2014 Isles Training Camp: A lot To Prove

Today, your New York Islanders opened their 2014 Training Camp with a Media Day. 

 

 

The team took physicals, talked to local media, took headshots, filmed segments for MSG television and signed memorabilia.  Per islanders.nhl.com, "Sixty-two skaters were invited to this year’s camp (36 forwards, 20 defensemen and six goalies), marking one of the busiest camps in recent memory."

Making the squad this season will be tough for anyone who isn't prepared to work hard.  With expectations raised quite a bit by the players, ownership and media alike.  Captain John Tavares told The Telegram, “Losing is not what we’re here for, and we’ve been through it way too much. I know — and I think I speak for everyone else — that it’s time to be that team we’re hoping to be and wanting to be. Anything less is unacceptable.”

The coaching staff will scrutinize everyone in attendance and have invited a few players to add even more depth to the organization. Justin Courtnall, Colton Gillies, Chris Langkow , CJ Stretch and Scooter Vaughan will attend training camp and be evaluated with the outside possibility of making the team or even a spot on the BST.  All were signed to professional try-out contracts.

Of faces new or familiar, one of the more interesting invites is LW Colton Gillies.  Eric Hornick mentions Colton is related to Isles legend, Clark GIllies.  As a 2007 1st-round pick of the Wild,  the 6'4" 210# Gillies had 23 points in 65 games with AHL Rochester last season.  He has 18 points in 154 NHL games.

Per Arthur Staple, "Isles camp opens tomorrow with 3 groups of 21 players apiece. Lines and D pairs, I'm told, are not all that meaningful. You've been warned."

Players were vocal on their expectations for the upcoming season:

Per Brett Cygallis, Kyle Okposo: "It's not on Garth or Cappy, it's on us players. The time for the rebuild is over."

Travis Hamonic: "I’m tired of going home and watching the playoffs on TV, man. I’m just real sick of it."

Per Rob Del Muro, "Matt Martin: This is the loudest arena I have ever played in, we r ready to do damage" Martin added: "There's no excuses anymore it's time 2make the playoffs it's time 2succeed the time is now."

 

 

There is an added dimension for the organization this season.  It will be the final time the New York Islanders will play before their home fans in the storied NVMC.  The desire to leave the old barn in a big way has to be on everyone's mind. 

 

 

Tavares told the islanders.nhl.com,

"We have a lot to prove. Two years ago was great, but it’s been a while since that now and we had a disappointing year. So a lot of us should really be motivated on what went wrong and correcting those things. It’s a fresh start, a new year and I think we’re looking forward to that. Certainly the new guys; we’ve added some great players and some guys who are in the primes of their careers and will make an impact for us. We’re excited about that and it’ll make a big difference for us. Every year is a big year, but knowing how many of us have been around here now, it’s a crucial time for us."

Islanders.nhl.com gave the following projected line up.

FORWARDS

Brock Nelson - John Tavares – Kyle Okposo

Ryan Strome - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin

Josh Bailey - Frans Nielsen - Michael Grabner

Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

DEFENSEMEN

Calvin de Haan - Travis Hamonic

Griffin Reinhart - Lubomir Visnovsky

Thomas Hickey – T.J. Brennan

Brian Strait - Matt Carkner

GOALIES

Jaroslav Halak

Chad Johnson

SUMMER MOVES

ADDITIONS: G Jaroslav Halak (trade, Capitals), G Chad Johnson (free agent, Bruins), D T.J. Brennan (free agent, Maple Leafs), LW Cory Conacher (free agent, Sabres), C Mikhail Grabovski (free agent, Capitals), RW Nikolai Kulemin (free agent, Maple Leafs)

SUBTRACTIONS: G Evgeni Nabokov, G (free agent, Lightning), D Radek Martinek (free agent)

PROMOTION CANDIDATES: C Anders Lee, LW Cory Conacher, D Kevin Czuczman

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per NYI, Frans Nielsen became an Isles fan watching '02 series vs. Toronto on TV, 3 months before being drafted by NYI.  "I remember Eric Cairns & Steve Webb crushing everybody. Those were the first NHL games I saw on TV in Denmark." - Isles Frans Nielsen.

Former Islander, Trevor Gillies has been invited to the Calgary Flames training camp.