It is Brooklyn on the horizon for the Islanders, and it can’t come soon enough.
The once-proud franchise is officially done with the morbid Nassau Coliseum, and the Islanders are now in a three-year waiting period until their lease runs out before they can move to their new digs, the brand-new, $1 billion Barclays Center.
Since their inaugural season of 1972, the Islanders have known no other home than Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale, and it has given them more wonderful memories than most NHL franchises. But the four consecutive Stanley Cups they won to open the 1980s are far in the past, and the most recent postseason success came 20 years ago, 1993, the last time they won a playoff series.
So yes, it has been a long time coming since the franchise has had reason to be optimistic. But with their new home eager to embrace them, the Islanders can at least comfortably rest their hopes on a 22-year-old centerman who has developed into one of the league’s best.
John Tavares signed a six-year, $33 million contract before last season, before it was set in stone the team would be moving. He has proven to be worth it, and now he’s hoping the rest of the young core around him can do the same.
OFFENSE
The Islanders are not delusional about the amount of talent they have, and know most of the responsibility to produce goals lies with the top line of Matt Moulson and John Tavares, who look to start the season with Kyle Okposo on the right side. Moulson is a net hound who has had three consecutive 30-goal seasons since coming over from the Kings, and Tavares will make sure he has ample opportunity. Okposo managed to finally break the 20-goal mark last season (24) and surely would be disappointed if he didn’t surpass that total this season.
To supplement that line, the Islanders are going to need a bounce-back year from Michael Grabner and hope for the best from the declining Brad Boyes or unproven players such as Casey Cizikas and David Ullstrom. If Josh Bailey can return in a couple of weeks from his knee scope with any punch, it will be much needed.
DEFENSE
It has been a mad scramble since the lockout ended for general manager Garth Snow to try and patch together a defense that has any semblance of depth. A lot of that has to do with the fact the veteran he traded for on draft day, Lubomir Visnovsky, has run into personal problems and for now is choosing to stay in his native Slovakia, where he spent four months playing for his hometown team in the KHL.
In hopes of supporting captain Mark Streit, Snow signed former Islander and often-injured blue liner Radek Martinek to a cheap deal, and added tough guy Matt Carkner from Ottawa. The brightest spot on the backline comes from the second pair combo of Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic, who have shown to be a smart and reliable duo in their two years together. With top prospect Calvin de Haan out for the year with a dislocated shoulder, the organizational depth seems dangerously shallow.
GOALTENDING
The trials and tribulations of Rick DiPietro continue — and will continue over the next nine years of his contract. Needing his annual $4.5 million check to get the salary cap floor, DiPietro is not an option for an amnesty buyout anytime soon, though he has played just 47 games over the past four years because of injuries. In the unlikely scenario he regains his All-Star form, he will be the best story in hockey in years.
But how time in nets will be split this season between him and veteran Evgeni Nabokov is yet to be determined. Coach Jack Capuano recently said he “has a thought in mind” for who might be his No. 1, but is still fully committed to the idea of playing either guy on any given night if he thinks that will give him the best chance to win. With Nabokov’s age (38) and DiPietro’s wavering health, don’t be surprised if Kevin Poulin or Anders Nilsson gets called up from the AHL at some point.
COACHING
Jack Capuano has had a year and a half to put his imprint on the Islanders. There have been some good moments and some not so good moments in his tenure, but there is no question the players always have been fully behind him. But that support might start to wane a bit if they continue to lose at the pace they have become accustomed to. Nevertheless, with the group he has been given, it’s hard to say what is Capuano’s fault and what isn’t. His emphasis on defense might only be a reflection of his roster, but if the team starts to sniff the playoffs, his coaching acumen will be found out.
PREDICTION
It’s difficult to make a case for this team as presently constituted as a playoff contender. They would need breakout, career-making years from numerous people up front, and would need an unrealistic amount of health on the blue line to keep from being exposed. And if all of that holds up, they would need goaltending at a level that hasn’t been consistent since DiPietro signed his contract in 2006. Maybe not a bottom dweller, but an unlikely postseason participant.
ROSTER
Goalies: Evgeni Nabokov, Rick DiPietro
Defensemen: Mark Streit, Radek Martinek, Andrew MacDonald, Travis Hamonic, Matt Carkner, Joe Finley, Lubomir Visnovsky (if he shows)
Left wings: Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner, Matt Martin, David Ullstrom, Jesse Joensuu (injured)
Centers: John Tavares, Frans Nielsen, Marty Reasoner, Casey Cizikas, Josh Bailey (injured)
Right wings: Kyle Okposo, Brad Boyes, Eric Boulton, Colin McDonald, Nino Niederreiter
KEYS TO THE SEASON
Most important offensive player: Kyle Okposo. Already knowing you’re going to get great play out of John Tavares and goals out of Matt Moulson, someone else needs to step up.
Most important defensive player: Travis Hamonic. With Mark Streit in the last year of his deal and the uncertainty surrounding Lubomir Visnovsky, the door is open for Hamonic to show he’s the top defenseman of the future.
Top rookie: Casey Cizikas. The 21-year-old who played his first 15 NHL games last season is going to be asked to center a third line that hopes to produce some offense.
Key coaching decision: How to make the most of Tavares. If that means leaving Okposo on the top line or switching him out with Brad Boyes, Jack Capuano has to make a feel decision to get all the total goals he can out of Tavares’ skill. Also, he has to figure out who to play in nets and when.