With a more
consistent coaching effort and the continued evolution of super-star, John
Tavares, the New York Islanders have improved a lot in past 3 seasons,
culminating with a playoff appearance in the 2012-13 campaign. Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen, Michael
Grabner,Travis Hamonic, Lubomir Visnovsky and Evgeni Nabokov are just a few
players who share in the teams enhanced play.
This years batch of call-ups should make the team even better. Garth Snows plan is finally showing signs
of paying off.
After drafting John
Tavares in 2009, the rebuild that started in 2006 really came into focus. While Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey have
recently started to show more and more examples that they are finding their
game, the Islanders struggled to fit their new blue chip prospects into skilled
positions and produce the offense required by the organization. 1st overall pick, John Tavares also
struggled while he adjusted to the pro-game with his strength and man-to-man
skating early on.
To me, it all seamed
to change when a career minor leaguer named Trevor Gillies was signed by Garth
Snow only a year after saying that his Islanders didn't need true enforcers in
the line up. Gillies played in only 14
games his first year with the Isles, 39 in the second and just 3 in the third
before being sent down to Bridgeport for the final time, scoring just 1 goal
and 3 assists for the Isles with a combined 240 PIM's. He lead by example and his snarl seemed to
fire up his team mates.
Just look at the Feb
12th game from the 2011-12 season known unofficially as "the
brawl." The Islanders chose to
make a big statement to the rest of the league that they weren't going to sit
back and be pushed around by anyone.
After taking a big lead, the Isles had to answer for
"liberties" being taken by Pittsburgh and did so in a big way, while
outmanning the depleted Pens and winning the game in a 9-3 blowout.
No one would say
that Gillies was a goal scorer, but what they didn't need to speak about was
his level of competition, heart and commitment to his team. So much so, that with him in the line up, a
not so good Isles squad had a winning record and young Islanders like Matt
Martin and Michael Haley seemed to follow his lead, or at least feed off his fiery
play. Gillies brought an energy and mean
streak similar to a Rich Pilon or Clark Gillies. With him in the line up, the tone of games were grittier and
seemed to tolerate much less in the way of physicality by visiting teams.
Although Michael
Haley is no longer with the team, Matt Martin's maturation as a physical player
and a team leader has been evident. New
Isles additions, Colin McDonald and Casey Cizikas are high energy, impact
players who are part of a revamped Isles physical brand of play beyond just
offensive and defensive responsibility.
Need further evidence? When Nino
Niederreiter was no longer expected to fill a role in the future of the New
York Islanders, he was sent to the Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck is from the same mold of grit
and offense, and a seasoned pro who will make the Islanders even more difficult
to play against both now and for years to come.
I credit Garth Snow
and the Isles Organization for drafting players like Martin and Cizikas and
signing under the radar free agents like McDonald as a part of the
system. They may end up to be more
complete hockey players, better equipped for the modern game.
After not being
resigned by the Islanders, Trevor Gillies signed with Chekhov Vityaz of the KHL
in 2012 and this year, per Juha Hiitela, Trevor Gillies signed with HIFK in
Finnish league to continue with his pro career.
To some, Trevor
Gillies is an aging tough guy whose talents are only viable in Europe and over
seas. To me, Trevor Gillies is part of
a dying breed of enforcer, who is always a fan favorite where ever he
plays. His value is more than just
protecting a teams star player or trying to jumpstart his team mates in a
struggling effort. His presence for a
team in the locker room and from their bench is also a big part of his game.
I am grateful that
he came along when he did, because even though he was in the Islanders line up
for just barely over 2 seasons, the example he set will be timeless to a team
that needed his spark. He was at very least,
a style of play, character and heart that will act as a resounding echo for
future Islander teams.
Isles Notes:
AUTOGRAPH SIGNING
REMINDER: @ColinMcDonald13 will be at the NVMC Team Store Wed. September
4th at 6 PM.
Per Steve Lepore,
"Devils will have one pre-season game on TV (against, yes, the Rangers),
Isles will have none. Disappointed game at Barclays isn't on TV. ... Islanders: 65 games on MSG Plus, 13
games on MSG Plus 2, 4 games on NBCSN. ... Devils and Islanders will both have
13 games on MSG Plus 2 this season. Was much further out of balance in the
past."
The Schwenningen Wild
Wings have signed former Sound Tigers defensemen, Ty Wishart.
The Winnipeg Jets
have signed former Islanders prospect defenceman, Brenden Kichton to a
three-year two-way contract. AAV of $620,000. 2013 7th round pick.
Per Brenden Kichton,
"Thanks for all the congrats! Very excited to have signed my first
contract with the Jets! Ready to get started on a great year!"
Hockey Notes:
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