Bumping Donovan for deHaan would be a mistake, imo. Donovan's done everything asked of him. Not saying deHaan hasn't, but let him try to play in the AHL for a while without getting hurt. The message to Donovan would be a tough one to take...the guy was passed over last season and buried under a bunch of waiver signings, and rather than sulk or demand a trade, he elevated his game even more and led AHL d-men in scoring while leading the Sound Tigers in +/-. Not sure what else the guy has to do to at least earn a long look.
- UIF

I hope Donovan does not turn out to be the next Nino

Bumping Donovan for deHaan would be a mistake, imo. Donovan's done everything asked of him. Not saying deHaan hasn't, but let him try to play in the AHL for a while without getting hurt. The message to Donovan would be a tough one to take...the guy was passed over last season and buried under a bunch of waiver signings, and rather than sulk or demand a trade, he elevated his game even more and led AHL d-men in scoring while leading the Sound Tigers in +/-. Not sure what else the guy has to do to at least earn a long look.
- UIF

The better player in camp will make the team. It's pretty simple, No?

I hope Donovan does not turn out to be the next Nino
- kasperrko

McDonald?? I love that guy. Plus Bailey would be useless in my opinion on the third line. Has he even signed yet??
- kasperrko

Then trade him!!!

He's really not that good!!!

Bumping Donovan for deHaan would be a mistake, imo. Donovan's done everything asked of him. Not saying deHaan hasn't, but let him try to play in the AHL for a while without getting hurt. The message to Donovan would be a tough one to take...the guy was passed over last season and buried under a bunch of waiver signings, and rather than sulk or demand a trade, he elevated his game even more and led AHL d-men in scoring while leading the Sound Tigers in +/-. Not sure what else the guy has to do to at least earn a long look.
- UIF

its a competition... whoever wins it...wins it

The better player in camp will make the team. It's pretty simple, No?
- Vukota

Yes and no. If deHaan absolutely blows Donovan away in camp, then sure. If deHaan looks only marginally better, then I still give Donovan the shot...at least for 15 or 20 games, for a few reasons. Firstly, let deHaan take those 15-20 games in the AHL to show that he can survive game situations without another long-term injury. Second, Donovan's proved all he has to prove in the AHL. I know lines like that get thrown around a lot, often foolishly so, but what more does he have to do other than leading all d-men in scoring and being clearly the most reliable defender on the team? Time to see if the kid will sink or swim in the NHL. Third, it'd be a fitting reward for how he reacted to not being invited to camp last season and being buried on the depth chart with the Strait, Finley, Hickey signings. He could have given the organization the same headaches Nino did. He acted far more professionally, kept quiet and took his game to a higher level.

For deHaan, there are still question marks...can he stay healthy, but also how will his game look in actual game situations coming off a long shoulder injury (KO and Streit didn't look so great coming off shoulder injuries)? For Donovan, the only question left really is how will his game transition to the NHL?

I hope Donovan does not turn out to be the next Nino
- kasperrko

Nino needs to grow up a bit, and realize that you have to work hard to play in the NHL.

It may take him a few years to mature.

Yes and no. If deHaan absolutely blows Donovan away in camp, then sure. If deHaan looks only marginally better, then I still give Donovan the shot...at least for 15 or 20 games, for a few reasons. Firstly, let deHaan take those 15-20 games in the AHL to show that he can survive game situations without another long-term injury. Second, Donovan's proved all he has to prove in the AHL. I know lines like that get thrown around a lot, often foolishly so, but what more does he have to do other than leading all d-men in scoring and being clearly the most reliable defender on the team? Time to see if the kid will sink or swim in the NHL. Third, it'd be a fitting reward for how he reacted to not being invited to camp last season and being buried on the depth chart with the Strait, Finley, Hickey signings. He could have given the organization the same headaches Nino did. He acted far more professionally, kept quiet and took his game to a higher level.

For deHaan, there are still question marks...can he stay healthy, but also how will his game look in actual game situations coming off a long shoulder injury (KO and Streit didn't look so great coming off shoulder injuries)? For Donovan, the only question left really is how will his game transition to the NHL?
- UIF

Fair enough but the whole not being invited to camp thing is overblown since it wasn't really a camp and it was basically a week of practice for the regulars to get ready for the season. No doubt if it was a real camp he would have been there along with Nelson, Nino and others

Daniel Friedman ‏@DFriedmanWFAN 4m
Remember that Calvin de Haan was the final cut from #Isles' training camp in his DRAFT YEAR.

Bumping Donovan for deHaan would be a mistake, imo. Donovan's done everything asked of him. Not saying deHaan hasn't, but let him try to play in the AHL for a while without getting hurt. The message to Donovan would be a tough one to take...the guy was passed over last season and buried under a bunch of waiver signings, and rather than sulk or demand a trade, he elevated his game even more and led AHL d-men in scoring while leading the Sound Tigers in +/-. Not sure what else the guy has to do to at least earn a long look.
- UIF

Has deHaan been healthy for a full season, yet?
Been waiting for him to get it together but fragile defensemen in the AHL arent likely to last long in the big show. He'a an awesome skater but both shoulders have had surgeries. Wouldnt be surprised if they give him a shot but his health will be the biggest X factor.

Daniel Friedman ‏@DFriedmanWFAN 4m
Remember that Calvin de Haan was the final cut from #Isles' training camp in his DRAFT YEAR.
- jimmc7722

Whoever dubbed him Calvin "deHurt" gets props for best play on a players name.

Daniel Friedman ‏@DFriedmanWFAN 4m
Remember that Calvin de Haan was the final cut from #Isles' training camp in his DRAFT YEAR.
- jimmc7722

Here is how I see the depth chart (not defensive pairings) for the Islanders defense as of today:
1. Visnovski
2. Hamonic
3. McDonald
4. Strait
5. Hickey
6.Carkner
7. Donovan
8. Finley
9. deHaan

Depends if they carry 7 or 8 defensemen will decide who makes it...I feel they need another vet..

its a competition... whoever wins it...wins it
- NYI78

Exactly BTW- Any luck with getting the blogger job on this site?

Here is how I see the depth chart (not defensive pairings) for the Islanders defense as of today:
1. Visnovski
2. Hamonic
3. McDonald
4. Strait
5. Hickey
6.Carkner
7. Donovan
8. Finley
9. deHaan

Depends if they carry 7 or 8 defensemen will decide who makes it...I feel they need another vet..
- kear20

Right now???

Vis Hamonic

Amac Strait

Hickey Donovan

Carkner

I heard Cammarata wasn't in the ice, couldn't figure out why
- Danformo

he was but u couldn't see him.

he was but u couldn't see him.
- niteislander

Daniel Friedman ‏@DFriedmanWFAN 2h
Calvin de Haan is going to have a serious shot at making the team this year. Don't rule him out. Matt Donovan isn't a slam-dunk. #Isles
- jimmc7722

I STRONGLY disagree... Matt Donovan will be on this team. If anyone else makes the team it will be Carkner, Hickey and others who lose ice time.

Bumping Donovan for deHaan would be a mistake, imo. Donovan's done everything asked of him. Not saying deHaan hasn't, but let him try to play in the AHL for a while without getting hurt. The message to Donovan would be a tough one to take...the guy was passed over last season and buried under a bunch of waiver signings, and rather than sulk or demand a trade, he elevated his game even more and led AHL d-men in scoring while leading the Sound Tigers in +/-. Not sure what else the guy has to do to at least earn a long look.
- UIF

Amen.. and Donovan is a Brick shthouse that will not be pushed around out there either... I don't see any way possible he doesn't make the team.

Right now???

Vis Hamonic

Amac Strait

Hickey Donovan

Carkner
- jimmc7722

I don't think they will break up the Hamonic/Amac pairing.

Vis - Donovan
Amac - Hamonic
Strait - Carkner/Hickey

(Could also flip Strait and Donovan's spot.)

I hope Donovan does not turn out to be the next Nino
- kasperrko

Nino was 18 when he had his NHL stint on the 4 line with bums. Matt Donovan is 23 years old had 2 full seasons in College (Denver) and 2+ seasons in the AHL (B-port obviously). Not to mention one is a Forward from Switzerland..And the other is a Defenseman from friggin Oklahoma (huh?) . They are apples and oranges....clearly

I have not been this fired up to see a guy since Hamonic. I think we all are going to love this kid.

Just a feeling...based on no info or anything at all...but I think they'll end up trading Grabner. Just seems like there's been a reluctance to give him a top-six role even as he outscores most of the top-six forwards, and I don't think he fits well in a bottom-six role. Hopefully my gut feeling is wrong, since I think he's a unique weapon to have in the arsenal.
- UIF

MM-JT-PMB
Grabs-Nelson-clutterbuck
Bailey-Nielsen-KO
C Mac-Cizikas-Martin

Strome starts in BPT. He gets called up if someone gets moved or injured. Strome will be an Islander regular by January.

MM-JT-PMB
Grabs-Nelson-clutterbuck
Bailey-Nielsen-KO
C Mac-Cizikas-Martin

Strome starts in BPT. He gets called up if someone gets moved or injured. Strome will be an Islander regular by January.
- Jethro09

I was thinkin....

Moulson - Tavares - Bouchard
Bailey - Nielsen - Okposo
Grabner - Regin - McDonald
Martin - Cizikis - Clutterbuck
(Strome/Lee/Nelson)

Hamonic - MacDonald
Strait - Visnovsky
Carkner - Donovan
(Hickey/Finley)

Nabokov
Poulin
(Nilsson)

But thats if none of the young fowards break camp with the Isles.

Bumping Donovan for deHaan would be a mistake, imo. Donovan's done everything asked of him. Not saying deHaan hasn't, but let him try to play in the AHL for a while without getting hurt. The message to Donovan would be a tough one to take...the guy was passed over last season and buried under a bunch of waiver signings, and rather than sulk or demand a trade, he elevated his game even more and led AHL d-men in scoring while leading the Sound Tigers in +/-. Not sure what else the guy has to do to at least earn a long look.
- UIF

You act as if Donovan should be given a medal for this. He's a prospect. that's what prospects are supposed to do. Keep their (and their agent's) mouths shut and play. Instead of logging bottom pair minutes or being a scratch at the NHL level, the Isles let him get serious minutes in the "A" and develop his game.

Whoever plays better between de Haan and Donovan at camp should make the team.

I was thinkin....

Moulson - Tavares - Bouchard
Bailey - Nielsen - Okposo
Grabner - Regin - McDonald
Martin - Cizikis - Clutterbuck
(Strome/Lee/Nelson)

Hamonic - MacDonald
Strait - Visnovsky
Carkner - Donovan
(Hickey/Finley)

Nabokov
Poulin
(Nilsson)

But thats if none of the young fowards break camp with the Isles.
- Bags502

F Regin. Stuipidest signing by Snow since Reasoner. Waste of a roster spot. I'd rather see Nelson or Strome get a shot (if they're ready) than waste a spot on Regin. Regin's going to be a healthy scratch or a BPT player by November.

F Regin. Stuipidest signing by Snow since Reasoner. Waste of a roster spot. I'd rather see Nelson or Strome get a shot (if they're ready) than waste a spot on Regin. Regin's going to be a healthy scratch or a BPT player by November.
- Jethro09

Who knows 6'2 with speed. Maybe like some of the guys in the past he just needs a legit shot. If the other guys out play him then they will stick and Regin will be sent down or scratched. What's the harm in trying to find another diamond in the rough?