Good Morning, Islanders Country.
The unexpected happened when Ross Johnston, a player that fans believed could be waived at any time because no team would possibly take his $1.1M salary and limited skillset, was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks.
Many, myself included, predicted Johnston would clear waivers easily. We were wrong. Speaking of predictions sure to go wrong, with the NHL season starting yesterday, it was the last chance for season forecasts and prophecies to be put out on social media for all to criticize.
J Fresh Hockey jokingly said his own model’s predictions were “busted” when he released his predictions for 2023-24, which had the Islanders finishing T-2 with the Rangers for second in the Metro with 102 points. The model works for me.
Others were not so kind, including the “completely unhinged standings and playoff predictions based purely off deranged vibes” from Dom Luszcynszyn of The Athletic, who has the Islanders finishing behind not only the Pittsburgh Penguins but the Columbus Blue Jackets with just 84 points. Deranged!
The consensus prediction is the Islanders are somewhere between the two numbers, in the low to mid-90s, that makes the playoffs some years and other years isn’t quite good enough. Only a few more days left before we get to see how far off these far-out predictions were - or weren’t.
Coming up, the Isles lose Ross Johnston, the power play isn’t set in stone, and Wahlly skates like an extra. Plus, some puppy love, an unprecedented road start for Peter Laviolette, and a new addition named after an Isles legend.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: Ross Johnston is no longer part of the New York Islanders organization. The undrafted 29-year-old, who has played his entire NHL career on Long Island, was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday afternoon after being placed on waivers Monday.
"The decision to put Ross on waivers was not an easy one," said head coach Lane Lambert after practice on Tuesday, as posted by Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News. "There are certain things that go into that I won't discuss, but that's where we're at right now."
“Ross is a big bro to me; he’s like a big brother. It’s brutal, but it’s the business.” - Mathew Barzal
If Johnston had cleared waivers, he would have been assigned to Bridgeport (AHL). In going to Anaheim, Johnston will be reunited with longtime Bridgeport head coach Brent Thompson, who is now an assistant coach with the Ducks under long-time former Islanders assistant coach and current Anaheim head coach Greg Cronin. It’s a good landing spot for Johnston, who remains an NHLer.
◾️ The Islanders’ power play has been a focal point throughout the off-season into training camp, and that continued during the pre-season. It remains a work in progress with head coach Lane Lambert moving things around at practice on Tuesday, writes Andrew Fantucchio of NYIHockeyNow.
“There’s competition between both units,” Lambert said. “We’ve got people who can play on both units. That’s going to be a healthy thing for us. If one unit isn’t going, the other unit goes. That’s just the way it is.”
The competition reportedly also included Ryan Pulock and his 100mph slap shot atop the left circle on the second unit. An interesting wrinkle worth watching.
Among the themes has been whether a right-handed shot would be a better fit on the top unit than lefty Anders Lee. A righty could create more space for Bo Horvat to reside in the number position by spending more time along the side and behind the net, creating a triangle.
“From day one, we’ve talked about stick positioning,” Lambert said. “In terms of which way the hands are and what sets up better for us to be able to make plays on both units.
◾️ As much as Oliver Wahlstrom has talked about how last season’s injury was a “blessing,” it’s evident he still isn’t where he needs to be. He had an underwhelming preseason but always had too much upside not to make the 23-man roster. But now things have to start picking up for the 23-year-old in what is a crucial season in his development.
For AMNY, Joe Pantorno noted that at practice, he appeared to be the odd man out and spent time afterward working on things, something normally expected from the extra skaters that will be scratched come game time.
“He’s working to get himself up to speed,” Lane Lambert said in an attempt to provide some clarity. “This is just a guy putting in extra time for him.”
⏭ NEXT UP: It’s the regular season! The Islanders open up the 2023-24 campaign at home against Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres. Face-off from UBS Arena in Elmont is at 7:30 PM EDT.
📊 STANDINGS: The NHL season opened up with a Lightning win vs. Barry Trotz’s Preds, the Golden Knights raised their banner, and Connor Bedard made his debut in a 4-2 comeback win over Sidney Crosby and the Pens.
◾️ Have a ruf day? The Islanders tried to make up for it with pictures and videos from the team’s annual photoshoot for the Paws & Pucks calendar.
Check out all of this adorableness and the two pups.
◾️ To commemorate the start of the NHL season, illustrator Damien Quinn created this digitized 32 players representing each city work of art for ESPN. If you look in the upper right, you’ll see Mathew Barzal (or maybe Bo Horvat?) doing the Ralph Maccho-inspired crane kick from The Karate Kid.
🎥 ISLES REWIND: On October 11, 2011, Peter Laviolette became the first NHL coach to open a career with four straight road wins as the Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-4 in East Rutherford. Mark Parrish led the way with a hat trick, including an empty-net power-play goal at 19:58 to play in the game.
The Islanders, the worst team in the NHL the previous season, would go on to post a record of 9-0-1-1 in October and made the post-season for the first time since the 1994 season.
🎧 Islanders Award Winners: Al Arbour, Jack Adams Trophy, 1979 “The story of Al Arbour’s one NHL Coach of the Year season begins and ends with devastating losses. In between was a franchise-record winning streak, several of the best individual seasons in team history, and the often ruthless pursuit of perfection.”
🔗 Oliver Wahlstrom appearing behind on Islanders’ competition for playing time by Joe Pantorno, AMNY “With a first-line spot on the left wing up for grabs and a third-line spot on the right wing for the taking, Oliver Wahlstrom spent Tuesday’s Islanders practice as the extra skater rotating in during drills without a set spot.”
🔗 Islanders have to wait longer than others to open season by Peter Schwartz, WFAN.com “While the NHL season begins on Tuesday night, the Islanders have to wait until Saturday night before they open up their regular season against the Buffalo Sabres at UBS Arena. The Isles closed out their pre-season schedule last Friday and are in the midst of a whole week of extra practice before they drop the puck for real.”
And we leave you with this…the New York Islanders’ Puppy With a Purpose® Will Be Named “Jethro” in honor of the late, great Clark Gillies. Jethro is an 11-week-old male yellow Labrador Retriever puppy. Welcome to the team!
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