STI: Could you give some background info
on yourself for those that may not be familiar with you?
AG: I was born in
Brooklyn and did the natural progression of American-Italian families by moving
to Staten Island then to New Jersey where I currently reside with my wife, son
and daughter. I have played hockey my entire life, starting at age 7, through
high school into college, now still dabbling. I have also coached for 10 years
and am finishing up with my son’s bantam team this winter before he moves on to
the older age bracket. I always knew I loved to write and when the opportunity
presented itself to get my work out there at Eyes, I enthusiastically embraced
the challenge. As an investment banker during the day, it does keep me very
busy but when your pieces are well received it makes it all worth it. This
season, we were granted an interview with the NY Islanders for inclusion into
the blog box and were accepted by the team, marking 2013-14 our first as
credentialed media members representing the only team I have ever rooted for.
It really has been a surreal experience I hope to expand on down the road as other
opportunities may present themselves because of the work I am doing at Eyes and
am truly thankful to all the great people I have met as a result, both in and
out of the media.
STI: What are your thoughts on
the summer moves made by the team?
AG: I really feel that
Garth Snow had a strong off-season. It might not have been the fireworks that
some social media folk demanded but at the end of the day the reality was it
didn’t have to be. The Islanders were already an up and coming team with a
superlative farm system and if you didn’t see the rebirth coming, you just were
not paying that much attention. Cal Clutterbuck is going to be an absolute
terror to play against night in and night out for opposing Metropolitan
division opponents and Peter Regin, if he has a strong camp, can make an impact
on the penalty kill by adding even more speed to what Michael Grabner already
possesses. Pierre-Marc Bouchard will likely get first crack at playing
alongside John Tavares and Matt Moulson on the first line and could help turn
that duo into the most prolific goal scoring pair in the entire league. The
Islanders are most definitely a better team than the one that left the ice
after game six in last season’s opening round of the playoffs. But as we all
know, it’s also about chemistry and clubhouse makeup, something the team was
already proud of as well. This is a great group that truly does enjoy playing
with one another. The discounts accepted in the Tavares and Hamonic contracts
for example prove that.
STI: What prospect are you most
excited to see this season potentially make an impact at the NHL level?
AG: I am really
excited, as I have been for the past six months or so, to see Matt Donovan. I
really feel this is his year to step up and shine in the NHL and the
opportunity is most certainly there with the departure of Mark Streit to
Philadelphia. I am in no way predicting that his offensive explosion in
Bridgeport will translate into Erik Karlsson numbers but the talent on both
sides of the puck is clearly there. I can see him making this team out of
training camp and playing about 15 minutes per night as 5/6 D-man. Ryan Strome
is of course the other ‘hot ticket’ item that will be showcased in camp but I
honestly think he could benefit so much more with a year in the AHL. Griffin
Reinhart will start becoming a regular fixture in these conversations as early
as next year.
STI: Who is one player you expect to have
a break out year this season?
AG: Josh Bailey, who
has been steadily improving since being rushed to the NHL, will take the
biggest leap among Islanders forwards this season. Along with Kyle Okposo and
Frans Nielsen, the trio practically dragged the Islanders into the post-season
with their outstanding play over the final two months of the 2013 season. All
Bailey has to do more is shoot more in my mind to move into the 20-30-50 range
of consistent offensive production. I feel that with the training wheels now
completely off the bicycle, he understands his role and the responsibility
placed on him to be an all-around player and will respond to that challenge.
STI: Which player do you think
is most likely to surprise people this season?
AG: Many of the players
on the roster will, I feel, produce close to what is expected of them by the
fanbase. The one guy however who has been getting no ‘love’ this off-season is
Regin. He has been dogged by health issues the last couple of seasons but when
healthy is a real speed forward who can contribute 10-15 goals on the bottom
two lines and play very responsibly in his own zone. If you pair him with
Grabner, can you imagine the nightmares that would cause some NHL defensemen in
trying to deal with all that speed? He claims to be coming into camp fully
healthy and will have lots to prove, especially to his ex-employers, the Ottawa
Senators. It’s just a gut feeling but I think he produces more than what the
fans right now are expecting him to.
STI: What do you think is a bigger
question mark for the team going into this season? Goalie or
Defense? Why?
AG: Honestly, it’s both
equally. They need each other to survive the 82 game slate that is coming up.
The defense was outstanding in the final 6 weeks last season to the tune of a
sub 2.00 GAA and that was not just a product of Nabokov. It was better
clearances, quicker transition and a substantial increase in blocked shots. But
with Streit gone, someone has to step up. Is it Donovan? Can Visnovsky, at 37,
stay fresh for a full complement of games? Are Thomas Hickey and Brian Strait
ready to be full time consistent contributors at this level? Between the pipes,
the biggest question obviously is can Kevin Poulin or Anders Nilsson step up
and give quality backup goaltending for 25-30 starts, keeping Nabokov fresh for
what we hope is a playoff run? As you can see, the questions abound at each
turn when you talk goaltending and defense. The Islanders will go as far as
those two areas take them. We know the scoring will be there.
STI: Are you excited for the outdoor
game? What element of the game are you most excited for?
AG: Obviously any time
the Rangers and Islanders meet it’s a grand event. Especially in my house,
which is divided right down the middle. Wife and son bleed Ranger blue while my
daughter and I wear Isles orange. So it’s usually them in one room and us in
the other. I actually think the league overdid it with all these outdoor games.
The spectacle and what made it so special was the one time it was held with all
the attention focused on that one city and two teams. Now it’s become a bit of
overkill, especially putting a game in Los Angeles. If it was not for the Kings
winning the cup two years ago, would they even know they still have a team? I
will be right where the view is the best and the cost is the least, on my couch
warm and cozy cheering on what I am hoping is an Isles victory. What I am
looking forward to the most in that event is the media having to fully
acknowledge the rebirth of this great franchise and start giving them the
respect that they have earned.
STI: If you could make one bold
prediction about the 2013/2014 New York Islanders, what would it be?
AG: Bold is what you
want, bold is what you get. The Islanders challenge the Penguins all season
long for the division crown, just falling short at the end of the season. Still
a second place finish in the newly minted Metropolitan division and top 5
Eastern conference seed is enough to get the Isles into the second round of the
playoffs.
STI: Of the three local teams, which do
you think will have the best season?
AG: The Rangers will
finish 3-5 points behind the Islanders for that aforementioned second place
spot and that is only because they have arguably the best goaltender in the
game today .They will open things up a bit under new head coach Alain Vingeault
but still struggle to score more often than not. The Devils, after losing Ilya
Kovalchuk, are probably the slowest team in the entire league, especially given
the off-season additions of Michael Ryder, Ryane Clowe and Jaromir Jagr. They
will have a decent power play and still are a good defensive team but will be
on the losing end of a lot of 2-0, 2-1 type games this season and finish last
among the three metro area clubs.
STI: What are your expectations
for the Islanders this season?
AG: I think it is very important for the team to not
take a step back this season. My expectations for the season are to challenge
the top teams in the conference every night and make themselves a real nuisance
to play against, finish top 3 in the division and top 6 in the conference. As
you can see, my expectations are realistic and not too far-fetched. I think
that is very important for fans to consider when analyzing this team. Don’t go
overboard, be realistic and you will be pleased with this years version of the
hockey club. Now, if you ask me again two years from now? I expect to be a
Stanley Cup contender.
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