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

Starting from there this overall group even with it's current injuries is far deeper defensively than last year's version that was even more unsettled at the beginning a year ago waiting to sign Berard before he got hurt, Sutton's early struggles, Bergeron inconsistent along with Johnson not getting a chance before a practice injury put him out along with Freddy Meyer landing on waivers as he sat around and did not get an opportunity.

Radek Martinek and Brendan Witt with his new three year contract are steady and at times outstanding at shutting down star players as they move the puck well out of danger area's while Witt is also a shot blocking machine who not only plays big, but smart as he draws penalties and frustrates the opposition and leads by example. Witt's game rubbed off well on Sutton for a good stretch of the second half as other clubs tried to get him off the ice because he simply made solid defensive plays and kept the opposition off balance. Freddy Meyer finally got his chance to show what he could do and from early indications seems to have picked up where he left off as not only a very steady defender but someone who can make a hit and raise his game. Mark Streit and Thomas Pock will have to adjust to a new team but overall the returning group settled in very well last season, were effective when healthy and should pick up where they left off individually.

Bruno Gervais will be an interesting call as to where he fits Scott Gordon's depth chart which alone explains how much deeper this group is because when healthy this is a very solid defender who knows how to work the corner and clear the zone. Jack Hillen by all reports seems to belong as this level and provides an offensive element others lack that will give this college player a chance sooner, not later as Garth Snow seems to feel signing him was like getting an extra first rounder which I do agree with.

Speed:
Beyond the injuries this is the biggest concern.

Scott Gordon can talk overspeed every single day but you can only get so much speed and positioning out of some players. This was a group that broke down last year that did not play with speed. During this camp his players broke down from a practice routine that even had him quoted as saying he has never seen anything like it and pointed to last years returning players prior habits which has to be a red flag.

The Islanders are going to travel more, play more games against the Western Conference and they are going to have to keep up and adapt from the style of the Atlantic. This is where we will get our best indication about whether this club can compete and I do feel the younger players have that extra step last year's team lacked which will have a positive effect.

Toughness/Fighting/Enforcer:
I see these elements not as how many fights by appointment a club can win after a goal to change momentum, but how many hits they can make to frustrate the opposition into retaliation penalties and then put them away with powerplay goals. Whether it's Mitchell Fritz, Tim Jackman, Witt, Sutton, Comrie, Guerin or DiPietro fighting it will happen as it happens.

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