Islanders are oldies but goodies

After voters in Nassau County nixed the so-called "Lighthouse Project" which proposed to provide the NewYork Islanders with a completely renovated, competitive hockey arena as devised by team owner Charles Wang, the future of the Islanders and their existence on Long Island remains very uncertain. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is currently the second-oldest arena in the NHL and also the second-smallest; it has been home to the Isles ever since their inaugural season in 1972. To say that it has seen better days is a major understatement, and with such dank and dilapidated confines the Islanders are decades behind the rest of their NHL competition when it comes to adequate facilities for their players, staff, organization and especially their fans. And though there is no certainty of what shall become of one of hockey's most storied franchises when their lease is up in 2015, or whether there is enough bubblegum and patchwork in the meantime to keep the anciet arena together, the Islanders have endeavored to put a competitive hockey club together by becoming a haven for grizzled veterans who can impart knowledge into the Isles young stars before they finally do decide to call it quits on their playing careers.

Upcoming star John Tavares is one of the Islanders'
many youngsters who will benefit from the presence of
so many veterans on the club's roster.

The 2011-12 New York Islanders have eight players who are 33-years of age or older. Even the Detroit Red Wings, who often regarded as having one of the largest collections of players past middle-age in hockey years do not have as many players that age and above. One could argue that the Islanders are merely trying to take the cheap way out by signing players who are on their last legs but have recognizable names and can be gotten at a bargain-price because their skills have diminished and they have lost a step or two over the years and do not really fit into another team's plans. Whether that is truly the case or not I cannot say for certain, but I recognize the fact that the Isles also have an array of young talent in the likes of 2009 first overall draft-pick and upcoming star John Tavares, 2011 Rookie of the Year finalist Michael Grabner, as well as other talented twentysomethings Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, PA Parenteau and Andrew MacDonald. These youngsters are in fact the future of the Islanders, whatever may come of the team, and they can benefit immensely from players who have been around the block a few times.

Jay Pandolfo

Two of the Islanders veterans are former Stanley Cup champions. American-born Jay Pandolfo, 36-years old, is a rugged winger who has spent most of his career as a third or fourth-liner, a role player who has always been a solid penalty-killer. Pandolfo is the kind of player who doesn't draw a lot of attention but who works as hard as anybody and does the dirty-work in the corners and along the boards. Pandolfo won Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and 2003, and he has also been a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive-forward, as well as having served as an alternate captain while with the Devils on more than one occasion. In all, Jay Pandolfo is a veteran of over 800-games in his career and played an integral role with the great teams that the Devils had during the late-90s and early-2000s.

Brian Rolston

Similar to Pandolfo, another Islanders veteran, 38-year old Brian Rolston, was a Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils back in 1995. But unlike Pandolfo who has never possessed much of a scoring touch, Brian Rolston is one of those players who is a complete player in every way, shape and form. Rolston can play the power-play, he can penalty-kill, he puts the puck in the net, he forechecks, he backchecks, he is a leader and consumate teammate - he does it all. If there is one player who will most benefit the younger regime of the New York Islanders, it is Brian Rolston. Capable of playing all three forward positions, Rolston also possesses good size at 6'2" and 214lbs. Rolston has represented Team USA at three separate Olympics, winning the Silver Medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. And even at 38, Rolston can still contribute offensively having netted well over 300-goals in his career, including 33 shorthanded goals as well.

Evgeni Nabokov

Arguably the most talented New York Islander veteran was initially resistant to becoming an Islander in the first place. 36-year old two-time NHL All-Star goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov was not happy when the Islanders claimed him from the Detroit Red Wings off of waivers in January of 2011, and refused to report to the team. The Islanders would suspend Nabokov for the remainder of the 2010-11 season for his failure to report. Putting their initial differences aside, Nabokov would report to Islanders training camp in the Summer of 2011, and is the Islanders top netminder here in the early stages of the 2011-12 season. Like Rolston, Evgeni Nabokov is a former Olympian, having represented Team Russia for both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. Nabokov also backstopped Team Russia for the World Championships of Hockey in 2008 and 2011, winning the Gold Medal in 2008. Prior to joining the Islanders, Evgeni Nabokov spent the entire 10-years of his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks, and holds practically all of the Sharks goaltending records, including most games played, wins and shutouts. In 2010, Nabokov became only the second goaltender to ever record three straight seasons of 40-wins or more in the NHL.

Mark Streit

The Islanders' top defenseman is also their team captain, 33-year old Swiss defenseman Mark Streit. Prior to the start of the 2011-12 season, Streit became the first ever Swiss hockey player to be named captain of an NHL team. Streit also has the dubious honor of being one of the most underrated players in all of hockey as he is a top-notch defenseman who could serve as a number one defenseman on any NHL team, but does not garner much attention likely because he plays for the New York Islanders. Streit is also a former Olympian, having played for Team Switzerland at both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. Streit has hit double-digits in goals from the blueline in each of the past four seasons, and has registered seasons of 62, 56 and 49 points the past three years.

The other elder statesmen on the Island include 34-year old center Marty Reasoner, 38-year old Steve Staios who is capable of playing both forward or defense, and defensemen Mike Mottau and Mark Eaton who are 33 and 34 years old respectively. Each of whom are journeymen who have been around the league for a long time and have filled the role of a steadying and solidifying presence on any team that they have played for.

Perhaps Long Island has become a place for NHL veterans to be put out to pasture, but I doubt it. Each of these players still have something left in the tank (Mark Streit is at the top of his game and gives no signs of slowing down, while Nabokov has a solid .927 save-percentage in 4 games this season), and they can at least ensure that the New York Islanders will be competitive and given the respect that they deserve each night. And while the question still remains of what will eventually become of New York's future on the Island, they can rest assured that these veterans will impart to the younger generation knowledge and skills that they can carry with them either in the years ahead on Long Island, or wherever the franchise will eventually settle when the tired confines of Nassau Coliseum can longer be called home.