2015 KoC New York Islanders Season Preview

After breaking the 100 point mark (101pts, 47-28-7) last season, your New York Islanders are certainly on the NHL’s collective radar.  They boasted an offense that scored 245 goals against the opposition.  Only the TBL (259), Dallas Stars (257) & NYR (248) scored more than the Isles at 245 goals on the season.  Jaroslav Halak broke a franchise record (Smith 32) with an impressive 38 wins on an All-Star season that included a team best 11 consecutive victories.  The defense had a solid season helping the team to a much improved record.  The Isles fought their way into the playoffs and pushed a very good Washington Capitals team to seven games before being eliminated.

This preseason, the Isles went 2-6-0, but never played a full team roster.  It was audition for individuals and lines as well as a “stress test,” as B.D. Gallof put it.  One might say it was a proving ground for aging vets, prospects or rostered players to test how they would react in unfavorable scenarios.  Several of the games were split squad or comprised of a mostly AHL defensive line up.  While I would have liked to see a little more from New York, I am not too concerned with their play.  This year’s team is comprised of mostly the same line up with a few tweaks.  For those scoring at home, the Isles were 4-2-1 last year in pre-season. 

The Metro may be the best division in the NHL this year.  It will certainly have some of the most difficult teams in which to play.  The improved Islanders should finish 2^nd or 3^rd in their division and be seated in the top half of the conference for play off positioning.

This year’s squad looks like this:

Forwards:

Josh Bailey

Steve Bernier

Casey Cizikas

Cal Clutterbuck

Mikhail Grabovski

Nikolay Kulemin

Anders Lee

Matt Martin

Brock Nelson

Frans Nielsen

Kyle Okposo

Ryan Strome

John Tavares

Defensemen:

Johnny Boychuk

Calvin de Haan

Travis Hamonic

Nick Leddy

Ryan Pulock

Brian Strait

Marek Zidlicky

Goaltenders:

Jean-Francois Berube

Thomas Greiss

Jaroslav Halak

The often maligned Josh Bailey was a quietly competent 41 point producer in 70 games last season and is due to start benefiting for an improved roster in Brooklyn.

Steve Bernier is said to be another Casey Cizikas type player and had a career high 16 & 16 for 32 points in 67 GP with the NJ Devils last season.

"The" Casey Cizikas produced 18 points, but his intangibles along with Matt Martin (14 pts) and Cal Clutterbuck (16 pts) go far beyond the stat sheet.  From instigators or game changing plays, the best 4^th liners in hockey should have plenty of changes to make an even bigger impact his season.

Mikhail Grabovski suffered a concussion that seemed to derail his first season with the Isles.  He scored only 19 pts in 51 games, so he should be eager to reignite his scoring touch.  The question is can he do so playing a more cautious style of game?

Nikolay Kulemin scored 31 pts and was lethal on both sides of the puck for the Isles last year.  He played a solid defensive game that also resulted in 3 SHG.

Brock Nelson started the year on fire, but cooled off in the second half.  Nelson still managed 42 points on the season and has a bright future as a key part of the team.

Frans Nielsen had a solid 43 point season and the Isles veteran can do anything they ask of him.  Nielsen lost some of his dangerous shoot out touch, but with 3 on 3 OT this season, shoot out specialists’ wont factor into the end result as much.

Kyle Okposo is a gritty scorer who plays hard every night.  Despite only playing 60 games, Okposo still managed 51 points and will have incentive to make an impression with the Isles or anyone else who may want to bid for his services in the off season.  I for one will be cheering for him to do just that.

John Tavares (86 pts in 14-15) will most likely break 100 points this season and a full year with impressive young teammates, Anders Lee (41 pts) and Ryan Strome (50 pts and +23) may be just what fans have been waiting for.

The acquisition of veteran D, Johnny Boychuk (26 pts & +15) & Nick Leddy (37 pts & +18) may have been the greatest trades by any General Manager last season.  Garth Snow was rewarded when Boychuk & Leddy helped stabilize the Isles blue line, making them much harder to play against.

Calvin de Haan had 12 pts in 65 games and had his share of struggles last season, but showed some maturation in big minutes for New York.  He should improve behind a more veteran core of Isles defenders this season.

What more can be said about Travis Hamonic?  The guy has unassailable character and is an impact defensemen who shuts down top players around the NHL.  Hamonic finished with 33 pts and a +15 rating in the regular season, but was sidelined with an injury that kept him out of the post season.  His absence may have been the greatest factor in the Isles 7 game series loss to Washington.

Ryan Pulock has been high on the list of prospects Isles fans have really wanted to see on the pro level.  Pulock led all NYI AHL D-Men with 17 goals (16 assists) despite missing 22 games to injury.  If he can stay healthy, he should be as advertised.

Brian Strait has had his ups and downs with the Isles, but I am in the camp that sees him as a last Defenseman on the depth chart.  Hopefully his action will be limited and not take opportunity from prospects like Scott Mayfield.

The addition of an aging, but competent Marek Zidlicky should help with veteran depth of defense and improve a lack luster PP unit.

Jaroslav Halak was awesome last season as I stated in the opening paragraph.  But he has been hampered throughout his career and through this year’s preseason with an upper body injury.  Although Halak practiced today, Isles management decided they need to play it safe and claimed a good AHL level goalie from the waiver wire.

The Isles claimed Jean-Francois Berube off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.  Berube went 37-9-4 with a 2.18 gaa and .913 save percentage in 52 games last season with the AHL Manchester Monarchs.

Thomas Greiss posted a 9-6-3 record in 20 games with a 9.08 Sv% and 2.59 gaa and has shown he is a solid NHL backup goaltender.  Preseason wasn’t a fair audition for Greiss, so he should be very eager to show his stuff in the regular season.

Looking in:

Former KHL’er, Kirill Petrov had a strong preseason and should be among the first forwards called up from the farm in Bridgeport.

Michael Dal Colle, Mathew Barzal & Anthony Beauvillier should continue to work hard to take the next step.

The biggest factors for success this season will be special teams and staying healthy.

On special teams, the Isles PP was ranked 23^rd and went 0-14 vs the Caps last season which almost assured their 1^st round elimination in the playoffs.  In a very tough metro, PP goals will be crucial and Doug Weight and the Isles coaching staff will need to figure out a more consistent way to score goals.

The Isles PK was very good at times, but was ranked 26^th in the NHL.  With a better defensive game and stronger goal tending, the Isles were still held back by their subpar PK.  It simply needs to improve to keep them in close games.

The first season in Brooklyn should be one to behold.  I am looking forward to being reminded what the next level looks like.  Let’s hope we all get to see it next summer.  It all starts this Friday against the defending champs from Chicago.  Isles legend, Jiggs McDonald has the call!

Isles Notes:

Isles have loaned Kirill Petrov to the BST, sent Mathew Barzal to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL and placed Louis Leblanc on waivers.  Thomas Hickey remains on IR.

Barclays Center has launched the New YorkIslanders Radio Network that includes WNYE 91.5 FM, WRHU 88.7 FM, and WRCN 103.9 FM. The three stations will broadcast every game in the team’s inaugural season in Brooklyn with Chris King doing the broadcasts.    


Alexa Ray Joel will sing the National Anthem on Opening Night for the New York Islanders on Friday, Oct. 9, at the team’s inaugural game in its new home at Barclays Center.  

Isles departures from last season:  C Tyler Kennedy; RW Colin McDonald; D Griffin Reinhart; D Matt Donovan; G Michael Neuvirth.

NHL Notes:

Per Renaud Lavoie, “NHL and NHLPA agreed not to change the division and conference until a final decision is made on the expansion. No changes for 16-17 season.”