It has been 27 years since the Hall of Fame team of Bossy, Potvin, Gillies (etc) won hockey's Chalice for the fourth straight year. After the dynasty was over, couple years later tumble weeds started circulating Nassau Coliseum. Ever since Nassau Coliseum has not been the place to be for about 20 years or so. But today, there are signs of a potential dynasty.
It is not like the Islanders did not have chance to start another dynasty, in fact they probably had the best chance to begin another one at the turn of the century. Trading Zdeno Chara,Bill Muckalt and the the 2nd pick in 2001 (Jason Spezza) and acquring and signing a mega contract to Alexei Yashin. Trading Bryan McCabe for Trevor Linden and Jarko Ruuto. Tading Luongo & Jokinen for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kavasha, because they drafted Rick DiPietro. Drafting Tim Connoly 5ht overall ( it may have been a weak draft but they could have taken Havlat, or Zetterberg.... but only Detroit scouts can find those gems deep in drafts).
Even the casual hockey fan can point out where the Islanders (*cough* Mike Milbury*cough*) went horribly wrong in theses mostly draft day deals and draft selections. Islander fans often ask themselves what their team could; no rather should of looked like through the 1st decade in the 21st century. Because of this, New York Islanders face the actual possibility of relocating; because of the fact they retain the status of the biggest NHL bottom feeder. And how sad would it be to see such a storied franchise relocate.
I always think that for every bad situation, there are real possibilities of positive situations that can arise. What is this positive situation you may ask? Well the best part of being the bottom feeder of the NHL you often get a top 10 draft pick. And since Mike Milbury is no longer the GM, the Islanders can actually make some real good decisions. The good decisions really started in 2006 for the Islanders, a solid top six forward Kyle Okposo with great leadership qualities. Okay the Ryan Smyth deal didn't work out, so the 15th selection went to Edmonton in 2007, but then followed by Josh Bailey at 7th with a yet an untapped talent. BUT! the next year 2009, was a maybe the best pick the Islanders ever made. John Tavares dubbed the next "Next Great One" (since Gretzky their have been some players like Lindros or Crosby that people think could challenge for the all time scoring record) was taken 1st overall in 2009. Tavares broke some of Gretzky's records in the OHL with goals, and became the first ever 16 year old to play in the OHL because of "exceptional talent". He started his rookie campaign great scoring a lot fast but tailed off in the middle of the season; but he still ammased 54 pts. Along with Tavares in the same draft the Islanders got defenseman Calvin de Haan who showed great promise in the OHL getting 63 pts in 68 games. And if DiPietro injury keeps him out regulary for the next 11 years I believe, Mikko Koskinen a 6'8 goaltender from Finland could step in and be a huge intimidation factor down the road. Finally this year the Islanders had one of the best drafts, selecting 5th Nino Niederreiter, his play on the ice is as fun to watch as it is to say his name. He is a player that can score with and with flair. 30th overall Brock Nelson, a mean powerforward something the Islanders don't have and could possibly be the like Marty McSorley was to Gretzky. And most notably, yes even more notably than the 5th overall Niederreiter, 65th overall Kirill Kabanov. This player has top 10 draft talent. EJ McGure from Central Scouting compares him to Ilya Kovalchuck. But off ice issues and an injury made him fall all the way to the 3rd roud; but he still managed 23 pts in 22 games with the Q's Wildcats. But thats a story for another time.
The Islanders are a very young team, with even younger players that could potentially come into the mix next i.e Niederreiter 18 and Kabanov 18. But it would be best to to leave them in the minors a season or three. But come training camp, anyting is possible; Luke Schenn was almost guaranteed to back to Kelowna but stayed with the Buds. All these big name players have been selected in order to create a long overdue New York Islanders team that is hard to play against; and a team worth watching. With names like Tavares, Niederreiter, Kabanov even Okposo it grabs desperatley needed attention. GM Garth Snow, Charles Wang and co. are doing the best to keep the Islanders on Long Island make them a competitive team. And with recent news of the Islanders pursuing Ilya Kovalchuck with a 10 year 100mil contract (I know the Yashin similarity stories writes itself), but it could be the final player to not only be that final name to keep fans comming to games and keep the Islanders in New York it could finally bring the New York Islanders back to their dynasty days.
Just look at what Charles Wang (Islanders owner) is trying to accomplish for not only the Islanders but the community around it, could really happen with theses young promising players.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbcp03VBZA8
But this is just what I think..... what do you think?
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