Your Rotating Door at Backup Goalie
by WebBard on Jul 15, 2010 10:15 AM EDT
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
44 comments
There is probably some sort of irony involved in the Islanders' inability to keep a steady backup goalie since the lockout. Especially since the last multiple year backup for the Islanders is former goalie turned GM Garth Snow. With the Rangers signing of Marty Biron it is assured that the Islanders will have a new backup goalie when the season starts. Now as with any backup position in sports, it's value can be debated. That is until your franchise goalie has bad hips and you have two AHL at best goalies waiting in the wings to take over. Even this past season saw the Hurricanes and Oilers struggle when their starting goalies went down for stretches.
While it is still possible to get a surprise late signing like Biron's last year, the goalie market is rather thin. Whoever gets signed would have to understand that the Islanders could possibly have a three way platoon if Rick DiPietro is healthy and stays healthy. Current UFA Goalies include Vesa Toskala, Marty Turco, Jose Theodore and Islander re-treads Stephen Valiquette and Yann Danis. Ray Emery is rumored to be considering retirement due to health reasons. As it stands currently, Nathan Lawson is entering the season as Dwayne Roloson's backup, depending on DP's health.
So who have been the Islanders backups since the lockout?
Garth Snow
Acquired: UFA Signing
Reason for Leaving: Injury finished his career and he was kicked upstairs
Season Stats: (For 05-06) 20 GP 4 W 13 L 1 OTL 3.72 GAA .886 SV%
Snow is the last goalie to have multiple seasons as a backup, He actually had the best year of his career as an Islander in 02-03 while posting a 2.31 GAA and .918 Sv%. Snow had everything you could want in a backup, experience in both the regular season and the playoffs, time as both backup and starter and finally was a former Nordique.
Mike Dunham
Acquired: UFA Signing
Reason for Leaving: Injuries and was promoted to the teams Goalie Coach
Season Stats: 19 GP 4 W 10 L 3 OTL 3.74 GAA .889 SV%
Although Dunham had a history of injuries, the Islanders might have hoped that a light workload would allow the 34 year old to extend his career. Outplayed by Wade Dubielewicz, the writing was on the wall. He retired to join the Islanders coaching staff as the Goaltending Coach, a position he holds to this day. When both DP and MacDonald were hurt, he toyed with the idea of signing an emergency two-week contract to play backup while Snow tried to bring someone in.
Acquired: UFA
Reason For Leaving: Disagreement between Agent and GM Snow
Season Stats: 20 GP 9 W 9 L 1 OTL 2.70 GAA .919 SV%
After a few years of scratching at the NHL door, Dubie finally made his big push to make the NHL with his infamous 4 game winning streak to get the Islanders into the playoffs in 06-07. He began 07-08 as backup to DP until an All Star Game which no Islanders fan can ever forget. Although the Islanders faded down the stretch, Dubie could hardly be blamed for it as he still put up respectable numbers on the year. The decision to not bring back Dubie the following year would have far reaching consequences for the Islanders.
Acquired: UFA
Reason For Leaving: Islanders signed Rollie/Biron, he was a UFA
Season Stats: 49 GP 14 W 26 L 6 OTL 3.37 GAA .901 SV%
Those consequences included career third stringer Joey MacDonald moving up into the backup role. Eventually he took over the starters role by default (woooo, default, my two favorite words in the English language) and Yann Danis moved into the backup position. It would be unfair to put all the Islanders struggles that year at MacDonald's feet, but I can't think of many teams that wouldn't rather see him playing for their AHL team then their NHL team.
Acquired: UFA
Reason For Leaving: Islanders signed Rollie/Biron, he was a UFA
Season Stats: 31 GP 10 W 17 L 3 OTL 2.86 GAA .910 SV%
Although Danis struggled in early appearances and after MacDonald's injury Snow attempted to bring back Dubie, Danis was a pleasant surprise. At least that tells you how horrible the 08-09 year was for the Islanders. Some people were even surprised when the Islanders didn't bring him back. Last season he got paid to sit on the Devils bench and watch almost every game. Currently unsigned, it wouldn't be surprising if the Islanders brought him back in case Lawson struggles.
Acquired: UFA
Reason For Leaving: UFA
Season Stats: 29 GP 9 W 14 L 4 OTL 3.27 GAA .896 SV%
Coming off two of the best years of his career as a Flyer, including a run to the conference finals, Biron expected a big raise. Instead he ended up scrambling to find a job and signed with the Islanders with the intent to platoon with Rollie. Biron instead struggled as Rollie ran away with the starters job. He went months between starts as the Islanders tried to work DP back into the lineup. An all around team guy (considering he never complained) and a great interview, he will be missed.
Acquired: UFA
Reason For Leaving:
Season Stats:
The current backup for the 2010-11 season, Lawson is one of those players you can't help but cheer for. Undrafted, Lawson started for three years at University of Alaska - Anchorage (a teammate of blogger Justin Bourne) before spending two seasons in the ECHL. He was actually signed directly by Bridgeport until last March when the Islanders signed him to a two-way deal. Not surprisingly, this might be the only season the 27 year old Lawson gets a chance to show what he can do in the NHL as Mikko Koskinen is right on his tail.
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Lawson's the back-up
I’m sure they want to give both Mikko and Poulin split time at BP to see them battle it out for the future #1. No need for anyone better than Lawson, Rolly likes work, Rick may be back, its all good.
My only worry is if something happens to Rollie. He is a 41 year old after all.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Dunham
Reading this reminded me of the fleeting hope I had that Dunham would recapture some of his Nashville form. It’s amazing where your mind wanders when thinking of hockey in summer.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
And here's the question we need to ask ourselves...
Or, more precisely, the question that Garth needs to ask himself.
Is Kevin Poulin ready for the AHL, or should he start his apprenticeship in the ECHL?
IMO, it really boils down to that. Koskinen will start the season in the AHL. If we bring in another goalie to back up Rollie (that’s me, bustin’ rhymes), and especially if DiP makes it back, then Koskinen and Poulin will be bumped down, unless they simply pull the trigger and waive Lawson completely.
Obviously, Poulin gets a lot more work in the ECHL than he does platooning with Koskinen in the AHL. From all reports I’ve seen, Koskinen may well be nearly ready for the Show and really can’t be demoted from Bridgeport.
IMO, give the job to Lawson and seee what happens. If DiP makes it back, he’s done anyway. If Koskinen makes a big claim to the #2 job, then let him have it and move him back down if DiP makes it back. Either way, we’re developing our two best goalie prospects the way it should be done, slowly and with no pressure (see: PRICE, Carey).
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jul 15, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions
Anders Nilsson
Why is this guy not mentioned in the mix?
Just curious
I think because he is still playing in Europe. I don’t know if there was/is a deadline to get him over here, and I actually don’t think the Isles should do it just yet anyways. I think they still have a year to get him signed before he goes back in the draft, and they want to see what they have here already before they bring him in.
They have time and a logjam here in North America. Let Anders marinate in Europe for another year, than they can worry about where he fits in.
i say let Roli make his own schedule if he’s got a 2.85 or lower GAA, seriously, milk as many games out of him as possible
what’s the official word on DiP as of today anyway, i have no desire to search it lol
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
I think with the Islanders it’ll be about save percentage and not GAA, given the defense.
and haha, official word on DP? If someone asked that to Garth today or in 6 months from now I think it would be the same, “We’re going to wait and see”
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Last I heard...
DP was supposed to return to the ice in August. So, yeah…I’d bet he sees the ice this year, hopefully first in rehab starts, but not wearing the NYI until well into the season.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
only 11 more years baby! then we’re golden
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
By then, “Cannonball” will be 28 years old. Ye gods.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
he'd be better off with that doctor!
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
I hope
We don’t have to see this story again NEXT year! Nice that you have a template though,you can just replace the names (haha). I really hope mikko or poulin can grab the job soon and get us over this hump. And by hump, I mean Dipietro!
by quin8722 on Jul 15, 2010 12:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
There's a downside to every decision here
Garth cannot count on DP for anything. Odds are his career is over and it is up to him to prove otherwise this year. Garth would be foolish to assume that DP will be a reliable backup for Roly.
Especially if Garth is determined to make a serious playoff bid as he has said, not signing a quality backup is a big risk. Regardless of what age Roly is, goaltenders can get hurt. No Islander fan should need to be told that. Is Lawson going to be able to mind the fort until Roly is healthy again or until the kids are ready? It sounds like Garth has decided that he can. If we were to sign a backup, I believe that Dubie is available. He would be my choice. If he still has the same agent, Garth could just suck it up and call him. Of course, if Jank were still on the payroll, he could delegate that task to him.
Personally, I think betting that either Lawson or Mikko can be league-average goalies in the event Roloson spends time on the shelf is a safe enough bet.
For it to blow up in their faces would require a) Roloson getting hurt, b) Lawson flopping, and c) Mikko flopping would all have to happen. Not an impossible scenario, but one that’s unlikely enough to make me think they can afford it rather than walking into the season with Rollie + Shell of DP + Biron, Part II + Mikko/Lawson/Poulin all in Bridgeport.
And of course, if on the contrary they do still want to add a vet, like TMC said it’s a buyer’s market.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
as I see it
assuming Roly stays healthy, you will still need someone to play 15-25 games next season and, if Roly does go down or hits a rough spot, to step in fulltime.
IMHO, Garth should approach this with the assumption that DP will be unable to play and Mikko will not be ready. If he is confident that Lawson can be the guy to play those 15-25 games and to step in as needed, then he doesn’t need to sign amyone else. Lawson should be able to play well enough to carry this team down the stretch as Dubie did if we are in a playoff run and Roly goes down.
My guess
My guess is they’d think Lawson can do that (though Snow told NHL Live “in a pinch,” which sounds a bit more like emergency conditions, but then that’s also from a guy who has been careful not to write DP off). And if Lawson cannot do that, by the time they’d confirm it, Mikko would have 10-30 starts under his belt in the A and could be ready for a shot.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
and from the sound of things
Antii Niemi might be available. They are really struggling after that low blow by SJ. Wonder if they will have to trade Sharp after all? If they do, maybe they can sign Setoguchi to a sheet to make it all fair.
This is a buyers market in regard to goalies. There are goilies all over the place with no jobs. Theres no reason for the Isles to have re-signed Nathan Lawson and then not play him. If Lawson mysteriously can no longer play (no reason to think that is going to happen) AND Rick DiPietro can no longer play AND Roloson has some kind of freak injury AND the Isles are in playoff contention, having another backup goalie wouldnt be any help, anyway. In that case, the Isles would need to look around for an available starter.
I dont see any reason why the Isles would be actively looking for another goalie right now… it just doesnt make sense to prepare for what is honestly a ridiculously unlikely situation.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
(Crap, I should have just read one comment down — this one — before replying above!)
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
BTW, Isles locked up Dustin Kohn for another year …
http://www.soundtigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=204968504&DB_OEM_ID=22700
Get out of the sticks, Charles, move to Queens!! Come, Get some respect a Professional team deserves!!
DP?
Does anyone out there in blogoland have any current info on DP’s staus for the 10-11 season? Can someone please chase down Katie Strang or Botta or anyone with some DP info and give us poor icelander fans the 411?
Sometimes there is no news
All anyone is going to tell you is that we have to wait and see. Its not a cop-out, its the truth.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 15, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Well,
I realize he is not 100% right at this moment. But, is he going to be fit enough to be on the ice come training camp? Ready for the regular season? Any timetable at all?
I think they honestly don’t know, and every time they’ve put a timetable on it in the past, they’ve gotten burned. “Skating in August” tells me not ready for full throttle at the start of camp, but if everything went perfectly maybe sometime in camp.
It’s hard to imagine something that takes this long to heal can end well, but one thing the contract did is give them oodles of time to wait and find out.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
the key isn't whether he is ready...he may be
the key is that he has had four—count-em—four insults to the very same body part—a weight-bearing joint—in 1-1/2 years after precisely 13 games and not all of them together. The real key isn’t so much whether he will be ready to play as how long he will be able to play before he reinjures that body part again. If and when that happens, I think you can stick a fork in him.
I think the Ricky debate is not worth getting into. The bottom line is, there will probably not be any solution to this situation for another 2 or 3 years. He may come back and play full time (IMO – doubtful). He may come back, play a few games, and get hurt again. He may never come back. However, the club is invested in him, for better or worse. They liked his play, and more importantly, they liked his cocky personality. The same cocky personality that will think he will be able to come back from these injuries time and time again. The same cocky personality that will not want to admit that his body can not handle the strain.
I don’t blame him, I would never want to admit it either. I also think his personality is a great thing. I just don’t see any end to this situation anytime in the near future.
actually
if he once again reinjures his knee after a 5-10 starts, it will really be time to turn out the lights because the party will be over. Mikko and Kevin will soon be NHL-ready and Roly’s deal ends this year. How long will this club keep a roster spot open for DP? He has to show that he can play without injury this year. If he cannot and he does not retire, they need to send him through waivers and put him in Bridgeport. Maybe he can revive his career there or maybe he’ll decide that its time to hang em up. It is my understanding that if he retires because of injury, he still gets his money.
They are NOT putting him through waivers
You cannot put an injured player on waivers under any circumstances, anyway- but even if you could, what a horrible suggestion.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 16, 2010 6:53 AM EDT up reply actions
not as horrible as letting him take up a roster spot if he cannot play
No I in team remember? This isn’t about Rick. If he cannot play, why should he be kept on the roster each year in hopes that he will? Once he comes off the DL, I would assume that he could be put on waivers and its that or a buyout. Which player would you bounce out of our prospect pool so Rick can keep the dream alive? Mikko? Kevin? Anders? Now that WOULD be horrible.
The Islanders wouldn’t waive him or buy him out. If he retires the contract comes off since he’s under 35 and if he retires due to injuries the insurance pays him off.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
(Personal Pet Peeve:)
Why do people on message boards use the particular word “cocky” to describe Rick? Its almost like theres this “Rick DiPietro statement” that online commentators borrow from and repeat again and again and they are not allowed to think of words themselves. You dont really see people who KNOW him call him “cocky”. Why not confident, self-assured, determined, or a hundred other terms? Why ONLY “cocky”?
I just think the word is annoying. Its quite negative, and I dont know WTF is so negative about Ricks prsonality. It doesnt mean much I guess but when I met him he was friendly, nice, stayed longer than he was supposed to, was going out of his way to talk to little kids and make them smile, etc. A guy like Billy Smith sure wouldnt do that kinds of stuff regularly- but people dont call him “cocky” they call him ritualistic, confident, tough, determined, etc etc etc. For some reason him being an abrasive occasionally negative human being is looked upn fondly, but Rick being a confident positive human being is looked at as, you guessed it, “cocky”. Dont use any other word now! Nobody think of any word for yourselves, only use this one!
OK- Im sure most people reading this dont care. It just bugs me is all.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 16, 2010 6:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I hear you on selective adjectives used to further someone’s particular agenda but I knew DP jumped the shark when he wore that mic in the 2008 skills competition. I just knew that would not end well. Although, I thought he would just play poorly, not become brittle.
I’m not a DP hater, though. I’m still hoping he can be 100% healthy and be our #1 goalie because, like you, I do like his personality and think he is a good guy. I just wish he never wore that mic. Hockey gods don’t like that kind of thing.
I use the word cocky and, as I said above, I didn't think it was a negative.
The only time I met Ricky was when he was signing autographs before he ever played a game for the Islanders, it may have been the summer after he was drafted. When I asked him if he thought he would make the team, he said of course, but it was the way he said it, like he knew it was a foregone conclusion. He was very cocky, almost arrogant. It was right there that I knew I was going to be a big fan, because I want that arrogance/cockiness in any player on my favorite team. Plus, he was an 18 year old kid, who just got drafted to play professional sports, I expected cocky.
I use cocky because it was my impression of him, not because someone told me it’s a good word to describe him.
Thanks Bob
As long as DP is fit to start playing regularly in the second half, I guess I could live with that.
yeah, me too, my only fear is that they force him into a stable goaltending situation like last year, because i really felt he wrecked the mojo of roli up a bit
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
I think what was worse was he never let Biron find his...
so he was worthless on the trade market. Biron is a good goalie, I would have loved to have him back. or even have signed him to an extension if we were able to deal Roly.
I just think Biron’s tendency to give up one soft goal a game really did it in for him. If you look at his game log from the year before with the Flyers, he had a lot of 3 and 4 Goals Against games, but the Flyers offense was high powered enough to take care of it.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
and in contrast
Roli seemed to make one game-stealing save a night – he was often what kept that final straw from breaking the camel’s back.
Based on last season, this Isles team really needs a goalie who can be solid for two periods and then stand on his head for the last 20 minutes – that sure wasn’t Biron.
Between Yann’s eyebrows and MacDonald’s Ears, it was quite the disturbing duo.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
"No. At this point in time Rick has been doing great in his rehab and his training. He’s scheduled to start on the ice in the next few weeks here. Between Rick and Dwayne Roloson, we feel that is a strength in our organization. We also have Nathan Lawson, who we extended a qualifying offer and signed him shortly after. He’s coming off another excellent season. Nathan had a .922 save percentage. And sometimes people forget that he was on the All-Rookie Team for us in the AHL. We feel with Dwayne, Rick, Nathan Lawson — and then Mikko Koskinen and Kevin Poulin will be in Bridgeport — the depth at that position is one of the strengths of this organization."
When 7th Woman asked Snow about bringing in another backup, Via Hockeybuzz
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Jersey
|
82 | 48 | 27 | 7 | 103 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
82 | 47 | 28 | 7 | 101 |
|
Philadelphia
|
82 | 41 | 35 | 6 | 88 |
|
New York Rangers
|
82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 87 |
|
New York Islanders
|
82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
Islanders Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Wed 09/29 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Calgary
|
Wed 09/29 | 8:00 PM EDT |
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@
New Jersey
|
Fri 10/01 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
New Jersey
|
Sat 10/02 | 7:00 PM EDT |
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Montreal
|
Sat 10/02 | 7:00 PM EDT |
Last 5 Games
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Pittsburgh
|
Sun 04/11 | OT - L 5 - 6 |
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@
New Jersey
|
Sat 04/10 | L 1 - 7 |
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@
Pittsburgh
|
Thu 04/08 | L 3 - 7 |
|
Montreal
|
Tue 04/06 | SO - W 4 - 3 |
|
Ottawa
|
Sat 04/03 | W 4 - 1 |
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