It seems like forever since Richard Park saw the postseason.
“When you’re a young player, you almost forget you have to qualify for the playoffs,” said Park, who reached the Western Conference finals with the Wild in 2002-03.
He knows better now. The player who was came up with the Penguins and enjoyed playoff runs with Anaheim and Minnesota, will soon see another year end with the regular season.
“The one thing that stood out after that year in Minnesota was how exhausted you are the next training camp,” Park said. “It makes you appreciate even more teams like New Jersey, who do it every year.”
The one thing going for the Islanders at the beginning of every year since 1993 is that they enter the season well-rested, because they haven’t won a playoff series since then. Park said he would like to be with the Isles, who play host to the Lightning tonight at the Coliseum, when that changes.
“I think we’ve built a foundation for next year,” Park said. “I truly believe we can compete for a Stanley Cup at this time a year from now.”
Park said he hopes some of his past experience will come in handy if that’s the case.
“At some point, you’ve learned enough,” said Park, who has spent this season on a team that was woeful earlier in the year and could do nothing else but learn. “Next year, I hope we’re talking about different things.”
Like the playoffs.
“I know my attitude doesn’t change, and I expect to compete for the playoffs every year. I’d like to have the opportunity to do what we did in Minnesota here. Soon.”