Finally, a pick!

Isles select Center Josh Bailey with the 9th pick.

Just found out they have until tomorrow to decide on Toronto’s options.

Some background on Bailey:

Check out a great write up on Joshua on NewYorkIslanders.com

Center. Shoots Left. 6′0″, 188 lbs. Born: Oshawa, Ontario, October 2, 1989.
Hometown: Bowmanville, Ontario

NHL Director of Central Scouting, E.J. McGuire

Strengths: “Josh is the quarterback on the power-play, from down low, for the Windsor Spitfires and I think he is going to continue to be that. He is a good play-making centerman with the ability to feed his linemates when he needs to and shoot the puck when the play requires that.”

Areas to improve: “He needs to add a little bit more grit to his game, he is a tireless worker and if he can get in there and grind it out with some of the other players that he currently plays against in the OHL, that will be good experience for when he reaches the NHL.”

Outlook: “He is a skilled centerman who is going to be on your power-play, if not the first power-play, certainly part of a good second power-play unit. He is going to be a skilled play-making player in the NHL and good things are going to happen for him at the next level due to his hard work.”

NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards

“Josh is a really hard working up and down guy who has great puck skill and play-making ability. He has the ability to pass through any type of traffic and is an energy guy for Windsor. He’s not a fighter but he’s not one to be afraid of anyone or back down and he doesn’t get knocked around. The biggest component of his game that needs improvement was his competitiveness, but he stepped it up down the stretch and really showed that next level.”

Windsor Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner

“Joshua is a highly skilled player who can play on both ends of the ice as well as on the penalty kill and power-play units. He has the unique ability to make players around him better.”

Stats 2007-08 Windsor OHL GP:67 G:29 A:67 PTS:96 PIM:32

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Well, Tom and I are sitting next to the guys from Islanders TV and to my immediate left is Steve Mears the Islanders radio voice.

Internet connection over here is, to sum it up - PUTRID. There are tons of media folks here trying to connect at the same time. We have literally been here for about 45 minutes and this was the first time I could connect.

I am going to start a draft gallery in the next few minutes, I will try to get up as many pictures as I can - when I can.

The arena is buzzing, absolutely buzzing. Fans are trickling in and there is a frenzy of activity on the draft floor. I can’t really see the Islanders draft table from my vantage point because it is all the way near the draft board.

If you are a hockey fan, this experience is definitely worth every bit of planning and headache you may run into (and just think, it’s not even the most exciting part!).

Stay Tuned!

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So, I am sitting here on pins and needles waiting to see where the balls fall - in regards to the number one overall draft position. The Islanders only have about an 8.1% chance of moving from 5 overall to number 1, so we shall see where we wind up.

I will be doing live updates as the draft happens, for those who do not have the NHL Network or Versus!

Should be an interesting night!

Mind you, the Islanders have moved from the number 5 position to the first overall - in 2000 when drafting Rick DiPietro!

Top 5

They are about to read the top five from 5th to first!

1. Tampa
2. Los Angeles
3. Thrashers
4. St. Louis
5. Islanders

So the Isles got the 5th pick - will they use it on a d-man or will they take a chance with the Russian stud in Filatov?

Keep in mind that teams looking to land a defenseman may wish to exchange picks with the Islanders, so the Isles could theoretically move up or down in the draft through a trade. Tampa Bay will be looking to add Stamkos to their club with the loss of Richards from their big-three, that is a scary thought.

Overall, I must say - the Islanders are in a good position with that 5th pick. I am hoping that they land someone whom can be a difference maker in the organization and fit in with the plans to build a solid core of youth that will flourish in the NHL for years to come.

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Last night was one of those typical Islander games. What do I mean by that? Many of us were in agreement last night, that aside from the Rangers two power play goals the Isles were pretty much in the game otherwise. They weren’t drastically outplayed, the Rangers just capitalized when good teams should - on the man advantage.

I had expected a great deal of rough stuff, there were plenty of hits but no real fights. Avery was his typical self and Davison, Fata and even Meyer tried to goad him into doing something stupid but all that happened was a roughing penalty. The game otherwise wasn’t anything special honestly. I felt the team could have supported Okposo a bit more, the Rangers were taking liberties all game and you really need to protect your star (even budding star) players.

Jack Hillen looked pretty good in his first NHL game, nothing that made me gasp with amazement or anything - but he looked good regardless. Ted Nolan said that he was impressed as he could be, given he jumped right from college into the NHL and admitted he needed some polishing to become an effective NHL d-man.

Because it was the final home game, the Blog Box crew mingled for a bit after the game last night. Dee Karl (aka 7thwoman) took some pics and we sat and watched the Islanders staff have an open skate on the ice. We spotted what appeared to be Blog Father Chris Botta, so Dee made sure to take some blackmail fun photos of him sans tie, shirt un-tucked in “relax” mode. Here is one of Dee’s pictures of who was left from the Blog Box:

Generally I am behind the camera lens, so this is one of the few times this season I am actually in a picture (I am in green).

So the team is playing a fairly good first period as I type this - I am going to get into the game (pizza will be here shortly) and will update a bit later tonight.

Okposo just scored his second goal of the season, off a great feed by Park!

Okposo Watch - Game 8

Here are Kyle’s stats from last night:

Total Shifts: 17
Time on Ice: 14:45
Power Play Time: 1:36
Penalty Kill Time: :00
Average Shift: :52
Shots: 1
Blocked Shots: 2
Missed Shots: 0
Assists: 0
Points: 0
Takeaways: 0
Giveaways: 0
Hits: 1
+/-: 0

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Home Game 41, Rangers at Islanders - non mas for the Islanders at home until September.

As as season ticket holder, the notion of no more home games and no playoffs really hits home once you tear out that last ticket. 41 times you go to that spiral bound ticket book and tear out the tickets knowing full well that it will end as it always does. It’s something that this year I hope marks the beginning of change, as there are so many unknowns when it comes to next season. Will we land a stud at the draft? Will we make a big free agent splash? Will there be off season trades? Will next season be the winning season?

Here are a few overly dramatic shots of me tearing out that last ticket:

Moving onto the game, the Islanders are set to entertain the home crowd in big fashion tonight against the always hated rivals - the New York Rangers. What makes tonight interesting is that with Carolina’s win last night over Tampa, the Rangers have not secured their spot in the playoffs just yet. I have a very good feeling we will see a spirited game from both clubs, as the Islanders would want to derail their hopes for at least another game and keep them from clinching on their ice. It’s true they may not have a lot to play for - but there is always pride and teaching the younger players that you don’t ever roll over and die.

Did someone say fisticuffs? While the Islanders haven’t been the toughest team on ice - tonight will be a little different as enforcers Kip Brennan and Drew Fata both playing for the big club. It should also be fun to watch because it is the first taste of the rivalry for Okposo, Keith, Fata and newly signed D-man Jack Hillen. Not only is it Hillen’s first time suiting up against the Rangers, it is also his first taste of the NHL - talk about being thrown into the fire!

I can’t wait to see what happens tonight, I will do my best to update live if something crazy happens!

Okposo Watch - Game 7

I never got around to posting a recap of the Devils game, so that also means I never got around to posting Kyle’s stats either. Here they are:

Total Shifts: 21
Time on Ice: 16:47
Power Play Time: 2:02
Penalty Kill Time: :00
Average Shift: :47
Shots: 1
Blocked Shots: 2
Missed Shots: 0
Assists: 0
Points: 0
Takeaways: 0
Giveaways: 0
Hits: 1
+/-: 0

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What a complete game tonight!

We had a first period short handed goal by Richard Park - assisted by none other than Kyle Okposo. We had a power play goal by Bergenheim and even two even strength goals by players who need to find the back of the net more - Bill Guerin and Trent Hunter. For whatever reason, the Penguins were not sticking to the game plan that makes them so successful, they were trying to be overly physical and it hurt them. They often found themselves scrambling to get back into position and took more penalties tonight then I have seen them take in the previous match-ups.

Conklin attempted to make up for the lack of offensive power tonight, but the Islanders really peppered him with QUALITY shots. In the previous matchup, the Islanders took shots from the perimeter which any goaltender would love all game long. Tonight the Islanders drove to the net and shot from the slot area - something that was missing during long stretches this season.

I don’t know what Ted Nolan said to the team since their deflating loss to the Flyers last night. So I tried find out - but my question came out like something sounding like gibberish, due to my stuttering and stumbling, so when he answered me all was he said he was that he couldn’t give up all his secrets.

Once in the locker room, PR Guru and “Blog Father” Chris Botta patted me on the back and complimented me on my “great question”. Yea yea, the coach and the rest of the press got a chuckle out of it - but I am human and suffered from a momentary loss of clarity, mind control and apparently - English speaking ability. I happened to be standing next to Greg Logan of Newsday at the time, so I asked him if he heard my “super question”. He told me to “Shake it off, it happens to all of us from time to time”. Jim Baumbach, also of Newsday told me through instant messenger that it’s not anything to worry about, although he can see my concern as a blogger looking to remain as professional as possible. When I told him I intended to poke fun at myself in my blog, he said that was the best part about these situations - self deprecation. So there you have it - it’s out in the open and it feels great?! Maybe not.

Fast forward about 15 minutes later and Dee, Tom and I run into GM Extroidonaire Garth Snow walking to his car. We began to chit chat with him about owning large vehicles and gas prices when I realized I was able to have a conversation with him and not feel entirely short. I was standing on a high part of the grass - so, I mentioned this (for those who don’t know during the trade deadline I had a conversation with him about height and how I was entirely too small for the NHL (a vailed attempt at getting him to offer me a ATO contract ::snickers::)) so with that he steps up on the grass to knock me down a peg or two. Strike two for Mike tonight says Dee. Thanks, it’s just one of those days I guess.

Back to hockey talk (or tawk as we Long Islanders would like to say), the game tonight is one of those that really makes you scratch your head. The style and competitiveness of this team varies from period to period, game to game and even minute to minute sometimes. Much like my line of questioning tonight, it’s really hard to wrap your mind around completely. However, with a lineup chock full of inexperience at the NHL level it is definately a positive sign when confidence is there more often than not - so I will take what I can get.

Okposo Watch - Game 4

Go Kyle Go! I don’t know how many times I said that tonight, as he was SO STRONG on the puck and pulled off some really confident moves through traffic. With each shift, this kid just gets more confident and plays like he has been in the league for years. Between him, Comeau and Bergenheim I really don’t know who to be excited about more next season. They really give fans something to be hopeful for in the future!

Here are Kyle’s stats from tonight’s game:

Total Shifts: 16
Time on Ice: 13:50
Power Play Time: 2:22
Penalty Kill Time: :36
Average Shift: :51
Shots: 1
Blocked Shots: 1
Assists: 1
Points: 1
Takeaways: 1
Giveaways: 0
Hits: 1
+/-: +1

Fairly respectable numbers, although his average shift time decreased from last night’s game - it is due to the decreased special team time. In 4 games with the Islanders, Okposo has 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points - which is almost exactly the scoring pace he was on down in Bridgeport. So much for those saying Kyle’s game wouldn’t translate well into the NHL! However, having said that, 4 games is 4 games and we will reserve complete judgment until he is allowed to perform at an extended pace next season.

So, 4 points in 3 games isn’t too shabby - especially given we stole the points from division rivals/leaders. I am sure that all the Rangers fans were devout Isles fans tonight - just don’t get too comfy just yet boys - we have 4 points to take from you later on next week. The role of spoiler may not be the best, but it can sure be fun.

For now, I must bid adieu - this bumbling idiot needs to get some much needed rest.

Poll Answer!

For those wondering when I would post the answer to the poll, answer directly below the poll results:

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The answer is: Jeff Tambellini

Scored his first NHL goal on March 14 at New Jersey (Brodeur) with the Islanders

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