New York Islanders: Summer 2011 Could Be Huge for the Organization

For the first time in a number of years, this offseason could be a very important one for the New York Islanders.

This summer, the organization should be concentrating on the product on the ice, instead of the off-ice situation. One way or another, the arena issue will eventually take care of itself.

The Islanders, as a team, have done enough this season to show owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow that the time is now. They need to add some pieces to this team—a team that's accumulated the second most points in the entire Eastern Conference since December 15th.

During that time, the Islanders have been hampered with more injuries than any other team in the NHL.

All-Star Mark Streit missed the entire season, future captain Kyle Okposo missed half the season and they've had to dress six different goaltenders so far. Until December, in fact, they had a stretch where they had just one win in 20 games. All those negatives and the team still got up off the mat and showed the rest of the NHL that their time is coming.

But the injury situation has also been a blessing in disguise.

It's given opportunities to players like Travis Hamonic, one of the Isles' top prospects before being pushed into a role with the big club due to injuries. He's taken his opportunity, looked far from out of place and like he'll only get better in the years ahead. To a lesser extent, players like Ty Wishart and Mark Katic also showed some promise.

Top goaltending prospect Kevin Poulin also looked liked a veteran at the age of 21. Poulin won seven games with a save percentage of .924 and a GAA of 2.44. Of course, as with most Islander goalies, he unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury.

However, while he was healthy, Poulin showed glimpses of why he was the top goaltending prospect in the organization.

All the same, his injury gave Mikko Koskinen, another highly regarded goalie prospect, the ability to show some of his promise, too. The signing of Al Montoya gave him a chance to show he belongs as well. All Montoya has done since being acquired from the Coyotes for a sixth round draft pick, in fact, is total six wins, concede a 2.02 GAA and rack up an eye-opening .927 save percentage.

There is no arguing that the biggest surprise and best move made by Snow was claiming Michael Grabner, who he picked up off waivers from the Florida Panthers right before the start of the season.

The former first-round pick of the Canucks had 27 goals as a rookie and won the NHL's faster skater competition during the All-Star weekend. With 14 games left to play, Grabner has, at the very least, a great chance to win the Calder as the rookie of the year.

The players who were expected to improve this year did just that. John Tavares is headed towards a 30-goal, 70-point season and is still only 20 years old. Matt Moulson backed up his play from last year, is on his way to a 35-goal season and just recently signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension.

Blake Comeau, on his way to a 25-goal, 50-point season, seems like he will be a very good two-way player. Josh Bailey is starting to look like the player Garth Snow selected in the 2008 draft. PA Parenteau looks to be a solid, low-risk free agent signing and could reach 20 goals and 50 points.

Franz Nielsen once again proved he is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. Nielsen is a great two-way player who would get more recognition if he played in a bigger market than Long Island.

Matt Martin looks like he could be a very capable, grinding forward who can put up a possible 15 goals in the future.

Then there's Andrew MacDonald, one of the best blueliners in the NHL. He can settle down a penalty kill, block shots, rush the puck up ice and handle the power play. When Mark Streit returns next year, MacDonald's offensive numbers may even go up a bit more.

The future is also very near. Nino Niederreiter played nine games with the Islanders before being sent back to junior hockey, where he is tearing up the league. To this point, El Nino has 36 goals and 61 points in 49 games—a major improvement from his 60 points in 65 games last year with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Without doubt, Niederreiter is the real deal and will push very hard for a roster spot on the Islanders next year.

Kirill Petrov, who is currently playing in the KHL, wants to come to Long Island, but to this point is unable to get out of his contract with that league. Whether it be next season or the season after, Petrov is another blue chip prospect that the Islanders have in their midst.

Calvin De Haan and Matt Donovan are two more prospects who will be here in the not-so-distant future. Certainly, the organization looks set for a fun ride for years to come, but it is important that Garth Snow begins to add to the current roster.

The Islanders are at a point where they need to show they are ready to take that next step. They need to show the league and, more importantly, their fans that they are following the plan. They're accumulating draft picks in order to rebuild, but when the time comes that they need to spend money on free agents or trades in order to upgrade, they will do just that. That time has come.

Nobody is saying that this team is ready to win a Stanley Cup, but they are in a position where they can start to add players that will push them to a seventh or eigth seed next season.

The fanbase has gone through a lot and their patience has been there throughout. A top scorer to play on a line with Tavares and Moulson isn't asking too much. A veteran to play alongside Travis Hamonic to make his transition to the NHL easier is also not a lot to ask.  

This hockey team is very close to doing a number of good things for a long time to come. If Snow and Wang keep up their end of the bargain, the fans will as well. It's time to pay back that loyal fanbase who've been waiting for a consistent winner on Long Island for a long time.

From the time the Stanley Cup gets raised in June until the first day of training camp in September, Garth and Charles will be on the clock.