One To Watch: New York Islanders

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No longer a laughing stock but still earning respect, the New York Islanders have built a pretty decent stable of young players after years of less than mediocre results at the NHL level. The Islanders have prospects on the way at every position so the pieces are there for the once floundering organization to finally right the ship for the long haul. 

GM Garth Snow, a goaltender in his NHL days, selected a pair of NCAA netminders in June - one coming off a fantastic freshman season, the other hoping to make his own mark in college this coming year as a rookie. Stephon Williams was terrific for Minnesota State and Eamon McAdam could become Penn State's starter as the program moves to the Big 10 conference. 

Forwards in the system include Brock Nelson, Ryan Strome, Taylor Cammarata and Kirill Kabanov. But with the amount of blueliners the Islanders have drafted over the last four years, my pick today shouldn't come as any surprise. 

2012 Choice: Scott Mayfield - The big defenceman had just completed his freshman year at Denver and I wanted to know what steps forward his development would take as a sophomore. This year may prove even more interesting for Mayfield after turning pro last spring. This year Mayfield will play in Bridgeport and hope to adapt quickly as the organization is flush with defencemen on the way.

My selection for Islanders prospect of 2013-14 to be One To Watch comes after the jump. 

One To Watch: New York Islanders

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With the Islanders, how are you supposed to narrow it down to just one guy? Seriously, with a prospect pool bursting at the seams at every position, how can a person be expected to single out one guy as the most intriguing story to follow in 2012-13?

The sideshow that can come from Kirill Kabanov is certainly deserving of a mention. But so are Ryan Strome, Rhett Rakhshani, Casey Cizikas, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee. And that's just from the forwards!

You probably assumed I'd go with Griffin Reinhart because he plays in my backyard with the Edmonton Oil Kings but this series will have a few of his teammates and I wanted to spread it around. But Reinhart is definitely worthy of being the guy, as are fellow Islander defencemen Andrey Pedan, Adam Pelech, Brenden Kichton and Ville Pokka.

I think you'd agree that it's pretty tough to narrow it down to one guy but since I came up with the rule I can only blame myself. In the end, I settled on a defenceman from Missouri.

Tuesday Recap: June 7th

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No Dean Millard in studio this week as he's back in Brandon visiting his dad and helping him bail water out of his sunken basement. But the NHL draft waits for no man and so I was forced to trudge on alone (sympathy?) with a full slate of guests. We covered the NHL, NCAA, CHL, the draft, the QMJHL, Hockey Canada's summer goalie camp, the Oil Kings, the NHL combine and there was probably some other stuff in there as well.

Nino-less Islanders Win-less

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You can file this under 'C' for coincidence as I'm sure most people will but the record of the New York Islanders since sending their Swiss star is dramatically worse than before. Was cutting him loose akin to the Mariner who killed the albatross, cursing the crew of his ship?

I don't know if he was their lucky rabbit's foot or not but there is no denying that Long Island's fortunes have turned for the worse since he left the team.

Portland Welcomes Back Niederreiter

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As mentioned late yesterday by Dean, the New York Islanders have sent Swiss forward Nino Niederreiter back to the WHL after the NHL rookie's 9-game trial with the big club. The 5th overall pick in the 2010 draft scored one goal and had 2 points during his brief stay on Long Island. His return to the WHL means an already strong team just got a lot stronger.

Bad news for Kitchener and Portland?

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Both the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes are making fans of the Kitchener Rangers and Portland Winter Hawks sweat today with news that they've inked their 2010 first round picks to entry level deals.

Carolina put Jeff Skinner's name on a deal and the Islanders followed suit by signing Nino Niederreiter to a 3 year deal.

5th - New York Islanders Draft Preview

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One of the most openly hated logo changes of all time was when the Isles moved from their classic crest to the "Captain Highliner Fisherman" seen here. I'll be honest, back in the day I didn't think it was all that horrible but I hated the colour change that accompanied it. It wasn't until the team went retro and brought back the classic uniforms that I realized how bad the version from the mid-90's actually was.

Hamonic and McMillan Signed

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Yesterday we posted a list of 2008 draftees who would see their rights return to the NHL Draft if they were not signed to entry level contract by June 1st. You can scratch two names off that list now as the New York Islanders have reached that agreement with defenceman Travis Hamonic and Anaheim inked forward Brandon McMillan.

Islanders Prospect Snap Shot

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The Islanders joined the NHL in 1972 in what was a move by the league to keep the WHA from setting up stakes in the area. The team failed to reach the playoffs in its first two years which is to be expected, but success started to come in season three when the Islanders reached the semi-finals. They lost that year and again the next two seasons but 3 semi-final appearances in their first 5 years was tremendous.

As the 70's came to an end so did the domination of the Montréal Canadiens. The New York Islanders captured their first of four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships at the end of the 1979-80 with an overtime goal by tough guy Bob Nystrom. The club played in 5 straight finals losing the last to the Edmonton Oilers who would then go on to establish their own dynasty. Still, no team has captured 4 straight Stanley Cup titles since the Islanders of the early 80's.

Some of the modern era legends that have worn the Islanders sweater include Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Clake Gillies, Pat LaFonataine, Dennis Potvin, Billy Smith and Brent Sutter.

Here is a look at some of the top prospects Coming Down the Pipe for the New York Islanders...

Schremp on TPS Tonight

Rob Schremp's tenure with the Oilers is officially over. And both parties agree that it's the best solution. I just spoke with Schremp who is excited for his new opportunity, not only to play, but to skate with some young talent on the Island. NY has to keep him on their roster after picking him up, if they tried to send him to the minors, the Oilers would have first crack at him. Schremp will be a guest on The Pipeline Show tonight, we're just not sure of the time, but the show airs from 7-9 PM MST. If you're in the Edmonton area it's the TEAM 1260. If not you can listen online at www.thepipelineshow.com. Feel free to send an email to pipeup@theteam1260.com and we might read it.

Swift Decisions?

One of my WHL sources passed this along to me last night while we were on the air during The Pipeline Show. I mentioned it on the air and thought I would jot it down here as well.

Word is Swift Current is close to filling it's vacant Head Coach/G.M. position after Dean Chynoweth took as assistant coaching job with the New York Islanders. Speedy creek is apparently down to 2 scenarios. One would have former Oilers forward Mark Lamb coming in and pulling double duty. Lamb was most recently in the Dallas Stars organization, but I can't find his name anywhere on the Stars website so he might have a been a casualty of the new regime. Speaking of Dallas, nice to see former Red Deer Rebel Jeff Woywitka sign there for 2 years. There were nights when Woywitka's skating reminded me of Ray Bourque. Then again there were nights when his decision making made me think of Homer Simpson.

The Other scenario that Swift I'm told is looking at is moving Sheldon Ferguson up from Assistant G.M. to the main position with John Becanic as the bench boss. Becanic was last a head coach with Everett until being let go last April. He was the 'tips head coach for 2 years and was with the team for a total of 6.

Send them Back for Memorial Cup runs

Here's an open letter to a few NHL teams, namely the New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild. The Islanders are battling it out for John Tavares to play with Kyle Okposso and Josh Bailey and the trio could be deadly for years to come. But this year Garth Snow should send Bailey back to Windsor. I'm not aware of a rule that says a player can't be returned to junior after the trade deadline (if I'm wrong let me know) Bailey would get the chance to go deep into the playoffs and possibly the Memorial Cup with the CHL's #1 team. I think the Minnesota Wild should do the same with Colton Gillies, but in Doug Risebrough's defence, the Wild is in a playoff chase right now. The Saskatoon Blades could seriously use his muscle and presence, especially after the Calgary Hitmen tooned them in the other night on Rogers Sportsnet. The Hitmen now lead the Blades by 20 points in the WHL's Eastern conference and right now look like the favorites to represent the WHL at the Memorial Cup in Rimouski. There might be others who should be sent back to junior if their clubs are looking like they could make a run.

Birthday Boy Bailey Gets Contract

I can't remember what I received on my 19th birthday, but I know it wasn't a 3 year contract potentially worth more than 5 million dollars from an NHL team. That's what the New York Islanders wrapped up with a bow for their first round pick from 2008 today, signing Josh Bailey to an entry level deal.

The Islanders could have had Luke Schenn, Nikata Filatov, Colin Wilson, or Mikkel Boedker, but instead traded down twice and selected Bailey 9th overall. Why did they do this? You can listen to New York Assistant G.M. Ryan Jankowski explain it from our post draft interview.

Bailey might not have been the most skilled player taken, but he could be a future captain on the Island, will be a good middle man for Kyle Okposo down the road, and netted New York extra draft picks to select Aaron Ness 40th overall, a high scoring high school blueliner who will play at Minnesota this year.

Bailey is still considered a long shot to stay on the Island, and the best developement path for him is likely returning to Windsor, where he'll wear the "C" and play on a Spitfires team currently ranked #1 in the country, and a good bet to represent the OHL at the Memorial Cup.

One other prosepct note, the Philadelphia Flyers put Swiss D-man Luca Sbisa's name on an entry level deal. Sbisa was the Flyers first round pick, 19th overall in 2008, should return to Lethbridge of the WHL and help the Hurricanes try and repeat as Eastern Conference Champions.