Bridgeport and Islanders Prospect Roundup 10/24

im loving the prospect watch. happy to hear that most people are doing well. future is looking good

Now we can rule the NHL.

Mostly via Fornabaio:

The Isles have brought back Jeremy Colliton from Sweden on a try out at Bridgeport. In the eyes of the NHL he is still an Isles RFA even though he didn’t play in the organization last year. At 25, he still has a chance to be at least a decent player but the clock is quickly running out on him

Matt Martin and Jesse Joensuu have been fighting injuries, but haven’t kept them out of games. Hopefully they don’t linger. The center of the monster line, David Ullstrom has been fighting the flu and missed a couple of games because of that. He is still only 1 point behind JJ for the team lead in points.

After a strong start, Robin Figren hasn’t been playing well and found himself back on the 3rd-4th lines again. Talk about enigma.

Hello David. First, can you give us news about your injured ankle?
I’ve seen the doctor yesterday and he told me that I’ll be able to play in two weeks, so it goes very well. Originally, they said it would probably take eight weeks. If I can play in two weeks, it will make four, so it goes very well.

Good news, then?
Yes.

I’d like to talk with you about how you started playing hockey. How did you get the “sting” for hockey? Who made you like playing hockey?
My parents really introduced me to the sport of hockey. My brother and I have always liked playing hockey outside. My father used to make a rink at our place. We were always playing together, and that’s how we really started to love the game of hockey.

OK. How old were you the first time you put on skates?
I’d say I was 2 or 3.

Wow! And your first hockey game? How old were you? Who did you play against?
I don’t remember. I was only 4 when I began to play. I was playing in the same team as my brother. I don’t think I was skating very well yet. My brother was always passing the puck to me. I was standing in front of the net and my brother was passing the puck to me. I was only 4, so I don’t think that I was very good yet.

That’s fun. Who was your model player? Maybe not when you were 4, but…
I really liked Teemu Selanne, who played with the Winnipeg Jets, and when he went to Anaheim with Paul Kariya, I really liked both these players.

OK, good. When your family gets together – I guess it isn’t that often – do you still like playing hockey, or, on the contrary, do you enjoy doing completely different things, other sports?
When we see us with the family, that’s usually during the Christmas holidays. We always go to Chicago to see Jonathan and spend some time there. We always take a break from hockey because we’re always tired midway through the season, so we usually relax and spend time together.

So there isn’t the small ice rink anymore?
No, the neighbors are making it now.

Thank you very much.

Now I’d like to talk with you about practice. How many hours a day do you devote to hockey on average, when you aren’t injured?
Well, it’s hard to say. It’s different each day, as we sometimes have longer practice sessions. It depends. Before leaving for a game, we have shorter practice sessions, and I won’t go to the gym, I will just make sure that I feel good and rested for the game. During the summer, we are at the gym for 3-4 hours a day.

OK. What was the most difficult time in your career, and what did you do to get over it?
I’d probably say my first year at UND. I wasn’t playing as much as I thought I would play, and it’s difficult when you don’t play as much as you thought you would play. I’d say the most difficult thing is to keep your self-confidence, just to keep working hard and thinking you’re a good player. The self-confidence is hard to maintain. So I just kept on working hard to stay in good shape for when I’ll be able to play again. That’s what I tried to do.

OK, wow! And now, what is the most difficult for you in practice?
Well, I’d say working hard. Everybody is working hard, everybody practices hard to play hockey, so you’ve got to give a little extra. Some days it’s difficult because you’re tired, but you tell yourself that it’s the best thing and that it will make you better. So I’d say that’s the most difficult thing, when you’re tired, sometimes you feel like resting but you’ve got to practice. It’s hard some days.

OK. And on the contrary, do you have a favorite moment in practice, an exercise that makes you go “Yeah!”?
Well, no. I just know that I must work with a coach, because he motivates you and makes you do things that you don’t think you can do. When you’re alone, it’s a little more difficult to be pushed as hard as when you have a coach. Now, the feeling after a practice session when you know that you’ve worked hard, that’s fun.

Perfect. Thank you very much.

On the ice, I’d like to know if you’re rather a Wayne Gretzky or a Tie Domi?
Well… I’d say… I shouldn’t compare myself to Wayne Gretzky, certainly. And I’m no Tie Domi, so I’d say I’m in between.

In between. And for fighting, where are you?
I score more often than I fight. I don’t fight much.

About fighting, is there a specific training for that?
I think it’s a matter of experience. The best fighters are those who fight often, so they have experience, and they know how to fight.

OK. When you play a game, what gives you more adrenaline? Is it leading? Is it equalizing? Is it the last seconds of play?
I think, well, to win in the last seconds is fun, it gives me a lot of adrenaline.

And today, now, who is your model player?
I’d say my brother. I talk with him all the time about hockey and I watch all his games, so I’d say I try to play like him, I model my game on him.

OK. Is there another model player?
Well, yes, but I watch a lot of players. I like Jarome Iginla a lot, and Sidney Crosby. I like to watch all the big players, I like to see how they play, and I try to play like them.

OK. Last question: if you could join any NHL team now, which one would it be?
Well, I’m with the Islanders, so I’d say the Islanders. Or it would be fun to play with my brother, so any of these two teams, it would be fun.

Thank you very much for your time

I’m actually beginning to get worried about Nilsson. First he’s very much in danger of loosing even his current platoon to journeyman goalie David Rautio, who has put up far superior numbers (1.57 GAA, .928 Sv% in 7 games compared to Nilsson’s 1.81 GAA and .899 Sv% in 6 games). Lulea have given up the fewest shots of any Elitserien team (Through Sunday) making his sub 2.00 GAA very deceptive. Given this he still isn’t even stopping 90% of the shots that he’s faced. Nilsson was dominant at the U-20 level for Lulea but has been downright pedestrian when he has to face stiffer competition.

So I may be able to get up to see Anders Lee play at some point. I’ll keep the community posted.