New York Islanders

Isles going forward, or backward if you’re paying attention

 I’m not sure what is more disheartening — not making the playoffs or hearing Islanders brass describe how they are going to fix the problems in the offseason.

Charles Wang, he of the billions of dollars and no hockey sense, said recently the team is going to aggressively continue to work to develop young talent and fix this thing by building through the draft. Oh boy. Joy.

Minus Marian Hossa, this offseason’s stock of unrestricted free agents is the least exciting in years. And you can bet good money on the fact that Hossa isn’t coming to Long Island.

That leaves Wang and GM Garth Snow with the fifth pick in the draft and a prayer. The only thing that is certain is Kyle Okposo will be a very good player in the NHL. He may not score 50 goals, but 40 is possible and a point-per-game is doable. Considering the fact that Mike Comrie led the Isles in scoring this year with 49 points and I think Islanders fan would sign on the dotted line for just about anything as an upgrade.

It’s too early to delve into the free agents that will be available, but it’s not too early to look at the current roster and decide who you want to bring back. I was pretty much convinced that Miro Satan, Josef Vasicek and Ruslan Fedotenko should go, but now I’m not so sure. Believe me, I wish there was another way, but if Wang and Snow are determined to stick with the Jeff Tambellinis, Frans Nielsens, Sean Bergenheims, Steve Regiers and Matthew Spillers of the world, they better keep around someone or two who knows how to skate and put on his helmet properly.

I’m not saying the aforementioned youngsters won’t develop into serviceable NHL players, but this idea that a team that finished last in the league in goal scoring will suddenly be better next season with the same young guys going weeks at a time without putting a puck in the net (Tambellini), is very shortsighted.

There’s got to be a way to infuse some offense into this team, and the players to do it have to have worn sweaters from different clubs in 2007-08. I have faith the Islanders can win 3-2 games, but not 40-43 of them as would be needed to make the playoffs. I mean, seriously, when was the last time they enjoyed a laugher? I cannot remember.

If they bring this team back with no signicant upgrades and dump some of the veterans you are looking at a disaster next season. If they keep some or all of their decent veterans they still won’t be good enough to make the playoffs. If you get creative and throw some money around, you have a better shot of being decent, but who exactly can they rob/lure to get players to Long Island?

As it stands, minus the buyout of $2.02 million to Alexei Yashin, the Islanders again figure to be well below the salary cap next season. Rick DiPietro and Comrie will be making around $4 million per and are the highest paid players on the team. Satan makes around that number now, but will want some kind of raise to come back. But, put it in perspective: Satan, Fedotenko and Vasicek combined for 48 goals in 2007-08. That’s some pretty sad commentary when you think about the fact that Isles management is considering getting rid of them and NOT signing (be it because of a small pool of free agents, no snipers available, etc.) anyone even remotely significant to fill their voids, as small as they may be.

Bill Guerin deserves a medal because at 38 or however old he is he still managed to score 23 goals on this team. If he had some help he would have scored close to 40. Okposo could be the guy to play with him, though the youngster looked real good with reliable veteran Richard Park. Mike Sillinger’s season-ending injury hurt, but he’s also approaching 40. Trent Hunter actually got a five-year extension for $10 million, which is great because he does so many things, but is awful because he scored just 12 goals this season.

Yeah, the problems with this club are endless, and the specter of coach Ted Nolan bolting after next season or being fired before it even begins looms large. DiPietro is suddenly always hurt and his reliability is seriously in question.

I think when healthy, the Isles have three good defense pairings, but they have to re-sign Radek Martinek and pray he doesn’t get hurt (again), and they are almost forced to bring back Freddy Meyer or Bryan Berard, though I would opt for the former if given the choice, and let Aaron Johnson fill the other slot. Also, a lot can be said for Andy Sutton’s impact. Before he got knocked out for the season, the Islanders were in the midst of a six-game winning streak, were 28-25-7 and right in the East race. After he went down with a torn hamstring, they went 7-13-2. He was just one of a slew of injuries, but Sutton was getting better every game and his loss was one they never recovered from.

This whole thing is pretty much a train wreck. The only solace you can take in this organization is Okposo’s development and the hope that the politicians in Nassau County will push through the redevelopment of the Hempstead hub and allow for the Coliseum to be renovated.

Until we get some good news, this is an organization that will continue to shadow box with mediocrity. The other shoe always seems to drop. There’s really no reason to think it won’t happen again — sooner rather than later.