Isles Net Worth

With the injury to Evgeni Nabokov early in the game vs the Detroit Redwings, Kevin Poulin assumed the position of Islanders starting goaltender.  Per Arthur Staple, "Anders Nilsson will join Isles tomorrow.  No plans to look outside org yet, though Nabokov injury seems to be 4+ weeks."  Barring a huge trade, which Isles fans know is far less than likely, the Isles organization would likely look to Poulin for the coming weeks to state his case as a franchise goaltender.  Poulin is 10-14-1 with a 2.75gaa. and a .908Sv% to this point with the Islanders as an NHL goaltender.  He is a highly respected prospect and Patrick Roy once called him the best goaltender in juniors hockey.  Per Eric Hornick, Coach Capuano: "This is obviously a time for Kevin... and he deserves the opportunity."

 

With Poulin taking over the position as starting goaltender from Nabokov, the Islanders would need to add another goaltender to the roster for at least the upcoming weeks.  Anders Nilsson was called up today from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Nilsson, missed most of last season with health concerns that turned out to be an unknown reaction to a gluten diet.  It set him back in his development and the organization tagged him to be the started for Bridgeport to get him closer to where he needed to be as their top goaltending prospect.  "[The @NHL] is where you want to be. It's unfortunate that Nabby got hurt, but I'm excited for the opportunity," - Anders Nilsson.

 

Nilsson's brief time in the 11-12 NHL season put him at 1-2-0 with a 2.75 gaa. and a .910 Sv% as an Islander.  So far this season in the AHL, Nilsson is 3-6-1, 3.57 gaa. and a .880 Sv% with the Sound Tigers.  Hardly, where an AHL goaltender needs to be to play regularly in the NHL.  But as a back up, I guess Nilsson can be further indoctrinated into the Islanders system and practice with the team regularly to build familiarity.  He can and will get some playing time on the NHL level and have a chance to be evaluated by the Islanders brass and help his team.  Perhaps, if things go well, even make the kind of impression he hopes for and have a break out season with the Islanders.

 

The other outcome, which is more likely doesn't look to be as favorable for Nilsson or the Islanders in my opinion.  What will most likely happen is that Nilsson will ride the bench as Poulin gets his shot as the Isles starter. It will set his development back even more from last season.  To me, its double dipping into Isles future & to use Nilsson to come up at this time just to sit is wrong. He missed most of last season with his dietary issue and to me, its too early to get meaningful evaluation of Nilsson in NHL.  He needs time to command the starting job in Bridgeport and become a defensive leader for his team.  He needs to learn the ins and outs of the pro-game from the AHL before he can be expected to do so as an NHL goaltender.

 

The competition will always be there between the two goaltenders. There is no reason I can see for Garth Snow not to make a Montoya type acquisition (late draft pick) or a Johan Hedberg type (or Michael Neuvirth) signing to create a stable and efficient solution to what could be more than a 4 week period to maintain organizational assets and give the team the best chance to win.  I have supported both Poulin and Nilsson throughout their tenure with the team thus far.  I think they are both very good prospects and will be good NHL goalies.  In the meantime, I will support whoever is on the ice for the Islanders, hope for the best  and cheer them on all the same.

 

 

 

Anders Nilsson, left, ((Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images); Kevin Poulin (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

 

 

Isles Notes:

Lines at practice:  Vanek-Nelson-Tavares-Okposo; Bailey-Nielsen-McDonald; Grabner-Bouchard-Regin-Clutterbuck; Boulton-Cizikas-Martin.

 

The @NYIslanders trio of @91Tavares (9-16—25), Frans Nielsen (9-12—21), and @bookerT2116 (6-14—20) have combined for 66 points.

 

@91Tavares scored 1-1--2 to extend his point streak to 5 games (2-6--8) and move into a tie with Sidney Crosby for second in League.

 

Per Christian Arnold, "The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have recalled Parker Milner from the ECHL."

 

Per Daniel Friedman, "Sound Tiger Watch: Ryan Strome -- 16 pts (4G, 12A) in 14 gms. Anders Lee -- 11 pts (4G, 7A) in 14 gms. Andrey Pedan -- 5 pts, +1 in 9 gms."

 

Isles to participate in 'NHL Revealed: A Season Like No Other' to offer behind-the-scenes look at League's stars .  7-part series debuts on NBCSN on Jan. 22 and CBC on Jan. 23.


The Islanders will face Toronto @ 7pm on Tuesday, 11/19, Pittsburgh @ 7 pm on Friday, 11/22 and Philadelphia @ 7pm on Saturday 11/23 on a three game road trip.