Only the Isles could end the season like this, losing even though
they outscored their opponent 7-2 in the last game.
In the season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday
afternoon at the Igloo, a win was a loss and a loss was a win.
Well, at least as regards the NHL Entry Draft.
Entering their final game, the Islanders had the second-worst
record in the league. A loss against Pittsburgh would have
clinched the second-worst overall record, tying them in the draft
order with the 1999-2000 expansion entry Atlanta Thrashers.
Then, the Islanders would have drafted no worse than fourth when
the draft was held June 26th in Boston.
But, with a win the Islanders would finish with a better record
than the Vancouver Canucks, dropping them down a slot to as low
as fifth.
The second-worst overall record also would have given the
Islanders a better chance to earn the first overall pick in the
draft lottery.
So what happened? With a defense that had five players who
*totaled* less than 50 games of NHL experience last season (Zdeno
Chara, Barry Richter, David Harlock, Vladimir Chebaturkin and Ray
Schultz), the Isles crushed the Pens 7-2.
Zigmund Palffy had five points, including a spectacular hat trick
that concluded with two short-handed breakaway goals within a
minute. Palffy finished as the team's leading scorer with 50
points in 50 games, despite missing a big chunk of the season due
to a holdout.
With most people saying the '99 Draft will have three top players
and then a second tier group, the Isles simply hope it isn't a
replay of 1990, when a win on the last day of the season dropped
them to the sixth spot where they took the immortal Scott
Scissons. Pittsburgh, picking fifth, picked a kid named
Jaromir Jagr.
***
Talk about training for the Islanders.
Roberto Luongo, the top goalie prospect in the league, is
currently starring for Bathurst in the Quebec League playoffs.
Through 15 games, Luongo was 11-3-0 with a 2.83 GAA and a .922
save percentage. Oh, and he's also facing over 36 shots a game,
with several 50+ save performances already. At least he's one of
the few bright spots Islander fans can see in the future.
Knowing our luck, he'll decide to quit hockey and travel to the
Himalayas to go in search of the elusive yeti.
***
So it's another off-season, and how much the Isles will change is
anyone's guess. After their fifth straight season missing the
playoffs - the longest such streak in the NHL - the Isles could
have new owners, a new coach, or new players.
Co-owner Howard Milstein and his brother, Ed, will probably be
encouraged to sell by the NHL after the Redskins fiasco. Ex-MSG
president Bob Gutkowski is purportedly interested in buying.
Though Gutkowski was affiliated with the Rangers, he would be
accepted by Islander fans since he is not only a Long Islander,
but has shown the willingness to spend what it takes to be a
success, and has already said he would expect to have to improve
the team before the fans would come back. The current owners, of
course, have indicated they feel the reverse is true: that the
fans should come back or they won't spend money. After 15 years
of the worst ownership in sports, Isles fans won't tolerate that
kind of smugness.
Coach Bill Stewart is another question mark. His future will be
decided soon. He was probably a 90:10 shot to return a few weeks
ago, until he opened his mouth to the press and complained about
the state of the organization. Now? Who knows. If the Isles get
tired of Stewart's mouth and can get a former Isle such as Butch
Goring or Dave Lewis as head coach, Stewart might be given his
walking papers.
Of course, GM Mike Milbury's job is far from safe. His series of
bonehead deals may have been called by ownership or not, but it's
a good bet that if the Isles are sold, Milbury won't be here next
fall.
The top priority among players is probably getting a No. 1 center
to play with Ziggy Palffy. The traded Robert Reichel will likely
go back to Europe, since it's unlikely any team will give him the
$4+ million contract he wants. It remains to be seen if whomever
the GM is will make legitimate runs at free agents, or if owners
will let him.
Also on tap is the captain. On July 1, Trevor Linden becomes a
restricted free agent for the second straight year. "I expect to
be here and sign here," he said. "Until I hear otherwise, that's
how I'll approach things." If only more members of the Islanders
showed such class.
Gonna be a busy summer. One of these days that comment will
encourage Islander fans, but for now, it's just a harbinger of
dread.
