Isles Preseason Begins Tomorrow

Today's look on Forward lines:  Moulson-Tavares-Bouchard; Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo; Grabner-Regin-Clutterbuck; Martin-Boulton-Cizikas-McDonald.

 

A  Defensive Pairings:  Hamonic-Strait; Hickey-Visnovsky; MacDonald-Carkner; Finley-Martinek.

B  Defensive Pairings:  Cantin, Dalhuisen, de Haan, Donovan, Jackson, Keenan, Mayfield, Ness, Pedan, Pulock, Reinhart.


Split squad rosters can be found here.

###

 

 

Per Arthur Staple, "Isles doing first PP work of camp. 1st unit: 26-91-21-11-51. 2nd unit: 12-16-96-47-15.  Looks like Bouchard on the point of 2nd unit PP, with Clutterbuck net front."

 

"Capuano says that Ryan Strome and Matt Donovan will get PP time tomorrow. Believe Donovan will pair with A. MacDonald as well."  Donovan has been turning heads at camp on defense.  I think he is ready, as is Ness if he can stay healthy.

 

Brock Nelson has looked very strong in camp while Ryan Strome has impressed a lot of media with his play thus far.  Per Daniel Friedman, "I think some of these younger guys might need a little more time in Bridgeport but we'll see how they do in preseason."  Strome has also gotten some time with Lee and Nelson in Bridgeport.  How's that for a near future line?

 

PMB commented on the possibility of playing with JT, " Johnny does everything on the ice so well and Matt is just a pure goal-scorer. I'm just gonna try and fit right in ... "I'm looking forward to a fresh start. It was a good run in Minnesota but now I'm excited to be with the Islanders."

 

Per Anthony Stabile, Capuano on Donovan, "He had a great summer."  He is expected to be given a long look at camp and although probably be sent to the BST for more seasoning, any impact he can make now will help him when the opportunity arises.

 

Look for projected lines and d-pairings to be listed tomorrow for the Isles 1st split squad preseason games vs Flames tomorrow night. From there, realignments and cuts will get made as the roster is tweaked and players are retained or moved down.  The team will slowly take shape over the next two weeks.  You never know what opportunities will be earned from a prospect.  Who knows what waiver opportunities or salary shedding moves might be available to test Garth Snow's idea of what the Isles 2013-14 roster can be?

 

 

Isles Notes:

A video stream of Tuesday’s game vs Calgary can be found on the Isles website @ 9:00 pm.

TSN point projections: 31 goals, 70 points for Moulson; Grabner 29 goals; 48 points for Nielsen; 45 for Okposo; 45 for Strome; 42 for Bailey; 36 for Vis.

From yesterdays WPG game vs OTT, Jim Toth, "Rookie Brenden Kichton dumps puck over glass then goes to wrong penalty box. Sens head to PP."

Former Isles prospect, Mitchell Theoret was cut by WPG today.

 

 

Help make Back for More @NYIslanders Anthem!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhKNuoaGHO0 … … … … … … … … … #Isles #believe #STRONGisland @FFDP

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

 

BST have signed former Notre Dame LW Nick Larson to a two-way AHL contract.

Lines for 9/13:  Nelson-Strome-Lee, Kabanov-Sundstrom-Persson, Diamond-Miller-Bruton, Gallant-Wetmore-Johnson, Clark-Quine.

 

NHL Notes:

Per NHL, "The total width of the bottom of the goal frame is changed from 96” to 88”. There is no change to the opening of the goal frame."

Seeing a couple of preseason game, the more shallow nets will mean a learning curve and increase on wrap around goals.  Bob McKenzie adds, "More forwards will try wraparounds and score more goals so d-men will be instructed to drive to post and bury exposed forward as he wraps."

The goaltenders shorter leg pad will mean a larger 5-hole, and like the mechanics of the net, the goaltenders will need to adjust on the fly.

 

G, Tim Thomas has signed a PTO and will be back on the ice with the Florida Panthers tomorrow.