With only five games left, the Isles only have their pride to play for and with the Eastern Conference playoff picture beginning to wrap itself up, the Isles can’t even play the role of spoiler. Nonetheless, I really just want to watch Kyle Okposo, Sean Bergenheim and Blake Comeau do their thing out there.

As on Islanders fan right now, I think that’s all I have left.

Let’s be honest here, Okposo hasn’t been amazing, but he’s been solid and has gotten a little better with every game under his belt. Sure, he needs more seasoning, but what better time to get it than now? This team is finished and Okposo and the other Islanders youngsters can play against teams desperate to either cushion playoff spots or win one. Then after the season is over, they can go back to Bridgeport and finish things up there. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

However, I do think that the Islanders need to evaluate Okposo more in training camp and give him an opportunity to play on the Isles top line next season. Nothing against his linemates now, but you don’t draft a guy with your first selection in a draft to be a banger on the third line. This guy has the moves and the talent to be a near point a game player if he plays with the right people. The Islanders need to make sure they remember that.

The same thing goes for guys like Sean Bergenheim and Blake Comeau as well. As the season has gone on, both Comeau and Bergenheim have developed into solid players as well and guys that I think this team can trust in bigger roles next season. In the beginning of the season, Bergenheim skated around the ice with a madman’s intensity, used buckets of energy on every shift. However, the polish wasn’t there yet and he wasn’t getting the benefits that come with the hard work he was exhibiting on the ice. Once the second half started, this guy woke up it seems and while he only has 10 goals and could easily have twice that much, I’m looking forward to seeing him next season, in better shape on focused on finishing the plays he starts.

When Blake Comeau came to the Isles in December, I don’t think anyone really expected much from him. Nonetheless, the guy has proven this year that he is a capable NHL player and with some more experience under his belt, he can be 15-20 goal scorer that can play in all game situations. I really think that next season Comeau will develop more and start finishing with more potency. He’s also gotten bumped around a lot this year and I think he’s learned to keep his head up more. I see him putting up Trent Hunter-ish numbers next season [15 goals 20 assists] on the Isles third line while killing penalties and playing on an energy line, most likely with Richard Park.