Defense-less or More?
By Alan Avital
As the Islanders embark on their 40th campaign Saturday night at home against the Florida Panthers, there is definitely a sense of enthusiasm reverberating from its hardcore fan base that has not been seen around Hempstead Turnpike for nearly a decade.
Yet, those same hardcore fans, who are ready to tear down the old barn for the upcoming 41 home dates, are still skeptical on what lies ahead for the 2011-12 season.
The Islanders’ second half surge last season catapulted their uncertain offensive prowess into one that opened many eyes throughout the NHL, finishing 15th overall with 225 goals for, even besting their cross-town rival New York Rangers by one.
Unfortunately, what may make or break this season’s drive to the postseason for the Islanders lies with how they can improve on a league’s fourth-worst 258 goals against.
Mark Streit’s return from a devastating shoulder injury, suffered during the team’s pre-season Blue-White scrimmage, which sidelined the team’s captain for the entire 2010-11 campaign, brings hope to a defensive unit that shuttled in a bevy of veterans and youngsters throughout an injury-riddled season.
He, along with 25-year old Andy McDonald and second-year defenseman Travis Hamonic, 21, will be asked to carry the team’s top minutes on the blue-line.
After that, second-year head coach Jack Capuano might need to throw darts against the proverbial wall and see which one, two or three of his 30-plus year-old defensemen – who will begin the season on the Island – can maintain that steady play needed to take the perennial Atlantic Division doormat into one that plays meaningful games come April.
Thirty-eight year old Steve Staios, a training camp invitee, brings much-needed leadership and grit to a unit that has lacked that aspect of the game, ever since former assistant captain Brendan Witt wowed the Nassau Coliseum crowd a few years back. Unfortunately, Witt crashed and burned less than two seasons ago and has become of the team’s cap casualties.
Thirty-four year old Mark Eaton (hip) and 33-year old Mike Mottau (eye), who missed a combined 110 games last season, will be asked to be the team’s third pair. Will they physically be able to last for the long haul?
Who knows?
At 6-foot-4, 253 pounds, Milan Jurcina is the team’s most imposing presence defensively. Still, at 28, Jurcina remains a serious question mark due to recurring injuries, including a groin injury that his limited his play during the pre-season. He only played 46 games last season for the Islanders.
The competition for one of the Eastern Conference’s eight playoff spots remain fierce, and an Islander fan’s hope that the team’s top-6 defensemen remain intact throughout the campaign. But injuries happen more than not throughout an 82-game grind, and no one has felt it more than an Islander fan.
Reinforcements might come from within or from afar.
DOWN ON THE FARM: A trio of 20-somethings opened some eyes during the pre-season, and some conditioning in Bridgeport might help their advancement to the NHL become seamless. Twenty-one year olds Matt Donovan and Aaron Ness, along with former first rounder, 20-year old Calvin DeHaan, signed professional contracts over the past calendar year, and the physical, day-in, day-out grind in the AHL might all be what they need to make the jump into the NHL over the next few months.
FROM AFAR: Syosset, Long Island’s Rob Scuderi might be ready for a move back home from the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles. He made his mark for five seasons in Pittsburgh, and the 6-foot, 220-pound, 33-year old isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. Kings’ teammate Drew Doughty’s 8-year, $56-million contract might make Scuderi expendable. Buffalo’s Andrej Sekera and Calgary’s Cory Sarich could be available for a draft pick as well.
DOWN THE ROAD: 2011 draft picks Scott Mayfield (6’4, 200 lbs. University of Denver) and Andrei Pedan (6’4, 205 lbs. Guelph – OHL) are 19 and 18, respectively. The future Darius Kasparaitis or two might be just a few short years away.
Islander fans … the new campaign is just a few short hours away.
19 Responses to Defense-less or More?
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The new isles gm says:
Do you know something about Scuderi? That would be a good move for us. Good player who can compliment Streit well. Hopefully that happend soon.
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Hock says:
Alan – Nice coverage here….and welcome to the blog. It definitely remains to be seen what this D-group can do. Some more depth is needed IMO to tie us over until the ‘kids’ are NHL ready. We have a couple of ‘monsters’ in the system, but unfortunately on 18-19 years old.
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ed says:
I was hoping Islanders would pick up Bickel on waivers from the Rangers as a replacement for Eaton. Nothing against Eaton, I just am not sure about his durability and don’t want to have to rush a young guy
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tom in nj says:
WOW, they are actually going to allow some comments for a change?
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T-bone says:
Eaton is a mr.softee-i have never seen him throw a check…any of those three guys u listed would be an upgrade…especially scuderi-i always liked the hometown boy-bring him home
…im afraid this defense once again is way to soft to with stand the season grind…and when we have the weakest offenses in the league(i mean grit wise) we can not afford to have weak D as well.. -
Garthsnow says:
Nice article. I wonder what is going on with the Turris situation. I would gladly take him on this team, the kid can play.
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Staten Islander says:
Interesting Alan. I wanted Scudderi a few years ago but he went to LA, my sales pitch to him didn’t work. Wonder what he could be had for. The defense I don’t think is going to be much improved, unless there is something that Captain Jack is going to have them do differently that we don’t know about. That said, having Streit back and Amac and Hamonic (if he doesn’t regress) together for a full season will help, just not enough.
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j says:
thanks for the good article. nice to see something worth wild written here now that botta is gone.
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TonyDee says:
I really thought the Isles would have considered picking up a D-men with some grit and size…Why not take chance on a guy like Mark Fraser (NJ) 6’3 220lb..young guy, plays hard, drops the gloves when needed and makes 600k per year!!!
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Battfist says:
I believe the Islanders will trade next seasons 1st round pick and player (probably a winger) for a defense man at some point this season. Especially if they stay in the playoff picture.
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Erika says:
Staying healthy is the key. Streit, Hamonic, AMac, and Jurcina can stay healthy, then we could sprinkle the other D-men in. If something happens to the top 4, we will be in trouble….but hey, you never know, DeHahn could come up and strut his stuff. Wishert could realize he really prefers the N.H.L. to the minors and have a kick-ass season, he does have the size for it! ANTICIPATION……..
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Piper (in DC) says:
Need a solid D-man. Doesn’t need to be a big hitter just solid at his position. Lidstrom isn’t is not a physical D-man just incredible smart in positioning and with his stick. Streit was considered a 2nd pair D-man who wasn’t given a chance to play in Hab land.
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Ray says:
Would love Scuderi or Sarich….
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isles99 says:
some of you fans are just vitriolic. let the guy post. be glad you get coverage of a team everyone largely ignores. beggars can’t be choosers.
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Paul says:
Thanks for the information Alan!
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Whaaaaaaaaaaaat says:
Idk what vitriolic means, but I agree with the guy above me.
I would love to get scuderi, but no way la trades him theyll be contending for the cup this year and will want him there for experience seeing as he already won a cup, also I can’t see sarich being traded Calgary just traded regher and had a weak defense before that.
Personally I think this defense Is very underrated and while only jurcina and harmonic hit, they still have a solid d
@6 we don’t have the softest forward group in the league, not even close, look at buffalo, Montreal.
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I like when you talk about this type of stuff in your blog. Perhaps could you continue to do this?
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I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Who is Alan Avital?