The BIG questions

[checknate]

The last month of last season was very special for the New York Islanders. They finally saw that everybody was playing actually playing great. They were finally coming together as a team. But, there are a few questions for this upcoming season. John Tavares is a given, of course he needs to produce, and i really think he will, however, he can't do it on his own for an 82 game schedule. NHL.com said that Bailey was our x-factor. Over the years we've seen this kid play good, but not really play to potential. Same with Kyle Okposo! Nabokov is a very big question too, especially in the playoffs. So please tell me what you think.

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

Is our defense good enough?

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

I think if all of these answers are "yes" the islanders are playoff bound.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

Nope. Not yet.

I still think both are primed to have their best seasons to date.

Something like 17-25-42 for Bailey and 22-34-56 for Okposo.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

Nope. That's not what he really is. But if he continues to be a PK asset, get roughly 50 breakaways a season and earns the team PP opportunities through his speed, he's going to continue to be one very good 3rd liner.

And something like 25-15-40 is surely not out of the question.

Is our defense good enough?

It won't be unless Visnovsky completely duplicates Streit's numbers and each of Hamonic, Hickey and Donovan take big steps this winter. All the while, MacDonald, Strait, and Carkner need to at least stay what they are.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? Or just another Keith Aucoin?

Even if he is, that'd be great, as he's SURELY a better skater than Aucoin.

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

He can and he likely wil be.... until the injuries set in.

The skill set is there for him to have a 20-50-70 style season if playing regularly with JT and Moulson.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

He'll put up some fine numbers - for Bridgeport. Time to let him have the developmental comfort period Nelson had last season.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

Both will be fine, but not outstanding. Chances are that Nabby will need more rest in order to be effective, even if his career has shown that he places better with more playing time.

 

[bvon44]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games? - Bailey I'm not too sure about but I think Okposo has finally turned the corner. He looked like a beast in the playoffs and we know he worked out with JT over the summer, to me those are good signs.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again? - Our wishes for Grabner to finish most his breakaways are probably not going to be granted, however, he does have the capability to be a 25-30 goal player over the course of a season. If that constitutes a scoring machine then sure, if not, then I'm still very pleased with his PK ability.

Is our defense good enough? - I don't believe so. I have confidence in Hamonic, McDonald, Visnovsky, and Strait. All four will have to play at a top notch level for just about the full season though. Hickey while solid is still a question mark and so is Donovan obviously. I still have a gut feeling that Garth brings in someone on a PTO as a just-in-case.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin? - I'm a fan of Regin's and I think he could be a solid third liner.

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line? - I certainly hope so, I feel like Bailey or Strome would be a better fit with JT but I'm willing to see what PMB can do.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers? - Yes. If he's put with JT he will be a Calder finalist on numbers alone, and I think he does well as a 2nd line center as well. But, if he's going to be 3rd or 4th line, then he might be better suited in the AHL

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him? - I think Nabby will regress a bit this year, its only natural. I think Poulin is a very good goaltender (he was impressive in relief of Nabby against Pit) who will be inconsistent, again its only natural. Also, he seems to be a goalie who is better with more playing time. I know I was picked apart for it earlier in the summer, but, I think someone gets a camp tryout (Hedberg, Bryzgalov, or Theodore).

 

[PK Cronin]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

It certainly could be. Bailey looked really good at the middle/end of last season. Watching him on JT's wing made me wonder how good they would be together.

Okposo might have finally realized that he has to change something in his game in order to produce, and him spending more time with JT is a positive.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

Doubtful. He got ridiculously hot one time, and seems to be a very streaky scorer. But as long as he's still a threat and does his job on the PK, he's one of the better 3rd liners you could ask for.

Is our defense good enough?

I think it could be with a better goaltender, but with Nabby back there I just don't know. They might have to make a move in order to pick someone up if they are still in the playoff race at the deadline.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?

A lot of people knocked Aucoin, but I thought he performed very well what for he is. If Regin can be as good or better than Aucoin, that third line is in really good shape.

But I also wonder where/if Nelson will be playing.

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

Anything is an improvement over Boyes.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

If he's playing in a top 6 role, yes. Otherwise, no.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

I don't trust either and it's the area that needs to be addressed the most. If the Isles are in the hunt and don't get a defender, I expect them to grab a goalie. It's really crucial to have a solid #1 who you can count on.

Personally, I thought he was over-hyped last season by most Islanders fans for putting up mediocre numbers.

I think if all of these answers are "yes" the islanders are playoff bound.

It's going to be much harder this year than in years past I'd imagine. The one thing I think that is in our favor is not having to play as many games versus NJ, PHI, PITT, and the Rags. I'm pretty sure they do better when not playing the (old) divisional rivals.

 

[eastonhockey22*]

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?
Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

About as much as Marty Reasoner, Steve Staios, and Eric Boulton were.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

Not over 82 games. He can play well for another season but there's no way he can do it by himself again. If we miss the playoffs this year its because of a lack of solid goaltending. As much as I hated the lockout it was probably the only reason they made the playoffs.

 

[RMimagery]

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

Here's an interesting article.

"out of 80 draftees, only 6 players failed to make their team's NHL roster in their third post draft year. In addition, not one of these 6 players matched Strome's level of production in Juniors and most encountered significant issues in their development after they were drafted."

http://www.lighthousehockey.com/201...-a-deep-dive-into-the-history-of-how-high-end

I don't know why most people want to start Ryan at the Bridge. He also has put on some poundage and muscle this summer. Out of those 6 draftees, most had reason to be held back. I don't see anything that should hold Strome down.

I wonder how much mgmt would listen to Tavares about Strome's near future. They have been training together for a while and I think that JT has a good handle on Ryan's game and weaknesses. I'd love to know his thoughts.

I personally feel that if he was up for the whole season as the #1RW, he could realistically get 25G and 40A and be in the running for the Calder. And with scoring threats on either side - Johnny will have his best season yet. 85-90 points.

 

[TeamKidd]

Strome is the biggest key to our season, imo. If he has a calder type year, this team can get very good in a very quick hurry. I have been very impressed with him. I was at the Blue and White game and he was clearly the best player on the ice. I really think he comes to camp and goes bonkers, makes a statement, and forces his way into the lineup. He's got the Eye of the Tiger, so to speak. Big things ahead for him.

Other Keys to the season:

Brock Nelson, Kyle Okposo, and Josh Bailey. I actually think they would make a fantastic 2nd line. Size, speed, grit, defensively responsible, playmaking ability, scoring touch. Sign me up. I'm more confident that okposo has turned a corner as compared to bailey. I do think bailey has his best year, but he'll still suffer from some inconsistancy.

Donovan. He must come in, play well, and score from the back end. The weak link to this team is the defense and Donovan must come in and provide offense to make up for the loss of streit. Down the line we'll have a ridiculous defense, but right now...it's a bit iffy.

Finally Goaltending. Not thrilled. Nabby is fine, but given his age, you have to expect he'll need more rest and his skills will erode somewhat. Is poulin the answer? not sold. Dont think Nilsson is ready, but i like his chances in the future...

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

They played at a high level to get into the playoffs, with pressure at its highest. I think so. Do I think they will play at that level over a full 82? Hell no, you'd be out of your mind to think that. But I do think they are guys you can now trust on to play well over the full season and to step it up when needed.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

Believe he was on pace for 25 or so over the half season. He elevated his game in the playoffs. I think 25 would be the expectation and 30 the optimistic scenario.

Is our defense good enough?

I hope so. Mac and Hammer provide a shutdown pairing. Hickey and Lubo provide excellent puck moving ability. Strait is ok and Donovan is a rookie. Carkner provides the muscle when needed. Good group of soldiers. If we need to I believe Garth can acquire a more stay at home dman to pair up with Vis.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?

Another Keith Aucoin. No biggie, he doesn't make my squad if we're healthy. We just need him to be defensively sound and fast to fit into the team when injuries inevitably happen.

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

The line lacks speed and a playmaker with JT lighting the lamp so much so absolutely.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

If he is on JT's right side then yes. Third line center role wouldn't be a problem but then I don't see calder nomination. Who know because if he beats out Brock for that spot then he's playing with Clutterbuck and Grabner. Some quality linemates there.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

Yes he can. Poulin should back him up and we can't have Nabby play 90% of these games again.

 

[CREW99AW]

T
Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?


Is our defense good enough?


How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

I think if all of these answers are "yes" the islanders are playoff bound.

My biggest concerns about this season are ...
1. Do we finally get consistency from Bailey/Okposo ?
I hope for a strong season from Bailey.
I think Okposo, like Hamonic, will be very motivated to have a strong Oct.- Jan. They both want to impress , in hopes of being picked for their countries Olympic teams.

2.Will Poulin bounce back and contribute?

I am not sure.

3. How well does the D hold up without Streit?

Which B. Strait are we getting? The solid youngster who played 2nd pairing mins or the penalty magnet we saw when he returned?

 

[BillD]

All good questions, but I will address only three forwards that are key and have been inconsistent but with flashes (or more) of real ability:

Okposo has worked with a sports psychologist to to break through his self limiting barriers and bring out his abilities. That step is vey important as it shows that he is not just happy to float on the fringes of th NHL as complimentary player. He made the decision to reach for his potential. This is an important step forward as we saw the results in late March and April. KO "broke out" as a complete and effective player after being combined with Frans and Grabs and told to take care of defense first.
The question with KO is will he be motivated to excel as late last season, and will he need the combination of Frans/Bails to assist that, or can he be the beast he was on his own and on any line?

Bailey has always teased us with flashes of abilty that justified his high draft position.
Bailey is another player like Okposo who is mentally self limiting as he has skills that he does not always use effectively. He need so have the focus and confidence to make plays with the puck that his hands, vision, and IQ allow of him. Bails is just an adequate skater who really needs to improve on his quickness and lateral movement to give him room to make plays. His shot is quite good and he needs to be confident enough to use it as well as make plays for others. Again, if Baily continues to play like he did in March and April, he will earn his 5 year contract extension. Otherwise he will be the Bailey we have seen since he was rushed up.

Grabner will be fine as a 3rd line nuclear option and defensive/penalty killing player.
He is capable of scoring 30 or more goals from the 3rd line, which is excellent secondary scoring. He gets to play with Clutterbuck which will open some ice for him to do what he do. I do nt focus too much on his missed breakaway opportunities. He could finish on a higher percentage this year, but miss on many other great chances. It is like putting from 20 feet in golf.......get it to the edge and it doesn't go in is just the way it goes. The goalies very good at stopping breakaways, I will only worry when he doesn't get many chances anymore. Grabs also has a good enough shot to score around the net and he has to be encouraged to go there more often and to use his body more.

All 3 of these forwards are 50/50 with the ability to produce on a regular basis. If they all can produce it will take the pressure off of JT's line.

 

[Bones45]

I don't know if I would use Grabs and Scoring Machine in the same sentence, but I understand what you are asking.

I wouldn't even break it down to that low of a level.

Look at last year.

First half, we played like dung. barely .500.
Second half, (Post DP demotion), we played fantastic.

My thought is --which team is going to show up? Last I checked, there weren't any lineup changes to invoke this change, simply the team played better, listened to the coach, tried, played the system, etc.

Which team will show up in a month from now?

And a follow up.. this team will live and die by the KO, JB and Grabs production. If they do nothing, then we have ONE line, a very one dimensional team which is easy to play against. Should they be a consistent threat, then it does worlds for our scoring and will definitely show in the standings.

Defense will continue to suck.

 

[JetsMetsIsles]

The last month of last season was very special for the New York Islanders. They finally saw that everybody was playing actually playing great. They were finally coming together as a team. But, there are a few questions for this upcoming season. John Tavares is a given, of course he needs to produce, and i really think he will, however, he can't do it on his own for an 82 game schedule. NHL.com said that Bailey was our x-factor. Over the years we've seen this kid play good, but not really play to potential. Same with Kyle Okposo! Nabokov is a very big question too, especially in the playoffs. So please tell me what you think.

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

Is our defense good enough?

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

I think if all of these answers are "yes" the islanders are playoff bound.

Our biggest issues are goaltending and Defense. I like our top 6 and think Bailey and Okposo can play a bit better this season and give us one of the highest scoring top 6 in the NHL. I love the toughness of our bottom 6 and the minutes they can give us.

Our defense has some question marks. Donovan, Hickey, Strait all need to play well and be consistent. Losing Streit might be a bigger absence than some realize.

Nabby needs to play better than he did last season. He had a great stretch late in the season but had a terrible first half and was abysmal in the playoffs.
He's up there in age so we also need a backup who can actually give us more than 1 win this season. Nabby isn't an everyday goalie so Poulin really needs to be able to step up and give us at a minimum 20 starts.

 

[bigd]

Our biggest issues are goaltending and Defense. I like our top 6 and think Bailey and Okposo can play a bit better this season and give us one of the highest scoring top 6 in the NHL. I love the toughness of our bottom 6 and the minutes they can give us.

Our defense has some question marks. Donovan, Hickey, Strait all need to play well and be consistent. Losing Streit might be a bigger absence than some realize.

Nabby needs to play better than he did last season. He had a great stretch late in the season but had a terrible first half and was abysmal in the playoffs.
He's up there in age so we also need a backup who can actually give us more than 1 win this season. Nabby isn't an everyday goalie so Poulin really needs to be able to step up and give us at a minimum 20 starts.

I really don't think our defense is going to suffer that badly from a defensive stand point. Streit was not very solid in the defensive zone. Now offense from the defense is another story. I think everyone will have to contribute from the back end to make up for the points lost with Streit gone. The PP will also suffer without Streit at the point. The PK should be fine.

 

[RMimagery]

I don't know if I would use Grabs and Scoring Machine in the same sentence, but I understand what you are asking.

I wouldn't even break it down to that low of a level.

Look at last year.

First half, we played like dung. barely .500.
Second half, (Post DP demotion), we played fantastic.

My thought is --which team is going to show up? Last I checked, there weren't any lineup changes to invoke this change, simply the team played better, listened to the coach, tried, played the system, etc.

Which team will show up in a month from now?

And a follow up.. this team will live and die by the KO, JB and Grabs production. If they do nothing, then we have ONE line, a very one dimensional team which is easy to play against. Should they be a consistent threat, then it does worlds for our scoring and will definitely show in the standings.

Defense will continue to suck.

I guess it's good to have a few glass half empty posts to keep our balance. Now my glasses aren't too rosy (cheesy mix of two clichés, i just woke up) but I have to disagree here.

We have the most depth since 2002 and are not a one line team, even if our 2nd line sags (which I don't think it will). We're all curious to see which versions of KO, Bailey and Grabs, but I think they turned a corner last year and saw what it takes to be successful. There's a new confidence now and it will be infectious through the ranks, starting with JT's determination. And it's a quiet yet fierce determination that seethes...ok sorry, back ot.

Our bottom six is strong and getting stronger each year now with Cizikas, Martin and others who are relatively young grow together. I see a lot of chemistry and Clutterbuck may shine in our system. Nelson is a nice wildcard who should get the 3C this year and if he succeeds, the 2C next year is possible and Frans can be a solid 3C (with Strome as the top RW, this is my ideal scenario for next year).

Our defense while far from stellar is just as far from suckage. Lubo is settled in and a while year from him will be nice. He can replace a good amount of Streit's offense (it was nice having both for a while) and if Donovan can be steady, and with the further maturity of Hammer, Hickey, the defense can be better than last year. Don't forget that Lubo lead all D in points 3 years ago and doesn't appear to be slowed down too much. (18G 50A 68 pts in 81 gms, lead 2nd place Lidstrom by 6 pts and was +18). Not expecting that but top 10 could def be possible. We are very lucky having him.

Damn, drop the puck.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

All great questions and the answers will certainly determine the outcome of the season. The one I will keep the closest eye on is defense. I have major concerns there…

Sorry to take the thread off topic a bit but my biggest fear is injuries. In all of our “strong†areas, we are very single-threaded. If someone like Viz, Nabokov or god forbid, Tavares (gulp) goes down for a significant amount of time, we don’t have the depth to overcome that. Last season we were pretty fortunate to be relatively healthy all year, especially down the stretch.

 

[bigd]

All great questions and the answers will certainly determine the outcome of the season. The one I will keep the closest eye on is defense. I have major concerns there…

Sorry to take the thread off topic a bit but my biggest fear is injuries. In all of our “strong†areas, we are very single-threaded. If someone like Viz, Nabokov or god forbid, Tavares (gulp) goes down for a significant amount of time, we don’t have the depth to overcome that. Last season we were pretty fortunate to be relatively healthy all year, especially down the stretch.

Injuries are always the big unknown with every team. Multiple injuries to key players can derail any team. I think that was one of the main reasons we were still in it at seasons end last year.

 

[SI90]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?-I hope so

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?-don't see it.He has to finish on breakaways,if not 20-25 goals

Is our defense good enough?-Too win a cup? no. Too compete? Yes I think so.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?[U]-I see him as a 12th/13th foward[/U]
Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?- if healthy he will be better than Boyes but not quite PAP.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?Have to keep the expectations in perspective, but if he played a full 82 game season on Tavares wing I could see a 50-55 point season from him.However I believe he will start in BPORT. Also he would reall have to earn a top 6 spot
How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?Nabby will be solid imo but he wont be able to start the amount of games the most starting goalies will due to his age.Our back up will be a very important part of our success imo.
I think if all of these answers are "yes" the islanders are playoff bound.

Just my 2 cents. Its also hard to answer when we don't even know the line combos and final roster.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

No. They haven't gotten close (except for KO last year), and are still too inconsistent.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

No. He's a good player, and creates rushes. But until he learns to finish-he will never be able to score like he once did.

Is our defense good enough?

No.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?

Not sure.

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

Upgrade over Boyes, I had higher hopes than Bouchard-but I think he could be an asset.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

I don't think there's really room for him. I'd like to see him in the AHL for one more season.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

Absolutely not. He was tired by the end of last season (and that was roughly a 50% season). Factor that in, and he's 1 year older, AND let's not forget: goaltenders usually (not always) crash and burn. They don't fade away gracefully. This is because the 2nd best center on a team is a top-six, 2nd best defensemen is a top-pairing....but the 2nd best goaltender is a backup. 3rd best winger/center is a 3rd liner, 3rd best defensemen 2nd pairing.....3rd best goaltender on a team is out of the NHL.

I think if all of these answers are "yes" the islanders are playoff bound.

Maybe....but let's be frank: we slipped into the playoffs last season. If we had the same division as this year last year....Detroit makes the playoffs and we don't. We need to play evenb better under the new playoff format...our division is even better now, and adding Detroit should be a huge concern for teams that were on the bubble last year.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

I think Bailey is slowly developing on a more normal curve at this point and I don't really worry about where he will be. I just lowered my expectations for him. Kyle is a wildcard. I think he will either kill himself to keep up the momentum from the playoffs and earn a real spot in the top 6, possibly first unit in the end, or he will wind up traded in a package for the wing, defenseman, or goaltender they desperately need.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

That is entirely up to Grabner. His level of effort in the playoffs once he committed to real hockey showed me a guy who can score a ton of goals again.

Is our defense good enough?

No. It is still small, weak, poor in its own end and now will rely on a rookie or two for help. We will be top 5 for GA again this year unless the keep to a conservative defensive system.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin?

He is another small softie. For whatever skill he brings he was not a help in the physical dept. and that is still a huge problem for this club.

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

Yes, for as long as he remains uninjured. The real question, IMO, is if he will avoid losing significant time to a head injury, and if he does will that also mean that he avoided contact situations to the point of being a detriment to the first unit?

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

I see no reason to worry about Strome. He is gravy on the bacon/roastbeef/prospect sandwich.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

He can have another good season but with less success. If they limit his use then that should improve, but I don't trust Poulin at all and expect that scenario to prove out to more losses.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games?

Nope. Not yet.

I still think both are primed to have their best seasons to date.

Something like 17-25-42 for Bailey and 22-34-56 for Okposo.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?

Nope. That's not what he really is. But if he continues to be a PK asset, get roughly 50 breakaways a season and earns the team PP opportunities through his speed, he's going to continue to be one very good 3rd liner.

And something like 25-15-40 is surely not out of the question.

Is our defense good enough?

It won't be unless Visnovsky completely duplicates Streit's numbers and each of Hamonic, Hickey and Donovan take big steps this winter. All the while, MacDonald, Strait, and Carkner need to at least stay what they are.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? Or just another Keith Aucoin?

Even if he is, that'd be great, as he's SURELY a better skater than Aucoin.

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line?

He can and he likely wil be.... until the injuries set in.

The skill set is there for him to have a 20-50-70 style season if playing regularly with JT and Moulson.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers?

He'll put up some fine numbers - for Bridgeport. Time to let him have the developmental comfort period Nelson had last season.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?

Both will be fine, but not outstanding. Chances are that Nabby will need more rest in order to be effective, even if his career has shown that he places better with more playing time.

Very curious to know what you think Okposo's ceiling is if you state he will have those numbers but still not "reach his potential". You must think it's quite high. I think 25-40 type numbers would be Okposo hitting his potential. I guess you think much higher of him.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Very curious to know what you think Okposo's ceiling is if you state he will have those numbers but still not "reach his potential". You must think it's quite high. I think 25-40 type numbers would be Okposo hitting his potential. I guess you think much higher of him.

Okposo was projected to be more than a 40 point player when he was drafted. I'd be shocked if you can find anything that contradicts this from back then.

 

[RMimagery]

Okposo was projected to be more than a 40 point player when he was drafted. I'd be shocked if you can find anything that contradicts this from back then.

Agreed. If Okie doesn't go over 40 this year if healthy - and the way that he finished the year - it'll be a disappointment. I'm rooting for him and I hope he peaks at more than a marginal 2nd liner.

 

[TeamKidd]

points are a BIT of an unfair measure when talking about Okposo. Points are at least in part a measure of how well the team is playing and the calibur of player he plays with. The question is the effort, passion, and hockey smarts he plays with. In my estimation, he's turned the corner. If he gives similar effort and passion, then the year will be successful. I see him as a quality 60 point 2nd line player at his prime. next year i think between 45 to 55 points depending on his linemates.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Very curious to know what you think Okposo's ceiling is if you state he will have those numbers but still not "reach his potential". You must think it's quite high. I think 25-40 type numbers would be Okposo hitting his potential. I guess you think much higher of him.

Actually, no not really. I think you're pretty spot on.

Maybe he's got one 30-40-70 style season in the cards at one point, but a regular attaining of stats like that would certainly be above the potential ceiling I see him having, in general.

True, with a prognosis of a 56 point season, I guess I am kind of saying he'd be kind of reaching his ceiling.

 

[Fantom]

Do you think Bailey and Okposo can finally play to their potential this year even though it's 82 games? I think they will both have nice seasons but i do not think they can be what they were at the end of last for a full season.

Can grabner be a scoring machine again?
I do not think he was brought here to be a Scoring Machine. I think he will have a Decent season but by no means a scoring Machine. I am thinking 40 Points here.

Is our defense good enough? I think Our D is decent not Horrific but not great. Perhaps middle of the pack.

Do you think Peter Regin could be anything special? or just another Keith Aucoin? No

Do you think Bouchard can be an asset to this team's first line? No I do not think he will be much.

Strome is a big question, but even IF he makes the team, do you think he can put up numbers? I do not think he makes the team. So his points will not come.
Maybe he has a nice season in the port.

How about Nabby, can he have another good season? who will cover for him, Poulin? do you trust him?[/B] I think Nabby will be a Solid guy for a good part of the season. However he needs rest. He should not play more then 60 games. We cant afford to have him breakdown if we have any chance of success. I think ALOT Hinges on him.

I think if all of these answers are "yes" the islanders are playoff bound.[/QUOTE]