Our New York Islanders
are back in a familiar position. Entering game 1 of the 2018-19 season amidst a
deluge of controversy and media hoopla. Last season's offensive and defensive stories are in the past. They will open this season’s campaign
against Carolina on Thursday, but according to the hockey media, should expect
to finish last in Metro and fail to make the playoffs. After an exciting NHL Entry Draft this summer, making their farm systems one of the deepest in the
league, new General Manager, Lou Lamoriello failed to pull off the magic moves
required by most, to give the team even the slightest of hopes to succeed
without Tavares on their roster. I guess what they failed to realize is, that
although J.T. is an elite player and he is a difficult player to lose, the team
floundered and had limited success with him on their roster. With Garth Snow
relegated to apparent front office obscurity, I guess Lamoriello was expected
to transform the Islanders into a front running contender over the summer with
the assets the team had in place. New York finished preseason 5-3-0 with a
4-game winning streak that included Barzal’s 8 assists in 6 preseason games, 5
goals in the final four games for Pulock and a 10 for 34 (29.4%) PP run. It’s
preseason, but something to build on. The PK slipped into oblivion last season
but should improve, under Trotz, while the resurgent 6th best PP
might flounder a bit with a key loss upfront or might just do its job the with
Barzal and Pulock finding a more central role.
Photo by Paul Cartier
From their quotes
to the media, GM, Lou Lamoriello and new head coach, Barry Trotz, feel they have
begun to change the culture and raise the standards of accountability in the
room with the additions of Jan Kovar, Leo Kamarov, Tom Kuhnhackl, Matt Martin,
Valtteri Filppula and Luca Sbisa and Yannick Rathgreb. Their team dynamic should be tighter
and harder to play against and their defense and goaltending should improve
with Trotz. I think it’s reasonable to assume Trotz will get the most out of
the players he has. Per Lamoriello, “The strategy for acquiring high-end
talent, we will continue to try to improve the team without mortgaging the
future and not building a foundation." That includes Thomas Greiss in the
final year of his Isles contract and free-agent keeper, Robin Lehner, who has
all the talent he needs if he can keep his focus and continue his admirable
rise from addiction and bipolar diagnosis. Like Lehner, the Islanders have a
statement to make this year. Everyone has counted them out. Again. The Isles
lost John Tavares, Calvin de Haan, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Wagner, Nikolay
Kulemin, Dennis Seidenberg, Brandon Davidson and Alan Quine. Superstar, quality
defenders and depth. The “look what Vegas did last season” comparisons are
nice, but hardly a regular occurrence. The last time I can remember that kind
of success was when Florida did it in 1996. So, what can they look forward to
this season?
We saw that,
once removed from his success with the Devils, Lou Lamoriello transformed the
Maple Leafs into a team poised to make a playoff push from the draft on out.
Barry Trotz’s resume includes a competitive, always in-the-hunt work ethic with
all the teams he has coached including a Stanley Cup win with the Capitals last
season. Those two moves alone would have been big, but adding Lane Lambert,
John Gruden, Piero Greco and Mitch Korn should help infuse even more,
especially with the team’s goaltending struggles from last season. Recent
additions included Jacques Lemaire, Ken Gernander and David Conte to bolster
the coaching and scouting pools. Per Andrew Gross, “GM Lou Lamoriello a big
believer of using any time available so Barry Trotz says team won't set final
roster until moment it has to, which is 48 hours before first game … Trotz also
reports Lou has been working phones hard, seeing who might be available.” That’s
awesome, but what about the lineup New York expects to put on the ice starting
on Thursday? The offense, defense and special teams?
Lines change, but the last groupings looked like this according to Arthur Staple:
Beau-Barzal-Bailey,
Lee-Nelson-Eberle, Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck, Komarov-Filppula-Fritz, Johnston-Kovar-Kühnhackl.
Pelech-Pulock,
Hickey-Boychuk, Sbisa-Leddy, Toews-Mayfield.
Greiss &
Lehner.
‘The kid who won the Calder’ scored five points in a game, three times last season. Mathew
Barzal (85 pts in 82 gp) was first NHL rookie to hit a point per game or better
(minimum 75 games) since Malkin did it in 2006-07. The only other players
who had similar success in the league under the age of 20 are named Connor
McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos and Auston Matthews. Barzal
gets his shot to be the man and a first line center. He’s also ready for anyone
who slept through his 2017-18 campaign to know who he is this season. He will
certainly continue to be double teamed and draw the oppositions to shut-down D.
His powerful and fluid skating looks, to me, as good as it did last season over
the last couple of weeks. Potential line mates, Josh Bailey (71 pts in 76
games) had career highs in goals, assists and points and re-signed for 6 more
year and my pick for surprise player of the year, Anthony Beauvillier has a
resilient return from the minors last season and 36 points in 71 games,
including some contributions on the PP.
Anders Lee
scored 40 goals (tops on team) and set highs in assists (22), points (62), PP
goals & points (14 & 22) and shots on net (208). He was physical, a force
in front of the net and has matured to be one of the biggest Draft steals in
recent NHL history. He will be a UFA next summer and will have even more
incentive to make noise for the Isles who will need even more from him to be
successful. Brock Nelson currently sits as the team’s number 2 center to the
dismay of some, but Nelson has the goods when he is on. 35 points in 82 games
won’t be enough this season. While he was near the top in shooting percentage,
he will need to shoot, pass and score even more GWG’s to help the Islanders
have a potent 2nd line and take pressure off the Barzal line. Jordan Eberle was
a great add to the Isles organization, netting 59 points in 81 games with 7
GWG’s. His ice time should increase and like many others, so will the
responsibility to contribute even more. Another potential 2019 UFA, Eberle
should add to his PP point totals (10 last season) and the Islanders will need
the 5-time 50-point scorer to help carry the load.
The reunited “best
4th line in hockey” are a couple of season’s older and should have a chance to
help the Isles bottom 6 agitate and frustrate the opposition. In a more
defensive minded scheme, the trio should do better filling their role. Cizikas
should be ok to go per reports after an injury scare in the final preseason
game against Buffalo. Both he and Clutterbuck can ply their craft if they
remain healthy and Matt Martin is living the dream returning to the team that
drafted him 148th overall in the 5th round in 2008. Martin expects a
bounce-back season after playing in Toronto wasn’t what he expected. I just
can’t wait to see the first game against the Maple Leafs and what chaos these
guys bring to it. "We've always kind of been an
underdog," Cal Clutterbuck said. "Even when we've gone
through stretches where we proved to people that we shouldn't be, we are still
labeled that way. We are who we are and I think we're very content with being
quietly confident about what we're able to do and trying to execute
it." Soul player, Tanner Fritz
cleared waivers and was sent down to the Sound Tigers and Jan Kovar wasn’t
given a huge window to display what he can do in the NHL game. Ross Johnston’s
four-year, $4M contract is waiver-claim proof according to Staple, so the Isles
will use him as needed. Character and veteran guys, Leo Komarov and Valtteri
Filppula haven’t made a big splash so far. Tom Kuhnhackl has been placed on
waivers as of this afternoon.
With Andrew
Ladd’s recent day-to-day status, he appears to be bound for IR to start season.
Per Erick Hornick,
“I'm not much for the prediction game but I like the chances of @rpulock becoming the 1st #Isles
dmen since Potvin to record a hat trick. No current #NYI was alive when Denis did it for last
time (3-4-82 vs Tor). Some high school kid was in his 2nd month working on the
telecast.” Ryan Pulock looked comfortable in preseason and had even more poise
in both ends of the ice than last season. A physical defender, Pulock is a
solid defender with a lethal shot. One Trotz likened to Alex Ovechkin and one Isles
fans should see regularly on the PP and late in key games. His 10 PPP in 68
games as a rookie are indicative of how well he shoots the puck. The more
popular choice for break out player this season, Pulock gives the Islanders the
big puck-moving, physical D-man they’ve needed for quite some time. He should
get more opportunity with the new regime and that’s great news for Isles fans. Adam
Pelech is a big, stay-at-home defender that may work well with the
offensive-minded Pulock. With the 4th best (+7) +/- on a team who turned the
puck over like crazy last season, Pelech should improve even more under a Barry
Trotz run blueline.
D, Thomas
Hickey is another pending UFA. After a dismal team campaign, Hickey had an
impressive +20 rating with 25 points (career highs in points, 25 and tied in
assists, 20) in 69 games last season. Hickey is a reliable defender with an
offensive touch that can still get big results with the Isles. Per Arthur
Staple, “Johnny Boychuk, 2015-16 Good Guy winner, on being chirped via tweet
last night: “I’m going for the Bad Guy award this year.” Boychuk is a fierce
competitor who should be healthy after addressing a nagging injury he had
surgery for over the summer. His leadership and awareness on ice can enhance
special teams and always be a scoring threat.
Luca Sbisa was
signed off a PTO this summer and has recently been paired with Nick Leddy.
Sbisa is a veteran depth D that can be exposed at times but might be here until
management feels Toews is ready. I think Toews is ready right now, but the Isles
signed Sbisa to utilize his talents in some meaningful way in their system. As
we’ve seen before, Toews doesn’t have to clear waivers, so we know what usually
happens with that. Nick Leddy had a horrible campaign last season. This season
should be a big turn-around with an updated scheme. Trotz’s neutral zone
mastery (along with Korn’s goaltending consul) should help Leddy and the D-core
improve the worst defense in the NHL last season cut down on goals against in
some capacity. With a more responsible defense scheme in place, a player like
Leddy should bounce back and add a significant offensive threat on the rush and
improved play on the PK.
Devon Toews
signed a two-year extension this summer. He has nothing else to prove at the
AHL level and the Islanders could use his speed and scoring touch off the blue
line for sure. Today, Barry Trots said that he’d prefer Toews playing somewhere
and not sitting with the Isles, so it looks like Bridgeport indeed per Staple.
Toews could be a perfect fit with a defender like Scott Mayfield. Mayfield’s
size and grit make him a solid pillar at the Isles net and at times, can chip
in offensively. Another player who took positives strides despite the poor
finish by the team last season.
UFA, Thomas
Griess should be ready to compete this season. The once savior and arguable
bonafide starter, Greiss made the most of his first two seasons with the Islanders.
However, last season saw Greiss have a less than spectacular showing along with
now-departed Isles keeper, Jaroslav Halak. Greiss finished near the bottom of
the league from a statistical standpoint behind the Isles O-first scheme from
last year. The culture change is in place along with Mitch Korn and Piero Greco
to redefine the Islanders in goal. Robin Lehner (only one season removed from a
Sv% of .920) is another talented goaltender that will get a serious look by the
organization for an opportunity to sign with the team beyond this season. Both
will be given a opportunity to become an NHL starter and help New York right
themselves from the back-end up. In the new defensive and neutral zone
responsible system, both goalies should have a chance to show what they can do
in a challenging Metro Division and Eastern Conference playoff race. Lehner is
no stranger to overcoming adversity and here’s to hoping he can be the sleeper
the Islanders are hoping for. Former Isles goaltender on Mitch Korn, “Mitch
understands the way the game has changed. You just look at what he did with
Pekka, with Holtby, even back in the early days in Nashville with guys like
Mike Dunham and Chris Mason. He knows that structure and technique is how you
develop now.”
Trotz is going
to help transform the Islanders defensively, but success will be limited by the
lack of depth. It’s up to Lou Lamoriello to ride the waiver wire and see if can
add another quality player via trade as the season goes on. The team will have
the odds stacked against them to fight for a playoff spot, but they can play
with that chip on their shoulder they all claim to have. Let’s hope they
surprise a few teams in the first few weeks and get off to a good start with all schemes
keeping them competitive in a line-up many insiders call incomplete. Their
management and coaching give them renewed respectability and experience, but
the limited roster will certainly hold all plays fully accountable and that
just might be the dose of medicine it’s intended to be.
Per Arthur
Staple, “Isles will need one more roster move to get down to 23 tomorrow. Ross
Johnston, who needs waivers, is staying for now. Tanner Fritz has already
cleared waivers but appears to be in top 12. Looks to be between Jan Kovar and
Devon Toews, neither of whom need waivers to go to BPT.” If it’s Jan Kovar, its
reported he may have an out clause to exercise if he’d rather play overseas. Per Brian
Compton, “Josh Bailey told me it's been a "good, hard camp, but one where
we've learned a lot. We're coming together as a group. I think we're all just
looking forward to the puck dropping on Thursday."
No disrespect
intended, but the current management is built from some of the best minds we’ve
had here in a long time. I have issues with a few things they are doing right
now, especially forcing the play of stop-gap players over talented kids that
should factor into team’s future. It’s always been one of my biggest complaints
of past regimes. So, I’m in for another season of hope and positivity to start.
The farm is once again legitimately stocked with several hungry players with
all the talent in the world, but apparently lack the necessary experience. The
only way they get the experience they need is to play. Guess it’s the usual
adage of working hard with the Sound Tigers to make a convincing argument to be
called up. That’s cool I guess. Beauvillier and Lee are 2 of the biggest recent
success stories for that formula. This season might be one that fans realize
they should attention to the AHL game if they don’t already. It’s the best way
to educate yourself on the guys in Bridgeport and checkout the prospects on the
cusp of NHL stardom. The play of the Sound Tigers should count a little more
this season for the fans and the Islanders.
See you at the
Barc, the Coliseum and on KnightofCups.net.
Here’s to a season of surprises.
Thanks for the support!
Isles Notes:
The Islanders
and Adidas released images of their new 3rd jerseys for this season.
G, Linus
Soderstrom is back in Sweden as he continues to rehab from injury.
Islanders
transactions since prior to writing this article -
September
25: Steve Bernier, Christopher Gibson, Seth Helgeson and Mike Sislo were
assigned to Bridgeport (AHL).
September
24: Luca Sbisa agreed to terms on a one-year contract.
September
24: Sebastian Aho, Kieffer Bellows, Michael Dal Colle, Ben Holmstrom, Josh
Ho-Sang, Jeremy Smith, Travis St. Denis and Parker Wotherspoon were
assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL).
September
23: Kyle Burroughs cleared waivers and was loaned to the Bridgeport Sound
Tigers.
September
22: Chris Bourque, Ryan Bourque, Evan Buitenhuis, Mike Cornell, Scott Eansor,
Matthew Gaudreau, Mitch Gillam, Ryan Hitchcock, Connor Jones, Otto Koivula,
Ivan Kosorenkov, Jeff Kubiak, Ryan MacKinnon, Tyler Mueller, David
Quenneville, Yannick Rathgeb, Mitch Vande Sompel and Yanick Turcotte
were assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL).
September
22: Arnaud Durandeau (Halifax, QMJHL), Blade Jenkins (Saginaw, OHL) and
Bode Wilde (Saginaw, OHL) were assigned to their CHL clubs.
September
22: Pius Suter was returned to Zurich of the Swiss Elite League. Kyle
MacLean and Emmanuel Vella were removed from their amateur tryouts.
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