Simply put, Danis and MacDonald still aren’t proven commodities in this league and with Rick DiPietro’s injury problems the past couple of seasons, the Islanders need not only to sign a seasoned backup, but someone who can also play at Bridgeport that is capable of backing up as well. As far as I’m concerned, Peter Mannino still needs to earn his bumps and bruises, making the Islanders forced to go shopping in the free agent pool or at the draft to solve these problems.

In my last post, I named a few goaltenders the Isles could go after in the draft, but I failed to address the message that could potentially send to DiPietro. Even if they are a few years away, it may agitate DP and make him even more of a loose cannon on the ice, giving the Islanders another disaster of a contract to deal with while they are still paying off the salaries of Alexei Yashin and Shawn Bates. Nevertheless, drafting a young goaltender who in a few years could play 30-40 games would be the best thing for the organization and something that the Islanders enigmatic goaltender will have to deal with.

In addition to signing a young goaltender, the Islanders would be smart to take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have Curtis Joseph, Olaf Kolzig and Martin Gerber entering Unrestricted Free Agency this offseason. Of the three, Gerber may be the best option. Making $1.8 million this season and coming off a less than mediocre campaign in ‘09, Gerber, who won 38 games three years ago, can be the guy to the team if DP’s hips aren’t up for the long haul and can be acquired for a reasonable price. His apparent friendship with Mark Streit should only help facilitate the process as well.

Who knows, many the Islanders can hit the Swiss jackpot two years in a row.

So I’m sure you’re all wondering, what does this have to do with Danis and MacDonald?

Well, I personally think Danis would be the better choice to play at Bridgeport considering the fact that he was the better goaltender of the two last season, with a drafted youngster earning his stripes in Utah and Bridgeport before the Islanders decide where he’s going to go next, leaving Gerber and DP with the big club.

With that being said, I believe that leaves MacDonald without a gig.

But that’s just in my bizarre world.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Sure, it hasn’t been completely horrible, as guys like Blake Comeau, Josh Bailey, Sean Bergenheim and Kyle Okposo have all shown signs of becoming players the team can depend on in the future. For the most part though, it been the same old song, as the team has failed to make the playoffs with aging veterans, nagging injuries to key players and youngsters that aren’t quite ripe yet.

Make no mistake about it though; not getting that first pick in this draft would have been an unforgettable end to one of the worst seasons in team history.

However, lady luck [Sorry, not the hot blonde chick with glasses in the new New York State lottery commercial] smiled upon the team yesterday as the team managed to nab the first pick in this year’s entry draft.

Can you dig it?

I know I can.

Nonetheless, despite the original excitement, I think I’m going to take things slow until something gets done.

No need to go crazy until the Islanders do something, right?

“We’re extremely pleased to have the first overall selection in this year’s draft,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow on the team’s official website. “This is an exciting time for the franchise and we are truly looking forward to the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.”

Thanks for the cliché-speak Garth; that’s exactly what we want to hear right now.

There are simply a ton of possibilities here. The Isles can take whoever they want, or they can hold the pick up for the highest bidder, which could possibly help them in the future even more than one player the likes of Tavares or Hedman could.

I personally would love to see Tavares on a line with Okposo; that alone for me would make me a happy camper next year. Having a 6′6 blue-liner with the skating ability of Hedman has possibilities as well, but I like to think that the Islanders defense is probably their strongest asset right now.

Snow has already stated that heknows what he wants to do with the pick, he’ll keep that information to himself for the time being.

“Yeah I do, but I’m not going to share it,” he said in reference to the Isles plans with the pick. “We’re going to get a great player for this team.”

Historically, the Islanders have luck on their side, as through the three other times they’ve drafted first overall, they’ve snatched up Billy Harris, Denis Potvin and Rick DiPietro.

Nonetheless, I still have this feeling in my stomach that something isn’t right.

Maybe I’m looking too much into this, but both Tavares and Hedman looked absolutely miserable after the news, like someone just told them their puppies died. It shouldn’t be too much of a concern however, because if either of them pull an Eric Lindros and decide not to play for the Isles, they may be in better shape than they could have been with just one of them.

Either way, the Islanders and their fans will have something to talk about despite missing the playoffs for the second season in a row.

For now, that’s something.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Both Islanders head coach Scott Gordon and rising star Kyle Okposo will be exposed to the IIHF World Championships later this month for the first time.

There, both of them will get the additional training, Gordon from Ron Wilson, an NHL coach with over 1,200 games coached and experience in the Olympics and international leagues as a player. Okposo will have plenty of players of a high skill level to play with and will be in the locker room, getting pointers on anything he needs help with.

As long as he doesn’t suffer any type of serious injury, this is a great opportunity for KO.

As far as Gordon is concerned, this is completely win-win. Perhaps, Gordon will be able to take some of the things that have worked for him this season and be able to help Wilson and his country kick some tail. Before this season, I thought Wilson was one of the better coaches in the league. This season still hasn’t changed that thought, but it’s fair to say that Wilson is going through the same pains Gordon is going through this season.

Maybe they can grow through these things together.

“I don’t think you ever get tired of getting that opportunity to represent your country,” Gordon, who was a goalie on the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, told the Associated Press. “My two experiences with the national team as a player and as a player in the Olympics were great experiences. It’s something that, when I got into coaching, I hoped that one day I’d get an opportunity to be a part of it. There’s no passion like playing for your country.

“I don’t know what the long-term is, I’m just happy about this short-term opportunity, and I’m looking forward to working with Ron Wilson. He’s certainly had a lot of experiences at different levels in international competition and in the NHL. I’ll be a sponge, I’ll listen to every word he’s got to say.”

On another note, I just came across this nifty little video of Wilson getting in an argument with Toronto reporter Howard Berger. Good stuff.

Today, those thoughts have not changed.

Despite missing 29 games with injuries this season, the wily veteran still has 35 points and when healthy, has been a difference maker.

Signing for only two million bucks as well, Weight is a low-risk and high reward signing. If he stays on the ice and off injured reserve, he’ll score his 50 points or so and will help youngsters like Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey get better.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

“I wish everything could have been a little better this year; I wish I could have stayed healthier, I wish a lot of guys on our team could have stayed healthier,” Weight told Newsday. “But I really have been impressed with everything over the course of the last three or four months, and I’ve said before we like the area. I’m excited to be coming back and excited for what’s coming for this team, hopefully sooner than later.

“We’re going to be champing at the bit to get back in September, and I’m happy to be part of it.”
The fact that Weight is still hungry and is a testament to what Scott Gordon’s system can produce may also entice other veterans to come and fill holes on this young Islanders team. Islanders General Manager Garth Snow has sad that next year’s roster will be a very similar one to this season’s, but if he can get someone at a price similar to Weight that can come in and produce, you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll do so. Because of that, keeping Weight around can turn out to be a smart move for the Isles.
Remember this anyone?

It feels like 10 years ago, doesn’t it? To the rest of the hockey world, it seems impossible that the Islanders could have players the likes of Ryan Smyth, Alexei Yashin, Jason Blake and Viktor Kozlov on their roster, but just two seasons ago, they did.

However, if this team is to ever make the playoffs while playing in Long Island again, a new batch of players, much younger and far less accomplished, will have to find the same amount of intensity those guys did just two short seasons ago.

Will it ever happen?

How right was I?

Let’s find out…

Here’s what I said about Kyle Okposo.

Predicted Stats- 25 goals, 30 assists, 55 points

Not only do I expect Okposo to lead the Islanders in scoring this season, I expect him to play in all game situations and grow into a player that will eventually be able to help take this team into the playoffs on a consistent basis. Some people may think that 55 points isn’t a lot to smile about, but I think this season will be crucial in determining what Okposo is capable of at the NHL level. Talking to author and Minnesota sports writer Ross Bernstein a few months ago about Okposo’s style, I’m really excited at the possibilities here. While some people believe he won’t be a superstar at this level, I believe he’ll be extremely close to a point a game player and someone who opposing defenses don’t want to play against.

Where I was right:

I think over his last 20 games, Okposo has become a player that not many teams want to play against and I do still believe he has the ability to grow into someone who can help the Islanders make the playoffs.

Where I was wrong:

If not for his pensiveness and injury problems earlier in the season, I do believe he would have got to the 25 goal mark, but it’s not going to happen this season. Not too sure about the point a game player projection yet either.

Now it’s Jeff Tambellini’s turn.

Predicted Stats- 18 goals, 25 assists, 43 points

Proven at the AHL level, Tambo will finally get the playing time he’s been craving. Just like Okposo, I see him playing in various game situations and proving why he was drafted in the first round in 2003 by the Kings. Not having the size or tenacity Okposo does, I see Tambellini starting off slow until he finds his niche. A good passer with an accurate shot, it’ll take about 25 games until Tambs [wow, two nicknames in one paragraph] understands he’s not in the AHL more. After settling in, I believe Tambellini will develop into a competent and high-ceiling third liner that will develop into a 50-60 point scorer before his career is over.

Where I was right:

Ah, crap. He does have a pretty accurate shot though. Right into the goalie’s pads.

Where I was wrong:

After this season, I don’t think anyone will ever think Tambo will score 60 points in a season. Maybe in two though. Also, it took him about 50 games to get his act together, not 25. Just reading what I wrote about the kid makes me wonder what I ate the night before.

Finally, here’s the prediction on Blake Comeau.

Predicted Stats- 15 goals, 18 assists, 33 points

Unlike Okposo and Tambellini, I see Comeau developing into a gritty, passionate role player that every team in the NHL would love to have on their roster. However, a few variables will have to go his way before he can develop into a true NHL lunch pailer. For one, Comeau is going to have to let his tough play in the corners and in front of the net develop to the point where he gets a little more fiery when intimidated. I know I’ve mentioned this a few times last season, but in order for Comeau to reach the next level, he has to get more space on the ice. The only way that happens is if he proves to the league that a price will be paid if he’s messed with. With his release and instincts, he can be a force on the ice against teams with size up front, he just has to play with more of an edge. His heart and passion is there and so is the skill, he just needs a little more spice.

Where I was right:

Just like the Michelle Branch song, “Everywhere,” I was right on the button. However, because of his inability to come into camp in shape, Comeau didn’t get a chance to score as much as he should have. Nevertheless, I think he’s come a long way this season and is finally a full-time NHLer.

Where I was wrong:

I’d like to see him get a bit grittier, even though he’s much stronger on and away from the puck than he was last season.

No one expected that it would take almost four years, but it seems that finally, Jeff Tambellini is becoming something that Islanders fans and he himself can get used to.

Very similar to Andy Hilbert, Tambellini is a beast in the AHL, a sniper and offensive force that would even scare Jeff Hamilton. In the NHL however, Tambellini is a guy that has to do a bunch of things in order to be successful.

Once he realized, his job was on the line and even veterans the likes of Jon Sim where being targeted by the organization for various reasons, that’s when I think Tambellini realized he had nothing to lose and began to take the body and shoot with more confidence.

So no more excuses about Ted Nolan not playing him, no more excuses about what line he’s on.

It’s all up to him now and he knows it.

“For the playoffs, (the games are) meaningless, but for each guy in this room, we’re playing for respect, we’re playing for jobs next year, we’re playing for ice time,” winger Jeff Tambellini told Newsday. “These are big games for us. No one is taking this lightly because this is a young group and we’re all trying to prove ourselves and put our personal mark on this team.”

Speaking of taking the body, Tambellini has has had no problem hitting players much bigger than him, which in turn has made him a much better player in corners, in the defensive end and on the powerplay. As a result, the guy has five goals in his last 16 games and has been on of the Islanders best players during that span, a far cry when he was barely noticeable at all.

Some would say that’s too little too late for the former first round pick, but with another year left on his contract and the team to get even younger next season, Tambellini, at least early in the year will get more ice-time due to his second half prowess.

My guess is he’ll be another Hilbert-clone, scoring about 10-15 goals a season that can play in all game situations, which may upset some Isles fans, but he will be a full-time NHLer next season and won’t ride the bench.

For him at the very least, it’s a step in the right direction.

We’ll see how much it helps the Islanders next season as well.

Islanders fans everywhere know that the team’s offense has been in shambles, especially after losing the likes of Alexei Yashin, Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Tom Poti and Viktor Kozlov a few years ago, but for the first time in team history, the Islanders are in danger of being without a 20-goal scorer.

So despite the fact that the youngsters have been getting better and both Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis appear that they could be adequate backups next season, the fact that the team’s offense is so bad that they may make team history hurts bad.

Ah man, that hurts bad.

It hurts even more knowing that this wouldn’t have been the case if the team was healthy this season.
Even last season, when the team was ravaged with injuries and a plethora of under-achievers [Ruslan Fedotenko, cough, cough] as well, they had two 20-goal scorers.

In all honesty, I’ve seen guys in wheelchairs participating in jump rope contests that have better luck than the Islanders have had over the past two seasons. Last season, I think the Isles were good enough to make the playoffs before the injury bug infested them like a horde of ants on a wad of cheeze-wiz. This season as well would have been a bit better if they had some of their key players in the lineup a bit more often.

However, what makes this even tougher to digest is that without the injuries, the Islanders would have at least three 20- goal scorers if you ask me.

Trent Hunter would be right around there; the same thing goes for Sean Bergenheim and Kyle Okposo. As a matter of fact, you could even make the argument for Bill Guerin, who has 20 now after being traded to the Penguins. Had Doug Weight not gotten injured, Guerin’s game wouldn’t have hit the fan over the last month he was on the team. You could even make a good a good argument for Mark Streit.

Ah, but in the end, it’s all wishful thinking. No 20-goal scorers. So sad. Even the 92 San Jose Sharks had one in Pat Falloon. Are the Islanders that bad? Are they? Someone answer me already.

Wow, this team’s offense is so lacking this season that I’m talking to myself in my own posts now.

Is this what we’ve come to?

I think so…I think so.

That, I predict, will change big time next season.

If healthy next season, I not only see Kyle Okposo hitting the 20 and even 30 goal mark, but Trent Hunter, Mark Streit and Sean Bergenheim as well.

Since the All-Star Break, Okposo has been the best player on the team next to Streit, scoring big goals and showing excellent instincts. After another summer of intense conditioning and more time with Josh Bailey, who is also developing, I see him becoming the Islanders version of Zach Parise. If the Islanders pick up John Tavares or Victor Hedman as well, Okposo will have a huge burden off of his shoulders and won’t be looked at as the team’s savior. Because of that, I see next season eventually turning into the best season of his young NHL career.

Hunter was playing excellent hockey early in the season before dealing with injuries and with Frans Nielsen getting better every game, I see those two making some beautiful music together next season. With Nielsen’s speed and Hunters ability to get in front of the net and score garbage goals, Hunter will get his fair share. Also, with Nielsen’s playmaking ability, Hunter can use his shot a bit more than he was using earlier in the season when “The Great Dane” wasn’t exactly comfortable in the league yet. Simply put, the better Nielsen gets, the more Hunter will produce.

As far as Mark Streit goes, Islanders fans have already seen what a good shot he has and if the players around him develop, he’ll have even more confidence and will unleash it much more often. Already a Norris Trophy Candidate, Streit won’t have nearly as much pressure on him as he had last year and because of that, he’ll get even better, getting to the 60 point mark again.

Bergenheim is the tricky one here. Always a late starter, Bergie has to have the first strong first half of his career and then revert back to his usually deadly second half self during the final 40 games. With great hands, a plethora of grit and even more desire, Bergie can and will score 20 goals in this league. He just has to stay healthy and have a drop more consistency than he had this season. Overall, I think it’s fair that it’s not asking for much out of him.

“Right now, the whole focus and the whole plan is on one thing: getting this thing built,” Wang said Thursday. “Obviously, if it doesn’t get done within the time frame, then we look at all options.”

However, the biggest agenda on the mind of Wang and the other people involved is keeping this team on the Island. They don’t want to think of anything else right now.

And for good reason. It’s been over five years since the initial Lighthouse plans were originally made public.

“Bottom line is that if Long Island doesn’t do a good job, we’re going to lose the team,” Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi told The News.

As the Metallica song goes, “Sad But True.”

Is Doug Weight playing for his job?- I also wrote about a week ago how Weight has expressed his affinity for Long Island and would like to be a part of next year’s team. With a handful of games left this season, the All-Star center can make things easy for the Islanders and play his heart out, proving how much he really wants to be here. If the opposite happens, the Islanders may want to wait things out a bit more before they come to a real decision.

Dropping the gloves the other night, it seems apparent that Weight wants to be a leader on this team and wants to be the guy to help the youngsters develop.

“Our team has come a long way the last couple of months and is really coming together,” Weight told the AP after the game. “It’s not like I would do that in a playoff race, but once in a while you have to do that…Our team has been sticking up for each other and really coming together and those things are good to see.”

I personally think that if he had never gotten hurt this season, he’d have more points than Mark Streit and the Islanders decline wouldn’t have been as harsh. Would they still be in last place? That may in fact be debatable.

So when you have a player that can help and is willing to play in the coach’s system, you obviously sign him and make both the fans and the organization happy, right?

Guess we’ll have to wait until July to find out about that one.

Josh Bailey is having the best month of his professional hockey career with seven points, including four goals, in 13 games.

Frans Nielsen has 10 points in his last 13 games.

Before going down with an injury, Sean Bergenheim has seven goals and 11 points in his last 16 games.

Even Bruno Gervais is stepping up his offensive game as of late, scoring three goals and seven points in his last 16.

While these numbers are far from amazing, they are without a doubt better than what these kids were producing earlier in the season when Mark Streit, Richard Park, Bill Guerin Doug Weight and Trent Hunter were leading the team in both ends of the ice.

Now, it feels like this group of youngsters may in fact have what it takes to get the job done next season.

As far as Islanders general manager Garth Snow is concerned, this was what was supposed to happen all along.

“We came up with a plan to build through the draft, and we’re sticking to it. This season has been painful, but we think we’ll be better for it,” Snow told the New York Post. “This is an important time for our organization to take the next step, and I take that very seriously.”

With the draft coming up, the Islanders have a chance to bring in another youngster that can grow alongside the group the Islanders have put together.

That according to Snow, that is exactly what the fans want.

“Whenever (fans) come up to me, whether it’s on the concourse during games or at practice, they say, ‘Stick to the plan,’” Snow told Yahoo Sports. “The team we have next year will be very similar to the one we have now. I expect a lot of players to develop.”

Hmm. Is that another way of saying that the Islanders won’t waste money on washed up players or guys that haven’t produced every where else? As far as I’m concerned, aside from the signings of Weight, Mark Streit and Richard Park, I’ve been pretty unimpressed with the free agents this team has brought in over the past three seasons.

Hopefully that trend will stop and the Isles will truly start the youth movement next season.

With Nassau Coliseum in desperate need of a makeover and the idea of the Lighthouse Project looking grimmer by the day, the idea of moving the Islanders to Queens, smack dab in the middle of Flushing, a hop skip and jump from the National Tennis Center and Citi-Field ,is an amazing one. Luckily, the Daily News got the scoop the other day, which discusses how badly the people in the borough want this to happen.

For fans, it would give them an opportunity to surround themselves with the sports and players that they love and for Queens, it could mean big business. Anyone who has ever ventured outside the parking lots at the old Shea Stadium knows the neighborhood isn’t fantastic, as it’s surrounded by Chop Shops and shanty like housing, but getting the Islanders there to compliment the other two venues could make local business set up shop.

Lets be fair here, the Islanders aren’t the huge ticket they used to be. However, if there is a professional hockey team in Queens, businesses in the area will no longer be seasonal and will be able to grow all year round. That idea alone should have the Queens chamber of commerce drooling.

According to the article, City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), who is also a candidate for city controller, also seems to be extremely dedicated in keeping the four-time Stanley Cup champs from heading to Kansas City or Saskatoon, Canada, the two locations looking to steal the Islanders away.

“The city should do everything humanly possible to keep the Islanders in our region- and preferably in Queens,” Liu said.

Wow. If the Islanders had someone like this taking care of business in Long Island, maybe the Lighthouse Project would be off the ground already. If that wasn’t enough, there are more people that want to get this thing off the ground.

According to the piece:

Chuck Apelian, who heads the Willets Point subcommittee for Community Board 7, envisioned a mighty sports complex anchored by the Mets, the National Tennis Center and the Islanders.

“It’s a great opportunity for Queens,” he said. “It fills out the area – you have baseball, you have tennis, you have hockey.”

I think this plan could work. As a matter of fact, it even make sense. These teams practically have the same father as well, in Bill Shea and share the same team colors. Bringing them together could also give the Isles and their young team a chance to shine in a bigger venue where they will have even more fan support.

It will also make it that much easier for this Brooklynite to get to games.

Let’s do it.

Not me and not many other Islander fans.

However, according to the Mighty Chris Botta, Weight is focused on returning next season and is actually looking forward to signing a contract.

With April fool’s a week away, this is no joke either.

This guy is serious about returning to the team.

“This is not a case of seeing if the grass is greener on July 1,” Weight said. “I know what we have here with the Islanders and I’m very excited about it. With a lot more health and whatever changes management makes, this team can go from the bottom of the League to the playoffs next season. I truly believe that.”

As Peter Boyle from “Everybody Loves Raymond” would say: “Holy Crap!”

It’s kind of hard to argue with the play of Weight before he was forced to deal with injuries, especially when he was averaging a point a game and was leading the team in the locker room. I know that I’ve been saying that Mark Streit should be the next captain of the Islanders, but if Weight is around, he may end up being the perfect choice.

From the looks of his comments, it’s obvious that he loves Scott Gordon’s system and believes the guy have him an opportunity to rejuvenate his career. That may not have meant much to guys like Tom Poti and Viktor Kozlov, who earned big ticket salaries with the Capitals after upping their market value with the Islanders under Ted Nolan, but Weight seems to be a different type of guy.

“I can’t tell you how much I’d kill to be in the playoffs next season in an Islanders uniform. This place has come to mean a lot to me. They gave me a chance last summer to prove I had something left and we proved it together. I’m going to play next season and I hope it’s here.”

If he is indeed healthy and feels he can still contribute, I think it would be great for him to return.

While Weight is “killing” for the opportunity, he may end up doing something much safer in oder to secure his spot on the team… signing the bottom line.

“We know a lot of people talk about that, but we don’t,” emerging star Kyle Okposo told the New York Post about the whole Tavares situation. “Never. We’re trying to win games and play the best we can. That stuff comes with how the results go at end of the year.

“For sure it’s important to us, but you never know how a player’s gonna turn out. I know there’s a lot of good players in this draft, but we’re not thinking about it.”

Many coaches would have a thousand gray hairs with everything that Scott Gordon has had to put up with this season, but in spite of all the failures, he’s had a plan. At times over the first 40 games, it seemed that Gordon wasn’t given the right pieces to play his system and combined with injuries, it’s fair to say he was one of the most miserable people in the entire league.

Over the second half of the season however, I think it’s fair to say that the Islanders have shown the rest of the league that they are indeed capable of being more than a last-place team and have done so without Doug Weight, Bill Guerin and a host of other players many felt were vital to the Islanders success.

That isn’t a mere coincidence; it’s good coaching.

“I told them earlier that we weren’t going to worry about our record, and that’s still true,” Gordon told the Associated Press. “It says a lot about the approach we’ve had. At this time of year, you can have the mindset that, ‘I can’t wait ‘til the season’s over.’ That’s not the case here. It’s almost like our record doesn’t exist.”

However, Gordon still understands that there is work to do.

“There are some building blocks there that are starting to come together,” Gordon told the New York Times a few days ago. “That’s the thing that’s important to me. How it carries over to next year will be dictated by whatever new players come in, draft picks, players from Bridgeport. So I’m very encouraged with the progress that’s been made, especially with our younger players.

When thinking of players that fit into this category, Tim Jackman is one of the first players that comes to mind.

Signing a one-year contract extension with the Islanders yesterday, Jackman was rewarded for his hard work, making his return to the team next season an imminent one.

While Jackman coming back may not be a huge signing, it does assure the team of some fourth line grit and toughness.

You can never have enough of that, can you?

“Tim earned this extension by showing his willingness to do whatever is necessary to help the Islanders succeed,” New York general manager Garth Snow told the Associated Press. “We know Tim is excited about being an Islander next season, and we’re just as excited to have him back.”

The thing I like the most about Jackman is that he can fit adequately into a variety of roles. If someone is picking on Kyle Okposo or one of the other youngsters, Jackman has no problem dropping the gloves with them. If the Islanders need someone to go out there and change the momentum of a game and provide some energy, he can do that too. If someone on the top lines is slacking and needs a reality check, Jackman can play with the top line and get himself in front of the net and at least be an option. He’s even shown an ability an ability this season to kill penalties and block shots if he has to.

Because of that, he’s proven himself at this level and absolutely deserves an opportunity to strut his stuff in the NHL for at least one more season.

Simply put, Jackman doesn’t hurt the team when he’s on the ice. He’s a decent skater with good enough speed to be productive in pretty much any role the team needs him to be in. I actually think that he has better hands than most scouts give him credit for. Like Andy Hilbert in the fact that he’s produced more offensively in the AHL than the NHL, I think if Jackman plays 80 games and gets his 12 minutes a night, he could net 10 goals and add as many helpers.

For the time being though, I, like many Isles fans, are just happy to have him back.

We all know it’s a decision that won’t be made until next season, but just look at the guy’s numbers. 52 points and a +7 on the worst team in the league, from the blue line. I don’t know if there are many players in the league that could put up points like that if they were in his situation. Add in the fact that he missed and handful of games and it’s possible he could have even broken his career high in points that he set last season.

However, as many of you dudes and dudettes know, being a captain of any team in any league has more to do with the total package than just numbers alone. That is a category where I think Streit is totally underrated. Making amazing strides in his defensive game this season, I dare say that Streit is the best defenseman this team has had since Adrian Aucoin. And Unlike Aucoin, he doesn’t have to take 200 shots a season to be productive offensively. A great passer with an excellent shot and skating ability, Streit is one of the few defensemen in the league that can attract attention in all situations on offense and make the players around him better.

To me, that’s exactly what a captain should be able to do.

And to think, the Montreal Canadiens thought they used the guy up and that he’d never be able to reproduce the numbers he put up last season. I’m not a betting man by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m sure the Habs would gladly take Streit over Mathieu Schneider any day of the week. And let’s be fair here, Schneider is one of the most talented offensive defensemen of this generation. He’s a guy that many teams would kill to have.

But he’s not Mark Streit.

Again, that’s another reason why he should be Islanders captain. He’s one of a kind and he’s getting better every day because the organization has had faith in him from the start. The same way the youngsters are growing, Streit too has become a much better player this season and is a representation of what this team could be if they worked as hard as he did.

With all the bad news this season that fans of this team have had to deal with, this is almost like walking into a room and finding out someone sprayed your favorite air freshener before you come in.

Enchanting.

Refreshing.

Good.

“I know they won four Stanley Cups in a row. They had great players there. Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier played there. They’ve got a great history, obviously,” Tavares told Newsday. “They’re looking to get a new arena—I’ve heard that, too.
“I haven’t heard too many bad things about Long Island.”
Even more interesting than what Tavares told Newsday was what ESPN got Tavares’ agent to say on the record..
“Assuming John goes first in the draft, I think he will go where he is chosen,” Tavares’ agent, Pat Brisson, told ESPN. “Let’s say it’s (the Islanders). I know (owner) Charles Wang is trying to get a new building. … Look at Mario (Lemieux) when he went to Pittsburgh. There wasn’t anything there. And it wasn’t too nice when Sidney (Crosby) went there, either. If you start picking where you want to go, you may not make the right decision.
“There are always better franchises, better organizations. But I don’t see John avoiding anywhere. … John respects the process and the league.”
What was that? Did you just exhale? That was pretty loud my friend. Yes, it was that obvious.

And what is obvious to Islander fans is obvious to the rest of the league as well. If the team needed anything right now, they need a number one pick. Not as much as they need a new building, but it definitely wouldn’t hurt the process either.

Already with Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and plenty of young talent that is hungry and ready to contribute, getting Tavares in the draft and continuing to build the team around him would be a great step in the right direction for this team.

The fact that the Islanders aren’t as desolate a franchise to Tavares is also a huge deal as well.

Stay tuned.

Site News:

I will be appearing on WKRB 90.3 FM this Thursday at 6:30 to discuss the Brooklyn Aces on the new talk show “Hockey Night in Brooklyn, with Jonathan Rios.”

Tune in!

I think it’s going to be more than anyone could have asked for a few months ago.

Seeing Mark Streit dipsy-doodle his way around a few defenders after receiving a pass from Kyle Okposo is definitely something I’d like to see some more of.

Damn, is it me, or have I been saying that a lot lately?

I think the reason why I feel this way is because it’s the truth. This has been a different team over the past 10-15 games. Sure, they lack the pure offensive firepower to hold the ice with a team like Boston, but do they work hard and skate in all three zones or what? Once these kids get some more polish and get themselves in better shape over the offseason, I really think this team is a big signing and a few draft picks away from being a playoff contender. I really mean that.

Islanders coach Scott Gordon too sees the silver lining.

“We’re not an easy two points anymore,” Gordon told the Associated Press after yesterday’s loss to the Boston Bruins. “We were at the beginning of the year, but now our guys are playing at a pace that it really hasn’t mattered who the opposition has been.”

Gordon too attributes some of the success the team has had as of late to the exodus of a few “bad apples.”

“You know, we had a couple bad apples, too, that we got rid of,” Gordon told Newsday. “As a result of that, the chemistry in the locker room is what you would expect from a team that pulls together. They are pulling for each other, and they’re working with a purpose.”

Considering the way the team has played as of late, can you really blame him? Did anyone really think this team was going to be better off without Jon Sim, Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli? I surely didn’t. However, in their absence, people have stepped up with the added ice time they’ve been able to receive as a result and all of a sudden, this team is fun to watch again. It kind of makes you wonder where this team would be if these things could have been taken care of sooner.

However, much like the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop, the world may never know what the Islanders were truly capable of this season.

Regardless of if they are winning, losing or middling, there is always news, always things to think about and write about.

Despite being in last place, this team will have a serious goaltender controversy to think about this offseason. Everyone knows Rick DiPietro will be the number one, but coming off another injury-ravaged season, it’s highly doubtful that he’ll play the 70 games he wants to play.

My best guess is that DP will play about 50-55 next season and if all goes as well, then and only then will he be used in the Tim “Every Day” Cheveldae-esque role that he insists on playing.

However, will it be Danis or Joey MacDonald that is on the bench? Would one of them be willing to sign a two-way contract next season to provide support just in case DP gets injured again? Highly doubtful. Especially after both of them have proved they can be a solid backup if given a chance.

So what happens here? Who knows, but from what I’ve seen from Danis over the past few weeks and how much the coaching staff has embraced him, I think it makes this decision in the future an even tougher one.

“He’s played like a No. 1 over the short term,” coach Scott Gordon told the AP. “That’s ultimately going to be a decision to be made after the season is over. Ricky’s status will factor into it. All I can say is Yann has clearly shown his performance has been at a higher level than anything we’ve had all year. I’m happy for him.”

Wow. Big words, but that’s what comes with putting up the numbers that Danis has this season.

And who would have thought after his first two miserable outings? Not me, that’s for sure.

But then again, this is what the New York Islanders are all about. A few months ago, everyone, including myself, weren’t thrilled when Wade Dubielewicz got picked up by the Blue Jackets, because we didn’t like what we saw from this Danis-guy with the French-accent. We all wanted our Yoda back, so he could swing his light saber. Instead, we got d’Artagnan, with his saber and funny looking mustache.

But hey, he’s been great and it’s given this writer something to of course, write about.

What more could you ask for?

A playoff appearance?

One day fellas, one day.

Very strange. Very strange indeed.

“I really like what they’re doing,” Gretzky told the Associated Press before Phoenix’s 3-2 loss Sunday on Long Island. “You have to go through tough times to get back on top. You can’t be impatient. You have to do your homework in scouting, and if you get lucky and get a (Sidney) Crosby or an (Alex) Ovechkin, that helps too.”

Which basically means the Islanders have to do the opposite of the Coyotes have been doing the past few years, developing solid talent and then making them play a small role when they trade for Olli “I stunk on Long Island worse than anything that’s come out of the back pocket of Paris Hilton after a night she’d care not to remember” Jokinen.

While I’m sure the Islanders will take the compliment, I don’t know how the Islanders would deal with a Sydney Crosby type player at this stage of their franchise. While it’s obviously pivotal that they get better players and since they’ve been having problems signing elite free agents, the draft is the only way to go, but with the Lighthouse Project hitting snag after snag, would a top flight prospect really feel comfortable here? Just something to ponder. Instead, maybe the Islanders would be better off adding character players and forming a nucleus of six to eight guys that can do a little bit of everything, rather than one or two superstars. Again, just thinking here.

On another note, I really like that the Islanders will be sending Kyle Okposo and a few other youngsters to Bridgeport to help with the playoff push. Despite the fact that many of these guys have been in the NHL all season, they have yet to experience professional playoff hockey. That I think will be great for them and prepare them for next season.

“I’m going to play hard wherever I go,” Okposo told the Associated Press a few days ago.. “If I go back to Bridgeport for the playoffs, I’m going to give our team everything I’ve got. … The chance to maybe take on more of a leadership role, plus get the experience of the playoffs, is exciting to me. If I’m fortunate to get that opportunity, I’d be foolish not to embrace it.”

Simply put, if this can keep up the rest of the season, the Islanders will be in much better shape to challenge for a playoff spot than they are right now. Well, OK, maybe I’m dreaming a bit here, as this team is still in need of a legitimate sniper and a healthy Rick DiPietro before they can even attempt to make the playoffs, but it’s fun to dream right?

At any rate, with the experience the Islanders youngsters have gotten this season, I really believe some of these kids have what it takes to be huge building blocks in the team’s future.

Like I said yesterday, I really feel that Kyle Okposo has what it takes to be a perennial 30-goal scorer in this league. If he continues to take the body, skate hard and shoot the puck, I think he can be a very similar player or give the Islanders the same jolt that Zach Parise gives the New Jersey Devils. His rookie season, Parise put up very similar numbers that Okposo is putting up now. It wasn’t until his second season that he truly began to show signs of what he is now. I feel the same thing will be the case for Okposo.

While he’s a bit older than some of the other youngsters, I see Blake Comeau eventually developing into a guy that score a dozen goals a season in a checking line role and provide the bench with leadership, charisma and hustle. With six goals this season and I believe 14 in about 100 games of NHL experience, his offensive game still needs more refining, but many of his problems early in the season had to do with conditioning, rather than his own individual skill level.

The case with Josh Bailey and Frans Nielsen I believe are different ones that Comeau, as I feel they are beginning to show that they have the ability to be more than effective centermen. I think they both have to shoot the puck more, but I do love their playmaking ability and of course, “The Great Dane’s” ability in the face-off circle. Of the two, I think Nielsen has more polish, but overall, I do believe Bailey will be the better overall player in the years to come. Nielsen I see developing into a 10-15 goal, 35-40 assist guy, but I think Bailey can be a consistent 40-assist man in this league. Even attempting to predict his goal totals is a tough task, but I do think that if he takes the initiative and shoots more, he could score anywhere from 15-20 goals next season.

However, in order for all this to happen, these kids will have to continue to work hard this season and prove that they belong.

If not, they’ll find themselves back in Bridgeport.

I don’t see that happening though.

Over the past few weeks, Islander fans have seen the transformation of Sean Bergenheim from gritty third liner to possibly a top six forward that can play in any game situation. It’s been a process that many may still be in shock over, but like I’ve said countless times on this site, there is no reason why this kid can’t be a 20-goal scorer in this league. He’s got so much energy and has a much better shot and even better hands than most people give him credit for. It’s only a matter of time until everyone in the league begins to see it.

It also makes his life much easier when the players around him are playing well. Yesterday, that was exactly the case as Josh Bailey and Jeff Tambellini played their best games in quite some time, while Andy Hilbert, Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau were no bums either. Add in a strong defensive performance [Anyone see Zach Parise on the ice yesterday afternoon?] and a great first game with the Isles by Mike Iggulden [an old friend of mine and a die-hard Islander fan Anthony Natoli is extremely high on him and has been waiting all season for him to be called up. Just figured I'd throw that out there] and because of that, the Isles had a winning formula.

The first period in my estimation was perhaps the best 20 minutes the team has played all season. The forecheck was amazing, Joey MacDonald made all the saves he had to and the Islanders defense was rock solid. It was like someone finally turned a light on in this team’s collective head and they played the way they were supposed to.

When the score was 5-2, I decided to go out and watch the rest of the game later. About 45 minutes later, I get a ring from Islanders Blog Box member and a damn good friend of mine Gary Harding, who tells me Trent Hunter is out for the season. Just when things start looking good for this team, they lose an emotional leader and a key player in Hunter. Well, it could have been worse; the Islanders could have been battling for a playoff spot and this happened. However, with nothing to lose, the best thing that could happen is for Hunter to heal up this offseason and come back healthy and lead this team next season.

For now, I’m just wondering if this means Jon Sim comes back or another youngster gets a shot.

Guess we’ll just have to wait until 3 P.M., when the Isles take on the Coyotes at the Coliseum.

Now, three days later, the truth comes out.

It turns out that when the Islanders took Guerin out of the lineup before the Buffalo game on Feb. 28, they had no deal with any team in place, flubbing all the reports from various websites, based in both journalism and in rumor. At any rate, both Snow and Guerin’s agent felt it would be in the Islanders best interest to keep him out of the lineup to avoid injury.

This is where I don’t quite understand the logic.

You take a player out of the lineup that you know interest is low on because you don’t want them to get hurt, to do what exactly? Lower their already low value? Seriously, what is the worst thing that can happen, get a fifth round pick for a legitimate goal-scoring threat that could bolster any team’s offense?

Wait, that happened already.

Nonsense. Complete nonsense.

If Guerin played those games he sat out for and scored a few goals, perhaps he may have drawn some more interest from teams looking for offense and the Islanders could have gotten more.

If Guerin gets hurt, what happens? They don’t get a fifth round pick? I, like most Islander fans, could deal with that.

It’s highly doubtful this fifth round pick will be the franchise player that will guide this team out of the cellar. It’s also doubtful that this fifth round pick could be the 20-goal scorer the Islanders lost in Guerin as well. I know you should never really rate a trade until some time has passed, but I really think the Islanders should have taken a chance and let Guerin play his last few games with the team. Now the Islanders will have to wait and see what they’ve eventually received in return for their former captain.

Speaking of captains, it kind of irks me that the Islanders won’t name a captain until next season. It makes me think that they don’t have faith in the players they have now and will go outside the team and look for a veteran free agent to sign and name him captain.

That, I believe, would be dead wrong. This team has plenty of players, guys like Trent Hunter, Brendan Witt, Mark Streit and even Richard Park, that would be able to serve as a more than solid captain. The way things are going, this team needs someone from within to help them get to the next level. Someone that has seen how bad things are and can grow, despite thus struggles and help lead the team to respectability.

Those are just my thoughts though.

What do you guys think?

That was the word that I uttered when I found out the Islanders received a fifth round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Bill Guerin yesterday.

Wow.

Simply put, I think Islanders GM Garth Snow panicked.

Why you ask? The guy got a third round pick for Marc-Andre Bergeron last season, a third round pick, [yes, I didn't stutter ]. He even got a sixth round pick for Chris Simon, a player no one in the NHL wanted last season and now, he gets a conditional fifth round pick for Bill Guerin, one of the most prolific American born goal scorers of our era.

Someone dropped the ball.

And to make matters worse, now Islander fans everywhere will have to root for the Pens and hope they get into the playoffs and past the first round so that fifth round pick can magically, deliciously transform into a third round pick.

Not going to happen.

So the Islanders will have an extra pick, but at what cost? I know Guerin was going to be gone at the end of the season anyway, but you simply cannot give away a player with his resume for a pick that low. If it was a third or second round pick, I would have been OK with it, but this is like a slap in the face.

Ray Shero is probably playing “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang as we speak.

Not cool.

With Guerin gone now, the Islanders will have to put the C on someone’s jersey and as of right now, I think it’ll either be Brendan Witt or Trent Hunter. While I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Witt, despite his struggles this season, I do think Hunter is the better choice. He’s going to be around another four years and is a young veteran and someone the Islanders can build around. More than anything right now, I feel this team needs to find some sort of stability right now, some kind of immovable object that fans know that regardless of how bad things get, that person will be there.

Trent Hunter can be that player.

After that, I’d give A’s to Richard Park and Witt. This way the Islanders have guys there that command a decent amount of respect around the league for their hustle and drive, which is exactly what Scott Gordon and the rest of the organization want to preach anyway.

But who knows what the Islanders will do. I remember when Bryan McCabe was named Islanders captain and I nearly crapped by teenage pants in disgusts.

What I do know however is that because of all of this, the last dozen or so games should be very interesting.

Stay Tuned.

However, that doesn’t appear to be the case for very much longer.

According to various websites around the Internet, Guerin is willing to waive his no trade clause to any playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. As the day progressed yesterday, those same sites said that he’s not going to the Washington Capitals, the New Jersey Devils, the Boston Bruins or the Philadelphia Flyers, which leaves only a few more teams left. Hockey Buzz seems convinced he’s going to the Canadiens. While I’m not too sure how happy Guerin would be accepting a trade there, there are a few other teams I could see him suiting up for.

Buffalo and Pittsburgh could use some more offense and are on the fridge or the outside looking in and a guy like Guerin, if he gets hot, could be a huge addition.

As far as his place on the Islanders is concerned, losing Guerin could hurt hem a ton in the short term, but I think there’s been a changing of the guard the past few games.

While guys like Guerin and Brendan Witt have allegedly not gotten along with Islanders head coach Scott Gordon this season, a guy like Mark Streit owes a lot of his success to him. Considering his play all season and the way he singlehandedly helped the team gain a point against the Maple Leafs the other night, I think it’s fair to say that Streit may be the next Islanders captain.

Think about it, Streit is obviously the team’s best player now and the sole reason is because the Islanders gave him an opportunity not many other teams in the league would have. He owes a small part of his success to the team because of that. Add in the fact that he’ll be here for the next few seasons and Guerin won’t and it’s an even bigger reason to make him that captain of this team.

The way things are right now, I really don’t see either Witt or Guerin with the Islanders after the deadline and see them building towards the future. Witt however, still has time left on his contract and if he has indeed ironed out his problems with Gordon, should be fine unless the team can get something good for him.

Guerin however, with no contract for next season, seems to be on his way out.

Nevertheless, I really like the attitude Islanders head coach Scott Gordon has had with the team this season.

We’ve all seen the frustration on his face mounting after every goal against, every injury and every miscue, but in spite of all of it, I truly believe the youngsters on this team are getting better and that Gordon’s system and coaching style has a lot to do with it.

“We could have easily deflated after our losing streak in December,” Gordon told the Associated Press a few days ago. “The one thing I stress to our players is we’re trying to build something here for next year, and I’m not going to stop coaching and trying to get our team to be better and I expect the same from all our players, but particularly the ones who are going to be here next year.”

If you’re a fan of this team, regardless of everything that has happened over the past two years, that should make you feel a little comfortable. Well, as comfortable as you can feel right now.

With the trading deadline on the way as well, the Islanders will have an opportunity to build the team more in Gordon’s image as well, which should, barring another crazy amount of injuries next season, make the Islanders much more competitive and much more fun to watch.

“What we want are players who will work through this adversity,” Gordon told the AP. “The circumstances we’ve had to go through with injuries… we’ve had some hurdles, and it’s how we’re going to handle adversity. One of the key areas is our character and not breaking away from what we want our team identity to be.”

I think that over the next 21 games, that identity will begin to be forged. One based on grit, speed and hard work, with guys like Mark Streit, Trent Hunter and Kyle Okposo leading the way and players the likes of Frans Neilsen, Sean Bergenheim and Josh Bailey not too far behind. Add in a good draft and the Islanders will be on the way to righting this ship and making sure they can build a consistent winner and not one that has to be destroyed every four years.

Having Rick DiPietro healthy for a change wouldn’t be so bad either.

You’ve heard all the nicknames over the years. It’s time they stop. What the Isles are going through is no different from anything any other team is dealing with, but the fact that the Isles need a new place to play just exacerbates the problem. While he doesn’t want to move the team anywhere, Wang knows that time may be running out and that something needs to get done soon.

“I’m not contemplating it; I’m not negotiating with anyone, but I continue to keep my options open – and they should be open all the time,” Wang told Newsday on Tuesday. “Ultimately, if you don’t want to go to a (Islanders) game because the arena is a dump, I lose, the county loses, everybody loses. I want this thing to proceed. We can talk and talk, but we’ve got to get off our butts. Let’s get it done.”
Isles-Penguins Pregame Thoughts- The last time these two teams faced off, it was pretty entertaining to say the very least. Take Sydney Crosby out of the equation, who is battling a sore groin and the Islanders may have the edge here. The Penguins are trying to stay in the playoff hunt, as they are four points behind the Sabres and the Islanders have nothing to lose. Because of that, I expect this game to have the intensity of a playoff game.
I’d also like to see players the likes of Sean Bergenheim, Josh Bailey and most importantly Kyle Okposo to continue producing. With Mike Comrie gone, one of these guys is going to have to be the secondary scorer this team needs in the future. Considering the fact that the Isles will most likely not go out and look for another young veteran to fill Comrie’s shoes next season, one of these guys is going to have to be more than what they are right now. Promise can get you to the National Hockey League, but consistency is the only thing that can keep you there. It’s time for these guys to start to show that they truly belong here.

Kyle Okposo scoring 20 goals- It may not mean very much to the rest of the league, but considering how poorly he started the season, the fact that he hasn’t had a consistent linemate for most of the year, the time he spent on the shelf in November and December and how bad the team has played this year, scoring 20 goals would be a huge achievement for him. While it still wouldn’t be enough for him to nab the Calder trophy, it would be enough to help get fans thinking a bit more positive about the direction this team is moving in. It may also give some free agents the courage to sign and help get the Islanders out of the cellar next season.

Josh Bailey and Frans Neilsen getting to 35 points- Again, it’s something that may not mean everything to the rest of the league, but if Josh Bailey and Frans Neilsen can find a way to score 35 points, which would mean they would both have to average close to a point a game over the last 23 games of the season, it would be huge. Is it asking for too much, especially on a team as offensively challenged as the Islanders? Perhaps, but again, much like Kyle Okposo, the improved play of Neilsen and Bailey would go an incredibly long way in helping to solidify the team’s youth movement. For Neilsen, it would prove that he can be more than a solid defensive forward that can win faceoffs. For Bailey, it would go a long way in proving that the Islanders made the right move when they traded down in an incredibly deep draft to get him.

Mark Streit getting to 60 points- If Mark Streit can get to 60 points, it would prove that he is the real deal. That he can put up similar numbers on a much different team and be a leader on the ice. It will also show the rest of the league that free agents can come to the Island and enjoy some kind of success. But for Streit, it’ll prove that he’s much more than a gimmick player and one that any other team in the league will be glad to have. If he can find a way to get to 60 points, he’ll have the type of confidence needed to continue to produce at a level of a top-flight offensive defenseman.

“Bottom line, we’re getting a first-round draft pick and that falls into the plan we’ve set out all along,” Snow told the Associated Press before Saturday’s 4-0 win over New Jersey. “Now it’s up to us to draft a good player with that pick. … We have a significant amount of draft picks, especially in the first and second round. We’re going to build this the right way.”

While it probably would have been better to have a pick like this in last year’s draft, especially considering how deep it was, the Islanders will have an opportunity to bolster their team in the long run. Now I know what some of you are thinking, that the Islanders basically traded Chris Campoli, a player entering the best years of their career, for a player that will most likely been in juniors next season, but it was the only thing they could do.

“Yes, I asked for the trade,” Campoli, who had a career-worst minus-20 rating, told Newsday. “I was frustrated with my year and the way things had gone. I felt like a change was needed for me. From my perspective, I don’t think I fit in with what Scott (Gordon) was trying to do.”

So, knowing this, the Islanders, for a change, did the best they could and actually got something that could end up playing a bigger part in the team than Campoli can. With Mark Streit on board, Campoli was never going to get the ice-time he needed to truly develop into a potent offensive defenseman. So again, at least the Islanders got something for him. Now they just have to make the pick count.

Thoughts on McAmmond- Overall, I thought he was solid, even though you could tell he was trying to do a bit too much as far as some of the passes he was making were concerned. Nevertheless, I like his speed and if he sticks around next season, I could see him on a line with Richard Park and a gritty youngster, rounding out the last of the forward lines. As for right now though, he’s not going to make the team any worse and if he can get a few goals under his belt in the next few weeks, the Islanders could even move him. If not, the guy will at least have an opportunity to show the rest of the league he can still play.

Something to definitely keep an eye on over the next few games.

To be able to get a first round pick though, now that definitely wasn’t expected. Sure, you lose Chris Campoli in the process, but he didn’t want to be here. What where the Islanders supposed to do there?

Campoli apparently didn’t want to stay and the Islanders were done waiting for Comrie to be anything more than a spare part. Take away his first 10 games with this team and I think it’s fair to say that his tenure was an undeniable disaster. Even if the Islanders basically got a washed up Dean McAmmond for Comrie, it’s better than nothing. He’s was pretty much going to be gone at the end of the season anyway. As far as McAmmond goes, he’ll have an opportunity to prove if he can still play in this league or not. Who knows, maybe he may prove the critics wrong. My personal opinion on the matter is that he’s washed up and Ottawa was simply throwing him away, but I have been wrong before.

As far as the first round pick for Campoli goes, I think the Islanders got a great deal. I’ve always held the kid in high regard, but aside from his rookie season, was never able to put it together for a whole year. Now he’ll go somewhere else and score 50 points, but unlike the countless other youngsters the Islanders have given up over the years and got relatively nothing, the Isles now have something to show for it. Now it’s up to them to make the pick count.

I also think that the Isles have enough talent at the blueline in the minors that over the long-term, the loss of Campoli won’t be a huge one. However, we’ll have to wait and see on that one.

Despite the fact that it’s going to be a late first round pick, the Islanders now have options at the entry draft. For all the drama the Isles stirred last season when they traded down for Josh Bailey, I think it’s fair to say that the entire fan base has accepted him and wants to see what he develops into. If they can get two more quality youngsters and throw them into the mix, this will be a huge step forward in the rebuilding process.

Going over a month without scoring a goal, no one knows when Park broke his ribs, but spending a few weeks on the shelf may be the best thing for him right now. You hate to see a guy like Park hurting physically and especially when the team is playing as poorly as they have been. A guy like Park would a key role player on any first place team, but on the Islanders, his worth is perhaps even more. He’s the heart and soul of this team. However, he’s better off the ice if he’s injured and if Hunter back, the Isles may be able to score a bit more.

Speaking of Hunter, I’d really like him to get going offensively again. In order for the youth movement to continue to progress, the young veterans like Hunter and even Mike Comrie and Andy Hilbert [if they stick around next season]have to get hot. Having Mark Streit and Bill Guerin score 50 points this season is not going to be sufficient enough to help get these kids to understand what it takes to perform at this level.

That’s why Doug Weight’s exodus from the lineup is so huge. When he was averaging close to a point a game, players like Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo had something to shoot for and could watch it being done right before their very eyes. Now, these kids have to bear down and do it all by themselves. Having some of the other guys get hot could possibly give them more space on the ice and give them an opportunity to produce a bit more.

With most of the team not producing offensively, it’ll make it really interesting to see who gets traded. Weight is absolutely off the list, Mike Sillinger is done for the season and Guerin has a no trade clause, leaving possibly only Comrie as the only Islander without a contract next season with any real value to the rest of the league. So with the team being where they are, do they trade Comrie for a prospector a draft pick? Or do they part ways with someone like Brendan Witt or Radek Martinek, who many teams would love to have, especially due to his inexpensive salary?

I don’t know, but it is something interesting to think about.

Now with no prospect of trading him, the Islanders are now either forced to see him go [teams like the Penguins and the Blackhawks would love to have this guy on their roster] or can sign him, not knowing what he’ll be capable of next season.

Sounds like a win-win situation for Weight.

There is one intangible I haven’t mentioned however.

Weight is a competitor. He wants to be on the ice.

“I’m pretty upset about it,” Bill Guerin told the Associated Press on Friday. “I feel bad for Dougie. He’s had a really good year for us and it’s just disappointing for him. I’m disappointed for him. You never want to see guys go down like that. This year has been crazy.”

Any of you guys remember Weight rallying the forces a few months ago and helping to get this team a mini-winning streak? I do. And if not for injuries all season, I do believe Weight would played a huge factor in making this team a .500 one. Would they have been good enough to get into the playoffs? No. But, with the mixture of youth and experience, they would have been a lot more fun to watch.

Nevertheless in spite of everything that Weight has done for this team in his short time here. He is in control of the cards.

He said a few months ago that he didn’t want to be traded from this team and he wanted to be a part in the turnaround. Well, at the end of the season, when his agent shows him the inflated offers coming from several teams in the league, we’ll see just how serious he was when he said that.

I personally think that he was serious. I also think that if the Isles can resign both Weight and Guerin and get another older, leader to play the left side, they could have a good, grandpa line that could show the youngsters how to get things done.

But then again, that all stems on Weight’s decision to stick around.

I think everyone in the NHL is as well.

4-4-2 over their past ten games, the New York Islanders are playing good hockey, but it’s the youngsters that are carrying them this time around.

With six goals in his past nine games, rookie winger Kyle Okposo is starting to establish himself as the guy this team can depend on to score. No longer scared to do what it takes in the corners or high traffic areas in order to put himself in a situation to produce, Okposo has been almost a completely different player since returning from an injury in the middle of December.

“It’s starting to get to the point where Kyle isn’t surprising us anymore,” coach Scott Gordon told the Associated Press. “He’s showing us that he has that element of skill that goes with that power-forward type of play.”

That added tenacity isn’t something that KO began to do by himself however. Even teenage center Josh Bailey has begun to finish his checks more, creating turnovers galore and opportunities for himself and his teammates. While Blake Comeau too has been doing much of the same on a line with these two guys, the added physical play of Bailey and KO is starting to pay dividends for the Isles.

“One thing the young guys, especially, have been trying to do is really play physical and finish all of our hits,” Okposo told Newsday. “I think that it’s given our team a little bit of a boost. We feed well off each other. We’ve been playing pretty well together, and we seem to know where each other’s going to be most of the time. We’re able to find each other and hold onto the puck a little longer and then make the right play instead of being a bit jittery like early in the season and trying to force something.”
With the only thing left to gain this season for the Islanders being the bumps and bruises to win back some respect next season, the youngsters are ensuring it by making sure they don’t get pushed around and show that they can thrive in the NHL.
Soon enough, they’ll be asked to lead this team and to carry this team on their backs when the going gets tough. The way things have been over the past handful of games, it looks like these youngsters may in fact be able to handle that burden.

Nevertheless, in spite of the vigor and jam he adds when on the ice, I have a feeling time is running out for him. Not as far as his spot on the team is concerned, but as his status as a talented youngster goes.

With youngsters the likes of Frans Neilsen, Blake Comeau, Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey stepping up, I feel Bergenheim has to start doing much of the same. Sure, he’s got another year left on his contract and is a restricted free agent at the start of the 2010 season, but for the Islanders to truly start to get this youth movement in full swing, I feel Bergie has to be one of the guys that steps up. Otherwise, he’ll have that niche of being a role player labeled on him and no one will ever give him a chance to be the top six forward I believe he can be,

Much like Andy Hilbert, I see Bergenheim as a jack of all trades on the ice, but a master of none. He’s a good skater, with good speed and a huge heart. However, much like Hilbert, he doesn’t produce enough offensively. On pace for a 20-goal season at one time before injuries and the flu began to creep their way into his game, Bergenheim needs to step up.

Now on a line with Richard Park and Tim Jackman, I think the Isles will possess one of the best energy lines in the league. Park has slowed down offensively after a white hot start and needs someone to get him going. That’s exactly where I think Bergenheim comes in. For way too long have I thought this guy deserves to be a top six forward and watched him get stuck in a role like this, but until he proves he can be consistent in both ends and start producing more, much like a Jason Blake, he’ll stay there.

Speaking of Blake, who proved in his time on the Island that he needed the puck as often as possible to be effective, I think Bergenheim is a much better shooter and can take advantage more than Blake did. For instance, Blake will end up taking over 300 shots again this season and will end up with about 25-30 goals. I think Bergenheim could score 20 eventually one day while taking under 200. It’s just a matter of him staying healthy and getting the type of ice time where he can accumulate those numbers.

When he actually got that ice time last season, I think he surprised a lot of Islander fans and even the organization with just how talented offensively he can be in the this league, in addition to all the other stuff he does. All in all, there’s no reason why he can’t be a dependable 20-20 guy and be a solid pest, even at this point in his career.

Again, it’s just a matter of getting him on the ice.

While this obviously good for Danis, who was a relative-unknown last season, it’s not exactly the best news for Joey MacDonald.

So with that being said, who gets to back up Rick DiPietro next season?

“One thing about Yann, I think he’s taken it a step further than what Joey did,” Gordon told the Associated Press last night. “Not that Joey didn’t play well, but certainly, Yann, from a level of consistency, has been able to play like a guy that’s a true No. 1. That’s reflective of his numbers…to consistently give up less than three goals is what you expect a No. 1 guy to do, and that’s the type of performance he’s been able to give us. It goes hand in hand with his success. When you have that kind of goaltending, it certainly makes it easier for your team to know that, when you have those off moments, it’s going to stay tight.”

Only on the New York Islanders could there be a goaltending controversy right now. With the trading deadline rapidly approaching, could one of the two be on the move? Again, only on the Islanders. Nevertheless, this situation alone should provide plenty of bar conversation over the next week or so.

What do you guys think?

Bergenheim back- Despite registering just one shot in 11-plus minutes of action, Sean Bergenheim is back. It may take him a few games to get back in the swing of things, but having another gritty player in the lineup is definitely going to help the Islanders the rest of the season. Another guy I’d like to see get up to 15-20 goals, Bergenheim got hot at the end of last season, lets see what happens this time around. A skilled penalty killer as well, having a healthy Bergenheim back in the lineup also makes up for the injury of Nate Thompson and allows either Richard Park or Andy Hilbert more responsibility at center. Considering how dependable those guys have been on the ice this season, I think that’s good news as well.

So again, while this team isn’t going to make the playoffs, at least there are things to think about the rest of the season and offseason.

The question I’m about to ask may appear to be a simple one, but it is still one that has to be asked.

“What is going on here?”

I know that it appears that the Islanders Lighthouse Project is destined to the same fate as what’s going on with the New Jersey Nets in Brooklyn, but are they really on the market? Are things are bad as the last time this team was sold? I don’t think so. This team would have made the playoffs last season if it was not for injuries and would be .500 if they had a healthy defense and Rick DiPietro around.

Sure, Islanders owner Charles Wang has sunk a plethora of money into this team and has lost most of it, but chalk it up as a learning experience. Rather than buy a champion like he tried to do when he first came here, Wang now has to do the same thing every other team is doing now, which is building through good trades and draft picks.

Before the Islanders are attempted to be moved, he should at least give this team a few more years to see what he has with Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and the host of other youngsters that are starting to ripen. I don’t think he’ll be too displeased in the end, especially if they continue to build through the draft over the next few seasons.

Nonetheless, it’s never good to hear that the team you watch is thinking about taking their business elsewhere.

Luckily, one thing that isn’t tough to understand or decipher. This organization is starting to build a dedication to it’s youngsters , not only for the rest of the rest of the season, but the future as well.

“At the end of the day, there was nothing to lose,” Islanders head coach Scott Gordon told the AP before the Florida game a few night’s ago when asked about why the youth on the team are getting more minutes. I knew it would be a pretty tall order to make the playoffs; we’d have to go something like 30 and 10 and that’s a hard thing to expect. It’s not like we abandoned our older players, but we’re giving the opportunity to the younger players. Along the way, I think that made us a better team.”

With Gordon understanding the team’s MO and doing whatever it takes to help them accomplish their goals, the Islanders need time for all the pieces to come together.

Will they get it?

That perhaps is the most important question of all.

That was a night as well where the Isles’ youngsters stepped up again and played well enough to help induce an Islanders win.

If Danis and the Isles’ babies can step up again, the Islanders can and will hold their own with the Panthers.

Seeing Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and Blake Comeau play the way they have been as of late has almost given me a renewed sense of vigor. For a while there, watching this team play was like driving a screwdriver through my head. Now, it’s become fun again. Once Sean Bergenheim gets back in the lineup and Scott Gordon finds a place where he fits, the team should be even more energetic and fun to watch.

The way the veterans have stepped up as well has made this season an interesting one. What this team decides to do at the trading deadline should provide plenty of things to talk about too.

That alone should be enough to get me through the season.

Goalie Controversy?- Only with this team, I swear. Who would have that thought that Danis could hold down the fort the way he has over the past five games. No one in the NHL, that’s who. Like I’ve said before, nothing against Joey MacDonald, but Danis has been the better goaltender and the Islanders defense has supported him much better than they have Joey Mac. Because of that, you’ve got to give Danis every opportunity to make the most of his chance.

What happens in the end of this all however, is completely up in the air.

“We both want to play and I think we’re both capable,” Danis told the Associated Press the other night. “You know, I’m not worried about it. I’m feeling really good. I’m feeling big out there. This is a huge opportunity that I’ve waited a long time for. I was hoping to get in a few games and show what I can do. I wasn’t expecting what’s happening right now.”

When you also consider the fact that his team is playing for their pride at this point and MacDonald has already had 36 starts to prove himself to the team and the rest of the league, it’s only fair that Danis gets a similar shot as well, right? I mean seriously, what’s the worst thing that could happen? The team is already in last place.

1- “It may sound a bit cliché because he’s African-American, but I really see a lot of Jarome Iginla in him,” he said. “He’s big, strong, has a great shot, can be a playmaker if he has to and isn’t afraid to get into anyone’s face. He plays with a lot of heart, works really hard out there and is a natural leader.”

2- “He has the whole package. He’s charismatic, intelligent and looks like an Adonis. When you think about how talented he is and that he’s a young African-American and this is hockey, it’s easy to see that the marketing campaigns and sponsorships can be tremendous. He could also really help the Islanders. They’ve been dying for a star for quite some time and it’s definitely a role he can fill if they give him an opportunity.”

When I heard that and saw some of the highlight goals, combined with what I gathered from nine games last season, I thought this kid was the light the team needed to get over the hump. I knew it wasn’t going to happen over night, but I still expected him to score 25 goals. I got a few e-mails from people all over the country that either thought I was crazy or that I was dead on point shortly thereafter, but in all honesty, I had no idea how close I would be to my prediction.

Over the years, I’ve predicted the Isles would make the playoffs and they did, so I may have gotten a bit drunk with luck since then. It certainly looked that way through his first 31 games, as he was far from the superstar Bernstein or even Islanders broadcasting legend Jiggs McDonald had him pegged to be. Deep down, I wondered if the Islanders had another Scott Scissons, Kristian Kudroc, Brett Lindros or the laundry list of other washout first round picks this team has had over the years.

However, over the past five games, it’s looking like Bernstein is a Nostradamus of sorts. Okposo is working hard in the corners and is making the most of every opportunity has with the puck. His shot, simply put, is the real deal. Seeing him take those one-timers with one knee on the ice probably makes older Islanders fans think of the players that made them smile over 20 years ago.

If he can continue the way he’s been playing as of late, those same people may again have something to smile about.

In the end, it just gets me thinking again.

Are we watching the beginning of what is to come with this kid or is this just simply a hot streak?

Damn, this didn’t start the way I wanted it to.

However, in spite of the Islanders playoff hopes having less life than a pack of batteries from the dollar store, this team still has a ton of time to do one thing much more important than reaching the postseason.

Winning back the faith of the fan base.

Let’s face it, the organization is going to win as many fans over with their “Can-do, Fondue” ticket promotion as Jason Alexander would if he became the new spokesperson for Bally Total Fitness. The only way this team gets a new place to play and the only way this team gets the support of their exhausted and broken-hearted fans back is by players the likes of Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Trent Hunter and Mark Streit, the players that are all in for the long haul and will be built around over the next few years, getting as many goals, assists, points and anything else that can give the confidence they need to become impact players and players that can help change the motif the rest of the league has towards this team.

“I’m not going, the rest of the year, to base everything on wins and losses,” Islanders head coach Scott Gordon told Newsday the other night. “To me, our measure of success is going to be the confidence and the improvement of players that are going to get more ice time.”

Seems to me that Gordon has done the math and finally has found a formula that can get this team a bit more respect.

Being a writer, it’s in my nature to hate math, but I have come up with a few equations that have the possibility of determining the rest of the Islanders’ season.

More ice-time for youngsters= extreme-super-fun-awesome goodness for fans, great for franchise, no fondue necessary.

More ice-time for youngsters= veterans know they have to hustle more if they want to stay on the ice.

Veterans knowing that they have to hustle more if they want to stay on the ice= a revitalized franchise.

The only sad part is that it took over a half season to find this out.

The truth of the matter however is that they probably would have never realized any of this if they weren’t as bad as they were during the first half. Losing as often as the Isles did early on, you find out very quickly who the winners are and who the losers are. Despite the fact that this team has the record it has, I haven’t seen many players just giving up on plays. The fact is, as I’ve stated early and often this season, this team, with all the injuries they’ve had, just haven’t been very good. It was never a matter of them quitting.

Healthier and more confident than they’ve been all season, the Isles may have a few tricks up their sleeves that may put some smiles on their fans faces.

They deserve it.

What did you think?

I personally loved the “New Kids on the Block” line of Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau. They definitely had the “right stuff” out there. Wow, did I just say that? Okay… moving on.

I was also a fan of the “Money for Nothing” line of Mike Comrie, Bill Guerin and Doug Weight line. Alright, so maybe that’s not exactly fair, considering that Comrie has been injured for a big portion of the season and Guerin will score 25 goals this season and Weight has been mucho excellente. But I’m on a roll here, play along.

At any rate, the combinations seemed to get the Islanders offense going the other night and while we know the playoffs are completely out of the question,unless this team wants to win 30 of their last 34 and get help from every other team in the league, these new combos will make the games a little more interesting.

“I think the whole second half here, we’re probably going to experiment with some things—obviously, with our younger players—to see if they can develop some chemistry over the second half of the season,” Gordon told the AP the other night. Whether what we go with remains the same down the stretch or we change from game to game will be decided by the success they have as lines. Given the younger players we have, if we can develop some chemistry over the second half of the season, maybe there’s something we can build on going into next year.”

Exactly, Flash. Put these kids in a situation to show what they have and earn their bumps and bruises. Let Bailey create and let Okposo shoot. Give Comeau an opportunity to get in front of the net and work in the corners. It’s exactly what the fans of this team want to see. Nothing against Guerin, Comrie and Weight, but the fans of this team know that while they are important to helping these kids develop, they won’t be around to see what this team hopefully will become. Young veterans like Chris Campoli, Bruno Gervais and Trent Hunter will.

So if these kind of combinations have to continue the rest of the season, I say keep ‘em coming. If Bailey continues to pass like Craig Janney and Okposo keeps firing those one timers, this offseason could become an interesting one and one that can continue the movement of building a consistent winner on Long Island. If not, it’ll just be plain old good for these youngsters, which isn’t a bad thing either.

While Sillinger’s impact this season wasn’t huge due to the fact that he’s only played in seven games, if he was indeed healthy, he could have given the team a very important bartering chip come trading deadline. Even though Sillinger has scored more points with the Islanders than any other team he’s played with over the course of his career, he could have gotten the team a decent draft pick or prospect. Now, after his second hip surgery in two seasons, who knows where he’ll be next season.

However, in spite of this, having the likes of Hunter, Weight, Campoli and Hilbert back in the lineup will provide the team with a huge boost.

If Hunter can get back to where he was earlier in the season, skating hard and taking high-percentage shots, a 20-goal season isn’t out of the question. Battling a lacerated hand and the shell shock of that hit he endured at MSG last month, Hunter had every reason to be off his game, but now it’s time to get back into the thick of things and make the Isles look smart for signing him to a five-year contract.

The same thing can be said for Campoli, who despite starting the season looking like to was finally ready to be the solid two-way defenseman the team is in desperate need of. With five points in his last 11 games before going down with a strained-groin on Jan. 19, Campoli was getting back to where he belonged, but with only 14 points in 40 games, he’s a long way off to getting back to his rookie numbers of nine goals and 25 assists.

Weight and Hilbert however are in very similar situations, but ones different from Hunter and Campoli, having their best seasons as pros for quite some time. Free agents at the end of the season, both of them could be on the market and could undoubtedly provide any team in the league with a more than solid number two center or depth forward capable of playing in all game situations. While Scott Gordon has stated that he is going with the youngsters more the rest of the season, I expect these two to get a ton of ice-time as the trade deadline approaches.

Bill Guerin- On pace for another quiet 20-goal season, teams the likes of the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers have shown an interest in the Islanders captain. The question however remains, do the Isles part ways with him? For a second or third round pick and a gritty player that should score 15-20 goals a season that’s under 30 that the Islanders could hold on to, I’d do it. But please Ranger fans, not the enigmatic, but washed up, Petr Prucha. Three years ago, definitely. But not now. Maybe someone in the mold of a David Clarkson. That would work for me.

Mike Comrie- Despite playing much better hockey over the past dozen games, after coming back from a hip injury, Comrie has made it excruciatingly obvious that he is no where near worth the incredulous sum the Isles are paying him. Sure, he’s got some nifty moves and who doesn’t like Hillary Duff, but to pay someone almost four million smackers who doesn’t score a point a game and doesn’t play sound defense is absolutely bonkers. For Comrie, I’d take the same thing I’d take for Guerin, but I’d even be willing to accept a pair of draft picks in the second-fourth rounds. Asking price may seem a bit high, but Comrie can be an extremely important addition to a team looking to make the playoffs. Just ask what Comrie did for the Senators a few seasons ago.

Doug Weight- A guy that I would hate to part ways with, however Weight could possibly net the Islanders with the biggest return of all their current players. Proving this season that he can still play at a high level, the only way Weight doesn’t get dealt in my mind is if he’s willing to resign with the team. Otherwise, the Isles will pull the same crap they pulled with Mark Parrish and trade a player that never wanted to leave the Island in the first place. If they indeed move him, I feel they can get a decent prospect and a second round pick. Teams like the Blackhawks, Sharks and the Penguins, who are always looking for more offense, could be a great place for Weight and could give him the final vacation he needs before hanging up the skates. Plus, with a rich prospect base, all three teams could satisfy the Isles hunger for youth.

Give Yann Danis a run- In professional wrestling, wrestlers are often given runs to see how the crowd reacts to them. If they are succesful in their run, they become household names or at least get enough name recognition to facilitate a long career in the sport. It’s funny saying this, but being a goaltender in the NHL isn’t much different. If the Isles show the rest of the league that they have some faith in Danis and he succeeds, he can cement his spot as a full-time NHL goaltender. The way he’s played over the past five games, I think he definitely deserves that opportunity.

The continued progress of Frans Nielsen and Josh Bailey- Neilsen and Baily project to be two important pieces on this team next season, so it would be nice for them to end their seasons with some panache, scoring, I don’t know, 20-25 points in the last 35 games. It’s asking for a lot, I know, but considering that they’ve probably watched a ton of tape and been spoken to in detail on what they have to do to get better, over the past week, there’s no time like the present for these two.

More one-timers from Kyle Okposo- This guy has such a good shot. If he can continue to take more of them from the circles, I can almost guarantee he’ll find himself around the 20-goal mark. Before the season began, I spoke with hockey writer Ross Bernstein, who followed KO in college and Isles announcer Jiggs McDonald, who thought he’d be a pleasant surprise this season. Because of those assessments, I predicted he’d score 25 goals this season. Before getting injured earlier in the season, he looked two pensive and was scared to shoot, making that prediction fall flat on it’s face. Scoring five goals over his past 13 games however, it’s safe to save his days of being scared to shoot are long over. If you didn’t know, now you do, that is great news for the Isles.

See Mark Streit Continue to Shine- If this guy can somehow find a way to top the 69 points he scored last season, I’d be pretty impressed, as would the rest of the league. That alone would give me a reason to watch every single game this team plays the rest of the season. The only question is, if he does nab over 70 points and gets his +/- to a more respectable number, will he be considered for the Norris? Maybe, maybe not, but it should be fun to watch.

“It’s made the challenges of coaching the first year in the NHL and it’s allowed me to deal with adversity,” Gordon told the Associated Press right before the All-Star break. “Every team that I’ve coached, at some point you have adversity, whether it’s the loss of players, losing your goaltender, having to manage people that, at times, are unmanageable. There’s all kinds of different things that, when that year is over, you look back on it and learn from it and it makes you a better coach.”

With the amount of injuries this team has had to deal with this season, you kind of have to give Gordon a free pass. If Doug Weight and Rick DiPietro were healthy and Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek in the lineup a bit more often, I really feel that former Isles coach Ted Nolan could have gotten this team to the playoffs or pretty damn close to it. Then seeing what a positive impact Gordon had on some of the youngsters like Chris Campoli and Frans Nielsen in addition to Weight, Guerin and Trent Hunter, I really think this team could have challenged for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, this dude is one crazy cat, but back when Joey MacDonald was one of the NHL’s players of the month, this team was scoring enough to get by and was playing decent defense. The rest of the league, simply put, was shocked. No one wanted to admit that the New York Islanders played their tails off every night and had a decent chance at coming out with two points regardless of who they were playing.

Despite the fact of the rumors that this team may be moved and where they are in the standings right now, I feel that Gordon can be the guy to help lead them to the land of respect once again. Is it going to be a quick process? No, but the fact that Gordon isn’t letting up and is ready to continue taking the beating he’s taken this season is a good sign to me.

He’s not giving up. And if he doesn’t maybe some of the youngsters will play the same way over the last 35 games of the season and put a smile on my face a few times before the season’s over.

Just maybe.

Photo by the AHL.

When I first became a journalist, I was told by another writer a few years my senior that by just being at games, you learn things that fans could kill to know and by just being at those games, you never know what stories you can get. It’s just a matter of dedicating yourself to giving up your fandom and showing up every night with your laptop, recorder and shirt and tie and just being there. You show up two and a half hours before the game and you stay until after the game is over. You basically earn the respect of the players and the organization, which basically puts you in a situation to do your job better than anyone else.

This season, I have done that on my AcesOverBrooklyn.com site, which is dedicated to my coverage of the EPHL’s Brooklyn Aces and last night I got a bit of a reward for that hard work. Dropping the ceremonial first puck at the game last night was Montreal Canadiens forward Chris Higgins, who I had the opportunity to talk to after the game. We talked about his season for most of the interview, but I did manage to sneak in question I’ve been waiting to ask someone in the Montreal organization all season:

“Your powerplay isn’t nearly as good as it was last season, what did Mark Streit mean to it’s success?”

While Guy Carbonneau has dodged the question with the New York and Montreal media all season, Higgins, a Smithtown-native, was honest about what Streit meant to the Habs.

“He was a big reason why our powerplay was number one,” said Higgins. “He’s got a great shot as many of you guys in New York now know. He’s a great guy off the ice and he deserves to be playing every minute that he’s been playing this season. I’m glad he’s been given a shot to be a number one defenseman.”

If I was Streit, a comment like this would mean more than an All-Star nod. It means that the Canadiens know now that they made a mistake letting him go. Like I said before, the organization won’t admit it, but the players he shared a locker room with know just how vital he was.

Let’s hope the Islanders don’t make the same mistake in the future.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

It’s obviously not Joe Thornton, but up until the time of his injury, Hilbert was playing the best hockey of his professional career. Playing for his old coach from the Boston system, now Isles coach Scott Gordon, where he had some of the best seasons of his AHL career at least, Hilbert has been revitalized this year and is still on pace for a 15 goal season. For a team having so many problems producing offensively, getting a guy that can chip in a bit will definitely be a shot in the arm.

It’s also huge for Hilbert, who will also be a free agent at the end of the season. A young veteran at 27-years old, this will be perhaps the most important offseason in his career. If he gets hot down the stretch, Hilbert can single-handedly increase his value on the free agent market and provide himself and his family with added security. If he does get hot and looks like his days of hitting goal posts in tough situations are over, the Isles may want to hold on to him, especially with youngsters like Jeff Tambellini looking far from everyday players. All in all, it’s just another role in the Soap Opera season this team has had this season.

If Isles fall, Whalers rise from Ashes?- With the Kansas City rumors already putting many Islander fans’ stomachs in knots, Bill Price writes in his internet column for the Daily News that according to a e-mail he received from a dedicated reader [not the most trustworthy source obviously] that contained a link to a story [more like a 200 word-run-around blurb for all you journalists out there] http://www.courant.com/news/local/hr/hc-towndigbrf0115.art0jan15,0,5369581.story, that the mayor of Hartford where speaking with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about getting another team. How Price, tied this to the Islanders is a bit too easy for me. Someone left a comment on the piece’s page saying that it must have been a slow news day. I tend to agree. Aside from the headline and mentioning that he’d be excited if the Isles moved to Hartford “as long as they are called the Whalers and play Brass Bonanza,” Price doesn’t reveal any new information about the Isles possible move, he just wastes 300 or so words venting his opinion, which lacks any amount of facts.

Reading the actual news article from which inspired Price to write his column only proves that this possibility is one that is extremely unlikely and one that only inspired Price to play connect the dots, rather than reporter.

Snore.

Imagine hearing that before a game. Great vote of confidence right? Make you want to play your heart out and drink from the Stanley Cup while listening to “We are the Champions,” right?

Not exactly.

That’s what poor Yann Danis has had to deal with over the past few days. Despite giving up only 10 goals over his last five games, Danis has been ripped apart by Islanders head coach Scott Gordon, who believes he can play better.

During the post game of the Isles last game, it appears obvious that Gordon is taking a tough-love approach with Danis, who is in an extremely similar situation to what Joey MacDonald and former Isles netminders Mike Dunham Wade Dubielewicz have faced over the past few years. While Dunham stunk in his opportunity to lead this team into the playoffs a few seasons ago, MacDonald and Dubielewicz have increased their market value exponentially by playing well on a team that has had more injuries over the past few years than the planet of Caprica after the Cylons attacked. [ I apologize for another Battlestar Galactica reference here. The show is unbelievable and I have become addicted. I'm waiting for the third season to come from Amazon and I'm in withdrawal.]

While his future with the Islanders next season is sketchy at best, this may be Danis golden opportunity to cash in a decent contract. He’s not 22 anymore and this next stretch of games can cement his spot in this league as a dependable understudy. The fact that Gordon was once in this situation, on a pair of Quebec Nordiques teams that were trying to find an identity, and didn’t play nearly as well as Danis is playing right now means something as well.

Like any good coach [and yes in spite of what many of you may think about the guy, he is a good coach], he doesn’t want Danis to make the same mistakes he did.

With the injury situation being what it is, I don’t think Gordon has much of a choice, but at the very least, he should start to instill some confidence in the kid. In spite of giving up a handful of shaky goals, it’s hard to argue with how he’s played. When you’re giving up only two goals a game and you only have one win, the problem usually lies elsewhere. As of right now, that is exactly the situation with this team.

And that’s the biggest reason why they should give Danis the ball and let him run with it.

It feels weird comparing franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro to a loyal dog, but with him done for the rest of the season, the chord has been officially been pulled. Now, the mutants, or NHL pundits can have their field day ripping the team every chance they get.

This isn’t going to be fun to read, watch or listen to for the next few months if you’re a fan of this team.

“After extensive consultation we feel this decision is in the best interest for Rick and the team,” Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a statement Tuesday. “This will allow Rick ample time to make a full recovery for next year.”

Next year. I heard that last year from this organization right? Well, lets be fair here. In both situations, the Islanders were forced to deal with an uncanny amount of injuries. Any team in the NHL that has had as many injuries as the Islanders this season would have problems drawing crowds and winning games. However, for all of that to happen to a team already in a bad situation like the Islanders just makes things that the more frustrating for the organization, it’s fans and it’s players.

“This has been one of the most frustrating situations I have ever had to deal with, but this is the right decision for me and the team,” DiPietro said in a statement. “I am confident this will allow me to make a complete recovery, be ready in plenty of time for next season and compete to my highest ability for many years to come.”

I surely hope so because if this deal makes the Islanders look silly, it may be only of the last long-term deals they end up signing… on Long Island. With four surgeries in the past seven months, the jury is out on how dependable DP can be in the future.

You can’t help but feel bad for the kid, especially considering what he’s done for the team over the few seasons. Sure, some would say that the Islanders never put any real faith in him when they signed Joey MacDonald to a two-year contract, with the second being of the one-way variety, but I believe the fans of this team never gave up on him.

When word passed that he had been brought aboard, it gave Islanders fans a reason to smile.

Those moments alone have been few are far between this season.

This time it was the Columbus Blue Jackets that were taking a crap in the Isles’ cereal. Playing far more than the role of spoiler this season, the BJ’s did what they had to do to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs and for that you can’t blame them, but for what they did to the Islanders fans in general, don’t expect many cheers the next time they play at the coliseum.

Guerin’s quote the other night- “It’s disheartening to see where we are right now,” Guerin told New York Post. “What could have been, who knows? But you never come to grips with losing, I don’t care what the situation is. Never. It’s miserable. But I feel like we’ve held up our end of the bargain. We’ve produced on our end, and it’s disappointing to be where we’re at. I think we’ve both done our parts.”

Sounds pretty miserable if you ask me.

I like the fact that he hasn’t gotten used to losing, but as far as keeping up his part of the bargain- I’m not too sure of that one. Sure, he’s on pace for a 26-goal season, three more than he was this season, but take into consideration that he only has three goals in his last 18 games, in which the the team has gone 3-15 in and it’s easy to see that Guerin’s play hasn’t helped the Islanders fortunes.

Is he to blame? Absolutely not. Only an idiot could blame one player for the crap storm this team has had to deal with this season, but as captain Guerin has got to step it up and get these youngsters going.

Aside from getting some quality time with my Pops, a rarity nowadays in my extremely hectic life, but we got a chance to talk about the team before I watched the game for myself.

Much like the game against the Rangers, the Islanders youngsters worked hard, but they couldn’t produce. They had a ton of chances, but Tim Thomas on extremely solid. Yann Danis played well and the defense was solid, but the offense isn’t producing. Again, they made it interesting as Bill Guerin got a shot to deflect off a skate in front of the net, but it wasn’t enough.

Aside from working hard every night, I don’t know what else this team can do.

With that being said, it’s kind of weird that they picked up Wade Dubielewicz again, especially considering that Danis has been solid. Nevertheless, it should be a ton of fun to see “Yoda” back in net.

The last time I was on “Hockey Night on Long Island” I told the guys there that I love writing about this team every day because something interesting is always going on.

It looks like that trend is going to continue the rest of the season.

Isles Moving?- “I’m excited, I think it’s great,” said Paul McGannon, president of NHL21, a local organization trying to help bring an NHL team to Kansas City. “New York has three teams. If they don’t want to build a new rink in Long Island, we’ll take their team. The New York Islanders have won four Stanley Cups (1980-1984). If we got the Islanders … the last time I felt that good is when the Royals
beat the Yankees in 1980 to go to the World Series.”

“Sooner or later, Kansas City is going to be tired of being the bridesmaid,” McGannon said. “We have a building, we’re ready to go, we have a hockey community ready to go … we’ll glady welcome their
team. “I think it’s a big deal, that we’re having two teams on the coast meet in Kansas City for a game, and we better sell it out. I love the regional appeal of the Blues and the Blackhawks, but we better send a message and sell the game out.”

As someone that’s spent time in Kansas City before, I can tell you that despite the fact that they have a building, this is not a hockey town. I’ve walked around Kansas City at night and it’s like walking around in Borough Park after 10 p.m.; it’s a ghost town. They have loyal baseball fans, but these guys are not hockey fans. The nightlife scene in Kansas City is similar to the feel Prospect Park or Park Slope or even the Greenwich Village Villiage. While that may be solid for their population, I really don’t think hockey can survive there.

So because of those feelings, I have a few words for McGannon:

Keep looking buddy, you’re not taking this team.

This should be a wake up call to the miscreants in Long Island politics to get their act together and get the Islanders a new building. The team has been mismanaged for too long and they have an owner that’s willing to invest and build. Cut out the nonsense.

Get the Lighthouse going.

Last night against the Rangers, every Islanders youngster got a hearty helping of minutes and despite the fact that they lost, the effort was there. The difference was of course was Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who was uber solid after a first period where he looked to be having problems with his rebound control and overall confidence.

So with that being said, it’s obvious that as of right now, these kids lack the polish needed to win hockey games. Most of them are still growing into their bodies or getting accustomed to the NHL game. So what can we expect the rest of the season.

A lot of losses, that’s for sure, but a lot of entertainment as well.

While veterans the likes of Mark Streit, Bill Guerin, Trent Hunter and Richard Park are obviously going to continue to get minutes in key situations, don’t be shocked to see guys like Sean Bergenheim and Josh Bailey get much more time on the powerplay. Also, with his speed and desire on the ice, Kyle Okposo would make one hell of a penalty killer, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him tried out there as well.

The way Islanders head coach Scott Gordon is talking right now, it feels like all these wild experiments will begin to take shape over the next few games.

“We used the first half of the year to allow our older players to run with it. Now we’re at the point, whether it’s our next game or a couple games after that, (where) there’s certainly going to be a bigger responsibility on our younger guys,” Gordon told the Associated Press a few days ago. “Not necessarily lineup changes, but bigger responsibilities. It’s something that I’m going to be cognizant of to make sure that (all our young guys are) moving in the direction to have a bigger impact and to have it carry over into next year.”

Exactly.

Trying all of these guys in different roles now will make next season a bit more predictable for them and help the organization truly assess where they truly belong to be. Some of these guys are going to be expected to be big parts of the team next season and if they don’t start to show some promise now, they may not be around to find out.

Grade C+

Blake Comeau- After coming into camp in terrible shape and being forced to earn his stripes again in Bridgeport, Comeau has been solid over the past half dozen games. Extremely solid in his first handful of games, Comeau’s play was sporadic before he turned it up again. Much like Bergenheim, his spunk and potential are one thing, but his lack of consistency and in Comeau’s case, conditioning, may keep him from being the 20-goal scorer he should be.

Grade- C-

Josh Bailey- Great passer. However, in spite of his playmaking ability, he still has a lot to learn in the defensive end. He also has to take advantage of his shot more and gain confidence. With Okposo, Bailey will be asked to lead this team offensively as soon as next season. He has to earn those bumps and bruises now.

Grade- C

Kyle Okposo- Much like Comeau, Okposo has been a different player over the past half dozen games. However, over the first 20 odd games he played, there was a tentativeness and unwillingness in his game that scared a lot of NHL scouts and fans. However, since being paired with Mike Comrie, KO has begun to show the organization that he has to tools to be a more than solid NHL player. Is he a superstar? The jury is still out on that one.

Grade C+

Jeff Tambellini- A disaster. Everyone expected him to score 15-20 goals this season and prove that he belongs in this league. That hasn’t happened, even though he has begun to shoot the puck with more confidence. As of right now, this season has been a failure for him, but much like Bergenheim last season, a few solid games can turn things very quickly.

Grade- F

Nate Thompson- A true grinder, Thompson is the kind of guy that is great to fill out the bottom of a depth chart. However, it would be great if he could score a bit more. Block shots are hits are things that don’t show in box scores and for Thompson to truly have a spot on this team, he’s got to hit the net a bit more. Otherwise, he’ll be on the path of a mid-season call up the rest of his career, rather than true NHLer.

Grade- D+

Frans Nielsen- Much like Bailey, I think Nielsen is a great passer. However, with his skill in the faceoff circle and defensive ability, I think “The Great Dane” has he ability to be a more than solid third line center. It’s just a matter of him staying healthy and getting playing time.

Grade B-

Grade- D

Radek Martinek- When healthy, Martinek is one of the best shutdown defensemen in all of hockey. Playing in only 11 games this season however, Martinek hasn’t been able to do much of anything.

Grade- D

Freddy Meyer- He was the team’s best defenseman through their first five or six games, but between getting injured and some rough spots along the way, he’s never been able to get back to where he belongs. With his spot and passing ability, Meyer can and should be a 30-point D-man every season. Combined with his physical play and skating ability, he should be able to play against the top forwards in this league every night. The only way that happens however, is if he finds the same consistency he had earlier in the season.

Grade- B

Thomas Pock- From watching him play this season, you’d never know that he once scored over 60 points in the AHL one season and was once considered one of the Rangers’ top young D-men. Simply put, Pock was the victim of the Rangers spending money on defensemen that could sell tickets and this season has been the beneficiary of the plethora of injuries that have ravaged the defense core. However, his play in both ends has remained mediocre throughout.

Grade- F

Chris Campoli- Offensively gifted, Campoli has the shot and instincts with the puck that should produce a 40-point a season defenseman. However, between injuries and the amount of shuffling going on within the D-men on the team, he’s on pace for only 24. His physical play has been taken down a notch as well, making him neither the good offensive d-man his was in his rookie season or the tough cookie he was in his sophomore season. Simply put, Campoli has to start producing more.

Grade- C+

Bruno Gervais- In the team’s last two games against Edmonton and Calgary, I really liked what I saw from Gervais, who was using his skating ability and was pinching offensively while not hurting himself in the defensive end. However through the other 27 games he’s played in this season, he hasn’t done it nearly enough, making him another Islanders youngster who still has some growing up to do in all facets of the game. I’d also like to see him shoot the puck some more over the second half of the season.

Grade- D+

Mark Streit- Offensively and defensively, this guy has been solid and has proved he’s much more than a gimmick. He’s a real defenseman in this league and is a damn good one. In my mind, the Islanders best offensive defenseman since Jeff Norton.

Grade- A

Andy Sutton- Before his injury, Sutton was the Islanders best shutdown D-man. If you don’t believe me , his +3 rating pretty much proves it. Add in 10 assists and some good physical play and it’s easy to see how much this team is missing him.

Grade- A-

Bert Skinner- Despite playing in 11 games and being a +2, the Islanders coaching staff never let the leash off on Skinner and it’s tough because of that to assess him. Nevertheless, he has good size and with some more polish can be a decent number six defenseman in this league.

Grade- C+

Aside from Doug Weight [who if healthy, may have edged out Streit and appeared in the game himself] Streit has been the only consistent offensive threat this team has. Among defensemen, he’s in the top ten in every offensive category and even leads the league with 32 points.

If this guy was on any other team, he’d have the league and it’s fans drooling. In Montreal last season, he had the rest of the league in awe on the powerplay, but overall, he was looked at as a niche player. However, to put up the points he did while playing mainly on special teams was an extremely impressive feat.

Nonetheless, despite the fact that he could have led a handful of NHL teams in scoring last season, the Islanders, a team considered by many not to have the ability to sign big name free agents, nabbed him in the offseason and signed him to a long-term contract.

Ever since then, it’s been a match made in heaven.

Not only has his offense been stellar, his defense has been more than solid and he’s only gotten better as the season has gone on.

The Canadiens organization, who after leading the league in powerplay efficiency over the past two seasons are now ranked towards the bottom of the league. They may not want to admit, hell, they may never admit it, but they miss the guy’s talents with the man advantage.

Luckily for the Islanders, they saw something special in the kid and gave him an opportunity.

However, rather than catch any praise for picking him up, Islander general manager Garth Snow, much like Streit himself, has received no positive mention from the press. While it’s fair to say that both have a lot to do with how poorly the team is playing this season, the fact of the matter is that despite the fact that there is something definitely wrong with this team, the problem has never been Streit or Snow’s willingness to spend millions of dollars on him over the next half decade.

If things continue the way they have been over the next few seasons, it’s fair to say that Streit will never be the reason why this team can’t play at least .500 hockey or bring in quality players.

Did you just hear that? I thought I just heard the entire Montreal Canadiens organization slap itself in the face. I don’t know, maybe I’m hearing things.

Let’s not even mention the fact that he’s playing more than adequate defense despite barely playing the position at even strength last season. He’s also been a physical presence. Is he Trent Hunter on the boards or Mitch Fritz in the fighting department? Absolutely not, I doubt he’s even received a fighting major in his career, but he is able to get pucks out of the neutral zone and can clear the net, in addition to landing a hit when he has to.

That alone should make him a top candidate for the Norris trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

However, with the Islanders tanking this season, Streit’s play has gone totally unnoticed. In my opinion, not only should he be in the starting lineup for this season’s All-Star game, he should be a candidate for the Norris trophy if he keeps this play up the rest of the reason. There is no reason why he should be punished because the team he plays on can’t win hockey games. If he was playing on any other team in this league, he’d be getting articles written about him every day and would be a labeled one of the league’s newest stars.

What a shame.

The same thing happened to Adrian Aucoin a few years ago, when he was averaging close to 30 minutes a game and was easily the best two-way defenseman in the league.

Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.

As far as I’m concerned, the only way Streit gets the award is if he can make himself the only plus player on the team and get a point a game by season’s end. If he’s at 80 points and is a +2 or +3, you’d have to be crazy not to give him that award.

But then again, this is coming from a league that has allowed only four teams to be represented in the starting lineup of the All-Star game. Asking for them to do the right thing at this point seems impossible.