Projects

Now that Labor day has passed....the countdown to training camp has begun. For the Isles....it's only 9 more days until the team reports for physicals. Thank God!.....I can't stand this waiting....this seems like the longest offseason ever.

With practically a new team this year....there is a lot of speculation with this year's squad. The subtractions, the new additions and 2 new assistant coaches, have us again have being picked to come in dead last in the Eastern Conference. As we witnessed last season....with Ted Nolan as our coach....anything is possible. The man who seemingly gets the absolute most out of his players (even the ones it seems will never reach their potential), will again have his work cut out for him. Here are a few "projects" Teddy has on his plate this training camp.

Ruslan Fedotenko - The Tank, as he's called, is a very talented player who as we've all heard has the knack for scoring clutch goals, was signed to a 1 year $2.9 contract. In all likelihood he'll be our top LW this upcoming season. Fedotenko is coming off a 12 goal season and fell into John Tortorella's doghouse. This former 20 goal scorer who once scored the cup winning goal for the Lightning is now looking to prove that last season was a fluke and that he can once again regain that 20 goal plateau. Liken this move to Viktor Kozlov of a year ago....if Nolan can get Fedotenko to believe in himself once again....this could be a very good signing.

Josef Vasicek - Vasicek is a immensely talented player who the Hurricanes were very high on a few short years ago. He has excellent size (6'5") and has a knack for being good in the corners and being a high energy player. The knock against him has been consistency and the ability to stay healthy the last few seasons. Like Fedotenko, Vasicek has the ability to score 20 goals and be a force on the 3rd line. Being only 27, and playing with Radek Martinek (who is amazingly from the same hometown) will be positives for him, and could help him realize some of his potential.

Chris Simon - After the tomahawk he threw Ryan Hollweg that ended his season, Islanders fans realized what a big role Simon plays on this team. Not only does he play policeman on the ice....he is an emotional leader both on the bench and in the room. Simon has an undying allegiance to Ted Nolan and would do anything asked of him. His play was shotty early on....but he improved immensely as the season progressed and was probably playing his best hockey when he was suspended. Nolan now has to worry....will he do something like this again?....or will it be in the back of his mind every time he gets into a scrap?....as insurance the team invited Gord Dwyer to camp.

Mike Comrie - Not exactly a problem having Comrie on your team....but there is some concern for this 27 year old. First of all....Comrie is as talented a player that you can get nowadays. The Islanders will be the 5th NHL team he's donned a jersey for in his short career. Given that he's made some mistakes...(demanding a trade from the Oilers)...was a trade deadline deal (this season to Ottawa...being in his walk year)....it hasn't been all his fault....but it seems that he has top line scoring potential and has never really given a chance. Comrie will now be given the responsibility of leading this team and being the go-to guy. Whether he's up to the challenge....is really up to him. He has been looking for a team to settle down with (Along with Hilary Duff as we've all heard by now)...and this could be the perfect situation for him. During the UFA period, Ryan Smyth called Comrie and gave a pretty good recruitment call, selling him on what a great opportunity the Islanders would be for both his career and Long Island would be to settle down (btw...one of the classiest moves by one of the games classiest players). If I was a betting man....Comrie has a breakout season and ends up with 80 points.

Bryan Berard - As a camp invite....this is a potential high reward for this team. Berard, who is only 30, when healthy is a dynamic offensive defenseman. His big problem has been his back the last year and a half. When he's on....you can expect him to score about 12-14 goals and is good for 40 or so points. A healthy Berard would be a great addition for this team at a relatively cheap price. If Berard shows he isn't healthy or isn't able to make the team....he'll simply be a UFA again. Expect Berard to come into camp like a mad man....the only way he doesn't make this team is that his back gives out.

Chris Campoli - Campoli is coming off an odd season. He technically didn’t make the team out of camp after getting hurt late and basically had to play his way back on the team. When he came back....he was unable to play the same reckless style he was allowed to play under the Stirling/Shaw regime. With Nolan.....Campoli was expected to play a defense first and jump into the play second. During the later stages of the season he saw his minutes decrease and players like Bruno Gervais and Marc Andre Bergeron get more and more playing time. During the first round defeat to the Sabres...he was reunited with his old Bridgeport partner Gervais and the 2 looked dynamic together. Campoli's major problem is his smallish stature and the fact that he's knocked off the puck somewhat easily. With the additions of Andy Sutton and camp invite Bryan Berard, and the emergence of Gervais as a more complete defenseman...there is a real possibility that Campoli could either not make the team...or be dealt during camp as part of a package. Either way...Campoli has to come to camp ready to battle it out with some stiff competition to make this team.

Obviously players like Satan, Bergeron, Tambellini, Bergenheim and etc also come in with questions....but the above are the one who have definitive questions and may effect this team either positively or negatively.

I'll be in chat tonight @ 7 with Steve...

For those of you who need the site again

www.islesnation.com

Thanks....

Tony