ON THE HORIZON – Andrey Pedan, D, Guelph (OHL)
As former defenseman Darius Kasparaitis wreaked havoc on Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Peter Bondra during a memorable 1992-93 post-season run, Andrey Pedan was just months away from being born halfway around the world in Kaunas, Lithuania. Yet, Pedan still is greatly impacted by Kasparaitis’ presence and has high hopes of patterning his game after the former blue-liner, who gave Islander fans some fantastic thrills during his nearly five seasons in Uniondale.
“I liked watching Darius play hockey,” said the 6-foot-4, 201-pounder Pedan, who grew up in Moscow, Russia, and was drafted by the Islanders in the third round – 63rd overall – of this past June’s NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota. “He is fast and he likes to hit.”
Pedan has translated that physical influence into being one of the rising young defensemen in the Ontario Hockey League, playing for head coach Scott Walker and the Guelph Storm.
“Andrey’s strength is definitely his size and his skating,” said Walker, who has coached Pedan for the past calendar year, after being named the Storm’s head coach on December 23, 2010 and guiding them to a 19-13-0-2 record to close out the 2010-11 season. “He still needs to physically fill out. I am not one who likes to project, but if [Andrey] doesn’t do too much and keeps things simple, he could be a top-4 defenseman on the NHL level.”
Walker speaks from experience, after finishing off a 17-year professional career last December for the Washington Capitals. In 829 National Hockey League games, Walker scored 151 goals and assisted on 246 others while racking up 1,162 penalty minutes playing for the Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes and the Capitals.
Walker’s hockey acumen, along with his knowledge of the NHL game today, has provided him the wherewithal to project an NHL comparison to his impressionable 18-year old – a hulking defenseman frustratingly familiar to Islander nation.
“When I watch Andrey play, I see him very similar to [former Islander prospect and 2009 Norris Trophy winner Zdeno] Chara,” said Walker, who while playing for the Hurricanes, battled the 6-foot-9 Slovakian and the Boston Bruins through seven epic playoff games in the second round of the 2009 postseason. “They are both thin and have great hands. They both also shoot the puck extremely well from the point.”
Ironically Walker, who was vilified for breaking Bruin defenseman Aaron Ward’s orbital bone during game five of that series, would get the last laugh. He netted the game-seven overtime winner in Boston sending the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference finals where they would eventually be swept in four games by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Prior to earning first pairing minutes with 2012 NHL draft eligible defenseman and first round prospect Matt Finn, averaging nearly 30 minutes a night for the past year-and-a-quarter at Guelph, Pedan had a life-changing decision to ponder – to stay in Russia and pursue a hockey career in the Kontinental Hockey League or venture over to North America and pursue a career in the National Hockey League.
The decision was simple, according to Pedan.
“The reason I came to play here (in North America) was because of the level of hockey,” said Pedan. “In the NHL, the players play fast and they are much more physical.”
Yet, a then 17-year old – with no parental supervision – trekking to new surroundings could have had its drawbacks, but according to Storm assistant coach Chris Hajt, the transition was slow but steady.
“For Andrey to move from Russia to Canada, he had to adjust to a whole new way of life,” said Hajt. “The way of living, the style of hockey, the language and living away from home, it is a lot for a 17-year old to adjust to. We had to spend more time with him to make sure he was comfortable and adjusting well all during the season.”
Pedan scored two goals and had 10 assists in his first regular season at Guelph. He assisted on eight others during Guelph’s opening round loss of the 2011 post-season to the Saginaw Spirit in six games.
“He was so good in the [locker] room,” said Walker. “The guys liked to have fun with him. He fit right in.”
After being drafted by the Islanders in the summer, Pedan welcomed his grandmother to Guelph, and she would become a mainstay for his everyday life as the 2011-12 campaign approached.
“His grandmother helps him with the day-to-day things,” said Hajt. “With being so far from home, it helps having a family member there for support and help.
“Still, he is much more self sufficient this year. He is now more relaxed and comfortable with the way of living and hockey.”
In his first 18 games of the 2011-12 campaign, Pedan has more than doubled his goal scoring output from last season with five. He has 11 points, second to Finn (16) among Storm defenders.
“The pressure of being drafted is definitely off,” said Walker. “He is continuing to develop, and plays hard on every shift. He needs to be a little more disciplined as far as taking less penalties, but he has got all the characteristics a coach would want.
“An NHL estimate, he could get a look as a 20-year old (2013-14 NHL season). It’s all up to him.”
Outside of hockey, Pedan enjoys playing soccer and tennis, reading books and playing video games, but his first love is still hockey.
“My role model is (Philadelphia Flyer) Chris Pronger,” said Pedan, who was invited to play for Team Russia on November 10th in the 2011 SUBWAY Super Series against Team OHL and Islander top prospect Ryan Strome. “He’s tough and has a hard shot.”
Strome would score twice and add an assist as Team OHL outscored Team Russia, 10-7. Pedan would have four penalty minutes, and be held off the score-sheet.
With hopes of adding 20-to-25 pounds over the next 24-to-36 months, the comparison with Pronger may not be so far-fetched. Furthermore, playing on the same blue-line with fellow 2011 Islander draftee Scott Mayfield, who himself stands 6-feet-4 inches tall, could provide a presence that is currently lacking on Long Island – much to the chagrin of the die-hards.
On the Horizon is a regular feature from Alan Avital that focuses on the best Islanders not yet with the big club. Comments on Andrey Pedan and other prospects are welcomed in this thread. Talk about the big club continues in other posts.
49 Responses to ON THE HORIZON – Andrey Pedan, D, Guelph (OHL)
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sam adams says:
Really, it seems to me that the fans have given up on the islanders. It is a shame, because moral support can make a difference, start filling up the arena and cheer instead of booing and mocking.You might see a difference. Why is it when a team does poorly,that people enjoy knocking down the organization and the players.
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jonj77 says:
On another team, this guy may be a great player. In the Isles organization he’ll end up being their latest youthful bust.
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mark from massapequa says:
another bust
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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Irish Isle says:
Dude, Alan is working on hard and trying to give us something to look forward to. If you dont want to read about the prospects, than dont bother. I personally enjoy reading about some of the promising propsects we have, over the current (and well deserved) bashing of Capuano and Snow.
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upstateIsles says:
seriously…no offense, but lets just stop publishing these….their disheartening for a fanbase stunned by perpetual failure. We read crap about all the fire power we have coming up the ranks…well jee aint that swell…who are they gonna play with? Rolston, Pandalfo, and Reasoner?…that seems to be working out really well for names that we’ve actually heard of, like Bailey, Comeau, and Okposo…
let me know when they are ready and thats about as much as we (as a fanbase) care about whats happening 5 years from now…chances are we’ll be the Quebec le Islandeurs post 2015,…JT will look good in baby blue tho no worries.
THE TIME TO WIN WAS YESTERDAY…it’s already taking too long to get out of the basement, we aren’t interested in the same old, “dont worry Islander country, we have this jackoff ____(insert prospects name who is 3+ years away from the NHL here) coming up through the ranks in 5 years, we’ll be fine”..patience can kiss my blue and orange a$$
I REFUSE TO WATCH ANOTHER ISLANDER GAME THIS SEASON UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES!!
Management needs to be accountable
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bossjones15 says:
In three short years we MIGHT have big defenseman who can hit…wonderful
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The Sick one Six says:
I think you wasted your time writing this article. I’d rather have Alan Avital on the wing wednesday!
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Eric Cup says:
I’m sure we all appreciate the hard work that goes into compiling this information about prospects for the future, but I must say – STOP IT!!! No one cares right now. It feels like the ship is sinking and we really don’t need this now.
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Jason says:
I have to agree…… I can’t read another prospect article…… They used to sustain me back in the Botta days in that there might be a future for the team. Speaking of, has any other organ-i-zation ever barred a reporter from covering their team??? Ah yes, I digress, but the point is that The Islanders produce a new bottom in a bottom-less pit on a monthly basis. I mean, let’s face it, even Ranger fans are empathizing with us, for them to trash talk us would be like challenging a three year old to a fist fight. I digress again.
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Dom says:
The ONLY thing I want on our “horizon” is a WIN!
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Mike says:
How about a goal!!!!
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quez says:
When is the Cody Rosen “On the Horizon?” That’s how I feel.
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Bob E says:
hard to read these propsect reports when our team is playing the way that it is.
these are 3-7 rounds. Our First rounders are doing nothing, how can i get excited about a guy that has 10% chance of making nhl
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juniorjunior says:
we need to address the problems with this team now. As it stands we have no confidence the there will even be an Islanders organization in 2015. Once we establish that we have a team worth following the we should delve into the future players discussion. For me…I want real ansers from wang why this organization is poorly run and real discussion on what he plans to to with the team.All else is just speculation on a fantasy team that most likely wont exist.
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And another thing….I am sick and tired of hearing about the lack of confidence! Are these guys getting paid to play hockey or not? The fact that you get a pay check to play a game, should be all the confidence you girls need…grow a pair! For hundreds of dollars a minute of actual game time, these guys should be ashamed to let anyone say that they outworked them, on or off the ice! Give it your every thing or go the F@#K HOME!
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Real Hockey Fan says:
.. Hey guys dont take it out on the writer, hes simply informing us of whats in the pipeline, jr’s, minors, etc
.. Right now is a UBER frustrating time for Isles fans (i get it, im a 30 yr fan) but dont gang up on the writer for a article lol
.. I wish we could interview Garth and Wang instead
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Honestly, the next home game should have 0 attendees…I mean 0…not 1 or 2…0 fans…I’m sure the wives and what not will come but other than that, I want to hear crickets! F’in CRICKETS!!!
Show Wang and Garth what their revenue stream is going to look like if soemthing doesnt change…
AND NO THOSE HIDEOUS THIRD JERSEYS WONT BE ENOUGH TO PAY YOU AND ALL YOUR GOLFING BUDDIES GARTH..so quit jerkin off Pandolfo and scratch him..better yet, waive him…idc if he can kill a penalty..anyone hungry enough for ice time will learn how to effectively kill a penalty. Jay made one of the worst plays of the game last night vs. PITT on the 2nd goal…Throws the puck up the boards to the point and then as the Pens go D to D..Jay decides to skate strait across the ice and give an absolutly pathetic attempt at a shot block (missing the puck by 2 feet) and doing nothing more than screening Nilsson for what would have otherwise been an effortless save.
JAY..do us a favor, fake an injury or just blow Garth so he will stop playing you..jeez…enough with this hard to get game, just give Garth what he wants so he’ll give us what we want..a competitive hockey team…HELL we aint looking for much, we’ll settle for a team whose not going to get blown own 2 games in a row and nationally embarrassed…thatll work for me…ANYTHING so the Islanders are not the laughing stock of the NHL…its bad when Ranger fans are like…jeez, I think we feel bad for you??
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Subydude says:
I feel the pain….but we don’t want to be the Rangers, tempting to just make the palyoffs every year but I want more..
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Paul says:
Don’t speak for me. I would love to be the Rangers right now.
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Its a rebuild…very painful but they appear to be sticking to it this time…I wish Snow had made better roster decisions while still staying at/near the cap floor but I hope they don’t do anything stupid. I would rather be at the top of the division in 4 years than perpetually competing for an 8th playoff spot.
Its gonna pay off folks, and don’t listen to all the pundits no one ever remembers when they are wrong (90% of the time). Its not the right time for them to spend $ or make stupid panic trades
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For the rebuild to work the players can’t regress every season KO, Bailey and to a lesser extent MacDonald do not look like NHL players this season. A major part of the problem is that the team is so poorly and cheaply constructed. If that doesn’t change, and there is no sign it will, then the rebuild will be endless and NEVER have any payoff. Snow is the polar opposite of Milbury in terms of management style but they are both horrible. Where Milbury would have already traded all the best talent away Snow has retained players with well known faults that are now worthless on the open market. He is trying to fill an open sink with the faucet on a trickle, its just not going to happen.
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A rebuild is Chicago or Edmonton This is 20 years of PURE CRAP!!!!!Chuckels the CLOWN needs to SELL to someone with a CLUE!!!!!!!
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NO it is not.
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NYISLES666 says:
“WANG AND SNOW MUST GO” chant next isles game at 3pm VS the Devils, SPREAD THE WORD!
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nyc dork says:
why not chant snow must go vs the flyers?
oh must be because we wont be heard as there will be to more flyer fans at our barn chanting lets go flyers.
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They would have to play at a .625 clip the rest of the way to get 93pts which is what it took the Rags last year to squek into 8th!!! THE SEASON IS OVER!!!!!!They are 1pt ahead of Columbus with the same # of wins!!! The NHL should step in like MLB did with the Dodgers!!!!!!!
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Stumpy32 says:
Every season, or nearly every season, the Isles play at the Coliseum the Wed before Thanksgiving. I’ve been going to this game for at least the last 15 years, ever since I started college and came home in time to be there.
Last season, we were in the middle of the horrid stretch, played Columbus in front of 8,000 fans, and lost in OT. This year, the Isles have again ruined what used to be one of my favorite home games of the season. In years past, the place was packed, it was usually a high-profile opponent like the Flyers or Rangers, and it was a great lead-in into the weekend.
I hate how this franchise is killing so many potentially great moments for all of us. I really want to look forward to tomorrow night. I just can’t, and I’ll do what I usually do. Go to the game angry, sit in silence for a period, get into the game a little bit, and then end up disappointed and angry again at the end. I hate this franchise.
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DON’T GO!!!!!! BOYCOTT this MESS!!!!!!
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CM says:
Thanks Alan.
However. lets put a moratorium on propects and players interviews. Its all Vanilla.
I want to read rumors of trades, management and ownership. This would give me some hope. Not prospects.
Reporters need to hit Wang hard and print anything he does and does not do. Make him accountable. Why all the pussy footing and being cautious on what is printed about Wang and Snow? If its true then print it.
Can’t Newsday print an article titled, “Wang is ruining this franchise” It’s true isn’t it??….everyone knows it.
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CP says:
Nice article Al… how the current team is doing shouldn’t determine whether or not there is an “On the Horizon” post… lets all relax
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Give it a rest, we have been “relaxing” for almost 2 decades. It does not matter who is coming up, because Snow will not surround them with the proper vet support.
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xchfs says:
nice article Alan. It’s always nice to read some positive news.
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Anthony says:
I appreciate your time and work you put in this article,but I think the fan base has seen enough of these prospect watches turn into nothing. These articles bring our hopes up then to be smashed when they are all busts. I rather see articles maybe about who is at the Bridge and has more of a chance helping us now and near future.Thanks!!!
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Ted says:
I appreciate all the time and effort you put into writing this article Alan. However, the article is very ill timed, if all the previous posts are any indication. You might want to write about something relevant to what’s happening now. Just sayin’…
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while everyone appreciates the effort you put into writing this article, not a single person probably read more than half of it because we’re all so heated about how awful the big clubs playing…
just extremely poor choice of timing…you probably should have waited til the tomorrow to publish this piece, Alan. Every Islander fan in the nation is disgusted and there are no positives other than getting a W and getting it ASAP…thus the lack of “give a sheet” about your prospect article
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isleopine says:
I think the sentiments expressed by most of you about this article are appropriate: Its the timing of this piece that creates revulsion. We are witnessing the demise of another season after so much hope that things are starting to turn around in the last few months of last season.
THN is reporting that Eaton will be out six weeks with a knee sprain. So let me ask you good people, will Snowjob give more minutes to Mottau or actually try to do something in the trade area. At least this may give us something else to talk about instead of more venting (perfectly understandable though it is). -
KYLE TURRIS and one of their physical D man for whoever the F the ‘Yotes want…
ready, set, go
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Whaaaaaaaaaaaat says:
Lol i don’t know whats funnier you thinking ESPN has any hockey knowledge or thinking chicago has a better prospect pool than us were arguably best in the league, definitely top 3 I would only put the panthers above us, and maybe Ottawa
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Phil L says:
recently ESPN ranked the top 5 prospect pools (per team) in the NHL and the Islanders were not even in there. Chicago was #5 I think, yes the team that just won a cup and is already stacked has more in their pipeline then our 4 year rebuild. This story is a nice distraction, but seriously, this team is beyond repair. How about an investigative piece on why Wang wants to torture Islander fans.
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Lol I don’t know what’s funnier you thinking that ESPN has Ny creditability about hockey, or thinking the islanders prospect pool is outside the top 5 in the league, they’re definitely better than chicago and are probably top 3 in the league
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Bean322 says:
Alan Avital-were you hired by Wang and Snow to be the fall guy?
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Nics21 says:
Pretty good article from Katie Strang about the isles and Cappy and some changes that might be coming on ESPN. Com New York
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Happy New Year!!Haley called up. Now play Haley and Nino and bench Pandolfo, Reasoner or Rolston any 2 will do. Hopefully next move will be a trade for a physical Dman.
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Numbers65 in Ohio says:
Dang Islanders country is one POed group and rightfully so. Thanks for your great work Kevin. In the midst of the Isles sucking I realized another way mgmt duped us with the stupid 3rd jersey. If you don’t pay EXTRA for a number the thing looks so rediculous with this big space where actually that 40th anniversary logo should have went. They are sucking the life out of the franchise and it is reflected in the way it makes us feel because this is the team we love. Can we actually suck worse than last year at this time and have more problems?
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danfromouteast says: I really look toward to pedan and mayfield playing for the islanders. Man imagine Hamonic, Macdonald, dehan, donovan, mayfield, pedan, and your also have Reese and a few others. The goalie situation looks good. Just need some towards.
No Offense but REALLY!!!!! Maybe they should worry about scoring a goal on the horizon??? By the time ANY of these kids are anything this team will be LONG GONE!!!!! BOYCOTT the games maybe when Chuckels the Clown sees only Isles family members in tthe staands he will get a “F”n CLUE!!!!!!