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 2nd or 3rd 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 4th 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 23rd
and went 0-14 vs the Caps last season which almost assured their 1st
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 26th 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.
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.”
Very informative article, thanks. Was Grabner the only player traded away?
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSo far. They acquired Taylor Beck, Matthew Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe in exchange for Michael Grabner.
Delete