Well, the New York Islanders have added $2.45 million dollars towards hitting the cap floor within the NHL and their salary cap structure.

As Isles nation patiently waited for the arbitration hearing for Matt Moulson, the team surprised everyone yesterday by announcing that they will avoid just that.

During the course of his first full National Hockey League season, Moulson found himself skating as a top line forward, playing wingman to rookie sensation Jonathan Tavares.

It was instant chemistry. Of course there is some history between the two, but to skate on a top line together in the National Hockey League paid unexpected dividends.

Moulson scored a career high 30 goals as well as adding 18 assists for a total for 48 points.

What Islanders fans will need to realize is that if Clarke MacArthur, one time skater for the Atlanta Thrashers, received $2.4 million from an arbitrator, the Islanders grabbed themselves a deal by avoiding arbitration with Moulson. Although it is only a one year deal, it gives both the organization and player an opportunity to analyze how the future will be.

I do agree with much of the fanbase who wonder why it was not a longer extension but have no fear because not every team has a Tavares to play with.  The young guns up front for the Islanders, as well as the depth chart for the organization should provide enough security to a player in order to keep him on board.

What I mean is, Moulson, whether he scores 30 goals again or not, will likely be extended by the Islanders at a fair market value when the time comes.  If he scores between 20 and 24 goals he will likely stay within the same salary range (between $2 – $2.5 million).  If he hits 30 goals or more again this season he will get a raise from the $2.45 the Islanders awarded him for this upcoming season.

The chemistry will likely continue between Moulson and Tavares, and I do not see Moulson bolting at the end of his contract. I think it is more likely to see an extension handed out in season.

Of course, only time will tell.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

If anyone is hoping to forget a season it is New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo. Alright, maybe we are being a tad harsh with that statement. However, for Kyle it could be true.

After registering 18 goals in only 65 games during the 2008-09 NHL season, many felt Okposo had the hands of a 30 goal scorer and would be able to surpass at least 20 goals in his second campaign.

Things did not work that way last year for Okposo. The attempts were there as Kyle fired 249 shots on goal last season, good for 27th overall for shots on goal in the entire league.

Snake bitten would be an understatement.

Of course it seems the entire roster is attempting to find the purest form of chemistry among it’s top six skaters.  Rookie standout John Tavares, Robbie Schremp, Josh Bailey all showed signs of life throughout the season and were able to develop chemistry together.  It was one skater, Matt Moulson, who surprised the most.

As an entire group there is plenty of talent, as well as individually.

Okposo put 19 biscuts in the basket last year which is not a horrible number for a 21 year old (during last season, now 22). However, his projected cieling is much higher and his skill set makes one wonder why he had back to back seasons without being able to hit the 20 goal plateau?

This upcoming season, Okposo hopes to take his game to the next level. He knows that through the course of time, his Olympic recognition all rests on the game he displays on the ice for his Islanders team. He also knows that in order to make the playoffs, he will need to be one of quite a few contributors from the club.

Whether he skates on a line with Tavares or Schremp, the opportunity to score goals will be there, it will simply be up to Okposo to finish his chances.

Projection: 26 goals, 33 assists, 59 points.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

A fabricated car accident report can go a long way to finding out information.

For the fans of the New York Islanders know this, Rick DiPietro is prepared to give Dwayne Roloson a run for the number one job on Long Island.

What? He’s too fragile and not prepared to play again?  Really?  I guess that’s why the team decided that Martin Biron and his services would no longer be required.

Nathan Lawson is the reason Biron was allowed to walk.

Wait, what?

Lawson is a fantastic goaltender at the AHL level, but Garth Snow, via Dee Karl of Hockeybuzz, is confident that Ricky will be ready to go come season time.

Is there a possibility that Lawson would be able to handle the back-up role? Absolutely.  However, that doesn’t do much for DiPietro and his attempts at a full comeback and finally becoming the number one goaltender we all grew to love at one point in time.

Now, this is not me telling the masses that DiPietro is 100% ready to go.  In the interview with Islanders  7thWoman, Garth stated:

With the expected return of Rick DiPietro, I still wondered if the Islanders were looking to free agency for another insurance goaltender before the season starts, and was met with a definite “No.”

“No. At this point in time Rick has been doing great in his rehab and his training. He’s scheduled to start on the ice in the next few weeks here. Between Rick and Dwayne Roloson, we feel that is a strength in our organization. We also have Nathan Lawson, who we extended a qualifying offer and signed him shortly after. He’s coming off another excellent season. Nathan had a .922 save percentage. And sometimes people forget that he was on the All-Rookie Team for us in the AHL. We feel with Dwayne, Rick, Nathan Lawson — and then Mikko Koskinen and Kevin Poulin will be in Bridgeport — the depth at that position is one of the strengths of this organization.”

All Islanders fans can hope and pray for is that DiPietro is indeed recovering and that he’ll be provided a clean bill of health come October. In turn, that would provide DiPietro with the confidence he needs in order to focus on regaining the number one position.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

After attending the Islanders prospects scrimmage and skills competition on Saturday July 10, 2010, one thing stood out in my mind.

No, not the 5,000 plus crazed Islanders fans who showed up when the organization only expected 1,500.  No, not that fact that it was hockey in July.

What stood out the most to me was the impressive performance and character of New York Islanders first round draft pick, fifth overall mind you, Nino Niederreiter.

Talk as you will about Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin, even add Erik Gudbranson to the list of stars (among the many) that came out of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft however, make sure you make note of “El Nino”.

The 6’2″, 201lb forward had an excellent season in the WHL for the Portland Winterhawks last year.  He skated in 65 games and earned 60 points (36g, 24a).

The kid can dangle through defensemen, put pressure on the oppositions defense and create a promising offensive attack  all within the same shift.

Nino Niederreiter has all the skill and all the tools to make the NHL directly out of training camp, no question about it by why rush the talent into something that could be risky in his proper development?

He is strong on the puck, has great hockey IQ, and, again, he can dangle with the best of ‘em. On his skates, his balance is superior giving him an easier time with puck control and battles against the walls. He can also take a hit really well.

Comparisons have gone as far as the likes of Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows. His size and play compliment each other well. He has good hands, and is a proven goal scorer at every level.

The complete package? This writer believes so.

If the Islanders are smart, they give him a year to develop within the ranks of the organization prior to taking on a full time NHL role.

Either way, Nino Niederreiter is the real deal.

Quick hits from the day:

Casey Cizikas can motor but David Ullstrom can really motor, especially for his size.
Mikko Koskinen is the future between the pipes.  Not “likely”, he “is” the future.
Kirill Kabanov needs 15 pounds of muscle and he will be a fantastic NHLer.
Brock Nelson has plenty of potential and development is key to his being full time in the NHL.
Matt Martin can hit, but better find his stride.  He get’s a pass because it’s first time on ice in a while.
Travis Hamonic seems to be prepared to make the NHL jump, pending how the Isles feel with their recent UFA signings to help their blueline this year.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

Atlantic Division Draft Review:

Coming to Los Angeles, two Atlantic Division teams did not have first round picks.  The New Jersey Devils sent their pick to the Atlanta Thrashers in the Ilya Kovlchuk deal, and the Flyers traded their pick to the Anaheim Ducks in the Chris Pronger deal.

One trade worked; one did not.

In this article, I will review the first-round pick or top pick for each of all five Atlantic Division teams, and late-round picks that may be gems.  I will release each of the other five divisions over the next few days.  I would love to hear feedback about what you think, or if you have a question about your favorite team please email me at MMurangi@nhlhotstove.com .

Here is the review:

New Jersey Devils – Total picks: 5;  Highest round: 2nd (38th overall); Breakdown: 2D, 2G, 1RW.

The Devils used their second-round pick on defenseman Jonathon Merrill.  Merrill played well in the WJC, but did have some problems that  resulted in a mid-season suspension.  He bounced back, and is now a solid, stay-at-home blue liner.  Merrill will continue to hone his craft at the University of Michigan in the fall.  The two goaltenders picked, Scott Wedgewood and Maxime Claremont, came into the season with a chance to crack the top 10 in the rankings, but both struggled during the year.  The Devils have taken a goaltender in the last nine drafts in a row as they search for the heir apparent to Martin Brodure. Keep an eye on Joe Faust, a kid who would have been in the top 40 if he was three inches taller. GRADE C

New York Islanders – Total picks: 6; Highest round: 1st (5th overall); Breakdown: 2D 1G 2C 1RW 1LW.

If you rate this draft on talent, the Islanders would be in the top 5 in the league., but with the talent comes tons of question marks.  Top pick Nino Niederreiter is a  top-notch goal scorer and projects to be a top notch power forward on the power play.  Second-round pick Brock Nelson will take his time in his development at North Dakota.  The sleeper of the group is Kirill Kabanov, a very talented Russian with a lot of baggage.  Kabanov could have been a bonified top 10 pick.  If he pans out, this could be the best draft class of any team in the league.  Keep an eye on 3rd round pick Jason Clarke, a Shattucks and St Mary’s kid, who is a very talented  center.  Garth Snow went with forwards with his top four picks this time around.  Next year, expect him to try and restock the blue line.  GRADE A

New York Rangers – Total picks: 6; Highest round 1st (10th overall); Breakdown: 1D 1C 3RW 1LW.

The Rangers have a young, talented blue line and a lack of scoring on the parent club.  With scoring being a great need for the Rangers coming into the draft, every expert had them taking a forward, but after the run of the players the Rangers had high on their board, they took the fastest mover on the draft board in blue-liner Dylan McIlrath,  by far the toughest kid in the draft.  He is the type of blue line shut-down guy every team needs.  He has some skill, will pitch in 20 points a season, and will beat the hell out of everyone.  In the second round, the Rangers took Christian Thomas, the son of former NHL’er Steve Thomas.  He had a slow start as a rookie, but exploded for 41 goals this past season.  Ranked 69th by central scouting, the thing that dropped him was his size.  The Rangers then addded Andrew Yogan in the 3rd round, who will be a solid depth  forward, should be a star in the AHL, and will see some limited NHL time.  Keep an eye on 5th-rounder Jason Wilson, a great 2 way winger with some scoring touch.  GRADE C

Philadelphia Flyers – Total picks: 6; Highest round: 3rd (89th overall); Breakdown: 2D 1C 1RW 2LW.

The Flyers traded their top two picks, and watched Anaheim choose So-Cal born Emmerson Etem with the pick they sent them at the draft last year for Chris Pronger.  Philly went safe will almost all there picks, and used there 3rd round pick on Michael Chaput, a tall skinny center from the QMJHL’s Lewiston Maineiacs.  He has a ton of upside, and is a solid, fluid skater, but will need to add weight to play in the NHL and may be 4 years away.  Keep an eye on 7th round pick Brendan Ranford, a good, solid winger with a touch of scoring.  He is one of the best penalty killers in the draft, but fell to the 7th round due to his size.  He was rated 111th by central scouting, and his uncle is Bill Ranford, a Stanley Cup-winning goaltender with the Edmonton Oilers and the current goaltending coach of the Los Angeles Kings.  GRADE D

Pittsburgh Penguins – Total picks: 6; Highest round :1st (20th overall);  Breakdown: 2D 3RW 1LW.

If there is one need the Penguins have, its scoring wingers.  Pittsburgh used their first-round pick on Southern California native Beau Bennett, a scoring winger who put up 120 points in only 56 games.  Some would say that the talent that Bennett played against was not as solid as the talent in the WHL.  He is not NHL ready, and will attend The University of Denver this fall.  He should be a solid 2nd line winger for years in the NHL, but will need to score to stay in the league.  Bryan Rust is another solid winger out of the US development program.  He put up solid numbers in the WJC and will join the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame this fall where he will focus on bulking up for the rigors of the NHL.  Keep an eye on 4th round pick Tom Kuhenhackl, a RW out of Germany.  He will join Windsor this season after playing in Germany, and is a very gifted scorer.  He might be the gem of the class.  The Penguins took the best player available with all their picks, and overall, it was one of the most solid drafts top to bottom the Penguins have had in years.  GRADE A

Up next will be the Central Division.

Mike Murangi
NHLHS Entry Draft Correspondent
mmurangi@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Draft_Mike

If day one left anyone fan base (outside of Los Angeles) truly disappointed it was those of the metro New York suburbs of Long Island.

Why?

The New York Islanders walked away from day one of the NHL free agency period without a single positive situation.

Day two, on the other hand, saw some second tier names sign on the dotted line as the New York Islanders were able to acquire Milan Jurcina, Mark Eaton, Zenon Konopka and P.A. Parenteau.

For a better idea of what each player brings to the organization, read my article The Four Fishermen.

However, just a few moments ago, TSN’s Darren Dreger sent out a tweet that read as follows:

“Would Kovalchuk consider the Islanders? Why not? Rumblings the Isles may make a mega millions, mega year pitch. They need the contract.”

Ilya Kovalchuk and the New York Islanders? Could Garth Snow throw all his remaining eggs into one basket and go above and beyond to acquire the most sought after free agent in this years free agent class?

As Dreger mentioned, why not? They need the contract, as they are desperate to hit the cap floor. They also need to fill the seats out in Nassau. Kovalchuk would do just that.

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN followed Dreger’s tweet with a tweet of his own that read:

“Isles GM Garth Snow confirms via text to ESPN.com that he’s involved in Kovalchuk talks. Wow !”

Acquiring a player of Kovalchuk’s caliber would do wonderful things for the Islanders organization. Not only will revenue increase from tickets and merchandise sales, but it also puts a franchise player and one of the leagues best goal scorers on a team that is looking to get a new arena, on top of many other things.

The John Tavares stock value would rise to new levels as well.  Bringing Kovalchuk on board would help not only Tavares in his development, but would make the Islanders a very strong team on the ice.

If there is a will…err….Garth, maybe there sure is a way.

Party on Garth.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

The storm that the NHL has been waiting for has finally arrived.

And just like a storm, it came as a surprise that Nino Niederreiter was selected in the top five of this years first round.

But for the New York Islanders, this was the perfect choice.

“El Nino” in Spanish means “The Nino”. It is also the name of a major storm to meteorologists worldwide. For the Islanders, the storm has arrived.  Unlikely that Niederreiter will make the club out of camp, sending him to juniors will only further his development to carry him into the role of a top line winger to play alongside John Tavares.

At 6’2″ tall and weighing 203 lbs., Niederreiter posses great size for a left wing and has the speed to go along with his size. He uses his size to his advantage when it comes to protecting the puck.  It is not easy to strip Nino when he is transitioning from his own end to an offensive rush. His strength is just one valuable asset to his overall game.

With that comes his grit, and lack of fear to get into the dirty areas. If there is one thing we have witnessed in the little we knew about Niederreiter prior to the U-18 WJC tournament, leading to the combine and then the draft, it is his drive.  He never gives up and never stops working during a shift.

This past season with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, Niederreiter made his first appearance on North American ice and was almost a point per game player, scoring 60 points in 65 games played.

The offensive potential is there.  The Islanders, taking a brief look into the future, have the potential for a deadly top line in the making.

And just think, they selected Kirill Kabanov in the third round.  A player with all world offensive talent that just needs to mature as a person. These two combined sure do have the caliber to create quite the offensive output in the NHL one day.

WHAT THE SCOUTS ARE SAYING:

From the director of NHL Scouting, E.J. McGuire:

“Plays in Portland but showed the world how good he could be in the (World Junior Championship) playing for the Swiss National Team. And after that tournament he kept getting better. He’s shifty, he’s skilled, he has a good stride and he loves battling in the corner.”

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

With the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders select…

Nino Niederreiter

Niederreiter came close to being a point per clip player in his rookie campaign in the WHL where he tallied 60 points in 65 games played.

The 17 year old has size and skill and his 2010 WJC performance helped his stock rise heading into this years entry draft.

‘El Nino’ uses his size to his advantage, protecting the puck well with his strength and his balance adding to his ability to play in the dirty areas. He contributes well with his ability to earn puck control from up against the boards. His grit factor helps boost his value as well.

A sure fire top five pick in my opinion, and if the Islanders are smart, taking him with the number five pick provides an instant boost to their organizational depth amongst their forward units.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
@hockeyguy_ac

We got your fix right here.

We go live tomorrow with our 2009-2010 NHL season wrap-up show.

Be sure to tune in live with us tomorrow from 1-3 p.m. EST.

The Hockey Guys on Blog Talk Radio – link for show tomorrow. Chat room will open approximately 5 minutes prior to show’s puck drop.

The New York Islanders, playing for nothing more than pride the rest of this season, have not only been placing dents in the playoff hopes of some Eastern Conference clubs they have also stopped winning streaks and have spoiled the party for more than just one team.

Last week saw an Islanders team that looked somewhat possessed. When looking at the wins you will notice that the Islanders were able to take down the Philadelphia Flyers last Thursday night, the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and just last night the Montreal Canadiens. Three teams all fighting for playoff positioning.

As much as Islanders nation would rather the losses to solidify a lottery pick at the upcoming NHL Entry Draft in June, the wins also bring smiles to their faces due to the teams they have come against.

On top of spoiling the party, John Tavares has found his scoring touch again and has given the Islanders a reason to smile looking into their future.

Aside from t-shirt, jersey and ticket sales, the Islanders have a dynamic player to put onto the ice each and every game that will bring fear into the opponents game plan.

Tavares, to date, has 22 goals and 27 assists on the year. A telling tale of things to come from the freshman forward out of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Islanders, who led the Flyers 4-0 at one point on Thursday night, wound up winning the game by a final of 6-4. A game in which the Flyers were absolutely desperate for points as they continue to slide within the Eastern Conference standings ladder.  The advantage here, this snapped a 15 game skid against Philadelphia for the Isles.

A few nights later it was another playoff team that were unable to stop the spoilers from enjoying their game. The Ottawa Senators could not find it in their game to defeat the Islanders, who were suddenly entering a win streak.

Just last night, Martin Biron and company halted a team from clinching a playoff birth with a 4-3 shoot-out victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

As much as we would like to take all of this as a positive, the winning has come too late in the season.

There was hope, throughout much of the season but the Islanders found a way to spoil their own fun.  January 23rd through February 10th saw the Islanders lose eight of nine and it came at a crucial point in the season. At this point, all hope diminished for the Islanders to make the playoffs. Not that they were mathematically eliminated, but the obvious became a reality.

Do not fret Isles nation. You have to take the positives from this season and create an image heading into next year.

The youngsters, which has been stated numerous times, have gained quite a bit from this season.  Even with it being a negative that the playoffs are out of the picture, the development of the team as a whole can be carried into next year and with Dwayne Roloson on board; the teams MVP will be called upon to provide a similar season with the playoffs as the goal.

GM Garth Snow has provided the Islanders with building blocks and the foundation has been set. Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo, John Tavares, Frans Nielsen, Jack Hillen and newcomer Matt Moulson are a few of the youngsters who have had stand out seasons.

Yes, there are plenty of questions surrounding the organization in moving forward but for right now we need to enjoy the positives and steer clear of the negatives.

The issues surrounding the team as a whole will answer themselves as the off-season arrives.  To me, that is another situation for another time.

For now, I’ll take the positives and let them shine.