TEAM PREVIEW: THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Introduction:

In contrast to the Rangers, the Islanders are a team that, at least for the moment, are rapidly on the decline. They have a host of promising young prospects, but virtually no one that can be considered "of fantasy value" this season unless you are playing in a deep league.

Further complicating matters, it is unclear what direction the Islanders will even be moving this year. Due to "philosophical differences", coach Ted Nolan, who had seemingly drawn blood from a stone with these Islander teams for the last two seasons, has been let go by puppet-GM Garth Snow. No coach has yet been hired to replace him, but whoever it is will be hard pressed to get more out of this collection of players then Nolan did.

The youth movement is on on the island, but it will be a long time before that translates to wins. Where's Yashin playing?

Key Departures:

Miroslav Satan

Satan, who absolutely has to play a season with the Devils before he retires, had his worst FULL season last year, by a significant amount. It is unclear whether this was because he lacked a supporting cast or because he is really and truly done. I suppose we shall find out this year in Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, Satan was tied for THIRD on the Islanders in scoring with 41 points. They will miss that production.

New Faces:

Mark Streit
Doug Weight

You'd think that the Islanders were paying in fish sticks the way the free agents have flocked AWAY from the Nassau Coliseum. I'm starting to think that Ryan Smyth wasn't crying because he had been traded FROM the Oilers but rather because he was traded TO the Islanders.

Regardless, Doug Weight joins the list of people who have come to the Island to die. I'm pretty sure they'll have the entire 1998 US Olympic squad pretty soon. Doug had 25 points last year, he doesn't shoot the puck, and he's 37. Don't draft him. Seriously. Not even if you have a Doug Weight Islanders jersey already. If you do, you will be laughed at.

Streit is a different story. Streit had 62 points last year... meaning that if he were to repeat that this year he would have 13 more points then anyone else on this team had last season. Yes, they were THAT bad last year. Streit started several games at forward last year, in addition to his normal duties on defense. Streit had 34 points on the powerplay, almost equalling his ENTIRE output from the year before (36 for the record), and all of this as a 29 year old in only his third full year in the NHL. I think its difficult to say what should be expected of Streit here on the Island. Being reasonable, one should expect a step backwards in production... just how big a step is the question. The high 30's low to 40's is my guess. An exceptional season, on a team that was built for the powerplay last year led to the 62 point outburst. None of those factors exist here.

The Offense:

The offense is made up of over-the-hillers, under achievers and young guys just dying to become unrestricted free agents. As such there aren't a lot of SURE THINGS fantasy wise to be found on this team. Rather then stick with the usual formula I'm going to forego the "You Want to Draft" section and skip right to the "You Want to Keep an Eye On" guys because I can't recommend drafting anyone on this team for anything but bench duty or because you want their hot streaks. I'm not saying that no one is going to be fantasy worthy I'm just ... well read on.

You Want to Keep an Eye On:

Bill Guerin
Kyle Okposo
Mike Comrie

Comrie led the Islanders in points last year with 49. Ouch. As a center that makes Comrie virtually unusable for fantasy purposes, particularly when you consider his high minus and low shot total. I include Comrie here because a breakout season always seems on the horizon for the talented pivot. Last season Comrie stormed out of the gate with 19 points through 23 games in October and November. Things tailed off significantly after that. There is 30 goal talent in there if anyone can find the way to coax it out of him.
FACT: Comrie has played on 5 NHL teams in his 7 year NHL career.

The question is who on this team is going to score the goals? Someone has to right. The answer I pose to you is Kyle Okposo. Okposo is young, talented, and about to have a LOT of ice time due to the Islanders depth issues. The 20 year old had 5 points in 9 games with the big club last year after he went pro. Okposo was drafted 7th overall in 2006 and showed a lot of speed and flash in his cameo appearance last year. I won't draft him, but I'll be checking Islanders box scores every night for his name.
FACT: Okposo had 28 points in 35 games with the Islanders minor league affiliate last season.

Guerin... how I have loved thee. No really, I considered getting a Bruins jersey with Guerin's name on it while I was in school up there. I settled for a Team USA jersey. Billy, Billy, Billy... you got old on me. Guerin is one of the players that was absolutely murdered by the lockout. As both a power forward and an aging star the new rules were designed almost specifically to make Guerin retire. To his credit he fought back in 06-07 and strung together a 36 goal, 66 point campaign, likely ensuring his last big contract with the Isles. Bill had only 5 goals after the All Star game last year. He's 37... but his goals last year came in spurts. He's still got the hands, they're just slower. Don't draft him, but watch him closely, you might be able to plug him in for a couple of quick goals on one of his hot streaks.
FACT: Bill Guerin is a former BC Great, playing two season with the Boston College Eagles before going pro with the New Jersey Devils.

The Defense:

You Want to Draft:
Mark Streit

You want to draft him, you just don't want to draft him where you will have to in order to get him. Streit was tied for THIRD amongst defensemen in overall points last season. Tied. For Third. I guarantee you that someone drafting on auto pilot will grab him way before you do in one of the early rounds... and that's ok, because he's not worth that pick. Draft Streit like a third or fourth defenseman with upside and expect no more then 35 points with 20 or so coming on the power play. If you do, you should be happy with his performance.
FACT: Mark Streit is the only player in the NHL from Switzerland who is not a goalie. Be the first to correctly name the other three in the comments and leave your email address and I'll send you a prize. Really.

You Want to Keep an Eye On:
Chris Campoli

He's going to get powerplay time. He's got talent. In 46 games last season Campoli had 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points. 11 of those 18 points came on the man advantage. If he improves on that production even slightly this season he becomes a late round bargain as your fifth defenseman.
FACT: While playing in the minors in Erie, PA Chris won several Humanitarian of the Year awards for his work at Children's Hospitals. Give him a look huh? For the kids.

The Powerplay:

First Unit is... uh:
Mike Comrie
Bill Guerin
Kyle Okposo (I guess)
Chris Campoli
Mark Streit

Its kind of an ugly powerplay, and I don't even want to speculate on who they will dig up to play on the second unit. Streit is going to be expected to do great things, likely having to pinch in on the man advantage. This will leave Campoli to play the point, a job he has shown promise at. See I'm telling you, keep your eye on Campoli. Karma man.

The Goalie(s):

Rick DiPietro is the man... for the next thirteen years or so. This should be at least somewhat troubling to Islander fans. Not because he isn't good, he is. Rather, they should be troubled because man has this guy had some surgeries or what? Since he signed his monster 15 year deal in 06 Rick's undergone two hip surgeries. This offseason alone Rick has had one surgery on his hip and another one on his left knee. Last time I checked those were important parts for a goalie, and parts that shouldn't be breaking down this early in a guy's career. I'm sure Rick doesn't care, his contract is guaranteed even if he suffers a career ending injury, but Islanders fans should be nervous. So should you. Don't draft Rick as anything but a third goalie to spot-start...unless you have to. His numbers aren't stellar enough to warrant the risk. The Islanders don't boast spectacular backups, with Joey MacDonald being the best of the bunch. Be afraid.

The Verdict:

With very few exceptions this team should be avoided in the early rounds on draft day. They are unquestionably the worst team in the Atlantic Division and, barring Mats Sundin suddenly deciding he'd look great in Gorton's, will be feuding with Toronto and Florida for the entire season for the worst team in the East.