The New York Islanders Prospect Pool Is Considered Suspect, There’s One Prospect Playing Very Well

The New York Islanders Prospect Pool Is Considered Suspect, There’s One Prospect Playing Very Well

most of the news about Islanders prospects has been bad but we’ve got some good news about one Islanders Prospect who’s tearing things up in juniors right now all that and more on today’s lock on Islanders podcast you’re locked on Islanders your daily podcast on the New York Islanders part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day welcome everybody to the Wednesday edition of the lockon Islanders podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day I want to thank everyone who makes locked on Islanders your first listen every day don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast so you can get new episodes as soon as they drop today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel make every moment more right now new customers get $150 in bonus Bets with any winning five bet that’s 150 bucks with any winning $5 bet visit fanduel.com lockon to get started we have got a lot to get to on today’s show but first if there’s something Islanders related on your mind if you have a question a comment maybe a topic you’d like us to discuss on a future episode you can email us at lockon Islanders gmail.com and if you leave your first name and where you’re from we’re happy to mention you on the show when we discuss whatever’s on your mind you could also follow the show on X lockon Isles and you could follow me gil Martin on X at I Wars nyr vsny we’ll keep you up to date on all things Islanders all year long including hirings firings trade rumors free agency and the draft if it’s happening to the Islanders we’ll have it for you here on the locked on Islanders podcast and it’s always great to talk Islanders hockey with you game time or anytime the news about the Islanders Prospect pool has been discouraging uh to put it nicely for a long time and yet we are actually getting some good news coming out of the uh junior playoffs in the uh Canadian Junior leagues as Islanders Prospect Isaiah George Contin to help the London Knights uh do their thing and and advance in the ol finals now they’re going up against the ashaa generals and on Monday there was a double overtime game which London emerged Victorious 7 to6 London now up in the series three games to none and that means that London needs just one more game one more win to advance to the Memorial Cup and win the ol title and uh look the first two games of the series it was all all London uh the generals outscoring uh excuse me the knights outscoring ashaa 17-2 in the first two games combined but they were down three to nothing 4 to one and 6-2 in the third game and that’s when the big comeback came four third period goals the game goes into double overtime and in that double overtime George took a shot from the point that was redirected and ended up being the game winning goal so so far in 17 games in the playoffs uh defenseman Isaiah George has been playing pretty darn well right now uh he has four goals and 11 points in 17 games and he is a plus 15 in uh the entire playoffs in 17 games he now has assists in back-to-back games and uh basically he’s been on fire five shots on goal in game one of this ol championship series so great to see Isaiah George playing well and he has been in my mind one of the more pleasant surprises for the Islanders now again Isaiah George is 20 years old he has still he’s still in juniors we’re talking about the London Knights here but he has made progress in each of his uh three seasons in the OHL with London had a a care reigh 30 points in 68 games during the regular season six goals 24 assists he had 54 penalty minutes that was uh more than he had in the previous two seasons combined and he had a career best plus 26 and now as you see in the playoffs last year in the playoffs George was more of a defensive guy he had three assists in 20 games and as I mentioned now already 11 points in 17 games and only two penalty minutes so Isaiah George a left shot defenseman really looking strong so far and helping London uh they are now again one win away from advancing into the Memorial Cup and representing the OHL in that tournament but again yeah I’m happy to see Isaiah George doing that he uh he’s six foot about 200 lb uh but he’s only 20 years old we know defensemen typically take longer to develop and reach the NHL than forwards do usually it’s defenseman and power forwards who tend to take the most time and I think Isaiah George has to be considered among the top prospects in the Islanders Farm you know system Prospect pool whatever you want to call it uh at this point entering the season the hockey news had him listed as the Islanders eighth overall Prospect uh that was before the season during this year he looked good in training camp and preseason with the Islanders while when given the chance and then has had a very good season as well so great to see him coming through in the clutch I think that is another important aspect of it and just being pretty much a leader in that situation it’s good to see the question now becomes again will he continue his development you got to figure he will spend next year uh probably he’ll be in Camp again with the Islanders probably be in Bridgeport next season but the key the absolute key for Isaiah George is that here we are in a playoff situation a clutch situation he’s gaining valuable experience at top level of Junior play and it is great to see him excelling uh at this point in this role and you know again to to put the puck on net and end up having that shot deflected in double overtime that is about as clutch as it gets it gives London a commanding lead in the series and you know hopefully he gains more experience he puts on a little bit more weight to his frame and continues to develop as a hockey player I I just felt the need uh to share some good news about the Islander Prospect pool I still think Isaiah George is another year away I think he’s got to spend one year at least in Bridgeport maybe two but again progress a a a solid showing and to me some good news about the Islanders Prospect pool by the way the Islanders selected isaia George in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL entry draft and you know the one good thing that you can say about L larell uh is is basically that he has while he has traded away too many draft picks including four first round picks in a row some second round picks some third round picks he’s done a pretty good job of picking up guys in the later rounds Isaiah George fourth round Matthew maio fifth round uh Tristan Lennox the gold looking pretty good third round Alex Jeff fourth round William dfor fifth round again none of these players are close to being NHL ready just yet but at the same time some of them are showing a little bit of promise and that is definitely a positive thing we have got more to get to on this episode of the locked on Islanders podcast when we come back we’ll continue our player by player review of the Islanders season today Mike Riley a defenseman who didn’t start the season on the Islanders roster but became a key contributor we’ll talk about how he did this season plus uh who do you think should win the Bob nrom award we’ll talk about that and for our Islanders uh birthday of the day a physical defenseman who is a member of all four Islanders Stanley Cup teams but kind of gets overlooked because he didn’t put up a lot of points offensively let’s see if you can guess who that is all that and more coming up on today’s locked on Islanders podcast today’s episode is brought to you by policy genius policy genius is the country’s leading online insurance Marketplace it saves you time and money so you could provide your family with a financial safety net starting today with policy genius you could find life insurance policies it’s start at just $292 per year for $1 million of coverage and some options offer same day approval and avoid unnecessary medical exams policy genius helps you compare your options from top companies and their team of license experts is on hand to help walk you through it you can easily compare quotes from America’s Top insurers in just a few clicks to find your lowest price so check life insurance off your to-do list in no time with policy genius head to policygenius.com lockon NHL or click on the link in the description to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save that’s policygenius.com lockon NHL are you watching Fox Sports or ESPN on your TV all day have to turn down the volume with all that shouting make the switch to locked on sports today a free 247 stream Channel program for you every day to bring you the biggest stories without all the screaming locked on sports today brings you can’t miss analysis opinions and news streaming 247 on YouTube or the free Amazon Fire TV channels app it’s part of the lock on podcast Network your team every day so we continue our player by player look at the New York Islanders from this past season we started this out on on Monday show with Oliver walstrom and every dayers you know Monday was Oliver walstrom Matt Martin was yesterday today we go to Mike Riley and Riley is an interesting situation because at the start of the Season Mike Riley was essentially on the uh Florida Panthers and he ended up being claimed on waivers for the Islanders when injuries struck the Blue Line he’s 30 years old and basically came in and contributed well to the New York Islanders he only played two games with Florida they they have a lot of depth on their blue line came to the Islanders and in 59 games with the Isles six goals 24 points he was a plus one had 28 penalty minutes five of his six goals were it even strength one was a shorty uh and he actually had you know five power play assists on the season so he did get some time with the extra attacker and I think the biggest thing that Mike Riley added was a second Puck moving defenseman and the Islanders needed that I mean you you certainly know that you have Noah Dobson he’s the top Puck moving defenseman and then you had Sebastian AO who certainly has his defensive limitations because of his lack of size well Riley is 61 196 pounds and he really did a good job of moving the puck and sort of being the quarterback on the second power play unit for some of the time he was out there gave you with the Islanders a little more than 17 minutes of ice time blocked 57 shots in 59 games not the most physical guy 47 hits in 59 games but again a solid third pair defenseman who can move the puck and I think when you analyze things Riley gave the Islanders something they really needed and sort of steadied that third pair defensive uh Group after especially after Scott Mayfield had to shut things down for the season now looking ahead to the Future Mike Riley is going to be uh an unrestricted free agent and the the question becomes do the New York Islanders resign Riley and at 30 he’ll be 31 in July so before training camp opens up Mike Riley will be 31 I think he still has a few years of solid production in him here’s the the question uh Riley as I mentioned is a left shot defenseman so is Samuel baluk and so is Sebastian AO AO is also an unrestricted free agent so you know whether or not he’ll be back remains to be seen buluk it’s you know you’re getting to the point where baluk has uh you know one season left on his deal and then he becomes a restricted free agent he’s 23 going on 24 do you want to give baluk a chance so does Mike Riley come back at a million dollar or you know 900,000 1.1 something in the million doll range give or take knowing he could be the sixth guy or the seventh guy on your depth chart and I I think he would give the Islanders a great insurance policy if Samuel buluk is not ready I think he adds a little offensive juice to the equation on the left side especially I think he makes Sebastian AO Expendable which I don’t think is necessarily A Bad Thing uh the question is whether Lou Lam Morello a wants him back I think Lou probably does and B whether or not Riley gets a better offer from someone else another team that might be able to guarantee him a little more ice time than what the Islanders are able to do and you know you look back at Riley he has already played for three years in Minnesota three years in Montreal three years in Boston two years with Ottawa one year with or a couple of games really with the Florida Panthers before joining the Islanders he has not been he’s not the kind of guy who’s gonna give you outstanding offense I mean his career high in points is 27 back in 2020 2021 I think if you give him enough ice time a guy like Mike Riley can give you something in the range of 25 you know 20 to 27 points let’s say uh he gave you 24 this year in just 59 games I think he’s a good fit for Patrick W’s system he certainly can move you know skate the puck out of trouble he’s usually a pretty good passer but you know I’m not going to get too over excited about Riley in the sense of he is clearly a third pair defenseman you know would he kill you for a few games if he moved up to this middle pair no could he be the quarterback of your number one power play unit for a few games if Noah adopts him were to go down yeah but he is not an elite player he is a steady player so should the Islanders resign him I think the answer is yes but I have two caveats on that number one do not sign him to longer than a two-year deal three years Max but to me one year with an option or two years is probably where you meet where you say to Mike Riley okay I know you want more than one or two years we want to do one you want to do three four let’s meet in the middle let’s do two and then he has to be willing to play for roughly what he played for this year a million dollars give or take I I would not go higher than one point 25 million I don’t think he would go lower much than a million because there’ll be another team willing to take a chance on him but to me if he returns Mike Riley is that third pair defenseman uh second power play kind of guy or maybe just maybe he ends up being your seventh guy if baluk is ready for prime time and steps into a bigger role but either way I think you benefit from keeping Mike Riley around he’s a veteran he’s been there he’s done that he he has the ability that this team doesn’t have enough guys who you know can move the puck from the Blue Line efficiently and consistently I would bring him back but only on a one or twoyear deal at a reasonable team-friendly price we have got more to get to on today’s show we’ll talk about the Bob nrom award we’ll also have our Islanders birthday of the day a member of all four Islanders Stanley Cup winning teams on defense all that and more still to come on today’s locked on Islanders podcast today’s episode is brought to you by your friends at FanDuel it’s winter take all time in the NBA and NHL and fanduel’s giving you a shot to bring home a big win of your own right now new customers get $150 in bonus Bets with any winning $5 bet that’s $150 bucks to bet on spreads money lines player props and more Islander fans I know most of you are rooting against the Rangers maybe you want to put a little uh a wager on that check out the odds as the series goes back to Carolina uh between the Rangers and the Hurricanes maybe you want to bet on who wins the Stanley Cup maybe you want to bet on any one of the series that are going on check out all the odds at FanDuel visit fanduel.com lockon and make every playoff shot count FanDuel America’s number one sports book lockon has launched the first ever National Sports 247 streaming Channel on YouTube and now it’s also available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channels app locked on sports today is here for you 247 covering the top sports stories of the day with the local Experts of locked on plus our national shows covering every League find locked on sports today now available on the freef Fire TV channels app every year the New York Islanders have the Bob Nystrom award and I I always like this award it is uh handed out it’s been handed out since 1991 and it recognizes the member of the Islanders that quote exemplifies leadership hustle and dedication last two years Zack Paris wanted the year before that it was JG pageo Matt Martin Casey cus all of those people have been recent winners of the Bob nrom award so I I I guess the question now becomes uh you know who deserves it this year and you know to me the Bob nrom award is usually not going to be given to you know the guy who led the team in scoring that’s kind of not who it usually is for it tends to be uh one of the guys who is more of a grinder more of a hustle bottom six forward or or physical defenseman who you know kind of comes in and and joins the team and one guy who’s never won it who I think you know may be deserving of it is Cal Clutterbuck now this may be clutters last year with the Islanders uh but again you know we’ve had defenseman win it a couple of times goalies even win it a couple of times but for the most part it’s been you know third and fourth line guys I mentioned Paris pageo Martin and cikas Anders Lee won it back in 2017 Matt Martin actually won it five years in a row France neelen Kyle aoso Tim Jackman Richard Park Trent Hunter these are the names of some of the guys who have won it the goalie that tied for the win was actually G snow who tied with Jason Blake back in uh 2002 through 2003 Rich Pon one of the few defenseman to win it back in 1997 98 the very first winner was Brent Sutter back in 19991 I think you know you could go Kyle Clutterbuck uh he is always a candidate do you maybe uh I I know this will not make some fans happy do you give Scott Mayfield consideration for playing through the injury as much as he did maybe a guy like Alexander Romanov for all he accomplished this year on the blue line uh be interested to hear what our viewers and listeners have to say about it uh you know I I I you know is Bo Horvat a good candidate even though he’s in the top six Casey cikis a guy who played third line fourth line first line over the season never stopped hustling contributed in a lot of different ways maybe Zeke is a good candidate uh be interested in hearing what you think to me if this is indeed Cal Clutterbuck last year with the team and it may or may not be depending on what Lou larell decides to do uh it may be a fitting award clutter plate in all 82 games seven goals 19 points a plus four stood up for his teammates again uh led the team in hits with 273 lots of reasons to think that Cal Clutterbuck could be the guy but again love to hear what you think about it and uh we you know just uh comment on YouTube or send an email and let me know who you think deserves the Bob nrom award this year and uh you know we’ll put up a poll uh at some point later this week to have some voting on that time now for our Islanders birthday of the day and this is a guy who I think gets overlooked a little bit when you talk about the core of the four the guys who were a part of all uh four New York Islanders championships but he was a big part of the team’s success uh basically we’re a we’re right on time here because today is the 70th birthday of former Islanders defenseman Dave Lan an American Born player which was rare in the NHL back in the 7 and 80s St Paul Minnesota drafted by the Islanders in the seventh round in 1974 but after completing his career at University of Minnesota duth went on to play three seasons in the wh with the Edmonton Oilers before joining the Islanders for that fateful 7980 season and at 6225 you know that’s pretty big for a defenseman now but in 1979 80 that was huge and you know Lan never had more than four goals or 21 points in any of his Seasons with the Islanders but he was a rock defensively physical he could move you out if you were trying to screen Billy Smith and or or or you know Chico rash or uh roelly malanson you know if if Smith didn’t hack you Lan could certainly move you away he stayed with the island through 8485 played for Minnesota and La before hanging up his skates after the 8687 season 513 career NHL games only 12 goals 119 points he was a defensive defenseman and 53 penalty minutes add 87 playoff games 82 of them with the Islanders two goals 17 assists 19 points we go back to one of his better moments as an Islander we go back to game six of the Patrick division finals April 23rd 1982 Islanders leading the series three games to two over the Rangers this game at Madison Square Garden Billy Smith and Eddie Mio are the goalies and uh in this game our Islanders birthday of the day Dave Lan he assists on a goal in the second period by Bob Bourne Mike bossy had the other assist uh that put the Islanders up three to2 and then with the game tied three to3 Lan scores what turns out to be the game-winning goal in the late in the third period his second of the playoffs Wayne Merrick the only assist an empty net by Bob Bourne clinches it Islanders win it five to3 they eliminate the Rangers in six games 22 saves for Billy Smith Dave Lev in a goal and assist he had uh he had had a plus two in this game three shots on goal including the game-winning goal Dave Lan 70 years old today hard to believe uh but Dave Lan is our Islanders birthday of the day thanks for making lock on Islanders your first listen every day every dayers tomorrow on the show we continue our player-by-player analysis of the Islanders season we’ll go and talk a little Kyle pal Mary tomorrow so make sure you join us for that have a great day everybody stay safe and of course let’s go Islanders

The New York Islanders prospect pool is considered one of the weakest in the league, but right now, there is some good news as one prospect is playing very well in the OHL playoffs. Defenseman Isaiah George has looked very strong for London and they are on the brink of playing for the Memorial Cup. We look at George’s season and his contributions to the team’s success including a clutch, 2 OT assist on Monday night.

Plus, we continue our player by player look at the Isles 2023-24 season with Mike Reilly. How did he do this season and will Lou Lamoriello look to re-sign him this offseason? And we discuss some candidates for this year’s Bob Nystrom Award.

All that and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Policygenius

Check life insurance off your to do list in no time with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com/lockedonnhl to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save.

eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.

FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOIslanders?sid=YouTube

Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL

And follow the show and Gil Martin on Twitter where he’ll share the latest news on your New York Islanders and will talk with fans like you.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/LockedOnIsles
and https://twitter.com/icewarsnyrvsnyi

#Islanders #NYIslanders #NHL