Projection For New York 2013-14: A Step Back

On 9/7/13: An entry was written here titled " Anything Can Happen, But Expect New York To Take Step Back Out Of Playoffs "

Nothing that happened during the preseason has changed this viewpoint. Bouchard did not even make it out of camp before he was off Tavares line.

It's going to take some very unexpected offensive steps forward from Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, and a huge step forward from a defense with few offensive players for this franchise to make a jump that only was an 11-2-1 stretch during a short season that lasted for a few weeks where the club was sub five-hundred in late March.

The weakness and downgrades made during the summer hurt, I do not mean Brad Boyes or Keith Aucoin.

No one is going to convince me Peter Regin, Bouchard are better offensive (or physical/size options/potential) than Nino Niederreiter, Jesse Joensuu, and David Ullstrom.

Clutterbuck can play physical hockey, and has an element teams want that will help this franchise, however he'll never have potential to produce as Niederreiter which is why you never trade young offensive potential, unless the return is the same.

Matt Martin so far has proven for all the hit numbers if you cannot produce, it only has a limited value which changes as fast as Boulton will dress (to play less than five minutes) for someone on his line.

How fast would some of you trade Matt Martin to have Niederreiter or a comparable prospect back? Exactly. 

Niederreiter was not Nikita Filatov, he left Bridgeport an AHL All-Star, with a solid World Championship which followed that, he was a player who came to New York a month early to make this team as a rookie before he kept getting hurt.

His agent wrote a tweet last January demanding a trade? Who cares.

Where was Niederreiter going again besides home with a signed contract, and the Islanders holding his NHL rights for years?  It's not like Garth Snow had to negotiate a contract last summer, nor did Niederreiter say one quoted negative word.

Bouchard's two million dollars is comparable to what Niederreiter would have received.

Anyone who watched a healthy Jesse Joensuu the last few years could see his game dramatically improved which did not happen when he reported here injured after the lockout, and the Isles made him a healthy scratch short a few games of retaining his rights automatically so Marty Reasoner could dress? 

Nothing's been done to replace Frans Nielsen's lack of scoring as a center whether it be Bailey, Nelson or Casey Cizikas.

Matt Donovan, Brock Nelson could surprise, (Reinhart could be a huge surprise) but expecting those players to be the answer at this point in their young careers is not realistic.

No four man forward unit replaces Mark Streit on the powerplay or his passing ability on a rush. Nielsen's not beating goaltenders from the point with his shot on a powerplay, everyone knows he is there to pass the puck.

Now we get to see Josh Bailey/Kyle Okposo move around as they did under Scott Gordon in 2009. Both are capable of being first line players, however the sustained production is not there to merit this.

You can bet all NHL coaches will start their meetings with the following when the New York Islanders are on the menu. Give John Tavares zero room to work with, never miss a chance to put a body on him, and don't let him beat us. 

I get some writing about the 2013-14 team likely only watched a few games in April 2013, and did not bother noticing the rest. Most write worthless previews about thirty teams when they barely know anything about one team.

Perhaps those forty plus games the 2013 team led or was tired entering the third period is something the majority of the returning roster can repeat.

Again anything can happen, however what's likely to happen is a step back to the sub five hundred club this franchise was in late March 2013.

I believe Garth Snow is as bullet proof as George McPhee is in Washington, he's already been general manager for Charles Wang longer than Mike Milbury, but a losing year means there is nowhere for Snow to hide.

Only management knows how long Jack Capuano was extended for last summer.
*****************************
Ed Mangano responded via twitter, writing he will speak with Charles Wang about releasing the letter he gave the legislature on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

I also asked Mangano if he could provide a date for a NIFA/TOH meeting decision on Ratner Coliseum agreement, he responded today, that he is awaiting that information.

NIFA has not met since July.

Tom Suozzi if back in office could not overturn this decision (see Wang/Smg Dec 2009 sublease) if all approved by end of calendar year. 

Nassau Coliseum will close under Ratner plan from August 2015 (when Smg officially out) through Sept 2017.

New York/Bridgeport Announce Rosters

Islanders website: Announced it's 23 man roster to begin the 2013-14 season. 
Forwards
Josh Bailey
Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Eric Boulton
Casey Cizikas
Michael Grabner
Matt Martin
Colin McDonald
Matt Moulson
Brock Nelson
Frans Nielsen
Kyle Okposo
Peter Regin
John Tavares

Defensemen
Matt Carkner
Matt Donovan
Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey
Andrew MacDonald
Griffin Reinhart
Brian Strait
Lubomir Visnovsky

Goalies
Evgeni Nabokov
Kevin Poulin

Injured Reserve
Cal Clutterbuck

Ryan Pulock, the Islanders’ first pick (15th overall) in the 2013 National Hockey League Draft, has been returned to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

Radek Martinek was released from his professional tryout agreement. 

Bridgeport announced it's roster/changes. 
Mike Halmo, Kirill Kabanov, Anders Lee, John Persson, Alan Quine, Ryan Strome, Johan Sundstrom. Calvin de Haan, Scott Mayfield, Aaron Ness, Anders Nilsson, Joe Finley.

Forward Justin Johnson, goalie Ken Reiter were released from professional tryout agreements, while forward Riley Wetmore was released from an amateur tryout agreement. Johnson, Reiter and Wetmore will report to the Sound Tigers Training Camp, which continues Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Ct Post fills out Sound Tigers roster/status.

NHL contracts in normal font, AHL contracts in italics, PTOs in bold:

F (16)–Chris Bruton, Jason Clark, Joey Diamond, Brett Gallant, Mike Halmo, Brayden Irwin, Justin Johnson, Kirill Kabanov, Anders Lee, Greg Miller, John Persson, Alan Quine, Ryan Strome, Johan Sundstrom, Riley Wetmore, Sean Wiles

D (9)–Marc Cantin, Mike Dalhuisen, Calvin de Haan, Joe Finley, Dallas Jackson, Mike Keenan, Scott Mayfield, Aaron Ness, Andrey Pedan

G (2)–Anders Nilsson, Kenny Reiter

NYIFC Comments:  
Playing split-squad games that late in the preseason came with some expensive price-tags, despite some meaningless wins.

And sure if I'm going to be critical of the early losses, the later wins (especially the one at home against Nashville) with close to the opening roster has to be acknowledged. 


No real surprises outside of Martinek, who could still be signed if Hamonic goes on IR which made Sunday's games very expensive along with breaking up your opening night roster that late to play meaningless split season games. (No, I forgot to include the eight man veteran rule in my previous entry because those kind of games are still somewhat new)

Makes playing those split-squad games an even bigger risk at a point the roster should be final. 

Maybe a trade comes/waiver pickup.

Alan Quine has  left juniors, he's now a Sound Tiger. 

New York Signs Ryan Pulock/Alan Quine To Three Year ELC/More Roster Cuts

Updated: Alan Quine has agreed to terms on a three-year Entry Level Contract
Islanders-twitter.


Islanders website: The New York Islanders announced today that Ryan Pulock has agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract.

Islanders website: Also announced Forward Jason Clark, along with defensemen Marc Cantin and Andrey Pedan have been loaned to Bridgeport. Forward Greg Miller and defensemen Mike Dalhuisen and Mike Keenan have been released from their amateur tryout agreements (ATO), while defenseman Dallas Jackson was released from his professional tryout agreement (PTO). All seven players will report to Sound Tigers training camp, which continues Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers: The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have announced that the following players have been assigned the the organization's ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder: Mathieu Coderre-Gagnon- D Nathan Deck- D Sean Escobedo- D Ryan Hayes- F Nick Larson- F Parker Milner- G Shawn Mortin-Boutin- D Landon Olslanski- D Ben Rosen- F


NYIFC Comments:
Was looking for a Pulock ELC signing, a little later than usual. Alan Quine a nice surprise.  This organization needs some signed forwards from it's very small draft pool remaining.

Friday's roster (less injuries) is likely close to the final team which means Martinek could be in some trouble or he will split time with Carkner, and Finley. With Nelson here, expect Lee/Strome to debut in Bridgeport, with Sundstrom likely closer to an early call-up.

After Sunday's games expect the second split squad team to be sent to Bridgeport/rest of the players. Expect Reinhart/Pulock returned to juniors unless there is a injury or trade.

Three New York/Bridgeport Practice Groups

There seems to be some confusion out there.

One group is practicing at Nassau Coliseum, that is mostly the players who have NHL spots or are still in competition for them.

Second group is practicing at IceWorks in Syosset. that may be players more on the outside of the NHL but this could also change quickly.


John Persson, Kirill Kabanov,  Aaron Ness are not getting a lot of ink or mentions.


Ct Post list names of a third group mostly of invites/ECHL players from Stockton at Sound Tigers camp

Updated-The Sound Tigers website has twittered the ECHL/invited players are practicing at IceWorks in Syosset.

Oddly, the Islanders will have one more split/squad game in Canada against Ottawa which is very late for such an event. 

Even for preseason this collective roster has struggled badly in games outscored 13-2 in second periods, winning a game in New Jersey with two shorthanded goals, a Boulton goal out of the penalty box, one powerplay goal, and an unassisted goal among seventeen shots, it's not impressive in terms of five on five play.

Misc:
I asked Ed Mangano, Kevan Abrahams to publish the letter Charles Wang sent regarding the Bridgeport Sound Tigers presented at Monday's legislature meeting.

Obviously Nassau County's post 19-0 vote release makes clear the Sound Tigers are still not the AHL team Bruce Ratner will bring to the Nassau Coliseum by 2017-18 or sooner.

19-0 UNANIMOUS LEGISLATURE APPROVAL OF RATNER COLISEUM BID

Highlights on twitter:

Coliseum renovations will begin  August 1st 2015, with the building set to re-open by September 2017.

Video Conference Post 19-0 vote.

Mangano said in video 11:00 mark NIFA has contract, more information from them Tuesday 9/24.

Bruce Ratner, flat out dazzled with eloquence, experience, and information. Legislature members who were voting no changed their mind. 

Ratner said when plan submitted to league on Islanders playing six games at Coliseum, Dolan must approve, this has not been submitted to NHL yet. 

Still murky on Sound Tigers depending on lease agreement to 2021 can be changed earlier. Ratner said he tried/will bring in another team if not Sound Tigers. Wang submitted letter on Sound Tigers to legislature.

Ratner may need Dolan's AHL team if Sound Tigers not allowed to move. 

Only feasible for Wang economically to play maximum of six Coliseum game. 

Construction begins Aug 2015, will take two years for everything which would be done all at once (inside/outside) that means there will be no two, four, six, whatever New York Islander hockey games for 2015-16, and likely 2016-17.

The timetable given was fifteen to eighteen months for renovation so for the older readers think 1973-1976 Yankee Stadium renovation.

Spending to retain the Islanders, increasing capacity of Nassau Coliseum was not financially viable given small scale of project. 

Ampitheatre just a grassy area, not a big concert venue.
Skating rink in grassy area more like Rockefeller Center, just for skating, not to compete with local hockey. 

NEC Coliseum lease with Ratner was listed as item one on agenda Ordinance. No. 134-2014

Long Island Press reported Gov Cuomo made major changes to NIFA Nassau's Democratic Board which could hold it's first meeting on Friday 9/27, and would be the final hurdle if legislature approval is given because the minor changes to the Coliseum's footprint obviously fit in TOH/re-zoning.