Isles Sign Anders Nilsson To An ELC

Isles Sign Anders Nilsson To An ELC

Official Press Release

"The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with goaltender Anders Nilsson on a three-year entry-level contract. The Lulea, Sweden native played a total of 60 games over the last four seasons in the Swedish Elite League with Lulea HF. Last year, the 6’5”, 220 lb. net-minder had his best season, posting a .918 save percentage and a 1.92 goals against average in 31 games. Nilsson, the Islanders third round selection (62nd overall) in the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, represented Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships in 2009 winning bronze. He also was a member of Team Sweden’s silver medal winning club at the 2011 World Championships in Slovakia."

PattyB Thoughts:
Sorry I was so late to the party on this signing, my vacation weekend has been packed, but my delay to announce this doesn't mean I am not excited about this. Nilsson has a ton of potential and he may be the goalie of the future for the Islanders. In the Swedish Elite League (one of the better leagues in the world), he was an absolute stud. His goals against average was just plain incredible with a 1.92, which lead all goalies in the league. Because of that, he was awarded the "Elitserien Best GAA Award". Hopefully gets a lot of time in Bridgeport and develops his game even further.

Doug Weight 2010-11 SEASON REVIEW:

Doug Weight
Date of birth: January 21, 1971 (2010-11 Season Age: 39/40)
Place of birth: Warren, MI, USA
Height: 5'11
Weight: 196
Shooting Hand: Left
Full NHL Season: 18th NHL Season
Drafted: NY Rangers In The 2nd Round (34th Overall) of the 1990 Draft
Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent by the Isles in 2008

2010-11 Season Stats:

New York Islanders          NHL:  GP: 18 G: 2 A: 7 P: 9  PIM: 10

Short-Term Status:
RETIRED TODAY....Has been named the Assistant Coach as well as the "Special Assistant To The General Manager".

Long-Term Status:

None as a player obviously. 

Contract Status:

N/A: RETIRED MAY 26, 2011

Review:

Playing wise he had a very unproductive year, but that was mainly due to his injury struggles that bothered him all season. His influence off the ice was felt immensely despite his absence from the actual game-play. On November 12th, "IncarceratedBob" on twitter reported that the Islanders were exploring the possibility of adding Weight to the coaching staff and within about two weeks it was all, but announced that, that was the path the Islanders were hoping to take. At that time, the Islanders put out a press release, which stated that along with his continued playing duties, he would be coaching the power play. Having a player be announced as the "Power Play Coach" is very odd and seemed to hint at what the Islanders were intending to do with Doug Weight. To further confirm that this was true, Weight was behind the bench in a suit and tie, with a head set, for the last few games of the season. This morning the Islanders held a press conference, where Doug Weight officially announced, that after a 19 year hall of fame caliber career, he will be retiring from being an NHL  player. Later in the press conference, the Islanders welcomed Weight to his new role off the ice with the organization. He will be an assistant coach and a "special assistant to the general manager", which will make him a very important person in the Islanders off-ice functions. Personally, I am very happy he will be with the team in such an important role.

Season Grade (A+ to F-): N/A

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PLAYER REVIEWS

Okposo Extended For 5 Years

Islanders Sign Kyle Okposo To A 5-Year Extension

Press Release

The New York Islanders announced today that forward Kyle Okposo has agreed to terms on a five-year contract. “I’m very excited to commit to the Islanders for the next five years, especially with the news of the new Coliseum,” Okposo said. “This team really showed its potential in the second half of the season last year and I’m excited to be a part of getting the franchise back to the playoffs.” Okposo, 23, scored five goals with 15 assists in 38 games for the Islanders last season. The St. Paul, MN, native missed the first 44 games of 2010-11 due to a shoulder injury, which he suffered during training camp. “Kyle has been a critical part of our young core over the past few seasons,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “He is a high character guy that brings size and a scoring touch to our lineup.” The Islanders selected Okposo in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He has served as an assistant captain since 2009-10. In 192 career NHL games, all with the Islanders, Okposo has scored 116 points (44 goals, 72 assists). The 6’0”, 210-pound forward has also played in 35 American Hockey League games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and he’s represented the United States at two World Championships and two World Junior Championships. Before beginning his professional career, Okposo spent one season in the United States Hockey League with the Des Moines Buccaneers, followed by two collegiate years at the University of Minnesota.

CONTRACT TERMS:

LENGTH: 5 YEAR(S)     VALUE: $14,000,000     TYPE: STANDARD     EXPIRY STATUS: UFA
SEASON	AHL SALARY	NHL SALARY	P. BONUSES	S. BONUS	CAP HIT
2011-12	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$0	$0	$2,800,000
2012-13	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	$0	$0	$2,800,000
2013-14	$3,000,000	$3,000,000	$0	$0	$2,800,000
2014-15	$3,500,000	$3,500,000	$0	$0	$2,800,000
2015-16	$4,500,000	$4,500,000	$0	$0	$2,800,000

PattyB Reaction:
I love this deal and am very surprised it was accepted by Kyle Okposo. He is going to put up at least 20 goals next season (if healthy) and about 30 assists, he is just a very solid player on both sides of the puck and to have a cap-hit at $2.8M for the next 5 years is stunning. Also I would not be surprised if Okposo is named the next captain of the Islanders which would make this deal even better. I mean having your captain, who is obviously a key player, locked up that cheap is impressive. Garth Snow deserves a lot of credit for this steal.

Zenon Konopka 2010-11 SEASON REVIEW:

Zenon Konopka 
Date of birth: January 02, 1981 (2010-11 Season Age: 29/30)
Place of birth: Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada
Height: 6'0
Weight: 211
Shooting Hand: Left
Full (50+ games) NHL Season: 2nd NHL Season
Drafted: Undrafted
Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent by the Isles in 2010

2010-11 Season Stats:

New York Islanders          NHL:  GP: 82 G: 2 A: 7 P: 9  PIM: 307

Short-Term Status:
I am really hoping the Islanders decide to re-sign him and if they do, Konopka would take on the exact same role he had last season. He will be a 4th line grinder, who takes most of the important face-offs for the team. Also he will see some PK time, as he did this past season as well.

Long-Term Status:

I believe he could be a bottom-six forward for the Islanders for a few years if he is re-signed. Unfortunately, there is a chance he won't be brought back for next season which in my opinion, would be a tremendous mistake. 

Contract Status:

LENGTH: 1 YEAR(S)     VALUE: $600,000     TYPE: STANDARD     EXPIRY STATUS: UFA (2011) ****CONTRACT EXPIRES THIS OFF-SEASON****
SEASON	AHL SALARY	NHL SALARY	P. BONUSES	S. BONUS	CAP HIT
2010-11	$600,000	$600,000	$0	$0	$600,000

Review:

When the Islanders signed Zenon Konopka last off-season, I was beyond excited just for the pure fact that he fights a lot, which happens to be one of my favorite parts of the game, but I was even happier to find out that he was much, much more than just a fighter. "Z" was an incredibly useful player in so many aspects of the game. The thing I found the most impressive with him was his leadership and how he really became an intricate part of the locker room within just a few weeks of joining the team. He was the leader of the player's petition to get "live is life" as the team's goal song just a week into the season and from that point on it seemed as though his role in the room was an important one. Whether it was yelling to TSN reporters "We're not a doormat anymore. Stop calling us a doormat.", or influencing the Islanders beat-down on the Penguins on February, 11th, it became blatantly obvious that the team really respected and liked Konopka. Not only was he vital to the locker room, but he provided a lot on the ice as well. Out of the entire NHL, Konopka had the 4th best face-off percentage with a 57.7% and a 620-455 record. That wizardry in the face-off circle was vital to the team and in almost every must-win face-off it was Zenon that Jack Capuano would put out to take it. The determination he showed throughout the year was impeccable and he was willing to sacrifice his body for the team, as shown by his 52 blocked shots which were 2nd most of any Islander forward. Now to the aspect of his play that I was excited for when the Islanders signed him; his toughness. He did an effective job as an agitator, and was not afraid to drop the gloves with anyone. He had the 2nd most fighting majors in the entire NHL with 25 which were 8 less than his total last season. According to Hockeyfights.com, he had a decent record in those 25 fights with 9 wins, 9 losses, and 7 draws. What I like about his fights is that they aren't at dumb times and he is very good at choosing when to drop the gloves, when it would be the biggest advantage to his team. As we all know, in hockey momentum is a huge aspect of any game and by having a guy who knows exactly how to manipulate that momentum shift positively for his team, it really can make a difference. Whether you consider it a good thing or not, I find it absolutely amazing how many penalty minutes Konopka had this season. He led the league in PIM with 307 and just to show you how large that really is, the player with the second most (Chris Neil) had 210 which is 97 less. No one has had that many penalty minutes since the 2007-2008 season when Daniel Carcillo put up 324. Konopka also led the league in misconduct penalties with 10. 

Season Grade (A+ to F-): B+

I was very happy with Zenon Konopka this season and in my opinion, he deserves another contract with a decent raise. He is more than just a dime-a-dozen grinder and it would be a big loss if the let him go.

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PLAYER REVIEWS

Josh Bailey 2010-11 SEASON REVIEW:

Josh Bailey 

Date of birth: October 02, 1989 (2010-11 Season Age: 21)
Place of birth: Bowmanville, Ont., Canada
Height: 6'1
Weight: 188
Shooting Hand: Left
NHL Season: 3rd NHL Season
Drafted: Islanders In The 1st Round (9th Overall) Of The 2008 Draft
Acquired: Originally Drafted By The NY Islanders

2010-11 Season Stats:
Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL:  GP: 11  G: 6  A: 11  P: 17  PIM: 4

New York Islanders          NHL:  GP: 70 G: 11 A: 17 P: 28  PIM: 37

Short-Term Status:
Being a RFA, there is a chance he could possibly be traded, but in all likely hood he will be re-signed and will play a role in the Islanders top-six. He really needs to be a consistent contributor next season or his future in the organization will be in serious jeopardy.

Long-Term Status:

There is a (small) chance Josh won't be an Islander next season, let alone in the long-term future, but if he is able to fulfill his potential and get over his inconsistency he could possibly become a talented top-six forward.

Contract Status:

LENGTH: 3 YEAR(S)     VALUE: $2,625,000     TYPE: ENTRY LEVEL     EXPIRY STATUS: RFA (2011) ****EXPIRES THIS OFF-SEASON****
SEASON	AHL SALARY	NHL SALARY	P. BONUSES	S. BONUS	CAP HIT
2008-09	$65,000	$875,000	$850,000	$87,500	$1,725,000
2009-10	$65,000	$875,000	$850,000	$87,500	$1,725,000
2010-11	$65,000	$875,000	$850,000	$87,500	$1,725,000

Review:

At the beginning of the season, it seemed as though Josh Bailey had finally broken out and became the player Garth Snow thought he'd become when he drafted him in 2008. In the first 5 games of the 2010-11 NHL season he had 3 goals and 3 assists for a total of 6 points, and really seemed comfortable in all 3 zones. Unfortunately, things didn't stay this way as he went down with a hip injury and missed two games. After that injury, he was a completely different player and not in a positive way. He came back on October 27th from the injury and didn't record another NHL point until December 23rd, despite participating in a total of 13 NHL games. Most nights  during that stretch he was invisible in the offensive zone and a wreck in his own end (as shown by his -7 plus/minus through that span). He was bad enough that the 21 year old Bailey, saw himself down in the AHL for the first time in his professional hockey career. It was his first time playing in a league other than the NHL since the 2007-08 season (OHL). He was sent down on November 24th and played 11 games for Bridgeport, during which he recorded 17 points and a plus-five rating. Despite the common opinion from analysts and fans, that he'd be better suited to remain in the American Hockey League for the rest of the season, the Islanders re-called him and had him play his 160th NHL game, which is the maximum number of games a player can play without having to be subjected to waivers. That means that if the Islanders wanted to send him down after that point any team in the NHL would be able to claim him off waivers. But, after he was re-called he did better despite the continued inconsistency in his game. What troubles me is the fact that he has terrific talent but has a lack of consistency that he can't seem to figure out how to overcome which in my opinion stems from the Islanders rushing him up to the NHL way too early. What Bailey is described as is a solid two-way forward, which makes his plus/minus all the more troubling. He finished the year with the 5th worst plus/minus of all current Islanders with an awful -13 and it just goes to show how much trouble he had this year with what was considered his strong point. Unfortunately, he also had the worst face-off percentage of any Islanders center with a 44.4 % and a 273-342 record. I am a big fan of Josh Bailey, but this year was a massive disappointment for his 3rd year performance and he will need to go out next season and prove his worth. 

Season Grade (A+ to F-): D+

For his 3rd year in the NHL, he should have put up a lot more than 28 points. His consistency was a huge problem and it needs to be fixed if he wants be a career long NHL'er. He had some high points through the year, but I think its pretty obvious that it was not the way Bailey or the Islanders were hoping it'd be for him.

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S

Frans Nielsen 2010-11 SEASON REVIEW:

Frans Nielsen 
Date of birth: April 24, 1984 (2010-11 Season Age: 26)
Place of birth: Herning, Denmark
Height: 5'11
Weight: 172
Shooting Hand: Left
NHL Season: 4th NHL Season
Drafted: Islanders In The 3rd Round (87th Overall) Of The 2002 Draft
Acquired: Originally Drafted By The NY Islanders

2010-11 Season Stats:
New York Islanders   NHL:  GP: 71  G: 13  A: 31  P: 44  PIM: 38

Short-Term Status:
He will be an important member of this team next year and will be looked upon to provide a solid force on the Penalty Kill. He is one of the most versatile members of the team and expectations will be that he will contribute on both sides of the puck.

Long-Term Status:

He will be a member of this team for a long time and thats become evident based on the un-ending praise the coaching staff and management have given him, and all of that praise is well-deserved. When his contract expires, expect him to get a sizable raise.

Contract Status:

LENGTH: 4 YEAR(S)     VALUE: $2,100,000     TYPE: STANDARD     EXPIRY STATUS: UFA (2012)
SEASON	AHL SALARY	NHL SALARY	P. BONUSES	S. BONUS	CAP HIT
2008-09	$500,000	$500,000	$0	—	$525,000
2009-10	$500,000	$500,000	$0	—	$525,000
2010-11	$550,000	$550,000	$0	—	$525,000
2011-12	$550,000	$550,000	$0	—	$525,000

Review:
Frans Nielsen has developed into one of the best 2-way forwards in the entire NHL. This season Nielsen was absolutely spectacular in all facets of the game. He had a career high in goals with 13, assists with 31, and points with 44. When ever he is on the ice he provides a calming presence in all three zones, as shown by his team leading (tied for the lead with Grabner) +13 plus/minus. His defensive play has really helped him on the PK and the coaching staff has taken notice, he led all Islander forwards in Average PK Time On Ice per Game with 2:59, which is 38 seconds more than any other. With that time not only was he able to help the Islanders have the 12th best Penalty Kill in the entire NHL (despite the Islanders being fourth worst in overall Goals Against), but he was also able to turn the table a bit and provide an offensive threat on said penalty kill. He led the entire NHL in Short Handed goals with 7 and Short Handed points with 8, it was a unique yet effective source of goalscoring for the Islanders down the stretch. His defensive awareness is highlighted by his willingness to sacrifice his body to block a shot. He led all Islander forwards in shots blocked with 63 which was 11 more than any other forward. Its almost as though, when he is on the ice and the Islanders are defending, the Islanders have an extra defenseman on the ice. He is that good defensively and to be honest, I would not be surprised if he wins a Selke somewhere down the line. What I find truly amazing is the fact that Frans Nielsen is one of the premiere two-way forwards in the NHL and his salary is DIRT CHEAP as his cap-hit is a measly $525K per year. Fans and "hockey people" alike, are astonished at the value on the Islanders side of that contract. When his contract expires after next season, he will be due for a BIG raise and the Islanders will give it to him. 

Season Grade (A+ to F-): A+

He was a force on both sides of the puck and honestly I believe he is THE most underrated player in the entire NHL. He put up a lot of points and was incredible in his defensive zone. 

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John Tavares 2010-11 SEASON REVIEW:

John Tavares
Date of birth: September 20, 1990 (2010-11 Season Age: 20)
Place of birth: Mississauga, Ont., Canada
Height: 6'0
Weight: 195
Shooting Hand: Left
NHL Season: 2nd NHL Season
Drafted: Islanders In The 1st Round (1st Overall) Of The 2009 Draft
Acquired: Originally Drafted By The NY Islanders

2010-11 Season Stats:
New York Islanders   NHL:  GP: 79  G: 29  A: 38  P: 67  PIM: 53

Short-Term Status:
He will be one of the most important players going into next season for the Islanders. In the locker room he needs to continue his emergence as a leader and in my opinion he will do it with ease.

Long-Term Status:
He is THE most important player in the Islanders organization and I believe he will be a career-long NY Islander. He has already stated his commitment to the team publicly and with rumors floating around that the Islanders are currently in discussions to give him a long-term extension, its looking more-and-more likely that he will be here for a long, long time.

Contract Status:

LENGTH: 3 YEAR(S)     VALUE: $2,700,000     TYPE: ENTRY LEVEL     EXPIRY STATUS: RFA
SEASON	AHL SALARY	NHL SALARY	P. BONUSES	S. BONUS	CAP HIT
2009-10	$67,500	$900,000	$2,850,000	—	$3,750,000
2010-11	$67,500	$900,000	$2,850,000	—	$3,750,000
2011-12	$67,500	$900,000	$2,850,000	—	$3,750,000

Review:
John Tavares had an all-around terrific season and was able to put up some really impressive stats. His 29 goals were 5 more than last season's 24 and were the 3rd most goals of any Islander. His goal total was the highest of any player that came out of the 2009 NHL Draft and its obvious his goal scoring ability is really starting to develop into one of the best in the league. Along with his scoring ability, he has incredible vision on the ice which has led to an impressive skill-set as a playmaker. He is able to find his line-mates almost anytime he is on the ice which is evident by the fact he led everyone on the Islanders in Assists. The dominance he displayed in both goals and assists really helped him pull away as the Islanders points leader which ended with his 67 points, being a whopping 14 points higher than the next most. Being only 20, I found it was really interesting how clutch Tavares was throughout the year. He led the Isles in game winning goals with 4, with 3 of them taking place in OT. Along with his impressive clutch ability, it became evident throughout the year that the coaching staff decided to place a large amount of responsibility on Tavares' shoulders. He averaged the most ice-time of any Islanders forward by 23 seconds and placed 7th most of anyone on the team (including Defensemen). Of coarse his stats are very impressive, but what I found even better was his overall demeanor. In his first NHL season, he rarely showed emotion and seemed life-less in interviews. This year was a whole different story, he was always smiling and joking around with his teammates, and it really seemed as though he was becoming a terrific leader. That is also supported by the fact that late in the season, Jack Capuano gave him the Assistant Captain responsibilities when Frans Nielsen went down with a concussion on April, 1st. He also was not afraid to get involved physically, an aspect of his game that was NON-EXSISTANT before this year, as he got in his first career fight and many times throughout the year was involved in scrums after the whistle. It all goes to show how much his comfort level had changed from last year to this, and how much it has affected his game. Although his mental comfort level has obviously changed, I think his physical comfort level has changed as well. In my opinion, a big reason for that is how much his skating has improved. His skating last year and now is "night and day", and has greatly assisted in his ability to stay up to the pace of the game on both sides of the puck. That aspect of staying involved with, and with-out the puck really helped his ability to create turn-over's as he led all Islanders in "Take Away's" with 75. The only negative part of his season was his plus/minus which was -16 and was the 2nd worst of any Islander. In my opinion though, it shouldn't be taken too seriously because of the fact that most of those minus' were given to him during the Islanders massive losing streak. Overall, this season was exactly what Islanders fans were hoping to see from Johnny T.

Season Grade (A+ to F-): A
If it wasn't for his bad plus/minus, he would have gotten an A+. He put up a ton of points, played with improved confidence, and improved his skating. He was able to achieve a lot in his 2nd NHL season.

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