While he lacks the size that Sutton has and isn’t nearly as fluid a skater as Gervais is, he is Bridgeport’s version of Witt. Anyone who remembers his short call up last season remembers his goal on his first shot against the Senators and his spirit fight the next night against the Devils. In 48 games this season with Bridgeport, Fata has three goals, seven assists and 185 minutes in penalties, which tells me he won’t have a problem filling in for Sutton in the toughness department. However, will he be able to step up the same way Sutton has as of late? Or better yet, will Ted Nolan play him for more than 8 minutes a game once he’s in the lineup?

Right now, I think guys like Bryan Berard and Freddy Meyer need to be the guys who continue to play strong. Throw Marc-Andre Bergeron in that mix, but with a twist. H e has to play consistently solid defense. Meyer just got a new contract and can continue to solidify his role on this team if he keeps producing on both ends of the ice. If he doesn’t he could find himself as the team’s seventh defenseman again next season and that would be the last place he would want to be. The way he’s played at times this season, I think he could be an extremely solid sixth d-man on a healthy Isles team.

Berard and Bergeron are both attractive players to other teams and with the trading deadline looming, they need to give the Islanders every reason to keep them. I’ve said it before, I think Bergeron is too much of a liability on defense to keep. Sure, Berard’s best days are behind him, but he has a ton of heart and has shown a good physical edge at times. Bergeron’s play on the other hand is overly selfish and equally as sloppy. Anyone see him arguing with Bill Guerin after skating offside during the last game? Is there anyone else he hasn’t mouthed off to this season? The only reason why he’s still around is because he has that rocket of a shot. Without it, I don’t even think he’d be in the NHL.

Once the injury bug clears up, the Islanders need to really evaluate the defense and put together a more balanced squad. Injuries are to be predicted and the Isles were lucky that Berard and Meyer have stepped up as much as they have, but having to rely on Bergeron down the stretch. As bad as Bergeron has been defensively though, you have to like the eight powerplay goals. Nonetheless, when the season is over as well, serious decisions are going to have to be made.

However, until that time, Fata and the rest of the Islanders misfit group of Islanders D-men are going to have to buck up and try and keep this ship going.

Posted under Isles Thoughts 2008