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Islanders year in review


yave1964

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PRESEASON OUTLOOK brooklyn | SPORTS LIST OF THE DAY :Strong finish the year before and the playoffs gave promise in their first season in Brooklyn that the Islanders would be not just playoff contenders but might actually win a playoff series for the first time in forever.

 

FINAL RECORD: 45-27-10 100 points. Lost in second round to the Lightning

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR: The Isles came in fifth in the Metropolitan and actually had a better record than every single team in the other Eastern Conference Division won by the Lightning with 97 points. Brock Nelson had 26 goals on the year, 18 at home and a measly 8 away.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR: When John th?id=OIP.Mf221166792653a00ca93929d9f58f Tavares tied game six against the Panthers with less than a minute to go and then won it in Overtime in propelled the Islanders to the second round for the first time since 1993. Brooklyn was in a tizzy.

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR: When Jaroslav th?id=OIP.M901f37a0733d392a734018c6f4948 Halak went down on March 6th, with apologies to Thomas Greiss who performed admirably, in essence the season was over. They played with house money from that point on, Greiss had zero chance of leading them to the promised land and obviously didnt. Halak going down broke the season for the Isles.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT: The move to Brooklyn was wonderful for them, making it to the second round signified change. Kyle th?id=OIP.M1d4657d590b7de56e560b0f385d1f Okposo (22-42-64) had a very nice bounce back season. John Tavares (33-37-70) led the team in goals and points and is the heart and soul of a young club. Brock Nelson is a true power forward scored 26 goals. Frans Neilson (20-32-52) continues to be the most underrated player in Hockey. Halak and Greiss formed a deadly one two punch in net. Nick Leddy was forced to step up with injuries to the back end and was brilliant at times. The Islanders had the best 4th line in Hockey in Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas who can all score a bit and hit everything that moves any way any time any place. Love these guys.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG: Halak getting injured at the exact wrong time. Travis Hamonic missed time, asked for a trade and was ordinary. Johnny Boychuk and Marek Zidlicky showed signs of age and both slipped badly. Ryan Strome reported to camp like he had the team made looked awful early and was sent to the minors for a reality check. He never got going. Josh Bailey apparently is destined to score 30 points a year even on the top line. A complete bust. Anders Lee slipped back with only 15 goals.

 

MVP: Gotta go with Tavares in an easy call. Like I mentioned he is the Islanders heart and soul and indispensable.

 

FREE AGENTS: lots of tough decisions.

Matt Martin who always leads the league in hits and can score a bit may move on to a team that moves him into a middle six role.

Kyle Okposo has been Robin to Tavares' Batman, he may move on.

Frans Neilson quietly is as good of a 2C as anyone could ask, he may look for a payday that the Islanders cannot match

Zidlicky is an old veteran defenseman who is slipping and Strait is a young veteran defenseman who cannot play. Neither will be missed.

 

TOP PROSPECTS: Here is the problem, they have a couple of guys, namely Barzal and Del Colle who could be serious players in this league but should spend a year at the AHL before getting a shot, but with Okposo and Neilson possibly gone the two of them may have to suffer growing pains at the NHL level next year. I love them both but do not think they are quite ready.Ryan Pullock will certainly receive top 4 minutes on the defense and will be okay and may become their number one point guy on the PP. His offensive upside on the back end is huge. Scott Mayfield will get the 7th d-man role vacated by Strait. Lots of guys will be on the recall route among them Quine, Ho Sang and Pelech. At this point and time none are really much to speak of.

 

QUESTION MARKS: Do you overspend to retain Okposo and Neilson and even Martin or go with untested kids such as Barzal and Del Colle? Halak is getting up there, do you make a move for a younger goalie? Can Strome and Anders Lee find another gear or is that all they have?

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  • 3 months later...
On 5/19/2016 at 9:36 AM, yave1964 said:

Lots of guys will be on the recall route among them Quine, Ho Sang and Pelech. At this point and time none are really much to speak of.

 

With Okposo gone I can see Ho Sang making the club, Garth Snow has to be pleased with Ho Sang's approach to the game.    Yeah, he was mentally unprepared for camp last year and showed up late, but the tough discipline of being sent immediately to junior looks as if it really changed Ho Sang whole approach to playing hockey for the NHL level.

Here's a great read in an interview by Luke Fox - Sportsnet

 

And yeah... I put this out there.  Josh Ho Sang will be in the running for next year's Calder.

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  • 5 weeks later...
On 8/28/2016 at 8:53 AM, hf101 said:

 

With Okposo gone I can see Ho Sang making the club, Garth Snow has to be pleased with Ho Sang's approach to the game.    Yeah, he was mentally unprepared for camp last year and showed up late, but the tough discipline of being sent immediately to junior looks as if it really changed Ho Sang whole approach to playing hockey for the NHL level.

Here's a great read in an interview by Luke Fox - Sportsnet

 

And yeah... I put this out there.  Josh Ho Sang will be in the running for next year's Calder.

 

 

image.jpeg

 

http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/9/27/13071768/islanders-win-jimmy-vesey-sweepstakes-msg-tweet-oops

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