WEDNESDAY NIGHT NOTEBOOK: Gordon picks best game…Roloson…MacD stays…Tale of two Prospects
Chris Botta on Cam Fowler, top 5 prospects for 2010
The No. 1 Sign Your Team is Going Strong: Nate Thompson is given the day off.
Oh, Nate knows we kid. Saying some players were “banged up” - translation: “they’re injured but could play Friday so I don’t have to tell you diddly” - or under the weather, Scott Gordon gave Thompson, Richard Park, Kyle Okposo, Mark Streit and Andy Sutton the day off the ice. All were at Iceworks today for meetings, treatment or off-ice workouts.
Best Game? I felt the Islanders’ win on Monday in Boston was their best all-around performance of the season. Gordon disagreed, saying his pick was the home victory over Atlanta on Nov. 7. I thought the Islanders were much more sound defensively in Boston. “We didn’t give up a lot. We didn’t create a lot,” Gordon corrected. “Neither team gave up much.”
I asked Gordon today about areas where he would like to see improvement. He expressed some frustration at giving up the 2-0 leads in Florida and Carolina. (He should have been on our live chats!) The coach pointed out that the Panthers’ two goals were “the extent of their offense to that point.”
Other than that, I didn’t get much out of him in terms of areas to improve. I knew he wouldn’t name names, but the fact is - for all the Islanders’ recent success - there are plenty of players capable of performing at a higher level.
MacDonald Stays: Even if Brendan Witt re-joins the team for this weekend’s road trip, Gordon said that Andrew MacDonald will stay with the big club for the time being. There is no update on Brendan’s personal matter or when he may return.
Kid Likes to Play: For more than a half-hour after practice today, John Tavares worked on his own with just one puck and an empty net at one end of the rink. Some time was spent fooling around, some of it very seriously. All of it was on stickhandling and his moves around the net. He’s 19, enjoys the game and on a day like today is in no rush to leave the rink. Gotta love that.
Not Runnin’ with Roloson: When I asked Gordon if Dwayne Roloson’s stellar play and knack for winning or tying - points in 11 of his 12 starts - merits consideration for No. 1 status and playing time, the coach blockered the question by saying he prefers to look at matchups and his goalies’ histories against opponents. He was very complimentary of Roloson’s play.
Yes, But There is 5-on-5 Overtime: Gordon on the shootout - “If we’re fortunate enough to get in the playoffs, there won’t be any shootouts.” The coach was making the point that he puts out the best players he can in these regular season skills competitions for the all-important second point. Other than that, it’s out of a coach’s hands.
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One Up, Own Down in Bridgeport: Kudos to Islanders prospect Matt Martin, who continues on his path to joining the Islanders in two years. Martin hits, takes names, sticks up for his teammates, fights. In other words, he gets it.
He has also contributed three goals and six assists in his first 20 games as a pro. Might not seem like much, but nine points has him tied for fifth in team scoring with second-year pro Jesse Joensuu and just one point shy of Trevor Smith. As long as the Islanders don’t rush him, fans can look forward to having Martin on their side in 2011-12. On the other hand…
Robin Figren is a 21-year old prospect with skill and heart. He was drafted in the third round in 2006 and the franchise had expectations he could develop into a top-9 forward who could score 20 goals and excel in all zones. After two seasons in the Western Hockey League, Figren went home to Sweden to play last year in the SEL. The decision - his, blessed by the Islanders - turned out badly. He did not play much for long stretches. When he did, he failed to produce.
Today, Figren is lost. He is a prospect who’s not really a prospect. In 15 games in Bridgeport, the left wing has one assist. It is time for Figren to be Trevor Smithed. Two years ago, the talented Smith was sent to Utah of the East Coast Hockey League and found his scoring touch and his confidence. If it worked for Smith, it could work for Figren. No reason why not. Right now, nothing is working for Robin Figren.
Comments on this post.
40 Responses to “WEDNESDAY NIGHT NOTEBOOK: Gordon picks best game…Roloson…MacD stays…Tale of two Prospects”
Please Wait
JT is livin’ the dream. It seems that the players who remember that hockey is fun have alot of success too.
CB,
Find a way to let the Isles management know about what you said about Figren…I agree with you, send him to UTAH before its to late. This kid is really lost and very noticeable when you watch him play.
Figren’s development is a definite set back, we need to do whatever we can to get him back on track. On another note the great players have that burning desire to succeed, we have that in Taveres. I remember watching Bossy do the same thing as a kid when I worked at Cantiague park and the Isles practiced there in the 80’s.
Awesome read, CB. I agree on Figren - if it looks like he really is that lost out there, let him drop down until he gets comfortable again. MacDonald staying is good to hear. I hope they don’t just scratch him though. That’s great that Tavares is putting in extra time. No one can question his commitment. It’s especially good to hear that he’s working on getting even better around the net.
The positive news is, that the better this team plays, the more valuable some of our veterans seem. Biron, Andy Sutton and Richard Park could be nice additions to a playoff team come April.
I hope JT works on his skating as much as he works on his play around the net (not implying he doesn’t, just that he needs it). A great skating coach can go a long way!
Where are all the Nate Thompson detractors now? Guy’s been rock-solid.
Figren: SEND HIM HERE!!! (Get him here by Friday, I’m going to the game.)
I’m happy to hear MArtin is developing slowly but surely. I really want to see this kid develop into a Scatchard type - gritty gutty third liner who can hit, drop the mitts and pop in 15 goals.
If AMac stays and Witt is back, someone sits. Shouldn’t be AMac for obvious reasons, so will they finally sit Brutal Bruno? He’s been horrible and Hillen has surpassed Bruno in every way possible in 20 games this year and limited action last year. Time to part ways with Bruno and give someone else a shot.
Smokey - there are plenty of Thompson detractors still out there. It’s not that he doesn’t play hard and I’ve been impressed with his faceoff abilities but he’s easily replaced IMO. Between Thompson and Jon —, I’d keep Thompson without hesitation, but we need to upgrade a couple guys on this roster and preferably sooner rather than later. He’s an easy target compared to the other up and coming kids on the roster as his upside isn’t touted to be very high.
I hope Martin is ready before 2011. I had high hopes for Figren. I hope he turns it around.
#2 - pretty safe bet that NYI management read this blog faithfully
#8 - very possible that Martin exceeds Scatchard, would be great to see it
#9 - Brutal Bruno - ouch - lucky us civilians don’t get nicknames like this…. OTOH, there’s not too many “Bru-” adjectives - Brusque? Brutish? Bruiser? Bruin (wishful thinking)?
i dont get ur point stephen… the better the islanders play the more likely they are goin to acquire a player to help them get into the playoffs… i dont get islander fans sometimes… we r playing good… y if we r playin good wuld u want to trade players who r makin us good (biron is understandable once dipietro comes back) and in the playoff hunt??… enough draft talk… im lookin for the playoffs bc this team IS a playoff team
Nice read!
Still no one asking Gordon about Tamby being scratched?
No gratuitous photos of scantily clad males or females today? I am worried your hit numbers are going to decline.
12-i think stephen’s point is that we have players coming off the books-and if the organization has already determined we will not be bringing them back for 10-11, then it would be prudent to trade them.
I know it hurts to say, but even if we do make the playoffs its most likely a one and done scenario-and if we can get a young nhler(not a draft pick) for someone like park, biron or sutton(and garth knows he’s not extending them), then he should
while i agree with you this team COULD be a playoff team, it doesn’t change the fact that all decisions should be made with the goal being of winning a cup-not making the playoffs one year.
CB, I’m with Gordon that the Atlanta game was the best they’ve played this year. I thought they were outplayed in Boston. Luckily they found the back of the net and Boston didn’t.
I agree with you on Figren, something needs to change there.
As for Martin I’d love it if he turned into a David Clarkson type of player a few years down the road.
I totally agree with # 12! This team IS a playoff team, we should be looking for some players to add, not get rid of veterans. Especially Park and Sutton. Witt yes.
GO ISLES!!
It’s nice to see potential pieces to the puzzle (like Martin) beginning to fall into place. It looks like we have the making of a solid first line with KO and JT, and we always have solid 4th line players (Nate, Park). It would be nice to see a couple guys step up as the 2nd and 3rd line players of the future. Moulson seems an obvious favorite now, but I’d like to see how he handles a full season. It would also be nice to give MacDonald a real shot at some serious game experience. It seems to have worked for Hillen
I hope they make a run at the playoffs this season as this team IS a playoff team. I wouldn’t get rid of any veterans at the deadline, as if the Isles make the big dance, more quality veterans will consider playing on Long Island next season. I think it’s better for the Isles to keep the value of the team high even if that’s risking losing veterans with no compensation at the end of the year.
keep the team we have right now. do not add or subtract (meyer, sutton, sim, weight ect.) until the off season.
Nate Thompson is a pretty good fourth liner and makes the least of all Islanders. Replaceable -Yes? but not likely to get the value you get with him
I don’t quite get the love of Park and why people think he’s a playoff team pickup? His +/- is -8 (same as Witt’s) and he has the worst shot % on the team. Yeah he kills penalties and has the leadership thing going but why is Thompson “replacable” and Park the playoff pickup?????
no one should be pulling for a high draft this yr. this is a playoff team. and besides this draft is weak so unless we are the worst team in the league or second or third, no one should be thinking about that. I’m pulling to see J. Joensuu soon. has third line potential, stick him with franz and bergie. and as for petrov, man i almost forgot about him, how sick would that be getting him over here? needless to say the young talent level this yr is much better than i can really ever remember. also good for Andy Mac. always liked the guy.
Brutal Bruno… gimme a break! He’s a 4 or 5 defenseman, playing on the top pair facing the other teams best line every night. Hillens doing a nice job, but he’d be toast if he were in the same situation… Gordon’s done a good job of not exposing Hillen - while he’s been real good offensivly, he could still beef up on play better in our own end…
Best 60 minutes of the year was against Boston the other night.
Isles matchup better against Atlanta’s style of play, and were able to dictate the action and play Isles style.
Not so with Boston, Isles beat them in a full 60 minutes playing THEIR game.
Hopefully, I (we) will look back at the Bruin game as a defining moment for our kids this year.
Just my opinion.
Not sure why some of you want to see Sutton go. The guy has been great. He was playing real well last season too before he got hurt. It took a little to get the rust off this season but he’s been everything we could ask of him. I for one would extend him.
# 23 - Problem is, Bruno isn’t a 4 or 5 defenseman.
As for Sutton, I’ve really enjoyed watching his play this season. Textbook clean hits, minimal mental errors, and keeping it simple.
#5, Stephen, I agree, park and sutton will be nice additions to a playoff team come april. OUR PLAYOFF TEAM.
I have to eat my words on Sutton. Ever since I bashed him early this season, he has played the body extremely well and also has the knack to roof pucks. Glad to hear that Martin is adjusting well to the AHL. Definitely can see the Clarkson comparisons. Would love to know what other top 6 forwards this organization has
in its prospect pool - Gregoire, Toews, Petrov, Ullstrom? Who knows.
I agree with the Bruno criticisms. I was a defender last year, but I’m a big detractor this year. It’s always a decent play followed by an awful one. He beats a forward to the puck, but fails to clear the zone. He clears the zone, but he ices the puck. He angles someone toward the boards, but lets him get around easily with a light and pointless shove. He pinches nicely to the high slot on offence, but puts a harmless wrister off of a defender. I also cannot recall him winning a single battle in the corners this season. Seems like a great guy, and he’s a good skater, but he’s the worst of the lot defensively.
As competitive as the Isles have been I still struggle to see them as a playoff team. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see enough talent here. IMO, we need three more quality forwards, and 2 more quality d-men.
Love the way the team is playing but…. We’re not following the Pitt Pens Plan (PPP). They bottomed out for a few yrs and got top draft picks (one lucky draft slot) and developed. I hate to halt the development by squeezing into the 8th spot and being eliminated in the first round ala a few years ago. We get a mid to upper pick. I say leave the team the way we are, then trade Weight, Park, Sutton to playoff teams in Feb.
Sutton was our best D man last year prior to getting hurt. He was hitting, blocking shots etc…he was a huge loss when he went down. He was slow to start this year but that was expected. Now that he is healthy and in game shape - the guy has been a monster. I would say with confidence that he is one of the best dmen out there at closing down the side walls. His hits are brutal - keeping arms down and tight - punishing guys and they are thinking twice about maling moves to the outside.
I think management will know whether we should move players by the deadline. By then it’ll be obvious to all. Now, let’s just enjoy. As for Figren, and everyone else, makes a neat story, but let’s just see. Different development times for different kids. Not sure the motives of whomever CB got the story from anyway (since I’m sure it’s not from personal scouting). Interesting, but certainly not gospel.
Whatever happens with the team this year i think our expectations have all been exceeded - regardless of what happens here on out. We are seeing Kyle mature. Tavares is as billed. Moulson another stellar diamond in the rough find. Neilsen growing. A 4th line emerging. Some secondary scoring now coming in from Hunter and a few others. Bergy despite the lack of points has been a spark plug. Tamby growing up despite sitting. Some parts growing in the Bridge. A few young dmen getting a chance. Streit solid as always. One and done in the playoffs would be fine by me IF that happens. Experience is invaluable. Cap space for 2010-2011 season can be a huge advantage. Finally positive hockey news. Glad to see (although it is killing me not knowing anything)that the lighthouse bullsh_t has kept itself away from all of this so we can enjoy it. Not so sure where we fit Weight in once he returns. I know you all say Sim sucks….Sim must go. But he does do a lot of little dirty things that should not be overlooked. I would like to see Weight play on the 1st with Moulson and Tavares. Park can move back down to 4th to complete that line again. Neilsen centers Bergy and Comeau. Bailey centers Hunter and Tamby/Sim??? Nice balance. Amamzing that we talk about how to fit everyone in vs who can actually fit in like last year. Love the goalie depth. Arguably the best in the league right now.
I think this team when healthy could probably get the 7 or 8 seed but if any of the key guys, Tavares, Okposo, Moulson or Streit go down for a couple weeks plus then forget about it. Even if they are in position to take the 7th or 8th seed I can’t see Snow being a buyer at the deadline (especially after that Smyth debacle) and without help on D the isles will get killed by whoever they meet in the 1st round. In any case I hope they keep it up, there is no reason to tank the season if they are in position for a higher pick, 10+ just trade it with Biron for Filitov (Garon is not going to keep up those numbers and something is definitely wrong with Mason)
Anyway I hope they keep it up this is the best hockey the team has played in a long time.
Two things. Someone said that the draft this year is lousy. That is wrong. It is stacked, at least through the top ten picks. It is the draft after the 2010-2011 season that the scouts feel will be the worst since the draft where we had four first round picks. Second, unless Gordon believes and can convince Garth that Filatov is a perfect fit for the system, why would we trade for him? We had the chance to get him for nothing two drafts ago and passed.
read the fowler piece, good read chris, would be nice to get him but it looks out of reach at the moment…
shame about figrin’s lack of progression, but he’s still only 21, not lost yet!
@Gutty34(#34) Who’d we get for Okposo, or is he just a healthy scratch in your scenario?
Figren: Why is it such an easy decision to send Robin to the ECHL when there is very little happening in the AHL? I ask that because the same scenario has not even been considered by management for Bailey, whose demotion could vastly help, not only his development, but that of the Tigers’ players as well. Who knows, maybe even Robin. While Schremp is still on the roster I think it would be beneficial to move Bailey from a third line NHL center to a first line AHL center. This is almost a no brainer when Weight returns… why would you return him to the RW when you have KO, TH, Comeau and Jackman there already… not to mention Park. I still say bailey will be a fine NHLer, I just think he’d be a lot more help in Bridgeport right now.
Martin: I’m looking forward to seeing Matt in the NHL. There’s a sea of mediocrity above him though. The organization definitely has some decisions to make when it comes to what direction they are headed.
I think in the final leg of this road trip the Isles can put an exclamation mark that they are not to be taken lightly. I believe if they took advantage of these off days they can come into Friday’s game recharged and ready to surprise another home team.
KO’s home turf … looking for a break out game for the consistently good winger.
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Good news about Martin … not so good news about Figren. I think there is nothing wrong with a player getting some instruction and confidence in the ECHL.
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Love it that JT is so dedicated to working on his game … I can relate to those solo exercises with the puck … come on… how many other fellow hockey players on here smashed up their parents’ garage door shooting pucks and stickhandling in the driveway?!
The Saga continues! Martins head coach Dave MacQueen(ex Tampa ) in Sarnia said it best “Matt Martin would not be denied” referring to his work ethic and character to wanting to be a Pro hockey player.
You make it happen Matt!