Hockey Night, 2 Points for Netting, and Prospect Dual

[islandersgm]

So I wrote up some stories. The first one is Hockey Night, just a hockey news coverage show that talks about main events in the GHL world of hockey. The second one is a website that writes articles about the Islanders. The last article takes a different approach to prospects. It offers up a little bit of variety.

Hockey Night with Dan Harmon, Glenn Castonguay and Emily Wolfe

Dan Harmon: "Hello and welcome to Hockey Night. This is our first show of the year and we are excited to be back."

Glenn Castonguay: "It has been a long off season. Thankfully we are back just in time to save my sanity."

Emily Wolfe: "I think you lost that a long time ago Glenn."

Dan: "Judging by the stances he takes in our debates I would have to agree with you."

Glenn: "Hey, hey now. Just because you are an Ivy League boy Dan, it doesn't mean you know hockey better than I do."

Emily: "Alright boys, settle down. We've got some great topics to cover tonight. I'm eager to get started.

Dan: "Yes, the first of a full season worth of great topics."

Glenn: "What do you have for us Emily?"

Emily: "The first topic, which we are all watching closely, is free agency. Who are the big fish out there? Who is going to really change a team's outlook this season?

Dan: "There are several interesting free agents out there right now. One talented forward I think many are overlooking right now is Mika Zibanejad. He was extremely productive in Dallas with back to back fifty point seasons. I think he immediately makes any team he joins better."

Glenn: "Hold on, we are talking about the same Zibanejad that scored 14 points in 58 games last year? That is a terrible pick. He had one good year. He probably won't have 50 more points in his career. The obvious answer is Radko Gudas. The man is a two time Norris Trophy winner. His slap shot gives goalies PTSD. His powerful hitting is crippling. He is simply dominant."

Emily: "I have to agree with you that Gudas is one of the best free agents available. I also think there is a young playmaker Lodnia who could break out this year. However, When it comes to Zibanejad, I have to take the over on whether or not he notches 50 more points in his career."

Glenn: "Care to make it interesting?"

Dan: "I like this idea."

Emily: "Alright. I am not afraid. I win and you've got to spend the day wearing a Flyers jersey. Lose and I'll... I will put on a Rangers jersey."

Dan: "You'd like better in a Bruins jersey."

Emily: "Alright, alright, before things get out of hand, lets move on to our next question. The St. Louis Blues just won their second Championship in a thrilling seven game series with the defending champion Ottawa Senators. Can they repeat?

Glenn: "Absolutely not. Its so easy to get hung up on how great they looked last year and just assume that that is going to carry over. That was last year. There is a lot that changes from season to season. Young hot shots grow into lead roles, veterans start to wear down. Suddenly you are the circled game on everyone's schedule. You are getting everyone's best each night. One or two injuries and suddenly things are different."

Dan: "Wrong again Glenn. These Blues are poised to defend. Sherikov, Schwartz, Draisaitl all up front with Fleury, Pietrangelo, and Udovin on the back end. Every team deals with injuries, but the depth of this Blues team is going to help them through those times. And we can't forget about Kenda. He took the league by storm last season. This kid is a wall back there. When you don't have to play with the fear that any little mistake is going to cost you a goal you get comfortable and play relaxed."

Emily: "Great points guys. I've got to agree with Glenn on this one though. There is no doubt the Blues are good but its just so hard to keep that hunger after you've won. Alright, last topic of the night. Who is going to lead the league in goal scoring?"

Dan: "This is a tough one. If you look at the last two seasons you see how much it can change each year. I am tempted to take Pulkkinen. Instead I'm going to have to gamble and take Tyler Toffoli. He's got 5 seasons with 40 or more goals. He has shown that he can consistently play at an elite level and I think he has a shot at it this year."

Glenn: "Jeff Skinner. He had a career high 44 goals last year. Everything is clicking for him right now. I expect him to in the conversation all year."

Emily: "Those are both respectable answers. I have to go in a different direction though. I've got to pick Michael Hoyal. He is only 25 and he has already had two seasons with 40 or more goals. I have to believe that after scoring over a hundred points in three straight seasons he is motivated to get back up to the century mark after finishing with 95 last year."

Dan: "Well it looks like that is all we've got time for tonight. Until next time."

Glenn: "Keep your head up."

New York Islander Fansite: 2 Points for Netting

Welcome to 2 Points for Netting. Your ultimate source of in depth news for the New York Islanders. I am Patrick McGinn and we've got a few things to look at as we approach the new season. It has been a long off season and I am eager to jump in.

One of the first things I want to look at is John Tavares. Let's be honest, the Islanders need him if there is any hope of this team being successful. There is a real lack of offensive fire power after the first line. His 43 goals last year was the second highest in his career. This, combined with his consistent performance shows that he can produce. Tavares has also developed some chemistry with Hodgson and Seguin and they expect to play a key role in the Islander's offense. Eyes will be on Tavares as they always are. I am here to tell you that you can book Tavares for another 40 goal season. I should also mention that If the Islanders struggle, trade rumors may start to appear before the trade deadline.

The preseason still hasn't begun yet, so there is plenty of speculation as to who will emerge but the Islanders have made it clear that there are a few forward spots that could be earned with a standout preason. It is unknown whether they have a young draft pick, a prospect in the system or a free agent. There are several players with promise, but one that I feel is poised to demand attention is David Hrdina. Hrdina has shown the offensive ability to make an impact. If he can find a line that he is productive on, I would not be surprised to see him stay up with the Islanders and put up some numbers.

Finally I'd like to reflect on the new General Manager of the Islanders. He has made a few comments that I believe are worth noting. As all Islanders fans know it has been a long time since the Islanders have lifted the cup. When the general manager was asked about his goals for the Islanders he agreed that the cup is the ultimate goal but that the Islanders also have to create the right culture. He wants to build a winner. The first priority he said, is to win the season series against the Rangers and Devils. He also pointed out the long drought in winning the division. To be a dominant team the Islanders need to start winning the division. I have to say, it would be a good start.

That is all for now. Check back soon to see how the preseason shapes up for the Islanders.

Prospect Duel with Kevin Delaney and James Gatenby

Welcome to Prospect Duel where we take two random prospects and pit them against each other to come . The NHL draft is an exciting event that shapes the future of teams. It is absolutely essential. Its never too early to look at the prospects and guess how good they will be and where they will end up. More often than not, its just a roll of the dice. Some players develop later, some regress. The premise of our work here it to take two random prospects and analyze what we know of them and determine which of the two will be the better prospect.

For our first dual we have Brian Hagidiakow vs Burt McGrath. Brian and Burt are both hoping to see their stock climb with a strong season of production and development. Brian is a Canadian playing for Medicine Hat while Burt is playing college hockey at Lake Superior.

We will start with Burt. Burt is a sophmore out of Michigan. In most preliminary scouting reports he is a long shot to get drafted. He measures in at 5'11 and a solid 186 pounds. His freshman year at Lake Superior he scored 20 goals and added 17 assists in 29 games. He also only had 2 PIMs and an impressive +29.

Brian Hagidiakow, better known as hacksaw, is a 5'11 Canadian weighing in at 182 pounds. He is coming into his first season with Medicine Hat so he does not have the stats to measure his ability. His play making ability is the current highlight of his game. His coach plans on him being a large part of his plans for the season.

Despite Burt's decent production and Hacksaw's lack of experience, any scout worth his salt can tell that Hacksaw is the better prospect. Burt has a good head on his shoulder and as evidenced by his first season, never takes penalties. However, unless he kicks it into high gear or find's Popeye's spinach, he doesn't have the skills to develop into an NHL caliber player. Hacksaw has the potential to develop some decent stick handling skills and has better play making ability. He is still unlikely to make the NHL but has the better ceilings and slightly better consistency.

Winner: Brian "Hacksaw" Hagidiakow

[islandersgm]

Hockey Night with Dan Harmon, Glenn Castonguay and Emily Wolfe

Dan Harmon: "Welcome back everyone to Hockey Night. We are thrilled to be here to wrap up opening night!"

Glen: "We've been too long without real hockey. Its about time we hear the sound of the skates, the whistles, the hits, the hard slap shots."

Emily: "Don't get too lost down memory lane Glenn. We might not get you back."

Dan: "I think we lost him a long time ago."

Emily: "We have a lot to talk about even though the season is just getting started. Lets talk about one of the more unfortunate things in hockey first. We hate to see them but every year they play a role in the outcome of the season. We are talking about injuries. We have already seen a few happen. Which do you think are going to have the biggest impact?"

Glenn: "Injuries are unfortunate, especially when they are serious injuries. I have to think that the biggest injury right now is that to Calle Jarnkrok. The guy is a 30 goal scorer that plays a well rounded game and helps on the defensive side of the ice as well. It will be well into 2025 before we see him back on the ice. The Maple Leafs are going to struggle to replace his production.

Dan: "Losing Jarnkrok is a big blow to the Maple Leafs. Panu Hemmila is another player that is not on the ice right now. The Blues have lots of depth at forward but it always hurts to lose a player that puts up 60 points for you. Luckily his knee injury is not as severe and we could see him back next month.

Emily: "The Blues are also without former 40 goal scorer Isaac Ratcliffe. The first few weeks of the season will be important for the defending champions are they try to overcome the injuries to they are getting hit with."

Glenn: "Lets move on to a more exciting prospect. Who is going to win the Stanley Cup? Its never too early to speculate. We've seen the draft, free agency, and the preseason. Who has made the necessary improvements to win this year? For me, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I believe the Philadelphia Flyers are going to win the East this year and take on the Nashville Predators in what will be an epic 7 game series with the Flyers coming out on top!"

Dan: "That would be something to see. The Flyers always seem to underachieve in the playoffs and let people down. I can't deny that they are a good time but I can't bet on them until I see them turn things around. It might sound like I'm playing it safe but I have to pick the Blues to win again. I see them beating a game Atlanta team in the finals. I think they'll overcome any slow start out of the gate. I think that its a long season at the cream rises to the top and when everything is said and done that is where the Bues will be again."

Emily: "You might be right Dan, but I have to hope that Glenn is this time. The last thing we want to look at is tonight's game. We have the Avalanche playing the Stars tonight in what ended up being a pretty close game."

Dan: "I have to give Dallas credit for the win tonight. It wasn't the greatest performance but they did what they needed to earn the win."

Glenn: "I have mixed emotions looking at how the game went. On one hand I feel that the Avalanche had the chance to win the game and didn't take advantage of their early opportunities. On the other hand, they came roaring back in the third and forced overtime. I guess that kind of effort is what gets you an OTL instead of just a regulation loss."

Emily: "It really looked like it was going to go the Stars' way when they overcame early penalties and went into the 3rd period with a 4-1 lead."

Dan: "Absolutely, the Avalanche had 4 Power Plays in the first two periods and didn't capitalize on any. It is something that they are going to need to improve on."

Glenn: "You have to give credit to Pepin. He didn't let his team quit. This is a workhorse that you don't really expect to put the puck in the net and he scored two crucial goals in the 3rd period to force overtime. It would have been easy for the Avalanche to pack things in but he sent a message that that kind of mindset was not going to be accepted. I loved it."

Emily: "Unfortunately for the Avalance it didn't turn out to be enough as Kucharov scored the game winner in overtime on a beautiful wrist shot that found its way in."

Dan: "That looks like all we have time for tonight everyone. Keep tuning in for what is sure to be an exciting season of hockey."

Glenn: "Until next time keep your head up on the ice."

New York Islander Fansite: 2 Points for Netting

Welcome back everyone! It is that time of year again. We get to sit down and watch, cheer, cry, and curse the Islanders. I wouldn't have it any other way, well unless it was winning the Stanley Cup Finals.

There are some new faces on the team this year which is always interesting. Will these young men turn into the heros of tomorrow or the scapegoats? At this point there is plenty of reason to optimistic. We see a lot of the hotshots this preseason and while most were not quite ready for the big time it was important for them to get to practice with the team and see the speed of the NHL game and what they needed to focus on improving. It won't be long until we see the likes of Rozsival, Sundstrom, Billington, Heroux, and Zinovyev. The young Islanders we will get to see appear to be Hrdina, Dixon, and Kang. Kang really came out of nowhere and has impressed in practices. People are starting to reevaluate their expectations of him and Hrdina already looks extremely comfortable out there with the rest of the team. DIxon has some real grit to his game the only concern the coach really has is his lack of consistent effort. If he can find the right buttons to push to motivate Dixon he could really turn into a key player for the team. Until that happens we will probably see him rotated in and out the lineup.

I mentioned last time that the Islanders were really going to need Tavares and the top line to score. I still believe that is true. I would love for the second line to step in, exceed expectations and produce. That is going to mean higher production that we have been seeing with the likes of Zach Hall. Fans have started calling our chubby right winger Zach "Hotdog" Hall for his love of New York Hotdogs. He really needs to return to that level of performance he had in Tampa Bay or he is going to find himself replaced by Kang or someone from the farm team like Phleger who was just recently signed.

The last thing I want to cover is exactly what is the mindset of our new GM. A lot of times you see new GMs going to one extreme or the other. They either have a win now at all costs mentality or tear everything down and try to build from scratch. I talked with our new GM and he wanted to take a more level headed approach. He recognizes that we have several great players and the potential to compete but he also recognizes that several of the players are getting older and might have passed their peak. He wants to come into the season without rocking the boat too much and see how the team performs. If it is competitive he may consider making moves to strengthen the team for a playoff run while if the team struggles he may look to move a few players to build for the future.

Prospect Duel with Kevin Delaney and James Gatenby

Anthony Savard vs Fredrik Fltskog

This week's dual is between two prospects who have a decent chance at getting drafted this year. However, they bring completely different skill sets to the table. This makes them a little more difficult to compare. It will really come down to what the drafting teams value and are in need of as to where they find themselves getting drafted, if they are lucky enough to drafted that is.

Anthony Savard:

The young Canadian forward is a one dimensional player. He can really beat the tar out of opponents on the ice when they drop the gloves. He shows potential to have some great stick handling skills and shows up to play more often than not.

Fredrik Fltskog:

The big Swedish forward really shows some offensive potential. Besides missing a vowel or two in his last name there seems to be little missing from his game. He looks to have real potential with scoring and stick handling that could continue to develop and exceed expectations with hard work.

Result:Fltskog Wins!
So neither play has a big advantage but I give the nod to Fltskog here.. Both players show a bit of maturity and consistency for their age and some promising stick handling skills. The difference is in their style of play. Savard can fight but has no real offensive scoring ability or even the ability to contribute on defense. He seems to have the will to hit but it does not appear that his body will develop to the point he can make it have the impact he wants at the NHL level. Fltskog shows some promise scoring goals and under the right coaching and circumstances the potential to develop even further. Because of that he wins the dual this time.

[islandersgm]

Hockey Night with Dan Harmon, Glenn Castonguay and Emily Wolfe

Emily: “Welcome back everyone to this week’s episode of Hockey Night.”

Dan: “It’s been an exciting week and there is a lot to talk about.”

Glenn: “Lets jump right in then. I’m absolutely loving what we are seeing this season so far.”

Emily: “One of the things that is hotly debated each season is the performance of rookies. They generate so much excitement.”

Dan: “Is your team’s hot shot rookie the next generational superstar or the next embarrassing bust that sets your team back?”

Glenn: “While its still early we can see some rookies who are already making a difference.”

Emily: “They may not finish as the rookie leaders in scoring Tampa Bay has two rookies that each already have 3 goals. Carl Heerema has some high expectations in Tampa but is not going to be relied on to be a 30-goal scorer. What’s interesting is that while the young forward has exceeded expectations in scoring early on, he is getting a tough lesson when it comes to the toughness of veterans around the league. He has shown a willingness to fight by already dropping the gloves 3 times. Each of those fights, however, has ended up in definitive losses.”

Dan: “Carl is a tough guy, he is having success because he is going is grinding. He is going into the tough places and being rewarded. He is going to win his share of fights too.”

Glenn: “The kid I love to watch out there is Westermark in New Jersey. He really showed last year by the way he finished the season in the AHL that he has world class talent. He has picked up 4 points in 4 games and already has a +5 rating. He is doing all the little things the Devils need him to do. He has a really mature game for a 19-year-old kid.”

Emily: “Scoring is always exciting but the rookies that may have the biggest impact the league may actually be a trio of goalies breaking into the league this year.”

Dan: “This new wave of goalies is scary. They look poised to dominate the league for the next decade.”

Glenn: “St. Louis really showed us last year that success can be had with a rookie goaltender and other teams have taken notice. Seven rookie goaltenders have already gotten ice time this season.”

Emily: “Alaire, Niit, and Crevier are clearly the top three. Of the three, who is going to have the most successful career?”

Dan: “Goalies are so fragile, they have to be handled so carefully in order to have continued success. I believe each of these young men will have their ups and downs, but I think when everything is said and done that Alaire will have the best career.”

Glenn: “It’s a small sample size at this point but Crevier has been on fire in Carolina. With the team he has around him I think he has the chance to really be successful without having the pressure of carrying the team by himself.”

Emily: It’s definitely something we will continue to watch. We have to continue on though. Our next subject is conference leaders. Let’s look at who has jumped out to a hot start this season.”

Dan: “Out west its really no surprise to see Columbus and Minnesota at the top early on. Minnesota won their division last year and Columbus was highly competitive in what is one of the toughest divisions in hockey. They both were knocked out of the playoffs by St. Louis last year, so it will be interesting to see how that motivates them to find success this year.”

Glenn: “Minnesota’s offense has been really impressive, and a lot of credit needs to be given to their Power Play which is converting at 30% right now. It may not be realistic to expect that kind of production to continue but it’s definitely netting them wins right now. Columbus on the other hand is really playing sound hockey and is one of the better defensive teams in the league. Their goal differential is +8 right now which is the best in the west."

Emily: “As we shift to the East, we see Buffalo and Carolina at the top. What are your thoughts on these two teams?”

Glenn: “Both of these teams are looking for different results from last year. Buffalo wants to build on what was a good year that fell apart in the playoffs. Carolina wants to put the bitter disappointment of last year behind them. After finishing with 110 points they really expected to make another run at the cup. To lose in seven games like that in the first round was a real gut punch.”

Dan: “I love what I’m seeing out of Carolina. Their Power Play is elite right now and their defense is among the best in the East. Crevier may have occasional rocky performances for the team as a rookie but I think this team is going to be competing for the President’s trophy all year.”

Glenn: “Buffalo’s defense has been exceptional early on. I am not sure they are going to continue to be at the top of the East but its clear that having to compete in a division with Ottawa and Toronto that they have really elevated their game. This is a team that should expect to make the playoffs.”

Emily: “Alright boys, on to our last topic. This question was asked by one of our viewers. We’ve seen some interesting fights already this year. Who is the best fighter in the league right now?”

Dan: “I think there is really only one answer to that question right now. It may change later in the season but right now it’s got to be Brent Pedersen in Pittsburgh.”

Glenn: “I have to agree with you Dan. He has won all four of his fights so far this year. I have to admit when I saw him drop the gloves and square off against Gudbranson I got goosebumps. Gudbranson is one of the best fighters in the game and Pederson got the best of him. Its rare to see Gudbranson handled the way Pedersen did.

Dan: “The other remarkable thing about Pedersen is how disciplined and professional he is. He has 20 PIMs this season, but they are all from his fights. He has not drawn any other minor penalties. He doesn’t hurt his team.”

Emily: “Well that looks like all the time we have tonight.”

Dan: “Until next time, keep your head up and your shoulders squared to the puck.”

*As set fades to black*
Glenn: “You happen to catch Zibanejad’s stats the other night Emily”

Emily: “That was not my best bet.”

New York Islander Fansite: 2 Points for Netting

Welcome back Islanders fan. Its been entertaining week to be a fan. Our boys took two out of three, only losing in the shootout to the Phoenix. I have to say that the win against Ottawa was a surprise. The team is going to have to continue to play hard because the season isn’t going to get any easier.

I was asked what has contributed to the Islander’s early success by a Rangers friend recently. I have to say that it’s the offense, in particular, our power play that is making a big impact. There was a lot of concern going into the season that we wouldn’t see production outside of Tavares and Seguin and that hasn’t been the case. *Knock on wood*. Everyone expected Hodgson to be playing with Tavares and Seguin and I’m not entirely convinced he shouldn’t be but its clear to see that Hodgson and Hall are having some success together. Hodgson has also been amazing on the power play. He has seven assists on the power play already.

While we have seen success offensively and on the power play, the defense has been poor, as expected. The penalty kill is one of the worst in the league and absolutely has to get better if this team hopes to have any kind of consistent success. It has been reported that the Islanders are in talks with division rival New Jersey to pick up Franson. The veteran defenseman has announced his retirement after the season but would really like another chance to play in the playoffs. Despite playing in the NHL for 10 years he has only made the playoffs once with Nashville when they were knocked out of the first round. He is a well-rounded player that would be expected to contribute at even strength and special teams.

Our GM placed special importance on division games this year, especially against the Rangers and Devils. This means that the upcoming game against the Rangers on the 24th is a game the coach has had circled for awhile now. While games like the Ottawa game just played and the next game against Toronto should not be overlooked the Islanders are extra keen to beat the Rangers. The Rangers are 3-2 and have won both games at home. The Rangers are led by Jamie Benn and Yakov Trenin, who the Islanders will focus on shutting down. The young Finnish hothead Turkula was recently heard promising to put Tavares through the glass and there was nothing Manderville or anyone else could do about it. When team captain Jamie Benn was asked if Turkula’s comments would fuel the Islanders fire he laughed it off. “The only Islander I ever saw motivated was Zach Hall trying to climb into the stands between periods to catch the hotdog guy. That guy would be a beast if he got paid in hotdogs for every goal he scored. I am not worried.”

Hopefully our Islanders can show up motivated and prove to these Rangers that this isn’t the same team that finished with 74 Points last year.

Prospect Duel with Kevin Delaney and James Gatenby

Richard McCarty vs Warren Patrick

This week’s Prospect Duel is a little more exciting than the last two weeks. We’ve got two prospects that came into the season highly regarded. Now that we are getting into the season, we have started to see how they’ve progressed and get a better idea of how to project their continued growth.

The first contestant is Richard McCarty. The Canadian forward is a force for Oshawa at 6’5 and 229 pounds. He plays a solid two way game and has contributed 7 points in 7 games and has a +/- of +7. He is a consistent player who really shows a commitment to the defensive side of the game. Not much is expected of his offensive game. He may score the occasional goal by driving to the net, getting deflections and chipping in rebounds but will never be an offensive force.

Warren Patrick is our second contestant. The Canadian forward playing for St. Michaels is well developed and stands at 6’2 and weighs in at 189 pounds. He has shown an ability to find the back of the net early in his OHL career by scoring 7 goals in 6 games with 10 points overall. He has also played a very disciplined game taking zero penalties so far. Patrick’s game is basically the opposite of McCarty’s. He has decent stick handling and a scoring touch that could score at the AHL level or even earn a rare NHL game in the case of injuries. He skates with a very powerful stride. His defensive game leaves a lot to be desired and seems to be a combination of lack of effort and ability.

The winner of this week is really a toss-up. It really depends on what style of player you are going after. Each player has their own strengths, though neither looks to be a force in the NHL unless they find the right combination of coaches and inspiration to really boost their development and potential. For myself I have to give the edge to MCCarty this week.