2010-11 New York Islanders Preview: Sticking to a Plan

To the non-believers, the New York Islanders are using the cover of "rebuilding" as an excuse to not spend much beyond the cap floor while they await a solution to their never-ending arena crisis.

To the true orange-and-blue believers, the Islanders are about halfway through a meticulously crafted, slow and steady rebuild that will result in a contender around the time the current CBA expires in 2012. (All the while, awaiting a solution to their never-ending arena crisis.)

In the big picture, it doesn't matter what side you're on. We're going to find out over the next few years if the Islanders are serious enough about winning when building blocks like John Tavares and Kyle Okposo play beyond their entry level contracts. We will find out if the Islanders are serious about winning when the unrestricted free agency period brings an important piece to the puzzle, not staged stories like this summer of trying to lure Paul Martin and placing a call to Ilya Kovalchuk.

In two years, the Islanders could be an exciting, young force that battles with the league's best for many years. Or they could turn out to once again be -- at best -- merely a hopeful for seventh or eighth in the Eastern Conference.

As for the 2010-11 season, the Islanders and their fans would gladly accept the latter.

HOLD-STEADY SUMMER

Unlike last offseason, when the Islanders craftily heralded the arrival of 2009 first overall pick Tavares -- virtually from the Draft Lottery in April to Opening Night in October -- the franchise is coming off a summer without buzz. Not that there's anything wrong with that, especially when you're rebuilding.

General manager Garth Snow's theft of James Wisniewski, using a fraction of his bottomless salary cap space to relieve Anaheim of its $3 million commitment for just a third round pick, was one of the sharpest of the summer in the NHL. Wisniewski's presence takes an Islanders blueline that was poor last season -- and not improved measurably with free agents Mark Eaton and Milan Jurcina replacing Andy Sutton -- and makes it competitive in the star-filled Atlantic Division.

Up front, Snow has yet to do anything more than tinker. While the team said goodbye to former first round draft pick Sean Bergenheim (Tampa Bay) and four-year veteran workhorse Richard Park (Switzerland), Snow added scrapability and strength on draws in Zenon Konopka. A year ago, Snow gave good hands man Matt Moulson an opportunity and watched him score 30 goals. The Islanders would sign up for 20 this year from P.A. Parenteau, a former Ranger who shoots better than he skates. A 27-year-old right wing with a resume of three NHL goals in 27 games, Parenteau received a one-year, one-way deal from Snow.

ONE YEAR OLDER ...

As a club in the midst of a rebuild, the Islanders are hoping that familiarity breeds success. At 26 years of age, Moulson is the oldest of a crop of returning skilled forwards that also includes Tavares, Okposo, 2008 first round pick Josh Bailey, accomplished two-way center Frans Nielsen, shifty playmaker Rob Schremp and middleweight space-creator Blake Comeau. If he can stay healthy, big forward Trent Hunter has the net presence to contribute a needed 20 goals. After a shoulder injury limited him to 36 games and one goal, captain Doug Weight is back for leadership in the locker room and on the power play.

Prospect Matt Martin, who can hit, fight and cause havoc before the opposing goalie on the power play, will be given a long look for an NHL roster spot. When coach Scott Gordon wants to dress a heavyweight, he'll look to Trevor Gillies. The Islanders recently brought back grinders Jon Sim and Andy Hilbert on two-way contracts for depth. For 6-4 Finnish prospect Jesse Joensuu, unspectacular in two years in the minors, this could be a make-or-break year.

2010-11 NHL Previews

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FanHouse is getting ready to step back on the ice, previewing one team a day leading up to the season's opening night. Read them all. On defense, Snow currently has eight players on one-way contracts, including Wisniewski, Eaton and Jurcina. The most valuable returnee is Mark Streit, who became a legitimate No. 1 defenseman when Snow signed him as a free agent two years ago. At this point in his injury-plagued career, every game played by 34-year-old Radek Martinek has to be viewed as a happy bonus. Before absorbing an Alexander Ovechkin slap shot with his face in January, Jack Hillen was emerging as a very solid second-pair defenseman. Andrew MacDonald, just 24 years old, showed glimpses of impressive play last season. Let's see if he can do it from beginning to end of an 82-game NHL regular season. Bruno Gervais will have to improve in both ends to have any chance of cracking the lineup on a regular basis.

The goaltending rotation will be Dwayne Roloson and Rick DiPietro. If DiPietro's knee does not hold up long-term -- he has played just 13 games over the last two years -- Snow will acquire one of the available goaltenders in a buyer's market.

THE TOP PROSPECTS LIST

One of the most vital aspects of the Islanders' rebuild is that the team did not screw it up over the last three seasons by playing too well. By finishing the last three seasons in 26th, 30th and 26th in the overall league standings, Snow and his scouting staff were able to draft high. The biggest prize was Tavares with the first overall pick in 2009, but the scouts bolstered the depth chart with later selections over the last three drafts.

Among the team's recent draft picks are eight notable, high-end talents:

1. Nino Niederreiter -- The 5th overall pick in the 2010 draft, the big right wing -- who just turned 18 -- could start the season with the Islanders. Two years ago, they placed Bailey in the NHL when he could have played for gold medal-winning Team Canada at the World Junior Championships and the CHL champion Windsor Spitfires. A rival scout believes, "In two years, Niederreitter is capable of averaging at least 30 goals a season for ten seasons."

2. Calvin de Haan -- The Islanders traded four draft picks to move up from 26th to 12th to select the puck-moving defenseman in 2009. Some scouts believe the lanky de Haan will develop into a No. 2 defenseman.

3. Travis Hamonic -- Former scouting director Ryan Jankowski and his staff fought hard to use one of the team's three second round picks in 2008 on this mobile and tough Western League defenseman. Hamonic could see some time with the big club this year, along with Bridgeport (AHL).

4. Mikko Koskinen -- The 6-5 goaltender from Finland was selected with the first pick in the second round of 2009. He missed most of last season with a hip injury, but proved in limited playing time that he had No. 1 potential.

5. Kirill Kabanov -- The team wisely used a third round pick in June to draft the Russian, who has all the tools but also a few screws loose.

6. Kirill Petrov -- Another low-risk, high-end pick like Kabanov, the 6-3 Russian was available in the third round in 2008 because he signed a long-term contract with Kazan of the KHL. Even if the powerful wing plays the remaining two years back home, he may be worth the wait.

7. Kevin Poulin -- While the Islanders insured themselves against the possible loss of DiPietro to injury by drafting Koskinen (and Anders Nilsson with their next pick) in 2009, Poulin may turn out to be the best of the goaltending prospects. He was an absolute stud last season in Victoriaville, where Patrick Roy called him the best goalie in the Quebec League. In another steal by Jankowski's staff, Poulin was drafted in the fifth round in 2008.

8. Brock Nelson -- Snow traded his two second-rounders in June to move up and pick Nelson with the final pick of the first round. The 6-3 two-way center is playing his freshman season at North Dakota.

Drafting and development rarely go according to plan. But if just half of the above reach their maximum potential -- to go along with Tavares, Okposo and company -- the Islanders won't have to talk about rebuilding anymore.

THE 2010-11 ISLANDERS PRESEASON SCALE (1-10)

General Manager: 6 -- The won-loss record is not pretty, but there's a lot to be said for Snow sticking to a plan. Next step for the GM: proving he can make the bold in-season move when the right time comes.

Head Coach: 6 -- Scott Gordon has played a central role in the progress of key kids. He enters the final year of a three-year contract.

Forwards: 5 -- Barring huge leaps forward by Tavares, Okposo and Bailey, Nielsen and Schremp, there's not enough offense. Not sure about speed, size and penalty-killing, either.

Defense: 6 -- Wisniewski is an important acquisition and Hillen is vastly underrated, but the blueline is light on toughness.

Goaltending: 7 -- Roloson was the team's MVP last season at age 40. There's no evidence to suggest he can't carry the load again. If DiPietro's knee gets past November, it's good news for the Islanders and a 29-year-old hoping to get his career back.