College
CCHA
Ryan Clark D 6-3 205lbs Shoots: Left
Born: October 30, 1977 Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the 9th round
(eleventh choice, 222nd overall) of the 1997
Entry Draft.
Regular Season
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 Lincoln Jr.A 35 6 7 13 94
1997-98 Notre Dame CCHA 35 0 6 6 22
1998-99 Notre Dame CCHA 14 1 2 3 26
Playoffs
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 Lincoln Jr.A - - - - -
1997-98 Notre Dame CCHA 3 0 0 0 4
1998-99 Notre Dame CCHA - - - - -
Clark is considered a stay at home defenseman. He was the
last pick the Isles made in 1997, and even though this might
sound silly he perhaps was plucked because of his last name. The
Isles Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel,
Head Draft man, is Gordie Clark. No relation as far as I know.
I'll have to find out why he played in only half the amount of
games in his Sophomore season as compared to his freshman year.
Perhaps he suffered an injury. I saw him play once during his
freshman season and he was not too bad. Played well defensively
and joined the offense whenever he had an opportunity. The
coaching staff, led by former NHLer Dave Poulin as coach, must
like him because he was playing a regular shift.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Clauson D 6-5 210lbs Shoots: Left
Born: November 13, 1978 Birthplace: Lebanon, NH
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the sixth round
(fifth choice, 155th overall) of the 1998
Entry Draft.
Regular Season
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1997-98 Western Mich. CCHA 36 1 1 2 56
1998-99 Western Mich. CCHA 12 0 1 1 14
Another defensive d-man, Clauson and Clark both have great
size. Clauson plays for one of the least publicized teams in the
CCHA, Western Michigan. They are both considered longshot
prospects. He was drafted after his freshman year, while Clark
before his freshman year. So they are both pretty much at the
same stage in developement. Never seen him play but I have a few
tapes from 2 years ago so I'm going to look up on him. I'll also
have to find out what the deal was last year, only 12 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Adam Edinger C 6-2 210lbs Shoots: Right
Born: September 21, 1977 Birthplace: Toledo, OH
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the fifth round
(seventh choice, 115th overall) of the 1997
Entry Draft.
Regular Season
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1994-95 Leamington Jr.B 38 19 62 81 100
1995-96 Leamington Jr.B 45 45 50 95 120
1996-97 Bowling Green CCHA 34 11 17 28 42
1997-98 Bowling Green CCHA 27 9 13 22 62
1998-99 Bowling Green CCHA 36 23 24 47 36
Edinger is just another reason of why the Isles are the #1
team as far as prospects go right now. I saw him many times
throughout his first 2 years of college and was impressed with
his size and potential, but disappointed by his lack of energy.
Maybe it wasn't so much his energy level as he just seemed to
struggle with shot selections. It took him those two years to get
use to the play in the CCHA and he had a breakout junior year. He
was among the leading scorers in the CCHA, but unfortunately his
numbers were not among the elite in college hockey to be
considered for the Hobey Baker Award. Perhaps next year. There
was a little bit of rumbling that he might forego his final year
of college to join the Isles but smarter minds prevailed and he
will finish his college career. He is one of the top prospects
in the Islanders system and will be a welcome addition down the
middle when he finally makes the bigs. He may need some time in
the AHL to hone his skills though.
ECAC
Ben Blais D 6-4 195lbs Shoots: Left
Born: February 16, 1978 Birthplace: Berlin, NH
Transactions: Selected by the Islanders in the 9th round
(eighth choice, 237th overall) in the 1998
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1997-98 Walpole USHS 34 7 18 25 75
1998-99 St. Lawrence ECAC 3 0 1 1 6
Blais was the first of 3 Islander 9th round picks in 1998.
He has good size and seems to be another defensive defensman, but
he had good offensive numbers in high school. Unfortunately he
did not see much ice time as a freshman, only 3 games in
December. Whether it was due to injuries or coaches decisions i'm
not quite sure. We'll have to see if his ice time increases in
his sophomore season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
J.R. Prestifilippo G 5-10 170lbs Catches: Left
Born: March 23, 1977 Birhplace: Newark, NJ
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the seventh round
(eighth choice, 165th overall) of the 1996
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP MINS GA SO GAA REC
1995-96 Hotchkiss USHS 24 NA 56 3 2.33 NA
1996-97 Harvard ECAC 31 1866 99 1 3.18 10-18-3
1997-98 Harvard ECAC 23 1394 80 0 3.44 9-12-2
1998-99 Harvard ECAC 24 1316 78 0 3.56 10-13-1
Though Prestifilippo has not had a winning record in any of
his 3 seasons at Harvard, he has played extremely well there for
the circumstances he's been put in. In his freshman year,
"Presto" broke team records by a rookie for games played and
minutes. He was named ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1996-97. In his
sophomore campaign, he got mononucleosis and missed a bunch of
games. But his first game back was impressive in the 1998
Beanpot finals against Boston University. J.R. was spectacular
in the loss. Hopefully he'll have a solid senior year and
possibly spend some time in the Isles system.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeremy Symington G 6-2 185lbs Catches:Left
Born:August 17, 1978 Birthplace: Petrolia, Ontario
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the eighth round
(tenth choice, 196th overall) of the 1997
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP MINS GA SO GAA REC
1996-97 Petrolia Jr.B 33 1953 111 1 3.41 NA
1997-98 St. Lawrence ECAC 7 370 41 0 6.74 0-6-0
1998-99 St. Lawrence ECAC 3 128 3.27 1-1-0
Symington is one of two Isles prospects playing for St.
Lawrence, the other being Blais. Both are longshot prospects.
While Prestifilippo has had a more solid career, Symington has
pretty much been the opposite. He is one year behind Presto so
that has to be taken into account. But in his first two seasons
he has only played a total of 10 games, going 0-6 as a freshman.
Last year he joined Blais in the 3 game club. I don't think it
had anything to do with injury. It's just that he's been edged
out by other goaltenders on the team. If he keeps up this pace,
don't count on seeing him turn pro with the Isles.
Hockey East
Albie O'Connell LW 6' 170lbs Shoots: Left
Born: May 20, 1976 Birthplace: Cambridge, MA
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the fifth round
(sixth choice, 116th overall) of the 1994
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1995-96 Boston U. HE 38 9 8 17 34
1996-97 Boston U. HE 38 10 11 21 62
1997-98 Boston U. HE 33 12 16 28 60
1998-99 Boston U. HE 36 9 30 39 66
O'Connell's offensive numbers have increased every year and
last year he averaged over a point per game and led the Terriers
in scoring. He was the captain for the squad in his senior year
but he doesn't seem to be a big goal scorer. He'll probably be
more of a defensive forward if he turns pro. Unfortunately for
him, and from what I've heard, the Isles have not signed him to
a contract. He may not be in their plans.
Juniors
WHL
Chris Nielson C 6-2 185lbs Shoots: Right
Born: February 16, 1980 Birthplace: Moshi, Tanzania
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the second round
(second choice, 36nd overall) of the 1998
Entry Draft.
Regular Season
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 Calgary WHL 62 11 19 30 39
1997-98 Calgary WHL 68 22 29 51 31
1998-99 Calgary WHL 70 22 24 46 45
Playoffs
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 Calgary WHL - - - - -
1997-98 Calgary WHL 18 2 4 6 10
1998-99 Calgary WHL 21 11 5 16 28
After 3 years of junior hockey, expect big things from Chris
Nielson in 1999-2000. He must have a break through year. He is
very much capable of putting the puck in the net. Recently, he
was invited to skate at the Canadian National Junior Team
evaluation camp as a replacement for Flames prospect Rico Fata,
who could not attend. The coaching staff, led my coach Tom
Renney, were impressed with his versatility and ability to play
all forward positions. Last year his goal total was down due to
the great rookie play of Rangers prospect Pavel Brendl. Chris was
basically relegated to third line checking duty, but still
managed to score some big goals including a 4 goal game earlier
in the season. I listened to one of his games on the internet
and he scored 2 goals that night. He is a big part of one of the
top teams in the WHL, the Calgary Hitmen.
OHL
Andy Burnham RW 6-4 1/2 201lbs Shoots: Right
Born: July 2, 1980 Birthplace: New Liskeard, Ontario
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the fourth round
(third choice, 95th overall) of the 1998
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1997-98 Plymouth OHL 28 1 3 4 55
Windsor OHL 10 1 1 2 23
Totals 38 2 4 6 78
1998-99 Windsor OHL 51 7 7 14 165
Burnham was a questionable pick by the Islanders. He's not
a big scorer at all. Probably has a future as a tough winger who
can fight, though he didn't log a ton of penalty minutes last
year. He still has a couple more years to develop in junior.
1997-98 OHL Yearbook:
Third round midget pick is a tough, up and down style
winger. Combines physical presence with good hands and could
become an offensive contributor in time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Rupp LW 6-5 218lbs Shoots: Left
Born: January 13, 1980 Birthplace: Cleveland, OH
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the first round
(first choice, 9th overall) of the 1998
Entry Draft.
Regular Season
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 St. Edwards USHS 20 26 24 50 -
1997-98 Windsor OHL 38 9 8 17 60
Erie OHL 26 7 3 10 57
Totals 64 16 11 27 117
1998-99 Erie OHL 63 22 25 47 102
Playoffs
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 St. Edwards USHS - - - - -
1997-98 Windsor OHL - - - - -
Erie OHL 7 3 1 4 6
Totals 7 3 1 4 6
1998-99 Erie OHL 5 0 2 2 25
When the Islanders drafted Mike Rupp, they compared him to
John Leclair. They predicted him as a future power forward with
great skating ability but extremely raw. Being from Cleveland
Ohio, Rupp did not have much experience against top competition.
The Islanders are hoping he will develop into that unstoppable
left winger but admit that it will take some time. Alot of
people around the Isles are down on Rupp and questioning their
decision to select Rupp 9th overall in 1998. I have a little
different take on him. While I have to admit, I don't think he
will be better than Taylor Pyatt...I do compare him alot to Todd
Bertuzzi. If you look at their numbers at the same stage of
development, they are very similar. I predict around 85 points
for him in 99-00, especially if Tim Connolly is his center once
again in Erie.
QMJHL
Frederic Brind'amour G 5-11 175lbs Catches: Left
Born: September 17, 1979 Birthplace: Beauport, Quebec
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the eighth round
(seventh choice, 209th overall) of the 1998
Entry Draft.
Regular Season
Year Team League GP MINS GA SO GAA REC
1996-97 Chicoutimi QMJHL 17 814 56 0 4.13 4-9-1
Sherbrooke QMJHL 25 1317 85 2 3.87 6-16-0
Totals 42 2131 141 2 3.97 10-25-1
1997-98 Sherbrooke QMJHL 43 2337 141 2 3.62 12-25-1
1998-99 Sherbrooke QMJHL 54 2785 3.51 23-21-3
Playoffs
Year Team League GP MINS GA SO GAA REC
1996-97 Chicoutimi QMJHL - - - - - -
Sherbrooke QMJHL 3 173 16 0 5.55 0-3
Totals 3 173 16 0 5.55 0-3
1997-98 Sherbrooke QMJHL - - - - - -
1998-99 Sherbrooke QMJHL 13 740 40 0 3.24 7-5
I've been trying to find out if Brind'amour is related to
Flyers center Rod Brind'amour. Don't be confused by his record
in the Quebec League. Frederic is alot like Prestifilippo at
Harvard...solid goaltender behind weak teams. It might not get
better for him next season either, as he was selected by the
Montreal Rockets in the QMJHL expansion draft back in June. After
99-00, he should battle it out with Prestifilippo as to who will
make the system. They both have backup potential.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Roberto Luongo G 6-3 175lbs Catches: Left
Born: April 4, 1979 Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the first round
(first choice, 4th overall) of the 1997
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP MINS GA SO GAA REC
1995-96 Val 'Dor QMJHL 23 1195 74 0 3.72 6-11-4
1996-97 Val 'Dor QMJHL 60 3311 172 2 3.12 32-22-2
1997-98 Val 'Dor QMJHL 54 3046 157 7 3.09 27-20-5
1998-99 Val 'Dor QMJHL 21 1176 3.93 6-10-2
Bathurst QMJHL 22 1340 3.31 14-7-1
Total QMJHL 43 2516 3.62 20-17-3
Rated the #1 prospect by the Hockey News and Hockey's
Future, as well as the best player not in the NHL by the Hockey
News...Roberto is the next in line of the traditional dominant
Quebec goaltenders. He will follow in the line of Martin Brodeur
and Patrick Roy. While yes, this is alot to put on a player, but
Luongo is the real deal. He will most undoubtedly spend 1999-00
with the Lowell Lock Monsters while possibly seeing 2 or 3 games
with the Islanders as a preview, which is something both Roy and
Brodeur needed as well. Luongo is poise and concentration
personified. He led Val 'Dor in 1998 to the Memorial Cup and
Bathurst to the same goal in 1999. Although he was spectacular
both times his teams played poor defense in front of him. He
managed to lead the Canadian Junior National Team to the Finals
in January 1999 but once again his awsome play did not achieve
the ultimate goal as an overtime goal gave Canada the Silver
medal. Robert will be the focal point of any success the Isles
have in pretty much the next decade. This kid has Vezinas in his
future.
Europeans
Russia
Vladimir Grachev LW 6' 178lbs Shoots: Left
Born: January 28, 1973 Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the seventh round
(sixth choice, 152nd overall) of the 1992
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1991-92 Dynamo Moscow CIS 3 62 13 3 16 26
1992-93 Dynamo Moscow CIS 33 2 1 3 26
1993-94 Dynamo Moscow CIS 36 4 3 7 10
1994-95 Dynamo Moscow Russia 48 13 8 21 20
1995-96 Dynamo Moscow Russia 44 5 9 14 19
1996-97 Dynamo Moscow Russia 35 2 8 10 14
1997-98 Neftekhimik Russia 46 10 10 20 12
Niznekamsk
1998-99 Niznekamsk Russia
Grachev was drafted 7 years ago by the Isles and has never
once been mentioned as being in future plans. He played a number
of years for Dynamo Moscow, one of the top teams in Russia, but
is now playing for some weird team that nobody in their right
mind should be able to pronounce. As some of you may know, unlike
with junior players where u can lose their right after a couple
years, with Europeans you can hold their playing rights forever.
If Grachev can ever kick up his offense maybe he will be heard
from someday...but odds are to doubt that ever happening.
Czeckoslovakia
Pavel Gross RW 6-3 195lbs Shoots: Right
Born: May 11, 1968 Birthplace: Ustin Ogroh, Czechoslovakia
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the sixth round
(seventh choice, 111th overall) of the 1988
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1987-88 Sparta Praha Czech. 29 4 6 10 10
1988-89 Sparta Praha Czech. 39 13 9 22 22
1989-90 Sparta Praha Czech. 36 10 9 19 NA
1990-91 Freiburg Ger. 32 11 24 35 66
1991-92 Freiburg Ger. 43 15 22 37 59
1992-93 Freiburg Ger. 41 11 20 31 62
1993-94 Mannheim Ger. 42 14 24 38 30
1994-95 Mannheim Ger. 42 21 40 61 99
1995-96 Mannheim Ger. 49 29 43 72 81
1996-97 Mannheim Ger. 50 14 46 60 67
1997-98 Mannheim Ger. 35 7 15 22 41
1998-99 Mannheim Ger. 44 10 34 44 NA
Here's a guy who has been taking up a roster spot with the
Islanders for 11 years!! Don't EVER count on seeing him in North
America. He doesn't want any part of it. He's had decent stats
over the last 10 years, but that's in the German League. Not the
very best of leagues. Why he didn't stay in Czechoslovakia is
beyond me. Anyways, not much to say about him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomas Klimt C 6-1 183lbs Shoots: Left
Born: December 26, 1973 Birthplace: Plezn, Czechoslovakia
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the fifth round
(third choice, 104th overall) of the 1992
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1991-92 Skoda Plzen Czech. 40 3 6 9 4
1992-93 Skoda Plzen Czech. 34 3 8 11 NA
1993-94 Skoda Plzen Czech. 29 5 3 8 NA
1994-95 NA - - - - -
1995-96 Skoda Plzen Czech. 38 4 2 6 NA
1996-97 Skoda Plzen Czech. 27 5 3 8 6
1997-98 HC Becherovka Czech. 51 6 10 16 20
Karlovy Vary
1998-99 Becherovka Czech.
Another player headed in the footsteps of Grachev and Gross.
Like I said earlier, once you draft a European a team can keep
his rights forever. So if the player is a longshot prospect he'll
just remain media guide filler for the rest of his career. Kinda
disappointing though for a 5th rounder. The Following was taken
from a 1993 Upper Deck Hockey Card:
A native of Plzen, Chechoslovakia, Tomas Klimt played
in seven games at the '93 IIHF World Junior Championships,
registering a plus/minus rating of plus-one. Normally a
defensive center, he played left wing at the '93 tourny.
Klimt is a solid skater who rarely makes the bad play.
The New York Islanders drafted the 20 year old forward
with their third pick in the '92 NHL Entry Draft.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Radek Matejovsky LW 6-1 187lbs Shoots: Right
Born: November 17, 1977 Birthplace: Praha, Czech. Republic
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the ninth round
(tenth choice, 250th overall) of the 1998
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 Slavia Praha Czech 41 3 4 7 10
1997-98 Slavia Praha Czech 52 9 4 13 24
1998-99 Jihlava Czech
There is a funny story as to the reason the Isles were able
to draft Matejovsky. Supposedly, GM Harry Sinden of the Boston
Bruins had, if I remember correctly, either a golf date or some
party to attend to...so he asked Isles GM Mike Milbury to take
the pick off his hands for future considerations since the Bruins
last pick of 1998 was in the 7th round. The futures ended up
being the Isles regular 9th round pick in 1999, this past draft.
Radek is pretty much an unknown. Whether he'll ever amount to
anything is unknown. He is playing at a pretty good level with
Slavia Praha and curently Jihlava.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Petr Mika C 6-4 194lbs Shoots: Right
Born: February 12, 1979 Birthplace: Praha, Czech. Republic
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the fourth round
(sixth choice, 85th overall) of the 1997
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1995-96 Slavia Prague Cze.Jr. 26 5 12 17 NA
1996-97 Slavia Prague Cze.Jr. 15 8 0 8 NA
HC Beroun Cze.2 9 1 0 1 NA
Slavia Prague Cze. 20 1 2 3 NA
1997-98 Ottawa OHL 41 10 8 18 28
1998-99 Sparta Prague Cze.
Mika was signed back in May by the Islanders and will
probably see alot of playing time in Lowell this year. The Isles
will take a good look at him in training camp. He has great size
for a center and supposedly has a nose for the net. He needs to
add some more weight as he is very lanky. This will be his 2nd
go round in North America. The Islanders brought him over a
couple years ago to play for the Ottawa 67's of the OHL but he
ended up breaking the same wrist twice and missing a quarter of
the season. Too bad he didn't decide to stick around, he may have
been a part of their Memorial Cup Championship this year. But he
did play well with Sparta Prague and the Isles have hopes that
Mika can turn out to be a good player for them in a couple years.
Sweden
Daniel Johansson D 5-11 180lbs Shoots: Left
Born: September 10, 1974 Birthplace: Glimakra, Sweden
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the ninth round
(22nd overall) of the 1993 Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1991-92 Rogle Swe.2 33 4 9 13 30
Eur. Junior Champ. 5 0 0 0 2
1992-93 Rogle Swe. 28 2 4 6 20
World Junior Champ. 6 3 3 6 6
1993-94 Rogle Swe. 37 5 10 15 34
1994-95 Rogle Swe. 22 4 2 6 16
Rogle Allsvenska 15 2 6 8 6
1995-96 HV-71 Swe. 40 3 5 8 24
1996-97 HV-71 Swe. 50 8 7 15 30
1997-98 HV-71 Swe. 46 3 9 12 32
1998-99 HV-71 Swe.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jorgen Jonsson LW 6' 185lbs Shoots: Right
Born: September 29, 1972 Birthplace: Angelholm, Sweden
Transaction: Calgary's 11th choice (286th overall) in
the 1993 Entry Draft. Acquired by the
Islanders for Jan Hlavac on July 14, 1998.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1992-93 Rogle Swe. 40 17 11 28 28
1993-94 Rogle Swe. 40 17 14 31 46
1994-95 Rogle Swe. 22 4 6 10 18
1995-96 Farjestad Swe. 39 11 15 26 36
1996-97 Farjestad Swe. 49 12 21 33 58
1997-98 Farjestad Swe. 45 22 25 47 53
1998-99 Farjestad Swe. 48 17 24 41 44
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dick Tarnstrom D 6' 180lbs Shoots: Left
Born: January 20, 1975 Birthplace: Sundbyberg, Sweden
Transaction: Selected by the Islanders in the eleventh round
(Twelfth choice, 272nd overall) in the 1994
Entry Draft.
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1992-93 AIK Sweden 3 0 0 0 0
1993-94 AIK Sweden 33 1 4 5 NA
World Jr. Champ. 7 5 0 5 4
1994-95 AIK Sweden 37 8 4 12 26
World Jr. Champ. 7 2 2 4 4
1995-96 AIK Sweden 40 0 5 5 32
1996-97 AIK Sweden 49 5 3 8 38
1997-98 AIK Sweden 45 2 12 14 30
1998-99 AIK Sweden
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