The goaltending depth showed it was the best
New York has had in years. Jaroslav
Halak, Thomas Greiss, JF Berube and Christopher Gibson combined for 2.40gaa and
a .920Sv%. Halak was 18-13-4 with a
2.30gaa and a .919Sv% in 26 games, who was injured for a total of 9 games
(upper body) and (reoccurring groin) on March 8th. After reluctantly
relinquishing the starter’s role to Greiss, he has said the Isles rotating 3-goalie
carousel isn’t good. He claims to have spoken
with Snow and Capuano about the resolution. “It’s not in my control,” said
Halak. When asked about the goaltending
scenario for next year, Snow said, “We will have some decisions to make, for
sure." If Halak, who still has 2
years remaining on his deal at $4.5M per is really unhappy, could the one-time
savior be among the assets for the Islanders summer plans at the draft or to
acquire offensive help for JT?
Thomas Greiss is often praised on his
personality, technical skill and work ethic.
He became an important piece in the Isles net and returned the favor
with a career best .925Sv%. In a notable career high 41 games, and a 23-11-4
record with 1 shutout, he finished 3rd among NHL net minders in Sv%. Greiss was 5-6 (2 O.T. losses) in the post
season with a 2.46gaa and a .923Sv% and was a huge reason that they were able
to advance to round 2. J-F Berube was
3-2-1 with a 2.71gaa and a .914Sv% last season.
The October waiver pickup was the Islanders 3rd rostered goalie
last season and would need to clear waivers before being sent down. Despite being a restricted free agent (1 of
the 11 Snow needs to evaluate) this summer, Berube is said to be in the plans
moving forward for New York. He is part
of a deep Isles prospect pool that also includes Christopher Gibson (Grabner
trade w Toronto), Stephon Williams, Eamon McAdam, Linus Soderstrom and Ilya
Sorokin (among the KHL’s best goaltenders).
Both Soderstrom and Sorokin will probably remain in Europe next season.
The prospects now have a chance to properly
develop in the organization. Those that may
be knocking on the Islanders roster door soon are; Michael Dal Colle, Matthew Barzal,
Anthony Beauvilier, Joshua Ho-Sang and Alan Quine. Quine had a big end of season call up for the
Islanders, which included a goal in 2 regular season games and a game winning
OT goal (G5 vs Panthers) and 4 assists in 10 playoff games. Guys like Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech,
Bracken Kearns, Justin Florek should have another chance soon as well.
Our New York Islanders had quite a few misfires
this season, but they benefited from strong goalkeeping, offensive flourishes
and an epic PK. The team will have new majority
ownership assuming control at the start of NHL free agency on July 1 with Scott
Malkin and Jonathan Ledecky. Charles Wang will remain in the picture with a
minority stake in the team. Malkin and
Ledecky will not have the chance to put their stamp on this year’s draft, (June
24-25 in Buffalo) but I am sure they have already made suggestions to upper
management, at least in the way of direction for the future organizational
recipe. That stamp will most likely be the
plan of Garth Snow and Charles Wang. Snow
recently commented on the team’s exit meetings. “There’s a great respect from our players to
the coaches and vice versa,” Snow told Newsday last Tuesday. “Sitting through these meetings with
the players, there’s a respect that’s impressive to me. Our team is prepared,
they’re in great condition, for me I’m very thankful to have the coaching staff
we have.”
What is the plan for the off season? Most notably, the question of free agency with
the fans. Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo and
Matt Martin, Steve Bernier, Marek Zidlicky, Brian Strait and Eric Boulton are
among the teams UFAs. Casey Cizikas,
Ryan Strome, Shane Prince, Alan Quine & J.F. Berube are RFAs. In my opinion, the Islanders chances of
bringing back a still reliable Nielsen (20 & 30 for 52pts) and improving Martin
are high. I respect the tenaciousness,
compete level and leadership of Okposo greatly, but I don’t know if he will get
the price he will be asking. He did
contribute a 22 & 42 for 64 pts on the season. From the RFA side, Cizikas, Prince and Berube
could be resigned early, but I think Strome may have to wait until later in the
season or even next summer to get more than a bridge deal. That belief
is based on the complaints of attitude and recent key scratches that have
played out. Shane Prince had 3 goals in 42 games with Ottawa before the trade, 3 goals in 20 games with
the Isles in regular eason and 3 goals and an assist in the playoffs this year, including a big 2 goal game in game 1 against
the Lightning. Boulton will probably get
hired on again for a year to sit and wait or get brought into the staff based
on his reputation in the room and with the coaches. I could see him taking on a role like Eric
Cairns did after his playing days were over.
Bernier, Zidlicky and Strait are expendable to me, but what the hell do
I know. Strait will probably be offered a 3 yr extension. (Kidding. I hope).
The fate of Jack Capuano and his staff (Doug
Weight, Greg Cronin and Bob Corkum) will also be based on what the brass wants
of the new age in Brooklyn. I have said
many negative things about Capuano throughout his tenure and I stick by those shortcomings,
but he did show me a lot this season, at least with a chance earned to take the
team into the next one. His team shows resiliency
and comradery. They also blow leads and
display a stubborn inconsistency. Jack
Capuano now sits firmly behind the great Al Arbour and is now the 4th longest
tenured coach in a difficult to survive NHL landscape. Capuano is number 2 in games coached (441),
Wins (210), O.T. Wins/Record (4, 4-3), Playoff games coached (21), playoff wins
(10), Series Wins (1). Is there any
chance that the rumor of George McPhee (TSN Shawn Simpson) replacing Snow true? Would that alter the team’s stand on coaching
into next season?
When you look at the overall picture, how can
you not be excited? I never said they
are the team of the 80’s, but I do see some similarities to the ‘93 team that
was torn apart by expansion and bad choices.
There is a likeable group of guys who play with an Islanders’ chip on
their shoulder. They bring it hard and fast
and ‘usually’ make an impression, even with a loss. There are plenty of things a hater or
detractor can move to the new-look Islanders’ main stage, but I don’t give
those guys much credit. The
Kool-Aid/Hater-Aid factors always balance each other out. For the rest of us, it’s always better to
hold the guys accountable, but rally behind the ones who leave it all on the
ice each and every game. We should support
the character guys and the journeymen who are proud to wear the Blue and
Orange. Let’s stay focused on what the
summer will hold and be excited for next season. Garth Snow thinks so. He was quoted as saying, “Whether a winger
for John (Tavares), the addition of a goalie, upgrading our defense, we leave
no stone unturned to improve our club. We’re always on the lookout for ways to
improve our club. I’m not going to get into specific positions… those
opportunities will unfold here, especially leading up to the draft.”
I am working on an article to be shared with
all of you in the coming weeks that should include more of my own Isles insight
and a personal interview with Islanders’ legend, Jiggs McDonald on the
state of the Orange and Blue.
See you all soon and thanks for the support.
No comments:
Post a Comment