AHL PLAYOFFS A TIME TO SHINE OR WHINE
Plus: A practice, IR and roster update
Whether he’ll be at the games or watching on his laptop while with Team USA for the World Championships, Islanders head coach Scott Gordon has a keen interest in the AHL playoff games of his team’s affiliate in Bridgeport. The Sound Tigers play two playoff games at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum next Friday and Saturday.
Gordon said the AHL playoffs provide players with both invaluable experience and an opportunity to open the eyes of management. The coach said there was no doubt in his mind that players could win jobs at the NHL level with strong showings in the American League playoffs. “There’s a long list of players all over the NHL who made their mark by coming up big in these games,” said Gordon.
There’s also a list of players who did the opposite, who played in the AHL postseason like they could not be bothered and often are never heard from again.
“Those guys write their own ticket,” said Gordon.
Three years ago, I watched most of the exciting, opening round 7-game series between Bridgeport and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Islanders had several scouts in attendance, plus a future general manager by the name of Garth Snow. But even to these untrained eyes, it seemed obvious to me that a few of the Sound Tigers players were not giving close to 100%.
Said Gordon, “If you don’t show up to play Game 7 in the AHL playoffs, you’re not going to show up for Game 41 in the NHL.”
There’s plenty of truth in that. The most apparent slacker in Bridgeport three years ago was Robert Nilsson (one goal in 7 games), who was traded a year later and still seems to be trying to figure it out.
So Messrs. Joensuu, Smith, Colliton, Hillen, newbies DiBenedetto and Katic and even an unsigned sparkplug like Micheal Haley…somebody’s watching you.
ETC: Kyle Okposo (groin) took the full practice today at Iceworks and skated hard from beginning to end. Gordon said he would meet with the team’s medical staff before deciding whether Okposo would play in either or both home games this weekend to finish the season.
The coach said Andy Hilbert will likely return to the lineup for tomorrow’s matinee at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum against Philadelphia.
Repeat after me: Joel Rechlicz, Mitch Fritz, Mike Iggulden and Jesse Jonesuu have been returned to Bridgeport. University of North Dakota slickster Ryan Duncan makes his pro debut tonight for the Sound Tigers, likely on a line with Trevor Smith and Robin Figren.
Gordon was asked after practice today if his first NHL season went by quickly or slowly. He said the last three months “went by like a month and a half. It was fun.” How ’bout the first three months, Coach? “Like two years. No, make that three.”
Point Blank Media Alert: I’ll be live in the studios of News 12 Long Island tonight at 8:20 pm for a brief segment with sports anchor Jamie Stuart mostly on the Islanders and a little on the Rangers. It will be repeated at 9:20 pm.
Comments on this story, the current squad and the weekend’s games here. Draft Lottery talk continues in next thread.
51 Responses to “AHL PLAYOFFS A TIME TO SHINE OR WHINE
Plus: A practice, IR and roster update”
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figren-smith-duncan
I like it.
As a season ticket holder, I was very happy to get free tickets in the mail today to the two Sound Tiger games next week at the Coliseum. Can’t wait!
I hope Gordon pushes for Okposo to make the USA squad.
I don’t see how Okposo doesn’t make the US team (unless he’s injured). Of the non-playoff teams, there aren’t many American players that are better the Okposo.
Playing with Team USA will pay huge rewards for KO. The experience he will get will only make him that much more of a star.Kid has alot of talent, now just needs to put it all together. playing on Team USA will be a huge step towards that.
Oh man, I don’t get News Channel 11 (I live in Brooklyn)
Will there be any video online of your segment?
news channel 12 that is…
I do not get news 12 with Fios, may the Dolan regime rot in hell. It is bad enough they now own Newsday.
so apparently redline scouting service threw everybody a huge curveball today by listing their top 3 as hedman, duchene, and then tavares. they compare duchene to steve yzerman. discuss!
Even if Hilbert and Okposo do play tomorrow the Isles still will need two forwards from Bridge. I’d like to see Joensuu, Reichlecz and Frtiz all play the last two games but if only two then the last two. Both games should be nasty.
Lot of good news from Islander country recently.
Did anyone see how COmeau broke his wrist? Did someone slash him?
Hey, how many games did Matt Green get suspended for leaving his skates and striking a blow to the head of Hilbert? OH, zippo? Shame how they really aren’t concerned about dirty plays or players, or protecting players heads like they say they are. Had Hilbert done the same to Green he’d have been suspended. Also, I am pretty sure Crosby could pull out a gun and shoot another player on the ice and as long as it wasn’t Ovechenkin or someone like that get away with it from the NHL.
Nilsson? Well, looks like that deal hasn’t paid off for anyone, well, maybe the isles.
NYI shipped off junk in the cupboard to EDM, which the junk hasn’t turned into anything more. Smyth helped NYI make the playoffs, then rejected NYI for COL. NYI go rebuild and not stuck with his contract.
COL made the playoffs with Smyth in year 1, but is now stuck with his NMC contract on a now rebuilding team that faces the brutal truth of a weak cupboard and almost inevitable decline in attendance.
please post a link to redline report
The Redline Report looks like it’s subscription only. But damn…that would be stunning!
CB any news on Dean McAmmond’s “illness” ?
Redline scouting service picked Filatov to go 2nd last year and Alex Pietrangelo to go 7th in their June 2008 mock draft.
http://redlinereport.com/mocdrafts.pdf
I think they are just looking to be contrarian to get themselves some readers. I have not seen any reputable sites with anyone but the big 2 on top. I have seen a few with Duchene lower then 3rd but most have had him there as well.
(9) Now that JT might be an Islander, look more more canadian “journalists” to start Tavares-bashing and putting people Toronto might take in the mid top-10 as “No.1″
The Redline Report aren’t journalists, it’s an independent scouting service. I don’t think they’re Canadian either.
You’re becoming quite the TV star CB. I haven’t gotten to see any of your appearances (they don’t show the pre-game on NHL.com). Any aspirations of becoming an announcer. You could take over for Howie:) Keep up the great work. A big thank you from a life long Isles fan.
redline report is not run by the canadian media. it’s an independent scouting service run by kyle woodlief, who used to be a scout for nashville. they have a monthly column in usa today but not in canada. a trusted poster on islandermania subscribes to it and got their latest report in the mail today. they are in love with duchene. woodlief loved our draft last year.
(#10) lol
NHL.Com’s three “draft experts” (Adam Kimelman, Brad Holland, Shawn P. Roarke, each with his own list), and ISS all have Tavaras-Hedman 1-2. Only one has Duchene in the top 4 (6th, 4th, 7th, 5th). I know CB likes him at 3. This year will be interesting but I can’t see how we do not take Tavaras if we get the top pick.
Boston University defenseman Matt Gilroy wins the 2009 Hobey Baker Award.
I’m rooting for Haley to win himself a 2 way contract next season. He already is an assist away from the Gordie Howe Hat trick tonight.
Coming soon to NVMC…. Hobey Baker award winner Matt Gilroy.
hey check out joey McD…. got the fans choice award from best save of the season on NHL.com for that snag save on samuelsson!
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=417597#&cmpid=rss-holland
And for those of you who have issues with the quality/ability of a Defenseman coming out of the college ranks vis a vis a defenseman who comes up through the junior/minor league ranks…
I’ve got two words for you…
KEN MORROW
Time to open Wang’s checkbook, Garth.
Great segment on news 12 Chris, I think you made Jamie a believer on how much Tavares is needed on the Island.
Tell Fritzie and Wrecker to get back in the car and come back to Long Island. They should get the start vs the Flyers.
If the Isles get the number one pick and DON’T take Tavares im gonna die. Great job tonight you guys seemed to get along well…can’t wait to see you guys again on Tuesday night. Go Isles!
I couldnt care less if Tavares is the guy–as long as we have the 1st pick. Im cool with a stud D man. I want a rougher and tougher team next year while we slowly develop the scoring touch.
Looks like a 2 team race for Gilroy’s services: Isles and Toronto. Brian Burke has made it well known that he wants Gilroy and obviously the Isles would love to have the home grown d-man. Toronto is going to offer him a boatload of money so the Isles will need to open up the vault. The Leafs have already signed two college free agents in Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson. Bozak signed a deal equivalent to the first pick in the draft worth up to $4 million a year. Because Gilroy is already 24 I don’t believe he is subject to the rookie maximum per the CBA. The Isles desperately need a player like Gilroy. We will see how good Wang and Snow are at negotiating against Burke.
Pass on Gilroy. Take that money and use it on a proven NHL player.
Hey CB, I guess the 3rd point blank even is not happening tomorrow. Is another one in the works??
To all of you pushing for Gilroy, I’d like to know your opinion: if you could only use that money to either sign Gilroy or make a run at Komisarek, which would you choose?
Komisarek is going to cost a lot more money. It all depends upon how much Wang wants to spend next year for a team. I believe they were just at or close to the minimum for the salray cap this past year so it all comes down to how much above the minimum they want to go.
isles need to spend $$ to stay above the cap.. komisarek could be the beneficiary of that necessity!
(35) nyi will most likely have to spend between 8-10 million to meet the floor. Looking at NYI’s own RFA’s and UFA’s that may get deals, NYI still have a chunk of change they will need to spend outside the organization.
However, should NYI spend most of it on one player? or spread the wealth among several quality players?
So if Gilroy was from Denver or Alberta or Minnesota would *we* stiill be that desperate for him?!?
I have been a big Komisarik fan since before he was drafted. It has been a dream for him to join the Isles but now I am unsure. He has had a really bad year between his play and injuries. Recently he has gotten pushed around a lot. He’ll fight but really isn’t good at it. Seeing Boston rough him up last night was bad.
I’m not sure what kind of salary he’ll generate with such a bad season but if it is reasonable then yes but if not nope. I’d prefer they made a run at Bouwemeester who at 25 fits the rebuild and if he has a brain in his head he’ll look at what Gordon and the Isles have done for Mark Streit
Other then that I want a bigger and meaner defense. Bieksa, O’Brien, O’Bryne, Fistic, etc. While scoring is a sore spot for the Isles they have a lot of guys who are capable and will only get better, especially if the injuries are less. ON defense the type of d-men the Isles need are not on the roster and they handful of proper fits they have aren’t close enough to being NHL ready.
If the Islanders draft Hedman, there really isn’t much of a need for Gilroy. If they take Tavares, that need for quality defensemen remains and Komisarek adds very little offensively while Gilroy appears to have much more upside in that department.
(37) No reason they couldn’t go after both Gilroy and Komisarek. What are the realistic chances of the Isles getting any big name free agents not associated with LI??? Until they show they can win, most quality (not ovet the hill) free agents aren’t even going to consider the Isles. The team is going to have to be built from the ground up with young players. Realistically, I think the Leafs have the edge on Gilroy right now. Brian Burke doggedly pursued the two college free agents he already signed. I know he called Bozak’s family advisor every day this past season.
(41) Why is the universe limited to Gilroy and Komisarek? Oh, because they are from LI. Yippee!
(42) It isn’t but when is the last time the Isles signed a high quality free agent in the peak of his career? As I said before they need to build from the ground up. That means young players through the draft and college free agents. Bozak and Gilroy are the premier college free agents this year. Isles were one of the teams in the running for Bozak. It is only a plus that Gilroy is from LI. The Isles tried to sign him the past two summers but he decided to stay in school. Why not go after some of the top young players like Boston did? It seems to have been a good move by them. Hopefully getting Tavares and signing Gilroy is like getting two top 1st rounders in one year. Also most scouting reports say that Gilroy is ready to step right into the NHL.
CB, If I recall, wasn’t Bergenheim also one of the “tankers” in the Bridgeport-WBS series a few years ago?
CBotts: is Lawson property of the Isles, Bridgeport, or both? Does he have a future with the team?
Not sure why so many are hung up on Komisarek.He is a defensive defenseman with very limited offensive ability. I feel there are more talented UFA’s both offensively and defensively.
I watched tonight’s Bridgeport win from the Press Box at Harbor Yard. Duncan played fairly well for his debut - he is VERY tiny. I will say he is generously listed at 5′6″.
Duncan centered a line of Smith and Iggulden, he was +1, had two PIM. From what I can tell, he played a regular shift - unfortunately, none of the stats I received tonight have Duncan’s TOI.
In the locker room after the game, Duncan was pretty much reserved and off in a corner doing his stretches. It was clear he didn’t really know anyone, unless it was part of the “new guy” treatment.
Overall, it was a great game - especially with the win and a Hershey loss.
Figured you would have been there Chris!
Bob Bassen…
“So if Gilroy was from Denver or Alberta or Minnesota would *we* stiill be that desperate for him?!?”
Since the Islanders are in 30th place in just about every category of the NHL, shouldn’t “we” be a little bit desperate for him?
The fact that Gilroy is from LI is a bonus (marketing) and nothing else.
The whole talk of the draft has been “Tavares or Hedman, Tavares or Hedman, Tavares of Hedman”.
Who wouldn’t want BOTH of them?
The fact that the NCAA 2009 Hobey Baker winner, the CAPTAIN of what may well be this year’s NCAA champ, a fully grown and developed DEFENSEMAN is also available to the right buyer, makes “BOTH” possible for the Isles. How often do opportunities like this come along?
If you can’t get “Tavares AND Hedman”, why not grab the next closest thing?
Tavares AND Gilroy.
Those that say “save the money on Gilroy” and get a “proven” player?
That doesn’t follow Snow’s plan for a “youth movement”.
Signing Gilroy is a no brainer.
can you stream the Bridgeport games online?
I still think the 01-02 Bridgeport squad was the best team to date. Players like Hunter, Torres and DiPietro came from that squad along with a few others who had minor success with the Isles. Great time to watch this team in the playoffs and see who are the next Islanders.
Im looking forward to both those Bpt games at NVMC.