Is Dipietro Truly Hurt?

I was one person that was not surprised to see Rick Dipietro stay on Long Island as the New York Islanders headed to Buffalo for their Saturday night game. I was also a person that sat at Nassau Colliseum before the Toronto Maple Leaf game and just thought to myself, "Why on earth is he starting this game?"

Rick Dipietro should have:
1. Gone for a conditioning stint at bridgeport
2. Not played til at least after the New Year

Why rush our Franchise goaltender back into action after so many surgeries to his knees and hips?

It made no sense to me.

And the end result?
Yes, an Islander win. But, also, DP uncomfortably skating out of his crease during a TV timeout in the 3rd period. He was leaning over like he always does when he hurts something. And since that moment, I waited for the news that he was injured.

In moments like that, you hope it's something that can just be shrugged off. DP did finish the game. And let's be honest, would going to Bridgeport have really made that big of a difference to this goaltender who plays his hardest no matter what the situation? If DP truthfully has a groin problem. I'm sure it would've happened whether in Bridgeport or on Long Island.

The biggest issue is whether DP should be playing at all right now. My vote is NO. He should be resting those hips and knees until the Islanders get Tavares or Hedman. But we know he won't.
And on that note, I'm just happy that there has been no report that he needs surgery on his knees, hips, elbow, face, pancreas, appendix or some other part of his body! (But it wouldn't surprise me if he already had another procedure this morning)

What I want for the holidays!!!

Well, Happy Holidays everyone!

I am sitting here just thinking about all the hockey cards I would like for the holidays. A couple of cards I can think of right off the bat would be Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin SPx Rookie Cards. I don't have either of them and the cards cost hundreds of dollars!!!

On a smaller scale, as I mentioned a few blogs ago, I'd also like to get Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey RC's. Their cards are more affordable, so maybe I'll get them. Islander Rookie Cards for as long as I've been a live are usually the cheapest and easiest cards to get. The most expensive ones over the past few years have been Rick Dipietro. With all of his injuries, his cards have become pretty affordable too.

Well that's all for now.

More blogs later this week.

Welcome back Tambellini! What are we going to do with ya?

(Jeff Tambellini 2006 SPx RC)

For those following closely, Jeff Tambellini's two week conditioning stint at Bridgeport has come to an end. After 2 weeks and 6 AHL games, Jeff Tambellini scored 3 goals, 0 assists, 3 points and 1 shootout goal. Not too shabby. Oh, I WAS talking about the AHL though.



So what are we going to do with this player? (who for the most part has been inconsistant and non productive with the Islanders thus far.) Well, I'm not coach Scott Gordon, but I say play him and play him as much as possible. The method to my thought process madness can be explained in some history lessons below.



Let me start off by talking about the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. It saddens me to look at the list of Bonafide NHL players that were taken in this draft's first round and how none of them are in an Islanders uniform. Let's also remember that the Islanders had 2 cracks at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. #1 is Robert Nilsson (#15 Overall) via their own pick. #2 is the eventual arrival of Jeff Tambellini (#27 Overall) via trade a few years later from the Los Angeles Kings. Let me just give you the rundown: #1 Marce Andre Fleury #2 Eric Stall #3 Nathan Horton #4 Nikolai Zherdev #5 Thomas Vanek #6 Milan Michalek #7 Ryan Suter #8 Braydon Coburn #9 Dion Phaneuf...the list goes on. All very good NHL players. Just to remind you further: #17 Zach Parise #28 Corey Perry #43 Shea Weber. By now, hopefully you understand the amount of talent available within the first round and a half at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. There was tons and as of now the Islanders are looking to have bombed in this draft as well as many others ( I haven't heard Dave Chyzowski or Scott Scissons for a long time).

So now that we know the 2003 NHL Entry Draft had tons of talent, let's discuss how the Islanders squandered a bunch of their young talent during the 90's (For the sake of length of this history lesson I'll keep it to the Forward position only):

Martin Straka - born in 1972 - played for the Isles at age 24 - Break out season with Pittsburgh at age 26/27

Todd Bertuzzi - born in 1975 - played for the Isles at age 23 - Break out season with Vancouver at age 25/26 - point per game player at age 26/27

Olli Jokinen - born in 1978 - played for the Isles at age 22 (21 points in 82 games) - Break out season with Florida at age 25/26 - point per game player at age 26/27

Tim Connolly - born in 1981 - played for the Isles at age 20 - riddled with injuries but best season at age 24/25

Taylor Pyatt - born in 1981 - best season as a Pro, so far, at age 25/26

Please remember that Jeff Tambellini was born in 1984. (This season he is 24/25)

The majority of these players were horrible as Islanders because they weren't given the opportunity to develop. The majority of the players mentioned above started getting their acts together around the ages of 25 and 26. I remember Olli Jokinen's season as an islander (at age 22) very well. He always skated up the ice so stiff and clumsily. He scored a measly 21 points in 82 games. (He scored even less at Florida the following season at age 23) Look at what he does now! Jeff Tambellini on the other hand already skates very well and has a very hard shot when he uses it. I am hoping it's a matter of time before all his skills come together at the NHL level.

So what are we going to do with you Jeff Tambellini? I am hoping that Scott Gordon plays him for the remainder of this season and the rest of next to see what happens. Not like the Islanders are scoring goals (or winning) anyways...right? (9 straight losses, shutout last game at Nashville)

I'll play along: Welcome your 2009-2010 NY Islanders

I'm not sure if you've stopped by Islanderspointblank.com. If not, you should stop by as Chris Botta, has put up his rendition of the 2009-2010 NY Islanders. For the most part, I agree with his assessment however, I do have a few different thoughts of my own, and I'll even tell you where the missing 2008-2009 Islanders have gone!

Here is my rendition of the 2009-2010 NY Islanders:

Sean Bergenheim - Josh Bailey - Kyle Okposo
Trent Hunter - Franz Nielsen - Jeff Tambellini
Andy Hilbert - 2009 1st Rounder - Blake Comeau
Tim Jackman - Nate Thompson - Richard Park

Freddy Meyer - Chris Campoli
Andy Sutton - Mark Streit
Radek Martinek - 2009 Unrestricted Free Agent/2009 1st Rounder/Solid Prospect Recieved in a trade at the 2009 Trade Deadline

Rick Dipietro
Joey MacDonald

Where I disagree with Chris Botta:
Unless the Islanders pick up additional bonafide prospects that inch out Tambellini and Comeau for roster spots, I can't foresee the Islanders giving up on these two guys. The only concern will be if the two of them end up being exposed to waivers and get plucked. I think that's more of a concern for Tambellini than it is for Comeau. There are too many prospects in the islanders system that would benefit from a year or two in bridgeport. Comeau and Tambellini do not fit into that category. The only consideration is that Tambellini is no longer with the Islanders. Which I think would be a poor decision. He has the speed and he has a great shot when he uses it. Give him more time.

Tim Jackman has handled himself fine in fights. Plus, he actually has been creating scoring chances for himself. There's not many players who can play the little minutes that he does and still is able to create opportunities (if only he would bury a few of them...) and is not a defensive liability (Don't I see him on that penalty kill sometimes?).

The Departed:
Doug Weight - Traded at the 2009 Trade Deadline for a 1st Rounder in 2009 or 2010 + Solid prospect +/- additional darft pick (Anything less would be maddening) (Please read my prior post just below)
Bill Guerin - Traded at the 2009 Trade Deadline for hopefully a 1st or 2nd Rounder in 2009 or 2010 or a solid prospect
Mike Sillinger - Traded at the 2009 Trade Deadline for hopefully at least a mid round draft pick or a half solid prospect
Mike Comrie - Traded at the 2009 Trade Deadline...Hopefully he starts putting up numbers over the next quarter of the season in order for the Islanders to get an early round draft pick or a solid prospect
Brendan Witt - Traded at the 2009 Trade Deadline for an 2009 early round draft pick
Jon Sim - Late round draft pick if we're lucky. Otherwise bought out of his contract.
Bruno Gervais - Still in the Islanders system
Tom Pock - Somewhere in this world

Wouldn't it be nice if the Islanders were to sign Mike Komiserak who is due to be an urestricted free agent? He would be a great replacement for Brendan Witt.

In the end, the Islanders should aim to get several more solid prospects into their system and lose some of their older players. And don't forget to continue to groom the ones that are already in an Islanders uniform.

2 promising rookies, 2 costly mistakes leading to another NY Islander loss, and I still want their RCs

Who knew that Pierre Marc Bouchard and Mikko Koivu were great dancers? Well, Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey both know now. Both Islander forwards were danced around by Koivu and Bouchard to score the Minnesota Wild's 3rd and then 4th goals respectively to lead their team to the win this evening.

As frustrating as it was to watch both these young Islander forwards get schooled in the 3rd period, it was great to see Kyle Okposo back on the ice. Until Okposo allowed Bouchard to get by him with a nifty self pass move, I thought Okposo was one of the more energized Islanders during the game.

After Josh Bailey put up respectable numbers in his first 9 games as an Islander, I have to admit that I have seen less of his nifty moves. More recently, I have seen weak backhanded passes that are getting picked off by the opponent. Wouldn't it have been nice to see Bailey get his 1st NHL goal this evening than to see Minnesota's Colton Gillies get his?

Truth be told, these are just part of the trials and tribulations that NHL Rookies go through; Especially when playing at such young ages (Bailey is 19 years old, Okposo 20). I have seen enough flashes of brilliance from both of these players that I would only anticipate them to continue to get better. So both these players are on my wish list of RCs that I'd like to add to my collection. Hopefully they will be helping the Islanders get some wins sooner rather than later though!

2 Excellent Islanders, 2 Milestones to Come, and their RCs are affordable and will stay that way!

If you read my prior post, you already know that Doug Weight is going to be hitting the 1,000 point plateau very soon. Well, don't forget about Bill Guerin and his 400th NHL goal. Both of these players obviously had excellent careers not only on the score sheet, but both won Stanley Cups and have been considered fan favorites with whichever team they played for.

As both these players were starting out in the NHL in the early 90's, there RC's fell into a time of overproduction for the hockey card industry. Due to the large amounts of cards produced, there RC can be found at a very reasonable price. You could probably find each at $1-$2. Not bad for two long time NHL greats that just so happen to be islanders right now.

Despite their milestones coming up and despite they are both playing well for the islanders, I don't anticipate either of their RC to have too much shift in their worth. With that being said, it certainly would be nice to have these two Islanders Rookie Cards in your collection. I know I already have mine.

Doug Weight Closes to 1,000 Points: That's exciting but how about being a 2009 All Star and then getting us 2 first rounders at the trade deadline

(Here You See Doug Weight in his 1991-1992 UD RC...I wouldn't anticipate too much movement on his hockey cards, despite his excellent numbers this season for the islanders)

It's pretty amazing that there have only been 71 prior NHL players to reach the 1,000 point plateau. It's even more amazing that Doug Weight, soon to be the 72nd, will be reaching that milestone so early in the Islander's season.

Despite, the New York Islanders losing streak, Doug Weight continues to put up respectable numbers (31 games, 7 goals, 21 assists, 28 points). What more can an Islander fan ask of him. Well, let's ask him to continue to put up more points and be named to the All Star Team. We need Doug Weight to continue his pace!

So many things can change throughout a hockey season that do I dare even try to analyze this? I think I will:

Last time I checked, an aging Bill Guerin (at that time 36) with 47 points was traded at the deadline from the St. Louis Blues to the San Jose Sharks in 2007. Guess what the St. Louis Blues got in return? Ville Nieminen, a college prospect (Jay Barriball), and a first round draft pick.

The future trading of Doug Weight at the 2009 trade deadline will be the most important play of the season for Garth Snow. Stanley Cup Winner, Near point per game player, Power play specialist, hopefully 2009 All Star? These are all great tags for a hockey player. How about getting us 2 first round draft picks for all those great tags? The trade is a shoe in. It needs to be a shoe in. Garth are you reading this? Doug Weight signed only a 1 year deal and will be a free agent at the end of the season. We need more first round draft picks!!! As much as I would hate to see him go, Doug Weight can be resigned next year. We need more first round draft picks!!! Garth are you still reading?

Doug Weight will be THE best free agent signing of Garth Snow's regime thus far (Garth are you smiling?). He will lead the 2008-2009 Islanders in points barring any (do i dare say) unforseen issues. And when he gets traded at the trade deadline, he should be able to push the islanders rebuilding process forward more than he can by getting those approximate 80 points. And after the trade happens, Doug Weight will recieve my vote for Islander of the year, even though he will no longer be an Islander (But hopefully an islander again next year?).

Switching of topics

Unfortunately, I have not spent enough time blogging over the past several months. Part of the problem was that i had a major brain malfunction of trying to decide which topic to write about amongst the diverse land of hockey cards. What I really need to be blogging about is something that I am passionate about. And at this point, I have decided to blog about the new york islanders. I feel that my brain needs to vent after each loss and I feel that my brain needs to vent when I hear or read stupid quotes, statements, or fan reaction. So here I am.

To make this blog a little unique, i will also be incorporating discussions about New York Islander Hockey cards with each blog. I will discuss which players cards should be on the rise and which ones should be on the down and which ones you should aim to get ASAP!!!

Hopefully you will stop by often and hopefully I will be blogging more often.