All along, coach Ted Nolan said his lineup for the final exhibition game this afternoon at Boston would be very close to the one that begins the regular season Friday in Buffalo. Well, here it is, and there are a couple of surprises.
The top two lines are as expected. Mike Comrie is centering Ruslan Fedotenko on his left and Bill Guerin on his right, and Mike Sillinger is with left wing Jonathan Sim and right wing Trent Hunter. Third line center Josef Vasicek is paired with right wing Miroslav Satan, as they have been throughout training camp, but veteran Andy Hilbert is starting at left wing on that line in place of Jeff Tambellini.
If Tambellini is going to have an impact, he needs to be playing on a line that gets significant ice time, but he has been dropped to left wing on the fourth line with center Richard Park and – here’s another surprise – enforcer Darryl Bootland at right wing. Maybe Bootland is going to hold Chris Simon’s spot until he finishes serving the final five games of his 25-game suspension from last season.
Noticeably absent from the forward lines is Sean Bergenheim, who has a one-way contract. Could it be that Tambellini, who has a two-way deal, is being given a last chance to show something before being sent to Bridgeport and replaced by Bergenheim?
The top two defensive pairings are obvious – Brendan Witt is back with Radek Martinek now that the latter has recovered from his fractured left leg, and Andy Sutton is with Marc-Andre Bergeron. The third pairing includes free agent Bryan Berard with Bruno Gervais. That leaves vets Chris Campoli and Freddy Meyer as the odd men out along with Aaron Johnson, who has a two-way deal. Rick DiPietro is the starting goaltender, of course, ahead of Wade Dubielewicz.
Berard has not yet been signed by the Islanders. That decision likely will be made on Monday. If he gets a contract and winds up quarterbacking the power play, then, the Isles have to decide if they will carry Campoli and Meyer as extra defensemen rather than send them to the AHL and expose them to waivers. They ran a lean ship last season when they only rarely had as much as one extra body on the NHL roster, but the need for defensive depth might change that approach.
Coach Ted Nolan is said by the team to be scheduled to return to Long Island today after attending his brother’s funeral. But he is not in Boston to coach or comment on the lineup. So, most questions will have to wait until later in the week for good answers.
Comments (46)
Sorry I've been blinded by this teams offensive prowess and explosion of scoring this preseason. Did I mention this team has lots and lots and lots of GRIT? Its a damn shame they don't have a single player that can GOALS.
I'll just keep on saying it: it sucks when your team has to overachieve just to be mediocre. It is apparently the plan of management to emphasize this level of GRIT while hoping you don't notice the lack of GOALS, similar in fashion to the way the magician gets you to stare at his assistant's ta-tas while he pulls the rabbit out of his back pocket. Boring to the extreme, and no way near worth the price of admission. Unless of course you want to make sandpaper in which case this GRITTY team is for you. Someone let me know if we ever acquire a player that can SCORE.
how abot guerin and comrie satan and hunter for starters? we made the playoffs last year and we're better this year so please stop your annoying whining!
Apparently this team is so deep in scoring that Satan is on the third line. This team will be lucky to score 2 goals a game!
I just don't understand these line combos.
I don't get why the Isles are so opposed to giving their youth a chance to do anything. Why even draft, or trade for young players when they so clearly will never be given an honest chance to produce at the NHL level?
Tambellini should be on the line with Vasicek and Satan. Hillbert is a 4th line guy. Tambellini has put up points regularly at the AHL level ...why sent him back down? Why let him rot on the 4th line?
Why sign Bergie just to let him rot as well ...
This whole team "grit" thing is great and all, but why can't the Isles ever just be like everyone else and put a line-up out there that scores goals? Having the Sim-Sillinger-Hunter line should be our "grit" line ...and the 4th line should be ...well, the usual 4th line ...a guy (or 2) that can fight but won't hurt you while they're out there ...
I just don't get it at all ...I'll root for this team like I always do, but they never stop amazing me
And even if Tambellini is being sent down to let Bergie still play, why should Bergie be on the 4th line?
What did Hillbert do last year offensively that warrants him being given any time at all??????
c'mon, lets all support our team, after all, the isles have the only player in the league with the guts to have given holwegg the medicine he deserved! i'm always in their debt for that!!... LETS GO ISLES!!
I'm going to support the team no matter what ...it would be nice if the team made smarter decisions regarding their roster ...
If you were a young player in the Isles system would you be happy to be here? No matter how you produce they'll never give you a chance because they're so busy clogging up spots with the Hillberts and Parks of the world
How about our captain dropping the gloves today.
At least he dosen't need anyone to fight is battle like the rags captain.
Greg,
Your information and thought on Bergenheim is incorrect. He was not played tonight, because the Isles played 3 games in a row and he dressed for two of them. It is prohibited for a player to play in 3 consecutive games.
Michael S
www.islesblogger.com
So can ours but he's not wuzz.
"Mr. Renny I don't won't shoot in the shoot out"
How can anyone argue with that intelligent response?
1. It's true Guerin scared 36 goals 6 more than jagr.
2. when was the last time jagr dropped the glove. Last I checked he has never.
So that's how..
and you wrong our top line is Fedotenko – Comrie - Guerin
AZS:
Greg doesn't mention it, but I get the feeling that this is Hilbert's last chance, too. Maybe I'm guilty of wishful thinking, but if the kid could just settle down and look at where he's shooting he could be an impact player.
My God, why all the negativity? Our minor-leaguers and backups (the Isles dressed the minimum number of NHLers last night) lost to the Devils only 2-1, with Yoda stopping 37 of 39 shots and getting first star. Our starters beat the Bruins today 4-2 in the final preseason game. It's always hard to judge from the preseason, but so far things look pretty good.
I was also glad to read that the Isles intended to sign BOTH Ryan Smyth and Chris Drury. When have the following three things EVER been true at the same time, in the 35 years the Islander franchise has existed?
(i) the general manager can identify top talent,
(ii) the owner is solvent and can afford to pay top talent the market rate,
(iii) the owner is willing to pay top talent and contracts were actually offered.
Add to that the fact that the talent the Isles sought to sign was not merely the big names on the market, but players who fit well into a coherent and wise plan for building a winning team.
They were not able to execute the plan on July 1, 2007 for two reasons. One, a decade of atrocious management (along with an aging arena and shrinking attendance) has made the franchise unattractive to free agents, requiring the Isles to overpay; and, Two, Garth Snow was trying, rightly, to impose fiscal discipline (no more Yashins!) but did not realize that an exception would have to be made to have a shot at Drury and Smyth because of reason one.
So it didn't work out perfectly, but they bounced back nicely in getting good "backup" free agents, another year of "unexpected" success under our great coach will improve the franchise's reputation, and Garth will have learned from his mistakes last year. There is every reason to think the team will do better next year and the long-term outlook is good.
The only major question still unanswered is whether the new regime is drafting well, which of course is also essential to long-term success. I personally don't know enough about how the recent Isles draft picks are performing to say. I'd be interested to hear what people think about that.
greg logan,
im sorry but you are wrong about alot of things. First off, having a two way contract has nothing to do with waivers. If you cover the NHL, you should know that. Second, bergenheim has played 2 of the last 3 games and it is prohibited to play a player in 3 straight games. This is probably hilberts last chance to impress and if you actually watched the game then you would have realized tambi took his spot half way through the game.
Too everyone else:
the second SCORING line is going to be vasicek satan and ??( i hope tambi) our checking line is the sillinger hunter sim line. So lets get that straight.
Greg, do youeven want to cover this team?? cause you really dont know alot bout the CBA and the team in general.
maybe the rags can pull mario out of retirement so jagr can win another cup. he hasn't been able to lead too many other teams to the promised land without him. also, why do those ranger dorks stand in the middle of the ice and put their sticks in the air? does that mean they surrender??
Not to be Pollyanna, but another good sign (from the recap of today's game):
The Islanders were 3-0-0 in the preseason when the Ruslan Fedotenko-Mike Comrie-Bill Guerin line played
GRIT is good and should be the hallmark of this team. But, I want real , tough grit. Not Richard Park....I want Bootland and Simon on the 4th line....I want opposing teams to hate us. I want the Rangers to have to call up Fritz to combat an aggressive Islander team.
I would like to see Tambellini crack the lineup but its not looking like its going to happen. But this is hockey, and there will be injuries. Bergy has a one way contract, so at least that's progress. Just a few more days left before the season starts. We have a great goalie so anythings possible. Come on Teddy...get the boys ready!!!
LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
I think Berard and Campoli/Gervais all survive cuts. They will carry 7 defensemen until Simon suspension is finished. This will give them time to sort it out a bit.
Also I agree with above post... 2nd line is Vasicek, Satan and Tambellini, and 3rd is Silinger, Hunter and Sim. Bergenheim will make team and float throughout the 3rd and 4th lines depending on match-ups and who's playing well or not.
In reponse to Enough Already's beginning post, I think you really have to wait until they've played one game in the regular season to start whining and crying about the offense. Sheesh. Come on man, give this year's team a chance to establish itself and form an identity before you knock them.
Comrie has shown that he can score this preseason as well as Guerin. Yes, this team is built on grit, but what do you expect of a Ted Nolan coached team. The team will only go as far as DiPietro will take it. He is the most important player as is any goalie in the league. Look at any team in the NHL aside from Pittsburgh, who can overcome faulty goaltending with offense, and unless you have a top flight goalie you're not winning. So stop whining and lets get this year started on a positive note by taking two from Buffalo.
AZS:
I agree. The Bobbleheads are doing it again, by not letting the youth play.
I think they are truly scared of rebuilding, b/c of losing what fans they have. I also think that Nolan is now a hot commodity and does not want to coach a "Youth" Team.
Let see how it plays out.
Anyone going to opening night? Bringing the family down on Sat.!
Now that the Amazins have collapsed and the Jets spit the bit, LETS GO ISLES!
For all the fake posters and one line wonders, I know already.....All my teams stink....TRUE FAN THOUGH! It is easy to be a Yankee fan.....'like the rest of the sheep that follow the easy herd...Bahhhhhhh bahhhh bahhhhhhhhhh. LOL
See yah Saturday!
p.s In case you did not know the above first post was not me...SHOCKER!
It's no easier being a Yankee fan. It's always a disappointment if you don't win it all; take last year for example. Oh well, on too hockey. To me the important thing to look for is balance. And I mean in goals scored/against. This team will not put up lopsided numbers like Buffalo, Ottawa, Pittsburgh or Nashville did last year but none of those teams won the cup. We have enough guys who can contribute 20+ to put us on the board each night. I hope our strength which is our D-corps and DP will keep our overall goals against in the very low 200's. Get in the 240 + range with goals scored (like last year) and you should have no problem getting into post season play. Keep it out of the net and we will win more than we lose.
Steady:
After the Isles were eliminated last year I thought, "well at least I have the Yankees to fall back on" and then we got he first half of the Yankees season (yikes). That wasn't so easy to get through especially with all the bragging Mets fans. Well things have turned around but I'm still more excited for the Islanders to start as I am a bigger hockey fan.
Lets Go Isles!
In order for this team to win it will need to play hard and smart every night. I believe we are a .500 Team right now. We will win games 2-1, 3-2 but when we have an off night we will lose 6-1, 5-2. Thats the kind of team we have. I'm hoping that Tambi and Bergie get a real long look this year. We know what we got in Parks and Hilbert. The worst thing that could happen is that we hover around the 8th seed and Snow panics and tries another Smyth move. I believe you have to build through the farm. Keep the kids and let them play.
Let's wait and see what happens.
With the new CBA, the NHL is a very much a win now league. Building around seven or eight young guys and having them around for ten years is simply no longer in the cards.
However, you do have to have some long-term core to go for the Cup and the Isles are not even remotely in that class. If anyone can name a player other than DiPietro that seems a lock to be here in three seasons, please let me know (Okposo?). That is why I agree with Steady, AZS, and others that we need to see how some of these guys can play. Hilbert/Park over Tambellini/Bergy will not wash it with me as a season ticket holder.
Steady, I may go to Cleveland, but should still be there Saturday night. Maybe we can pick up our postponed brawl at Doolan's!
Peace,
What is wrong with Park? You need somebody to kill penalties and block shots. I am with you on Hilbert, we can upgrade with his spot on the roster. If Hilbert can't score then Tambellini without a doubt should get the time to maturate.
I'm with Coral Springs. Hilbert is a waste of a spot--good AHL talent but that's all. I like his effort but he just can't pull it off in the big leagues. See the Ferraro brothers. Park is a different player. He's a solid 4th line guy who can kill penalties with the best of them.
Tambellini is 23 years old and deserves a spot on a scoring line. He deserved it last year, but Hilbert must have done something extra special for Teddy boy. Kinda like Randy Robitaille did to deserve 1st line time during the stretch drive and playoffs.
huh?
Merrick ~
I will have my kid with me so it will have to be beers at Doolans instead of foil :) .... Hope to see you there.
Ted & Garth: Do me a favour and trade Campoli.
It now appears the thought of really rebuilding this team has died. Not going with the like s of Tambellini, Campoli and Bergy right from the get go shows a dedication to "grit" which along with another buck will also buy you a coffee. I think it's time for Garth to do the honourable thing and trade Campoli. No hard feelings but wasting away in Nolanville isn't right. I think it'a apparent Ted has won this struggle with Garth on Campy's future so let's call it a day.
I haven't had the advantage of seeing any pre-season play, but judging from what I saw last year this is what I'd like to see:
Guerin-Comrie-Tank
Satan-Vasicek-Tambellini
Hunter-Sillinger-Sim
(Simon)-Park-Bergy
Witt-Marty
Sutton-Berard
Gervais-MAB
Reasoning:
Even though tambellini is undersized and usually took the worst of his own checks, he was out there COMPETING. Hilbert was also, but he had a year's worth of opportunity and he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. I think tambellini at least deserves a chance to be a 15-20 goal contributer.
Bergy deserves an NHL chance. He supposedly played pretty well in europe and I think we all like what we saw two years ago when they put an AHL team on the Ice every night.
As far as campoli goes, I'd love to see them trade him. He just doesn't have the strength... he needs 20 lbs alot more than I do... maybe he can stop by and take it off my hands.
Unfortunately he has no value. If the Isles keep Berard teams will know that they are stuck and just sit like vultures by the fax machine. That makes things a lot tougher on a guy like Gervais... who probably deserves to play a little more... he vastly improved last year, as campoli actually regressed.
Meyer is gone. They can fit campoli under the cap and have him sitting in the press box, playing some non divisional games and filling in when guys get hurt... and practicing with the team.
tambellini, Bergy and Gervais are enough "projects" for one year. If there are injuries comeau, Neilsen and Campoli are considerations... how much "youth" do we need.
As far as 3 years down the road... who knows. Draft picks take 5 years to develop. the NHL draft is a crap shoot.
Most first rounders have played in two or three organizations by the time they make it to the NHL. So rebuildign through "youth" is a little bit of a fantasy.
Interesting to read the posts from Miggsey and JPinVA. You guys are essentially agreeing on a course of action - trade Campoli. But you each have different reasons for doing so.
Miggsey says Campy's got tremendous upside and he's wasted on a veteran biased Nolan team. JP says that Campy needs 20 lbs of muscle snce he's still getting pushed around like a hand-puppet.
Truth is usually right in the middle of polar opposite views. Campy has the talent to be a good 3-4 D-man, maybe even better. And it is possible that Nolan's bias cost Campy a year of development. But you can't overlook his lack of size and strength.
So it's probably best to use him the way he'll most likely end up being used - as a 7th backliner. He'll ultimately end up in the everyday roster when the first injury hits. And I'm sure that at any point during the season after that we're bound to have one defenseman each night who could use some recoup time.
One question for JP though... why do you think it would be difficult to realize good value for Campy in a trade?
"Not to be Pollyanna, but another good sign (from the recap of today's game):
The Islanders were 3-0-0 in the preseason when the Ruslan Fedotenko-Mike Comrie-Bill Guerin line played"
good call KH. I like that.
I really would hate to see Campoli traded at this point. I don't think we can have enough D-men with true NHL experience, and as pointed out in one of Greg's articles, the Isles have cap room to carry an extra defender (and then some probably). You throw Campoli to the wolves and while we might get back similar value (a low end draft pick) we lose the time invested in him to date.
Although, I guess with Johnson likely to be honing his craft in Bridgeport, you would have a defensemen with decent NHL experience if needed. Not knowing how he plays versus Campoli, I have no idea if that is an upgrade or not. But, given he couldn't even stick in Columbus, does that mean he is really ready for the NHL?
And remember, this is all predicated on the idea that Berard gets a spot on this team - which does not seem like a guarantee.
Miggs:
Not sure if you are related to or know Campoli personally. If so I apologize in advance.
What do any of you think we would get in a trade for Campoli???? The guy is a feather weight playing with Heavy weights. I realize all D men are not thumpers, but they need to take care of the corners and hold their own. In every pre-season game I have seen that was not the case. He is a human pinball. Small forwards are taking advantage of him. He can skate, yet has absolutely NO SHOT from the point.
I wish him nothing but the best and pray I am wrong. MY eyes do not lie though. He seems a step below NHL caliber.
I'm just getting myself mentally ready to be dissapointed with who made the cut and who didn't ...
Yo AZS- I don't think it matter to us (the fans) who makes the cut. Personally if no kids are playing and the isles are getting W's...I'm cool.
But seriously...I'm getting myself MENTALLY ready to see this team's record. New season...anything can happen... Plus we got my boy DP, and a tough, filthy team. Oh man...JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!
when will the final cuts be announced?
I thought Johnson had a solid preseason, why should be sign Berard? Solely for the power play? That sounds like a short-term plan, and we all know that the cahnces the Islanders win the cup are small. Let the kids play, forget Berard.
Fair enough Mass. I'm not going to argue about wins ;-) I hope the Isles will get a whole bunch of them this season. They've certainly got a lot of players with the potential to put up numbers. I just really have to question Hillbert ...
No doubt AZS... This guy Hilbert does hustle, but results are what really matters. I hope that the black cloud following him last year clears up, because I have never seen a more unlucky athelete. I guess we can only hope
Cincy,
I agree with you all the way. I see him as the 7th "D" and getting in the mix early and often. The reason I don't think they'll get a lot of value in a trade is that the Isle are stuck. They can't send him to bridgeport without exposing him to the waiver wire. The only buyers are teams low on the waiver hierarchy, and looking to build their defensive depth.
What are you going to get from a team trying to build their defensive depth... a 3rd round draft choice? an NHL forward with 10 goal upside? I'd rather pay campoli to sit in the press box than get another third round choice next year... or another Comeau, Nielsen or any other AHLer already in their system.
If berard makes the team, Kohn has a good year in Bridgeport, and Gervais continues to improve, you can get a #1 from a top four team (relatively worthless) if they need a 5th or 6th "D" going into the playoffs.
Campoli-Sutton might bring out the better aspects of his game, as Lukowich did two years ago. But if he has to share the ice with MAB, Berard or Bruno just get used to the puck spending a lot of time in the defensive zone.
I can't imagine any movement on "D" where they had so many problems at the end of last year.
If Marty stays healthy last year there may have been a different final chapter to Nolan:Year One.
the bottom four of the Isles top 8 will be imporant, but not as important as the health of the top four.
If Witt, marty, Sutton and MAB stay healthy they will be fine.
First of all, it's great to see the real Islander fans who are genuinally concerned about the team back in droves. There certainly seems to be a general concern about losing Campoli on waivers by both the bloggers and team management. We can't have it both ways and my primary concern has always been to build a young team by developing our youth. ( This includes Tambellini, Gervais, Campoli and our other good prospects)
Garth Snow has gone on record as saying other teams were actively pursuing Campoli at last year's trade dead line so there definitely is interest. This certainly isn't the case with an older, injury prone Brian Berard. I believe packaging up Campoli with another player and a carefully considered draft pick would bring back a proven scorer. Steady is absolutely correct that Campy's skating style/defending technique lends to a perception of getting bounced around like a pinball. The often over looked point is he keeps the other team on the outside and doesn't get caught flat footed. In Toronto, they've taken similar styles like Kaberle and have developed him into a top NHL defenceman. Even again this year, Toronto is going with more youth on D so they can build a team for the future. Campoli's speed enables him to easily get back in the defensive zone when either he, his partner or a forward gets caught out of position or a change in the attack dictates it. This is something we can't say for all of our D because they all bring different attributes to the table. As for offensive potential, just look at what he did in his first year and even last year with his limited ice time and games. His numbers easily exceed Bruno and those of the bangers.
Ted decided to go with Gervais as one of his own picks and Campoli lost out last year through being from the previous regime, training camp injury and minimal time play. This year Bruno's plus/minus and offensive numbers ( wearing the assistant captain????)were very ordinary at best along with those of Freddy Meyer. I read where pre season play would dictate who would be staying?????
Ted has definitely shown he's solely a veterans coach and focused on instant results versus team building since he arrived. At the practice sessions it's crystal clear he totally ignores the younger guys which is a show of his own insecurity and a proven method of killing confidence in those that he should be building up. Please don't cite the excuse he does this as a technique to push them. I've never seen him speak one word of encouragement, let alone acknowledge the younger guys.
JP wisely points out the proper pairings I'd previously eluded to as part of the answer. Since Ted refuses to even consider this and obviously remains at odds with Snow on Campoli's participation; the immediate trading of Campoli to a destination where he'll be played and appreciated is the best fix for everyone involved.