NY Islanders - Line Up

After five consecutive last-place finishes in the division, the promise of hope in the future for the New York Islanders arrived in the present in 2012-13. The face of the franchise and leader of the renaissance, John Tavares, became a legitimate MVP candidate, and the Islanders returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2006-07. Though they put a scare into the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, there is more work to be done at Nassau Coliseum before the franchise heads west on the Long Island Expressway to Barclays Center in Brooklyn or the Islanders become a full-fledged Stanley Cup contender. General manager Garth Snow continued to be patient, looking for low-risk additions who could add value without drastically altering what the Islanders have built around Tavares. Pierre-Marc Bouchard has concussion issues, but he could be a classic bounce-back candidate playing next to Tavares and Matt Moulson. There was friction with Nino Niederreiter, and he was traded to the Minnesota Wild for someone who can add physical play and some scoring depth: Cal Clutterbuck. Snow locked up underrated Travis Hamoni to a No. 3 defenseman-type contract even though he's the team's No. 1. Evgeni Nabokov was re-signed as the short-term option in goal. The next step is incorporating the next wave. Core players Tavares, Hamonic, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo are fully developed or close to it. Exciting prospects Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart will be counted on to push the Islanders upward. The Islanders moved past the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils last season and likely will need to stay ahead of one or both to book another postseason berth out of the Metropolitan Division. The future remains bright and it continues to get closer. Bouchard makes sense as a replacement for Brad Boyes, and his playmaking could mean extra goals for Tavares and Moulson. Strome could fit on the wing of the second line or end up in the middle of the third. Anders Lee and Brock Nelson could vie for a spot in the opening-night lineup. If Reinhart has a great camp, it will be hard to keep him off the roster. Donovan, like Nelson, had a great season for Bridgeport in the American Hockey League. There are other young defensemen, Calvin de Haan and Scott Mayfield, who could be in the mix. The Islanders have enough solid, competent NHL players they aren't desperate for any of the top prospects to make the team, but there should be opportunities for them to find regular minutes.

In: RW Cal Clutterbuck, C/RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard, C Peter Regin
Out: D Mark Streit, RW Nino Niederreiter, C Keith Aucoin, LW Jesse Joensuu
UFAs: RW Brad Boyes, G Tim Thomas, C Marty Reasoner, RW Sean Backman, D Radek Martinek, D Nathan McIver, RW Blair Riley
Prospects: C Brock Nelson, C/RW Ryan Strome, C Anders Lee, D Griffin Reinhart, D Matt Donovan, D Aaron Ness

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Islanders:

Forwards

Matt Moulson - John Tavares - Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Josh Bailey - Frans Nielsen - Kyle Okposo
Michael Grabner - Ryan Strome - Cal Clutterbuck
Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Colin McDonald
Peter Regin - Eric Boulton

Defensemen

Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic
Lubomir Visnovsky - Brian Strait
Matt Donovan - Thomas Hickey
Matt Carkner

Goalies

Evgeni Nabokov Kevin Poulin