New York Islanders 2008-09 Season Preview: Sixth In Eastern Conference

nflicted too many games with respect to the Flyers talent.

Finally the flu produced one seven game losing streak that dropped the club out of it's playoff spot and despite a six game winning streak that pushed them back to within two points of eighth at the deadline, more injuries hit that finally were enough to send the club into a tailspin that they could not get out of with a lot of players unable to continue or playing hurt or ineffective during the final weeks.

From here on for the purposes of this preview lets get beyond Ted Nolan vs Garth Snow, both lied to the fans about their ability to work together.

A new coach is here in Scott Gordon but forgetting any coaches system or the usual fluff players give to the media about a new coach during the honeymoon period lets get down to talent and what players should be capable of doing under any coach which is why they are in the NHL.

Where will the 2008-09 New York Islanders Finish?
If they get over the injury problems still lingering from last season Sixth in Eastern Conference.

You wrote this is a group that lost sixty plus goals from the lowest scoring club in the league, sounds like a homer preview already NYIFC?

No pulling punches, if they cannot shake these injuries and improve their overall scoring and team play as a group, a playoff spot will not happen. I will explain why I think the scoring and team play can and should improve.

Anyone who watched the games last season know Blake Comeau and Sean Bergenheim outplayed and outworked the veterans on their lines far too many nights which even Bill Guerin acknowledged by the time the season was over.

This was not a situation where they were holding back veterans but exactly the opposite and both are at a point they can and should produce as the NHL game slows down for them at this level. Jeff Tambellini is also at that same point with his offensive skill or he will not be here much longer regardless of his contract. Kyle Okposo seems capable of doing this at a younger age as he generates chances and is a huge factor in this projection. Frans Nielsen was drafted in 2003 and has been playing against NHL veterans in tournaments for years. From early preseason reviews combined with his earlier cameo's with the club he is ready to play at this level and should contribute.

Josh Bailey for as long as he hangs around is a wild card and we'll see if his skills translate to this level.

Overall it was a quiet preseason for these players aside from Nielsen's four point game in Summerside but still the club went 4-3, this was a schedule that was more about getting healthy for many including Bergenheim and Tambellini.

I do not expect any passengers from these players desperate to prove themselves and build on what they been doing for years to get to this level, if not there are players hungry for an opportunity, the depth has not been this good in a long time and just as important a lot of that depth starting with Jeremy Colliton, Ben Walter and others are at a point they make it or move on.

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