Islanders Mini-Camp, Day 1

Your New York Islanders started their "Mini-Camp" this week to evaluate the 21 prospects in their system as well as 26 un-drafted players that got the attention of Islanders scouting.  The schedule would have photos and information gathered, media interviews, on and off ice workout sessions and a team practices today with scrimmages on Wednesday and the prospect game on Thursday, 7/11.

WFAN's Daniel Friedman got some great quotes and observations on the day:

"At the Coliseum for prospect camp. Calvin de Haan, Casey Cizikas, Anders Nilsson on the ice early for some drills."

If Calvin deHaan can stay healthy, he would be an immediate possibility of defense for the Isles.  Great to see Ander Nilsson feeling better and focusing on goaltending.  (allergic to gluten anddairy products.)

Anders Nilsson: "I feel good, it's nice to be back here. Obviously this past season was a little rough for me, but I've gotten better." 

To see Casey Cizikas on the ice at mini camp after the season he had last year shows the kind of character he has.  He, like other young players in the system share a cultural trait of always wanting to improve.  This is exactly why Niederrieter is gone.

Ryan Pulock: "I want to make a good first impression on the ice. I'm here to improve my overall game."

Anders Lee: "There's still a lot of work to do, I just have to go out and play my game. I'm working on my skating, protecting the puck."

I am really looking forward to see if Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson, Kirill Kabanov, John Perrson or Ryan Sundstrom can make the forward line up.  My prospects to watch on defense are Calvin deHaan, Scott Mayfield, Griffin Reinhart, Andrej Pedan and Adam Pelech. (along with Matt Donovan, Ville Pokka)  I expect big things from Anders Nilsson and Kevin Poulin in net, even if its in the AHL.

It was also refreshing to hear that the top guys in the system were immediately put into the paces of improving thier short comings and really worked hard on fundamentals.  The fact that Pulock wasn't firing off slap shots and Lee was focusing on his defensive game and guarding the puck shows attention to detail by the coaching staff.

Per Islanders.nhl.com, "The players are broken down into two teams, which will go head-to-head Thursday in the Orange vs. Blue Rookie Scrimmage & Skills Competition at Nassau Coliseum. While one squad skates, the other works out in the gym with the team’s training staff. The key to the off-ice training, according to Director of Sports Performance Sean Donellan, is to show the players how the techniques they learn on a track or in the weight room can translate to improved on-ice performance."

The 2013 New York Islanders Mini-Camp Roster

Forwards:

29        Steve Alonge                       6'0            192#            Windsor (OHL)

10        Colton Beck                         5'10            185#            Alaska (CCHA)

14        Erik Bradford                       5'11            181#            Barrie (OHL)

36        Taylor Cammarata              5'7            156#            Waterloo (USHL)

72        Jason Clark                         6'2            204#            Gwinnett (ECHL)

8          Victor Crus Rydberg            5'11            190#            Linkoping U-20 (SWE)

11        Joe Diamond                        5'7            190#            Maine (H-East)

18        Braden Gracel                     5'8            179#            UMass-Amherst (H-East)

14        Cason Hohmann                 5'8            181#            Boston U. (H-East)

25        Mike Hamlo                         5'10            197#            BST (AHL)

28        Josh Holmstrom                 6'0            181#            UMass-Lowell (H-East)

77        Kirill Kabonov                     6'2            192#            BST (AHL)

27        Anders Lee                        6'2            225#            Notre Dame(NCAA)

53        Greg Miller                        5'11            193#            Cornell (ECAC)

27        Trevor Moore                   5'9            172#            Tri-City (USHL)

72        Jared Morris                    6'1            206#            Winnipeg (MJHL)

29        Brock Nelson                   6'3            196#            BST (AHL)

25        John Persson                  6'2            209#            BST (AHL)

10        Alan Quine                      5'11            191#            Petrb./Belv. (OHL)

36        Evan Rodrigues              5'9            178#            Boston U (H-East)

77        Ben Rosen                     5'10            195#            Boston U (H-East)

11        Nick Sorkin                    6'3            193#            New Hamp. (H-East)

18        Ryan Strome                 6'1            188#            Niagra (OHL)

28        Johan Sundstrom        6'3            201#            BST (AHL)

53        Matt Tabrum                 5'10            187#            Denver (WCHA)

8          Riley Wetmore              5'11            185#            UMass/Low. (H-East)

Defensemen:

37        Kyle Burroughs            5'11            189#            Regina (WHL)

46        Marc Cantin                  6'1            204#            BST (AHL)

44        Mike Dalhuisen            6'2            230#            Quinnipiac (ECAC)

37        Tony Donnay               6'6            186#            Erie (OHL)

38        Jesse Graham            6'0            173#            Niagra (OHL)

41        Jared Hauf                  6'5            225#            Seattle (WHL)

33        Dallas Jackson            6'2            202#            BST (AHL)

44        Mike Keenan               6'0            181#            Dartmouth (ECAC)

46        Loic Leduc                   6'6            221#            Cape Brenton (QMJHL)

6          Scott Mayfield             6'4            209#            Denver (WCHA)

42        James Mazza             6'1            183#            Youngstown (USHL)

41        Bradley Nunn              6'5            231#            SUNY Fredonia

33        Andrey Pedan             6'4            207#            Guelph (OHL)

50        Adam Pelech              6'2            215#            Eric (OHL)

 

6          Ryan Pulock                6'1            213#            Brandon (WHL)

4          Griffin Reinhart            6'4            202#            Edmonton (WHL)

38        Bennett Schneider       6'2            220#            Hamilton COl. (NESCAC)

4          Doyle Somerby            6'6            233#            Muskegon (USHL)

Goalies:

60        Eamon McAdam            6'2            189#            Waterloo (USHL)

1          Anders Nilsson              6'5            227#            BST (AHL)

1          Ken Reiter                     5'10            175#            BST (AHL)

60        Joel Rumpel                  6'2            188#            Wisconsin (WCHA)

Isles Notes:

Today, The New York Islanders announced today that Cal Clutterbuck has agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $11M.

This puts the Islanders over the NHL Cap floor with Isles still working on contracts for Josh Bailey and Thomas Hickey.

On 7/8, The New York Islanders announced today that Kevin Poulin has accepted his qualifying offer, which is a one-year, two-way contract.

Per Arthur Staple, "Have to apologize and clarify a report from yesterday: Isles G Kevin Poulin does NOT need waivers this season. Sorry for the confusion." 

This would contradict what Garth Snow said in the booster club meeting.  He specifically stated that Poulin's need for waivers would factor into the Isles goal tending situation.  With Poulin not needing waivers to go up and down from the BST, he can continue to play in the AHL if management deems it necessary.  It also means a free agent goaltender may still join the Isles line up for this season.

@KeithLHHockey, "Yormark says jersey colors stay. @NYTSports: Islanders Hope to Bring Fans to Brooklyn and Get New Ones, Too." 

NHL Notes:

Free Agent Tracker.