New York Islanders 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NHL Hockey season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NHL Hockey Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NHL in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2009 NHL Season Previews here.

New York Islanders 2008-’09 record:
26-47-9, 61 points (5th in Atlantic, 15th in East)

New York Islanders 2008-’09 playoffs:
Did not qualify

The Islanders were awful last year. Their final record was 26-47-9 and they finished dead last in the National Hockey League by a wide margin. To make matters worse, the team dealt away most of their recognizable stars and franchise goalie Rick DiPietro suffered a major knee injury and might not play this season. The Isles suffered from a chronic lack of scoring: defenseman Mark Streit was the team’s leading scorer! There was very little that can be taken from last season that can be viewed as a positive.

New York Islanders 2009 Preview

New York Islanders General manager: Garth Snow (101-115-30, 4th NHL year, 1st team)

New York Islanders Coach: Scott Gordon (26-47-9, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

New York Islanders Captain: Doug Weight

New York Islanders Top Returning Scorer: D Mark Streit (16 goals, 40 assists, 56 points)

New York Islanders Top Returning Goalie: Rick DiPietro (1-3-0, 3.52, .892)

New York Islanders Key Additions: G Dwayne Roloson; G Martin Biron.

New York Islanders Key Subtractions: G Peter Mannino; G Yann Danis; D Joe Callahan; G Joey MacDonald; C Shawn Bates; C Andy Hilbert; D Thomas Pock; C Mike Sillinger; LW Dean McAmmond.

New York Islanders Top Line: LW Doug Weight, C John Tavares, RW Sean Bergenheim.

New York Islanders Top Defensive Pairing: Mark Streit, Bruno Gervais.

The Islanders are going to immediately be John Tavares’ team. Tavares broke Wayne Gretzky’s junior scoring records and petitioned the NHL to be eligible for the draft two years ago! He’s considered the best prospect available since Sidney Crosby and he should make an immediate impact on the top line and power play. Unfortunately, aside from Kyle Okposo and Doug Weight, there really isn’t much scoring available and the Islanders will struggle to score if their super rookie isn’t on the ice.

The Isles are even worse off on defense. Streit proved to be an excellent two way player last year but beyond him the Isles are very thin. In short, this group will be populated by a mixture of extremely young players and journeyman veterans.

In goal, Biron and Roloson actually give the Isles a pair of solid keepers who will give the Isles an outside chance of hanging in a lot of games. Both have proven to be very capable tenders in the past and both could approach the 40 game mark.

2009 New York Islanders Goaltending:

The key cog in this team, DiPietro was gone five games into the season with a knee injury that ultimately required three separate surgeries. NHL veterans Roloson and Biron were added in the summer as insurance policies against a repeat of these woes, with concern remaining about DiPietro’s condition. Considering he’s previously had both hips surgically repaired in 2007 and 2008, the cause for concern is warranted.

2009 New York Islanders Player To Watch:

C John Tavares. The OHL’s career goal-scoring leader with 215, he conjures up images of Mike Bossy with his quick release and ability to finish. A competitive sort who wants to be on the ice in key situations and seeks the puck with the game on the line. Not the fastest skater, but displays a stealth knack for showing up in the right place and the right time. Get him the puck in scoring position and it’s a goal.

2009 New York Islanders Offense:

On-ice success might become necessary to keep the team on Long Island into the future. Team owner Charles Wang is in a political struggle to get approval to build the “Lighthouse Project,” a large development that would include a new arena to replace antiquated Nassau Coliseum. For now, Gordon will make due with a roster loaded with youth and lacking much veteran talent. Roloson and Biron will share goaltending duties in the absence of DiPietro, who has no timetable to return from knee injuries that limited him to five games last season. Look for further development from past first-round picks Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey.

2009 New York Islanders Schedule | 2009 Atlantic Division Preview | 2009 Eastern Conference Preview
New York Islanders Sportsbooks

New York Islanders 2009 Season Predictions

They are on their way back, but it’s a long climb from Ground Zero. Expect another long winter on the Island.

We predict that the New York Islanders will finish 5th in the NHL Atlantic, 15th seed in East: 65 points.

New York Islanders Betting

New York Islanders Stanley Cup Odds: +10000
New York Islanders Eastern Conference Odds: +5000
New York Islanders Atlantic Odds: +2500

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