Bridgeport Islanders Discussion 2021-22: Playoffs Start May 2

[MJF]

encouraging that Holmstrom is producing, but remember MDC produced a lot at the AHL level as well...

He still does. The sign of a AAAA player. Too good for the minors, not good enough for the majors.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Bridgeport defeats Hershey 4-3 in the shootout.

What I like:
- Team came back from a 2-0 deficit
- Team wins
- Dal Colle with a real nice move in the skillz gimmick

What I don't like:
- With goals from Helgeson, Thompson, and Brown, the scoring isn't being done by actual Islander prospects.
- The team gained a 3-2 lead in the 3rd with less than 7 minutes to play. It didn't have to get to overtime.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

Bridgeport defeats Hershey 4-3 in the shootout.

What I like:
- Team came back from a 2-0 deficit
- Team wins
- Dal Colle with a real nice move in the skillz gimmick

What I don't like:
- With goals from Helgeson, Thompson, and Brown, the scoring isn't being done by actual Islander prospects.
- The team gained a 3-2 lead in the 3rd with less than 7 minutes to play. It didn't have to get to overtime.

It’s mostly depth players, Holmstrom has played well this year and he is on his way to NHL career. Skarek has also shown enough progress this year that perhaps he has future as backup. I personally like Wotherspoon and could see him as a 6/7 at nhl level.

 

[MJF]

I’m not watching the game, but somehow Bridgeport managed to give up 4 goals in 8 minutes to start the 2nd period in Providence. Corey Schneider in net.

Two rhetorical questions:

1. How often does Bridgeport play an okay 1st period only to start the 2nd period totally unprepared to plat?
2. Does Bridgeport EVER beat the Providence Bruins?

Edit: now 5 goals allowed in 12:23. Finally Schneider is pulled for Jakub Skarek.

 

[The Real JT]

I’m not watching the game, but somehow Bridgeport managed to give up 4 goals in 8 minutes to start the 2nd period in Providence. Corey Schneider in net.

Edit: now 5 goals allowed in 12:23. Finally Schneider is pulled for Jakub Skarek.

I see Bolduc scored his first of the season.

Guess both he and the Baby Isles are off the Schneid.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

I’m not watching the game, but somehow Bridgeport managed to give up 4 goals in 8 minutes to start the 2nd period in Providence. Corey Schneider in net.

Two rhetorical questions:

1. How often does Bridgeport play an okay 1st period only to start the 2nd period totally unprepared to plat?
2. Does Bridgeport EVER beat the Providence Bruins?

Edit: now 5 goals allowed in 12:23. Finally Schneider is pulled for Jakub Skarek.

Schneider gave up at least three he should have stopped, this is the problem with this team. It’s not exactly surprising because it applies to all teams but this team is good when they get solid goaltending but they don’t score enough to overcome bad goaltending.

 

[Osakahaus]

Holmstrom just scored his first in 2022, bridgeport up 2-1 on providence

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

Good effort today, they battled today and Skarek is making progress. Koivula to me could be in conversation here, I maintain he isn’t a center but he is highly skilled and is putting the work in physically. Wotherspoon I maintain also can play in nhl, nothing spectacular but he is good skater and plays with bite. I hope he gets shot here as a 6 or 7 because he isn’t bad and is having the best year I’ve ever seen from him.

 

[Osakahaus]

Good effort today, they battled today and Skarek is making progress. Koivula to me could be in conversation here, I maintain he isn’t a center but he is highly skilled and is putting the work in physically. Wotherspoon I maintain also can play in nhl, nothing spectacular but he is good skater and plays with bite. I hope he gets shot here as a 6 or 7 because he isn’t bad and is having the best year I’ve ever seen from him.

Skarek is salvagable. I wanna have faith in him as our backup next season

 

[seafoam]

Skarek is salvagable. I wanna have faith in him as our backup next season

There's literally zero chance of Skarek being the backup on opening night unless someone gets injured in training camp.

 

[seafoam]

Good effort today, they battled today and Skarek is making progress. Koivula to me could be in conversation here, I maintain he isn’t a center but he is highly skilled and is putting the work in physically. Wotherspoon I maintain also can play in nhl, nothing spectacular but he is good skater and plays with bite. I hope he gets shot here as a 6 or 7 because he isn’t bad and is having the best year I’ve ever seen from him.

I don't necessarily disagree about Koivula being NHL material (in what capacity remains to be seen), I'm just not sure where the hell he would fit on this team.

Unless changes happen to the 4th line this offseason (i.e. Clutterbuck not retained), Koivula likely goes back on waivers and would make a fine fourth liner for a team looking for to blend in some skill.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

I don't necessarily disagree about Koivula being NHL material (in what capacity remains to be seen), I'm just not sure where the hell he would fit on this team.

Unless changes happen to the 4th line this offseason (i.e. Clutterbuck not retained), Koivula likely goes back on waivers and would make a fine fourth liner for a team looking for to blend in some skill.

I think he’d need a more offensive role than as fourth liner, he is wing IMO and maybe could add some skill to Pageau line possibly.

 

[Osakahaus]

There's literally zero chance of Skarek being the backup on opening night unless someone gets injured in training camp.

i think he'll be the backup if we trade Varly

 

[The Real JT]

It’s a huge leap of faith to think Skarek will be next year’s NHL back up. While you’re at it, pencil Dufour and Raty in as top 6 players next year.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

It’s a huge leap of faith to think Skarek will be next year’s NHL back up. While you’re at it, pencil Dufour and Raty in as top 6 players next year.

Yeah I agree. I am liking Skarek's trajectory, but he needs more time in the minors.

 

[buud]

Good effort today, they battled today and Skarek is making progress. Koivula to me could be in conversation here, I maintain he isn’t a center but he is highly skilled and is putting the work in physically. Wotherspoon I maintain also can play in nhl, nothing spectacular but he is good skater and plays with bite. I hope he gets shot here as a 6 or 7 because he isn’t bad and is having the best year I’ve ever seen from him.

i thought Koivula looked pretty good in preseason. i purposely did not look at the numbers prior, so i would not have a bias. he stuck out, to me. i think it's great that he is multi-positional, as well. it looks like his skating and confidence have improved. i hope he gets a good look.

 

[BarzyClub]

Good effort today, they battled today and Skarek is making progress. Koivula to me could be in conversation here, I maintain he isn’t a center but he is highly skilled and is putting the work in physically. Wotherspoon I maintain also can play in nhl, nothing spectacular but he is good skater and plays with bite. I hope he gets shot here as a 6 or 7 because he isn’t bad and is having the best year I’ve ever seen from him.

I’m pleasantly surprised with Wotherspoon‘s play lately as well. You rarely see him get beat as he’s a very good skater but it seems he’s added a lot of physicality to his game that was lacking in the past- he’s been manhandling the opposition at times in a few of the last appearances I’ve seen him in . He Has even fought multiple occasions when has done well.he reminds me a bit of Ryan Murray, under the radar ,defensively sound , good skater.

One player that seems to be waking up Is Bolduc. He made a few offensive zone pinches and some entries last game that we saw last year. Also made a couple of stretch passes that we haven’t seen from him this year.

 

[PROMputt]

I’m pleasantly surprised with Wotherspoon‘s play lately as well. You rarely see him get beat as he’s a very good skater but it seems he’s added a lot of physicality to his game that was lacking in the past- he’s been manhandling the opposition at times in a few of the last appearances I’ve seen him in . He Has even fought multiple occasions when has done well.he reminds me a bit of Ryan Murray, under the radar ,defensively sound , good skater.

One player that seems to be waking up Is Bolduc. He made a few offensive zone pinches and some entries at game that we saw last year. Also made a couple of stretch passes that we haven’t seen from him this year.

Wotherspoon is 24 and is now playing his 5th full season at the Bridge. Not saying he is to old but as Yogi used to say it is getting late early. I think if he is not playing NHL hockey next year with the Islanders he will be a career AHLer or perhaps get a shot with another team.

 

[buud]

Burroughs seems to be making a good go of his time, in SJ, and wasn't thought of highly, around here. idk. i always thought him undersized. but good for him for stepping up. doesn't matter that it's late in his career. if he has grown into something useful...

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Liiga's regular season ends March 17. I would hope Raty will join BP Tigers for April, getting 10 AHL games under his belt will be immensely good for him.

 

[The Real JT]

Wotherspoon is 24 and is now playing his 5th full season at the Bridge. Not saying he is to old but as Yogi used to say it is getting late early. I think if he is not playing NHL hockey next year with the Islanders he will be a career AHLer or perhaps get a shot with another team.

I’ll preface my comments by saying I haven’t seen him play in 2+ years so take the following with a grain of salt.

I saw him play a half dozen times prior to the last 2 years and several of his teammates consistently appeared to have more NHL potential.

I’m talking about Hutton, Aho and even MVS. As time has gone by, Hutton looks like the only one that might stick and his ceiling is likely as a third pairing guy.

I think Yogi is right on this one.

 

[MJF]

I think Yogi is right on this one

Do you mean it’s getting late early for Wotherspoon?

I agree 100%

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

Do you mean it’s getting late early for Wotherspoon?

I agree 100%

Possibly but I’d argue he has been the consistently best defenseman in Bridgeport this year, I’m not ever going to say he’s a regular but if he progresses further a bit I could see him as third pair guy on a team. Guys like Skarek(as a backup) Durandeau(could see him as bottom six player in a year or two) Holmstrom( he is going replace Bailey IMO) and even Koivula( another shot to upgrade skill level on third line maybe). We have some prospects, none are special but definitely could help soon to get a bit younger and upgrade speed and skill throughout lineup.

 

[MJF]

 

[Osakahaus]

considering how meh bridgeport is, very nice seeing skarek go 5-0-2. looks like schneider is cooked after all