Trimming the Roster

With training camp coming to a close, the only major moves regarding the Islanders at this point, is who will make the final roster. Josh Bailey seems to be in the driver seat of where he will play this year based upon comments made by Gordon earlier in the week as well as the fact that he has made this first roster cut and is penciled in as the 2nd line center. It still pains me that Andy Hilbert is still on this team and is most likely going to be eating a roster spot for a younger player like Colliton or maybe even Bailey, once Guerin and Sillinger come back. Guerin is listed on the injured list due to shoulder surgery that he is still recovering from; he is expected to be ready for the beginning of the season.

Forwards
Jon Sim, Doug Weight, Kyle Okposo
Blake Comeau, Josh Bailey, Mike Comrie
Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen, Trent Hunter
Sean Bergenheim, Richard Park, Andy Hilbert
Mitch Fritz, Jeremy Colliton, Tim Jackman
Brandon Sugden

Defense
Brendan Witt, Radek Martinek
Andy Sutton, Freddy Meyer
Mark Streit, Bruno Gervais
Jack Hillen, Chris Lee
Brett Skinner

Goaltenders
Joey MacDonald
Yann Danis

Injured list – G Rick DiPietro, RW Bill Guerin, D Chris Campoli, C Mike Sillinger.

Training Camp Notes

With the season just over two weeks away, this year's New York Islanders squad is beginning to take shape. New coach Scott Gordon has decided against intersquad practice scrimmages and instead devotes all time on the ice to teaching all players, whether veteran or young prospect, Gordon's style and systems of play. Specific line combinations are still being hammered out and probably won't be set until about the last preseason game.

Rookie center Josh Bailey is making his case to make the squad after showing off his talents during practices as well as adding a goal and assist in the team's first preseason game when the Islanders' rookies defeated the Boston rookies 8-4.

When was the last time the Islanders doubled their opponents shot total? The answer is the teams first preseason game when the Islanders outshot the Bruins 38-19 in a 2-1 OT victory. If the team can consistently shoot the puck this much more this season, we should all be in for a pleasant surprise for this upcoming season. I do realize that this is just a preseason game but the foundation of the season is being set now for what is to be expected for this upcoming season.


Injury Front -
The key to the franchise, Rick DiPietro, has been rehabbing on his own while working with the teams goalie coaches. While no set return date has been released, it is believed that DP will get a preseason game under his belt and then split the opening weekend games, most likely playing the home opener vs. the Blues, letting Joey Mac get the season opener at the Devils.

Additionally, center Mike Sillinger is continuing to rehab from hip surgery, performed during the off season, does not look like he will ready for the beginning of the season. Since it does not look like he will be ready for the start of the regular season, his absence has opened a spot for someone like Josh Bailey to come in and step up. Hopefully Bailey will produce early and often allowing Snow's youth movement to really take charge this season.

On the blueline, Chris Campoli left the first preseason game after being nailed on the boards by Michael Ryder. Coach Gordon would not disclose the injury but stated that it was neither his shoulder (which he hurt last season and had corrective surgery over of the offseason) nor a concussion. Hopefully Chris will be back on the ice sooner then later.

B&O Season Preview

Is Anyone Out There? ~ B&O Season Preview

I hope all of you B&O’ers out there had a great summer and I hope you are looking forward to the upcoming Islander season. B&O has been inactive for quite some time and that’s mostly my fault as I was studying all summer to take the New York Bar Exam. But now that’s behind me and we can concentrate on Islanders hockey from here on out.

What is there to be excited about this season?

Plenty. That’s if you truly buy into Garth Snow’s long term plan. According to Snow, this year marks the beginning of the future of hockey on Long Island. For the first time in a long time on Long Island, the General Manager chose not to disperse every draft pick and prospect for a quick fix, but instead decided to accumulate as many draft picks and as much young talent as possible. And we will all get a first taste of that decision this season.

Who is there to be excited about this season?

Jeff Tambellini and Frans Nielson are almost guaranteed roster spots at this point, with each of them agreeing to a one-way contract with the Isles. While Tambellini undoubtedly felt buried by Ted Nolan and his veteran-favoring ways, Tambellini will finally get the chance once and for all to prove that he belongs in the NHL. If he falters this season, I think we will have to concede that Tambellini is just a bust. Nielson on the other hand has never really had a chance to fully play in the NHL. I don’t see him has a top 2 line center, so it seems he will probably be relegated to 4th line duty this season. His future is probably as Mike Sillinger’s replacement after Silly can finally admit to himself that it’s over.

Then there’s Kyle Okposo who stood out in his brief NHL debut last season. If given ample ice time and power play time, Okposo should net at least 20-30 goals, simply because anyone with his skills is bound to put up points with enough ice time. His poise with the puck last season and his hockey intelligence will make or break the Isles’ upcoming season.

Marc Streit will hopefully be a much better version of MAB on the blue line. There is definitely something cool about an offensive-defenseman with a big shot that can light the lamp at anytime. The Isles have one of the best defensive crews in the East. Campoli and Gervais will both be one year older, while Witt, Sutton, and Martinek should all be back healthy. Then remember the kind of year Freddy Meyer IV had and add the debut of Jack Hillen and I think it’s safe to say I am very comfortable with our top 8 defenseman. I don’t think there are many teams out there who can say that.

Can the Isles’ aging vets really compete at this level?

The jury is still out on Weight and Guerin. Guerin was mildly productive last season, and maybe a reunion with Weight will spark each of their games. Sillinger killed the Isles last season, but maybe that has more to do with how Nolan used him. I don’t think I’ll ever understand why a coach would try to take an old aging checking center and give him more power play time than players with actual skills. Other than that, this team isn’t nearly as old as it was in past years. Expect a healthy Comrie and DP as well this season.

What is there to be worried about this season?

The same two words that haunted us last season: goal scoring. Where on earth are the Isles going to replace the production of last year’s…oh wait the Isles had no offensive production last season. The Isles have not one proven NHL goal scorer, which is an interesting way to head into a season. Every team needs one player that it can turn to in order to score a big goal or make a big play. The Isles are really banking that Okposo is going to be that player. From what I’ve seen so far, Okposo is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer, so it looks like Tambellini will have a full chance to be that go-to guy this season.

What can we expect out of Rick DiPietro?

Another big season, hopefully one that is injury free. Remember, DP started in the all-star game last winter, which is a testament to how good he was in the first half of last season. DP will be another year older and wiser, and as long as Coach Gordon gives him enough rest, DP should have another fine year. He is the backbone of this franchise and the biggest leader in the locker room, a job I don’t even think dare I say Roberto Luongo could handle.

Where will the Isles be at the trading deadline?

Hopefully somewhere near the playoff picture. Don’t expect them to be anywhere near the top 4, but if the Isles are floating around the 8 spot for a majority of the season, then I think we will all be content. Obviously a playoff berth would be even sweeter. And if the Isles are in the mix, don’t expect Snow to send away any picks for a proven goal scorer—he has made it clear it’s a youth movement from here on out.

Do the Isles have a chance to make the playoffs?

Clearly all of the NHL “experts” do not think so. But those so called experts wrote the Isles off each of the past two seasons as well. Two seasons ago, the Isles did in fact make the playoffs, while last season the Isles held onto the 7th spot at the all-star game, and were in the playoff race for most of the season. The talent level from teams 6-10 does not vary that much, so that at least gives the Isles a shot. A good one? Maybe not, but I think Gordon will keep this team competitive this season.

What about Josh Bailey?

I hope the Isles give him a chance this season, but only if he will get serious ice time and a chance to learn at the NHL level. It’s hard to make an 18 year old kid your first line center, but if the Isles are really starving for offense they might have to turn to Bailey for help. And from everything I’ve heard and read about him, he is up for the challenge.