Western Road Swing

A season of hope has faded fast.

The New York Islanders who were once a playoff hopeful are now preparing for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Think what you will about the team but understand that this year, even without a playoff appearance, was a season of positives.

Sure there are negatives, which always come with positives, but this seasons Islanders team created somewhat of a balance over the two.

Tonight begins the first of a four game road trip. Three games are against Western Conference clubs and then the Islanders return home to New York to face the Rangers on enemy ice.

The Vancouver Canucks have had a great season to date. Currently they are on a two game winning streak and sit as the third seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Hart trophy candidate Henrik Sedin is having one hell of a season for the Canucks. He is second in the league in points behind Alexander Ovechkin with 93. A threat the Islanders will hope to contain as the two clubs do battle from GM Place tonight in Vancouver.

For the Islanders the rest of the season is about pride. That and development. Currently, the Isles have an opportunity to land a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.  That means a possibility of adding a player like Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Cam Fowler or a number of other players who can be projected as valuable top five picks.

Sure, many questions remain in looking at the future but just take a look at the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings, to name a few, before you explode about a poor team.  All three teams mentioned have had numerous top ten picks back to back for a few seasons straight. One common trend among the three teams mentioned – all are playoff teams this season.  Also, we all know the success the Penguins have had in development of their top draft choices (Fleury, Malkin, Staal and Crosby).

A hope throughout all of Isles nation is one in which we will get to see this Islanders team be as successful in the near future as the current Kings, Haws and Penguins organizations.

With the current NHL and it’s salary cap structure this needs to be observed as a huge benefit. Especially for a team like the Islanders who have a difficult time attracting big name free agents.

Another step towards ending the season will happen tonight. Another step in a positive direction meaning players like Dustin Kohn, Josh Bailey, John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson as well as currently injured Andrew MacDonald and others will gain further development. All stepping stones when looking ahead. The more confidence the kids get the better players they will become in future seasons.

Do not look at any of this as a negative. The only situation that needs observing under a microscope is that of once deemed franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro. In what seemed to be a positive has now turned into another huge question mark. Will Rick DiPietro ever be healthy enough to play a full season as the Islanders number one goaltender?  At this point, only time (and many doctor visits) will tell.

Tonight’s starting line-up (subject to change):

Moulson – Tavares – Comeau
Bergenheim – Bailey – Hunter
Tambellini – Nielsen  – Sim
Gillies – Park – Jackman

Streit – Gerveis
Kohn – Hillen
Meyer – Reese

Roloson
Biron

Quick hits:

Matt Martin was sent back to the Sound Tigers and was not re-called so he will not be making the trip with the team.

Rick DiPietro did not make the trip with the team. The Islanders are hopeful to get a few more starts under his belt but as stated above, only time will tell if that will be a reality.