HOPEFUL NEWS ON KYLE OKPOSO
TRAINING CAMP: Iceworks, 9.25.09
1:45 pm - Islanders media relations director Seth Sylvan reports that Kyle Okposo has “passed a series of neurological tests” and started skating on his own this morning. Coach Scott Gordon could not say whether Okposo would be ready for the season opener, but said he was “hopeful.”
On the groin guys, Gordon said Doug Weight could return to practice on Saturday, Bruno Gervais a maybe for Monday.
Expect the Islanders to announce their plans for the captaincy on one of the three days between the final preseason game on Tuesday in New Jersey and the season opener on Saturday. My sense is the decision is coming down to Mark Streit and Doug Weight. I believe Streit is the right choice and is the very slight favorite over Weight. Gordon said, “I haven’t locked myself in” on a choice.
I asked Gordon if it’s possible toughies Jeremy Reich and Joel Rechlicz are battling for one spot. “They are two completely different players,” said Gordon. “Jeremy is more accomplished as a player and can handle himself. Joel at this point is more one-dimensional and we’re working with him on all aspects of his game.” Sounds like Reich – who played for Scott in Providence – has a chance.
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12:45 pm - The second and final session today of practice/camp/whatever is wrapping up. Barb Barker from Newsday and Dave Caldwell from The New York Times are also here, the latter to do a feature on John Tavares. As you know, practice is closed to the public so it’s quieter than usual. Just the sound of skates digging into ice and Coach Gordon speaking passionately. Last year I used to think he yelled a lot and was angry a lot. With my year of experience, I’ve learned that’s just how Scott sounds in a cavernous ice rink when he’s giving, uh, guidance.
Here are the combinations:
Moulson – Tavares – Park
Smith – Moore – Comeau
Tambellini – Bailey – Sim
Reich – Thompson – Jackman
(in yellow jerseys) Bergenheim, Rechlicz
de Haan – Streit
Witt – Martinek
Sutton – Meyer
Hillen – MacDonald
Roloson
Biron
Not practicing with the team: Okposo, Weight, Hunter, DiPietro and Gervais. Bruno has, yep, a strained groin.
Comments.
57 Responses to HOPEFUL NEWS ON KYLE OKPOSO
TRAINING CAMP: Iceworks, 9.25.09
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JT says:
I take it Bergie out too?
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mLem says:
Bergie dressed in yellow #2
I like Moore, reminds me a bit of Shawn Bates…hopefully without the injuries
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nystrom23 says:
Can someone please fire our friggin trainer with all these groin strains!!!!
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j says:
Its not the trainers fault, once a groin is strained it will always haunt the player and becomes more prone to injury.
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Jared says:
Jeez, these groin injuries are horrifying. Can anybody do something about this?
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adam says:
That is a pathetic lineup. Can’t believe I just spent $160 to watch this team on Center Ice this year.
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JPinVA says:
Last year somebody on NYIPB, with some medical experience, speculated that the groin strains were a result of overworking the muscles before a game and not giving them proper tome to hydrate and recover.
It seemed to make sense. I wonder if Gordon just pushes to hard during morning skates with what he expects at 7:PM.
Jeez, if they don’t clear the infirmary they’ll crush Pitt for two periods because they won’t be able to stop LAUGHING.
But we are pretty solid in goal.
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Craigger says:
What I seem to not understand here is how Reich is here, but Martin was sent down. Or at least why Thompson is still on this team. Sim I can understand, as if he was healthy, he could really do something worthwhile for this team…I think.
If it was me….
Moulson-Tavares-Martin
(Okposo)-Bailey-(Hunter)
(Bergenheim)-(Weight)-Comeau
Park-Nielsen-Jackamn/Tambelini/SimWitt-Martinek
Sutton-Hillen
Streit-MeyerDehann to Bridge for a while because we all know that one of those 6 will be hurt within the first 3 weeks of the season.
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Adam, i feel you’re pain. Between the two of us we spent more to watch the team than Snow did to improve it. Add in 2 or 3 games in CAR and WAS and another 2 at the future home of nassau county’s largest flea market and we will have created enough cash flow for the 2009-10 payroll.
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Matt says:
thankfully I decided not to dish out thousands of dollars on season tickets this year. i love the islanders as much as all of you but when I look at our roster even compared to the teams in our local area, all I could do is shake my head.
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Bobby says:
#10- deHaan Can’t go to B’port, he has to go to Jrs.
#5 – I think you are on point. He is a scoring winger with something to prove who could be had for cheap.
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Wow, talk about your thin line-up. It stinks having so many key players out again with injury. I know injuries happen but I am wondering about the trainers and/or strength & conditioning coaches these players see.
The only thing that keeps me going this season is the fact that another top pick in next year’s draft would really help speed things up. A Tavares & (possibly) Hall duo could be our Crosby/Malkin combo. However, Snow HAS to start signing quality free agents next summer to help add talent and progress this team.
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mw147 says:
Good news (Bergy is practicing) and bad news (Bruno with groin strain). And Bruno is not one of the most injury prone d-men. What happens when Sutton, Martinek, and Meyer go down? Oy vey.
CB – can you get any info at all on KO? The more time that goes by and he is not even skating, the more I think this is more serious than they were letting on (wouldn’t that be a shocker?). The ONLY positive thing is that they did let him fly the same night. Can’t believe they would do that if there was anything more serious.
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Marc from Troy says:
Sidney Crosby just strained his groin, too. Gonna be out for at least a few days. (His quote: “It was sore. We all deal with sore groins this time of the year, especially in camp. Usually once you warm up it gets better. I felt it was getting more sore.”)
That one also the fault of the Islanders trainers?
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Mario says:
I have a strained groin from 4 yrs. ago. It is the hardest to recover from.
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mt275 says:
Good news on OK… I was really worry when I didn’t hear any news on him for a week.
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CJCB says:
Cb, what do you think Rechlitz chances are of making the team? Who will take on all the Heavies/Middles in our division, Godard, Brashear, Peters, Carcillo, Cote, Laperriere, Rupp, Bissonette, etc, etc, i think it’s a little much for our smurfs. Has there been any confirmation that Rechlitz stays?
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MT says:
agreed #18 if you read stuff from around the league a lot of guys are dealing with it, it may look like a curse to us, but it is common
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Brian in VA says:
JP and Adam, this will be my second year without center ice… There is no way that I am dropping $160 for this version of the Isles… I had center ice since 2003 but I refuse to pay a dime for this garbage… Straighten out the Lighthouse scenario and I will get center ice again. Right now there is too much uncertainty and the lineup outside of #91 and #21 is garbage and Snow will end up getting #91 and #21 killed by not signing an enforcer.
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Leviticus says:
I hope teams but the likes of brashear on the ice at the same time as JT… That will increase his goal output significantly!!! Maybe the NVMC can book the WWE on ice to fill the blood lust need.
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kabbage says:
I’m comfortable with the lineup we have, not including the injuries, for this point in time. Keep in mind in the next couple of weeks there will be players that are skating with other teams that will need to clear waivers in order to be sent down to the minors. By finishing in last place last year, we have first dibs on those players. Consider if Pittsburg is going to keep both Rupp and Godard? There may also be some younger players that are further down the depth chart on some teams that may be exposed. It might be worth a shot at somebody like Rob Schremp if the Oilers try to send him down. These are just examples and there are going to be a lot of players in these situations in the near future. We can pick these players up without it costing us anything.
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JJT9090 says:
Neilsen is rehabbing from arthro surgery on his right knee i believe?
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Blizzard says: ….yes groin problems are common this time of year. Im also dissapointed Martin got sent down but I support Gordon. Interstingly de Haan is still around. Probably for a few games then back to juniors. And wow what an anemic line up! No KO, Nielson, Hunter, Gervais…..ooof.
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Hale78 says:
i am not sure what some of you guys want
1. NO A+ FREE AGENT IS SIGNING HERE UNTIL A NEW ARENA IS IN PLACE
2. Snow said he is rebuilding; this is what the lineup is going to look like for at least two more years.nobody wants to be average like they were getting the 8 spot every year with 35 year old washups…this is the only choice they have is to develop through the draft..and lets kids develop like martin and not rush these guys in
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mike says:
HORRIBLE job by the Isles closing practice to the public.They keep putting more distance between them and the public?
Rookie camp CLOSED
Training camp in Bora Bora
Practices CLOSED
And while I’m at it what a HORRIBLE job of promoting JT’s first home game the other night,I know it didn’t count but they could have put alot more people in the seats if they would have charged 10 bucks a ticket? They put 10,000 in there to see him get drafted on a summer Friday night. It continues to amaze me about all the BAD choices this franchise makes? I guess they get away with it because this team is in the blood of IDIOTS like myself. -
enforcer needed! says:
#25 lets just hope snow is smart enough to pickup one of the better players being waved. Remember last yr we got Thompson and LA GOT Quincey who is a stud
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mrlbem says:
With all due respect to Doug Weight, the captain should be Mark Streit. Weight may very well be gone at the trade deadline and even if he is not, his contract is up at the end of this season. Lately, Islander captains are like the drummers for Spinal Tap. Let’s have a captain who lasts more than one season.
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Isle4Ever says:
Nice to see KO skating again but like, Shanahan said, you have to be cautious returning from a concussion cause you may think it’s gone and then it comes back. Im really disapointed Haley was cut, he was leading preseason with the most penalty minutes and looke like he would fight anyone. Just a shame and bad message to be sending that even if you play tougher than anyone on the ice you’re still going to get cut.
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Strummer's Army says:
Riechelcz must be on the team and play every game. I like Reich’s game but he isn’t enough. Crap against the Flyers, Bos, Tor etc the two of them are not enough.
It looks like Snow has to do some trading/waiving here.
Freakin’ groin strains.
I’d have to go with Streit as captain. If this team is not going to make the playoff they need to trade Weight at the deadline. Let Streit run with it for a while.
The best line combos for the players still left are:
Bergenheim Tavares Okposo
Comeau Bailey Weight
Park Nielsen Hunter
Moulson/Riech/Jackman/Tambs Thomp WreckerTake some of the excess or young tiny d-prospects like MacDonald, Kohn, Katic and FIX THE DEFENSE! IT SUCKS!
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Botta Bing, I noticed that 2009 draft pick Anton Klementyev is playing for Bridgeport tonight. Is he AHL eligable this year?
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It’s odd how the hockey calendar for Islander fans has changed over the years.
70s: SEP Hope DEC Joy APR Frustration
80s: SEP Hope DEC Joy APR Exuberance
Early 90s: SEP Hope DEC Fun APR Passion
Late 90s: SEP Hope DEC Loss APR Hate
2000-07: SEP Hope DEC Hope APR Hope
2008-09: SEP Darkness DEC Dispair APR Disgust
Nolan type players: Sean Hill, Brendan Witt, Mike Sillinger, Miro Satan, Chris Simon, Jon Sim.
Gordon type players: Nate Thompson, Jeremy Reich. AHL coach…AHL players -
rb says:
Why am I beginning to hear “Eric Mangini” when I see Scott Gordon? There’s no question this a sub-par team that’s going to contend for a top-5 lottery pick. (By design?) But all this “over-drive” stuff (is it even capable of working against NHL talent?) and the refusal to come out swinging in defense of your players (where’s the you take out one of mine and we’ll take out two of yours) could wear thin by March 2010.
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Metalcoconut says:
Moulson – Tavares – Park
Wow! I love Park and this Moulson guy seems to be blending with Tavares but come on… That is sad if that is the best we have to pair with Tavares. Hopefully Okposo makes a full recovery soon so we can put him on that line. Park should be winger for Bailey.
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Glen S says:
post #26 your 100% correct closing the teams practice’s so fans season tix holders or the fans like myself can’t afford tix but end up going to about 10 to 15game’s a season, is shutting all fans out from following there team is a joke….
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TimQ says:
KO should sit out of action for a couple of weeks even if he thinks he’s ready. Really folks what’s the rush?
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Examiner says:
#25 – You’re 100% correct.
Until we get out of or make improvements to Nassau Coliseum no big free agent is coming to play here. Besides, Wang has no intention of paying a big name. Can’t blame Snow or Gordon for that.
Just look at the new names from the last 2 years (since Snow started rebuilding): Tavares, Bailey, de Haan, Martin, Ness, Hamonic, DiBendetto, Niemi, Cizikas, and Koskinen.
Don’t forget about ones that weren’t even at camp: Anders Lee, Corey Trivino, David Toews, Kirill Petrov, David Ullstrom, and Anders Nilsson.
We just have to be REAL patient.
# – 34
I find it hard to believe they will not put Weight on the same line with Tavares. Aside from serving as his on-ice mentor, Weight is no fighter but he is still gritty and knows a little bit about old school hockey. He knows the importance of protecting the younger (and more talented) players.
To begin the season I would probably throw Hunter out there to add at least some type of protection for him. Hunter also can’t fight but he is a hitter and could help deter some of the heat going Tavares’ way.
Down the line he will play with Okposo.
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battfist says:
There is nothing wrong with the Moulson-Tavares-Park line…the 2nd line-thats a problem.
Hunter can hit…thats funny. Im a Hunter fan but for his size-he doesnt throw his body around like he should.
A healthy KO changes the whole make-up of our team.
I cant wait for the opener!
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Come on batt, you serious?
135 hits in 55 games is not good enough for you?
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#37
I thought about Hunter as well and like the idea of a big bodied winger with Tavares but then I thought that he would just be too slow to keep up with Tavares’ scoring rush. Weight could go along with Tavares and for mentoring reasons that could be good but I figured that if you wanted to build chemistry you may as well start with someone who is going to be there for a while and can bang down low. I wouldn’t mind seeing Comeau on a line with him for a little while either. Who knows, there will probably be a lot of line changes due to the injuries. I guess this a mute point right now.
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billy says:
Okposo, Weight, Gervais, Bergie, Roloson, Hunter, Neilsen.
This is just pre-season and we’re already seeing the ugly injury bug brewing up a storm. Is there a single team in the NHL that has this many regulars banged up so far?
I don’t want to see us use an entire roster worth of Bridgeport throughout the year again.
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KO21 says:
Batfist, Hunter is top 5 in hits every season…watch Isles games lately???
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Kevin says:
Yea, I see Hunter run into the boards barely getting a piece of someone. Hunter rarely makes on open ice hit….and yes I watch all the games.
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Hes not out there taking guys out but he hits guys into the boards and gets the lose pucks…He forces guys to cough up the puck…Thats Hunters game…Hes not a bruiser but he does what he does well…
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isles09 says:
Oh man does Witt look slow!
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art says:
People usually think of an enforcer as a way to protect talented smallish players from injury by discouraging having runs made at them by bigger opposing players. But there is another aspect of enforcers. they can be very helpful to their team, that is by protecting their own high scoring players from big hits by the opposition and therefore allowing them to rack up more goals. This is another aspect of intimitation in hockey. Thus you could conclude that the Isles are at a big disadvantage at both aspects of the game. Its going to be a long season.
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west coast isles fan says:
i want to hold you to it jp in va:
if the isles do well with this “ahl” lineup this year..make through on your promise and continue to not buy center ice.
After all..the “potential ahl lineup” at the beginning of the year is all that matters..not how they will play during the regular season.
So if they are in the thick of things middle of year..i want to continue to see you nitpicking things about “groin strains” being gordon’s fault..ahl players as 4th liners..etc..
Dont suddenly change your tune.
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I’m in VA. I am getting Center Ice for the 8th consecutive year to watch the NYI exclusively. I won’t turn my back on them. We have to take our bumps during the youth movement. It will pay off in a few years I hope. Go Isles!
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WCIF: Scroll back up. I never said I was NOT getting Center Ice… and I hope that I am dead wrong. I hope they win the cup, and Gordon wins Coach of The Year… but I think there is a better chance of seeing Warren Buffet at the Hempstead White Castle pounding sliders with with Kanye and W.
I think you meant to direct that statement at fellow Virginian Brian. -
Another aspect people always overlook in staged Enforcer fights is that by doing so they r taking that player off the ice for 5 min with them so that player is no longer a threat to maybe attack one of your better players near an end of a shift or something like that. You think they r just fighting to fight but what good does Brashear do when he is in the penalty box, when he is not he will take out a guy like Betts when given the chance. But who will stop that from happening on our team, Jackman? The poor guy will end up in the Hospital. We HAVE to have Rechlitz or another legit Enforcer on this team if the Wrecker is not ready.
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Lol…
Look I like Hunter…but when was the last time you seen him annihilate someone with a hit? The guy is 6’3″ 210. Yeah he puts up hit stats but…he doesnt “hit” guys. I guess what Im trying to say is that in the NFL there is a difference when Troy Polamalu hits you and when Fred Smoot hits you.
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Ugly Roe From Massapequa says:
I’m not interested in going to the games.
I’m not interested in buying a television package.
I’m not interested in this very uninteresting team.Short on talent.
Short on size.
Short on toughness.
Short on fan support.
Short on finances.They have zero chance to win.
They have zero chance to compete.
They have zero chance to even defend themselves.
Thus, they have zero chance of getting me to watch them stink up still another season.And you can take this to the bank: Even if they finish last, (as expected; as predicted by everyone), they probably won’t even get the Taylor Hall ping pong ball in next year’s lottery, so it will all be for naught.
I’m not wasting my time this year. I’m too ugly and life is too short.
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Vas says:
Hey CB, was that you rockin the sports jacket and shirt with shorts? Gangsta!
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Blizzard says:
….lol at Ugly Roe. I mean really you know damn well you will be watching. I cant wait!!!! Yes the future stars and who steps up will be compelling IMO.
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Brendan Witt looked like a Jerry’s Kid out there on Wednesday night!
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B says:
This team just can’t stay healthy, it’s insanely frustrating. Maybe the trainers could roll them up in bubble wrap during pre-game….we need KO, the Isles better be marking March 25 on their schedule, get the foil out!
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Ugly Roe From Massapequa (52): That is of course your choice to make regarding “wasting time.” So, as stated, you are no longer following the team. OK, I guess thats that, then. Take care, wish you all the best, and I guess maybe you will post here again next year?
I personally think you will miss hockey and recant these very words… but we will see!
Please tell Barb I loved her on Price is Right!