Well half the season is done for my Islanders, and the struggles continue. But before we get to that, let’s look at the signings and draftees.

Round 1: 15th Overall – Anton Rosikhin A Russian Right Winger who is a two way forward and a psychical player.
Round 2: 44th Overall – Heinz Beimler A German Center who is a natural power forward and delivers big hits
Round 3: 74th Overall – Harold Seitz A German Center who is a natural playmaker with a big slap shot
Round 4: 104th Overall – Akihito Maki A Japaneses Right Winger who is a natural goal scorer
Round 5: 134th Overall – Courtney Torres An American Dman who plays an offensive game and hits

I drafted Maki just because he was from Japan and I’m easily amused.

So to begin the season, the lines were:
Blake Comeau – John Tavares – Kyle Okposo
Matt Moulson – Josh Bailey – Nino Niederreiter
Matt Martin – Frans Nielsen – Seth Ambroz
Robin Figren – Tomas Marcinko – Jesse Joensuu

And Defensive Pairings:
Jamie McBann – Calvin DeHaan
Travis Hamonic – Tony Dehart
Jack Hillen -  Blake Kessel

Mikko Koskinen – Kevin Poulin

and with 40 games down the Isles are 15-18-2-5 with 37 points, 3 points out of 8th place and the playoffs.

John Tavares has been struggling after his breakout year last year and has just 23 points (6G – 17A) so far. New Captain Kyle Okposo leads the team with 28 points, followed closely at 25 by Nino, Comeau and Moulson. For a while the team was being lead in points by defenseman Jamie McBann. McBann had 20 points in 29 games before going down to a major groin injury which is causing him to miss a few months.

Also of note was a short injury to Mikko, which lead to the callup of Cody Rosen who got his first two NHL starts and looked great. He gave up 5 goals on 60 shots and the Isles split his starts. Meanwhile also getting his first full time NHL stint was Tony Dehart. He’s looked good in 19 games, he has 9 points and is a -2. Blake Kessel made the team out of camp and in 40 games he’s a +1 with 3 points. Robin Figren is even showing signs of life again with 14 points in 40 games while playing largely 4th line minutes. He’s also only a -1 so far, maybe things are looking up for him.

Meanwhile in the rest of the NHL:
Blackhawks are the best team in the league at 54 points, but Lightning, Flyers and Capitals are right there at 53.
Dany Heatley signed with the Blackhawks and leads the league in points. He also has a truckload of awards, but no Stanley Cup.
The rest of your point leaders (In Order) are Ovechkin (WSH) Datsyuk (MON) Kovalchuk (PHO) Bobby Ryan (ANA) Joe Thorton (PHI) Sean Courtier (NJ) Jeff Carter (TB)

Another reason that the Blackhawks are doing so well? Rick DiPietro is currently one of the best goalies in the league with a .911 SV% hooray…

Pittsburgh struggles under the weight of Crosby, Malkin and Stall’s contract combine to cost 27 million dollars. Meanwhile they have a whole line that is -15 or worse.

Brock Nelson just made the NHL (for some reason the roster update screwed up and had him with San Jose) and has 12 points in 37 games but is a -12. The rookies are pretty bad this year, the leading rookie has 13 points, and Tony Dehart in 19 games is only 4 points behind him.

Hopefully in the 2nd half the team picks it up again and goes on a roll like last season and we make the playoffs. Here’s to hoping!

Related Posts:

• Let’s Play EHM Islanders: Midway Year 8
• Let’s Play EHM Islanders: Y6 I disappoint again
• EHM Y4 Let’s Play Islanders: Dreams Do Come True
• Let’s Play EHM Islanders: Y7 Worse Then Milbury
• Let’s Play EHM Islanders: Y7 Midway Report