What can you expect from Ilya Sorokin?

Ilya Sorokin? Most Isles fans are over the moon with this kid. In reality, the Islanders organization looks at Ilya as their franchise goalie of the future. The feeling was that bringing in Varly had a lot to do with being able to sign Iyla. I will address that issue with my guests. 

On every site I checked up on Ilya, they expect Iyla to be a starter for years. Some of the reports say they love his positioning. He is rarely caught out of position. He could improve control of rebounds, but he makes up for that with his very fast, cat-like reflexes. 

From what I have seen, Ilya can be a superstar. He has excellent potential. Everyone I read says he is a grade-A prospect. Most people can agree that Isles have a good one in Ilya.

Tommy Baffi, our regular guest from Coaches Corner and the Drive for Five Facebook group, says:

“He is the fastest goalie I have seen going from east to west. Ilya has a quick glove hand, and he would have to adjust his angles to the NHL Game cause of the rink size change.

Give him two seasons; he will be the number goalie for the Islanders. And he will be for years to come—a terrific positional goaltender who will rarely get caught out of position. “

My second guest is Paul Kreischer. If there is someone who knows Ilya, it is Paul. Paul has scouted him since he has come into the League, so he has first-hand knowledge. You can find him on Twitter @P_Kreischer or @IslesTalk. He is also on Facebook Isles Talk and Youtube Islestalk.

“If the New York Islanders were to throw Ilya Sorokin straight into the fire, Islanders fans would see a more aggressive, and a younger style of Thomas Greiss in net. He comes farther out of the crease than Greiss and is far more athletic to make up for any mistakes he may make, especially with early rebound control. Like every goalie that comes over across the pond, Sorokin will need time to adjust to the NHL’s speed, players crashing the net on a more consistent basis, and his timing with opponents’ slapshots. You’ve heard comparisons to Roy, Bob, Brodeur, Nabokov, even Varlamov… Believe them, but give him the time to grow, mature and mold his game into the Islanders system. If you want a finished product, look no further than the one goalie who did fit perfectly with a Trotz/Lou system, Martin Brodeur.”

Final Word from Russ Cohen

Russ Cohen is one of the best authorities on prospects. You can find Russ Cohen on Twitter @sportsology. His site is http://www.sportsology.com/. If you don’t follow him, please do; the man knows his stuff. 

“Ilya Sorokin is athletic and a steadying influence in net. He has very smooth movements with a solid stick. He can learn a few things about the NHL from Semyon Varlamov, but he won’t take a backseat to him for very long if given the chance.”

I like to thank my guests for helping me with my blog.

Eddie Shack Remembered

I was deeply saddened at the passing of Eddy "the Entertainer" Shack. Eddie was a fan favourite, always playing it up for the fans. And he loved the fans as much as they loved him. He will forever be known for his big boyish grin whenever he played. He loved the game of hockey, and the game of hockey adored him. 

When Eddie played, he was a spark plug. Anytime a coach needed a spark, off to the ice went Eddie. Shack was the blank disturber (family blog site) that every coach wanted and every coach hated. If there was another word that described the Entertainer, it was loyalty. Everyone knew where Shack stood. If you were a teammate, you were family. He went to war for his teammates and he would do anything to win. Eddie never took the glory for himself. He was always willing to share the glory with his teammates. 

Eddie played from 1960-67 in his first stint with the Leafs. Shack has four Stanley Cup rings to his credit. Eddie had some talent that I did not realize he had—I never knew Eddie was a 20 goal scorer. He beat the 20 goal total four times; once with the Leafs in 1965-66. I always thought he was a rough nasty forward, which he was, but apparently, he had some hands. His most goals in one season was in 70-71 when he got 27 goals.  

I could never do Eddie justice. I feel very inadequate trying to do so. I loved and respected the man for everything he stood for. He brought a smile to my face and made me forget the world for a little while every Saturday night. It was like he was representing the guy's guy and what he can do. 

I remember fans in the stand chatting "Eddie Eddie" because they wanted to see him play. I would be listening to the cheers when he came on the ice. I hear myself chanting "Eddie Eddie" now; only in a much quieter, more reverent voice. 

I will miss you, Eddie. You will always have a place, my heart.  

He is not leaving; he is just going home. 

Some of the Eddie Shack memories the ones I knew and loved.

Eddie Shack.

Randy 

Options for the Leafs

As we get ready to watch the RIP tourney—I'm not too fond of that title for obvious reasons—the Maple Leafs have a lot to talk about. There is little doubt that the Leafs have a significant hole in their defence. 

I don't know how many times I have said this, but this is not all on the defence. The forwards have to fight for the puck to help out the d-men and give them targets to pass the puck to. 

The question on the minds of all Leafs fans is whether Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin are NHL quality defencemen.

Timothy Liljegren
Smooth puck-handling combined with superb skating skills make him a very highly regarded prospect.  But a high prospect does not equate to an NHL defenceman.  I really like Timothy, but he might be a little green in the defensive zone.  He will make his share of mistakes as most rookies do, but he will be a future number 2 or 3 defencemen for sure.

Rasmus Sandin
I love what Rasmus has shown me this season.  He is a fantastic skater; his speed bails him out in times of trouble. Rasmus distributes the puck with great vision. He is adequate in the defensive zone bit still needs to pay attention to where he is. Rasmus has tons of potential.  He should be on the Maple Leafs for years to come.

Last word

I have heard Leafs fans discussing the possibility of trading Nylander.  I can see both sides. The Leafs' defence is weak, and Nylander would be the best option for bringing in a defenceman.  At least one that is NHL caliber.  We all know that Marner, Tavarez, and Matthews are going nowhere, so Nylander is the next best choice. If they do trade Nylander, are Nick Robertson and Jeremy Bracco ready?  If they are, then, by all means, go at'er.  Bracco and Robertson are the two prospects closest to being prepared.

The other option is to hold onto Nylander and insert Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin, hoping they develop into NHL-ready defencemen. 

I am going back and forth on this choice. On one hand, I love Sandin and Lilejegren. Both are going to be very good. On the other hand, there will be growing pains, and the Leafs will resort to outscoring their opponents.  I lean toward keeping Nylander and bringing in a cheap veteran defenceman. What do you think?

Until next time.

Has Hammer played his last game?

Travis Hamonic. It looks like it's time for him to move on. Not because I want him to move on, but for economic reasons. There is not enough money to go around. I think his ultimate destination will be the Winnipeg Jets.

What will we miss in Hamonic? His first strength is his character in the dressing room. You can never underestimate a player who wears his heart on his sleeve. Of course, Hamonic is probably the Flames' best stay-home dman.  His presence will be missed in the defensive zone. He won't be there bailing out stupidity. I can't count how many times his hit or blocking a shot saved a scoring chance. The Flames will have to bring in a cheaper version, because every team needs a Hamonic.

The only downside on Hammer as he goes into free agency is his injuries. He has had some really bad luck, getting healthy only to be put back on the shelf. Hamonic's injury woes were mostly due to his play; he never shied away from any circumstance. I often cringed when I saw him jumping or diving to block a shot. Or when he would stick up for his teammates.

I was thinking to myself how sweet it would it be if he went back to Long Island.  I went to ask some of my islander fans how they felt. The feeling was that most likely, it's not going to happen. Not that they don't want him; far from it. It's just not a good fit. They would love to have him at a lower price tag. But that is not likely not going to happen. Hammer should get the same money for a three-year term. 

A connection of mine, Tommy Baffi from Long Island, put it this way:

"Travis Hamonic came up through the Islanders system and, of course, played the first portion of his career here on Long Island. I truly enjoyed and loved the time number 3 spent here as he brought superior play in his own zone and a true dedication to the community on Long Island and to his teammates in the locker room. Travis will be a free agent coming into the 2020-2021, and I think it is an interesting possibility for him to return to Long Island and play for our NY Islanders. If Travis is willing to come back on a reasonable short term deal to add beef and toughness to our defence, I say let's bring back number..."

Tommy does a Facebook watch program called Coaches Corner. You can find it on Drive 4 Five Facebook group or his own home page.

I concur, especially to his dedication to the community. Hammer is known for his time to the community; the City will surely miss his contributions to the charities within the City. His no-nonsense attitude has helped a team which, at times, has lacked the necessary toughness. In my opinion, the Islanders should consider picking Hamonic up.

When it comes to Hamonic, I don't believe he wanted to leave in the first place. He is most likely leaving Calgary for the same reason he left Long Island. I understand that family is his priority and I respect that. So chances are, Long Island won't be an option.

Last Word

It looks like this tourney will go on whether we embrace it or not. I am pretty sure the NHL really doesn't care what old farts like me think.  All eyes are on the players going into the tourney. Let's hope we can enjoy the game for what it is a sport. 

Talking about players, Mr. Gaudreau seems to be a major topic. Everyone but the kitchen sink is wondering what the Flames will do with him. Most people think that he will be sent packing. The Islanders might be a fit for him, along with Philly, Devils, Rangers, or Bruins. It will get interesting to see where he goes. 

Until next time!

Tale of Two Players

As the Flames prepare to meet the Jets, let's discuss a couple of the players from the Heat. The two players I would like to talk about are the two hardest to spell; this is not a good thing because I can't spell, but I digress. 

Artyom Zagidulin

When the Calgary Flames signed Artyom Zagidulin, I must admit I knew nothing about him. So I had to do some research and here is what I learned. He is a young goalie, rough around the edges. But he has potential. Artyom has fast reflexes going from side to side. He needs to control the rebounds and he goes down too early. There is a consensus that he is rarely caught out of position.

I have fabulous followers on Twitter. One, in particular, is Nicole Watt @NikkiWatt18. I love her quote. With her permission, allow me to share her observation on Artyom Zagidulin.

"He is still developing. The Heat aren't really there yet as a team tbh, so it's harder to gauge, but he really needs to work on his numbers if he wants to make it. He has a lot of potential though."

Alexander Yelesin

When the Calgary Flames signed Alexander, I completely understood why. Alexander has terrific depth and will fit in nicely in that number six defensemen role. He is a solid stay-home defenceman with a solid, rugged game. He is what he is. He will be of use on the penalty kill.

With these two players, I feel Yelesin, in particular, will get a chance to play. Thanks to "players not fit to play,"  the Flames may be forced to play Alexander. I am quite comfortable with him in the lineup.  Zagidulin is there on an emergency basis in case the Flames lose every goalie in the world. Zagidulin will grow tenfold with the Flames. To steal a baseball term, they will teach him what it is like in the big leagues.

Last word

I just wanted to say a few words on Travis Hamonic. I don't think there could be a more exceptional representative of the NHL than Travis. He has done more for the community than most of us will in a lifetime. He is as solid a hockey player off the ice as he is on the ice. I am afraid to say; I think he has played his last game as a Flames, and it is a darn shame.

Anything you can do, I can do better

Today I am doing something a little different. I am comparing the Young guns team Toronto Maple Leafs to the Maples Leafs of my youth. Back when I rode dinosaurs to school. To be exact, I am going back to the 1977-78 Maple Leafs. I will be comparing top line vs top line. The criteria will be one centre, right wing, left wing, two defensemen, and one goalie. These lines were not necessarily playing together on the team. 

In the late 70s, my family were rabid Maple Leafs fans. The worst swear word in our house was "Montreal Canadiens." I was beyond obsessed; my mother constantly came down to warned me about my language while watching a game. My favourite player was Darryl Sittler, with Lanny McDonald, a close second. You can imagine my heartbreak when I found out about the Lanny trade to the Rockies. December 29, 1979, lives on in infamy. But I digress. We are not discussing the stupidity of Maple Leafs trades, but rather comparing generations of hockey players. 

So here it is—the 1977-78 Maple Leafs vs 2019-20 Maple Leafs.

2020 Toronto Maple Leafs

CENTRE

AUSTON MATTHEWS 

Auston Matthews is one of the best players in the game today. Auston is most known for his one-timers on the powerplay. He is an offensively gifted centreman who can distribute the puck as well as he can snipe it. Used in all aspects of the game, he is worth the price of admission alone. 

RIGHT WING

MITCH MARNER

Mitch is an outstanding young forward who can do everything offensively. He is the fastest skater on the team or close to it. He knows exactly where everyone is on the ice to distribute the puck to them. I do not know of a more accurate passer than Marner. His shot is underrated. It may not be the hardest, but it is deadly accurate. 

LEFT WING

ZACH HYMAN

Zach is the ultimate fan favourite. He relates to the fans. He is a man's man. He gets his nose dirty and gets his share of garbage goals. Zach is a great utility forward that you can use on all four lines. A terrific penalty killer. 

DEFENSEMAN #1

MORGAN RIELLY

Morgan Rielly is the number one dman on the Leafs. He has a hard, accurate shot from the point on the powerplay. He is reliable in his own back end. He bails out his linemates, covering up their mistakes. A true leader. A young defender with all the talent in the world. 

DEFENSEMAN #2

TYSON BARRIE

Tyson is an offensive defenseman who distributes the puck well. A powerplay defenseman with a good shot. An excellent passer, who has excellent vision, Matthews and Marner can live off Barrie from his passes at will.

GOALTENDER

FREDERIK ANDERSEN

Freddie is an outstanding stand-up goalie. He rarely gets caught out of position. He follows the puck so well on the ice. Freddie has kept the Leafs in game after game. Freddie is often left to his own devices and covers up the silly mistakes of the team in front of him.

1977-78 Toronto Maple Leafs

CENTRE

DARRYL SITTLER

Darryl was the face of the Maple Leafs for years. He was an outstanding centre with tons of offensive skills. Darryl had deadly puck skills and terrific puck handling. He was great on the powerplay, a fatal shot from the right circle. Darryl was a fantastic skater, who often led rushes into the offensive end. I love his shot. He was known for his 10 point night against the Bruins. 

RIGHT WING

LANNY MCDONALD 

Lanny was a deadly sniper. Lanny had one of the best one-timers in the league. He was deadly on the powerplay, finding a niche in the offensive zone. He always found the spot for Darryl to see him. What made Lanny dangerous was his strength. It was really hard to get the puck off of him. He was one of the best power forwards in his prime.

LEFT WING

DAVE "TIGER " WILLIAMS

Tiger was one of the most talented enforcers. Dave got the garbage goals on the rebounds, simply out-muscling the opposing forwards to the puck. He will always be known for his moves after his goals. He was a colossal fan favourite—the heart and soul of the Maple Leafs.

DEFENSEMAN #1

BORJE SALMING

Borje was an outstanding all-around defenceman. Borje was often used on the powerplay, distributing to the forwards. He was given the responsibility of getting the puck out of the defensive end. It was so strange to see him in a Redwing uniform. 

DEFENSEMAN #2

IAN TURNBALL 

Turnball was Salming's partner in crime on the powerplay. Ian would be the one the Leafs would try to feed on the powerplay from the point. Ian was a great puck distributor who knew who to pass to. His greatest moment was scoring five goals against the Redwings. 

GOALIE

MIKE PALMATEER 

The underdog goalie that everyone loved. Mike was an agile goalie who I called Gumby. He had fast reflexes that bailed him out on rebounds. Like Andersen, Mike would often be left to own devices.

So which team is better?

Randy

My All-Star Islander Teams

I thought I would do something a little out of the ordinary and have some fun with it. Today I am going to suggest two all-star New York Islander teams, picking from the all-time best Islander players. Each team is a centre, right wing, left wing, two defencemen, and a goalie. 

First New York Islander All-Star Team 

Right Wing 

Mike Bossy 

Well, of course, this is a no-brainer. Mike has five 60-goal seasons. Mike scored a miraculous 50 goals in 50 games in 1981. He is one of only five players to do so. Mike lit up the lamp 68 times that year. His best season was 78-79, with 69 goals. If it wasn't for injuries, Mike could have played another six seasons, if not more. Mike won the Lady Bing trophy three times (Most Gentlemanly Player) in 82-83, 84-85, and 85-86. He received the Conn Smyth Trophy in playoffs 81-82.

Brian Trottier

I have said many times that Trottier is the best Islander player in history. People will debate that it is either him or Bossy. There is no debating that Brian is the first-team centre. Brian had five 100-point seasons. Brian's best was 134 points in 78-79. He won the Art Ross trophy in 78-79 (leading NHL scorer), and the Conn Smythe trophy (MVP playoffs) in 79-80. Brian's most significant individual achievement was the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP in NHL) in 78-79. 

Left Wing

Clark Gillies 

Clark might have been the unsung hero of the 80s. He was the ultimate power forward. There is no way Bossy and Trottier would have had the room they had. Gillies' best season was 91 points in 78-79. Clark scored his shares of garbage goals in his career. He was one of the strongest players of his day. He epitomized the perfect heart and soul of the Islanders. 

Defencemen

Denis Potvin

Denis was one of the best dmen in the NHL for years. Denis was well known for his offensive contributions. He had two 90-point seasons and one 100-point season. Let me tell you one more thing. He was one of the best all-around defensemen in the League. Very steady in his team's own end and underrated for his defensive play. Denis had three James Norris Trophies on his wall: 75-76, 77-78, 78-79, 

Stefan Persson 

Stefan is the ultimate partner for Potvin. He had a great shot on the powerplay. A solid skater who was an excellent support for his team in the defensive zone. He was often overshadowed by Povin. People took him for granted, but he was a solid defenceman in his own right.

Goaltender

Billy Smith

Mr. Intensity. No one will ever doubt Billy's heart. Billy would always make the save that is needed to keep his team in the game. One stat I did not know before I researched Smith was that he won a Vezina trophy (best goalie) in 81-82. He also won the Conn Smyth trophy in 82-83. His lowest goal against average was 2.5 in 76-77. Smith was a great standup goalie who wore his heart on the shoulder.

The most significant debate is on the second defenceman. I could have gone several different ways. I finally went for Persson because of his ability to play the powerplay. 

Second New York Islander All-Star Team 

Centre

Pat LaFontaine 

I was going back and forth on Lafontaine and Turgeon. Turgeon had the more prominent seasons, LaFontaine had the years of service and, of course, the goal—the 1987 fourth period overtime goal will always be a jewel in his crown. Pat was a terrific, talented, playmaking centre who did everything right. Many people think of him as one of the greatest American players. Pat's best season as an Islander was in 87 with a record of 54-51-105. Pat had one trophy, the Bill Masteron trophy (given to the player who represents the qualities of sportsmanship and perseverance.)

Right Wing

Zigmund Palffy

Zigmund was a terrific sniper for the Isles in the late 90s. He was the heart and soul for the Isles. When they needed a goal, he was the one to get it. A great skater and playmaker who was a powerplay specialist, with a deadly wrist shot. Ziggy had three 40-goal seasons: 95-96, 96-97, 97-98. Ziggy's best season was in 97-98, achieving a 45-goal season. 

Left Wing

John Tonelli

Tonelli was a no-nonsense winger who loved getting his nose dirty. John was a vital piece of the 80s Islander cups franchise. He was a one-time 40-goal scorer in 84-85. He recorded 100 points that season. John was a complete player who took of the defensive end as well as the offensive end. 

Defence 

Kenny Jonsson

Kenny was a solid defender who took care of his own zone. Kenny had a great slap shot. Was involved in all aspects game and was a leader on the ice. Would bail out his teammates over and over again. His speed would often bail him out of trouble. I was heartbroken when the Leafs sent him to the isles. 

Ryan Pulock

Ryan's best weapon is his slapshot. The Isles use Ryan on point on the powerplay. He could easily be a future powerplay quarterback. Ryan is a very smart young defenceman. I know I may shock you with this pick, but I feel Pulock belongs here. Ryan will be a standout for years to come. 

Goalie

Glenn "Chico" Resch

Glen was a small goalie who played his angles very well. He was rarely caught out of position and was the mainstay early in his career for the Isles in net. His best year as an Islander goalie was in 75-76, with a 2.07 average. Glenn had seven shutouts that year. He was steller for the Islanders that season. He also won the Bill Masteron Trophy (given to the player who represents the qualities of sportsmanship and perseverance) in 81-82. That trophy pretty much is Resch in a nutshell.