2017 NHL Mock Expansion Draft
By Brett Malamud
The stars will be bright in Las Vegas tonight as the NHL Awards commence. The show will also be significant due to the unveiling of the roster for the league’s newest franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights. Here are my picks for the 31st NHL team.
Anaheim Ducks: Clayton Stoner, 24, D
Right off the bat, we start out with a tough selection. It was long rumored that the Ducks may make Jakob Silfverberg available if they chose to protect a fourth defenseman, but that didn’t happen, and Ducks GM Bob Murray opted for the 7-3-1 protection format. Defenseman Sami Vatanen could be one of those candidates to get selected and then flipped to another team. We know that there is a deal in place with Anaheim though, which should take Vatanen out of play. So I’m going to believe that the Ducks will allow Vegas to take Stoner.
Arizona Coyotes: Peter Holland, 26, C
While the options aren’t that attractive in the desert, Vegas must take a player from all 30 teams, and Peter Holland is a good depth pick. They could also take the 36-year-old winger Radim Vrbata on a one year deal and try to flip him to a contender later in the year.
Boston Bruins: Malcolm Subban, 23, G
If a team like say, the Philadelphia Flyers, wants Vegas to select goaltender Malcolm Subban for them and make a trade, that’s an option. Of course, that’s if Vegas doesn’t want Subban for themselves. I see this as an opportunity for McPhee to select his goalie of the future. Surely Marc-Andre Fleury won’t be there forever (assuming he picks him). I’d also keep an eye on Colin Miller, who I’d consider an extremely underrated talent. An offensive defenseman, Miller has a wicked shot and while his defending could use some more work, he could see himself on the powerplay regularly.
Buffalo Sabres: William Carrier, 22, LW
The former second round pick should be the pick here, after moving to the Sabres in the Ryan Miller trade. Being only 22, he’ll get some time to develop in the minors before making the jump up to the NHL full-time.
Calgary Flames: Alex Chiasson, 25, RW
Chiasson is a player who I’ve had my eyes on for the last couple of years. The 6-3 winger also is a restricted free agent, but should be pretty easy to lock down to a deal. Vegas could opt to take defenseman Brett Kulak here instead, but with a ton of defense out there, I’ll opt for Chiasson.
Carolina Hurricanes: Lee Stempniak, 34, RW
Not too much talent here. Hurricanes GM Ron Francis did a good job protecting the right guys, and Vegas will probably take Stempniak as the best available player from Carolina.
Chicago Blackhawks: Marcus Kruger, 27, C
There is a rumored side deal with the Blackhawks that’ll see them ship Kruger along with defenseman Trevor Van Riemsdyk to Vegas. I believe those rumors to be true, as the Blackhawks are currently the only NHL team over the salary cap and look to free themselves from some larger contracts.
Colorado Avalanche: Mikhail Grigorenko, 23, C
Grigorenko is a restricted free agent, so he’d have to agree to a contract, but he’s only 23 years old and has a lot of upside. The popular pick here has been goaltender Calvin Pickard. Pickard played very well in the IIHF World Championships, but based on how I am building this team, Pickard would see himself in the minors, and wouldn’t be a good pick here.
Columbus Blue Jackets: William Karlsson, 24, C
The following comes from the Columbus Dispatch: “…the Blue Jackets will pay dearly to dissuade the Golden Knights from taking [Josh] Anderson, [Joonas] Korpisalo or one of the veteran defensemen — Jack Johnson or David Savard — that they would have exposed. The Jackets are believed to be trading this year’s first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) and a prospect (not Pierre-Luc Dubois or Sonny Milano) to Vegas for assurances that the Golden Knights will select either left wing Matt Calvert, center William Karlsson or defenseman Ryan Murray.”
With that said, I’ll take the former second round pick William Karlsson.
Dallas Stars: Cody Eakin, 26, C
For me, Dallas was one of the final picks that I made, and so I’m going on the best player available here, and that’s Eakin for me.
Detroit Red Wings: Petr Mrazek, 25, G
I will admit, I was more surprised about this non protected player more than any other in the expansion draft. But Detroit had to make a decision, and they picked the 33-year-old Jimmy Howard over 25-year-old Petr Mrazek in goal. The problem for me with this was that had they left Howard unprotected, Vegas almost definitely wouldn’t have taken him. But with Mrazek there instead, it’s definitey intriguing and there’s going to be some debate in Las Vegas on who they should select. McPhee will have some other strong options in net, with Washington’s Philipp Grubauer, Colorado’s Calvin Pickard and New York’s Antti Raanta all available, as well as Boston’s Malcom Subban for the taking. Vegas won’t load up on goalies unless they have deals in place to flip players to other teams. So while I’d like to see Mrazek be the selection, don’t be shocked if they play it safe and select center Riley Sheahan.
Edmonton Oilers: Griffin Reinhart, 23, D
What’s interesting about this pick is the common assumption that McPhee worked with Reinhart, who is an RFA this summer, during his time in New York. Yes, McPhee was a part of the Islanders organization from September 2015 through July 2016 before being hired by Golden Knights owner Bill Foley to run the Vegas franchise. But Reinhart was actually traded in June 2015 during the NHL Draft. But don’t think that he doesn’t know about the young prospect. Yes, Reinhart failed to crack the Isles top six before being shipped off to Edmonton. And yeah, he’s had a minimal impact in Edmonton. I’d take one last shot on him if I were Vegas.
Florida Panthers: Jonathan Marchessault, 26, C
The Panthers left Marchessault unprotected just after he scored 30 goals this season. Vegas should also like the fact that he is making less than $1 million for the upcoming year, and is just 26 years old.
Los Angeles Kings: Brayden McNabb, 26, D
At 6-5, McNabb would be a good pick for Vegas and at just 26 years old, I could see him as a player they’d like to keep on their blue line for years to come.
Minnesota Wild: Eric Staal, 32, C
While many were quick to put defensemen Matt Dumba in this spot, there must be some debate over this pick with the Vegas brass. Dumba is a good prospect, and am attractive option. But I see this expansion draft deeper on defense than scoring forwards, and so Staal makes sense. Staal was Minnesota’s top goal scorer this season and could find himself as Vegas’ first team captain, after serving the role in Carolina. It’s widely thought that Minnesota will have a trade in place to have Vegas lay off Dumba/Scandella/Staal and take a player such as Erik Haula. But I honestly think that taking a player such as Staal or Dumba would be more valuable than a draft pick (remember, the Wild traded their first round pick for this season. However they do have picks for the coming years, so keep an eye on that) to take Haula. With that said, I’m taking Staal here as the more marketable asset, and if he is picked, Vegas fans will find themselves sporting his jersey on opening night.
(UPDATE: There are reports out there that Haula will sign a multi year deal with Vegas, so expect that to be the pick tonight)
Montreal Canadiens: Brandon Davidson, 25, D
If the Knights can agree to a deal with UFA Alex Radulov, then they should take the chance on him as he’ll provide an impact, and will take on some salary. Of course, that could come on July 1, and not picking him here could allow Vegas to take two players from the Habs. I believe that their selection here will be Davidson, who represents the youngest Montreal defenseman under contract through next season.
Nashville Predators: James Neal, 29, LW
If George McPhee has a deal in place with the defending western conference champions, it probably take Neal off the table, and I see Colton Scissons as a possible second choice. But I believe that Vegas sees Neal as a potential threat on their first line. After all, this is a team who have repeatedly said that they want to be good right away, while stocking up for the future at the same time. Neal would fit into that equation, even with his $5 million cap hit.
New Jersey Devils: Jon Merrill, 25, D
Another young defenseman for Vegas with Merrill being picked here. The Devils don’t want to lose a guy like Merrill, but it doesn’t seem likely that a side deal will be made.
New York Islanders: Casey Cizikas, 26, C
Newsday’s Arthur Staple reported Monday evening that the Islanders have a deal in place with Vegas to send a first round pick and Mikhail Grabovski ($5 million cap hit) to the Golden Knights, in exchange for selecting a designated player chosen by the Isles. I believe that the player is Casey CIzikas, who holds a $3.35 million cap hit. In a move that would free up $8.35 million, the Islanders would create the cap space necessary to go after coveted trade assets such as Matt Duchene, Jordan Eberle, and Alex Galchenyuk. They could always opt to give Vegas defenseman Thomas Hickey ($2.2 million cap hit), but if the Islanders trade defensemen Calvin De Haan, Ryan Pulock, or Travis Hamonic in a trade for a top six forward (or possibly two trades), I’d bet the Islanders would want Hickey at least on their roster. I’m going to stick with my gut and go with Cizikas.
New York Rangers: Michael Grabner, 29, RW
Coming off of a career year, Grabner could give the Golden Knights some help up front. This pick could end up being goaltender Antti Raanta, who has proven that he could be a number one goaltender in the NHL. I expect him to factor into the goaltender conversation for the Golden Knights if they pick him instead, or if he’s not flipped to another team first. I’ll take Grabner here though, based on the goalies I’ve already selected.
Ottawa Senators: Marc Methot, 31, D
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Ottawa could not get a deal done before George McPhee’s self imposed midnight trade deadline on Monday. Therefore, I believe that McPhee is taking Methot. Of course, there is interest in Methot, but one of the important statements from McPhee came Monday morning when discussing flipping a player to another team, where he said that if they like the player, they’re keeping him for themselves. I believe that Methot may have been one of those players that he was talking about.
Philadelphia Flyers: Jordan Weal, 25, C
Weak would be a good addition as Vegas seeks more young forwards. Wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Raffl is the pick here either.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury, 32, G
Fleury is the slam dunk, home run pick for Las Vegas, and is sure to be their starting goaltender come opening night, and the first face of the franchise. It also looks that they’d be getting something from Pittsburgh to take Fleury, so not much to debate here.
Three time Stanley Cup Champion Marc-Andre Fleury appears to be Vegas Bound. (Via PPG)
San Jose Sharks: Brendan Dillon, 26, D
Dillon would be a good pick in this spot, being just 26, and carrying a manageable 3.27 million cap hit.
St. Louis Blues: David Perron, 29, RW
I see this as a deadline deal for Vegas, with them flipping Perron for more picks. He could get flipped right away though.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Jason Garrison, 32, D
GM Steve Yzerman is looking for a way to hold on to young defensemen Slater Koekkoek and Jake Dotchin. Therefore I am projecting a side deal here with Garrison being the pick for Vegas.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Kerby Rychel, 22, LW
Rychel is a good pick for Vegas here because of the upside he has. He could factor as a possible trade chip in the future if it doesn’t work out in Sin City.
Vancouver Canucks: Reid Boucher, 23, LW
Boucher flipped around the league this season with New Jersey, Nashville, and Vancouver earlier this season after being claimed on waivers. He has a lot of upside, and so this pick will be more about potential than anything.
Washington Capitals: Nate Schmidt, 25, D
McPhee could take Philipp Grubauer. McPhee could take Jay Beagle or Brett Connolly. He could even take Kevin Shattenkirk if he can get him to agree to a contract during the exclusive negotiations window. But I have the Capitals going in a different direction and selecting Nate Schmidt, who is one of the best young defensemen available to the Golden Knights. The situation in Washington is interesting because Schmidt got pushed out of the lineup when the Caps traded for Shattenkirk. But Schmidt reminds me of another quick skating defenseman that came up through the system, and made the team. That was John Carlson, and if I’m George McPhee, I’d want that on my team’s blue line.
Winnipeg Jets: Toby Enstrom, 32, D
I believe that Toby Enstrom is a candidate for the pick-and-flip for Vegas. With so many teams looking to get a top four defenseman, Vegas could hold the cards, and look to flip him for picks, or for a player that was protected for the expansion draft.
With this team that I’ve selected, there are sure to be some trades in place before July 1, as the team with this roster will have to sign some of these players to RFA deals while staying away from the cap. McPhee has said that he sees his team in the fifties when discussing team salary. It should be interesting to see what he has up his sleeve.
Brett Malamud is a graduate of Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
2016 NHL Trade Deadline Reaction
By Brett Malamud
Trade deadline day came and went, and there wasn’t too much going on. Let’s take a look at what happened in the days leading up to the deadline:
Winnipeg Jets trade Andrew Ladd, Matt Fraser and Jay Harrison to Chicago Blackhawks for Marko Dano, 2016 1st-round pick and conditional pick in 2018 Draft
Reaction: The Ladd-Chicago reunion will bring cup memories back to fans, and should be a good acquisition, but at what price? This is an example of just one of the numerous over the top asks for rental players. Chicago overpaid but if that means a Stanley Cup, it won’t matter to them
Carolina Hurricanes trade F Eric Staal to New York Rangers in exchange for F Aleksi Saarela, 2016 2nd-round pick, 2017 2nd-round pick
Reaction: I thought that Carolina would receive more for Staal. Seems that the Rangers got away with one here, and have a depth forward to help them towards a playoff run.
Eric Staal should help the Blueshirts down the stretch (Via Rangers)
Washington Capitals trade F Brooks Laich, D Connor Carrick, 2016 2nd-round pick to Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for F Daniel Winnik, 2016 5th-round pick (previously acquired from Anaheim)
Reaction: One can’t help but feel bad for Brooks Laich. The longest-tenured player on the Capitals, and finally as they’re poised to make a deep playoff run, they deal him. Winnik isn’t a huge get for Washington, but he can’t hurt their chances.
Arizona Coyotes trade F Mikkel Boedker to Colorado Avalanche for F Alex Tanguay and prospects F Conner Bleackley and D Kyle Wood.
Reaction: Both clubs walk away making a good deal. Boedker will help by putting the puck in the net, and the ‘Yotes get two prospects with potential.
The New Jersey Devils trade D Eric Gelinas to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 3rd-round pick in 2017.
Reaction: There was no room for him in NJ, so Gelinas is dealt. Will get an opportunity out West. Good return for him
Calgary Flames trade D Kris Russell to the Dallas Stars in exchange for D Jyrki Jokkipakka, F Brett Pollock and a conditional 2nd-round pick in 2016.
Reaction: The Stars overpaid. Period. Yes, they get a shot blocker, but he’s a rental. The Flames on the other hand will be rooting for the Stars in the playoffs, as if the Stars reach the conference finals, the pick becomes a first rounder. They also get Jyrki Jokkipakka, who has become a household name, at least in my household (yes, really). A good deal for the Flames here.
The Carolina Hurricanes trade D John-Michael Liles to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 3rd- round pick in 2016, a 5th-round pick in 2017 and F Anthony Camara.
Reaction: The Bruins will like having blue-line depth by adding JML.
The Buffalo Sabres trade F Jamie McGinn to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional 3rd-round pick in 2016.
Reaction: I like this deal for the Ducks. They needed a good winger, and they got one in McGinn.
Florida Panthers trade F Brandon Pirri to the Anaheim Ducks for a sixth-round pick in 2016.
Reaction: How did the Ducks get away with this? A sixth rounder? Really? The Panthers could have gotten more for Pirri.
The New Jersey Devils shipped F Lee Stempniak to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a second-round pick in 2017 and a fourth-round pick in 2016.
Reaction: The Bruins get another good player in Stempniak. Will be a good addition with Boston. As for the Devils, I was a bit surprised that they dealt him, but in a tough Metropolitan Division, it’s understandable why they did.
The Montreal Canadiens trade winger Devante Smith-Pelly to the New Jersey Devils for winger Stefan Matteau.
Reaction: Two young players get swapped. Here’s hoping it works out this time for them.
Ottawa Senators trade F Shane Prince and 2016 7th-round pick to New York Islanders for 2016 3rd-round pick
Reaction: see https://dabuzzza.com/2016/03/01/the-curious-case-of-garth-snow-and-the-fresh-prince/
The Calgary Flames trade forward David Jones to the Minnesota Wild for goaltender Niklas Backstrom and a sixth-round draft pick.
Reaction: Won’t really help either team. Each player’s career is basically done.
Brett Malamud is an English Rhetoric Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
The Curious Case of Garth Snow And The Fresh Prince
By Brett Malamud
Fans of the New York Islanders were anticipating a big trade deadline day for their club on Monday. The team sits in third place in the Metropolitan Division, now seven points behind the rival New York Rangers, with three games in hand. All along, Islanders general manager Garth Snow remained adamant in keeping his team’s first round picks, as well as his top four prospects — forwards Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Michael Dal Colle and Joshua Ho-Sang — in any deal for a potential unrestricted free agent forward. Snow’s goal was to add a depth forward without giving up any major piece. When the day was all said and done, the Islanders finished a quiet trade deadline day by making just one NHL deal, acquiring prospect forward Shane Prince and a 2016 seventh round pick in exchange for a 2016 third round pick.
The Good
Shane Prince for me is a familiar face. As a Binghamton University student, I have had the opportunity to watch Prince many times with the Binghamton Senators. The 23-year-old is extremely quick and has great hands. He reminds me of a young Kyle Okposo, who was projected to be a second liner, and that is where Prince is projected to wind up as well (Okposo ended up a first liner, and Prince could end up one too if his development pans out). Prince is also a versatile forward who can play both at the center and wing positions, which should help the Islanders going forward. It’s also being reported out of Ottawa that the Senators were actually seeking a second round pick for Prince, and settled for the Islanders third round pick (the Islanders actually do not have a second round pick in 2016, as it was traded in the deal for Johnny Boychuk at the start of last season).
Shane Prince has some quick moves, and Islanders fans will come to admire them.
Over the last week, the Islanders were linked to numerous names on the trade market, such as Andrew Ladd and former Islander P.A. Parenteau. The Islanders certainly spoke to the Winnipeg Jets at some point this season about Ladd while shopping defenseman Travis Hamonic, after he requested a trade to a team located near his home in Western Canada. However, the asking price was far too high for Snow’s liking. So rumors swirled all week of a Parenteau-Isles reunion. It was later found out that Toronto was seeking a second round pick, a price that Snow wasn’t going to pay. According to Newsday’s Arthur Staple, Snow didn’t even have Parenteau on his radar, leading to speculation that Toronto started the rumor to attempt to start a bidding war. By the 3 p.m. deadline, a Parenteau deal was not made, and the high asking price was certainly the reason why any deal including him didn’t come to fruition. All in all, the Snow stuck to his guns and kept his key pieces on the roster, which is certainly a win for New York.
The Bad
Many had high expectations for the Islanders this trade deadline to upgrade in a big way. I’d agree that the Isles are one major piece away from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. They failed to acquire that big piece, and the fans are certainly letting the team hear it on social media. As for the rookie acquisition, Prince has just three goals and 12 points in 42 games this season for the Senators. He hasn’t been able to get it together this season, even though he was so dominant in the minor leagues (he had 28 goals and 65 points in 72 games for Binghamton in 2014-15). He also couldn’t progress up Ottawa’s lineup, remaining stuck on the team’s fourth line.
Of course this raises the question: “Where does Shane Prince even fit in to the Islanders roster?”
I believe that Prince could see time on the second and third lines, with Mikhail Grabovski still out till the weekend. Prince may see time on the second line with Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo, or with third-liners Brock Nelson and Anders Lee. He should not be on the team’s fourth line, as the phenomenal chemistry between Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin isn’t worth tinkering with.
Shane Prince had 28 goals and 65 points in 72 games for the Binghamton Senators (AHL) in 2014-15. (Via Getty)
Bottom Line
Not to bail out Garth Snow, but trades are a two-way street, and the other team does have to accept the deal as well. Many people forget that. In fact, with high asking prices, it’s tough for teams to decide to settle and accept deals for below a player’s value (ex. Drouin, Yakupov, and Eriksson staying put), especially in a high-pressure situation such as a trade deadline day. We may never hear what deals were in the works for Garth Snow on Monday afternoon, but I can assure you that although he only made one NHL deal on deadline day, Snow wasn’t twiddling his thumbs all day. Some deals just don’t work out.
No, this deal doesn’t make the Islanders an elite team. We know that. They got a young prospect who will make an impact as a depth forward. No, I do not believe that the Isles are a cup contender this year either, but they should be able to get past the first round. Kyle Okposo is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, and while reports say that he’s destined to leave the Islanders, never say never.
The same reports came out last season about defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy, before they were signed to long-term extensions. Garth Snow keeps his organization tight lipped, so who really knows what Snow is going to do? The team will also have to re-sign pending UFAs Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin. It’s probably more likely that the team re-signs Nielsen and Martin rather than Okposo, but again, anything is possible.
With rising prospects Barzal, Beauvillier, Dal Colle and Ho-Sang, the Islanders find themselves with a bright future. In fact, Dal Colle and Barzal may be on the team come September, and Ho-Sang may start the season in Bridgeport.
If they were to deal any of their current players for an impact player such as Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, or Max Pacioretty (Again, just examples of the kind of player that may be available), the Islanders would become a contender. The Oilers seem like a likely candidate in that department, knowing that a Travis Hamonic trade to a Western Canadian team may involve Edmonton. The Islanders would obviously inquire about Hall but Eberle has been linked to them as well. If Edmonton came to the Islanders on draft day and offered Taylor Hall for the Islanders’ 2016 first round pick, Anders Lee, and Travis Hamonic, would you do it if you were Garth Snow? Now Edmonton fans, before you freak out, realize that GM Peter Chiarelli’s ship can’t sink any deeper. The Oilers would get their defenseman in Hamonic, a young forward in Lee, and another first round pick, plus free up $6 million a year for four years in Hall’s contract. That’s a lot to spark a quick turn around. From the Islanders’ perspective, imagine paying for Hall in the place of Okposo, letting him walk, and freeing up room for Ryan Pulock and Dal Colle/Barzal. It’d be a different team than the one out on the ice now. This may not just be a trade for EA Sports, but also for the Islanders and Oilers to examine.
But that’s talk for the draft, which is still 114 days away. For now, the Islanders acquired a potential top-six forward in Prince, and didn’t have to give up much to get him. They also didn’t break the bank for a pending UFA. Yes, Prince is having an off year, which drove his price down, but again, he’s very talented. If he comes around, he’ll be a great addition to this Islanders team who needs to shoot the puck more. I won’t call this trade a “steal” but rather a very good trade.
Brett Malamud is an English Rhetoric Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
Islanders Postseason Poll: Keep ‘Em Or Can ‘Em
By Brett Malamud
Yes, we are just 24 hours since the Islanders ended their season. But, by popular demand, let’s take a look at our (very early) edition of Keep ‘Em Or Can ‘Em. Feel free to vote on each poll, as it’ll allow other fans to see what you think.
Offense
Defense/Goalie
Coaches/Management
**It’d be unfair to judge the likes of Mayfield and Reinhart since we saw such little time
Finally, I’d like to know everyone’s opinion on Barclays Center. How have your plans changed?
Brett Malamud is an English Rhetoric Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
Isles Making Lasting Memories for Fans in the Playoffs
By Brett Malamud
Silence. That can be heard early Monday afternoon in the little barn in Uniondale. But turn back the clock a mere 24 hours, and you have arguably the loudest atmosphere that any team will experience in the playoffs this season. The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum will be closing its doors at the end of the year, and New York Islanders fans are giving the building the ultimate send off.
Fans were challenged on Saturday afternoon, as the Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin gave his expectations for Sunday’s game three matchup.
Ovechkin was greeted with chants of “CAN YOU HEAR US?” The chant echoed throughout game three. From the opening faceoff, fans gave the Capitals the ultimate distraction, and fueled the adrenaline of the hometown Islanders. A second period deflection by Kyle Okposo gave the Islanders the lead, igniting the crowd even more. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk finished the second period with a game-changing diving stop on Ovechkin and headed to the locker room to the sound of a loud “John-ny Boy-chuk!” chant.
Nicklas Backstrom ripped the hearts out of many of the 16,170 fans when he went top shelf and found the back of the net with just 6:06 to play. Was this the beginning of another late-game Isles collapse? I’m sure that two weeks ago, many Islanders fans would have anticipated that. But this day was different. After the goal, another thunderous “Let’s go Islanders” chant broke out and the crowd stayed in it. The fans wouldn’t go unheard, and refused to go home unhappy. Regulation ended and fans buckled up for the long overtime period…or at least that’s what they thought.
Fifteen seconds. That’s all it took. Nick Leddy fired the puck, Nikolay Kulemin deflected it on net, and Islanders captain John Tavares picked up the rebound and sliced the puck just over the pad of goaltender Braden Holtby, sending Islanders country into a mass frenzy. The Capitals left the ice to a resounding “YES! YES! YES!” chant, and were now down two games to one, to a team that hasn’t won a playoff series in 20 years.
The game also signaled that more hockey is to be played at the Coliseum, as the Islanders are guaranteed to play at least two more games in the Barn, with more on the way if they can close out Washington twice more and advance to the next round.
The Islanders before the final regular season game at Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2015
This season, the Islanders have honored their past, bringing back legends from the cup years, and honoring them individually. Last weekend, the Islanders shocked many when they did not bring back all of them for the last regular season game, but opted for “decades night” a week earlier, bringing back two players from each decade. No offense to the players honored, but people who paid big money for tickets didn’t come to see Eric Cairns, Steve Webb and Shawn Bates. They came to see Nystrom, Bossy, Gillies, Potvin, Smith, Trottier, Bourne, Resch, Lafontaine, Westfall, Harris, Morrow, Tonelli, Goring, Sutter, Turgeon, Volek, Palffy, Berard, and Jonsson all in one room on the final night of the season. They came to see the guys who turned the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum into Fort Neverlose and into the Barn, and many were left in disappointment. But we move on. The only truly fitting ending to the coliseum now would be John Tavares skating to center ice, shaking commissioner Gary Bettman’s hand, and lifting that 35-pound trophy sky high. That would honor the past, and what the building has meant to all Islanders fans. It’s place where many memories were made, and a place where many have spent most of their childhoods. It’s Home.
Game four is set for 7 pm on Tuesday night.
Brett Malamud is an English Rhetoric Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
Team of the Future? Islanders Are A Contender For Years To Come
By Brett Malamud
Gone are the days of Fishsticks, golf in April, and Mad Mike. After GM Garth Snow’s recent string of moves, the Islanders have set themselves up to make some noise in the Eastern Conference for the next handful of years.
With Thursday’s news that the Islanders locked up Johnny Boychuk to a seven-year, $42 million deal that comes just two weeks after the team signed Nick Leddy to a seven-year, $38.5 million deal, Snow cemented the top defensive line for the years to come. Snow also has a hefty pool of prospects that are poised for big careers. I’d go so far as to say that the next decade’s defensive pairings could be set if GM Garth Snow wants it. It could look something along the lines of this:
Johnny Boychuk – Nick Leddy
Travis Hamonic – Ryan Pulock
Griffin Reinhart – Calvin De Haan
Matt Donovan
Not to mention that they’d still have the likes of Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield waiting in the minors for the call. Of course, the Islanders could look to flip one or two of these players, in the hopes of a greater return (whether it be an established player or another draft pick). Whatever the case, this team is extremely deep, thanks to Snow’s key trades and draft picks.
Looking in goal, Jaroslav Halak set the Islanders franchise record for the most wins in a single season. Snow flipped the struggling Chad Johnson for an upgraded backup goalie in Michael Neuvirth, giving the team someone they could rely on down the stretch.
Turning up front, Snow has built up the offense that led the team to last place in the NHL just a few seasons ago. That starts on the first line with homegrown forwards John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey. Anders Lee, Ryan Strome, and Brock Nelson come together to form the “kid line” of even more homegrown talent. The acquisition of Tyler Kennedy should help the penalty kill and should bring additional depth as this team goes forward into the playoffs this season. The signings of Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin proved to work out in the first season. The Islanders have found themselves with one of the deadliest offenses in the NHL. But don’t think that this is a fluke. No. The Islanders have more talent on the way in the likes of Joshua Ho-Sang, who is tearing it up in juniors. The 19 year old forward has 12 goals and 42 assists for a total of 64 points in just 44 games this season for the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL. But it’s Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle that is making headlines in Canada, tallying 38 goals and 49 assists for 87 points in just 51 games this season for the Oshawa Generals in the OHL. The two are sure to be in the NHL soon enough, and will look to continue their success. There’s no way to predict the future, but the team is deep on offense and has its focal points locked up to long term deals.
Gone are the days of the team of the future. The future has finally arrived for the Islanders and now is the time to compete for the Stanley Cup in the years to come.
Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
New York Islanders Mid-Season Report Cards
By Mike Basile
The Islanders are off to a hot start this season. They’re in first place in the Metropolitan Division headed into the all star break. Here’s my mid-season grades for the team.
Forwards
John Tavares (21 G, 24 A, 45 pts)- The captain has been on and off all season, but when you need a goal he is always there for you, he is second in the NHL with 5 game winning goals. He is starting to heat up again with 6 points in his last three games. One big concern for me is he takes some bad penalties. Your captain can not be doing that. Grade: B+
Kyle Okposo (14 G, 30 A, 44 points)- Okposo is also coming on of late he has 5 goals and 7 points in his last three games. He is starting to find his game again and that chemistry we all know he has with John Tavares. With these two heating up this team gets even more dangerous. Grade: B+
Ryan Strome ( 8 G, 25 A, 33 points)- When Ryan Strome is on the ice, good things happen, and his +16 shows that. It seems like whatever line he moves to has a ton of success. His on ice vision is great and it doesn’t hurt that he has a wicked shot as well. Grade: A-
Brock Nelson (15 G, 15 A, 30 points)- Brock Nelson makes a living in front of the net, and it shows on the powerplay as he has 9 of his 15 goals when on a man advantage. He is very strong on the puck and is still maturing. He can very quickly turn in to one of the most dangerous players in the NHL. Grade: B+
Frans Nielsen (9 G, 16 A, 25 points)- Frans Nielsen has one of the toughest jobs of all players, as almost every shift you will see him out against the other team’s top players. He is very skilled defensively and his 25 points are really helping the secondary scoring for this team. Grade: B
Josh Bailey (8 G, 13 A, 21 points)- Bailey looks to be a fit on that top line with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. He has 6 points in his last three games and his 21 points this season came in only 34 appearances. It seems like Josh Bailey is finding himself. Grade: B
Nikolay Kulemin (11 G, 9 A, 20 points)- Kulemin has been a great addition to the New York Islanders team. He is great on the penalty kill and has three shorthanded goals. Very good third line player who is also heating up to add to the secondary scoring. Grade: B
Anders Lee (13 G, 5 A, 18 points)- Anders is a player you love to have on your team, he is gritty, works hard and loves to score those dirty goals in front of the net. He also has five game winning goals this season which is 2nd in the NHL. Grade: B+
Mikhail Grabovski (6 G, 8 A, 14 points)- Grabovski has been one of the biggest disappointments on the team this season. Failing to hit the net on good scoring opportunities and making bad decisions with the puck leaves him with only 14 points. He will need to step up if he wants to stay in the lineup. Grade: C-
Casey Cizikas (4 G, 6 A, 10 points)- Cizikas is quietly having a pretty good season. He isn’t a player who is going to go out and get points every night and even gets looked over on the 4th line because of Martin and Clutterbuck leading the league in hits. He does his job on the penalty kill and is one of the team’s best faceoff men. Grade: B-
Cal Clutterbuck (4 G, 5 A, 9 points)- Cal is second in the league in hits and according to Don Cherry is a part of the “best fourth line in NHL history.” I’d like to see him contribute more offensively because I feel like he has the skill to put up a 30 point season. Grade: C+
Matt Martin (6 G, 2 A, 8 points)- Martin leads the league in hits…… again. He is one of the best enforcers in the NHL and knows how to spark the team when they need some momentum. Grade: B-
Michael Grabner (4 G, 2 A, 6 points)- Grabner has six points in 12 games this season. He has come on pretty strong after missing most of the season with an injury. His best asset is his penalty kill, but with the speed he has, he is always dangerous. It would be unfair to grade him through only 12 games.
Defense
Johnny Boychuk (4 G, 18 A, 22 points)- Boychuk has been another great addition to the team. Johnny has one of the hardest shots in the league and is very dangerous on the power play. Did I mention he is also a +15? Grade: B+
Nick Leddy (7 G, 14 A, 21 points)- Boychuk’s defensive partner has also been a great add to the squad. With 7 goals this season he is a big help to the forwards. Him and Boychuk are a combined +25 this season, which is new for isles defensemen. Grade: B+
Thomas Hickey (2 G, 13 A, 15 points)- Thomas Hickey’s size is really starting to show. When him and Visnovsky are on the ice, they can’t win puck battles in the corner and allow the other team to works in their defensive zone. He is helping out offensively, but has to be stronger on the puck. Grade: C–
Lubomir Visnovsky (3 G, 8 A, 11 points)- Much like Hickey, his size also shows defensively. His 11 points in 29 games is good for a defensemen, but his first responsibility is defense and sometimes us fans question that. Grade: C
Travis Hamonic (3 G, 8 A, 11 points)- Hamonic goes up against top line forwards every night and is still an impressive +4. I would like for him to stay out of the box, but can’t complain much with his play. Grade: B
Calvin De Hann (1 G, 10 A, 11 points)- Calvin also pairs up with Hamonic to play against top tier forwards. This is a very tough task for the young d-man, but he holds his own and plays very steady defense. Grade: B-
Brian Strait (1 G 3 A 4 points)- The scapegoat of the islanders defense. Every time something goes wrong it is very easy for fans and the media to claim that it’s Strait’s fault. He is not great, but Capuano plays him way too much and that hurts him a lot. Grade: D+
Goalies
Jaroslav Halak (24-9-0)- Jaro has a 2.41 goals against average and a 91.0% save percentage. Halak has been shaky in his past couple of games, but this break may be what the doctor ordered. He has been a rock in goal for the isles this season overall. His 4 shutouts are also very impressive. Grade: A-
Jaroslav Halak and John Tavares have been a huge part of the Islanders success this season. (Via Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Chad Johnson (6-5-0)- Johnson has a 3.38 goals against average and an 87.0% save percentage. Do I have to say anything? I understand he is the backup, but this is unacceptable. The team has lost faith in him and jaro cannot play every day. He needs to pick it up next start. Grade: F
Islanders-Rangers Preview
By Jack Allen
Hockey is alive in New York. It has been quite a long time since the Islanders visited Madison Square Garden (MSG) and ticket prices were this high. Ever since 1993, the Islanders haven’t been this relevant and have not won a playoff series. The Rangers have won a Stanley Cup and have been there twice (1994 & 2014). The Rangers have stayed relevant to this day. The Islanders on the other hand, hasn’t been this good in over 20 years. The NYI/NYR rivalry is back. The 1st place Islanders visit MSG tonight with a chip on their shoulder to prove they’re the best team in NY. I can’t remember personally in my life ever hearing more hype for an Islander game in the regular season at this point. Halak vs Lundqvist and Nash vs Tavares, will be fun to watch. Tune in tonight at 7:00 EST. Finally my prediction: 3-2 Islanders in OT.
The Isles and Rangers will duke it out tonight at 7pm (Via AP)
Jack Allen is a writer for dabuzzza.com. He is a fan of the New York Mets, New York Islanders, New York Knicks, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, Queens Park Rangers, and West Virginia Mountaineer football and basketball. His favorite athletes are David Wright, John Tavares, Geno Smith, Allen Iverson and Charlie Austin. He is a very passionate and determined fan. You can follow him on twitter @JackAllen99.
A Flyer Fan’s Concern
By Ryan Crawford
The 2014/2015 season has begun in exciting fashion and looks to continue that way. With a third of the season done already a lot of questions have emerged. Analyzing this season as well as the future determines there is one team who has major issues. When you are a die hard fan, you generally see things through rose colored glasses. You grasp for good in anything you can. Even the most objective of fans have a tendency to overrate their own players. With that said, there will be no doubt that one group of fans will hate this author. But beware, I am just pointing out what you already know but just can’t come to grips with because of your blind loyalty. You love your team and just want to see that cup raised on your ice. Unfortunately that will not be happening soon unless some drastic changes are implemented with your team. I would love to hear your reactions. Please keep the cursing to a minimum.
After years and years of being competitive but never one of the best, it is time for Ed Snider to tear this team down and start from scratch. This team is a complete mess from top to bottom. When looking at the roster you find mostly overpaid underperformers. The Flyers are notorious for going out and overpaying players that their own teams have determined do not deserve the money they are asking for. Is there enough room to list them? Daniel Briere, Ilya Bryzgalov and Chris Pronger are gone but their buyouts and long term injury deals will haunt this team until the end of the current union deal as it gives them no maneuverability whatsoever. But the Flyers still keep bringing in bad contracts. Their defense is a shambles. Mark Streit is a power play specialist who can’t play defense anymore. He wanted four years and 18 million from the Islanders two years ago. The Islanders, who had very little on D at that point, thought he was way overpriced. So the Flyers gave him four years at 21 million. Not learning their lesson, the following year it was Andrew Macdonald’s turn. The Islanders offered him four years and 16 million, figuring he was at best a second pair defenseman who had played major minutes because of the lack of NHL caliber defensemen on the Island. So the Flyers paid him 30 million over six years. He’s at best a number four defenseman. Michael Del Zotto, the former Ranger defenseman was jettisoned by the Rangers because he could not figure out that his primary job was to play defense. The Nashville Predators had him for a half season and outright released him. Here come the Flyers to give him a guaranteed 1.3 million… For what? Nicklas Grossmann, Brayden Coburn, Luke Schenn, Nick Schultz… Does not exactly strike fear into opponents. The two goalies, Steve Mason and Ray Emery are pretty good but do not get any help from the porous defense
Does Ed Snider have to start from scratch? (Via AP)
The forwards have a little depth but Ed Snider has seen there is no secondary scoring. See his outburst the other night for proof of that! They have Claude Giroux, Jakob Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn. What about RJ Umberger, Matt Read, Scott Laughton, Zac Rinaldo? 4 goals between them in the first 25 games! Vincent Lecavalier? Bought out by Tampa only four years into an 11 year 85 million dollar deal. Here come the Flyers to bestow a five year 22.5 million dollar gift upon Vinny. And what has Vinny given the Flyers in return? A whopping 43 points the past two seasons and a healthy scratch early in his second season with the team. Way to get value guys! Sean Couturier was considered one of the top rated players in the 2011 draft but dropped down to the Flyers at pick number eight because some teams were concerned about his scoring and viewed him as a third liner. Well he made the Flyers as an 18 year old and has become the third line player many expected.
Should we look into the trade market? Do you have faith in the Flyers top brass making trades? Who do they have that other teams might want? How has James Van Riemsdyk for Luke Schenn worked out? Wait you say, “we have a farm system.” Virtually every season for the last 10, the Flyers have been ranked among the bottom handful of teams in the league. This year they have moved all the way up to 21st on HockeysFuture. Flyer fans will tell you about Scott Laughton and Sam Morin but there is very little depth in their system and we have not seen a major Flyer draft coup since Claude Giroux in 2006. Other than Giroux, Van Riemsdyk and maybe Luca Sbisa, no other Flyer draft pick since 2004 has emerged as a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenseman at the NHL level.
For this team to improve they will need to part with a major asset or two. They have Giroux, Simmonds and Voracek. Brayden Schenn has value as well. If they can accumulate draft picks or prospects for their bad contracts they should jump at the chance. Lecavalier and the entire defense should be up for grabs. If Couturier can bring back a prospect with a bigger upside I would move him too. They will need to develop the few prospects they do have and really score big with their expected high draft pick this season. If a few trades are made to jettison veterans for prospects and picks then they might have figured it out. If you see them trade for a veteran or two you will know they are the same old Flyers and expect more of the same.
2014-15 NHL Predictions
METROPOLITAN
Jonathan Toews will lead his team to a Stanley Cup win this season. (Via SM Sports)
Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
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