|
Isles Double Header: And so it begins |
|
|
|
|
|
The Isles take to the sky tomorrow at 7:30 am to head to a double-header in Ottawa. This is the largest training camp roster they have had in years and a tough year for those trying to make their roster.
With the acquisitions GM Garth Snow made this off season, the excitement surrounding the Islanders is not reserved for just the fans, but also the media. These are exciting days for the NHL. No one has lost a game yet and everyone’s a winner. But for the Isles, who have added a “significant amount of depth,” talk of winning may not just be ‘talk.’
With the acquisitions, line combinations will be an “experiment.” One that will be tested over the next few days. According to Jack Capuano, no one should read anything into line-combinations during the exhibition games. They are looking for the proper chemistry which will produce points in the W column.
John Tavares and Kyle Okposo have tremendous chemistry together, but the final piece on their line could be a revolving door at first. “The performance of the players will dictate who is in the starting line-up.” Garth Snow told Gary Harding and John Panarese on their SportsTalk1240 show Sunday night. Many factors go into roster spot decisions, but “At the end of the day, it’s players that will help us win hockey games.”
When asked about acquiring a veteran defensemen, Snow admitted he had some conversations throughout the summer, but that none made any sense or upgraded the position. “Every team is looking for a top four defenseman. You don’t get rid of something that will help you win.” He never mentioned conversations with a cap strapped team which may have changed the outcome of one of those conversations.
Always entertaining, when Garth was asked what he expected from new starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak, the answer was simple; “Stop the puck.” As an ex-goalie, he knows. “That’s what you’re paid to do.” Is it really that simple? Yes.
Halak has played at a very high level for the last few seasons and Snow expects that level of play to continue on the Islanders. And should Halak need a rest, Chad Johnson will get the call and the team’s confidence. “Chad had a tremendous year in Boston. He’s a big kid that takes up a lot of net.” There is strength at the position this season.
It’s the plethora of forwards on the Isles that will be battling for position. Having the amount of depth and talent that are attending Isles camp this year isn’t really a big problem. They have two teams they’d like to see play in the post season.
Maybe this year, it will happen.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»