Lightning Sean, the draft and what playing for Long Island really means.

I usually tend to follow, or at least notice ex-Islanders throughout their careers in professional hockey.  I am always eager to see how they are doing in comparison to their time here in New York, especially, what I considered my favorite players or guys that made an impression on me as a fan.

When the Islanders selected Sean Bergenheim 22^nd overall in the 2002 draft, I knew the hype was there.  But as Scott Scissons taught me, hype is just that, hype.  I did see flashes of what could make Bergenheim a key player on the Islanders for the future.  He had good hands, scored the occasional big goal, but seemed to come in and out of favor of the coaching staff.  In his second stint with the Isles, he was more of the same and that made him expendable in the off-season.  Some players’ work in the Isles system, and some do not.  After signing with Tampa Bay, his numbers of 14 and 15 for 29 pts in 80 games were on par with what I came to expect with the Islanders, just not what came to be expected of him and the expectations of the organizations.  They wanted him to play the role of impact player.

With 7 and 1 for 8 points in the 2011 playoffs thus far, the Lightning are getting the impact player the Islanders always thought was there.  Maybe it’s his maturity level and maybe it’s the different supporting cast of players in Tampa Bay, but Bergenheim could find himself in talks of a Conn Smythe candidate if he keeps up his magic touch.  He has meshed flawlessly with the upgraded Steve Yzerman run Lightning under coach Guy Boucher.

With the additions made to the Lightning from the Islander stockyards, all have played a partial to major role in the team’s success.  Dwayne Roloson has shown MVP form that was evident on the Island while last season’s waiver pick up Nate Thompson’s offered grit and tenaciousness that has enabled him to become a major role player with the Lightning when the game is on the line.  Even Marc-Andre Bergeron may rediscover his former power play glory of the past.  One thing is for sure, Tampa Bay is getting noticed.

With the Islanders having the most active roster of draft picks playing in the NHL today, and the stable of supposedly non-marquee free agents that improve on the Island or move on to continue their success, it’s a wonder more players don’t aim for the improving Islanders to take the next step or become a fixture and play in a New York based team’s spotlight.  The team obviously knows what they are doing and the results are starting to show.  They know how to pick talented players and have had recent success drafting or signing those that can fit into the Islander mold.

Party on Garth.