NIELSEN & NATE A GO GO
Plus: The battle of the kid and vet power play units
Like Benjamin Button, the Islanders are getting younger.
By the sound of Scott Gordon’s voice, the time is now. But tomorrow isn’t your typical start of a 5-game homestand before the All-Star Break. Tomorrow, the New York Rangers come to the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike.
If the score is 2-2 entering the third, will the emphasis on youth continue for the final 20, 25 minutes? All eyes will be on the coach for that decision. Personally, I’m hoping he sticks to his (young) guns.
When the Islanders broke into power play practice today at Iceworks, observers couldn’t help but grin at the diverse units:
Streit - Bailey - Okposo - Nielsen - Hunter
and
Campoli - Gervais - Park - Comrie - Guerin
One insider told me (at risk of beheading) that the pointmen may be interchangeable, but the forwards should stick. Good stuff, all around - the kind of fun, smart tinkering the head coach should be doing at this stage. Will there be bonus prizes for the unit that does best? Like maybe Guerin and Park get steaks at Rothmann’s? Or underagers Josh and KO get the run of Dave & Buster’s for an hour?
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Gordon on his second half philosophy: “The biggest thing is to make sure our younger players are developing and getting better every day.”
The coach paid the proper respect to the veterans - who, you can be certain, are not thrilled, but that’s life in the big leagues. Gordon added of his kids: “Now that we’re in the situation we’re in, they’re going to get more of a chance to run with the ball.”
It begins this week with the Rangers, Boston and New Jersey. Welcome to the true beginning of your NHL careers: Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, Frans Nielsen and Nate Thompson.
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In his post-practice media scrum today, Gordon declared Nielsen and Thompson as ready to go on Tuesday. Thank you, Scott.
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For the 35 or so minutes that tomorrow’s Islanders-Rangers game is played 5-on-5, here are your potential combinations:
Comeau - Comrie - Okposo
Park - Bailey - Guerin
Tambellini - Nielsen - Hunter
(Sim) Bergenheim - Thompson - Jackman
Streit - Gervais
Witt - Martinek
Campoli - Pock
Joey MacDonald was the only professional goaltender at practice today. Yann Danis - make sure the truck has anti-freeze.
Maybe it’s because he’s been in the headlines in Canada seemingly for two decades. Maybe it’s because he debuted with the Edmonton Oilers at age 20 - when Doug Weight and Bill Guerin were in their 20s, Janne Niinimaa still had game and Tommy Salo played 74 of 82. Maybe it’s because you can find thousands of pics of him on Google Images. But can you believe Mike Comrie is just 28 years old?
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Kate Doesn’t Know Kyle: Following up on the Lighthouse discussion in the next thread, if anyone thinks the Town of Hempstead dragging its feet on the Lighthouse Project has anything to do with the team winning two games since Dec. 1 and falling to 30th place, you’re not paying attention.
Kate Murray doesn’t even know the name of the commissioner of the NHL. Do you think she knows who Kyle Okposo is? This project has been discussed for most of the decade, back to the days when the Islanders made the Stanley Cup Playoffs 4 times in the early-mid 2000s.
Would it be beneficial if the Islanders had been to the Cup Final last year and had the Sharks’ record this season? Of course it couldn’t hurt. But please, don’t let this season’s flop cause you to think that’s why the pols are not motivated to push the project along.
And on the flip side, don’t think for a second that the possible drafting of John Tavares will be the impetus for Kate Murray to act. This is not Pittsburgh winning Sidney Crosby in the lottery and then their arena deal getting approved. Murray does not have the Central Scouting Bureau rankings Favorited.
The development will hopefully be approved at some point, but it’s not the hockey - good or bad - that will make the difference.
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No way - Tavares is No. 1?!: The NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau has released its midseason rankings for the 2009 draft: Here are the top-5 North American prospects:
1. John Tavares
2. Matt Duchene
3. Evander Kane
4. Jordan Schroeder
5. Brayden Schenn
Victor Hedman is the top-ranked European, followed by Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (expected to go in the top eight) and Jacob Josefson, who is pegged in the 10-15 range.
So in other words, nothing has changed at the top. It’s still Tavares/Hedman at 1-2 and Duchene at 3. For the Islanders, the Tavheduch Watch continues.
Comments. (Guidelines).
42 Responses to “NIELSEN & NATE A GO GO
Plus: The battle of the kid and vet power play units”
Please Wait
This is definitely a step in the right direction. I’m ok with this season being a bust if our young guys get the experience they need to make some sort of impact next season.
On a side note, although this season has been really difficult to watch as far as our league standings go, I haven’t seen a game (even in the month of December) that wasn’t entertaining until the end.
Keep up the great work CB. I visit this site about 10-15 times a day looking for updates. no joke. I’ve got a fever, and islanderspointblank.com has been my cowbell.
Go Isles !
Last place or no last place, they’ve gotta smack the Rags DOWN. I’m sicking of that whistling “Potvin Sucks!” crap and the homerism and the whole general attitude hanging around their sorry franchise that they ought to win every year. Rags fans always sound like they’re the Yankees on ice when the team’s track record is much more like the Jets’. We’ve gotta beat those clowns.
I am jonesing for some Isles hockey.
If you are an Isles fan go out to the Coliseum tomorrow and root your team on. I will be there losing my voice and hope isle fans aren’t outnumbered, it really sucked last game. Glad the are playing the young guys. Thanks for the great blog CB, and like above post, games have been fun to watch even with most ending in defeat.
There is no chance the Isles fans arent outnumbered tomorrow night.
Great news! I am excited to see Nielsen and Thompson back. Lets start dumping the vets!!! Heres to 8 2nd rounders LOL
Why is Nate Thompson an NHLer over Smith, or even Colliton?
I have been putting up with the stuff from Ranger fans a lot longer than most of you so my advice is just so smlie sweetly and mumble things like J P and Kenny (as in Morrow) and how many cups have you won in 60 years? usually gets the foaming at the mouth -you get the idea and I am sure you can think of a few more. I get usually get a rise out of “after buying a cup in ‘94 what exactly have you achieved?”
Thank you for the post CB. I’ve been waiting all day. Good show on 1050 radio as well.
I feel a big losing streak coming on. This home stand is brutal and could see them going winless which is just what the Tavheduch doctor ordered.
I will be there tomorrow - and its a game we can “afford” to win.
GO ISLES !
Pat
CB,
Do you have a recent scouting report on Duchene? I recall reading that he was the fastest skater of the bunch–a real burner. Probably will fit real well in the system. Wondering if the Isles have him ranked ahead of Hedman.
CB- How does hedman compare to the likes of Bogosian, schenn, pietrangelo and doughty.
on potential that is not style of play.
Post #3 lol. CB- By stating that comrie is only 28. Are you suggesting that the isles may keep him around? or that perhaps we should keep him around? And those lines make me really excited…
Seems to me that you have to get Hedman if the opportunity is there, but the scouting reports could tell a different story.
Also, can I say Glory Freaking Hallelujah that Gordon gets it and is willing to give the young guys more time as the playoffs become a pipe dream? This is what we need, a coach who’s committed to, if nothing else, figuring out what kind of talent we have in the system and need as the years progress.
JP - I’m not going there, from your post on the Lighthouse thread. We’ve been having the same conversation back and forth for a long time, and neither of us will see the other’s point of view.
Cody - from what i read from scouts, Hedman would go after Doughty and Bogosian and before Pietrangelo
Cam, post 7 is a great point. I think we all know the answer to that question. I also believe you are absolutely right with not having Smith here. He looked absolutely better than Thompson! Why is Jon Sim on a line with Josh Bailey? Why is Sim on the PP? Some other questions I would love to ask of Gordon.
good going coach. there’s no reason not to give the kids a ton of time ice at this point. looking forward to seeing what they do with it.
Chris-You’re dreaming if you think anyone believes that Wang has any interest beyond the development of the real estate. Fortunately his shortsighted behavior will be his undoing as contrary to what you think, no elected official cares about the Islanders because virtually no voter cares anymore about the Islanders due to Wang’s neglect.
I’ll believe it when I see it! I hope he does, that will be the first thing he’s done that I like. Hey, what happened to Smith’s “conditioning” stint at the Bridge? I knew that was a load of crap.
great to see franzy back -hope theres no long term effects to his leg down the road related to the initial injury
re post 17 -doubt Kovalchuk agrees to an extension to be traded to the isles .The guy is tired of losing and will likely balk at joining yet another rebuild on the island even if the contract offer is ridiculously sweet.
I predict good things from the tamby-frans-hunter line. Maybe Hunts will get some gusto back
I’ll be there tommorow night hopefully Isles fans show up strong, the boys are due for a win and the Rangers are the perfect match! Lets go Islanders!
Here’s a thought:
Let’s say the Isles finish with the worst record, but lose the lottery. They then draft number 2.
Now, like it or not, a big stay-at-home defenseman, no matter how good he may be, is not the person you put on your marketing material. And we need that star power.
But Duchene might be that kind of guy. So let’s say the number 3 team really lusts after Hedman. Do we trade the number 2 pick for the number 3 pick, and something else? The something else, of course, would need to be fairly significant. I really don’t know how high a draft pick it would be, or how good another player.
Just a thought.
I would only do it if they legitimately thought Duchene was the better player. I’ve always been one to advocate drafting the best player rather than drafting to fill a need. Besides, “trade down” is a third rail among the fan base lately. I have a sneaking suspicion that Garth could cure cancer and some people would say he first tried to cure AIDS and traded down.
CB - Who will be in the lineup to smackdown Moteau when the Isles play Jersey?
this is getting good. now if we trade the vets it could get better, then tavares and its great then komiserek then the building then hall!!!!!!!! k im done. thompson and jackman will at least provide some muscle. voros and dubinsky better watch out. jackman is actually fighting well this year. i predict a 4-3 win. boo-yah
I have to agree with the poster who questioned why Thompson is playing ahead of Collotton or Smith.
Also, as acting President of the Mitch Fritz fan club I’d like to point out a legit enforecer (heavy weight) is needed for the next 5 games.
So happy to see Neilsen back. I really like Park but would prefer to see Bergy on the Bailey line.
I think the Islanders will go 0-4-1 on this homestand. Am I being too optimistic?
If this team doesn’t get the number one pick (Tavares), then I say go with the defenseman if he is the best player. Saw an interesting thing in Montreal Gazette pointing out the Canadiens are 9-1-1 since West Islip’s own Mike Komisarek came back and are 19-4-5 with him in the line up this year.
Play the Kids, Scott, play the kids.
thepolishprince, With our coaches track record of being a wuss I wouldn’t expect anything to be done to Mottau. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if Sutter sent someone out to take another run at Nielson if he starts skating around their defense again. If that happens you can expect Gordon to sit on his hands again.
CB: Joey Mac was “the only professional goaltender” at practice. Was there another goalie? If yes, who? Did Kerry Gwydir get in the pipes? (I played with him in High School).
FREE NICK 1.1!!!
And who can deny that the Isles just completed one of their most successful and well rounded road trips in history!!
It was so well-rounded, it was pointless!!
nice work chris
Taveduch or BUST !!!
Nick, if your analogy is correct, that would mean Josh Bailey would be the NHL equivalent of curing cancer. I doubt that, haha. Maybe Malkin or Alex O, and if Bailey turns into a player like that, I’ll GLADLY admit Garth is a genius.
Of course Gordon “gets it” by playing the youngsters…he was hired to do this. He better “get it”. Frankly, I’m okay with losing if it means playing some of the young guys. Part of me is somewhat concerned that some vets (Park) might see less time, but I guess it’s what we have to do.
Please keep the fabricated trade rumors site garbage away from here. I thank you for your attention to this matter…CB
The Islanders should get J STALL from the Pens. Dipietro, Weight, Guerin, Comrie, Sillinger…trade bait! The Pens might have to move him. Isles should offer BIG.
MiKe(#38)
Stall just signed an extension
Anyone see the Tavares between the legs assist to Del Zotto (Ranger first rounder). Beauty. Gotta go with the young guns now, playoffs are gone since November, love the fact that they have announced that they are going young. Is this the first message, we are geting rid of a ton of vets once we get closer to the deadline and are able to unload them?
seriously time for jon sim to go. seems a nice fella, but smith or colliton or anyone from the bridge should get a shot before this guy at this pont. i dont doubt he could help a good team in a limited role, but we do not need the guy right now.
i also assume our coach recommended to his new boss garth to pick up nate thompson, and now feels obligated to play him to prove he belongs. id rather see smith play but what can you do. i guess our goal is actually to put the worst lineup on the ice anyways so who am i to argue…
Thompson v Colliton/Smith… We should all know the answer to that question, but since some of you persist in asking it, Colliton is injured and not even currently playing @ the Bridge, and Smith is getting valuable PT (more than he would get w/Isles) there. He’ll be back, probably in March.
Smith is a minor league player who got a callup, and then got sent back down. Happens all the time. Nobody ever called it a “conditioning stint”. Believe it or not, not everything is really a mystery around here.
If CB’s notes are correct, no longer a need to have to ask why Sim is either playing w/Bailey or on the PP.
Kovalchuk was just named permanent captain in Atlanta, by vote of his teammates. (They had been using a committee of A’s.) I bet they re-sign him long term.
I like Bergenheim, too, but he had a nice run on a #1 line (w/Weight, Guerin) for a good part of this season already. Not like he was lighting up the scoreboard there, so let him play on the 4th line and earn his way back up.
Love the idea of getting the kids more ice time & responsibility, but would still like to see Comeau and Tambellini getting PP time, too.