Season Preview: Nino Niederreiter

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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.

Season Preview: Ryan Strome

Ryan Strome

Position: Center
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 176 lbs
Birthdate: July 11th, 1993
Birthplace: Mississauga, ON, CAN
Acquired: Draft, Round 1, 5th overall, 2011 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Team: Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
2010-2011 Stats: 65 GP - 33 G - 73 A - 106 P - 82 PIM
2010-2011 Playoffs: 14 GP - 6 G - 6 A - 12 P 19 PIM
2011-2012 Team: Niagara IceDogs
Team Role: #1 Center/Top Line Forward

Last year: Strome absolutely exploded in the production department last year after getting accustomed to his teammates on Niagara. Strome only had 2 less points than Jason Akeson and Tyler Toffoli, of whom he is younger than. His absolutely outstanding skating ability, insane accuracy, magnificent stickhandling and uncanny ability to set his teammates up led Niagara into the playoffs, although ultimately falling short in the Eastern Conference finals. Strome proved he was a legitimate talent in every way possible, and after once being projected to be a late 1st round pick, his meteoric rise in production cemented him in the top 10.

Expectations: Strome is still a smaller player who needs to pack on some muscle and grow into his body, so he will almost definitely be sent back to Niagara for another season with the Ice Dogs, along with fellow high scoring teammates Alex Friesen and Freddie Hamilton. If Strome plays all 68 games, the sky is the limit. We could see an offensive outburst of at least 115 points or more, unless Strome is given his 9 game NHL tryout much like Nino Niederreiter was last year. If Dougie Hamilton is returned to Niagara by the Bruins, Strome should be leading the IceDogs back to the playoffs as well. He will need to work on his two way play and learn to be a bit more consistent, but those are to be expected of such a young player and will come with more experience this year. He should also be improving his statistics in the goal category, as after what we saw in the rookie game and blue and white scrimmage, Strome packs an absolute laser of a wrist shot. This is ebgoing to be a big season for Strome to prove he was worth the 5th pick.

Projections: GP 66 - 39 G - 79 A - 118 P

Thoughts:

AT: I was very pleased with the Islanders choosing Strome with their 5th pick, and with everything I've seen in scrimmages and games since, I'm even more ecstatic. I do however do not believe it would be wise to keep Strome in the NHL this season, as we saw what happened with Josh Bailey being rushed into the NHL before he was fully developed. We know the talent that is there with Strome, it's just not likely that it's mature enough for the NHL just yet. It should be interesting to see if he's given his 9 game tryout like Niederreiter was, as he's much smaller and could be thrown around in the NHL. Strome has the tools to create an absolute force down the middle with Tavares and Nielsen, and if properly developed will give the Islanders one of the best top 9 sets in the NHL. If all things go accordingly, we've got a hell of a player to wait for.

CH: This kid is an absolute stud. He does everything well, and most things extremely well. His shot is blistering, his vision is astounding, his speed is blazing, and his effort is like a workhorse. Strome put forth the best rookie camp (including the rookie games) of any Islanders first round pick since before Kyle Okposo, and that includes John Tavares. Now, those scrimmages are far from indicative of Strome's NHL future, but it certainly makes me excited for his future. Alex is right - Strome should be nowhere near the NHL this season, and my gut says he won't be. The Islanders are very crowded at forward, and barring some catastrophic injuries, there is plenty of depth to compensate. Let Strome develop this year. He'll come back stronger, tougher, and faster next year. And then - watch out.

Prospect Report: September 18, 2011

September 18, 2011

KHL: Ak Bars - 4, Metallurg - 2
Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 1 A, +1, 0 PIM
Season: 3 GP, 2 G, 1 A, +2, 0 PIM

Season Preview: Ty Wishart

Credit: Zimbio

Ty Wishart

Position: Defense
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 223 lbs
Birthdate: May 19th, 1988 (23 years old)
Birthplace: Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Acquired: Trade with Tampa Bay Lightning, 2011

2010-2011 Teams: Norfolk Admirals/Bridgeport Sound Tigers/New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats (NOR): 31 GP - 4 G - 14 A - 18 P - 33 PIM
2010-2011 Stats (BPT): 20 GP - 0 G - 9 A - 9 P - 8 PIM
2010-2011 Stats (NYI): 20 GP - 1 G - 4 A - 5 P - 10 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders

Last year: The 2010-11 season was a whirlwind for the third year pro defenseman. He started off in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, playing for their AHL affiliate Norfolk. He put together a really solid first half campaign, averaging over .5 PPG and had a good plus-minus rating. Wishart was traded to the New York Islanders around New Year's Day for goaltender Dwayne Roloson. After playing a handful of games for the Isles' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Wishart was finally called up after the Isles were continually decimated by injuries. In his 20 games for the Isles, the rookie was somewhat inconsistent - playing a handful of solid games and a handful of tough ones as well. Wishart was rewarded with a qualifying offer (which he accepted) after the season, giving him another year to prove himself as a potential roster player in the Islanders future.

Expectations: Wishart will start training camp as a candidate for the 6th defenseman on the Isles NHL team. With Mark Streit, Andrew MacDonald, Travis Hamonic, Mark Eaton, and Milan Jurcina locking up the top 5 spots, Wishart will be in competition with Mike Mottau and Steve Staios to prove he belongs in the starting lineup. No matter how the training camp battle shakes out, expect Wishart to stay with the big club all season as the Isles will not want to expose him to waivers. Because of that, he is sure to play a lot of games for the team this season.

Projections: GP 43 - 2 G - 9 A - 11 P - 18 PIM

Thoughts:

CH: Wishart is a big, mobile defenseman who has all the tools to be a successful 2nd-3rd pairing defenseman in the NHL. The issue is that he does not prefer to engage with his body, either in the corners or in front of the net. The Isles site has Wishart putting on a decent amount of weight this year, which makes me hopeful they he will be more willing to mix it up when the time calls for it. Either way, I expect Wishart to get a decent amount of games in for the team here. The Isles will undoubtedly have injuries this year, and having guys like Wishart, Mottau, and potentially Staios could be good enough stopgaps. All the Isles really need from Wishart is for him to develop into his body, play some solid defense, and grow more as an NHL player. If he does that, it will certainly be a successful season.

AT: After a slow start, Wishart really picked it up by the end of the year and began playing a very solid defensive game. Hopefully with the added weight onto his body he will begin to be more confident in his physical abilities, although something like that is difficult to teach. With Pedan, Mayfield, Wishart and Jurcina all either on the team or in the system, the Islanders have gotten back their size on defense that they so desperately needed. Being who the Islanders received in exchange for fan favorite Dwayne Roloson, Wishart is going to need to put up a good season this year. He's still young, but he's become a bit of a project. Either way, he should have a decent amount of time in the NHL this year if our track record continues as is concerning injuries, so now's a great time for him to prove himself.

Prospect Report: September 17, 2011

September 17, 2011

SEL - Frolunda - 2, Lulea - 1
Johan Sundstrom - 0 G, 1 A, 0 PIM
Season: 3 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 2 PIM

Season Preview: Kevin Poulin

Kevin Poulin

Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 201 lbs
Birthdate: April 12th, 1990 (21 years old)
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Acquired: Draft, 5th round, 126th overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Teams: Bridgeport Sound Tigers/New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats (BPT): 15 GP - 2.19 GAA - .932% SV PCT
2010-2011 Stats (NYI): 10 GP - 2.44 GAA - .924% SV PCT
2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers/New York Islanders (emergency callup)

Last year: After a very solid and quite impressive final year in the QMJHL with Victoriaville, Poulin was assigned to full time work at Bridgeport to split time with Mikko Koskinen. In the 15 games he started, Poulin was an absolute brick wall. He put up some of the best numbers in the league for the time being and was one of the main reasons Bridgeport was still competitive at the time. When yet another injury hit Rick DiPietro, Poulin was called up to split time with Nathan Lawson. After a poor start by Lawson in a game against Edmonton, Poulin came in and played lights out netminding, even though the Islanders would end up losing that game. In the next 10 games, Poulin showed that he was just about ready for the NHL, putting up spectacular numbers for a 20 year old in a league filled with players almost entirely older than him and professionals. Though he did look shaky at times specifically in a game against Colorado where he gave up the tying goal late in the game, Poulin showed spectacular athleticism and netminding skills that showed to many fans that he was our goalie of the future. However, in a pre-game warmup, Poulin hit a part of the crease awkwardly with his leg, twisted it, and dislocated his kneecap, requiring season ending surgery. This was the second occurance of a dislocated kneecap for Poulin, worrying many about his health in the future.

Expectations: Poulin was declared healthy and is ready to go for this season. With 3 NHL goalies (DiPietro, Nabokov, Montoya) in the running for the #1 spot this season, it's doubtful Poulin will be the backup this season as some had hoped prior to his injury. Poulin will however almost certainly be the #1 goalie for Bridgeport and hopefully will stay healthy for the entire season and play a solid 45+ games. After Mikko Koskinen's poor showing in the rookie game, it's most likely that Poulin will be splitting a decent amount of time with Anders Nilsson who recently signed an ELC with the Isles. If his numbers in the AHL at 20 were an indication of anything, his numbers at 21 with NHL experience under his belt should be extremely impressive, especially with a revamped defense with the additions of Matt Donovan, Calvin De Haan and Aaron Ness.

Projections: GP 48 - 2.13 GAA - .930 SV PCT

Thoughts: Poulin certainly has showed the potential to be our goalie of the future, but his health is a very worrying thing to have in your subconscious, especially with a #1 overall pick with reoccuring knee injuries who continues to try and come back. The injury itself was not the worrying part, but the fact that it was the second of its type and the fact that it occurred in pre-game warmups on an innocent stride on the ice, not an actual game situation. If his knee is back as healthy as he says it is - not that he'd say otherwise - Bridgeport is going to compete for the Calder Cup. Make no doubt about it. He is an absolute stone wall when on his game, and as we saw in the Stanley Cup finals, goaltending can help almost on a sole basis to secure victories. We will pray to the hockey gods to keep Kevin Poulin's knee, as well as the rest of his body, safe from harm. His athleticism and style of play which are very reminiscent of Patrick Roy can lead the Islanders to a place we've desired to return for so long.

CH: Poulin established himself as a legitimate top prospect for the Islanders last season, and that is something I would expect to carry over into this upcoming season. He is extremely athletic and technically sound, as well as being a fierce competitor. His only real downside is his injury risk - after two knee surgeries, the jury is out on the young netminder to see if he can maintain his level of play. That said, he and Anders Nilsson are likely to single-handedly keep the Sound Tigers competitive this season, which should be a great experience. Poulin's time will certainly come as an Islander goaltender. The only question is how high can ge raise his game. If our thoughts are correct, we haven't seen much of anything yet.

Prospect Report: September 16, 2011

September 16, 2011

KHL: Salavat Yulev - 5, Ak Bars - 4
Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, +1, 0 PIM

Season Preview: Calvin de Haan

Calvin de Haan

Credit: Yahoo

Position: Defense
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 183 lbs
Birthdate: May 9, 1991 (Age 20)
Birthplace: Carp, ON, Canada
Acquired: Drafted 1st Round, 12th Overall, 2009 NHL Draft

2010-2011 Team: Oshawa Generals
2010-2011 Stats: 55 GP - 6 G - 42 A - 48 P - 48 PIM
2010-2011 Stats (Playoffs): 10 GP - 1 G - 11 A - 12 P - 6 PIM
2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Team Role: Top 4 Defenseman

Last year: After an injury played 2009-10 season, Calvin de Haan came back with an extremely solid season for the Generals. He started the year by being named captain of the team, and subsequently put up 48 points in 55 games. Midway through the year, he was named an alternate captain on the Canadian World Junior team, and recorded 5 points in 6 games for the silver medalling team. Finally, de Haan had an outstanding playoffs, recording over a point per game in Oshawa's first playoff appearance since John Tavares played for the team.

Expectations: de Haan's first professional season will undoubtedly be looked at closely by the team and the fans. As far as his game goes, de Haan is very poised with the puck, has great skating ability, and has high-level hockey sense. The long term injury to Mark Katic will certainly give de Haan more time and responsibility quicker, which should be a good thing for a player who has handled situations like that with ease during his junior career. There is no question de Haan is close to making an impact at the NHL level, but it does not seem he is there just yet. However, by the time 2012-13 comes along, there's little doubt he will make the roster and never look back.

Projections: 74 GP - 6 G - 28 A - 34 P

Thoughts:

CH: I loved this pick when it was made two years ago, and think that de Haan is going to show more signs that he will be a legitimate, reliable top-4 two way defenseman in the NHL for years to come. He has all the attributes a defenseman needs in this day and age. He's been an assist machine for years in juniors, and with the amount of offensive talent on the team and in the wings, there is no reason why that can't continue. A powerplay quarterback in the true sense of the word, de Haan will be a mainstay in that role for years to come. Of course, it's easy to overlook that de Haan has worked very hard to build muscle mass so that he will be able to physically match up to the size of the average NHL player. But he has done that, and soon it will be his time to show what he's got for the Islanders.

AT: Garth definitely seemed as if de Haan was the player he really truly wanted in addition to John Tavares in the first round. He was drafted a little off the board and Garth Snow traded up in order to ensure de Haan landed in his lap. Clearly there was something he saw, and as we've seen in his time in Oshawa as their captain and during training camps and rookie games, we realize just how special of a player de Haan really is. Supreme hockey sense and vision don't come very often, especially in such a gifted manner as de Haan. It's seemed that everything that people once said of CDH - poor skating, weak, not tall enough - have all been eviscerated over the past few years. During the rookie game especially I noticed him throwing large hits and having a major step up in his skating game. He's begun to fill into his body exceptionally well and will only continue to do so while refining his skills, hopefully in the AHL. I know some believe he is NHL ready but with what I've seen, at least a year of AHL seasoning would be the most opportune choice in order to keep development on the right track. We may have struck gold here - but let's not rush it.

Training Camp: Steve Staios Accepts Tryout Offer

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Darren Dreger reports on Twitter than former Oilers and Flames defenseman Steve Staios has accepted a tryout offer to Islanders training camp. According to Arthur Staple, he is expected to report on Monday. 

Staios played 39 games in the 2011-12 season for the Calgary Flames, recording 3 goals and 7 assists with a +6 rating.

CH: Clearly, this is not an ideal situation. The Islanders have (so far) failed to acquire a top-4 defenseman, which was their most pressing need going into the off-season. On that front, Garth Snow has failed. But instead of looking back, our mantra all summer has been to look forward. So we'll do that.

Steve Staios can still play the game. Yes, he is getting up there in age. Yes, his body has started to break down a little at 38 years old. But he plays a rugged game - which is what the Isles need on the blueline. He's a smart defenseman that can chip in on both sides of the rink. He's known as a leader across the board and someone who can really help the young defensemen on the team - such as Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald.

There's generally two types of training camp invites: the "are you good enough to make this team?" invite and the "we want to make sure you are healthy" invite. My hunch is that it's the latter. As long as Staios makes it through camp healthy, he will get a contract. And that would not be a bad thing. The Isles need someone to fill the void - guys like Ty Wishart need to earn their ice time.

What I do know is that Staios can still contribute. Will he make the impact the Isles have needed all along? It's unlikely, at best. But he can be a solid stopgap and leader for the season, and at this point, it is worth bringing him in and seeing what he has. Let's hope it's enough to put a solid season together.

AT: As long as he stays healthy, Staios is pretty much the best alternative to not bringing in a top 4 d-man. He's older, yes, but he still has a decent defensive game and can probably contribute 14-16 points offensively as well, so there's nothing wrong with it. Nobody wants Mike Mottau, as nice of a guy as he is, on the top 3 D pairings. He is fine as a 7th D but playing regular minutes would hurt the team. Now, it would be even better if this trade could still happen and Staios could be our 7th D, but we're dealing in terms of reality and not conjecture. Hoping for the best camp possible for the vet.

Training Camp: Isles Cut Four Rookies

The Islanders announced Friday they have cut four players from rookie camp: Art Bidlevskii, Brenden Kichton, Andrey Pedan, and John Persson. 

Kichton and Persson will return to their WHL teams (Spokane and Red Deer, respectively). Pedan will return to Guelph in the OHL. Bidlevskii becomes a free agent after completing four junior seasons.

The Islanders completed their first day of off-ice workouts and physicals on Friday. They hit the ice for their first practice on Sunday.

CH: No real surprises here. The junior league seasons are beginning to ramp up over the next week or so, so the Isles probably thought it would be better for those players to go and develop from (essentially) day one with their teams.

All four players had their moments in the rookie game. Persson had a solid goal and played decently well with Kirill Kabanov and Casey Cizikas. Pedan was stellar at times, especially on the penalty kill using his size. Kichton was unspectacular, but solid. Bidlevskii was one of the players who fought at the beginning of the game on Tuesday, trying to make a statement. But overall, for the players of who the Isles own rights to, this is for the best.

AT: Definitely no surprises. Bidlevskii had a nice scrap in the second rookie game but when you're below several others on the tough guy depth chart, you're probably not going to be making a team about to make the next big jump. As for the rest, we know the potential (especially in Pedan), and they'll be able to train full time for their junior clubs in order to fully prepare for the coming season. You'll see more of these cuts coming in the next few days and week.