P.S. (PURE SPECULATION)
The lineup for the season opener
Based on a day around the team in Florida and observation of combinations and performances the last two weeks, here’s how we think the Islanders will line up when the season opens Friday in New Jersey:
Forwards
Jon Sim - Doug Weight - Bill Guerin
Sean Bergenheim - Mike Comrie - Kyle Okposo
Jeff Tambellini - Frans Nielsen - Trent Hunter
Blake Comeau - Richard Park - Andy Hilbert
Heavyweight-on-call: Mitch Fritz
First big forward recalled: Tim Jackman
Defense
Brendan Witt - Radek Martinek
Jack Hillen - Mark Streit
Freddy Meyer - Bruno Gervais/Thomas Pock
Injured: Chris Campoli, Andy Sutton
First D recalls: Brett Skinner, Chris Lee
Goaltenders
Rick DiPietro
Joey MacDonald
Your reaction? In the Comments section, please.
26 Responses to “P.S. (PURE SPECULATION)
The lineup for the season opener”
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Pock is terrible, without Fritz/Jackman, we’re probably the softest team in the league. Id rather dress one of them as a 13th foward, then keep them on the bench in case Rupp/Clarkson act up. Obviously, seeing the Devils in pre-season, they’ve played really physical, which worries me with the unsized, young talent we have.
Undersized*
Overall, I’d def agree with your prediction, Chris.
THANK GOD! WE’VE GOT A HEAVYWEIGHT!! I HOPE FRITZ CAN FIGHT!!!!!! BRING SOME PEOPLE TO THE BARN!!!! THAT 4TH LINE LOOKS TERRIBLE. LONG YEAR AHEAD
The line ups looking ok, Witt & Martinek I’m liking that, I like puttiing Tamby with Hunter, but for me it’s still to early to pass much judgment on how well any of these lines will do, but over all it looks good. Even though we got spanked lastnight, it happens.
So it looks like Bailey is being sent down, huh? I wouldn’t mind seeing him get some time with the Isles, but not as a 4th liner. As it stands, we are going to sink or swim with the youngies.
D is awful with Campoli and Sutton out. 3 of our D is Pock, Meyer and Hillen not good. There is not 1 forward that scares anyone into not running the young guys. Maybe we get a waiver pick up in the next few days to get some size. Small and not very talented hope everyone is ready for another long tough year.
Comeau on the 4th line? I thought he would be on a top line. What happened?
Realistically, we will be fighting for a top 2 draft pick this season…I will be looking at how the Tambellinis, Comeau’s, Bergenheim’s, and Gervais progress… not how the team will fare in the standings. As fans we are in for a rough ride, but we if get a top 2 pick, Hedman or Tavares, the future will be very bright indeed.
You are probably right. Until they start getting physically abused and, hopefully, Gordon realizes that Hilberts 6 goals can be replaced by Fritz’s 4. Hilbert is an extra with no real benefit that another person on the roster couldn’t provide. Fritz brings what no one else has. to me, it’s a no brainer. While maybe he wears a suit really well, Fritz is no help unless he can go on to the ice and do his thing.
We all figured those would be the line-ups, for the most part. Streit and Hillen as a pairing scares me a little, as both are very offensive minded and neither is a crease-clearing defenseman. As for Comeau, I am very dissappointed with his placement on fourth line. I’d almost rather see Comeau on the top line with Guerin and Weight, that way he can put some pucks in the back of the net and gain confidence. Our fourth line is very defensive minded, which is not a bad thing, it is just unfortunate that Park is going to have to try to score with Hilbert as his winger. Lastly, our third line will be interesting. It is usually our best two-way line, however, it is now considered a ’scoring’ line, which should make it interesting to watch.
Comeau should not be on the fourth line. I haven’t seen him this year yet, but he was one of, if not the best islander forward in the last 20 games of the season last year. He deserves and needs more ice time to continue his development.
I just want to reiterate that these are my guesses for the lineup. The Islanders haven’t announced anything and I doubt Gordon will unveil lines until the Friday am skate at the earliest. As for Comeau, if he’s playing with Park, that’s not a 5-minute line. He’ll get his 15…CB
Lets hope there is no official “4th line”, and we roll 4 lines with confidence. Comeau would be a waste there. It would be nice if each line could get roughly 15 min.
Gonna be a long season folks!
Agree with thos above me on Comeau. If he’s not getting real minutes it would be an insult. What a way to reward your (arguably) best player from last year.
And Chris, congratulations…in a couple weeks you’ve exceeded the number of posts I’ve done on my blog in over 15 months. Prolific indeed, keep up the good work.
really? jackman before smith?
The reason we got run over last night wasn’t because the “D” was awful. It was because “DP” was awful. I think last night was an aberration however, considering it was his first night in the net in many months. I hope he gets better in a hurry.
I think that had Lee not been injured last night his play in the pre-season warranted a longer look. He led the d in +/- and was the only one to score. Last night was the first time they lost with him in the line-up. And, look at what happened once he got hurt….
Hillen would benefit from starting in the AHL, playing 25+ minutes in all situations. IMO
TAMBELLINI On that third line over Comeau ? What has Tambellini done to keep getting these chances ? Get him out of here NOW !!!!
Trevor Smith has earned a spot over this bum this preseason- but since Tambellini is Snows little Pet he will get a roster spot over a few guys that deserve it. WAKE UP ISLANDERS !!!!!!!
No matter what the lineup it looks like the Isles will be rolling 4 lines unless there are PP and PK issues. You can also see Comeau and Bergy switching off based on who is on PK & PP. If Fritz is in the lineup like last night it does not have the same feel, they will not be rolling the lines, last night he got less than 6 minutes. For Friday night with the team and the way NJ looks to be playing very physical I can see Fritz or Jackman in the lineup in lieu of Hilbert. Or one of them will be in the lineup shortly as I can not see Gordon putting up with Hilbert’s notorious slow start.
One more time: those lines were my guesses at 3 o’clock in the morning and they are not meant to be labeled as line 1, 2, 3 and 4. Would not get in a tizzy over Comeau, not yet. Posting soon on lines at practice today. Thanks everybody for the comments…CB
Bergie baby!!
On Tambs…there is still TIME for him to show what he can do. Don’t judge until Christmas- if he has less than 5-10 goals by then, he’s probably a bust. That said, by that time he has already been replaced by Comeau- who is deserving as many have mentioned. But this being a rebuilding year, we shouldn’t be worried about Comeau, its getting guys like tambs going that we should be worried about- hopefully he comes through with increased responsibility and opportunity. As an Isles fan, you should want Tambs to do well- think positive! There’s still time…
hi cb -do you think the isles take a stab at mark bell ?
one year left at 2.1 cap hit.
he could provide the toughness we sorrily lack up front while potting some goals /assists on the 4th line
I realize isles are loaded at wing atm , but figured this is a nice way to add tougness
Cut the dead Weight (no pun intended) but get rid of the Andy Hilberts of the world…. also Tambellini is NOT A NHL PLAYER - He is a AHL All star that is it !!!!
Tambellini reminds me of the GREAT former Hobey award winner Jason Krog billed by the Islander Propaganda team as the next great Islander prospect. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Lets try a different direction, how about icing a Tougher team? Maybe one not so BORING!!!