Goalies Goalies Everywhere: Part 2

Part One focused on Goalies with the most immediate impact for the Islanders highlighting Kevin Poulin, Nathan Lawson and Mikko Koskinen, for this post I'll highlight other netminders and goaltending options for the New York Islanders both in their affiliate system and the international spotlight being turned to Anders Nilsson.

So, first up: Nilsson.

Anders Nilsson:


The Islanders stocked up on goalies in 2009 taking Koskinen in the 2nd round and using their 3rd round selection on Anders Nilsson, the 6'5 Swede currently plays for Lulea of the Swedish Elite League. At 20 he serves mainly as a backup to David Rautio, Rautio's played 22 games to Anders' 15 (stats as of this morning, not sure when Lulea's last match was, but the stats haven't been updated in a while). Nilsson's numbers however are impressive: a 1.92 GAA and .920 SV% allowing 29 goals on 358 Shots (unfortunately as of right now I can not find his Elitserien Win-Loss record). Last year Anders broke into the Elite league and posted a 2.65 GAA and .857 SV%. The hometown boy also played Juniors for Lulea in '08-'09 posting a 2.07 GAA and .927 SV%. he also played for the Bronze medal Swedish team in last years World Juniors in Canada (one of about 5 Islanders Prospects in that Tournament with Calvin de Haan, Travis Hamonic, Mikko Koskinen, Matt Donovan, Kirill Petrov and eventual Isles draftee Nino Niederrietter). I can't remember if I saw Nilsson play but remember seeing Tweets that he was mostly a backup (for Florida farmhand Jacob Markstrom). Considering the depth in front of him, Anders may be afforded another season in the SEL before he comes States side as the numbers right now seem way too inconclusive as he's only played 32 games at the top Swedish league. However if the clip below is any indication he's certainly going to be one to watch. (photo from Anders' Lulea Bio Page)

A Quick Nilsson Clip:


Possibly jumps over Koskinen at some point; who knows. All I know is it's certainly nice to know we have some international talent to bring aboard and one who's improving. Fun Fact: Oiler's Winger Linus Omark was a teammate last year and Lulea is the home of fun Finnish D-man, Former Islander and PP annoyance extraordinaire Janne Niinimaa!!

Joel Martin (Bridgeport/Odessa):

Fort Wort, Texas isn't the first place you'd think about in producing a hockey goalie but low and behold Bridgeport's new Netminder hails from and generally plays in the Lone-Star State. Martin was called up (signed to a Professional Tryout Offer, a 25 game contract) by Bridgeport from Odessa with the recall of Kevin Poulin to the big squad on an emergency basis, and like his departed counterpart relieved the starter of his first game on the job. Starter Mikko Koskinen gave up 5 goals to Portland and coach Pat Bingham pulled him in favor of Martin in the third. Martin would face no shots in his Bridgeport debut (he broke camp with the squad but didn't get into a game early in the season and the return of Nate Lawson to Bridgeport saw Martin sent back to Odessa) and his first spell in the AHL since '06-'07 where he played a combined three games for Syracuse and Norfolk. Martin went undrafted but started his hockey playing at the WHL and has seen his way around the minors. Martin's numbers this year are down from last year's stellar pairing with Juha Tovoinen at Odessa (no idea what happened to Tovoinen or where he went). he's currently 10-9-0 with a 3.21 GAA and a .888 SV% through 20 games. He has added 2 assists for the Jackalopes this year. Last year with Odessa Martin was 27-6-2 including 2 shut outs with a .917 SV% and 2.50 GAA, he allowed 91 goals on over 1000 shots so he can stop a puck. At 25 he's not a shining prospect like Poulin or Nilsson or Koskinen, but he's a steady young guy you want to have in your organization to use when you need pucks stopped and a chance to win. I don't think he'll ever make it to the NHL as a "steal, but with the Islanders carrying one un-drafted Netminder and having traded another, you never know...(photo via Bridgeport Press Release)

Career Totals:


Minute long fight between Martin and Cedrick Desjardin:


Not that Martin will see the NHL like Cedrick has, and if he does something went horribly horribly wrong, but just a fun clip from '07-'08. The only other Youtube video of Martin I can find is him getting absolutely OWNED in a shootout.

Ryan Nie (Kalamazoo):


I like the Youngsters at at Kalamazoo in the ECHL, and Nie is certainly putting up good, not great numbers this year. So far for Kalamazoo (his first with the team in the ECHL, he was a member of the team back in their UHL days before they were allowed to join the ECHL I believe last year, minor league hockey below the AHL is sometimes hard to follow). Nie currently sports a 3.35 GAA and a .893 SV% with his career numbers on more a slide over the years he's still a winning goalie on a losing Kalamazoo team this year going 9-8-3. None the less he's been around the ECHL and AHL and still stops the puck at a good clip and for the most part is keeping Kalamazoo in games unlike his backups Riley Gill (4-5-0; 3.68 GAA, .886 SV%; Riley began the year with the Victoria Salmon Kings and played one game with the Worcester Sharks) and Garret Zemlak (A name I WANT to root for, come on it's awesome; anyway he's played one game and it was bad: 6 G on 32 shot, a .813 SV%. Garrett was then sent to the Stockton Thunder, where he's played 12 games and is 2-6-3, 2.53, .903). Nie has likely hit his ceiling and will probably nothing more than an organizational body with little future with the Islanders. (photo from Ryan's Bio page)

Career Stats; Warning: Ugly



And now a crappy red toned video of Nie making a save on a penalty shot while with Cincinnati:


Marc-Antoine Gelinas

Gelinas was brought into Bridgeport camp on a contract with the Jackalopes this year, a former QMJHL Goalie we was brought in as a body to fill in while the higher ranked prospects were with the Islanders (Poulin and Koskinen and Lawson). Gelinas put up solid numbers in his last year in the "Q" and didn't get much of a chance with the Jackalopes (after being re-assigned to camp after the 3 man tandem returned to Bridgeport: Koskinen, Poulin and Martin), playing in only two games before being shipped out to the Wichita Thunder where he's 11-5-1, 2 SHO with a .900 SV% and 2.72 GAA. If something happens to Martin or Koskinen right now Bridgeport could give Gelinas a look or go with Ryan Nie or bring in another goalie. No idea what to think of Gelinas, have never seen his play and it's his first year out of the Q, if he improves his numbers with Wichita I'll give it a glance. Included him because of the connection to Bridgeport this pre-season.

Career:



Others:

The Islanders prospect site mentions Cody Rosen (a 2010 7th rounder and third String G at Colgate, pass), and Jase Weslosky (a 2006 4th rounder, who's re-emerged and playing well for the Idaho Steelheads, but with no likelihood of a PTO with Bridgeport right now, not worth writing). There's also David McKee and Michel Robinson at Odessa playing in tandem until Joel Martin's return, but again, don't see them becoming fixtures in the depth chart any time soon, and will pass. If Bridgeport or Kalamazoo suffer injuries to the Goaltending depth I will investigate replacements, but until then, Nilsson, Martin, Nie and Gelinas make for a good second batch of Goalies to investigate, only one of which will make the NHL with any potential to start.

Feel free to comment if I'm missing anyone.