By the way, great atmosphere outside the Rock with a couple of fun places to eat. The area reminds me of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor but smaller. Nice gem in a depressing cesspool. Like Marty Biron’s eyes on the Rangers bench.

As for the actual draft, there were deals to be had downstairs, plenty of vendors hocking hockey merchandise (your erstwhile scribe picked up a Frans Nielsen Rookie Card), but not a lot of dealing to be found on the draft floor. Of course, that all changed when Uncle Lou teabagged Bettman with the Cory Schnieder trade to a thunderous ovation from the Devils faithful. That was all well and good, but that’s our Devs beat, not why you’re here.

The Isles made a splash of their own. GM Garth Snow sent the disgruntled Nino Niederreiter to the Wild for the number 70 pick and Cal Clutterbuck. This move is about a few things.

Firstly, it reminds us that Garth Snow loves middling draft picks. See the Streit move earlier this month for more proof. Garth Snow loves his 2nd-5th rounders, more bullets in the gun or some such cliché goes here.

Secondly, it shows how the Isles view their team. The top 6 provide scoring, the bottom 6 provide sandpaper and secondary scoring with guided missile strikes from Michael Grabner. This tenacity on the bottom lines served All 4 conference finalists. It’s about having more that one line that can grind on the other team and give them pause in the corners. Being a physically taxing team to play against is something the Isles take pride in, and their mix of speed and physicality serve them well.

Lastly: The New York Islanders are a professional hockey team again. They join the other teams in the pursuit of a Stanley Cup Championship. The time of being an afterthought or laughingstock is over. In reflection of that mindset, it’s time to act like a big league team again. That means that with the clear goal of winning, anyone that detracts or distracts from that must go. From the public venting of his agent, to the refusal to attend prospect camp, the writing was on the wall. He needed to go.

The Isles will take a loss in potential for a gain in the present. Clutterbuck gives the Islanders 2 of the top 5 hitmen in the NHL (Matt Martin) and 4 absolute grinders when you add in the tenant of number 91 Colin McDonald and Casey Cizikas. What they lose is a top 5 pick who clearly felt misused. Not to blindly defend the organization, but consider this: If you publicly called out how your boss was using you and then blew off a staff development training where you were requested? I’d get my resume ready too. Nino has some growing up to do. Hopefully it starts in Minnesota.

The Isles capped their hour by adding Ryan Pulock, a large blueliner with a heavy shot with the 15th pick. Shipping off El Nino was merely the first shoe, however. The other dropped last night just after 9PM when the team let it rip through Arthur Staple of Newsday that they were buying out Rick DiPietro and his albatross of a contract. This was the thing a lot of die hards needed to see before they truly thought we were back. And it had to be an Amnesty Buyout, too. None of that cap hit to reach the floor nonsense. And lo, it was. Now, a real player or two, in addition to signing our RFAs, will need to be added to achieve cap compliance.

The move to cut the cord with DiPietro was undoubtedly difficult for Wang, who purportedly considers the brash and polarizing netminder part of his family (full disclosure: 39 was a true gentleman when I met him). The $67.5m pact had to go.

GM Garth Snow did what he could trying to soften the blow for Wang, but understandably couldn’t find a hapless GM to take that on (despite Feaster, Sather and Holmgren all still apparently breathing). So a decision had to be made, the decision of course falling to the head of the house, Charles Wang. And he bid DiPietro adieu, much the way he did Yashin in 2008. Thus endeth the association with a goaltender who once infused great hope and ended as polarizing as any athlete this side of A-Rod.

Allow us to go on a journey of 2 seasons into the past. As camp broke, there we see a team waiting for John Tavares to become dominant. Players like Blake Comeau, Tim Wallace, Milan Jurcina, Steve Staios and Brian Rolston litter the roster. DiPietro is entrenched as default ‘starter’. There is no end to an arena saga that is as sordid as the Coyotes mess anywhere in sight. The prime asset in the system is Nino Niederreiter. The team is putrid and lacks backbone, in every way, an afterthought.

Then step into the light and open your eyes to the present day. The team is ready to move into a new home in Brooklyn with a 25 year dose of stability. They have a Hart trophy finalist, one of the leagues elite, John Tavares. There’s not a plug to be seen (until you look at the 14th forward, Boulton, but I digress) on this roster. Every player serves a purpose, the time for place holders is over. DiPietro and his contract are gone.

The team is playoff caliber and the NHL rewarded their resurgence with an outdoor game. Their coach finished 5th in Jack Adams voting, their GM 6th in executive of the years. Their Franchise Center third in the MVP vote, and their defensive center 12th in Selke voting. That folks, is indicative of respect. They aren’t in the hockey wilderness anymore, viewed as a hapless collection of misfit toys.

They still have far to go, and holes to fill (Chiefly in net and a slot in the top 6). But the past is buried, and the new era of Islander hockey isn’t coming, it’s finally here.

The crucible of playoff hockey forges players with consistency issues into legends.  It’s how Joel Ward got a 4 year contract from a team. When teams can’t build a playoff capable nucleus through in house development, you overpay for grinders who occasionally pot a clutch goal. Thankfully, Long Island made the postseason this year and enabled us to take a gander at what these guys can do with the pressure dialed up to MAX. The funny thing about playoff performers though, is that they are dependent on regular season performers to get you there.  With that said, let’s have a look at who elevated their game once the team punched their ticket and who did the ticket punching.

Making the Grade: The Soundtrack of the Ascension

Johnny Tavares: The Franchise. Johnny Boy carried the workman’s load most of the year. He strapped it in every game and finished with 47 points in 48 games.

Everytime the whole thing came dangerously close to going off kilter, there was 91 to right the ship. In the dying seconds, again and again, it was Tavares. With help from one of his running buddies,  JT would step up when it was time to make the doughnuts. Think back to the put away goal late against the Caps, it was Johnny on the spot capitalizing on some dogged work by Matty Moulson.  On the goal that punched the Isles ticket to the postseason against Carolina? It was Tavares again, taking advantage of the net drive by Kyle Okposo.  The crowd exploded when JT took  a feed  down the wing from Brad Boyes who had just detonated Mark Eaton. The franchise deked once, got Martin to open his legs and used that as a screen to pop Fleury’s  water bottle. Maybe ten players on the earth have the hockey sense, positioning, core strength, skating ability, and hands to make all these plays. Maybe 10.  He is the flagbearer for the house of El. He does not kneel. He is your national hockey league MVP.

Josh Bailey & Kyle Okposo: If we accept that Tavares is every bit as good as he appears, we understand to perform his greatest feats (like getting the Islanders to the playoffs), Superman still needs the Justice League.

Okposo  and Bailey have mirrored each other in so many ways. Rushed to the show, expectations because of their draft status, and maddening inconsistency. Somewhere along the way, they found themselves. Joshua found himself not as a centerman, but at the wing, where his puck distribution and tenacity along the half wall in his own zone suit him well. Kyle Okposo is a dominant player when his head is right, he lowers his shoulder and he drives to the net.  His physicality fuels his game. This was on display during the postseason, but also the last quarter of the regular season.  When JT faltered slightly, these 2 were the Brave and the Bold, picking up the slack as needed. Their coming of age was humongous. When the team needed a lift, Kyle Okposo’s fists found Matt Niskanin’s face. When JT needed a jumpstart, it was Bailey tabbed to turn the engine over.

Frans Nielsen: The Great Dane’s inadvertent deflection of a Pens point shot to tie game 6 was what the uninitiated took away from the season.

For veteran observers, it was a revelation to see the defensively responsible and longest continuously tenured Isle step up his offensive game.  He’s a vital cog in the machine. This beloved lockerroom fixture finally got his chance to shine. There’s speculation that he had an arm injury down the stretch, and couldn’t get the torque needed to use the Danish Backhand of Judgment. This is extremely likely, as we didn’t see his signature move in the shootout the last 4 shootouts the team went to. The injury was probably sustained in the W over the Bruins in Boston, but he fought through this and other nagging injuries. Tough little player for a gentleman known as a ‘finesse guy.’

More musings and music after the jump…

Matt Martin, Colin McDonald, Casey Cizikas: This fourth line had a plethora of big hits and big goals. None bigger than Zeke’s giant tally to stop the bleeding in Florida. Or C-macs twin killing in Philly. Or his spark that started the inferno against the Rangers. And oh yeah, Matt Martin led the league in hits, AGAIN.

Mike Grabner: The Gremlin potted 16 lamplighters, his dogged work on the PK reminding everyone what he looked like in his calder finalist campaign. He’s an omni present threat. He alters the opposition’s plan on the PP. He has a unique, singular skill, that is unmatched in the league. They don’t teach speed, and there’s not a burner in this league with wheels like MG40.

The Young (Old) Guys on defense:  brought it the last 30 games of the regular season. Once Lubomir Visnovsky got acclimated and lessened their load, 47 and 3 dialed it in.  They showed the ability to eliminate, agitate, infuriate, and intimidate the best players in the world. This was never clearer than Travis Hamonic serving a piece of humble pie to Evgeni Malkin at the end of game 4. These 2 took giant strides. The future is limitless. Hamonic, describing MacDonald’s loss to an injury, sounded like a gilted loved. These 2 are inseparable and their chemistry is an asset going forward.

The New Guys, young and old – Brian Strait and Thomas Hickey were both 6^th or 7^th D on their respective cup contending clubs, both sent down to get top line pairing minutes in the A. Garth Snow had other ideas and decided to bolster his defensive depth by claiming the pair. To use talent evaluation parlance, both ‘flashed’ huge during the course of the season.  Strait added physicality and snarl. His defining moment to some was his overtime takedown on Crosby that netted the game ender.

Firstly, the call was dubious. Secondly, the defining moment actually occurred one game prior when he pancaked 87 and drew a PK when the Penguins came unglued, which yielded a tying goal to the Isles. Quickly, in their desire to scapegoat, fans and hockey pundits forget he was trying to match the best player in the world. Not bad for a kid in his first full year in the show.

Likewise, Thomas Hickey made an impact learning to activate into the play under the tutelage of Lubomir Visnovsky, learning when to pinch and when to stand up at the line. Hickey’s OT winner in Montreal is seared into my mind. The development of MacDonald, Hamonic, Hickey and Strait was all aided by the arrival of the wayward Visnovsky. Much was made of his circular path to the Island. All he did once he got here was produce. And then sign an extension. Huge pickup by Garth Snow. His extension coupled with the acquisitions and steps forward by a great many younger D means what exactly for Mark Streit?

That was a look at who stepped up. In the next installment, who is stepping out?

Today, I sit down with everyone’s favorite THN writer, Adam Proteau. Adam has been with The Hockey News since 1999, and serves as the radio host for their show on XM.  This interview is a follow-up on Adam’s book that came out this year, Fighting the Good Fight, which is available for purchase here. This interview also serves as a counterpoint to my trilogy on fighting, the first part of which is available here. Without any further adieu, here we go!

VP: Your most recent book, Fighting the Good Fight, is it fair to view this as a symbolic response to Ross Bernstein’s The Code?

AP: You can interpret it any way you like, but I didn’t intend it as a rebuttal of The Code, which I haven’t read. I wrote it as a polemic intended to challenge the core assumptions and what I believe to be the dogma of the hockey world. Much of that includes the so-called Code, something I just don’t believe in. But other elements of the book deal with the hockey culture surrounding visors and concussions, which obviously aren’t Code-connected.

Bertuzzi – Moore “On Ince Depravity”

VP: As a mere pup at the time, the Bertuzzi-Moore Assault which you discussed in-depth literally changed the way I viewed the sport’s issues with player control. Is it fair to describe that as a watershed moment in the way the league regarded the severity to which on ice incidents could escalate?

AP: No, to be honest, I don’t think NHL management and ownership has arrived at that moment. The nonsense between the Isles and Penguins in 2011 showed how things can still escalate, yet the league more or less shrugs its shoulders. That said, the Bertuzzi/Moore incident could still have an influence on policy, as Moore’s court case this fall will bring the league and game under an unforgiving and unsympathetic light.

VP: In my response to your book, I labeled Don Cherry a War Profiteer given his good old hockey game mentality and the substantial income he made off fights while he now bashes the fighters who want to see reforms. Do you feel that’s an accurate portrayal of Cherry and his ilk? Your thoughts on their demonization of former enforcers who have spoken out, i.e., Grimson, Thompson and Laraque?

AP: I don’t know I’d use that exact term, but I agree with the overall characterization of him as someone who profits immensely off the style of hockey he so fervently touts. He has to be credited for being a savvy businessman, but as an ambassador to the sport some people claim him to be, he’s been an abject disaster. Good ambassadors don’t scapegoat entire groups of people simply to build themselves up in the eyes of one particular group of people. And the fact he lashes out at anyone who dissents from his views is an indication of how much he must fear having them seriously questioned. He has been more of a hindrance than help to the overall game.

VP: You talked quite a bit about your rough and tumble past in the sport, and I get the notion of being a “changed man”, but are you going to tell me that if someone recklessly boarded one of your friends in a game tomorrow you wouldn’t want to drop the gloves? That’s where the problem lies for me. I have no problem with a clean, honest fight in response to something that occurs during the flow of the game. I left with the impression you don’t either. You’ve been on the bench after a fight. Can you deny it gets everyone going? Do you think even ‘hockey reformists’ accept it as part of the game?

AP: Hey, there’s no denying the visceral thrill of sticking up for a teammate. But you could say the same in any sport, if those sports allowed it. Who wouldn’t want to smack around Ron Artest after his elbow to the back of an opponent’s head? But the NBA draws a line, and that doesn’t mean that fights don’t still happen there. But they are punished appropriately, it is a means of last resort. And that’s what I’d like to see more of in hockey.

Right now, it’s institutionalized as a first resort, partly because leagues refuse to do their duty and curb dirty play overall, and partly because there’s a financial industry built around it. So if, one day, we get to a point where pro hockey players can still fight, but only if it’s really worth it, because a game misconduct will follow, as will increasing suspensions for repeat offenders I’ll be happy.

VP: Fighting aside, I come down on the league for It’s failure to look “big picture” at its subtle evolutions. We now have faster players,stronger players, more imperviously equipped guys flying around without a redline slamming into each other at full speed. All these factors have led to a staggering uptick in concussions as the league has moved to a speed/offense dominated game. Is it time to rein it in? What should be done? Are we looking at the restoration of the red line, no touch icing, the removal of the trapezoid, and wholesale equipment reforms? Which of these things (or something else) do you think we’ll see implemented out of the next CBA?

AP: I think there’s an argument to be made for slowing the game down a little, and I’m all for that, so long as obstruction standards (that continue to slide) get back to where they were in 2005-06. But overall, there has to be more emphasis placed on player safety: visors, increased sit-out times for concussion victims, perhaps independent team doctors. There are lots of choices and options that I explore in more depth in my book. But until that is made more of a priority than money (which will be by far the biggest priority in the next labor deal), we’ll see NHL team owners continue their long pattern of putting profit before the talent on the ice.

Matt Martin NHL’s leading Hitman

VP: In the opening few chapters of your book, you really slammed my team, the New York Islanders for their role in the fracas of February 11, 2011. What would you say to my assessment that (NHL hits leader) Matt Martin is a hard-nosed but mostly clean player and the same goes for Mike Haley (who is basically a reincarnated Steve Webb). Furthermore, it has been my contention that the league’s failure to get the Pens in line in games and seasons prior was a contributing factor to that brawl (with the Talbot hit on Comeau and the Ponikarasky board on Bailey just two examples at my disposal), would you agree with that notion of the league’s culpability?

AP: I think both Martin and Haley are aggressive players who wouldn’t be NHLers prior to the last round of expansion. That’s not to say they’re horrible people, or that they can’t rise above their station, but let’s not try to paint them as saints, either. But yes, I would say the league could have stepped in at any point early in the developing feud and nipped things in the bud. That they chose not to says it all. They want these kinds of things happening, but their definition of “too far” is nebulous.

VP: I contend that Shanahan’s transparency is the most important thing about his administration. He has a thankless job, but explaining to players and fans the rationale for his decisions is the best thing for the league, as it demystifies supplemental discipline. Do you see this as an important step in getting players to trust the league to “handle things” more?

AP: After the roasting Shanahan has taken in the playoffs, I’d argue that his transparency has only made it clear how terrible the NHL’s supplemental discipline policies really are, and why it doesn’t really matter who is in that role so long as owners don’t commit to a tougher stance on acceptable player behavior. After the Shea Weber non-suspension, players went batty for a while, precisely because it showed the league would do nothing to stop egregious actions. That’s why, on one level, I don’t blame these guys for the vigilante justice culture. Clearly, the NHL doesn’t care about justice, which is why the decisions are as baffling under Shanahan as they were under Colin Campbell.

Kerry Fraser “The Hair!”

VP: I felt that ‘holy shit’ metric described by Kerry Fraser is the easiest example to relate to I’ve ever seen described by an official. With the increased scrutiny, do you feel officials are doing a good job enforcing rule 48? Do players (e.g., Travis Hamonic for a phantom elbow on Letang) who get ejected on a dive just have to suck it up and accept the league is going to call anything borderline, or should they still finish their checks?

AP: No, as I said, I think the overall officiating standards have slipped yet again. It’s undeniable if you’re talking playoff hockey, and the regular-season penalty numbers strongly suggest the same. But I don’t fault the officials, either. They take their direction from Terry Gregson, who takes his from Gary Bettman, who takes his from the owners. It all starts at the top.

VP: It is my contention the Bruins and Flyers don’t hoist their Broad Street and Big Bad Cups without their toughness. And that the Isles don’t roll past them without Clark Gillies. Is it accurate that team toughness and having a guy that can mix it up (Not necessarily an enforcer per se) is still an essential component for a Cup run?

AP: Depends what you mean by a guy who can mix it up. Who would that be on the Red Wings’ last Cup-winning team? I think it all depends on what the league allows to happen on the ice. If they reward the Bruins and other aggressive teams for their play, of course it makes sense. But if the game is more about skill and the rulebook is interpreted that way, maybe other teams win out.

VP: If you were in charge for a day, how many “reckless players” would you exile from the game? Would there be a set “this many transgressions and you are gone” criteria?

AP: The changes I’d want wouldn’t work for just a day. I’d put all players on notice that dirty play won’t be tolerated, intent or no intent, and that the head was off-limits. From there, I’d establish clear penalties for headshots and discretionary but severe penalties for other wanton acts. Unfortunately, that would mean examples would have to be set and new precedents created, but that’s the only way players will know change is here and here to stay.

In terms of numbers, I don’t have anything specific, but I do think eight games, or roughly 10 percent of the regular season, is a good starting point for first-time offenders (not fighters). But I would say repeat fighters would have a sliding scale of suspensions that increases drastically after, say, the fifth fight. More than nine or 10 fights means you won’t be playing for the rest of the season.

VP: I’m the Isles writer here, so I’ll ask this in closing: The history of the market, the potential of this young core, a passionate (they are still there, trust me) fan base – is Long Island a hockey market worth saving?How much of a black-eye for the NHL would it be if the franchise responsible for one of the great dynasties in sports history ceased to be?

AP: I do recognize there’s a vocal and proud group of Isles fans and that it would serve the league well to maintain as large a presence in the greater NYC market, so I do hope the franchise stays. My biggest problem with the team has been the dubious decisions made by its ownership and management, as well as the arena that hinders its ability to bring in free agents. What will have to come first for this team to get a new building – the threat of relocation, or winning? Unfortunately, Charles Wang and Garth Snow haven’t made winning part of the equation.

That was fun.Thank you so much for your time, Adam! Follow him on twitter @Proteautype.

So we’re back on the road, headin’ a-Nassau-way…and we don’t mean to the land of daiquiris and sunshine.  More like rum and Snooki.

This is our second of four dances with the Fishsticks; last time we met in our barn and got away with a 2-1 final.  After tonight there are two more to go as we trade dates and homes at the end of February.

As long as our boys get up on their toes from the start of the game – not, say, :40 minutes into it – we’re fairly optimistic about the game.  We would be more optimistic, however, if we didn’t seem to have worsening troubles in the net.  First Varly was out on injury, then Neuvy, then Varly and now Neuvy.  Braden “Hot B” Holtby has been called up from Hershey…giving the Caps not one, not two but three cute goalies.  Let’s hope his groin stays injury-free.

OK Okposo plays his first game for the Islanders this season, now that he’s all better from a shoulder injury.  Who are the other Islanders hitting the ice worth remembering?   Oy vey zmir, who isn’t?

Andrew Macdonald wins the prize for ‘Name Most Likely Associated With Haggis’ (and that’s saying something in hockey), but he’s no prize pig.  Hardly.  At 6’3″ and 210 (shoots left), Windsor’s Matt Martin is another looker – although every shot we’ve ever seen he’s scowling like a constipated turtle.  (Sheesh, Matty, is it so hard to be good looking?)

For a sport where you’re likely to take a puck to the face, we think Rob “Cocktail” Schremp (no, really…) would have a lot to lose, maybe more than most.  He’s impossibly cute…as are Mark Eaton and Dylan Reese, although Reese probably fits more in ‘rugged’ than ‘cute.’  Nice to have choices.

Yup, there’s more, but we have more games and more time and more pics later.  Just settle down and be patient.

However, the PuckBuddys have obtained special exclusive scouting video of the Islanders at their most recent practice session.