A PAIR OF NYI TOP PROSPECT LISTS
Some prep as the kids hit the ice Friday at 11:00 am
Funny how all this prospecting turned out. Ten weeks ago, I thought that by the end of the 2009 NHL Draft the Islanders would have more selections than they’d need. Figured after John Tavares they’d continue to re-stock the prospect pool with a few highly-ranked forwards and defensemen, maybe take a goalie with one of the third round picks.
But noooooooo. The Islanders traded some of the picks they acquired when moving down in 2008 to move up in 2009 to take defenseman Calvin de Haan. Then they took goaltenders with the first picks in the second and third rounds. Surprising, because they had holes everywhere and taking goalies back-to-back seemed unnecessary.
So where does that leave the Islanders? With a scoring phenom in John Tavares. With a good-not-great prospect pool. Still with gaps on the depth chart at forward and defense. And with all eyes on de Haan to see if Ryan Jankowski and his staff got that one right.
Make no mistake: the Islanders have improved their developmental roster since 2006. But have they come far enough? Still seems like they have a strong base of many solid young players, as opposed to an impressive list bursting with top-tier prospects.
Here are our lists of the top prospects in Bridgeport and in junior, college and Europe. These always seem to result in some heckling from the crowds. Last season, we got some guff about excluding Max Gratchev, Shea Guthrie and Simon Lacroix on our lists and the Islanders ended up not even signing them. Time will tell if the Islanders made a mistake.
TOP 10 JUNIOR, COLLEGE OR EUROPEAN PROSPECTS
1. Calvin de Haan
(Frankly, considering the price, the Islanders’ praise and his selection at 12, he has to be).
2. Aaron Ness
3. Corey Trivino
4. Travis Hamonic
5. Kirill Petrov
(Not attending Prospect Camp because his KHL team has workouts at the same time; may be on this list for years).
6. David Ullstrom
(Terrific SEL playoff, committed to NYI camp).
7. Rhett Rakhshani
8. Matt Martin
(Good 3rd/4th line intangibles prospect still unsigned, likely headed back for one more year in Sarnia. This week gives him another chance to make an impression).
9. Kevin Poulin
10. Anders Nilsson
Worth a Mention: Blake Kessel, Jason Gregoire, Matt Donovan, Casey Cizikas
TOP PROSPECTS IN BRIDGEPORT
Note: If you are cross-checking this list with the official team website, note that almost half the players currently listed as “In The System” are either not playing in Bridgeport this season or are no longer NYI property. Among those departed or playing elsewhere: Jeremy Colliton, Kurtis McLean, Jamie Fraser (best of luck in Minny, Jamie), Peter Mannino, Mike Iggulden and the traded Ben Walter. The site’s roster also does not include the acquired LIer Tony Romano or the “depth” signings like Mark Flood.
1. Mikko Koskinen
(Considering where they took him, the Islanders’ praise and that he’s almost 21, he has to be).
2. Jesse Joensuu
3. Trevor Smith
4. Mark Katic
5. Justin DiBenedetto
(The ultimate wild card begins his NHL pursuit in earnest this season).
6. Robin Figren
(One way or the other, this year you’re going to learn what Figren is…or is not).
7. Andrew MacDonald
8. Joel Rechlicz
(Yes, the Wrecker probably has a better chance of playing in the NHL again sooner than many of those above him on this list, but we like him as the gritty-gutty underdog).
Worth a Mention: Dustin Kohn, Tomas Marcinko, Tony Romano, Mark Flood, Matt Moulson
*
A Note to Readers about Prospect Camp Coverage: For blow-by-blow accounts of every goal scored in every drill or scrimmage at Iceworks over the next 6 days, this will not be the place to be. I’ve been to many of these and I won’t go ga-ga every time a kid throws a hit or gets a few points in a game. Unfortunately, Cinderella stories rarely emerge long-term from these camps. Of course, I hope one does.
Instead, my focus will be on de Haan, Koskinen, Ness, Trivino, Cizikas, Josh Bailey and many of the top prospects and their development. And I imagine I’ll write a few dozen more stories about that Tavares kid. I hope you’ll stay with Point Blank through it all. Don’t forget to check out all the blogs in the Country. First group hits the ice tomorrow at 11:00 am.
Comments.
62 Responses to “A PAIR OF NYI TOP PROSPECT LISTS
Some prep as the kids hit the ice Friday at 11:00 am”
Please Wait
I’ll be there. Just got a 22 game plan with my buddy and this is one of the perks. Looking forward to it..
A great future in 3 to 5 years but in the meantime we have to put a team on ice now. If its not competetive I fear most of these prospects will be playing off the Island and only a few of us will be following our team on NHL premium TV.
haha “hope will be there” there’s no better coverage about the new york islanders than this site CB don’t get me wrong i love mr logan’s in site but this is the place to be for the best islander coverage period
Thanks for all you do
I actually have high hopes for Calvin de Haan. Hope he pans out.
I concur with ya CB … Lots of “Good Talent” … Great?? Well, we’ll have to see what happens with those highly thought of players in the system.
I’m glad that you aren’t going to do a play by play … great passes, great body checks and snazy goals will happen for even the least talented kid at that level … it’s the consistency that I look for … the cream coming to the top … I’m still hoping I can make it there on Sunday … or at the least if I drive all they way to Syosset that I’ll be able to gain entry to soak some of it in.
What happened to Jyri Niemi? I was hoping this kid would come up strong.
w
We need at least another good draft year maybe two and then i think our system will be as good as any in the league,not there yet but it’s starting to take shape
bailey looked great at the press conference for tav, way bigger than last year.
i have huge hopes for dibenedetto, finding a jewel in the rough like him and adding tanguay(please!) with ricky and rolo healthy would be crazy!!!
i guess dreams are the purpose of these prospects camps. haha
I’m sorry, but if you read that and still would rather see the Isles finish 8th or 9th in the conference rather than 14th or 15th you’re unconditional love has blinded you to what this franchise needs. That would be another top end prospect in the top 3 of the 2010 draft. A hard fought loss next year should be just as sweet as a win. Just enjoy those glimmers of hope that Tavares, Okposo, Bailey, and maybe Neilsen/Bergy can provide.
CB, I will be real interested in your coverage of DeHaan. I really think this kid will be watched closer than Tavares. I also really think we will need one of these kids to really step up this year and make the big team. My money is on Joensuu or Trevor Smith! I will also be interested in your thoughts on Koskie! I find it hard to believe someone 6′7″ has the athletic ability to get up and down to play goal in the NHL.
CB, I agree, I thought the trades and moves at the Draft after picking Tavares was a mistake. They had 11 picks and other than de Haan really didn’t get much.
Of the 20 prospects listed above maybe 10 or 12 have a chance to be productive NHLers. Maybe 4 or 5 (de Haan, Ness, Trivino, Petrov, Jounsuu) have a “chance” to be solid top tier players(top 6 Forward or top 4 Dman). Meaning its more likely that only one or two will do that. The Isles will need more help for Okposo, Bailey and Tavares from someplace. That’s why they have to lose again in 2009/10 and get Taylor Hall in 2010.
CB, Should I take this to mean that NYI Point Blank is sticking around for another season? If I missed something, forgive me.
Just wondering aloud here…but Will Tavares replace Witt in the shootouts now?
LOL
Just like we will be asking, “is Josh Bailey better than Schenn, Filatov, Boedker and Hodson, the next 10 years.. we will also be asking, is DeHaan better than Kassian, Kreider, Leblanc, etc, the next 10 years…
But the difference is we picked up extra picks in trading down for Bailey… With DeHaan, we gave up ALOT to move up for a guy that was ranked alot lower…
So let’s hope DeHaan pans out…
I think Trivino will be real good in a few years after he fills out at BC… Speaking of filling out, it is scary to see a defenseman that weighs 157 pounds ranked as our 2nd best prospect..
Is Koskinen a lock to play at Bridgeport??
Lastly, my sleeper guy is Anders Lee… Great size and good skill… 4 years to pan out at Notre Dame… I think he could be a real good player for us down the road after a few years of NCAA hockey…
Lastly lastly, if Jyri Niemi doesn’t even make the list, I don’t think it is a reflection on him, I think it just reflects the prospect pool is getting better. For instance, CB had Robin Figren ranked like 4th overall for Islander prospects like 3 or 4 months ago.. I thought that was crazy.. I don’t like him at all.. But now, Figren is alot lower, where he deserves to be!
I too am puzzled about why Niemi continues to fail to make the list, 97 mph slap shot, very good skater, big. He was a forward until a few years ago so maybe just the stage in his development but you’d like to think a guy who was a 3rd rounder just a year ago would be on these list.
The honorable mention for Bridgeport got a bit scary with all the recently acquired guys.
I do like De Haan. If he committs to adds size and strength he seems to have every thing else.
I still think we need better d prospects overall, team seems pretty set at center and wing. Teams seems set in goal, so going forward it should be more on acquiring elite level talent at all spots.
Like to see some trades soon for immiedaite help on the Isles and at Bridge.
looking forward to seeing more of Koskinen…watching him on that 10 minute youtube shootout video from the FEL was pretty impressive…way better than Valiquette when he was first drafted, doesn’t look awkward at all, even though he’s gotta close up a little better..you sure don’t see much net
THank you for the insight CB - hopefully a handful of these guys can turn in to long term contributers and grow into quality NHL talent. Here’s hoping RJ got it right these last two drafts.
CB, thanks for this blog, there is nothing close to it in terms of Islanders Hockey. Geeks like me check in everyday and it seems to me these are exciting times to be an Isles fan. Our prospect pool is a lot better than it’s been in a very long time. PS: remember we only need some of these players to pan out. If you think Okposo is a 1st liner (I do) and Tavares is (we all think), and Bailey is a Second liner, and one of these goalies pan out, and Dehaan turns out to be a star…maybe not a superstar but a star, and….you throw a wild card in there that we haven’t forseen like a late round pick…with Neilson as a 2nd-3rd liner…..You start to kinda think we have a team here…Maybe a free agent pick up or two next year..None of this is to far-fetched and I understand that it could all go bad but this is the season of hope. Sorry for the length. Love this blog.
I can’t wait for the season to begin! This is driving me crazy. Baseball is getting boring!
if we stood pat at the draft and didnt trade down the first 2 rounds would look like this #1 john tavares #26 kyle palmeiri c/rw #31 mikko koskinen #37 zach budish big power forward #56 taylor dohert big D instead it was #1 tavares #12 dehaan #31 mikko koskinen. in essence dehaan better be really good because he was traded for palmieiri budish and doherty. i hope snow/ jankowski were right on this one because if not it could really hurt. by the way the other site says tanguay to isles e4 lol.
Chris, why was Mike Iggulden not retained? He was quite impressive during his short time with the big club!
CB - You hope we’ll stay with IPB through it all? Really? I don’t go anywhere else for coverage of this team as often as I’m here. I know that everyone else here feels the same. Best damn Islanders coverage…period.
Alot of you are forgetting about Casey Cizikas. He was rated a low first top second round pick that the Isles picked up in the fourth round because of personal problems. I think the Isles draft looks pretty good. Obviously Snow and company think alot of DeHaan and I have a feeling so did alot of other teams.If they live up to their potential, we picked up a 50 goal scorer(JT),a top six forward ( Cizikas),a first pairing d-man(DeHaan) and a 1A goalie. And the last two picks added size at D and forward. Not bad. GO ISLES!! CB thanks so much for your blog.It’s the best! As an avid Isles fan who no longer lives on the Island, I read it every day!!!
i think joensuu is a lock for the main roster this year. he looked very impressive last year and he’s only gonna get better…
“I too am puzzled about why Niemi continues to fail to make the list, 97 mph slap shot, very good skater, big. He was a forward until a few years ago so maybe just the stage in his development but you’d like to think a guy who was a 3rd rounder just a year ago would be on these list.”
CB will have to answer this but a major factor is probably all the injuries, he has had knee and hip surgery and some problems last season with his wrist…and now he wont be able to attend camp because of some sort of undisclosed injury.
I thought joensuu was the real deal when he played on the Island, but from what I saw, heard and read, he had on days and off days at the bridge. He seems to be showing steady improvement every year.
. Still a LOOOONG way to go.
Hmmmm… De Haan AND Koistenen or John Moore AND Landon Ferraro AND Koistenen.
Unless De Haan is a stud and Moore is a dud, I’ll take the latter please.
Two steps forward, two steps back? Sigh.
hey cb- do the islanders have jonathan toews younger brother in the system? i thought i remembered hearing the toews name a while back. PB kicks A**!
Thanks for your hard work Botta!
De Haan. i guess they thought his skills were pro level, i guess we will see if they are right. They can size anyone up with weights and diet fellas.
if they made all the deals last draft, and then decided to go for it with De Haan this draft, have faith in the guys in charge. we seem have guys with instincts, talent and skill. they can’t be made taller, but they can be bulked up. we have a guys that can score, which you can’t teach, they need to grow into pro bodies.
have faith, and GS please sign somebody to tough us up, and maybe drop a few goals in from the wing, while we wait for the cake to bake.
cb says it perfect every time..we really had a chance to make a big impact with our prospects and snow and our scouts blew it..dehann and 2 goalies took 5 picks…why do i have to sit and wiat while these crazy gm’s ruin my teams..pls see KNICKS..METS
Im not positive but think it took 4 picks, not 5- didnt they trade one of their picks for two?
But does it really matter? I think all that really matters is that the Isles get some talent into this organization- and thats what it looks like they are doing to me. They still drafted more relatively early round players in the last 2 years than anyone else did.
Is the camp open to the public? And where is it being held?
I asked a similar question before but I notice it’s not in the commentary. I’ve noticed a few of my comments have disappeared from here. I don’t post often, and I’m rather unoffensive….do I smell?
Un Beaver (33): Prospect camp held at Islanders Iceworks in Syosset. It’s closed to the public for the first time this year (it’s been open the last three seasons, at least). There is one open day on Sunday. Get there early, it’s going to be a zoo.
We’ve got the next Bossy (Tavs); We’ve got way better than the next Gillies–with a little Tonelli mixed in for good measure (KO); it just a little upsetting that we could have had the next Trottier (CODY HODGSON) and instead took the next Merrick (Bailey). by the way did Bailey even win a single faceoff last year?
But remember “WE’RE ALL ISLANDERS”
As if those picks we traded for de Haan would of have made CB give our potential youngsters a Grade of great if Snow didnt make a single move. I dnt think so…
Im pumped that we actually have talent to be critical of.
For the little I know about the youngsters on the list…besides Big Jesse…Im looking forward to seeing what Justin DiB does. I think we have guy once he is called up next season-we turn some heads.
Thanks for the insight CB.
de Haan will be a star down the road.
to post 35… um your calling two guys who never played a nhl game bossy and trottier??? my lord..let tavares be tavares and bailey bailey and we’ll see about hodgson…fyi crosby stinks on faceoffs is he a bust???..these labels are just dumb
For everyone who believes in Garth, read this update by CB…. It’s dead on !!!!
Rebuilding is one thing, and although I believe in it, you must add veteran players that can add scoring and leadership to the team… The Isles have not, Garth has added nothing but a 40 year old goalie to get pummled by shots nightly, and if the Isles give up 4 goals, bank on a loss, they don’t score more… And please, let’s not start with we have, Trent, Richard, Doug, Jeff, etc…. They didn’t win games last year, and they won’t this year… Same group with the addition of JT, and after his rookie contract is up, say goodbye to him too…. Remember, Gath doesn’t believe in those things… Well guess what Garth, those contracts win games, and get you in the playoffs…. And if you all believe in Garth, ask yourself why the hell this team is stacked with goaltenders all of a sudden.. The point we were preached last year was that we traded down to stockpile draft picks for this years draft.. OK, we get it, may not like it, but we get it, so we lived through a last place year.. This years draft comes, and before the second round starts, we give all the draft picks back for de Haan… Now this kid may be great one day, but you all know, including de Haan, he needs to develope… But what happened to rebuilding the system, what we were told last year went away, because the draft picks went away.. But guess what, he did restock the Sound Tigers, with players from other AHL teams… I just don’t get it, but I’m glad a few of you do.. Because, your the fans that will be paying NHL prices to see a non-contending 6 goalis AHL team at the NVMC… I love my Isles, but I love my money more, when the team really does start to rebuild, I’ll be back, but Garth isn’t fooling me with his long term rebuild plan, at this rate, a #1 draft pick each year won’t work…. This team won’t contend until the Lighthoust is not approved, but up and standing, until then, Listen to Garth blow smoke up our ***, and ask Does Garth really have a plan in his head, or does he really know what he is doing ??
I thought Mike Iggulden was decent with alot of upside… why did the isles give up on him?
why do all these people think they have 82196321382131 goalies? people don’t know how to count or something. they just let 3 go so they had to get 3 more. come on quit being fools and bashing the team you claim to like.
To take Calvin de Haan 12, he BETTER be the goods. and to take 2 goalies with your next two picks, one of them BETTER pan out to be better than good.
Sorry but they passed on some real good talent in this draft. You can’t count the #1 pick. That was a no-brainer. This was an opportunity to make up some ground and I think they missed the boat with taking goalies that soon. I can’t bash them on de Haan, because if they felt that strongly about him to move up that much to take a ’sleeper’, I can deal with it. But goalies!!?!?!?!?
I have my doubts.
very well positioned CB. As fans, it’s easy to forget that draft position and projections at 18 mean so little compared to what happens between 18 and 21 where real development happens.
1) Its still all about goaltending. Even a thin squad can be competitive if the guy between the pipes is solid. (Recall the Sabres 10 years ago with Hasek!)
2) If Ricky plays 60 games at his previous level and Rollie plays well in his 20-25 games then there is no reason the isles should again be in the lottery next season. Playoffs? perhaps not yet, but shouldn’t be cellar dwellers either
I think the Isles have done all that could be expected of them in replenishing the prospect pool since Snow took over. Remember, he took over a team that had no farm system, thanks to his inept predecessor (not Neil Smith, the other dope). He made a mistake trading for Ryan Smyth and giving up Nilsson, O’Marra and a first rounder, but Nilsson is mediocre and O’Marra is garbage anyway.
Snowy traded down a bunch last year and went for quantity, volume of prospects. This year, he drafted fewer guys and traded picks, but got (presumably) high quality in each guy selected, especially with JT, De Hann and Koskinen. Sure, the Isles system probably isn’t the deepest in hockey, but considering where it was when Snow took over, there’s a night-and-day difference now.
I hope that Calvin de Haan doesn’t become the whipping boy just because THN says that he should have gone 22nd, or so (I’m not going to get up and actually check). Pierre Maguire didn’t go nuts, good sign. Bob McKenzie had plenty of good things to say, good sign. Did they say it was early? Yes, but they didn’t say it was wrong or bad. I’ve seen 0 Oshawa Generals games last year. With the exception of the WJC’s, we’re all at the mercy of what we read and what we hear. This was a deep draft, and just as a reference point, in 1996, Derek Morris was WAY off the board when the Flames took him. He was supposed to go in the 3rd round, or so. Ditto for Thomas Hickey in 2007 and Blake Wheeler in 2004. The Islanders saw something in de Haan. Let’s see for ourselves what they saw before we go dumping on the scouting staff for making this pick.
I think we are at least 2 to 3 drafts away from having a real great prospect pool. I also think that maybe our prospect pool is rated a little on the low end because some of our better prospects are already on the team. Okposo was suppose to be in college still and Bailey probably could of used another year of development in the OHL. Add those guys to our prospect list and I thimk we jump from the 20 range up to like the 11 or 12 range in prospect pools. Just my opinion I am not an expert though and I also would not like to hear anything about the Pens rebuild because I’m pretty sure Shero sold his soul for that rebuild.
First off, why does every Islander fan who’s bashing the draft/team right now seem to think that Tavares can bolt after his entry level contract? Unless there’s some type of exception for him, all entry-level contracts end in Restricted FA…UFA doesn’t happen in the new CBA until age 26. At the least, Tavares will be QO’d at the highest level (assuming he plays to his potential) and then will get some type of contract after that. He’ll have no leverage and no team would give up that many picks for 1 player, unless Tavares scores 70 goals in a season (highly, highly unlikely).
And please stop bashing the goalie picks…1 of the guys is 21 and can come over to provide depth now, while the other can still grow into being an NHL caliber goalie. Isn’t this the same site where most of the commenters were expecting some goalie help because of DiPi’s current status?
Regarding the goalie picks, wasn’t this considered a pretty weak draft for goalies? The fact that the Isles took goalies with the first picks of both the second and third rounds speaks volumes for how they feel about the goaltending situation I think. That combined with the DR signing leads me to believe they feel they can’t count on DiPietro for the long term .If that is the case then the picks were actually good ones since they address our prospect pool’s most glaring long term need (goaltending).
For the record, any time “he has to be” is linked with the number one, I get nervous. That happened twice. It should be “he is.” Yikes.
Islesbl(#39): Tavares can’t go anywhere after his rookie contract expires. He’s a RFA until he’s 25 under the CBA. All the Isles have to do is qualify him and whoever signs him to an offer sheet will have to give up a king’s ransom if the Isles don’t match the offer sheet, which I doubt will happen.
JT is an Islander at least for the next seven seasons, just like JayBo was in Florida. Worst case scenario, the Isles move him before he becomes a UFA and get a king’s ransom for him then.
I don’t have a problem with the GM and scouting staff going with their collective gut. The nature of these positions is calculated risk taking as long as there are consequences for failure. The organization can’t just fire the coach every year. That said, would a “Phil Housley type” be an accurate model for de Haan to strive for.
Islesbl 39 has it right #41 is wrong You can love the team and still believe that getting some help at D and F are essential for the development of the young team. Bottom line a last place team playing before a half empty NVMC bolstered by give away tickets is not going to get us the LH. or keep the franchise on the Island. YThe negative fans are those who are hoping for another last place finish so we can another #1 pik.
I too can’t understand posters complaining about the goalie picks. Who was going to play goal if DP can’t play. If we didn’t get DR and these 2 picks? Who? Do you want Danis again? Goaltending is by far the most important position on the ice. It can win or lose games. A goalie plays 60 minutes. How many minutes will JT play? We needed goalies bad.
Iggulden is 26 graduate Cornell U and then played 4 years in AHL - so he’s past being a dveloping prospect (same age as Bergy, Nielsen and even Tamby) Is he better then any of them? Even tamby? would he improve much?
Same goes for Colliton
At best bit players who wouldn’t make a huge difference
Danis signed with the Devils. good that he got a contract.
I didn’t watch a lot of games last season since I live out of state, but I followed the team & thought Danis played pretty well. Better than Joey Mac, no?
islesbl Bravo!
I like what Snow did this draft and am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt before judging. If De Haan and Koskinen/Nilsson fulfill their potential, it will be one of the best drafts in Team history.
However, the Isles this season will be another brutal one, imo. Every team in the Atlantic has significantly improved, except the Devils. Most teams in the Eastern Conference, including recent bottom feeders, have gotten dramatically better (TB, Atl, Fla, Tor).
No doubt in my mind with the current roster, the Isles will finish last again in the division and be a bottom 5 team in the NHL. I’d bet a mortgage payment right now. By February, the talk will all be about Taylor Hall and why we shouldn’t win games down the stretch in order to maximize our chances of drafting him.
Saying that this draft was a weak one for goalies doesn’t mean that there were no good goalies, just not a lot of them. It was perhaps the biggest hole in a roster with a lot of holes in it and SnoJanks did not have the luxury of waiting to see who of value was available late in the draft. They picked the best goalie in the draft and hedged their bets with the second goalie pick. The Isles are not league leaders in much that is good but an argument could be made that our coaches and management have more goalie expertise than anyone else.(PS - “..roster with a lot of holes” is not a reference to the Rags, but it could be).
CB .. can you give an update on the status of David Ullstrom…any chance he will be coming over to The Bridge this season or is he staying in the SEL? He would seem to be a good fit here as an eventual 2nd/3rd line winger with speed and decent size @ 6′3 200. At 20 yrs old I would imagine if he doesnt come over next year at the latest that would be a sign that the Isles don’t think he fits?
CB your statement good not great about prospect depth just proves my point that after John Tavares we blew this draft.