Lost in the shuffle of Ted Nolan’s departure yesterday was the start of the Islanders’ Summer Prospect Camp. Ted or no Ted, this team is in rebuild mode so it’s important for the entire coaching staff to work with and see our prospects before they head off to their respective 2008-09 assignments (college, AHL, NHL, etc.). Open to the public and held at Islanders Iceworks in Syossett, NY, this year’s camp features 10 of the 13 Islanders’ 2008 Draft Picks, including our first round pick Josh Bailey.
On Monday afternoon, 45 Islanders prospects and camp invitees flocked to Islanders Iceworks for the annual Islanders Prospects Camp. Fans from across Long Island visited Syosset to see some of the Islanders’
brightest young stars, including Blake Comeau, Kyle Okposo and 2008 first round draft pick Josh Bailey.
In the morning, the players took part in some grueling testing to measure their level of fitness and sat in on a number of lectures, including one by mental conditioning coach Gary Parks. Later in the day, the players took to the ice for the first time. Director of Player Development Bryan Trottier, Islanders assistant coaches John Chabot, Gerard Gallant and Dan Lacroix, as well as Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach Jack Capuano led this afternoon’s skate.
I was in VT again this past weekend, and now I’m sick as a dog. Did make it home in time for the Isles/Sens tilt. Wow. The Orange and Blue really it took it to them that night.
Here are a couple of links about Kyle Okposo’s AHL debut last Friday, and his first home game for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday. Wearing #12, Kyle had 2 assists in his debut Friday night in Binghamton, then gave the hometown Bridgeport fans plenty to cheer about with 1G and 2A on Saturday night. On Sunday, Bridgeport’s third game in three days, Okposo was held scoreless.
Okposo Net: Okposolypse Now
In what can only be described as the media event of year in southern Connecticut, Kyle Okposo made his home debut for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday night.
As promised, Okposo Net was at the Arena at Harbor Yard along with 4,523 paying customers to see if Kyle was and is the real deal. The verdict: a definitive yes.
On the Islanders Beat: Okposo’s Debut
The only time nerves seemed to affect Islanders prospect Kyle Okposo in his pro debut Friday night was when he first took the ice.
The 2006 first-round draft pick was the last Bridgeport Sound Tiger onto the rink in Binghamton and his first practice shot went about 10 feet wide to the left.
“I got a little nerves, but that’s to be expected,” Okposo said.
The Tiger Track: Okposo’s Debut a Success
Ever hear of this kid, Kyle Okposo?? If you haven’t, you did now. Last year’s first round draft pick made his home debut tonight and did not disappoint.
Kyle notched his first professional goal tonight and added two assists to his total. Two games…five points. How’s that for a start?
The media attention and presence in the Sound Tigers locker room was MUCH different tonight than it was any normal night. Mike Fornabaio, who usually runs the show, got to take it easy for a bit, as Newsday’s Mark Herrmann led the media blitz.
And some new Kyle videos on IslandersTV
Sound Tigers - Falcons Highlights
Watch Kyle Okposo’s first professional goal as the Sound Tigers defeat the Falcons 4 - 2.
Exclusive: One on One with Okposo
Sound Tigers radio play by play man Phil Giubileo talks one on one with Kyle Okposo after his first home game as a Sound Tiger.
Exclusive: Ryan Jankowski on Kyle Okposo
Islanders Assistant GM and Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Jankoski discusses Kyle’s first home game as a Sound Tiger.
With Team USA’s disappointing 4th place finish at the World Junior Championships over, what’s the plan for the newest Islander? Greg Logan on his On the Islanders Beat blog gives us the scoop on Kyle Okposo.
Just got the word from Islanders general manager Garth Snow. After helping Team USA to a fourth-place finish at the World Junior championships in Czech Republic, top Islanders prospect Kyle Okposo will join their Bridgeport farm club next week.
Okposo returns with Team USA on Sunday and will get four days off to recover from the tournament. He’s expected to practice with the Sound Tigers on Thursday, and he might play his first game Friday night in Binghamton. Fans living on Long Island might want to wait until the weekend when they can hop the Port Jeffferson-Bridgeport Ferry to see Okposo and the Sound Tigers against Springfield on Saturday night or against Binghamton on Sunday.
Okposo had 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points in the tournament.
Kyle Okposo and three other Islanders’ prospects will get a chance to shine at the World Junior Championships this year, beginning the day after Christmas. Joining Kyle on Team USA is Rhett Rakhshani, while Robin Figren and Stefan Ridderwall will represent Team Sweden.
Okposo will be looking to improve on last year’s WJC performance where he only had 1 assist in 7 games as Team USA took home the bronze medal.
For the second year in a row, Islanders 2006 first-round draft pick, Kyle Okposo will help lead a talented American squad at the 2008 World Junior Championship, taking place this year in Liberec and Pardubice, Czech Republic from December 26-January 5. Joining Okposo is Islanders 2006 fourth-round draft pick Rhett Rakhshani, who will be making his first appearance at the World Juniors.
“As expected by their good showing at the Islanders Prospects Camp this summer, Kyle and Rhett will be joining the US team at the World Juniors,” said assistant GM/Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Jankowski. “Kyle is going to provide good leadership on this team having played last year, while Rhett also has plenty of international experience having skated with the Under-18 Junior National Team. They’re going to provide a spark for the US offense at this year’s tournament.”
Also appearing in their first World Junior Championship are Swedish prospects forward Robin Figren – drafted by the Islanders in the third round in 2006 – and goaltender Stefan Ridderwall – selected in the seventh round.
After the July 1st Hempstead Turnpike traffic jam of Islanders leaving town, GM Garth Snow had his work cut out for him to fill in the holes in the Isles’ lineup. This was done via a combination of free agent signings and re-evaluating the talent the Islanders had in the minors at Bridgeport. If you thought Coach Ted Nolan’s job was tough last year, wait until you see this year with a large percentage of the lineup having little experience playing together. If there are two things we learned last year they are, 1) DP needs to stay in the $%@@! net and avoid collisions in March, and 2) Coach Nolan excels at getting the most out of his players.
Here’s a look at some training camp articles from NY Islander beat writer Greg Logan:
Arguably the Islanders’ biggest off-season signing, new first line center Mike Comrie.
The Islanders’ new No. 1 center made his first appearance in a training camp scrimmage today, and he couldn’t have been more impressive. Mike Comrie showed off his quick hands by scoring a hat trick to lead Team Gillies to a 4-2 victory over Team Bossy in regulation time before a shootout narrowed the final margin to 4-3.
The one thing I’m really impressed with is his leadership. Even in practice [on Friday when Comrie’s team didn’t scrimmage], he was taking control, asking questions and skating. He doesn’t go through the motions and wait until the season starts. We talked about it before coming here, and he wanted to be the go-to guy. He wanted to be the man. Early indications are that he’s demonstrating it with his actions.”
Young speedster Jeff Tambellini
Jeff Tambellini’s reward for a terrific training camp performance last season was an opening night start with the Islanders and then a one-way trip to Bridgeport because of a two-way contract that permits him to be sent to the minors without clearing waivers. But this season, Tambellini said yesterday, “is a different mind-set.”
Said Tambellini: “This is the year I can step up and show these guys I can play full-time in the league and be an impact guy.”
Last year, Tambellini was one of the spare forwards trying to make an impression. This camp, he’s playing left wing on the second line with center Josef Vasicek and right wing Miro Satan. Matched against the top line of Mike Comrie, Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko in yesterday’s scrimmage, the second line produced three goals, two by Tambellini and one by Satan, in a 4-3 win in regulation time.
Radek Martinek, an up and coming defender who’s season was cut short by an injury last year.
Martinek’s season ended Feb. 3 in Montreal when a bad landing after a collision left him with a fractured left leg. The Islanders missed him dearly, especially in their playoff loss to Buffalo. Teamed with free-agent signee Aaron Johnson, Martinek was a steadying presence for an Islanders team in a defensive mode against a veteran Canadiens lineup.
“Martinek looked really good, and Johnson continues to impress,” Islanders coach Ted Nolan said. “Marty was a big loss last season. He was in our top pairing with Brendan Witt, and losing him was a big blow. Watching him here tonight, I thought time’s a great healer.”
6 foot 6 inch defensive monster free agent Andy Sutton.
Early in the first period, Sutton dropped Kyle Chipchura with a crushing blast against the boards, and midway through the third period he smeared Duncan Milroy into the glass. After the game, coach Ted Nolan praised Sutton and Brendan Witt for their “nasty” play in front of the net, saying, “If anybody wants to come in that territory, they’ll have to pay the price to get in there. That’s what we got them for.”
Witt became a mainstay last season, but signing Sutton to a three-year, $9-million deal in the offseason was vital for the Islanders after losing Tom Poti and Sean Hill, who provided major minutes and experience on the blue line. The courtship of Sutton was prolonged, but the Isles finally got their man five weeks after the free-agent market opened.
“We had plenty of offers,” Sutton said of the signing process. “I was really holding out to get things right with the Islanders . . . This is a team on the up-and-up and making a lot of changes for the good. I really liked where the organization was going. It was a no-brainer for me.”
And finally, a young Islander who ended up playing in Finland last year due to a contract dispute, Sean Bergenheim returns to the Islanders this year.
Given his high-energy aggression, Bergenheim should fit the mold of a Nolan player. “I know I can play much better than I’ve played so far,” Bergenheim said before turning in an energized effort in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Canadiens Saturday in Montreal. “It’s a little bit of an adjustment for me to get back to the North American style. My style actually suits playing here.
“I don’t consider myself only being a checking line guy. Skating is my strong point, but I also want to be a smart player, not just a guy who runs around. I want to do some damage, scoring goals and playing a smart, two-way game.”
For now, Bergenheim is trying to make the adjustment to the smaller rinks and quicker reaction time required in the NHL, as well as to Nolan’s system. If he has to pay his dues a little longer to win a larger role, Bergenheim is prepared to do it.
“It’s up to the coach, and for me, I accept everything I get,” Bergenheim said. “Whatever Teddy wants me to do, I will do. But certainly, I believe that if I play well, I can earn a higher spot on the team. It’s all up to me.”
No we have not forsaken you, fellow Islanders fans. We are still here, alive and well. Here’s the latest news:
- I scored tickets to the Season Opener and Al Arbour night via Ticketmaster.com on Sunday. The Opener seats are obstructed view, but the Al Arbour night seats were a little better. If you are looking for tickets to these two games, hurry up!
- Following in Garth Snow’s footsteps from last year, backup goalie Mike Dunham has retired and joined the Islanders as a goaltending coach.
- The Islanders and Bruins swapped prospects, the Isles sending Petteri Nokelainen to the Bruins for center Ben Walter and a second-round pick in 2009.
- Alexei Yashin has headed to Russia, but Carol Alt is still in the good ol’ US of A - hanging out at NYC lounges with Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lunqvist. Another tough loss for Alexei, she’s old enough to be Henrik’s mom!
- New Bossy Auction on NHL.com. Bid on a signed 8×10″ photo of The Boss celebrating his 9 straight 50 goal seasons.
- And finally the big exciting news, Islanders training camp opens in just 2 days! You can read camp previews over on NewYorkIslanders.com for the defense, forwards, and goalies.
With the Islanders’ updates out of the way, let’s update you on the site. While the Islanders head to training camp this weekend to sweat, practice, work hard, and live in dorms again…the Islanders Army staff is headed to Vega$ to gamble, drink, and generally live it up for 4 days. Other than some Vega$ odds, I wouldn’t expect any posts from us from Friday until Tuesday. When we return, we will get the site back in gear for the regular season.
The updates around here have been few and far between, that is due to a combination of lack of Islanders news and a lot of personal issues. I took advantage of the lack of news to put Islanders Army on the back-burner and take care of other stuff. I apologize to our readers and promise that we will be bringing you as much, if not more coverage of the Islanders this season as we did last year (500+ posts).
I’ll see you all in the NVMC Parking Lot on 10/6/07!
-murph
From NewYorkIslanders.com, here’s a quick summary of the Islanders draft picks from last weekend’s NHL Entry Draft. The Isles stocked up on the blue line, selecting 3 defensemen with their 5 picks.
From the Freddy Meyer/Alexei Zhitnik trade, the Islanders had the option of taking a 3rd round pick from Philadelphia this draft or next year. Since they had no first or second round picks, the Islanders elected to take that conditional pick this year and made their first selection of the draft at #61 overall.
With the 61st overall pick, the Islanders selected the fast-skating defenseman Mark Katic out of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. In 68 games with Sarnia in 2006-07, Katic was 5-35-40 along with a +8 rating.
His vitals:
Height: 5.11
Weight: 185
Birthdate: 1989-05-09
Hometown: Porcupine, ON
With the 76th selection, the Islanders chose Lincoln Stars forward Jason Gregoire in the third round. Playing in his first season in the USHL, Gregoire posted totals of 16-20-36 in only 32 games. His +28 rating was first on the team during the regular season. Gregoire led the team with four goals in the 2007 playoffs.
Vitals:
Position: Forward
Shoots: Left
Height: 5′11″
Weight: 175
Date of Birth: 2-24-89
Home Town: Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Islanders selected Max Gratchev in the fourth round – 106th overall – in the 2007 Entry Draft. During the 2006-07 season, Gratchev led Rimouski of the QMJHL in goals (35), points (77) and was tied for first in assists with 42.
Born in Novosibirsk, Russia, Gratchev was raised by his father, who played pro hockey in Russia. At a young age, Gratchev moved to North America to continue playing hockey.
Vitals:
Position: LW
Height : 5′11″
Weight : 198 lbs
Shoots: Left
Birth date : 1988-09-26
Birth place : Novosibirsk, Russia
In the sixth round of the 2007 Entry Draft, the Islanders selected defenseman Blake Kessel with the 166th pick. Brother to Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel, Blake skated with Waterloo of the USHL during the
2006-07 season.
In 59 games with Waterloo, Blake was 11-27-38, while leading the defense corps in goals, assists and points. Kessel finished the season a +12 and with 24 power play points.
Vitals:
Birthday: Apr 13, 1989
Hometown: Verona, WI
Position: D
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
With the team’s final selection, the Islanders chose defenseman Simon Lacroix in the seventh round – 196th overall. As a member of Shawinigan of the QMJHL, Lacroix led the defense with 11 goals, 27 assists and 38 points. His eight power play goals and two game-winners were tied for third on the team.
Vitals:
Born: 1989-05-29
Height: 6′02″
Weight: 180 lbs
Birthplace: Orléans, ON
The NHL Entry Draft is tonight and tomorrow. If you look carefully, you’ll notice we haven’t covered or discussed the draft at all until now. You might be wondering why, well the answer is pretty simple…the Islanders first pick is number 76 overall. The Isles first round pick (#16 overall) went to Edmonton for Smyth (and next year’s too I believe, too busy to double-check right now) while the Islanders second round pick (#46 overall) went to Washington for Zednick.
I Googled “famous NHL draft picks 76 overall” and came up with this guy, Mike Zuke who was the 76th overall pick in the 1974 WHLdraft by Indianapolis. Not a good sign.
Garth Snow and crew can party like rock stars in Columbus tonight (if that’s even possible in Columbus) AND sleep in late tomorrow. They probably won’t be on the clock until around 11:30am tomorrow. Tonight is round 1 only, while rounds 2-7 kick off at 10am tomorrow. Round 1 is “supposed” to be broadcast on Versus tonight, but you never know when that station might interrupt coverage for some Professional Bull Riding. NHL.com will be streaming the whole draft online.
We’ll be back later this weekend to recap and give you the skinny on the newest Islanders prospects.
So Mike Milbury and Alexei Yashin are no longer members of the Islanders organization while whether or not Jason Blake and Ryan Smyth will join them is still to be determined. One person who is definitely in the Islanders’ long-term plan is 2006 First Round Draft Pick Kyle Okposo. GM Snow stated multiple times around the trade deadline that he wasn’t going anywhere. However, it looks as if Okposo isn’t ready to jump to the NHL just yet - according to this Yahoo Sports report, Okposo is going back to school for his Sophmore season at the University of Minnesota.
New York Islanders first-round draft pick Kyle Okposo decided Friday to remain at Minnesota for his sophomore season.
The 19-year-old forward from St. Paul, Minn., was selected seventh overall in the 2006 draft.
“I feel returning to school best serves my future as an NHL player at this time,” Okposo said. “I want to be able to step right in and help the Islanders in the future. I didn’t feel that I can do that right now.
“Minnesota is the best place for me to be so I can continue my development.”
He finished second in scoring during his freshman year at Minnesota with 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points. Okposo played for the U.S. team that won the bronze medal at the world junior championship in Sweden.
The Islanders are supportive of his decision to stay in college.
“Kyle has a very bright future and another year at the collegiate level will give him the opportunity to continue his development into the player we all imagine he can be one day,” said Islanders GM Garth Snow. “We’re looking forward to watching Kyle be a leader at Minnesota this season.”
Get your scorecards here! You can’t tell the players without a scorecard! A few roster changes for tonight’s game in Carolina.
- Shawn Bates is out tonight with a hand injury. If I remember correctly, he got popped blocking a Devils’ shot on Thursday night. Frans Nielsen has been called up from Bridgeport to take his roster spot.
The New York Islanders have recalled center Frans Nielsen from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Nielsen, a 2002 third round draft pick of the Islanders, is poised to become the first Danish-born player to ever appear in an NHL game.
In 33 games with Bridgeport this season, Nielsen has scored 10 goals with 13 assists for 23 points and 4 penalty minutes. He also had a +3 plus/minus rating. Nielsen was signed by the Islanders to a two-year contract on May 15, 2006.
- Satan should play tonight, he sat out part of Thursday’s game and Friday’s practice with a swollen ankle.
- As mentioned here yesterday, defenseman Fred Meyer is expected to make his Islanders debut.
- Garth Snow…The Hardest Working GM in the League? Isles made a minor league deal with Ottawa yesterday.
The Ottawa Senators completed a minor trade Friday, sending defenseman Tomas Malec to the New York Islanders for center Matt Koalska.
Koalska was assigned to Binghamton of the American Hockey League.
A fifth-round pick of Nashville in 2000, Koalska was signed by New York as a free agent in August 2004. The 26-year-old native of Minnesota has split time this season with Bridgeport and Hershey, recording three goals and two assists in 14 games.
Koalska made his NHL debut with the Islanders last season, registering two penalty minutes in three contests.
Malec, who was selected in the third round of the 2001 draft by Florida, collected a goal and 12 assists in 33 games with Binghamton this campaign. The 24-year-old Slovakian has appeared in 45 NHL contests with Carolina and Ottawa, notching two assists and 47 penalty minutes.
- Newsday’s Greg Logan looks at the new-look Islanders roster on his Newsday blog.
- Milbury is gone (sort of) but Milbury bashing never dies. Thursday night’s hero for the Devils, Zach Parise could have been an Islander. Eric at Off Wing Opinion looks at another one of Mad Mike’s blunders. Maybe one of these days Nilsson will join the big club and exonerate Milbury.
But it wasn’t to be. Instead, with the 17th pick in the first round Milbury, most likely going with the advice of another ex-Islander, Andres Kallur, snapped up Robert Nilsson, son of ex-NHLer Kent Nilsson. Just two picks later, the Devils snapped up Zach at #19.
And while Nilsson is still a promising prospect a little less than a week short of his 22nd birthday, he’s still in the AHL with Bridgeport while the younger Parise is making a significant one at the NHL level right now.
In isolation, it’s just the sort of judgement call NHL GMs are forced to make in the draft every single year. But when you match it up with the remainder of Milbury’s record as a GM, his tenure on the Island looks all the more disastrous.
