Eyes on the Enemy: New York Islanders
Notable players obtained: Lubomir Visnovsky (ANA), Brad Boyes (STL), Matt Carkner (OTT)
Drafted: Griffin Reinhart- 1st round, 4th overall
There are many things we can call the Islanders. The term I'll use for them is 'puzzling' since the Islanders used all 7 of their draft picks on defensive prospects in June's draft. Forget about the fact that the Islanders have no minor league depth at goaltender besides Anders Nilsson who is the starting goaltender for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders AHL affiliate. Too bad Nilsson will probably rot away behind oft-injured Rick Dipietro, who still has 9 years remaining on his contract and has played just 51 games at any level since the 2008-09 season.
The Islanders did make a few moves, first sending a second round pick in 2013 to Anaheim for defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky. Visnovsky, in turn filed a grievance with the NHLPA citing he had a no-trade clause in his contract that Anaheim allegedly never asked him to waive, but an arbitrator ruled against the player and the trade was upheld. In free agency, the Islanders signed former 40 goal scorer Brad Boyes from St. Louis, whose offensive production has been in a free-fall since the 2007-08 season and public enemy #1, former Senator defenseman Matt Carkner.
The Islanders have a ton of talent in their prospect pool thanks to their frequent trips to the bottom of the NHL standings and the top of draft boards. Most of their kids are fresh out of the CHL/NCAA ranks and ready to make the jump to the pros, although the lockout will likely that push that back one year. The sun hasn't quite come up on the Islanders fortunes just yet, but if the kids pan out, the Islanders will a team to watch out for 3-4 years down the road.
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The important thing Is that the process is being done and future have a good team with experience ready for success!
I agree with kev.....keep those islander jerks at the bottom every year. That will never get old or irrelevant. Potvin's dirty hit through the 80's with that atrocity after the 90 playoff game. Al Arbour cemented my forever hatred for those as$holes......kev ask me how i really feel? Lol
To refer to a team as an "enemy" implies that they are some sort of threat. I think most fans would consider the devils or even the flyers as bigger rivals than the Isles, and that speaks volumes. Still hate 'em, though. But in a way you have to pity the massive futility of the organization. well, just a little.
@AnnoyingJoe As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s the Islanders always have been and always will be the Rangers biggest rival to me.
@KevinDeLury I have vivid recollections of those four horrible years, having to go to school and dealing with all that shit. But its fading. Fans in their 20s and thirties don't have any memories of a good islander team. For them, its memories of epic playoff battles with the Devils. The isles are irrelevant. Which is too bad.
