Monthly Archives: June 2010
Game 3 is do-or-die for Flyers
Now that the Draft Combine is over, it’s time to bring the boys to Long Island. Point Blank has learned that prospective top-five draft picks Erik Gudbranson and Cam Fowler have accepted invitations to visit New York for a day and a half each and meet with owner Charles Wang and general manager Garth Snow.
Gudbranson, the rugged 6-3 defenseman from the Kingston Frontenacs whom one NHL draft source believes is the apple of the Islanders’ eye, is tentatively scheduled to arrive on June 10.
Fowler, the wondrously gifted puck-moving defenseman with the Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires, quickly committed to an Islanders’ trip expected to take place in the next two weeks.
The Islanders are scheduling visits with at least another three prospects from the 2010 draft, including scoring wing Brett Connolly of the Prince George Tigers and two-way defenseman Brandon Gormley of the Moncton Wildcats. A pair of forwards from the Portland Winter Hawks, Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Johansen, are also believed to be under consideration.
A year ago at this time, the Islanders welcomed John Tavares, Matt Duchene and Viktor Hedman to Long Island. Tavares and Duchene stayed at Snow’s home. A hectic schedule for Hedman, a native of Sweden, limited his visit to just four hours.
New York will not be the only stop on the tours for Gudbranson and Fowler. Each is scheduled to visit with most of the teams drafting in the top six: Edmonton, Boston, Florida, Columbus, the Islanders and Tampa Bay.
Gudbranson, Fowler and Connolly will also join top-two prospects Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin in an NHL-sponsored trip to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final in Philadelphia on Friday.
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FanHouse: Troy Brouwer and his Dad
Last year with HV71 of the Swedish Elite League, the 6-3, 200-pound Ullstrom was 5-11-16 in 47 games. He was the Islanders’ fourth round pick in the 2008 draft.
Ullstrom, who signed a three-year Entry Level deal, told Point Blank last summer that he was determined to begin his North American playing career in 2010. Most scouts project him as a third-line forward, with an outside chance of developing into a second-liner.
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