Predictions: Defensemen

Next up we will do the predictions on defense.

1) Mark Streit

5 goals

25 assists

30 points

After struggling early last year coming back from that shoulder injury.  Streit really turned it on as the season winded down and ended up having a pretty good season.  The momentum he gained at the end of last year I think will translate into this shortened season and lead to the captain having a pretty good season.

 photo courtesy of http://storage.canoe.ca/

2) Tavis Hamonic

2 goals

15 assists

17 points

55 PIMS

Last season, after proving his rookie season was no fluke Travis Hamonic proved that he was one of the better young defensemen in all of the NHL.  In this shortened season I think he will continue to grow and of course his physical game will still be there.

3) Andrew MacDonald

4 goals

10 assists

14 points

MacDonld has cemented himself as one of the more reliable defensemen on this team.  That won't change in this 48 game season and Amac will have another solid year.

 photo courtesy of http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/

4) Radek Martinek

2 goals

5 assists

7 points

In his return to Long Island, when he plays I think Radek will be solid like he has been for his whole career.  Sadly, he has also been injury prone his whole career and I think that bug will catch up to him at some point this season and knock him out of the lineup.

5) Matt Carkner

1 goal

4 assists

5 points

70 PIMS

When the Islanders signed Matt Carkner on July 1st last summer, they weren't signing an offensively gifted defenseman.  They were signing a stay at home defenseman.  Also, someone who will pummel guys who so much as look at guys like Tavares and Okposo the wrong way.  His addition will be more then welcomed on defense.

 photo courtesy of http://cdn2-www.hockeysfuture.com/

6) Thomas Hickey

2 goals

10 assists

12 points

*These stats reflect a full season*

The newly acquired Hickey I think has a better chance of making the team then Joe Finley or Jon Landry.  If given the season I think Hickey could put up not bad offensive numbers based off the scouting reports I have read.  This guy could be another good waiver acquisition by our GM.

Guys who could see time:

1) Lubomir Visnovsky

7 goals

23 assists

30 points

The ever controversial Visnovsky now sounds like he will report here within the next two weeks after attending to his "sons health issues."  Arthur Staple said in his chat today that if he isn't here by February 1st he expect the Islanders to tell him to stay and toll his contract to next season.

 photo courtesy of http://cdn3-www.hockeysfuture.com/

2) Joe Finley

1 goal

4 assists

5 points

40 PIMS

Standing at 6'8 Garth Snows first waiver acquisition this week will likely see limited time for us this season. 

3) Jon Landry

0 goals

2 assists

2 points

Because of injury, I think Landry may see a handful of games in this shortened season.  In that time he wont look terrible but he may show why he has yet to crack an NHL lineup to this point in his career.