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.

Season Preview: Nino Niederreiter

Getty Images

Nino Niederreiter

Position: Left Wing
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 207 lbs
Birthdate: September 8, 1992
Birthplace: Chur, Switzerland
Acquired: Draft, Round 1, 5th overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Team: Portland Winterhawks

2010-2011 Stats (NYI): 9 GP - 1 G - 1 A - 2 P - 8 PIM

2010-2011 Stats (POR): 55 GP - 41 G - 29 A - 70 P - 67 PIM
2010-2011 Playoffs (POR): 21 GP - 9 G - 18 A - 27 P 30 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders or Portland Winterhawks
Team Role: Third Line Wing (NYI) / Top Line Wing (POR)

Last year: Niederreiter's whirlwind year started at the draft, where the Islanders made him the top Swiss pick of all time at number 5 overall. Niederreiter came to training camp under Scott Gordon and made an immediate impression, earning a spot on the main roster. However, after one goal in nine games and some inconsistent play, the Isles decided to send Niederreiter down to the WHL to hone his skills. He did just that, scoring 70 points for Portland in just 55 games, including 41 goals. Niederreiter also was the captain of the Swiss World Junior team, where he tallied four points (two goals) in six games. Once the playoffs hit, however, Niederreiter was a monster as he scored 27 points in 21 games. The experience certainly helped Nino as he entered his sophomore season.

Expectations: It's unclear as of today where Niederreiter will end up playing for the season, though most signs point to him making the cut for his rookie year with the Islanders. With the forward depth the Isles have, it's certainly possible that Niederreiter starts in a bottom-6 role. This would be great for him as he will have to earn his way up the forward ranks, which we certainly expect him to do over the next year or so. We don't expect Niederreiter to break scoring records this season, but we do expect solid play in all three zones with a scoring touch to boot. With the amount of work and effort that Niederreiter puts into his game, the results could be great.

Projections (NYI): GP 71 - 18 G - 12 A - 30 P

Projections (POR): GP 58 - 47 G - 23 A - 80 P


Thoughts:

CH: This kid is going to be an outstanding power forward for years to come. He is certainly not the razzle dazzle type player, but he is a force to be reckoned with. During the rookie game, you can see how far Nino has come over the past season. He hit everything that moved, established a net front presence, worked in the corners, played solid in the defensive zone, and even displayed his scoring touch. He is a do-it-all forward whose effectiveness will be gauged both on the scoreboard and off it. Certainly, Niederreiter has things to work on. And that alone may be his ticket back to the WHL for the season. But even if that is the case, it's hard to forget that he is only 19 years old. There is so much time for him to develop into the player that the Isles thought they were getting when they drafted him. Time will tell, but my guess is that Niederreiter will have a very strong training camp and will be in the opening night lineup.

AT: His goalscoring ability combined with his strength are going to be a very welcome addition on a team that already has a talented power forward in Kyle Okposo on the second line. I don't believe he is going to go back to juniors, as what he showed last year both in terms of play and maturity showed he's learned all he can possibly learn in the WHL. He will most likely be slotted on the third line with some combination of Blake Comeau, Brian Rolston, Josh Bailey and himself. Nino making the team would also leave a lot of room for a trade to occur, but that's for another post. Niederreiter has the body of an NHL'er and the skills to make it, although power forwards traditionally take a little bit more time to really come into their own. However, on sheer ability to get the pick into the net alone, Niederreiter should have a great year if he has his rookie year this year. If not, he knows what he needs to work on to make it into the bigs, and will go back to the WHL as a veteran presence on a very strong Portland team. Whatever the case, we have a very special player here who is ready to jump into the NHL as soon as possible.