Retooling the Islanders (NHL 11 GM Mode)

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New faces all around in Uniondale

Uniondale, NY- As the preseason was set to begin, the lowly Islanders have made a complete U-turn today, by announcing some ground breaking moves from the managerial, and coaching positions.

The team has not qualified for the playoffs for 4 seasons now, and owner Charles Wang was starting to get fed up with his team and their poor performance. In an attempt to remedy the situation, Wang has appointed a new GM and a new head coach.

In all fairness to Snow, most of the damage was done before he took the reigns, as there were some poor trading and drafting choices that left behind a ravaged organization with not a lot of things going good for them. Wang says he fully understands the rebuilding process, but 4 seasons is a bit extensive to be missing out on the post season.

There was also talk the Islanders may be moving out of New York, as attendance numbers have plummeted, this may be a ploy Wang is using to attract fans, or he is doing it to simply help the team win, and perhaps with that, the fans will come too.

So just who is it that the Islanders hired? For the head coaching position, Charles Wang and the rest of the Islanders ownership decided to interview a few candidates, and they had a consensus pick. Dave Cameron, the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors head coach, is now going to be coaching the New York Islanders, quite the jump, but one that Cameron looks to be poised to take. He and his team have dominated the OHL for the past few seasons, and it appears Cameron is ready to take that extra step to fortify his resume.

And at the GM position, perhaps a surprise to some here, the Islanders have gone along with Greg Holt, a business-man, and manager of the London Knights.

Sure, there were many other candidates with past NHL experience, but Wang wants to start the youth movement in Long Island, and 32 year old Greg Holt certainly brings a surge of energy and youth to the organization. Holt has managed the Knights for quite some time now, and the team has been massively successful, in no small part to the managing of Holt.

But now Holt must try to turn around a lowly franchise in the NHL, but with is positive outlook and good work ethic, he may be able to. No one is really sure what to expect from Holt, but with a good background in business, and the job he has done with the Knights, leads one to believe things may be looking up for the Islanders.

The preseason starts Sunday when the Islanders host the Penguins, tune in to see how Dave Cameron and Greg Holt do in their first game!

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Re: Retooling the Islanders (NHL 11 GM Mode)

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Holt jump-starts the turn around in New York

Uniondale, NY- Sometimes change is good, and in this case, there was alot of changes.

It has been about two weeks since Holt and Cameron took over, and the Islanders have finished up their preseason, at a promising 3-1-0 record. But Holt had plans for the team, to get them on the right track, and executed them to a tee on Thursday.

"I don't want to sound like a historian, but today marks the day that the Islanders right the ship, the day we turn everything around, and try to return the Islanders to past glory, something that seems to be so distant and forgotten. It has been 4 seasons since the Islanders have qualified for the playoffs, and that drought will end very soon, mark my words.

My first order of business was to bring in a corner stone defenseman, someone we could build the blue line around, and someone that can stabilize, and lead our team. We believe we landed the top defensive prospect out there, and we can begin to structure players around him."

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G Rick Dipietro 84 OVR C POT
RW Trent Hunter 81 OVR C POT

2011 Second Round Pick (NYI)

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LW Sean Bergenheim 79 OVR C POT
D Victor Hedman 82 OVR A- POT

"Big trade for us here in New York, we finally land that franchise defender we have been seeking. As for what we lose, I'm not too concerned, Hunter was slotted in on the fourth forward line, making 2 MIL, not something we want. And Dipietro's injury and quite frankly performance problems, made him an easy ticket to move. Tampa feels that Hunter can join their top 6, and that Dipietro can solve their goaltending situation, which is fair enough. Yes we lose a second round pick, but don't fret, we will gain it back. This is a step in the right direction for sure."

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LW Jon Sim 78 OVR C POT

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2011 Second Round Pick (CHI)

"We regain our second round pick here, so it's like we never traded it in the first place, we are sad to see Jon go, but we think it is definitely for the better of the team."

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D Mark Streit 84 OVR C POT
G Kevin Poulin 74 OVR B- POT

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D Kevin Klein 76 OVR C POT
G Pekka Rinne 88 OVR C POT

"Spectacular move for here. With the passing of the torch so to speak to Hedman, we thought it would be fitting to have Streit leave town, and join up with a team that has some good players and a good veteran core, that he can relate to. Kevin Poulin has not panned out as expected, so he was expendable. In return, he gain a good, hard-working roster player in Kevin Klein, Kevin can play a solid 5th defender role, and blocks a lot of shots and makes things happen. But the main piece for us is Rinne, we are able to grab that franchise goalie that we have longed for since I don't know when. Rinne is a great goaltender, and at 27, has alot of hockey left.

All in all, I think the team is a great deal better now, and going forward down the line."

Islanders open season at home Saturday when they host the Stars.

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Re: Retooling the Islanders (NHL 11 GM Mode)

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Islanders show signs of improvement as October ends

Overall Record: 7-4-0

Monthly Record: 7-4-0

The Positives

The Islanders have managed to claim a stake in the eastern playoff race, of course, it may be too early to tell, and there are a lot of variables that need to be taken into account. But for now, things are looking good for the Islanders as they sit 7th in east, lead by rising star John Tavares who has played extremely well, amounting 3 goals and 11 assists for 14 points through the first 11 games. Most of those 11 assists have been going to line mate Matt Moulson who has netted 8 goals so far this year, which at this point is actually good for 5th in the NHL.

As for the Islanders recent acquisitions, Hedman is yet to score, but has 8 assists on the year, and has shown great responsibility and effort, with a +2 +/- rating, and 0 PIMS so far. Rinne has also played steady, with a 2.81 GAA and a 91.1% Save %, of course, numbers that could improve but are not bad so far.

The Negatives

Any young team is going to go through growing pains, and some players will struggle as they transition to the NHL game. One such player has been Josh Bailey, who is centering the second line and has only amassed 1 assist so far through the first month of hockey. Josh was a former 9th overall pick by the Islanders in 2008, and is yet to make an impact on the NHL club.

and Zenon Konopka's 24 PIMS are tied for second most in the league, and his -6 rating is good for worst on the team. Konopka's undisciplined play could perhaps lead to a benching, but at the same token he adds grit and toughness to a young, offensive-oriented squad.

The Outlook

The season is young yet, so it is much too early to make any predictions for the Islanders. They are a team that is growing and perhaps still needs time. Management is smart enough to not try and rush things, and will only try to make moves for the best of the team.

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Re: Retooling the Islanders (NHL 11 GM Mode)

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Islanders explode on the scene in November

Overall Record: 16-6-0

Monthly Record: 9-2-0

The Positives

Perhaps the Islanders truly are for real. As they have catapulted themselves into 5th in the entire league, with 32 points through 22 games. Most say the Islanders can contribute their success to their new top line, that is comprised of Moulson, Tavares, and Grabner, who all have 21 points thus far.

Tavares leads the way with 16 assists, Grabner leads the goals with 12, and Moulson has been a great balance, with 10 goals and 11 assists. Additionally, the maturation of Hedman continues, as he now has 2 goals and 12 assists good for 14 points, a +4 +/- rating, and still 0 PIMS. Victor has dominated in his own zone and the opponent's zone, he has truly been a calming hand for New York.

As well, Rinne has stepped up a notch, as he has brought his GAA down to a 2.30, and boosted his SV% up to 92.4%. Rinne is starting to show signs of a true blue NHL elite goaltender, and his steady play in net has helped the rise of the Islanders.

The Negatives

If you told the Islanders they would be 16-6-0 right now and 5th in the league, they would be ecstatic, which is why it's tough to talk about what could be going wrong for the team.

But Josh Bailey has continued to struggle, he has 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points, and has been playing good minutes with good players on the second line. Josh has been demoted to the third line for now, in favor of wily vet Doug Weight. Perhaps even a potential AHL demotion could be in the future for Bailey.

Konopka continues his tear, with 45 PIMS, and a -6 +/- rating. It appears as though he is doing more harm than good, but perhaps his 50% faceoff percentage (best on team for regular centers) on the fourth line is enough to justify him being in the line up. It's just unfortunate he calls a lot of ruckus and traffic toward the penalty box.

The Outlook

With each and every game the Islanders are starting to look more like contenders. But again, it is only two months in and a bit too early to tell. The nucleus is still very young, and most hockey critics would agree this is not a championship, or maybe even "good playoff team" caliber of roster.

Whatever the case is, management knows to proceed with extreme caution, as making a false judgement could completely throw off the entire rebuilding process in New York, and lead to just more seasons of disappointment and heartbreak.

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Re: Retooling the Islanders (NHL 11 GM Mode)

Prospect Winger moved out of NY in favor of picks

Uniondale, NY- The Islanders have been one of the pleasant surprises in the NHL, accompanied by Atlanta who also sit in the top 10 in the league. And Islanders coach Dave Cameron and GM Greg Holt credit the team's success to the youth movement, and today it appears they got a little bit younger, bit did they really?

After not being able to come to terms with 18 year old Kirill Kabanov, who has elected to reject numerous offers and has spent the season in the KHL, the Islanders had no choice but to try and deal the Russian sniper. Perhaps Colorado didn't get the memo that Kabanov has no interest in playing in the NHL, as they were quick to pounce on the former third round pick.

The Avs, who currently sit 28th in the NHL, sent out 2011 Second Round Pick (COL), and 2011 Third Round Pick (COL) in exchange for the rights to LW Kirril Kabanov ( 72 OVR at B POT ). The Avs management say they have a specific plan for Kabanov, and hope he can accompany Duchene down the road, that is of course, implying Kabanov won't opt for the KHL.

So it appears the Islanders have gotten their hands out of a sticky situation, dumping an uncertain, but good prospect, for two high draft picks this year that will contribute to the injection of youth that Holt has started in Long Island.

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Re: Retooling the Islanders (NHL 11 GM Mode)

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December brings joy to Long Island

Overall Record: 24-12-0

Monthly Record: 8-6-0

The Positives

Hopes and dreams are beginning to turn into results and reality for the Islanders.
The squad now sits 4th in the NHL, and tied atop the Atlantic Division at 48 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Once again, their top line has been dominating on the ice, and Michael Grabner is having an extremely good season, with 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points in 36 games. Tavares still leads the team in assists with 28 as he has been the set up man for his wingers.

Additionally, the Islanders sit 8th in the league in scoring (119) but are also the team with the fewest goals against (91). Much of this defensive success is attributed to Cameron's coaching styles, as well as the marvelous play of Rinne and Hedman.

The Negatives

While the Islanders top 3 forwards have been lighting the lamp, the fourth line has been detrimental to the team, and at times directly cost the team games. The line of Gillies, Haley, and Konopka combines for 153 PIMS, and all sit at a -10 +/- rating.

Bailey continues to disappoint with a measly 3 goals and 4 assists through the first 36 games.

The Outlook

Right now the sky is the limit for this young and developing team. As they enter into January, the second half of the season, we may begin to see some wear and tear on the roster.

As good as Hedman has been, he has been logging monstrous minutes with just shy of 30, and often north of 30 in almost every game. It may be in the Islanders best interest to try and get another top D-man that can take away some of the burden from Hedman, but just what could they give up?

The Islanders, barring a monumental collapse, are expected to make the playoffs for the first time in four years, perhaps Holt has shortened the rebuild process, and the Islanders are off to the races.