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Break Down Day: Tim Jackman

April 14, 2010, 8:07 AM ET [ Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
This is going to be a multi-part series of interviews I did with the players that were available when I managed to get to the Coliseum on Monday. It would be too much for me to write all at once and it will also give me something to do now that we are in a slow news period in Islanders Country.

When I ran down to the locker room floor Monday, I was trapped behind the big blue curtain as Chris King and ITV were interviewing leading goal scorer Matt Moulson. I didn't want to ruin their shoot, so I waited and listened. No one is better at interviews than our Chris King and there is no more cordial an Islander in front of a camera than Matt Moulson. But I'll get to him in a later post.

This was the first time I was "invited" to show up for one of these post season interviews. I wasn't sure what I was allowed to do or not do. Can I talk to ANYONE I want? Do you have to bring them to me? Do I chase after them in the hall? Can I use my camera? Can I use the video camera? Is there anyone I CAN'T talk to?

Seriously, they don't hand out a rule book for this stuff. I wish they did. Or if I still had my buddy Greg Logan or veteran reporter and Islander fan Mark Herrmann around, I would have asked them the rules. No, I was on my own here without direction.

After I made my presence known, I sheepishly walked over to Tim Jackman, Josh Bailey and Matt Moulson who were all outside Scott Gordon's office door. I wasn't sure if they were waiting to get in or mulling over what was said on their way out. This has to be like being called into the Principal's office on Report Card Day.

With recorder in hand, I started with Jackman. "First, I want to apologize for calling you Andy the first time I tried to interview you." I said to the 6' 4" defenseman as he leaned against the wall. That was something that has been bothering me since October. This may be the last time I was able to say it.

"Awee, that's alright. I get it all the time." he said smiling down at me. Even without skates, Tim is an imposing body. Jackman was acquired as a free agent in 2007 and is not under contract for the 2010-2011 season. Due to various injuries, he played in only 54 games this season with the Islanders. For the two years prior, he had split his time between the Sound Tigers and the Islanders. While it was always said that Jackman could score goals, his stats show he scored only 4 of them for a total of 9 points this season. He also had 98 penalty minutes.

When I asked Tim what his greatest accomplishment was this season, he paused and thought about it which made Matt and Josh start laughing. He looked over at them "Ask these guys." This must have been a private joke I wasn't allowed in on.

"No, I want YOUR personal accomplishment." I prodded thinking I would get an eloquant answer from another deep thinking Scorpio. I did.

"Just playing another season in the NHL is a great accomplishment."

It is obvious he knows that being able to play in the NHL is a privilege. He gets it. This was Tim's fifth NHL year. When you read THN's assessment of Jackman, it lists his flaws as sub-par skating and he's not a heavyweight enforcer. But he does have the size and toughness the Islanders needed and he seems to work well with Scott Gordon.

I asked when he starts to look forward to the season starting again and Jackman said "Early August. It starts to feel like it's been a long summer. At least last summer it was. It felt really long." It was. As the Islanders didn't' make the playoffs that year either and without the Olympic break the last regular season game played was in early April. (On Easter Sunday in New Jersey.)

Tim was making $550,000 this season. Should his agent be able to negotiate a new contract with the Islanders his price tag could be only slightly higher. If not, this North Dakota native will be looking for a new home.

Do you think Jackman should continue to be part of the plan?
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