Tue Sep 23 15:48:23 2008

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2008-09 New York Islanders Preview

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(Sports Network) - The New York Islanders were in the hunt for a playoff spot for a large portion of the 2007-08 season. While that was surprising, it would be downright shocking if this year's edition of the Isles could stay in the race past December.

General manager Garth Snow committed his team to a rebuilding phase late last season and that decision ultimately led to the "differences" that caused head coach Ted Nolan to be fired in the summer.

After a lengthy search, Snow found a coach more in line with the new strategy by hiring Scott Gordon, who will make his debut behind an NHL bench this season after spending the last several years coaching in the AHL.

The problem with the youth movement at this stage is that the Islanders are just beginning the process and have yet to stockpile a large amount of young talent. One exception is Kyle Okposo, the seventh overall pick in the 2006 draft, will try to make his case for New York's future as a 20-year-old rookie this year.

All-Star goaltender Rick DiPietro has kept the Isles' heads above water with his superb play in recent years, but even he will have trouble keeping this ship from sinking.

FORWARDS - The Islanders were the worst offense team in the NHL last season with an average of just 2.30 goals per game and unless 37-year-old free agent signing Doug Weight can turn back the clock a decade, New York is likely going to have a troubled offense once again.

Last year's top offensive asset was first-line centerman Mike Comrie, who tallied just 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) for the dubious distinction of being the player with the fewest points to lead an NHL team in scoring during the 2007-08 campaign.

Right wing Bill Guerin, who like Weight is 37 years old, was New York's top goal producer last season, recording 23 tallies to go with 21 assists.

Sean Bergenheim, a 24-year-old left wing, could see time on the top line after recording 10 goals and 12 assists in 78 games during the 2007-08 season.

Weight will help add depth down the middle, but needs to do much better than the 25 points (10g, 15a) he had a year ago in 67 combined games with St. Louis and Anaheim.

Trent Hunter will back at right wing after finishing third on the Isles with 41 points (12g, 29a) in 82 games last year. Blake Comeau (15 points in 2007-08) is a possible candidate for the left wing slot on the second line.

Mike Sillinger, who had 14 goals and 26 points for New York in 2007-08, is scheduled to be the team's third-line center. Richard Park could be the right wing for Sillinger after posting 32 points (12g, 20a) in 82 games for the Isles a year ago although Okposo has a chance to earn the spot in training camp.

Left wing Jon Sim played just two games after suffering a season-ending knee injury last October, but should gain a spot on the third line this year.

Snow and Gordon will then have their pick of journeymen and youngsters to fill out the remaining forward spots.

DEFENSE - Despite the All-Star play of DiPietro, the Islanders still finished 23rd in the NHL with an average of 2.93 goals surrendered per game.

The offseason signing of Mark Streit to a five-year, $20.5 million deal isn't likely to change things drastically, considering the Swiss blueliner is almost exclusively an offensive threat from the back end. Still, Streit did have an impressive year for Montreal in 2007-08, recording 62 points (13g, 49a) while playing both wing and defense for the Canadiens.

Streit's main role will be to improve a New York power-play that ranked 29th in the NHL last season and his skills make him well-equipped for that task.

Radek Martinek is the top returning defensemen for the Isles in terms of ice time after playing nearly 23 minutes per game a year ago. Martinek ended the year with 15 assists in 69 games.

Brendan Witt is a physical presence at 6-2, 220 pounds, but played in just 59 games for New York last year after suffering a myriad of injuries. Andy Sutton, a 6-6, 245 pound blueliner also brings the same type of play as is evidenced by his 86 penalty minutes last year.

Freddy Meyer, Bruno Gervais and Chris Campoli will also battle for ice time on the Isles blue line.

GOALTENDING - DiPietro suffered a hip injury at All-Star weekend last January, but the Isles' franchise goaltender continued to play sporadically up until the middle of March, when he finally underwent season-ending surgery.

As a result of the injury, DiPietro's numbers in the second half suffered or perhaps it was New York's poor defensive play catching up to him. Before the All-Star break, the 27-year-old was 19-17-6 with a 2.57 goals against average and .911 save percentage. He finished the season with a 26-28-7 mark with a 2.82 GAA and .902 save percentage.

DiPietro has stayed positive through the ups and downs since the Isles selected him first overall in the 2000 draft, but this current rebuilding phase could be his hardest challenge yet. Then again, there's not much DiPietro can do about it since the 2008-09 season will be just the third campaign in his 15-year, $67.5 million contract.

Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis will battle for the right to be DiPietro's backup in training camp.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Islanders are expected to be one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference this season unless DiPietro can will the team to victories on a nightly basis. The good news is the John Tavares sweepstakes is within reach for the club if they can be bad enough to get the projected top overall pick in the 2009 entry draft.