Around the Islanders: From Mikko's rehab to Aaron Ness' plans
by Dominik on Mar 22, 2010 9:34 AM EDT
in Bits o' Islanders News
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PrintWith the big club headed back from the brief West Coast tour, a look around the rest of the organization:
- Bridgeport kept rolling, losing in OT Saturday but getting a big OT win Sunday. For a fan-visit perspective, check 7th Woman's report.
- Going down a tier, towering Mikko Koskinen played both games for ECHL Utah over the weekend, making 73 saves on 77 shots in two victories over Stockton. Game sheets here and here.
- And a little further: Travis Hamonic scored in the Brandon Wheat Kings' 5-3 WHL playoff win over Swift Current. Brandon leads the series 2-0.
- All-rookie team honoree Matt Donovan scored for top-ranked Denver, but his team was knocked out of the WCHA Final Five by eventual champion North Dakota.
- Islanders prospect Aaron Ness' father says he is "definitely" returning to the Gophers next year. One reporter wonders if the rumors have merit, or if the mind is still mulling, or if people just like causing trouble for Minnesota coach Don Lucia. Western College Hockey Blog says turning pro wouldn't solve Ness' problems -- namely, tackling the physical side with his smaller frame.
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Bridgeport
I looked at the stats for the Sound Tigers and saw that the team already has 400 more pims than last year already. I haven’t watched the team but is there a specific reason for this huge increase.
Wow, is that right?! I guess a few of the reasons would be Pascal Morency, Trevor Gillies, and Micheal Haley — all among the league leaders in PIM. Then Matt Martin and Joel Rechlicz have each zipped past 100, too.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
I dunno if Rechlicz should necessarily be applauded for his high penalty minutes as he’s only played in 20 games. 124 PMs in 20 games is pretty brutal. I think he’s taken up permanent residence in Capuano’s dog house.
Did you know Pascal Morency once put up 596 PMs in one season for Cape Breton of the QMJHL? He averaged 9.3 PMs a game! That’s insane.
We're doomed. Doomed!
by David Hanssen on Mar 22, 2010 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I dunno if Rechlicz should necessarily be applauded for his high penalty minutes
Haha, I don’t know if ANYone should be applauded for high PIM!
Morency — I know, insane! That’s why when someone left the bench after the Phaneuf hit on Okposo, it was all too fitting it was him (“Okay, these stats did not lie.”). Apparently it’s his mission to bring the crazy.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
Heeere’s Morency!
We're doomed. Doomed!
by David Hanssen on Mar 22, 2010 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Dom, u neglected to mention Casey Cizikas’ 2 Assist +1 effort in his lone playoff win
NY Islanders Hockey: Where MRI's are addictive
Well hey, I gotta leave some bits for everyone else to help out ;)
But thanks. Guess we’ll need to keep an eye on that series.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
great pic in that article, in the dirty area, where he needs to be
NY Islanders Hockey: Where MRI's are addictive
Noticed that too
I suspect he’s someone the opposition is going to target, so good for him to be there and handle the abuse.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
Don't leave the Nesst, Aaron
Even with a pretty thin defensive inventory I’d think that Aaron will be better off getting his degree and moving on. If his dad feels that he would be better off in Minnesota, maybe the Islanders are better off with him in Minn. Not every “prospect” works out. They could have as many as 4 defensemen entering OVERSPEED SCHOOL under professor Capuano next year. Then again, maybe Aaron will hit growth spurt…
Bridgeport should get one of these:
Jesus would probably turn the other cheek too… but in a league where everybody walks on water I bet you couldn’t get a third rounder for the lord at the deadline.
I think it depends on who the coach for the Gophers is next season. If Lucia is back, I think Ness might return. If Lucia is out, Ness and half the team will be out the door behind him.
We're doomed. Doomed!
by David Hanssen on Mar 22, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Lucia is the problem, but he does have the loyalty of his players. It’s the Charlie Weiss syndrome.
We're doomed. Doomed!
by David Hanssen on Mar 22, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely need to work a variation of that image into future posts.
If I were Ness, and I were looking at — no matter what — being several years from the NHL, I would prefer to spend one or two more of those years getting a degree and enjoying the, ahhhh, “creature comforts” of the college experience rather than being on a bus in Bridgeport or Utah.
Of course, money is nice, too. I’d bet the recent rumblings are due diligence, testing the waters on where the Isles stand and where he stands.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
Botta does good work – but Western College Hockey Blog is dead on – and let’s hope the report in the Minny paper is right. I don’t get the slagging on Minnesota/Don Lucia. I’m not even sure Garth Snow believes it given that he drafted Ness AFTER knowing he was going to Minnesota, and after the Okposo thing. … Ness is not ready because he isn’t good enough/strong enough … not because Lucia/John Hill are sucky coaches.
The best bet for Ness to improve is in college – where he can improve his strength, play fewer games and have more practice time.
I’m not even sure Garth Snow believes it given that he drafted Ness AFTER knowing he was going to Minnesota, and after the Okposo thing
Yeah, you have to wonder how much of an issue it is given those circumstances and the likelihood that such a small defenseman would spend a few years there. And you never know whether Snow was intentionally deflecting some of the heat off Okposo for his decision.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
Exactly. That whole mess was the result of Snow getting mad at Lucia, for what Lucia said … But Lucia was doing the same thing Snow was doing …. which was, deflecting heat off Okposo.
In other words – locally, in Minnesota, everyone was getting on Okposo’s/Snow’s case …. I’m sure Lucia didn’t like it either …but to deflect it from the kid, Lucia basically knocked Snow for doing what he did. … So, Snow sees that, and emotionally reacts, and slags on Lucia’s coaching … Which frankly, is ridiculous …. the guy won two national titles, and has been a winner everywhere he’s been, and has a ton of guys in the NHL.
Yes, Minnesota has had its problems recently …. but is that coaching? or other factors?
I’d like to see who Botta’s source is for this knocking of Lucia.
Honestly, the source “close to Minnesota” quote didn’t sound like any smoking gun anyway to me: Warning players of the “horrors” of the minor leagues? Well, depending on the kid, his age, and his likelihood for pro success, that might be good advice!
Point being once you’ve left college, you’ve closed that door on your life — so if you’re not ready and your odds of making it big are already debatable, riding the bus in the AHL or ECHL could double the regret.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
DUH!
Denver University Hockey, which includes two Islanders (Rhett-Rak and Matt Donovan) will be starting their NCAA quest on Friday @ 3:PM. It should be on ESPNU.
I may be totally of base, but shouldn’t Donovan be higher on the food chain than Ness because of post-draft accomplishments rather than pre-draft “potential”. The same way I’d put Martin above Ullstrom, Toews and Trivino….
Speaking of Martin, does anybody think he’ll replace Tambellini in the lineup down the stretch… or will they leave him BP fo rthe playoff push?
Jesus would probably turn the other cheek too… but in a league where everybody walks on water I bet you couldn’t get a third rounder for the lord at the deadline.
Martin
Friday @ 3:PM. It should be on ESPNU.
Oooh, oooh, I think I actually have that channel! I haven’t plowed into my “figure out where relevant NCAA games will be on and record” task yet.
With Martin, it sure looks to me like they’re leaving him to play a major role in the B-port playoff push, which I frankly love. He’s gotten a taste here and will probably have plenty of practice next year on a not-likely-playoff team, so I say give him this experience in the A.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
Haha…it’s like the Olympics!
That’s good … and sounds familiar from last spring. I’m just used to hunting through random Fox regional channels (“You do not subscribe to this” | “You subscribe to this but it is blacked out” | “Surprise! You pay for this channel AND you get it!”) for NCAA games.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
They are no longer on the Fox regional channels, since ESPN-U came along – but since some games take place at the same time, ESPN-U won’t have them all. In that case, they’re on ESPN360 on the web - but also, can be offered up to local syndication. I’m not sure if that will include the Fox channels, since those are a competitor with ESPN.
The semis are on ESPN2 – and the national final on ESPN.
Let's hope
that “replacing Tambellini” doesn’t amount to “spending a lot of time as a healthy scratch.”
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