Ushering in a New Generation: New York Islanders
In our newest feature, Ushering in a New Generation, our talented writer Katlyn Gambill takes a deeper look into team success based on a player’s age. Today, she looks at the New York Islanders, who are for the tenth oldest team in the league.
The New York Islanders come in as the tenth oldest NHL team, with a team average of 27.88 years and currently sit in the twelfth spot in the Eastern Conference. The problems that hindered their playoff push, unfortunately, occurred in every possible nook and cranny.
The first problem arises from their lack of healthy veteran presence. As the second oldest on the team, Doug Weight (39 years) recently tore his rotator cuff and underwent a season-ending surgery. The captain of the Islanders provides experience to the fourteen young players on the Islanders, but with his injury their playoff push is likely over.
Seven points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference is hard enough to overcome without battling injuries. Additionally, many of the fourteen players under the team average age do not have experience beyond last season.
Though the Islanders are one of the older teams, their youth actually overwhelms them.
Drafted first overall this past summer, John Tavares came into the New York organization with high expectations on his shoulders.
He began strong, scoring a goal and an assist in his first game. Tavares’ scoring pace steadied out as the season progressed. He even went on a seventeen-game goal drought. Yet, he ranks third on his team in points (only two behind point-leader Matt Moulson).
One of the many Islanders getting a chance to play a full season (for the first time) in the NHL, Moulson leads the team in points and goals. Without substantial previous experience though, his current and future production is difficult to judge.
The 26-year-old Moulson played only 29 games (all with the Kings) over the previous two years and he registered only six goals and five assists. His current goal total (26 goals) and forty-three points are good enough for first on a team that sits four spots out of the playoffs.
Unlike Moulson, Kyle Okposo has previous experience to examine. He already surpassed his assist total (21 last season), but he remains four goals short of his total goals from last year.
Okposo this season played in three more games (than last year) thus far, and already set a new career high in points with forty-two. This young player is on his way up in the hockey world. At twenty-one years of age, Okposo is primed and ready to take over the offensive needs for the Islanders.
Within a few more seasons of practice, Okposo will develop into a well-rounded forward. Unfortunately, this year he has a minus-14 ranking. Okposo remains just one of the many young players in the league who needs veterans around to help him learn.
Josh Bailey falls into the same boat as Okposo. Bailey played last season for the Islanders and produced decent numbers (seven goals, eighteen assists). This year, he already matched his assists and doubled his goals.
As the second youngest on the team, Bailey missed a few games early in February for an upper-body injury. His age helped him out though, and he bounced back (the Olympic break aided him as well).
There are veterans on the team that still produce for the Islanders, just not enough.
One reason for the Islanders’ failures this year is their falloff of production from their seasoned veterans. Mark Streit (32 years) sits fourth in points, yet his goals are close to his totals from the previous few seasons. But, as many defensemen do, Streit largely contributes with assists. His assists fell from 40 assists last year to 27 this season with only twelve games remaining.
Following in Streit’s footsteps, Richard Park’s (33 years) influence in offense seems off from his previous seasons. He already tied his assists from last year, but his eight goals seem awfully low for a player like him.
Though Park never registered more than fourteen goals in a season, he is good at scoring the important goals. Half of his goals are game-winners this season, so when he is scoring he at least makes his goals really count.
Similar to Streit and Park, Weight’s production fell from last season. Though his excuse lines up more with injuries and old age.
Weight, as well as Brendan Witt suffered serious injuries this year. The Islanders missed Witt, placed on injured reserve on January 9th with knee and calf injuries. He provided the leadership and wisdom back on defense that the Islanders needed.
The Islanders felt differently however, and demoted Witt to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL affiliate) since February 5, 2010. For now, Streit provides the age and experience for the young defensive corp.
Even more chaotic than the offense and defense is the goaltending. By now Rick Dipietro’s battle with injuries is no secret. He began the season on injured reserve with knee surgery. Dipietro returned on January 8th and played eight games, winning only two of those. Then, at the beginning of March, Dipietro went back on IR for swelling in his left knee.
Dipietro is not even that old, but injuries plagued him throughout much of his short career.
Since Dipietro had surgery in September, the Islanders needed two goaltenders. Right now, they have Martin Biron (32 years) and Dwayne Roloson (40 years) on their roster.
Of the three goaltenders that played for the Islanders this year, only Roloson has a winning record.
The Islanders have issues in just about every aspect of the game possible. Veterans are injured and getting too old. Offense just is not producing like it should. Defense seems too young to handle the job, while the goaltending appears too old and haggard.
Sitting seven points out with just twelve games left, it seems highly unlikely the Islanders will push their way into the playoffs. If they had Dipietro back and a few of the other injured veterans, then the picture might appear a little different. Fortunately for the teams in front of the Islanders in the conference, their hopes of a playoff race this year are likely over.
Katlyn Gambill
NHLHS Feature Writer
kgambill@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @freezethepuck
