30 Teams In 30 Days: The Tavares Era Set To Begin On The Isle

To say that the 2008-09 New York Islanders were dreadfully awful would be an understatement. However, considering their loss of 582 man games to injury, the Isles were seemingly already out of the race for a playoff spot and were in the race for John Tavares. Luckily for them, this was the one race that the Isles actually won in 2009.

Notably the injuries struck the Islanders key players and veteran leaders as Mike Sillinger missed 75 games, Doug Weight missed 29 games, Trent Hunter missed 27 games and face-of-the-franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro missed 77 games.

The injuries to DiPietro, who's under contract until the end of the 2022 NHL season, essentially threw the Islanders goaltending department to the wolves of the Eastern Conference. As former Bruins goaltender Joey McDonald was given the starting nod for Scott Gordon's club, the team also relied heavily on Yann Danis and even used Peter Mannino when the injuries piled on.

Despite the lack of success in 2008-09, a ray of light is hopefully showing for the Islanders in the form of 2009 NHL Draft number one overall pick John Tavares. The 18-year old Tavares totaled 104 points in 56 games between the Oshawa Generals and London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in 2008-09 and tallied 15 points in 6 games for Team Canada in the World Juniors, where he won the MVP award.

Along with Tavares, the Islanders also nabbed promising defensemen Calvin de Haan with the 12th overall pick in the Draft. Although de Haan is expected to remain in the Ontario Hockey League for at least one more season to continue his development, his offensive upside and potential to be a defensive stud make him a valuable asset towards the future.

Tavares, who's drawn many comparisons to Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is expected to play alongside Kyle Okposo, the Islanders other prized young forward in the hopes that they will create a one-two punch for the future.

As the draft concluded, the Islanders appeared to have their number one center of tomorrow, but with the status of Rick DiPietro's knee relatively unknown the Islanders needed a goaltender. They addressed this issue with the signing of Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson to a two year deal worth five million dollars. Roloson went 28-24-9 for the Oil with a 2.77 GAA with a .915 SV%. Roloson's biggest contributions for the Oilers in 2008-09 was his 36 straight starts for the Oilers in their attempt to make the playoffs.

When the Roloson signing was made official, the Islanders goaltender core appeared set. However, the additional signing of Marty Biron to a one year deal worth 1.4 million dollars, the idea that Rick DiPietro wouldn't be playing in the 2009-10 NHL season seemed likely. Biron, who's spent two a half seasons in the Atlantic Division playing against the Islanders, went 29-19-5 for the Flyers with 2.76 GAA.

With DiPietro not yet cleared to practice more than just light skating, the Isles appeared ready to roll with a Biron-Roloson tandem in 2009-10.

The newest news regarding the Islanders without the word "lighthouse" or "project" in it involves the retiring of 17-year NHL veteran Mike Sillinger. The 1,000 game veteran Sillinger had spent three seasons on Long Island where he put up a total of 87 points in 141 games. However, hip injuries put an end to the 38-year old's career as he announced his retirement last week.

Sillinger's departure gives the Islanders 15 million dollars remaining in cap space as they still lack serious depth on the wings and on the blue-line. A player who seems to have interest in returning to New York is free agent right winger Miroslav Satan. The 34-year old winger, who spent three seasons with the Islanders before joining the Penguins in 2008-09, is coming off a season where he put up 36 points in 65 games for Dan Bylsma's Pittsburgh Penguins.

Along with Satan, some free agent defensemen that could help the Islanders on the cheap are Mathieu Dandenault, Marc-Andre Bergeron and even Rhett Warrener. All remain unsigned as of today and could be a solid depth signing for around a million dollars or even less.

Barring any moves from here until their season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 3rd, the Islanders line-up is expected to go as follows.

Sean Bergenheim - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo

Blake Comeau - Doug Weight - Trent Hunter

Jeff Tambellini - Josh Bailey - Richard Park

Jon Sim - Frans Nielsen - Joel Rechlicz

Extra Skaters: Nate Thompson and Tim Jackman

Mark Streit - Andy Sutton

Brendan Witt - Radek Martinek

Freddy Meyer - Bruno Gervais

Extra Skater: Jack Hillen

Dwayne Roloson

Martin Biron

Basically, the rebuilding of the Islanders will continue on into 2009-10 as this team doesn't have enough strength from the blue-line and offensive depth to compete for a playoff spot.

Prediction: 5th in the Atlantic Division, 15th in the Eastern Conference.

Free Agent Frenzy: 10 Best Goaltenders

We're just six short days away from every hockey fans favorite part of the off-season, the start of free agency. This year, the focus is on the forwards and the potential of monstrous contracts even in this rough economic climate for the NHL. However, for many teams there are holes within their team that begin in between the iron in the goaltending department. Some of these teams heading into next season without a solidified goaltending situation include the Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues and even the Detroit Red Wings. Kickin' off the series of 'Free Agent Frenzy' pieces we have the 10 best available unrestricted free agent goaltenders come July 1st.

10) Antero Niittymaki - Niitty had a peculiar year in Philly to say the least. He was just as inconsistent as his teammate and fellow protector of the crease Marty Biron but his numbers weren't terrible either. Niittymaki went 15-8-6 with a 2.76 GAA in 32 games for the Flyers. As easy as it may be to write off Niitty as having a bad year, his numbers in fact very deceptive. In 7 of Niitty's 15 total losses when you count both regulation and overtime losses, he made 30 saves or more, including a 40 save effort in an overtime loss against the San Jose Sharks. He's not bound to get a major bump from his current 1.23 million dollar contract but the Finnish netminder has proved he's more than capable to perform decently in a platoon role.

9) Manny Legace - How far the Mighty Manny has fallen. Following a successful 2007-08 season where Legace earned a place on the Western Conference All-Star Team, Legace was in complete control of guarding the net for the Blues. His season struggles began early when Legace tripped on the carpet rolled out for vice-president wannabe Sarah Palin's puck drop between the Blues and Kings. Legace was injured during the spill and missed 5 games with an injured hip flexor. Inconsistency and a new found love for minor injuries found the Blues netminder with a 13-9-2 record and a .885 SV% and placed on waivers. Legace went unclaimed and played out the rest of the season with the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL. Legace went 14-7-1 with 3 shut-out's and a 2.00 GAA and was the goalie during the Rivermen's playoff run, which only lasted 7 games. There's no doubting that Legace still has the talent to compete in the NHL, but the injuries and confidence will be a big issue for teams with interest in the 36 year old goalie.

8) Martin Gerber - 2008-09 was a difficult year for the 34 year old Swiss goalie. For the first time since making the jump to the Eastern Conference, Martin Gerber looked frustrated and struggled to keep games close. Gerber's season began with the Senators, where he posted a 4-9-1 record along with a .899 SV%. Gerber's struggles mounted to 3 different call-up/demotions to the Binghampton Senators of the AHL until he was traded to Toronto during the NHL trading deadline. Gerber played considerably well considering the Maple Leafs (lack of) talent where he went 6-5-0 with a 3.23 GAA. His best Maple Leaf moment came when an irate Gerber threw a temper tantrum and bumped a referee, an action that cost him a three-game suspension. However, the 34 year old is still a more than capable as a back-up to any team in the NHL.

7) Craig Anderson - Before 2008-09, the Panthers goalie had never played more than 29 games in a season, but in 2008-09 he reached a new career milestone by playing in 31 games. No big deal, right? Well usually no, but when he consider Anderson's numbers it was truly a breakout season for the 28 year old. His 15-7-5 record and 3 shut-out's created a goaltending controversy mid-way through the Panthers season and Anderson finished the season with a .924SV%, good for 3rd in the NHL. Anderson's current salary of 550,000 dollars a season is sure to go up and it's likely that Anderson could stay in Florida with a reasonable offer when you consider the lack of NHL-quality netminders in the Panthers system. Tyler Plante went 5-10-1 while Chris Beckford-Tseu went 3-14-1 for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.

6) Dwayne Roloson - If you didn't find yourself tipping your proverbial cap to this guy at the end of the season, then you're simply not a hockey fan. Dwayne Roloson started 36 consecutive games for the Edmonton Oilers in their attempt to make the playoffs in what many considered a disappointing year. Dwayne's best iron-man attempt wasn't enough to recharge the Oilers offense, who by seasons end left the 39 year old Ontario native out to dry. Roloson finished with a 28-24-9 record along with a .915 SV% and is up for a new contract. Barring any unforeseen incident and attempt to officially hand the torch to Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers expect Roloson to be back in Edmonton for the same amount of money, perhaps a little less.

5) Scott Clemmensen - New Jersey's Scott Clemmensen presents an interesting case for teams interested. Is he the real deal, or was he a beneficiary of New Jersey's defensive style of play? The soon to be 32 year old Iowa native went 25-13-1 with a 2.39 GAA in the absence of Devils mainstay Martin Brodeur. Clemm's play certainly kept the Devils in the race for the Atlantic Division and even the Eastern Conference but found himself demoted back down to the Lowell Devils when Marty returned. The Boston College alum is certain to get a boost from his current 550,000 dollar salary based on the numbers and poise he displayed but whether he can get it from the Devils or not is a topic for debate. Along with Clemmensen, the Devils back-up Kevin Weekes is an unrestricted free agent and could likely be brought back for cheaper money than Clemmensen. However, given Marty's age and injury woes experienced in 2008-09, it should be in the Devils best interest to keep Clemmensen in New Jersey, using some of the cap money freed up from the now retired Bobby Holik.

4) Manny Fernandez - Following major knee surgery that limited him to just 4 games in 2007-08, Manny Fernandez rebounded and rebounded well for the Boston Bruins. The 34 year old Fernandez went 16-8-3 for the Bruins, including a 2.59 GAA and went on to win the William Jennings Trophy with teammate Tim Thomas. Manny's health came into question when he was sidelined with an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the line-up for two games, and later sidelined for 4 games with a back injury. His injury provided Bruins fans to get a view of the future of the B's crease, Tuukka Rask. In Rask's one game, he made 35 saves to shut-out to New York Rangers. The health of Fernandez will certainly turn some teams off, but there's still no denying that when healthy, Fernandez is a goalie who can thrive in a platoon role with another goalie. At this point in his career, he himself has even stated that being a full time starter is likely out of the question due to his age and health. With Rask ready for the NHL, there's simply no room for Manny in Boston. He certainly won't receive the 4.3 million dollars a season he made in Boston, but Manny will undoubtedly find a team very shortly.

3) Ty Conklin - In recent years, Ty Conklin has become one of the best journeyman goaltenders in today's NHL, Alex Auld being his best competition. Following another strong season as a back-up to a contending team where he went 25-11-2 including a spectacular 6 shut-outs, the 33 year old goaltender is without a contract, again. Conklin's 750,000 dollar salary looks like a joke when you look at his numbers but his preference of a platoon/back-up role is what makes the deal so sweet for clubs looking to sign the UNH alum. Conklin's stated his desire to stay in Detroit, but with young goaltender Jimmy Howard beginning to look NHL ready down with the Grand Rapid Griffins of the AHL where he posted a 21-18-4 record with 4 shutouts and a .916 SV%. As much as Conklin may want to stay in Detroit it's possible that San Jose, Pittsburgh (again), Chicago and Philadelphia could be knocking on his door come July 1st.

2) Martin Biron - When the Flyers obtained Martin Biron from the Buffalo Sabres back in February of 2007, the feeling in Philadelphia was that this guy was going to be the goalie that brings the Flyers back to the top of the NHL. However, the honeymoon in Philly never really took off. Biron's play, although solid has become a model of inconsistency on Broad Street. In two full seasons with the Flyers, Biron has posted a 59-39-14 record with a 2.67 GAA. On a team crippled by questionable signings and an unfavorable cap number, Biron appears to be on the outs in Philly, despite his contributions of taking the Flyers to the Conference Finals in 2008 and leading them again in the 2009 Playoffs. He'll likely get a minor raise from his current 3.5 million dollars a year salary, but don't expect it to happen in black and orange.

1) Nikolai Khabibulin - 2008-09 was a year for Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin to prove himself. He began the season finding himself placed on waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks, who felt that newly signed goaltender Cristobal Huet could lead the 'Hawks into the playoffs better than the 13 year veteran. However, the man nicknamed the Bulin Wall proved all of his doubters in the front office wrong by going 25-8-7 for the Blackhawks and becoming their driving force into their 2009 run for the Stanley Cup. Despite getting injured in the Conference Finals against the Detroit Red Wings, Khabibulin's play spoke for itself as he went 8-6-0 with a .898SV% through the recurrence of the lower body injury that kept the 36 year old out of 12 regular season games late in the season. It's unlikely he'll see the 6.75 million dollars a year that he currently gets from the Blackhawks from anyone given his age, durability and health but he is without the doubt the biggest free agent goaltender in this year's market.