So I found the 2008 mid year grades for the Isles. Like a teacher who dusts off some old relic…I wanted to thank my good buddy Rey for this one. Note the comments.
Thanks to the Boss who sent this one in….it is Islander time!!!
We are a couple games past the midway point of the season…here are my grades for the team…
Forwards
Mike Comrie: B- ) Had a hot start to the season, then went silent for a while, has recently picked up his play ..leads the team in assists and points, but also is a -12…
Bill Guerin: C ) Leads team in goals, but only on a pace right now for around 50 points…Isles need much more from the Captain
Miro Satan: C ) Tied with Guerin for second in points, but again, not good enough…too streaky.needs to be more consistent..
Mike Sillinger: C- ) Has not had nearly close to the season he had last year..had 11 PPG last season, only 3 so far this year…a -10 is not what the Isles expected from Silly..
Trent Hunter: D ) Just does not appear like he is going to be anything but a 3rd liner at best…had a great rookie year in 03-04 but has not come close since… -15 is the worst on the team..totally unexpected from Hunter
Richard Park: A- )The numbers do not tell the story with Park, though he is on a pace to better his numbers from last year…Leaves it all on the ice every night..Great on the PK..if only someone like Satan played with the heart of Park..
Ruslan Fedotenko: D ) Started season on fire on a line with Comrie and Guerin..Hasn’t done a whole lot since..was playing on the 4th line in the Isles last game vs. Vancouver..
Josef Vasicek: C ) Has gone cold after leading the team in goals for much of the early season..like Fedotenko, was on the 4th line vs Vancouver…bright spot has been he has stayed healthy so far..
Andy Hilbert: C ) Plays along with Park on the First team PK…Good energy player, offense just hasn’t come together at the NHL level like it did for Andy in the AHL..
Sean Bergenheim: C ) First full year with the Isles..only has 2 goals, but I like the hard hitting style of play he brings, hopefully as he keeps playing the goals will come..
Tim Jackman: B ) Played 21 games with the Isles, basically as a 4th line energy guy, and has done a pretty good job at it..
Chris Simon: F ) And the F stands as much for Fool as it does for anything in terms of his play on the ice when not trying to cut someone’s ankle off..
Blake Comeau: C ) 11 games, has a couple goals, but sometimes has looked lost..but plays hard with the limited ice time he gets..
Defense
Brendan Witt: B ) The leader of the Isles defense…always plays hard, and doesnt take the dumb penalties he once did in his career ..excellent shot blocker
Chris Campoli: C ) Has played with alot more confidence this season…leads Isles D-men in points (18)
Marc-Andre Bergeron: C- ) Terrible, just terrible start to season after playing so well for the Isles after coming over in a trade last Feb. Has played regularly with injuries to Isles D, and has picked up his game..Still can be shaky handling the puck…Has a rocket of a shot.
Bruno Gervais: C ) Like Campoli, has played better this year..Solid Dman, sure it helps that he and Campoli were also Defense partners in Bridgeport as well
Radek Martinek: B- ) Currently injured, which is nothing new for Martinek, who along with Witt, makes up Isles top Defense pair..Solid Dman who cant seem to stay healthy for an entire season
Andy Sutton: B- ) Had a tough early start, but has played better since the end of October..has done a better job than I though he was going to do..
Bryan Berard: D ) Only played 20 games …got off to a good start but then got injured and has been in and out of the lineup
Freddy Meyer: C- ) Has played 17 games since beng re-aquired from Phoenix…Done a pretty solid job though not scoring any points until the other night in Vancouver… intersting to see what happens when Berard and Martinek come back what happens to a guy like Meyer..
Goaltenders
Rick DiPietro: A ) Is THE reason the Isles are where they are…Has become a top goalie who can steal the Isles points (i.e. the Canucks game Tuesday night)..is 7-1 vs the Isles main rivals, the Rangers and Devils ..Has that Big Contract, but is starting to show why the Isles gave it to him..
Wade Dubielewicz: C- ) Had a shaky start to the season including giving up 8 goals in a game against Toronto…2 of his 4 wins have come in games he has replaced DiPietro due to injury…
Incompletes: Shawn Bates, Jon Sim, Aaron Johnson, Jeff Tambellini
