NHL Hockey Betting - New York Islanders

NHL Betting 2007 – New York Islanders
Manager: Ted Nolan
Arena: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Last Season: 40-30-12, 92 pts (4th Atlantic, 8th Eastern Conference)
2008 Prediction: 11th in Eastern Conference

Preseason Odds to win Stanley Cup: +3500

From the owner’s box to center ice, the New York Islanders have been a case study in ineptitude. Stretching back to the absurdly large contract they gave Alexei Yashin, to firing one of the better general managers in the league so that their backup goalie could assume the title, to signing Rick DiPietro to a lifetime contract, the Islanders have made a massive amount of questionable moves. Trading everything but the kitchen sink for Ryan Smyth, getting handled in the playoffs by Buffalo, then letting Smyth go in free-agency was just another in a long trend of mishaps for the Isles.

The Islanders brought in Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin when nobody else wanted either, and will be relying on untapped potential to get on the scoreboard. Jeff Tambellini is the key forward in the Islanders offense and he needs to make the jump to the next level to give the Islanders a decent shot at the playoffs. Ruslan Fodotenko and Andy Sutton are also characters that need to actualize on their albeit mediocre potential.

The blue-line lacks any big names and is also average at best. Sean Hill and Brendan Witt are thick skinned players who possess a physical style of play, but the depth chart is thin on defense, which will make life difficult for the cocky DiPietro in net.

The Eastern Conference is getting better and better, and the Atlantic division is simply too good to allow a haphazard, mismanaged team like the Islanders to prosper. Keep your hockey betting dollars safely tucked away from Ted Nolan and Garth Snow’s grasp.

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Official Website: www.newyorkislanders.com