We all know that John Tavares and Matt Moulson are going to put up points for the New York Islanders this season. But if the Islanders plan on returning to the playoffs after last season, they’re going to need a lot more production from their depth players. Three key names come to mind as a big part of the Islanders core that need to step up big this season.
Kyle Okposo:
Kyle Okposo was given an outstanding opportunity to step up for the Islanders, as he claimed the right wing slot on the top line out of camp. The New York Islanders have been looking for someone who is able to produce along with Tavares and Moulson since P.A. Parenteu left for the Colorado Avalanche going into the 2012-2013 season. Last season the right wing slot was filled by Brad Boyes, but the Islanders could not find a spot for him on the roster this season. Now it’s Okposo’s turn.
In 2006, Kyle Okposo was drafted in the first round, seventh overall in the 2006 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders. Since then, he has shown flashes of being worth the seventh overall pick, but the consistency has never been there. He broke the 50-point plateau once in 2009-2010 scoring 52 points (19 goals, 33 assists). The season after, Okposo was ridden with injuries, limiting him to 38 games and 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists). He was healthy again in 2011-2012 scoring 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) and in the 2012-2013 shortened season scoring 24 points (4 goals, 20 assists). In the shortened season, where Okposo lacked goals, he made up for in assists, then came the playoffs where in 6 games he scored four points (3 goals, 1 assist).
Coming into this season, there is still potential for Okposo to improve. Being on the top line with an elite center in Tavares gives him the potential to score 30 goals on the strength of a quick, hard shot, and have at least 60 points, as he’s shown that he can dish out the assists. At 25 years old and being in the NHL since 2007, Kyle Okposo knows how the game works at this point, and it’s time for him to step-up and become the big point producer he was projected to be.
Josh Bailey:
Josh Bailey is another home grown New York Islander who has shown potential to be a star. Bailey was drafted first round, ninth overall by the New York Islanders in 2008. Bailey’s scouting report before being drafted reads that he was an excellent two-way forward with strong vision, anticipation, and play-making abilities. It also reads that he puts up hoards of points, while on the defensive end he is very responsible.
It has been believed that Bailey was rushed into the NHL by making the roster out of his first NHL camp in 2008 playing 68 games and having 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists) that season. While the part about being responsible on the defensive end rings true, the part about the “hoards of points” hasn’t quiet held up to be true. Despite this, he still shows flashes of being a star.
Bailey has never scored more than 35 points in a season since being in the NHL. In the 2010-2011 season, things did not go his way as he went 13 games without a point and was demoted to the AHL. There have been other slumps for him since then, but as stated earlier, his flashes of greatness are hard to ignore. Josh Bailey’s game revolves around his confidence. When it’s there, he’s an outstanding player who can find the back of the net and can make plays happen. When the confidence is lost, so is his whole game. Bailey and the Islanders have now tasted the playoffs, and now he knows what it takes to win to help the Islanders get back to their winning ways.
Lubomir Visnovsky:
In the summer of 2013, the New York Islanders traded their second round draft pick in the 2013 draft to the Anaheim Ducks for Lubomir Visnovsky. Through a series of complications, it took a while for Visnovsky to arrive on Long Island, but once he did, he was an immediate impact. He helped Mark Streit quarterback the power play, had 14 points in 35 games, and was a plus-12 on a team of many minuses.
With the departure of the ex-captain Mark Streit, Visnovsky is now the veteran presence for the Islanders on the blue line. In 2010-2011 season, Visnovsky had 68 points for the Ducks scoring 18 goals and 50 assists. Visnovsky sees the potential of the Islanders as they made the playoffs last year and wants to do all he can to help return them to the playoffs. He is going to be the key man to quarterback the power play replacing Streit, and looks to return to a form closer to the 2010-2011 season.
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