bottom 6 role last year, but still put up a respectable 20 points in the time he was given. He was still fairly young and on a team that has two great centers in fellow Islanders draftee Ryan Strome as well as Alex Friesen. Theoret was on the 4th line, but when injuries took their toll on the IceDogs depth chart, Theoret was able to become an effective power forward-esque type player. He was also known to be a very high character guy which we know Garth Snow is enamored with.

Expectations: Theoret will definitely be seeing more playing time this year. If he can find consistency in his game, it would not be surprising to see him slotted in on the 2nd line as a winger. With his skilled hands and effectiveness at creating scoring chances, Theoret could become quintessential to Niagara's 5-on-5 play. He still has time to prove himself, and with an advanced role this year, the opportunity to show what kind of player he is sits right in front of him.

Projections: 66 GP - 20 G - 22 A - 42 P

Thoughts

AT: The minute Theoret was picked, everyone knew it was most likely a favor to Strome as they had a very good connection and friendship back in Niagara which will continue to flourish once Strome and Theoret inevitably return to the OHL for the 2011-2012 season. However, with the scouting reports and with the play he has shown so far, Theoret could end up being a 7th round pick we love in the future. He will never be a Henrik Zetterberg, but a very solid 3rd line center or winger in the NHL is completely possible. It's up to him to take advantage of his increased playing time this year.

CH: I questioned this pick when it was made, because like Alex said the intentions of it were clear. However, showing loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing. When I saw Theoret at rookie camp, it was clear that he was more than just a sparkplug type. He can play a little too. It will be very interesting to see how he develops this year, if he sees time with Ryan Strome on a good Niagara team, and what kind of impact he makes. This is a big year to prove that Theoret was deserving of his pick.

Draft: Islanders Select Mitchell Theoret With The 184th Overall Pick

The New York Islanders have selected forward Mitchell Theoret from the Niagara IceDogs. A teammate of Ryan Strome, Theoret is a 6'1" center who only had 20 points in 66 games last season.

CH: We're talking about a 7th round pick here, so it's no big deal whatsoever, but this pick is a little confusing. Plenty of talent left on the board the team could have taken a shot on, including Myles Bell and Jeremy Boyce-Rotevall. That said, I'm sure the Isles have their reasoning so it is what it is. Overall, this was a fantastic draft as far as potential for the New York Islanders.

We will have a complete 2011 Draft rundown coming this weekend as well as on our weekly podcast next Wednesday.

UPDATE: 11:50 PM - After reading more on Theoret, it sounds like he does have decent upside. More likely, this is more the Islanders doing their new #1 pick, Ryan Strome, a "favor," so to speak - as I'm sure Strome pumped him up at the draft table. If it makes him happy, I'm happy.