The game was scattered with missed opportunities for both teams.  The Pens played well and looked sharp, but for the longest time could not find the net to save their lives.  The Netminders were very impressive, Yann Danis stopped 27 shots for the Islanders and Marc-Andre Fleury had 21 saves in his shutout performance.  It was Petr Sykora who snapped the scoreless tie with 2:28 remaining in the third period, lifting the Penguins to the 1-0 triumph over the Islanders.

The goal may have been Pittsburgh’s biggest score of the season because it keeps them right in the hunt. A loss or overtime loss to the Islanders would have been a crushing defeat.  To a team struggeling to find its identity this late in the season. 

The Penguins did climb a little higher in the standings with the win but there is no time to stop and rest. Now the Penguins will embark on an 11-day road trip through Chicago, Dallas, Tampay Bay, Florida and Washington. This will be a critical week in the Penguins season and the playoffs are on the line.

A Roadtrip like this is what will make or break the Pens this season.  Even though only 5 points seperate them from the 5th place Monreal Canadiens, they seem far removed from the Easten Conference Champions of last year.

Games:

10/27/08- Islanders 2, New York Rangers 4

10/30/08- Islanders 3, Philadelphia Flyers 4

11/01/08- Islanders 4, Montreal Canadiens 5

New and Notes:

- The Islanders suffered one of the worst meltdowns in franchise history against the Canadiens, allowing Montreal to score four goals in the third period in a comeback victory.

- Starting goalie Rick Dipietro underwent knee surgery to repair a meniscus tear and will be lost for an undetermined period of time.  In his stead, Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis will attempt to hold down the fort.

- C Frans Nielsen has shown signs of improvement as of late.  He has four points in ten games this season.

- D Mark Streit continue to be one of the few bright spots on the Island.  He has recorded points in each of the last five games.

- Hulking LW Mitch Fritz had an impressive scrap against one of the league’s most feared enforcers, Georges Laraque, Saturday night.  He may see more ice time as the Islanders attempt to infuse more toughness in their lineup. 

This Week’s Games:

11/3/08- vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

11/4/08- vs. New York Rangers

11/6/08- vs. Atlanta Thrashers

11/8/08 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Games:

10/23/08- Islanders 3, Dallas Stars 5

10/25/08- Islanders 3, Carolina Hurricanes 4

News and Notes:

- The Islanders set a club record for shots on goal in a game (60) against Carolina. 

- Starting goalie Rick Dipietro apparently injured himself again during the Carolina game.  His inability to stay healthy is proving a huge source of frustration to both him and fans of the team.  He’s scheduled to visit a doctor on Monday for his undisclosed injury and will miss the game against the rival New York Rangers at least.  Joey MacDonald, seeing more work than either he or anybody else ever thought he would, will get the start and be backed up by minor league goaltender Yann Danis.

- D Mark Streit has been red hot as of late.  He recorded four points in games this week.

- C Doug Weight has brought more than just scoring ability with him.  He absolutely crushed Carolina’s Brandon Sutter with a clean open ice check, knocking him out of the game on Saturday night.

- D Brendan Witt left the Dallas game with a leg injury.  His return date is uncertain and he leaves a gaping hole in the Islanders’ defensive corps.  The team hopes Andy Sutton will be able to return shortly from his preseason hand surgery to bolster the toughness factor on the blue line.

Next Week’s Games:

10/27/08- vs. New York Rangers

10/30/08- vs. Philadelphia Flyers

11/1/08- vs. Montreal Canadiens

I can’t see the NHL doing something like this, at least not anytime soon. Talks of expansion are big around the league right now, not just in this context. There are talks of teams heading to Europe and teams moving, but nothing about two teams in Toronto has really been publicized until recently. The anonymous governor was not just suggesting that a team would be moved to Toronto but would be created in Toronto. Jim Balsillie had put a bid on the Pittsburgh Penguins two years ago. There were talks that he was going to try to move them to Hamilton. Something like this will be done before a new team is created in an existing hockey market, even one as big as Toronto.

There is a hockey market that already has two teams-New York. The New York Rangers and The New York Islanders are almost opposite teams though. The Rangers have been making the playoffs consistently since they came into the NHL as one of the original six. The Islanders joined the league almost fifty years later and are still looked at as the lesser of the two teams. Over the last ten years their record hasn’t been consistent and they are still trying to figure out their identity. There are already enough basement franchises, including the team already in Toronto, the Maple Leafs, that I just can’t see them adding another team to this city.

Calgary Flames co-owner Harley Hotchkiss told the Globe and Mail, “Our priority is having the current franchises solid (TSN.ca).” I think fans would like to see more equality among the skill of the teams as well, which they will see with so many young, uprising players in the league right now.

This could be good news for Leafs fans though if this were to happen because maybe they would have a team they are proud to cheer for. A question was recently asked to Health Canada.

Q. The Stanley Cup was recently in my town, and I kissed it. Do I have to worry about being infected by listeria?

A. You are safe. The Stanley Cup has not been in contact with any Maple Leaf products in over 40 years.

Games:

10/10/08- Islanders, 1, New Jersey Devils 2

10/11/08- Islanders 5, St. Louis Blues 2

10/13/08- Islanders 1, Buffalo Sabres 7

10/16/08- Islanders 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3

10/18/08- Islanders 0, Florida Panthers 2

New and Notes:

- The big story thus far has been the inactivity of franchise goalie Rick Dipietro. He finally received his first start of the year against Florida on Saturday night and let in a goal early on. However, he settled down afterwards and played reasonably well, keeping the Islanders in the game.

- G Joey MacDonald, the back up goaltender who was expected to play very little this season, has been holding down the fort for Dipietro. He was a surprising 2-2 over the four games he played and looked good in every contest except against Buffalo. Islander fans should breathe a little easier knowing that their second string netminder is not actually half bad.

- D Bruno Gervais leads all defensemen in scoring with three assists. He appears to be playing with more confidence, something New York desperately needs him to do.

- LW Trent Hunter has surprised many observers, notching four goals in the first five games. Hunter is expected to be an important part of the Islanders’ future and fans hope the fact that he seems to have rediscovered his scoring touch will continue.

- C Doug Weight has delivered upon the promise that he would improve the power play. He has three power play points already.

Next Week’s Games:

10/23/08- vs. Dallas Stars

10/25/08- vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Forwards:

Josh Bailey, Sean Bergenheim, Blake Comeau, Mike Comrie, Bill Guerin, Andy Hilbert, Trent Hunter, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo, Richard Park, Jon Sim, Jeff Tambellini, Doug Weight

The New York Islanders open up the season with an intriguing blend of veteran players and youthful exuberance. How all these pieces blend together (and whether or not any one of them can achieve 25 goals) is anyone’s guess right now.

Doug Weight was brought in to take over the #1 center spot. It will be interesting to see how much gas he has left in the tank at this point in his career. His presence could provide captain Bill Guerin with one last burst of glory as the two are fast friends and have shown chemistry on the ice when they’ve played together in the past. Mike Comrie slides back into his natural second line center position and, by relieving the unreasonable expectations placed upon him last year, the Islanders hope he can become the scoring pivot they envisioned when they signed him in free agency. Jon Sim, Andy Hilbert, Trent Hunter and Richard Park round out the veteran contingent. They are all role players and are expected to chip in with a goal here and there.

The potential for success this year is going to rest solely on the young shoulders of the Islanders’ prospects. Their continued development is going to be the key, specifically RW Kyle Okposo. This budding first round pick has the potential to be a major goal scorer in this league someday, but, for now, New York fans would be satisfied seeing him play a full season with the big club and learning to use his immense gifts. Jeff Tambellini, a scoring demon in the AHL, must find a way to translate that success to the NHL or he will likely be gone next year. Frans Nielsen, Blake Comeau and Sean Bergenheim will attempt to build on their experiences from last season. Finally, it appears that Josh Bailey will see some time with the Islanders. Though it will serve him well to become familiar with the speed of the NHL game, his development will be much better served by returning to his junior club.

New coach Scott Gordon has been preaching utilizing his team’s speed in order to create turnovers in their opponent’s ends. If that plan is to be implemented, the younger legs will obviously be a huge part of it.

Defense:

Brendan Witt, Andy Sutton, Radek Martinek, Mark Streit, Chris Campoli, Bruno Gervais, Fred Meyer IV, Jack Hillen

Since the Islanders lack dynamic scoring from their forwards, their defense is going to have to play a huge role in determining the team’s success. While there are some up and coming players that may make a difference, this unit may have problems throughout the season.

First off, the injury bug has already hit them…hard. Both Andy Sutton and Chris Campoli will miss extended periods of time. This is especially distressing because Sutton is supposed to provide the physical presence behind the blue line and Campoli was expected to be a force in righting the power play.

Secondly, this defense is slow…not a good thing in today’s NHL. Brendan Witt is a hard-nosed banger who is often matched up with the opponent’s top line, but he’s getting on in years and will soon be on the downside of his career. Radek Martinek is another defensive specialist who draws that particular assignment, but his injury history portends that he won’t play the full year.

The one are that may have been improved upon is the offensive production from this unit. By acquiring Mark Streit in Free Agency, the Islanders gave themselves a legitimate power play quarterback who will play smarter than the man he succeeded, Marc-Andre Bergeron. The team is also looking for Bruno Gervais to finally take the next step in his career.

Fred Meyer IV and Jack Hillen are two players who probably won’t draw regular playing time but are good for the overall depth of the squad. Meyer IV, in particular, hits much larger than his size and could make an impact if pressed into duty.

While there are a few defensemen in the minor league system who could make brief appearances this year in relief duty, there’s no blue chip prospect for the future. This is an area you can expect the Islanders to address in next June’s draft (though they may make a minor move or two during the season as well.)

What we’re looking for

This is a tentative list of posts and schedule we’re aiming for:

• Season Preview (Oct 1)
• All-Star Break (Midway season review and second-half preview) (Jan 25)
• Trade Deadline
  • Preview (TBD)
  • Review (TBD)
• Playoffs Preview (for every round your team plays)
  • Before 1st round (TBD)
  • Before 2nd round (TBD)
  • Before 3rd round (TBD)
  • Before the Stanley Cup (TBD)
• Playoffs Review (for every round your team plays)
  • After 1st round (TBD)
  • After 2nd round (TBD)
  • After 3rd round (TBD)
  • After the Stanley Cup (TBD)
• Season Wrap-up (TBD)
• The Entry Draft
  • Preview (TBD)
  • Review (TBD)
• Free Agency
  • Preview (TBD)
  • Review (TBD)

What we offer in return

In exchange for their efforts, RumorMeThis will offer all Guest Bloggers the following:

• blogger profile/bio, and a link back to your blog (article and archive pages)
• links to the last three posts on YOUR OWN blog (article and archive pages)
• one 180×150 and one 300×250 ad (article page)
• free registration to the RumorMeThis Hockey Links Directory

Who’s in already?

Thanks to all the following bloggers who have already committed to covering their respective teams for this season:

• Carolina Hurricanes – Jennifer Hammer (hammerrules.blogspot.com)
• Chicago Blackhawks – John Ruhnow (thenhlarena.com)
• Dallas Stars – Cat Court (untypicalgirls.wordpress.com)
• Detroit Red Wings – Stephanie Yates (npi-hockey.blogspot.com)
• Los Angeles Kings – Marie Stiles (purplecrushedvelvet.blogspot.com)
• Minnesota Wild – Jeremy Waschek (wildviewfromsection216.blogspot.com)
• Montreal Canadiens – Ken Beckett (thepowerplay.net)
• Nashville Predators – Buddy and Jackson Oakes (predsontheglass.blogspot.com)
• New Jersey Devils – Chris Wassel (hockeyprogram.blogspot.com)
• New York Islanders – Frank Mazzola (pigskinsandpucks.blogspot.com)
• New York Rangers – Dan Rakusan (sportsfiend.ca)
• Phoenix Coyotes – Tracy Tanner (truecoyotelove.blogspot.com)
• Tampa Bay Lightning – Jessica Lewis (femmesandfisticuffs.com)
• Toronto Maple Leafs – Jared Matchett (diehardblueandwhite.blogspot.com)
• Vancouver Canucks – Mike Pinzuti (yankeecanuck.com)

Want to join?

Interested in participating? Have comments or questions? Contact us.

Goaltender:

Rick Dipietro, Joey MacDonald

It’s not hyperbole to state that, as Dipietro goes, so do the Islanders. Management believed in him enough to sign him to a lifetime contract.

When he’s playing well, there are few better goaltenders in the NHL. However, the problem with Dipietro is that he is such a competitor, he often tries to do too much in terms of clearing the zone by utilizing his magnificent puck handling skills. He leaves the net far too often and puts himself in a position where he’ll need to make some spectacular save when, had he just stayed put, such heroics may not have been needed.

As mentioned before, sometimes the Islanders look as though they may have a potential Hall of Famer in their nets. However, the fact that the 27 year old goalie has already undergone two hip surgeries is not an encouraging sign. It is rumored that his insistence upon playing even while injured was a major cause of the rift between the coach and GM and eventually cost Ted Nolan his job. New coach Scott Gordon must tame Dipietro’s wild ways and get him to concentrate on the basics. If he can do that, the Islanders should be competitive far more often than they have been.

Joey MacDonald inherited the backup job after Wade Dubielewicz decided his career would be better served playing in Russia. Islanders fans don’t have much confidence in MacDonald to play a healthy amount of games…and with good reason. He sported a losing record for the team’s minor league affiliate last season and hardly seems ready to take the next step in his development. Should Dipietro be lost for any significant period of time (for a third straight season), MacDonald is clearly not ready to assume the mantle.

Expect the team to search out a viable replacement via trade or waivers before January.

Overview:

The Islanders will open the season with a brand new coach (Scott Gordon, former star AHL coach) who will hopefully bring a brand new winning attitude with him as well.

The 2007-08 Islanders were not expected to make much noise. They suffered a large defection in free agency (Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Viktor Kozlov and Tom Poti all left the Island) and were counted out right from the start by the media. However, for much of the season, those same naysayers had to admit that the team had overachieved. Former coach Ted Nolan may not have had a lot of talent to work with, but he utilized what he was in the cupboard and kept the team competitive. However, a spate of injuries and a rift between Nolan and GM Garth Snow conspired This series of articles will preview the New York Islanders for the upcoming season. I’ll cover the general overview of the team, the goaltenders position, the defense and the forwards.to sink the team’s chances in the latter part of the year. Nolan parted ways with the team over the summer. The writing had been on the wall concerning the coach for quite some time: He was clearly uncomfortable with the direction the club was going in terms of a youth movement and his dissatisfaction was apparent in his post game interviews.

The roster has seen some turnover: Doug Weight will now center the top line and defenseman Mark Streit will attempt to revive the moribund power-play. RW Kyle Okposo should play with the big club this year and will be expected to take a big step in his growth process. Jeff Tambellini, the AHL scoring phenom, will be given his final opportunity to stick in the majors. Gone are enigmatic wingers Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko, as well as popular backup netminder Wade Dubielewicz.

The key to this season is whether or not Scott Gordon will be able to aid the youngsters in the lineup (Okposo, Tambellini, Blake Comeau and Franz Nielsen, among others) in their evolution as NHL players. New York realizes that they are not going to be a desirable free agent destination, so the only way they will improve is through the draft and the development of young prospects.

Next: The Goaltender Position

One such potential super-star that is making newspaper articles and water-cooler office talk around the country is mega-prospect John Tavares. Unless you’ve never watched a hockey newscast, you would have to be living in a cave for the last two years, not to hear this 17 year-old sensation’s name. Tavares first started grabbing headlines in the summer of 2005 when he was the first player ever to be granted “exceptional player” status by the OHL, which allowed him to be drafted at the age of 14; months before his 15^th birthday. Already being dubbed by TSN experts as the next ‘Next One’ behind wunderkind Sidney Crosby, this exceptional player has amassed quite a resume thus far.

In three seasons, playing for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, he has collected 157 goals and 329 points in only 191 games, and he started when he was 15! Perhaps one of his greatest and most notable achievements to add to his list of accolades is his record breaking 72 goal sophomore season as a 16 year-old which surpassed Wayne Gretzky in that department. He is certainly shaping up to be a super-star NHL player, although perhaps not in the same mold as Gretzky, Lemieux and Crosby, as one of his most glaring flaws is his skating. Although he had an amazing 06-07 campaign as a 16 year-old, last year in the 07-08 season his numbers dipped tremendously, for a player of his caliber.

Obviously, Tavares would prefer to go #1 in the draft this upcoming season, as last year he missed the cut by 5 days, he was then considered a boy amongst men. His spot will be contingent on how well he performs in his last season as an Oshawa General.

It’s hard to imagine this phenomenon of a player has any competition for the number 1 spot in this year’s draft, but alas, he does. Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman is making headway to the top of the 09 draft.

Often mentioned in the same breath as fellow country man and six-time Norris trophy winner Niklas Lidstrom, Hedman has quickly drawn favorable comparisons to the Anaheim Ducks’ Chris Pronger. Certainly, there will be doubters, especially with the recent trend of over hyped prospects emerging out of Europe. Including but not limited to: classic late-bloomer Fabian Brunnstrom, who has yet to step foot on NHL ice, but is already drawing comparisons to Henrik Zetterberg and Daniel Alfredsson, which mind you is very possible, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Lest we forget glorified Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman Anton Stralman, who by many accounts from over-zealous Maple Leaf followers is considered to be the next Bobby Orr.

However, while these players receive warranted attention, this particular 6’6, 220lbs defenseman is considered the complete player. He skates like the wind and plays a risky, bordering on dirty game, and completes that with sublime offensive skills. Last year at the age of 17, he was playing full-time for MoDo in Sweden’s Elite League (SEL). A paucity in a league deemed to be not that far removed from the caliber of the NHL. This upcoming season, he will be expected to be a staple on the parent squad. He has franchise defenseman written all over him and has proved time and time again, whether it be in the SEL or a circuit in the World Juniors, that he can play with the best of them.

Of course, there are a select few others that may take the ranks of the #1 spot this fall. 2006 1^st overall selection of the Spokane Chiefs; Jared Cowen is turning heads in the WHL, and is widely considered to be a lock in the top 5. Another standout comes from the WHL, his name is Brayden Schenn. Sibling to Toronto Maple Leaf’s first round selection Luke Schenn. Unlike his brother, he plays forward. In his inaugural season, he amassed 28 goals and 43 assists, for 71 points in 66 games. By all accounts, he is expected to improve on those numbers with aplomb. Rounding out the top 5 is Swedish prospect; Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi. A name I still have trouble trying to pronounce, this slick Swede is being mentioned in the same breath as Ilya Kovalchuck. While these players have an amazing amount of skill, scouts across the globe believe that the number 1 pick belongs to one of John Tavares or Victor Hedman. This upcoming season will be the mitigating factor in which we see these potential franchise players end up.

Personally, I believe that these two players have an inordinate amount of talent. They are both masters at their craft and equally skilled in their own regard. That is why I imagine that when D-day arrives, it will be a choice of position rather than skill. For years, the philosophy amongst NHL GM’s is that they will always take the best player available. While that statement still rings true, I believe that these two franchise players are equal in talent and will ultimately be up to the specific teams needs.

For the purpose of simplicity, let’s analyze only the projected bottom five teams of this years’ NHL season. The Atlanta Thrashers, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings & St. Louis Blues all have a legitimate shot and receiving the 1^st overall pick this June.

With Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract coming to a completion at the conclusion of the 09-10 season, the Atlanta Thrashers will be desperate for offence.

Furthermore, with the inclusion of recently drafted Zach Bogosian, they already have a potential franchise defenseman. Could the addition of John Tavares entice Kovalchuck to stay? Next is the New York Islanders. Seemingly devoid of any top-line talent at forward or defense, they could go either way. A duo of John Tavares and Kyle Okposo could be very intriguing. However, they are severely lacking in defensive prospects as well. The Toronto Maple Leafs recent drafting of Luke Schenn pretty much eliminates them from choosing Hedman, as they are desperate for a scoring forward.

What better way to replace long-time captain Mats Sundin with home-grown native John Tavares, something that will certainly please Leaf nation. The Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues are two teams that are stock-piled with defensive prospects. While the former has Drew Doughty, Thomas Hickey and Jack Johnson, the latter has Eric Johnson, Alex Pietrangelo and Steve Wagner. These two teams would almost certainly jump at the opportunity to bolster their lineup with some much needed offense.

At first glance, it almost seems that the glaring need for these five bottom-feeding teams is offense, in which John Tavares certainly fits the bill. But, in what may become one of the biggest debates throughout the NHL’s 08-09 season, it really comes down to choice. Who would you pick?

Now some of you may say; the last four years have been horrendous for Leaf fans.   They have had to endure a half-decade long playoff drought; so, the Leafs must make the playoffs.  Others would say; rebuilding a team is a process, this method takes time.  This recent trend of black and white thinking has become an eternal struggle, it is an argument I have had with many followers of the Maple Leafs.  Though I do not have a dogmatic, narrow-minded view of the current Maple Leaf situation, I am inclined to agree with the latter.  Simply because while the Maple Leafs do have a myriad of future assets including but not limited to; Jiri Tlusty, Nikolai Kulemin, Justin Pogge and the newly-acquired Mikhail Grabovski, to name a few. None of these potential stars really stands out to attain the status of super-star.  Now that they have finally obtained one of these superstars in Luke Schenn, it is time to acquire someone equally as high in status and talent to launch the Maple Leafs into triumph.

Take a second to look around the league, while the most extreme example being the Pittsburgh Penguins (Crosby, Malkin, Fleury) there are many others around the league who have had high draft picks over the last few years and will surely be successful in the near future.  Perhaps the most talked about turn-around in hockey, the Chicago Blackhawks, have a dynamic duo in Jonathan Toews (3^rd overall in 06) and Patrick Kane (1^st overall in 08) to go along with their abundance of other career NHLers such as Cam Barker, Dave Bolland and Jack Skille.  The Los Angeles Kings who have been quietly stock-piling future talent for years, made there biggest splash this year with 2^nd overall pick Drew Doughty to accompany future stalwart Jack Johnson (3^rd overall in 05).  Another standout of course is Wayne Gretzky’s new and improved Phoenix Coyotes who acquired Danish prospect Mikkel Boedker (8^th overall in 08) to complement Kyle Turris (3^rd overall in 07) and Peter Mueller (8^th overall in 06). FYI: I firmly believe these aforementioned teams will be a top the NHL standings in no later than two years.

These are just mere examples of what the Leafs are now facing. But one thing is abundantly obvious; most dominant teams are built on at least two or three standout prospects.   It has been 41 years since the great city of Toronto has seen the Leafs hoist the Stanley Cup.  Is it really too much to ask to endure one more season of failure?  Personally, I do not wish for a top 10 pick, I believe it’s imperative to obtain a top 3 pick.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have the choice between mega-prospects John Tavares, Victor Hedman and Luke Schenn’s brother; Brayden, among others. The Maple Leafs have been mired in mediocrity for so many years, it has certainly become an exercise in futility.  Many Leaf followers wish for the return of Mats Sundin and for some strange reason, Maple Leaf brass is seemingly leaving the door open for his return.  The team Cliff Fletcher has fielded for the 08-09 season has hockey pundits everywhere saying that not only is this team not good enough to make the playoffs, they will be lucky to escape with the 13^th spot in the Eastern Conference.  It is almost set in stone that the Leafs are a shoe-in for another playoff mishap for the fifth consecutive year. With presumably the only bottom-feeders below them being the Garth Snow inflicted; New York Islanders and the one-pony show; Atlanta Thrashers.  So if Sundin loyalties get their wish, it is my belief that it may only move them up a mere one, maybe two spots in the standings.  Is that really what we want?  You really have to ask yourselves Leaf-fans, do you want another Nik Antropov in the 09 draft, or someone who can vault this team to Stanley Cup success? So I implore you Leaf fans, as a life-long fan myself, we must lose, really lose, to win.

GM Garth Snow conducted an extensive search for a head coach following Ted Nolan’s departure in July. He interviewed several former NHL coaches, some of whom have won Stanley cups (John Tortorella and Bob Hartley).

In the end, though, Snow decided that Gordon was the man to reverse the Isles’ fortunes. Gordon earned AHL Coach of the Year honors last season and compiled a 221-141-20-27 record with Providence.

I feel that Snow made the correct move. Gordon has extensive experience grooming young players, a facet that made him attractive as the Islanders roster will certainly feature plenty of inexperience in the next few years. He stresses a strong defensive and positional hockey philosophy which should keep the team involved in many close games. A key factor is that Gordon is a former goaltender and should be in a position to enhance All Star netminder Rick Dipietro’s strengths and work with him on his weaknesses.

I like the fact that the job was given to a man who will be motivated to prove he can coach at the NHL level. Gordon brings an energy to the position that should be infectious and my guess is that the Islanders will ice a hardworking team every night.

The noted philosopher Lao Tze once said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” The team has a long way to go before they will be considered to be serious contenders. However, with hiring of Gordon, they make have taken that all important first step.

Kirill Petrov-RW-6′3, 218 lbs.-Shoots Left- 3rd round pick (73rd Overall)

Positives: Power forward type who can dominate a game…powerful skater who is tough to knock off the puck…possesses a wealth of talent in the goal scoring and creativity departments

Negatives: His motivation level is suspect…doesn’t always utilize his talents to their greatest potential…may never see the NHL due to his Russian playing commitments

Analysis: Petrov was rated a top ten talent at one point, but fears about him staying permanently overseas scared off many potential suitors. If (admittedly, a huge if) the Islanders can woo him over to America when his contract expires in two years, he may be the steal of the draft. However, the Russian Hockey Federation will be much more vigilant about letting their brightest stars slip away in the future, so the odds of seeing him in an Islander uniform seem slim at this point.

My grade for this pick: B-

Aaron Ness-D-5′9, 157 lbs.-Shoots Left- 2nd round pick (40th Overall)

Positives: Is an extremely fast and agile skater…possesses great passing ability and can quarterback the power-play…has great hockey sense and vision and clogs up passing and shooting lanes instinctively

Negatives: Small stature will keep him from reaching his potential unless he grows significantly…he will also need to get much stronger physically to play defense in the NHL…needs to work on his defensive skills more as he is primarily an offensive weapon right now.

Analysis: The Islanders fell in love with Ness’ puck moving abilities and hope he will someday be a factor in overcoming their power-play woes. He’s still quite young and should fill out his frame a little bit more. However, he’ll have to work extremely hard to overcome his size issues and become New York’s answer to smaller, swifter players in the new NHL.

My Grade for this pick: B-

Frank Mazzola: You were drafted 8th overall in 1994. Obviously, being selected that high comes with high expectations. Did you feel any adverse pressure to perform because of this and, if so, how did the pressure affect your approach to the game?

Jason Wiemer: There was definitely pressure, but I think, being that young, I didn’t even realize the magnitude of it. Looking back now, the ignorance was probably a blessing.

(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Los Angeles Kings ties up Jason Wiemer #28 of the Minnesota Wild in front of the net in the first period during the NHL game on January 26, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

FM: You’ve played with 6 different teams (Tampa Bay, Calgary, Florida, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey) during your career. Where was your favorite place to play and why (location, fans, the area…etc.)?

JW: Of course, playing in Florida was nice. However, my favorite place was Minnesota. They have a great organization, some of the best coaches and fantastic fans.

FM: Tell us about the most memorable goal you scored in the NHL.

JW: It would have to be my first one. I would like to tell you it was end to end, top shelf, but I’d be lying. It was against Quebec and I think it went off my shin pad. But it was my first N.H.L goal and it was pretty exciting.

FM: Were there any particular players you dreaded suiting up against (due to their skill, fighting ability…etc)?

JW: I don’t know if I dreaded playing anyone, but there were a few I didn’t look forward to. Tony Twist was a guy that made you look over your shoulder. I was lucky enough to play against some of the game’s greats like Lemieux, Gretzky and Messier. Playing guys like that was always a thrill and something I’ll never forget

FM: Who was your least favorite goalie to face and why?

JW: I’d have to say Hasek. He was in his prime and was pretty much unbeatable. Not to mention, he would be out in the corner playing pucks or at the blue line, flopping around like a fish.

FM: Hockey players are notorious for having pre-game and season-long rituals. Can you share with us any particular superstitions or routines you might have employed during your career?

JW: Actually, I was one of the rare ones that tried not to get wrapped up in superstitions. Maybe that’s because I never got on a long enough hot streak to keep doing the same thing (laughs).

FM: How did the game change from the time you were drafted up until the end of your career? What sorts of adjustments did you have to make to adapt?

JW: The game has changed in many ways in the last fifteen years. I think the biggest difference has been the size of the players. When I was drafted, teams were all about big guys. Now, they are leaning towards the smaller, faster players. The most important thing for me was to get faster. I dropped six or seven pounds to try and accomplish that.

FM: Now that you are retired, do you have any plans to seek employment within the league (coaching, player agent, league official… etc.)?

JW: I don’t have any plans to get back involved with the NHL, but I am doing some coaching here in Calgary [ Note: Jason is instructing this summer at National Sports Development, a youth hockey camp.]. It’s been fun to stay involved in the game and pass on any knowledge I may have learned to young players.

FM: Has the labor dispute which caused the cancellation of the 2004-05 season affected the relationship between the owners and the players? How did you spend your time during the lockout?

JW: I don’t know if has affected the relationship that much. As you can see, the players are still making big salaries, some even bigger than before. So, I think the players are happy with the new CBA. As for the lockout, I spent most of the time doing things I wasn’t able to do when I was playing…. a lot of hunting, fishing, hiking and skiing. It’s a good thing I could play hockey because…well, I’m a really bad skier (laughs).

FM: In your opinion, can the salary cap continue to rise in the NHL despite falling revenue and flagging interest in the American market? Are the salaries that recent free agents have received out of line with the current economic state of the league?

JW: I don’t know if it can or not. Its funny, though: Before the lockout, all the owners were crying bankruptcy and now they’re paying out more than they were. The amount and length of some of the contracts is concerning, but wiser men than me are running these organizations. So, hopefully, the league will continue to thrive in Canadian markets and grow in some of the American ones

FM: Jason, thanks very much for your time. Good luck with the hockey camp and your other future endeavors.

JW: Thank you.

Ted Nolan and the New York Islanders officially parted company today in a move that has been brewing for months. GM Garth Snow announced that he will immediately begin searching for a replacement and has several candidates in mind.

I feel this was the right move for the organization to make. Clearly, the honeymoon was over and the Islanders weren’t lying when they stated the move was prompted by “philosophical differences”. Those differences couldn’t be more apparent: Nolan did not believe in the current youth movement and the Isles need a coach who will support one.

People can argue all day long about why quality free agents don’t come to Long Island. The fact is that they don’t and, for many valid reasons, I don’t see that changing anytime soon. New York also does not have the assets to improve itself through trades without sacrificing valuable draft picks. Therefore, the only way to right this ship is by drafting and developing quality prospects. There’s no doubt that there are going to be growing pains associated with this route. However, in the end, the organization will be better off.

Speculation is rampant over who might be hired as the next coach. There are several high profile contenders: John Tortarella, Paul Maurice, Bob Hartley and Dave Lewis are only some of the names being bandied about among fans. Rest assured, whoever takes the job must first and foremost be ready to develop young kids into NHL players and shouldn’t expect as much as a sniff of the Stanley Cup for quite a while.

Now Ryder was expected to leave, especially with the venu of Alex Tanguay, but a lot of people in Montreal were hoping Streit was still going to be a Habs next season? Personally, I wouldn’t have payed such a price for Streit since he didn’t really score all his points playing defence, he scored them playing forward and on the power play. People thought Montreal was going to lose their powerplay skills when they lost Sheldon Souray to free agency, but Streit was able to take over. Now I truly believe it is not going to take long before someone else takes Streit’s place and believe, we will forget his name faster than we forgot Souray’s.

Now Danis had already mentioned it to press: he does not intend on having a future with the Canadiens. Good enough. But it is going to be pretty hard for him to build a future when you are behind a guy like Rick DiPietro!

Mats Sundin is not sure yet of where and if he wants to play next season? Good, we respect your decision, we’ll allow you a week, maybe two. What? You need a month? Hell no. Sundin has been acting very disrespecful to all the teams that are showing interest for him. If he feels he is not interested now, don’t make them wait after you so that you can say no later and watch them end up with nothing. That is not professional at all and coming from a classy guy like Sundin really dissapoints me. What he is doing to the Montreal Canadiens could en up hurting them real bad, after all the interest they have shown in him he still doesn’t have the guts to say yes or no and always come up with the same miserable excuse he uses over and over again, the ones that says he’s not sure if he’s coming bac to the NHL for next season. Montreal might have had a chance to sign other very good players on the first of july, but ww are never going to know what they could have gotten their hands on if Sundin was not in the picture or if Sundin would have said no from the start. The latest rumors about Sundin is that the Habs are still all over him and appearently they have just offered him a 2 years/15millions$ contract for next season.

Will he say yes, will he say no? Is it even true or is Bob Gainey simply working on something so big it has to be kept underground? I am definitly dying to find out all of the answers, but I guess like Mr. Sundin said, it could very well take up to next month to know them.

Josh Bailey-C- 6′1, 188lbs.- Shoots Left- 1st round pick (9th Overall)

Positives- A strong, two-way player…has excellent on-ice vision and is a gifted playmaker…is regarded as being a high character player

Negatives- Is believed to have a limited offensive upside for such a high pick…tends to pass instead of shoot when the opportunity presents itself…needs to add more physicality to his game

Analysis: If you believe Garth Snow, Bailey was the player the Islanders wanted all along. He is regarded as one of the safest picks to reach the NHL from this class. However, opinions differ greatly on how effective he’ll be once he gets there. In any case, he does address an organizational need (center) and should certainly find himself with an opportunity to play significant minutes for the Islanders in the future.

My Grade for this pick: B

To be honest with you I consider Ryan Malone a good forward, while he may not enter in the elite category of the NHL he can still raise some eyebrows.

But don’t you think 7 million dollars a season is just too much for a guy that has not yet produced over 70 points?

In my opinion I believe Tampa bay will either sink or swim during the next season.

Either way it should be fun for everyone to see Steven Stamkos play along with Vinny Lecavalier, Ryan Malone, Dan Boyle and Martin St. Louis.