2014-2015 Islanders Preview: Blue Line Blues

In an offseason full of activity for the Islanders, perhaps the most notable move comes at the top. Embattled owner Charles Wang gave Islander fans an early Christmas present in August, when he announced he would sell a minority stake in the team to former Washington Capitals co-owner Jonathan Ledecky and investor Scott Malkin, who will assume majority control. Unfortunately for the fans, however, the transfer of ownership won't take place until after the 2014-2015 season. What exactly this means for the franchise in the meantime remains to be determined. With Wang still in control for another season, will general manager Garth Snow be allowed to make another confounding deal? And what if Wang and Snow decide to trade superstar John Tavares, while he has four years remaining on a team-friendly contract? Does the new ownership group have any say in this matter? The fun times aren't quite over yet.

In addition, this season will mark the Islanders' last in Nassau County, with Ledecky and Malkin set to move the club to Brooklyn after the season. Perhaps the move will finally allow the team to attract top-notch NHL free agents, though it would surely be contingent on the new ownership opening up the purse strings. The Isles did upgrade their biggest need this offseason in accomplishing a trade-and-sign with the Capitals for goalie Jaroslav Halak. The 29-year-old probably won't completely solve the Isles' problems in the net, but he should at least represent a sizeable upgrade over Evgeni Nabokov, Anders Nilsson and Kevin Poulin, who shared duties in goal last season. One thing Halak will figure out quickly is that the Islanders defensive corps is nowhere near what Halak had in front of him during his time with St. Louis. As a result, he'll not only face more shots, but better quality ones. The optimist can point out that Halak's overall quality of competition will be lessened, however, since the Eastern Conference remains inferior to its counterpart in the West.

With goaltender being solved -- so the team hopes -- the most notable question remaining for the Islanders in training camp will be which skater claims the coveted left wing job on the line with Tavares and Kyle Okposo. It's been well established that Tavares is a top-10 NHL talent capable of making anyone around him better. But Okposo is coming off a career season of 27 goals and 69 points in 71 games, and remember, Tavares didn't play after suffering a knee injury at the Olympics. The top contenders to join the duo up front would seem to be one of Michael Grabner, Josh Bailey, Brock Nelson, or Ryan Strome. While Nelson and Strome would normally seem underdogs by virtue of being natural centers, the Islanders' plentiful depth at the position will probably push one or both to the wing, at least until the team makes a trade. Given their relative youth, it would make little to no sense for Strome or Nelson to be the fourth-line center, which would stunt their development.

While the job battle for the top spot at left wing might be the most intriguing competition in camp, the Islanders also have a couple of other new pieces to fit into their forward mix. The team went out and signed Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski in the offseason, hoping the pair can recreate the chemistry they showed in Toronto in 2010-2011, when both posted the best numbers of their careers. It remains to be seen if the additions of both forwards will pay off, but for now, it's widely believed that the Islanders overpaid for two players who haven't performed all that well in recent seasons.

The defense remains a work in progress, but it could see an infusion of talent if the team decides to keep Griffin Reinhart, the No. 4 overall pick from the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, with the big club. Reinhart won't be the cure to what ails the blue line, but he can certainly push the unit in the right direction. At this point in time, Travis Hamonic is considered the team's top defenseman, but mostly by default due to a lack of talent behind him. Lubomir Visnovsky will attempt to return from the concussion issues that plagued him last season, and if he gets back to 100 percent health, he could net some surprising fantasy value, as he'll likely stick on the top power-play unit with Calvin de Haan. If the Islanders decide to add further depth to the position, the Bruins and Blackhawks both might represent viable trade partners. Both teams need to offload some salary, and the Isles have a crop of solid young players that either organization may want to take off their hands and develop.

The Big Guns

John Tavares, C (RotoWire Position Rank*: #7): It's no secret that Tavares is one of the best forwards in the game and a first-round pick in almost any format. He was on pace for a career season last year, until a knee injury suffered during the Olympics knocked him out for the remainder of the campaign. Tavares is so good that it hasn't really mattered who plays on his line, but if the Isles can ever surround him with an elite talent, 40-plus goals is well within his reach. For those concerned about the knee, all indications from the center are that he is 100 percent healthy and that he will be ready to go come October. Don't pass him up if you get the chance on draft day.

*RotoWire Position Ranks reflected for points-based leagues*

Kyle Okposo, RW (RotoWire Position Rank: #15): Okposo was nothing short of fantastic last season for the Islanders, producing 27 goals and 42 assists, outpacing his previous career-bests in both categories. What makes these numbers even more impressive is that the Okposo missed 11 games, and lost linemate John Tavares to a knee injury for the final month and a half of the season. Fantasy owners are bound to wonder what Okposo can do playing a full season with Tavares. The Islanders certainly have their issues but scoring shouldn't be one of them, especially with Okposo around to take some of the pressure off of Tavares. He will more than likely be a top-20 winger come draft time, and a 30-plus goal season may be within the realm of possibility.

Jaroslav Halak, G (RotoWire Position Rank: #21): The Islanders acquired Halak's rights from the Capitals in May and signed him to a four-year deal soon after, providing the team with an immediate upgrade in the net. Halak caught quite a bit of grief during his four seasons in St. Louis, as he could never get the team over the hump despite his respectable underlying numbers. With the Islanders, Halak will have to contend with moving from one of the NHL's best to defensive units to one of its worst, which should reveal once and for all the goalie's true talent level. Because Halak figures to see more rubber from better angles than he ever did in St. Louis, expect him to notice at least a slight downgrade in his ratios, though he could still end up surpassing his projections.

On the Rise

Ryan Strome, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #111): How the Islanders handle Strome during training camp is certainly something worth watching. Strome is a highlight reel waiting to happen, but it's not yet apparent where he might play. Though he's a natural center, the Islanders need a top-line wing to join John Tavares and Kyle Okposo, and Strome certainly has the talent to fill that void. The Islanders have resisted the temptation to move Strome to the wing in the past, but with the team already loaded at the center spot, it would seem a waste of the 21-year-old's abilities to drop him to a checking line. If Strome does indeed end up occupying the left wing spot on the top line, he should also be moved up your draft rankings accordingly. A trio of Tavares, Okposo, and Strome could represent one of the best young lines in the NHL.

Brock Nelson, C (RotoWire Position Rank: NR): Nelson finished his first NHL season with 14 goals and 26 points in 70 games while seeing most of his action on the third or fourth line. Could he handle a bigger load? Probably, but the Isles are loaded with young centers, and the presence of John Tavares and Mikhail Grabovski on the top two lines hinders his chances of a promotion. If the Islanders end up transitioning him to a spot on the wing alongside either Tavares or Grabovski, however, Nelson could end up netting some nice value relative to his draft position. He certainly has talent and is a useful player for the Islanders, but his fantasy prospects will likely hinge on him making a successful move to the outside.

Calvin de Haan, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #129): De Haan proved to the Islanders last season that when he stays healthy, he has the talent to compete at the NHL level. He's always had the reputation of being a good puck-moving defenseman, but his slight build always seemed to come with skepticism that he'd be able to make it through the rigors of an NHL season. Those doubts will persist in some minds, but he still figures to slot in as a first- or second-pair defenseman for the Islanders this season, with duties on the top power-play unit perhaps awaiting. By season's end, de Haan could develop into a quality depth blueliner for a fantasy squad, but he's more than likely someone to target next season, assuming he can take that next step and survive for 82 games.

Two to Watch

Josh Bailey, LW (RotoWire Position Rank: #64): Bailey has had an up-and-down career thus far with the Islanders. There are times where he looks like he will justify his first-round selection in the 2010 draft, and other times where it looks like he's just going through the motions. With the Islanders having acquired more depth on offense in the offseason, the team no longer has a huge stake in Bailey's success. He's currently ticketed to start the season on the third line, but could earn a promotion if his production warrants it. That being said, it's no secret that the Islanders have 16 forwards on one-way contracts, which may lead to at least one forward being traded. Given Bailey's relative youth and pedigree, it wouldn't be surprising if a team became interested in taking him off the Islanders' hands.

Lubomir Visnovsky, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #139): After suffering multiple concussions last season -- missing 58 games as a result -- there were some who speculated that Visnovsky might retire. He has stated, however, that he plans on resuming his career, and should do so as the quarterback of the Islanders' power play. While Visnovsky isn't someone you should be looking to target in a draft given his health concerns, he is someone that can be had for cheap later on. If he does end up staying healthy, double-digit goals shouldn't be considered out of the question.

Don't Overrate

Michael Grabner, RW (RotoWire Position Rank: #59): If Grabner could convert on more of his chances, he'd be one of the most dangerous wingers in the game. It seems that every game he has at least one promising breakaway, only for his shot to fail him. Grabner only bagged 12 goals last season and the Isles don't quite seem to know what to do with him, as he is constantly moved all over the place, never to spend much time on any one line. With the additions the Isles made in free agency over the summer, it would seem that Grabner could end up on the third line. Even so, like just about every other wing the Isles currently have, he will be given the chance to compete for a spot on the coveted top line with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo.

Mikhail Grabovski, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #57): The Isles made a splash on the second day of free agency, inking Grabovski signed a five-year, $20 million contract and further strengthening the team's center corps. While he's slated to center the team's second line, this contract still seems to be a pretty steep price to pay for a player who has only scored 22 goals over the past two seasons. It would appear that the Islanders are banking on Grabovski reestablishing a connection with former Toronto teammate and projected linemate Nikolai Kulemin, who also signed with the Islanders in the summer. Grabovski's best season to date came in 2010-11 when he was primarily flanked by Kulemin, but the decline from both players since that time might render their familiarity moot. Given their significant investment in the duo this offseason, the Islanders are surely hoping that isn't the case.

Top Prospects

Griffin Reinhart, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #9): The Islanders will have a decision to make on Reinhart during training camp. He was named the MVP of the WHL Championship Series and is now ready to begin his professional career. The question is whether he will begin in the AHL or NHL. As things stand now, the smart money would seem to be on the Isles putting Reinhart in Bridgeport to begin the season, with a possible call-up coming once he proves himself in the minors. However, a strong training camp combined with the Islanders' lack of top defenders could force the organization's hand. Long-term, both Reinhart and Ryan Pulock are the future of the Islanders' defense, as both project to be top-pair defenders. Just don't expect Reinhart to step into a vital role with the Islanders immediately upon making his debut.

Michael Dal Colle, LW (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #28): Dal Colle was the Islanders' top choice in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and although most agree he has a bright NHL future, it won't be this season. The Islanders have had mixed success with their young forwards in the past. John Tavares was a hit and Kyle Okposo looks to be headed that way, while Josh Bailey and Nino Niederreiter (traded to Minnesota) appear to be misses. The jury is still out on Ryan Strome. Some might say the organization has a problem nurturing their young forwards; the Islanders can only hope Dal Colle won't continue that pattern.

Josh Ho-Sang, C (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #88): Ho-Sang possesses one of the best skill sets of the 2014 draft class. So why did he slip to the Islanders at the 28th overall pick? The NHL struggles with larger-than-life personalities, instead demanding that those with charisma "tuck in." Ho-Sang doesn't tuck in. Not even close. He's confident -- borderline cocky -- about his own skills, and arguably, rightfully so. He's a magician with the puck, but like the Leafs' Nazem Kadri, he tends to make one too many dips or doodles, ultimately losing the puck just inside the opponent's blue line. While he's not exactly abysmal in his own zone, it's hard to call him average there, either. In the right system and with the right support, Ho-Sang could be a steal. And John Tavares could be just the guy to turn this hotshot into a star. Considering some of the alternatives, Long Island might actually represent one of the better landing spot for the enigmatic Ho-Sang.

Ryan Pulock, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #94): After Griffin Reinhart, Pulock is the cream of the crop when it comes to Islander defensive prospects. While Reinhart may end up being the superior overall defender of the pair, Pulock is the one who could end up being the better offensive blueliner, and thus, carry more fantasy upside. Pulock possesses a booming shot, which could be very dangerous on the power play, if and when he's given the opportunity.