DOOR OPENED FOR KOSKINEN: Mannino not QOed; Finn to attend prospect camp, sets goal of AHL
A highly placed source told Point Blank this morning that while Nathan Lawson has received a Qualifying Offer, fellow Bridgeport netminder Peter Mannino will not.
This opens the door for goaltender Mikko Koskinen, the Islanders’ second round pick (31st overall) on Saturday, to sign with the Islanders this summer and play for the team’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. A source close to the Finnish goaltender told us late last night that Koskinen will attend the Islanders’ Prospect Camp in two weeks and hopes an entry level contract can be finalized by the end of July.
A late bloomer passed up in three drafts before yesterday, the 6-7 goalie has an escape clause in his contract with Espoo of the Finnish League and plans on using it. Last season with Espoo, Koskinen – who will be 21 on July 18 – was 17-7-9 with a 1.91 goals against average and .931 save percentage.
Koskinen has true believers and detractors all over the game. One described him to PB as a “Steve Valiquette-type project who could be a nice backup,” while another countered, “_____ no, he has the potential to be a lot more than that. He could possibly develop into a No. 1 in 3-4 years.”
In an interview for the team’s website, chief European scout Vellu Pekka-Kautonen told Steve Mears of personally requesting Sudsie Maharaj to come to Finland to watch Koskinen. The goalie consultant saw him play 4 games in 8 nights and became a major advocate.
(Kautonen also says of Koskinen, “I’d say he’d need a half-season, full season in Bridgeport and then he’d be ready to play in the NHL.” Hey, easy does it with the hype, Vellu).
The Islanders have two goalie coaches in Mike Dunham and Maharaj to put the time in with Koskinen. They also have a head coach in Scott Gordon and GM in Garth Snow who were goaltenders. With the board to themselves when Saturday’s portion of the draft began, the Islanders passed up several top defense and forward prospects to grab Koskinen. To say a lot is riding on the pick is an understatement.
At least they know he’s committed to developing as an Islander in North America, beginning with Prospect Camp on Long Island in two weeks. And with Nathan Lawson currently the only goalie option in Bridgeport, there is a spot open for Koskinen.
Comments on this story only.
59 Responses to DOOR OPENED FOR KOSKINEN: Mannino not QOed; Finn to attend prospect camp, sets goal of AHL
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admin says:
Finn league inFINNitely more skilled, AHL tougher and a more demanding schedule…CB
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kevin27NYI says:
i think the AHL has a much longer schedule no? so this could help a lot with stamina and overall skill. i say he does it. this may be a great pick afterall. i just hope we dont regret it becuase we could have gotten some good guys with this pick
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Benjamin K says:
If the european scout has sudie come out to Finland and watch him play, there must have been some severe interest in him. That being said, I hope he turns out to be as good as our scouts project him to be.
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Matt says:
great stuff. it is nice to see prospects who we drafted get on the bridgeport roster and hopefully one day play on long island. it seems like alot of teams use older players who just take up roster spots. while manino may have been 25, he had no future here. i would like to see this guy turn into a sean burke type of goaltender.
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I really hope this kid turns out to be something special. I believe that this was a good draft for the Islanders, and with the right move in Free Agency this year and next, we might be a heck of a team. In Garth We Trust! ::Keeping My Fingers Crossed::
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Rob in NJ says:
I like this pick. Isles needed to add some quality goaltender depth. If he does well in Bridgeport it might turn out that we have something here..and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
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avolp55turgeonfichaud says:
with all of the question marks we have with the goaltender position, an early pick for Koskinen is easily justified. We need all the help we can get, and in a couple years we could have one budding netminder come from our pool of Goalies.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
CB – I know that in the AHL there are frequent 4 games in 5 nights … and back to back to back nights making it tough on the players … but how often is a goaltender asked to play 3 nights in a row at the ‘A’?
This kid is not going to know what hit him … but it’s great for development.
The more I do post mortem on the draft the better the Isles’ draft looks to me … I don’t have the 360 degree vision the Isles’ scouting requires to find the best players for their needs … but the more I look back with my now 20/20 vision … the better it looks. Even their last pick seems to be good (provided he sticks with hockey).
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savetheisles.com says:
this is good news.
at least we know he wants to play in North America and ready to do it right away
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duff says:
been watching him on youtube, needs time to work on rebound control. I don’t take stock in the Isles Euro Scout’s timeline at all. He admitted he wasn’t as proficient in evaluating goaltenders, plus a timeline prediction is a tough thing. Let him develop well in the A. I remember Mannino started off well last year, then got lit up after game 15 or so, likely due to teams figuring him out as well as any call ups.
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islestherapy says:
Hey CB, what’s the word on Ridderwall? IS there a word on him at all? He was never highly touted, but now he’s never even mentioned as a possibility. What’s his status? Is he no longer an option?
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CB
Any chance of an interview with DP? I know I speak for many on the worry with whatever state he is in physically, and now, on his hold on the #1 goaltending spot.I hope all is well in DP land.
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DM says:
well this post answers my last question….really hope he becomes the split starter in BP and i don’t even mind if he becomes clear #1 there the following year if that’s how long his proper development goes….sheer fact that he’s already this close to ready and could blossom into something high-end is great news.
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BST18 says:
Any word on who else was offered Qualifying Offers?
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Dreu Theran says:
Well this should settle the BST, now how about the NYI goaltending situation? Any little birdies telling you about a potential 1b to DP’s 1a?
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King says:
Don’t know about anyone else but the picks after the 1st round were enough to satisfy me. Picking up goalies to finally have a decent backup who could in actuality play about half the season with DP is something that can have this team going to right way.
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Geez, so many advertisements on those European jerseys, hope this NEVER gets to the NHL!
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Jethro from Finland says:
Yes, the Finnish League still is more skilled than AHL, although with KHL, Swedish Elite League and some Central European leagues paying more money, Finland can’t compete to get guys who are just outside a NHL spot and too old for AHL.
It’s still however a good league for player development and has the most North American style compared to other Euro leagues. Didn’t exactly hurt Rafalski’s or Tim Thomas’s career, but before being ready for NHL young European player needs the gruesome schedule of AHL and players getting in your face, because the regular season here is only 50+ games with plenty of training&rest all year long.
Koskinen is a pretty new face for Finnish fans too and with so many good goalies in the system already there isn’t a whole lot of information about him over here either, especially before last season. Jukka Ropponen from http://www.goaliepro.com/en/ has considered him a rising talent for a while, so for more info you could ask him, I’m sure he would love to answer.
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frank nyc says:
Most 2nd round picks never make to NHL let alone making it
the year they are drafted. If this kid plays in the AHL this year and maybe comes up toward the end of the year, then that is a value. If all that happens then SnoJanks looks verrryyy smart. -
fwb says:
Great post, as usual. Funny – there were so many people bashing picking a goalie when they did (instead of some Hockey News Draft wiz kid). Maybe our people, Snojanks, actually have a clue!!! It seems like all the responses to this story seem to think maybe the Isles did/tried the right thing. Maybe all the detractors are outside.
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Warren says:
Hey Islander fans lets all thank Peter for what he did this year. I still would leave the door open if he would be willing to fight for his postion. Any way good luck to the newest goaltender. Remember Islander fans be patient and it will work out and watchout DP our future is now. Onward towards the “CUP”
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Houda says:
Although the Finnish League is more skilled, it’ll be good for him to acclimate to the smaller North American playing surface and type of game. If this kid becomes an NHL goalie, DeHann fills out and realizes his upside in a few years, and Tavares turns out to be as advertised, this will be a great draft!
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I’m absolutely loving the positivity around this team lately – the Isles very much needed to address the lack of depth at the goalie position. In the end, who really knows how any of these players will turn out, but I credit the Isles for taking this tremendous chance on a tremendous goalie!
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isles72 says:
thanks for clearing up the contract part (escape clause)
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We said going into this draft that depth at the goaltending position is a big issue the Islanders needed to address. Leaving our goaltending in the hands of MacDonald, Danis, and Mannino last year only served to prove that. I wouldn’t have taken Koskinen at 31 (I was very high on Jeremy Morin), but if our scouting staff believes in him that much I hope he turns out to be a player.
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Brian B says:
Hey CB…just curious. Why do you think Colorado thought that it was a certainty that the Isles were taking Duchene? Did Snow purposely mislead them or something?
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doc says:
I am following through as promised by many on here… and put a deposit down today for the FLEX plan 20 ticket package… which I will convert to a 15 game or 22 game package once the schedule comes out and can be finalized.
This will include the meet and greet John Tavares which I most likely will not be able to attend. But that is OK… I am looking forward to seeing him on the ice.
DOC
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bergie20 says:
he put up great numbers in a very good league this past year. i have no reason to expect that to change in the ahl. i think the plan is to give him a full year in bridgeport this season and then bring him up to the isles the following year and gradually give him the starting job. isles obviously took him early b/c he was most nhl ready goalie in the draft. i think he’s dp’s long term successor, i really do.
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Seth says:
i liked this kid kimo i think he has a lot of potential he is a giant!!!! hope he sings and makes bridgeport
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Brother Rat says:
I’m intrigued by these goalie picks. If any of these guys ripens, great. CB, any word on the Isles’ take on how Ridderwall is progressing in Sweden? I see that last year at 21 he was a well-used backup for a so-so Djurgardens IF team, with a 2.90 GAA and .897 save percentage. I haven’t found a recent developmental assessment online, though. Are the Isles monitoring him, and are they thinking of bringing him to North America at any time? And what’s a more competitive league, the Swedish Elite League or Koskinen’s Finnish league?
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Ron says:
If this kid is the real deal, why take another goalie in the 3rd round? And we couldn’t move down 5-10 picks with someone who wanted Ferraro’s kid and get the goalie plus maybe a late 3rd-early 4th? We had all night to make that move. Lots of needs…a few high school aged prospects to salt away in college for a few years would have been nice
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Adam M says:
Ron, as of right now we have plenty of prospects at the collegiate level that are already in the process of “salting”.
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#31 Swedish league is better, but the style is more European with more passes and tight neutral zone game. Finnish league is more straight forward, less skill but more shots and driving to the net. Still not as dump and chase as AHL.
Shawn Bates looked to be getting back on track last year in Finland until he got hurt after 20 games. Kip Brennan in the meantime was useless, so it’s still speed over physicality over here.
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robby d says:
At 6 7, if this kid has decent flexibility he will be awesome. Think about how much net he will take up and much quicker he will be able to move from post to post. I wonder how good his mobility and flexibility is? It is a great pick because we honestly can not rely on DiPietro to be healthy until he plays a FULL season healthy. That has not happened in while and seems unlikely at this point since reports say he still walks with a limp.
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dingge says:
Koskinen is moving good post to post. flexibility aint problem he does it well for that big guy. He needs just little bit more muscles and he had to learn keep stick between his legs better. i saw 15 games of koskinen last year. He gonna be better than dipietro in couple years if they will training him right.
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NYICHAMP39 says:
This kid looks like a stud. Im loving this pick. You cant go wrong picking a goalie with size like his. He definitely will play a few games in a Islanders uniform next year.
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rb says:
Peter Mannino’s improbable win over the Hawks with his parents looking with obvious delight and pride was one of the nicest moments in a bad year. If he never makes it back to the NHL, at least he’s got his own “Rudy” moment.
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Detroit isnt re-signing Ty Conklin? Seems that he is a victim of salarycapitis. A 1y deal to Ty would be so great, I WISH. 1y is all we need, then perhaps Koskinen or who knows maybe even Ridderwall can step in? Only time will tell on that, but MAN would I love to see Ty in tandem weith Rick next season.
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IslesHostage says:
39 – And we risk ruining yet another prospect’s cieling “because we can’t wait for Santa and want to open presents now.”
Patience yields rewards, curiosity kills cats. Detroit turns out gems BY REFUSING to bring up kids early. We turn up bubkiss. PRETEND….that he isn’t in the Continental planet EARTH for a year or two, folks. Let him develop and put on weight so he doesn’t risk being a bust – due to our impatience.
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coral springs isle fan says:
Did Tavares throw out the 1st pitch tonight? ESPN did not broadcast it; or if they did I did not see it. I’m curious as to the response at the game?
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Koskinen is an older prospect (21), so the risk of “throwing him in there” is not as great. I still hope he plays the whole season in the AHL to get used to the longer schedule before we even think of throwing him into NHL action.
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Nick, he has to put on weight. Look at clips of him being hit.
He has to grow up and for once…..letting a goalie become NHL ready by Detroit or NJ’s standards is important. But we can always hope like we do that we didn’t rush this kid like every other kid because we draft and raise phenoms every year.
21 means 22 or 23…..just like most 18 year old. But 21 and that good means a great chance he’s a very solid 22 or 23 year old. So still wanna Rick him into the lineup or be tough and make him prove himself for his own good – and ours?
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Chris says:
i think that koskinen should go a half a season with bridgeport and then back for the second half as a backup. if he showed true stuff then he should be startin in about 2-3 years(if dipietro is not back of course)
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IslesHostage – I never said anything like that in my post. Note that I said I wanted him to play “a full season in the AHL” before anybody even thought of bringing him up. He would probably have to spend some time in the ECHL as well, so in the post you can see I’m not at all in favor of him playing in the NHL next year.
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Frei says:
I dunno, for all the talk of how many picks we had I really didnt expect two goalies and a small defenseman after JT. What’s with goalies around here, anyway? There’s goalies playing, and sitting, and mending, and coaching, and managing, its a little much, isn’t it?
I just don’t see how Snow can say, “This is not about Rick DiPietro” with a straight face, considering the holes that still need to be filled. Picking two monster goalies DOES line up with that build from the goal out approach…
Well, for all the goalies around here, I sure hope collectively, they know how to pick ‘em. Who knows? Maybe we just got a pair of brick walls. I hope so. Its the only way the decisions could really be justified.
JT, baby!
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MT says:
#45 they have pictures of JT before the game in Yahoo! Sports. I’d post a link if I was allowed. He got to meet David Wright and Jeff Wilpon, and he wore a Mets jersey with the number one and his name on the back
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cusi says:
wow, i just read 47 posts with out negativity. also read on newsday, arthur staple a positive piece on Snow. With one comment:
“He knows what he’s doing over there,” a fellow Eastern Conference executive said of Snow. “They’re starting to do things the right way
This was about the De Haan move up to 12!
Good stuff and this goalie as well.
We will wait and see…time will tell. -
I like what Ive read about the kid in most places, but what gets me is that he wasnt even close to being drafted at 31, we could have most likely traded down 5-10 picks and picked up another pick in the process and still gotten him plus another highly rated position player.
Hopefully he proves the scouting staff right though
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orngfan says:
if espn broadcasted hockey tavares’ first pitch not only would have been shown, he would have been interviewed in the booth by the 2 idiots who call these sunday night baseball games.
they make me want to listen to michael kay!
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these goalies are HUGE
6’7″ omg
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Like many of you, I am also 100% all for not rushing goalies. However, a player going from the Finn league to the AHL is not going to be the same jump that it is going from college to the AHL. Sure its an adjustment, but its not the same kind of adjustment. This kid already plays against men- many of them NHL-caliber players who prefer to play in Europe. This kid is already playing there and succeeding. He is like Okposos age. And through his experience he is already much closer to playing at that level than college kids like Weslosky and Poulin, who undoubtedly have a number of years ahead of them developmentally. Koskinen playing in the Bridge would be a positive, good thing- not rushing him IMO. Playing on the Islanders however, that would be a whole different story. That is why I support this at the same time as I repeat the the Isles need- NEED- to sign a FA goalie for this season.
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Nice prospect, but I still feel it was a reach. I’m still scratching my head with the 2nd goalie selection.
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Church Hill Drew says:
I don’t understand all this talk of “reaching”? I thought after the first round it’s more or less going after who you want and amassing picks every year in order to give yourself the flexibility of getting to the spot where you guarantee yourself your man?
I too, think that Garth is doing it “the right way”. It’s easy to sit back and play armchair GM with your Hockey News and Sporting News draft guides but that’s not how it works folks. Lots of things factor into where a given team has a prospect ranked (need, psych tests, speed, fitness, etc…) Organizations have varying ways of valuing each player and their potential so for now, I’ll defer to SnoJanks and place my trust in them.
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Like a bunch of posts above, I’m impressed at the positive (or at least not negative) comments. Just a thought: do our tall goalies have equipment problems with the 38″ pads? Anyone know if they can get equipment waivers for their size? Have large goalies gotten size waivers like tall (over 6’6″) players have gotten around the 63″ stick limit?
Perhaps these goalies are Garth’s secret plan to subvert the 38″ x 11″ goalie pad restrictions…
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We should be happy that Snow/Jankowski and Co. stuck their collective necks out on the line, stuck to a plan and proceded with conviction.
So for the relatively cheap price of a few draft positions and some picks, it CAN be argued that they “reached” a little with both. So be it.
I, for one, am glad they did.
They got TWO players that they have identified as having a high ceiling. So they went out and made sure that they got both of them.
That is what I call executing a plan.
Fans arguing that both would or would not have been available “much” later is not an argument that can be proven, and therefore is a moot point.
DOC
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Battfist says:
The fact he is coming the AHL and play for Bridgeport justifies the pick. Finally getting some talent back into the farm team. Im excited about Joensuu! Mikko will be waiting for you….
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Excellent question by Brother Rat (56)- Id love to know the answer to that! Remember when Big Z was a rookie Islander and they were making him use the same size stick that guys a half a foot shorter than him used?
mapisles2025 
Which league is more skilled, the AHL or the Finnish league that Koskinen was playing in?