ocislanders-blog
A look at the Islanders
Discussing the New York Islanders.
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Islander's Captain(s): 2011-2012
1. Mark Streit
Mark Streit is a top defenseman in the NHL today. Although he was injured most of the 2010-2011 season, during his 2009-2010 he managed a +/- 0 and 49 pts with one of the worst teams in the league. When Mark Streit is on the ice, the team is better. He plays a key role in not only leading, but racking up points from the blue line. Streit, along with possible alternate captains Marty Reasoner and Brian Rolston, is a vet, not a younger player like Nielsen or Okposo, who can build these younger players into leaders when it is their time to shine. Mark Streit is a great d-man who players amazing on both ends of the ice, he is a born leader, and an amazing veteran, which is something the Islanders need right now. A Mark Streit jersey with a "C" stitched on it will shine a bright future on Long Island.
2. Frans Nielsen
Frans Nielsen is the second most underrated player in the NHL according to the NHLPA and CBC(http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/allstar/audience/who-is-the-most-underrated-player-2/). He is not a popular player. But he definitely knows how to lead the team on the ice. Nielsen is one of the best two way forwards in the game today, and I'm still surprised he wasn't . He was the leader in regular season shorthanded goals (7), and assisted almost every one of Grabner's goals (who was 2nd in short handed goals). The guy is nothing but a positive player on the ice. He is a player who can turn around games and has great chemistry with all of the players on the bench and on the ice. He isn't a problem on the ice, and shows amazing sportsmanship no matter what. He is a definite leader, and if anything deserves an "A."
3. Kyle Okposo
Kyle Okposo is 100% a future captain of the team, but for the time being he is still young. Every player in the locker room benefits from Okposo being there: everyone likes him. His dedication is shown above and beyond by his work ethic. Okposo is going to grow into a top NHL player in the coming years, and into a very strong leader on the team. Okposo has the stuff to be great, and he is going to put it to use if he can stay healthy in the upcoming season(s). But even though Okposo is young, and still has room to grow into a better player and leader, I still believe he can be a contender for the captain position. He constantly shows what he has on and off the ice, and I think even with his lack of experience compared to Streit or Nielsen, I think Okposo could easy take the ropes and lead the team next year.
4. Conclusion
The Islanders have signed vets (Reasoner, Rolston), and are keeping their young talent. And players like Tavares and MacDonald also lead the team, but for now they are not ready for the C. The team is growing into something better, something that Islander's fans have been waiting to see. Besides a solid defenseman or two, the only thing the Islanders need is a leader, a captain. Each of the aforementioned players deserve to wear the "c," and whoever is chosen will step up and lead this team to a place they have been waiting for, a place they've been working for, and a place where they deserve to be: the playoffs.
- Jim
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Come on Nassau. I mean really? The Rangers want you to vote yes. It's a bright future in Long Island.. don't make it move somewhere else.
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Welcome to Long Island, Brian Rolston.
As much as I am an Islanders fan, I do have a soft spot for the Devil's players. Especially Brian Rolston. I've seen Rolston play tons of times, even win a shootout for Devils against the Islanders. He's a cup winner, an all-star team captain, an Olympian, and one hell of a good leader. The guy is a just an all around great player, on the offensive and defensive end of the ice. And he will be a great fit in Long Island.
The Brian Rolston trade was a strong move by Garth Snow. Trent Hunter, who recently turned 31, is an average player with average numbers. Now, I'm not saying Trent Hunter isn't a good fit on Long Island, but right now he is just not what the Islanders need. The Islanders missed out on Ehrhoff, a strong d-man who could have greatly helped the team. And even though they Signed Marty Reasoner, a strong vet, they still needed more. Brian Rolston plays amazing on both ends of the ice. And with Rolston, the active leader in regular season short-handed goals (33), and Frans Nielsen, last year's NHL leader in short-handed goals (7), the team's forwards will surely have more to learn about the defensive play of the game. Defensive play was something that seemed to have been lacking the last few seasons. The team does have solid defense-men (Streit, Macdonald, Eaton, etc.) but they still need a solid vet on one of those defense pairs. And along with a lack of veteran leadership, which we are definitely acquiring, and poor goal-tending, specifically on Rick Dipietro's part (no offense but he needs to play the way he used to), the team needs some changes. But those changes are slowly coming.
The Islanders are a young team with great potential. With young players like John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, Josh Bailey, Andrew MacDonald; and future players like Ryan Strome, Kirill Kabanov, and Nino Niederreiter, the future is very bright on Long Island. But before these guys can grow into star caliber players, they need solid vets to guide them. They have leadership from players like Mark Streit, and the recently acquired Marty Reasoner, but they still need something more. Brian Rolston could definitely be that something more.
The islanders will develop. The team's chemistry will keep getting better. Young players will grow into leaders, and those leaders will bring the cup back to Long Island. The Islanders are not the same team they were. They are a team which can keep getting better. They need help in a few areas (defense and goal), but they are a young team with amazing potential. If the Islanders can acquire a solid defense-man (maybe through a Nabakov trade), and if they can fix the problem in goal, the team will be an absolute playoff contender. GM Garth Snow is doing the right thing, signing 2 vets, which is definitely something the Islanders need. First Marty Reasoner, and now Brian Rolston. The team has the vets to guide them, and the young players to learn. The Brian Rolston trade is definitely something that can be, and will be, a positive in Long Island.
- Jim
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