PRACTICE: ICEWORKS, 11.30.09
KO day off…Nielsen just dtd…full day for DP
FanHouse: Outdoor Game Talk (including Islanders info)
No other major news from practice. Rick DiPietro participated in the entire 75-minute practice and stayed on for 15 extra minutes of shots. His final save was a glove steal on Rob Schremp, and then he exited the ice. About his progress, Scott Gordon said, “Everything’s been good. Each day has been better.” The coach said DiPietro’s long-discussed protocol was established by team doctors, trainer Garrett Timms, GM Garth Snow and goalie coaches Mike Dunham and Sudsie Maharaj.
Asked if DiPietro would join the team for workouts on the road, Gordon said the schedule as of now was only established through Wednesday. DiPietro will practice for the next two days. He will play a few games in Bridgeport before making his NHL comeback. Garth Snow told Newsday today that could be “the middle of December.”
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1:40 pm - Good news for the Islanders: C Frans Nielsen is only listed as out day-to-day with his upper body injury.
1:10 pm, Iceworks: Kyle Okposo, according to the team, has the day off. Rob Schremp is in Frans Nielsen’s spot. By the looks of it - and it’s only Monday and the next game is not until Thursday - Comeau is the 13th forward. Andrew MacDonald is here for Andy Sutton.
Moulson - Tavares - Comeau
Bergenheim - Schremp - Hunter
Tambellini - Bailey - Sim
Thompson - Park - Jackman
Day Off: Okposo
Streit - Gervais
Witt - Hillen
Meyer - MacDonald
(those D pairings are placeholders)
Roloson
Biron
DiPietro
Tavares at NHL Store: John Tavares will be signing autographs (on league-supplied cards only) at the NHL Store in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday from 4-5 pm. The store is located at 1185 Avenue of the Americas between 46th and 47th St.
MacDonald’s Back: After scoring a goal yesterday in Bridgeport’s 3-2 shootout win, Andrew MacDonald is back with the Islanders. Andy Sutton is sidelined an estimated 2-4 weeks with a groin injury. MacDonald has not been on the ice for any even-strength goals against in his three NHL games this season.
The Next-Best Options in Bridgeport: While there aren’t many prospects ready to step in immediately and contribute, the Islanders have some options should they need more recalls from the Sound Tigers. On defense, Dustin Kohn is likely the next in line to be brought up. At forward, the Islanders could go with a skilled youngster (Trevor Smith), veteran grinder (Greg Moore) or the Sound Tigers’ small but effective leading scorer (Sean Bentivoglio).
Jesse Joensuu could come up for a game on the hope that playing with NHLers may inspire him. However, Joensuu (4-8-12 in 25 AHL games this season) still has a lot to prove. Matt Martin continues to impress and will be an Islander at some point in the next two years. Robin Figren (0-2-2 in 19 games) was a healthy scratch Saturday and needs to go to Utah of the ECHL to try and turn his game around.
Comments.
35 Responses to “PRACTICE: ICEWORKS, 11.30.09
KO day off…Nielsen just dtd…full day for DP”
Please Wait
This is the opportunity Schremp’s been waiting for. I hope he does well.
Andrew MacDonald looked horrendous in Jersey. My Dad and I drove to the game and got tickets there, and saw a bad game. But MacDonald looked completely out of place, like he had no idea what he was doing. I hope he improves during his stay in the NHL.
Not sure about Tamby and Schremp on the same line. Maybe they feed off each other???
I usually agree with most of what you say but in regaurds to Bentivoglio being a call up you are way off base. He is at best a lifetime AHL`r. He is very weak on his skates and has very limited vision on the ice. He does usually play hard but he is not anywhere near being a servicable NHL’r. Bport is just so mediocre that he gets topline minutes. Mauldin would deserve a spot over Bentivoglio any day of the week.
If it coems down to Benti being a call up the Islanders are in more than major trouble.
i cannot wait to one day see Joensuu and Martin on the big club… both of those kids can play!!!
The longer we go without hearing anything about Nielson the worst the injury probably is…
To me it looked like Nielsen injured his neck more so than his shoulder.
Maybe a disc or sprain/”whiplash”. Just guessing of course from looking at replays.
Probably awaiting results of an MRI.
DOC
Put Comeau and Okposo together!
If KO slides into Comeau’s spot for Thursday’s game, then I have to say I’m liking those top two lines, given the options available.
Post updated with Nielsen news…CB
ummm…can I take what I said (#5) back now?
DiPietro was also day to day for a while there. But, if CB says so, it must be true
Thank you for keeping the fan base informed, I hate having to wait till thurs for another game, but maybe the guys need this to refocus after the NJ debacle.
Kyle gets an awful lot of practice days off, doesnt he?
I missed the Jersey’s game. Was MacDonald really hat bad in the Jersey’s game? I thought he plays pretty well in the other games. Kohn looked awful during pre-season. Maybe he has gotten better, but I pretty much lost hope of him being a good NHLer.
13, he looked awful. I was also at the game Friday afternoon, and Nielson looks bad too. I always thought Frans was decent, but he’s been playing terribly. But yeah, MacDonald looked completely out of place in Jersey. My Dad and I couldn’t believe it.
I caught the same thing MetalChick, KO does seem to be resting a bit. Is he not 100% after the concussion or swine flu? Is he suffering from another ailment? Could also explain his lack of production. I guess this is how rumors get started.
Nice to hear that DP is progressing and getting closer to playing again.
Just talkin’ bout practice @ #13.
Seriously though, KO has been playing hard and did go through some ailments over the last few months. I don’t see a problem in giving him some days off when they come few and far between this season. He’s earned it since you never have to question his hustle.
Good news on Nielson, but would be nice to see what Schremp has, although, now it sounds like a limited audition for him.
CB,
I liked your digg on the Rangers in regard to having the outdoor game at Yankee Stadium…
its not totally reflective on the scoresheet but Joensuu has been alot better the past 5 games
Right now the Islanders are not guranteed to make the playoffs. Garth should make a few minors deals the keep this team in the hunt. 1st deal I make is, try to acquire a D-man with little size and brings a physical element. My suggestions would be Tim Gleason(Car)or Garnet Exlleby (Tor) neither would command a king’s ransome. The Isles goalies get bumped quite often both would prevent that from happening. 2nd deal, will he harder to come is.. a Bill Guerin type player. Good skills , can score, veteran and plays with grit. These are guys everybody wants come playoff time. Needs some team to drop out off playoff hunt and these this type will be available.
I am surprised some on here would say Frans is playing “terribly”. From my seats he has looked pretty darn good. Not as good as he looked before going down last season and a little lacking in confidence lately but, Frans without confidence is still a very competent three zone player with some silky smooth moves. I hope he can shake off this last injury quickly. My original point was this..get Comeau in there!!! He makes some bad decisions in transition and along the boards and holds on for too long at times but, he is young and needs to learn how to make better decisions in game situations. I think Gordon’s leash on the kid is shorter then with some of the other youngins. As you learn when raising a young pup, you do not put them in a position to fail and they will gain confidence and begin to succeed. The impetus for Comeau’s latest benching was the last-minute give away at the end of the Minnesota game that lead to the winning goal. Why would Gordon put in him in that position at this point anyway???
I like Nielsen’s skills, but he needs to get stronger, imo. It looks like he gets pushed off the puck too easily. He and Bergy, both 25, can’t really be considered “kids” anymore, so if they have anything more than what they’ve shown, now’s the time to show it. Bergy I think has shown that even if he can’t put up big numbers, he can still be a very good grinder/energy player. Nielsen probably needs to do a bit better than 10 pts in 21 games as a second line center.
Interesting that Okposo seems to be getting a lot of days off. Wonder if he’s injured?
Good to see Neilsen’s not badly injured and that MacDonald should get a bunch of games to show what he can do. Hopefully he can replace Sutton full time come next year when Sutton contract is done.
Looks like DP’s getting closer to a Bridgeport assignment. Maybe back in the NHL around new years, or just after?
Nice to see Matt Martin is progress well. Could be ready by Oct. 2011.
Okiposo has never scored 20 goals in the NHL. Not sure why fans think he was going to score 35 goals this year. Maybe 3 years from now he is better player. Won’t happen overnight.
Not how many more “this is schremp chance to prove himself” opportunities i can take.
If i had to guess, i dont think Gordan has many more. This could be his last one unless Nielsen hurt for longer period of time.
Dustin Kohn imo is worthless at the AHL level let alone being called up for a NHL game. He needs to concentrate more on his defense rather then trying to act like the 4th forward while hes out there. he’s caught out of position WAY too much..
If snow was smart he would make some trades. Trade our vets for younger players. Trade Witt, Park, Sutton and try and get younger players or prospects for them. Then this summer sign 1 top 6 forward and 1 top 4 dmen and an enforcer and we will be set!
CB, thanks for the updates on Frans and Sutts. Quick question, any word on Marty? His season is obviously over but can you update us on his surgery, if he had it yet, and how much of a problem a second ACL surgery could be to his career.
I would much rather see Comeau play on the wing with Thompson and Jackman and move Park into Nielsens place as opposed to putting the ‘American Alexei Kovalev’ Rob Schremp in the lineup. The difference is while Kovalev skates around in circles in the neutral zone with the puck, he can actually score. Schremp just circles and then takes some weak shot from the top of the faceoff circle. I have seen nothing that suggests hes an NHL center at all .
Thats great news about Frans…I was worried he would be out for another extended stint…He is an integral part of this line up…I don’t understand the gripes about him around here…He seems to be doing just fine in all facets of the game…He’s responsible with the puck, he can skate, pass, score goals but even more importantly he’s very good in his own end, defensively…I like Frans as our #3 center, for sure…
I am not interested in Rob Shremp, hes weak…
middle of December for DP? What year?
OK needs some help on the ice !!! He earned the day off