-
June 23, 2016
Top 25U25 Review: Our silly rankings, 2011-2016
For fun, perspective and mockery, we look back at our annual rankings of under-25 Islanders from 2011 to the present.
-
October 10, 2014
Top 25U25: Tavares at #1 in controversial recount
Our panel voted. Then we re-voted. We counted votes. We recounted re-votes. Somehow John Tavares still came out on top of our Top 25 New York Islanders Under 25.
-
June 27, 2014
Top 25U25: #2 - Brock Nelson preaches, you follow
It wasn't gaudy numbers, sheltered minutes, nor unsustainable percentages that impressed in Brock Nelson's rookie season. It was his performance as a three-zone player in multiple roles on multiple lines. Wing, center, checker, scorer...bring it.
-
June 26, 2014
Top 25U25: Travis Hamonic leads D at #3
Travis Hamonic has played 252 NHL games before age 24, and the Islanders have him locked up for another six years.
-
June 25, 2014
Top 25U25: At #4, Strome poised for breakout
Ryan Strome's game has shown it is beginning to translate to the NHL level, as it did from juniors to the AHL.
-
June 24, 2014
Top 25U25: Love and fear for Calvin de Haan at #5
Clavin de Haan as one of the top young Islanders? Enthusiasm tempered by wounds and fear.
-
June 23, 2014
Top 25U25: Griffin Reinhart nears liftoff at #6
Whatever his offensive ceiling, Reinhart is going to be a large man in the NHL, and projects to at least be a minutes muncher who is above average defensively. He's an asset the Isles need.
-
June 22, 2014
Top 25U25: Pokka at #7, a name like a villain
He's a PP QB, an excellent passer and set up man, but lacks that hard shot from the point that Pulock possess.
-
June 21, 2014
Top 25U25: #8 Anders Lee, power forward of dreams?
Anders Lee's exciting NHL debut at the end of 2012-13 was a cool story, but it masked some weaknesses. In 2013-14, Lee appeared to be making all the necessary adjustments to excel.
-
June 20, 2014
Top 25U25: Pulock, the other WHL meat at #9
After four consecutive years holding a fifth-overall or better pick, the New York Islanders' reward for a 2013 playoff appearance was a 15th-overall selection in the NHL draft. They could have done worse than Ryan Pulock.
-
June 18, 2014
Top 25U25: #10 Go ahead & skip the Bailey thread
In all the six(!) years of Lighthouse Hockey discourse, there have certainly been more volatile and more nausea-inducing topics than the debate over Josh Bailey.
-
June 17, 2014
Top 25U25: At #11, Donovan shedding skin?
At age 24 and due a qualifying offer, has Donovan established himself just in time?
-
June 16, 2014
Top 25U25: Scott Mayfield inches up to #12
There is definite value to a guy who can be a pain in the ass to good opponents -- particularly when the player is young and not in the "but I got reputation" phase of his career.
-
June 15, 2014
Top 25U25: At 13, Cizikas fell, can he get up?
A bulldog of a player whose engine always appears to be in high gear, Casey Cizikas by his own admission took a step back last season.
-
June 14, 2014
Top 25U25: At 14, Collberg is next Vanek, surely
Sebastian Collberg has skill he exhibited against his own peers, but needs to figure out how to "play with men."
-
June 13, 2014
Top 25U25: Adam Pelech, quietly rising
Adam Pelech fits the newer mold of Islanders defensemen draft picks: Bigger, with more focus on an all-around game.
-
June 12, 2014
Top 25U25: Czuczman #16 at age 23
As a fairly sought-after college free agent, Kevin Czuczman's debut was rocky, but his finish was promising. He'll have some room to prove his merit before the prospect onslaught tests him.
-
June 11, 2014
Top 25U25: Sundstrom (#17) shows promise, injury
Johan Sundstrom's season was interrupted by injury for the second straight year, but his brief glimpses showed some promise.
-
June 10, 2014
Top 25U25: Dr. Pedan will crush you now (#18)
Andrey Pedan showed promise, but also injuries in his first pro season.
-
June 9, 2014
Top 25U25: Taylor Cammarata at #19. A small 19.
The good news is Taylor Cammarata was a creative scoring contributor in his first season (NCAA) with an absolutely stacked Minnesota Gophers team. The bad news is he's still 5'7.
-
June 9, 2014
Top 25U25: At #20, John Persson has company
John Persson's second pro season did not go as planned, as injuries limited him to 46 games on the last-place Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
-
June 7, 2014
Top 25U25: #21, Crus Rydberg's fun to say.
Victor Crus Rydberg was drafted as a potential value pick in last summer's fifth round, billed as a two-way player with good hockey sense and a willingness to learn the North American game.
-
June 6, 2014
Top 25U25: Any room left for #22 Aaron Ness?
It was always going to be an uphill battle for Aaron Ness, whose size meant he'd have to impress with his skill and agility. He's done that, but is it enough to stick around with the New York Islanders?
-
June 6, 2014
Top 25U25: At #23, Kirill Petrov one more time
What can I say, I'm a Kirill Petrov fan? If he made the oceanic leap, I'm confident he'd be an immediate contributor as a smart middle-six guy for the New York Islanders.
-
June 4, 2014
Top25U25: #24 - Kabanov's journey...and descent?
It's long past time to use words like "first-round talent" and "would have been in the mix except for..." about Kirill Kabanov, who still has the talent but can't seem to convince a team to depend on it.