DK in NY: Crosby, youth serving well everywhere

Nov 11, 2005

Suzanne Somers would be impressed.

Here in New York we finally got a chance to see Sidney Crosby for ourselves, and the first thing you notice about him is -- and I'm not kidding -- the size of his thighs. They're bigger than telephone poles. He must use them to leap single bounds! This kid has apparently been Superman since he was 14 years of age because of the incredible leg drive and lower body strength he has when he skates.

And I'm pretty sure Clark Kent didn't need his glasses when he turned into a superhero, but Crosby's vision is the other attribute that has him excelling as a teenager in his first National Hockey League month. If you watch him with the puck and without the puck, he sees the ice extremely well already and his teammates all mention that as the thing that has impressed them the most so far -- other than his patience with the media which he somehow still has plenty of.

Sidney Crosby's legs are a major reason why he's primed for greatness. (AP)

Having said that, though, Crosby has the luxury of playing on a line with Mario Lemieux and Mark Recchi, and Mario is still the most impressive player on the ice when the Penguins are in town...

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

...which lends even more credence to the argument that what Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is doing is all the more impressive. Not exactly surrounded by future Hall of Fame wingers, Ovechkin is a threat to score every time he touches the puck. He has been phenomenal to watch, unless you've been the opposing goaltender. Ovechkin has looked like a seasoned veteran with some of the wicked goals he has scored. Lucky for everyone -- unless you're the opposing goaltender -- he's got a long career ahead of him, too.

OPEN SEASON ON GOALTENDERS

It's not as if players are taking a run at Rick DiPietro with every shift on purpose. It may just seem that way.

The goaltending fraternity was concerned that the offseason change to smaller pads and less equipment would be an occupational safety hazard at best, and dangerous at worst. Instead, less equipment has made them all quicker, but it's the new rules that have opened up the game for offensive players that's made life so uneasy for the goalies. The game is rushing into the offensive zone at such a high rate of speed, that guys are flying into goalies like never before. Sometimes it's a car crash that can't be avoided. And sometimes it's even a defenseman trying to avoid his own goaltender. A lot of the collisions are accidental ... but being behind the mask right now is a scary place to be.

"CAMP"-ING IN THE OHL

The Islanders' first round draft pick Ryan O'Marra is off to a terrific start with the OHL's Erie Otters, and is on a tear right now, having scored six goals and 10 assists in his last eight games. Playing alongside RW Mike Blunden, the Chicago Blackhawks' 2005 2nd round pick, O'Marra's line right now is the hottest thing going in the Ontario Hockey League.

Speaking with him on his way to a weekend game in London, Ontario O'Marra told me "everything's going great, couldn't be happier, and things are just clicking right now for me with Mike Blunden." Ryan said they actually played together last year as well, but now that Blunden has notched 13 goals and 11 assists in the same stretch of eight games, they are attracting quite a bit of attention.

It won't be long before first round pick Ryan O'Marra makes it to the Island. (AP)

O'Marra said he "follows the big club as much as he can, checks the Islanders' website four or five times a week" and then reminded me that he has to make sure he is checking up on former teammate Chris Campoli. Campoli, the Isles' rookie defenseman, was the Erie Otters' Captain in O'Marra's first year there as a 16-year-old and he's of course thrilled for Chris' newfound success. While he'd like to say that "even three years ago, I knew that Campoli would have this kind of impact this quickly," he said he "honestly never could've predicted how unbelievable Campoli has been."

Based on the way O'Marra continues to develop, it won't be too long before they are teammates again.

FARMING IN THE AHL

Just when the Bridgeport SoundTigers put together a couple of impressive wins, they get word that Justin Papineau could be out for the year. Injured Nov 2 against Norfolk, Papineau will have shoulder surgery after it was determined that he had torn cartilage and it looks like a return date of March -- if he comes back at all this season. Bridgeport Head Coach Dave Baseggio was really high on not just Papineau's play, which included a natural hat trick in the season's first week, but his attitude as well. Baseggio told us after getting sent down here to Bridgeport to start the season, Papineau "could've moped and been disappointed, and he was anything but. He was absolutely terrific here."

Before the serious injury Papineau was in a strange situation anyway. Baseggio realized quickly that the Islanders "\were going to be reluctant to recall him because of the new 'reverse waiver' rule. On a one-way $450,000 deal, any team would've had the right to claim Papineau off waivers if the Islanders had called him up -- with the Isles on the hook for half of his salary the rest of the season.

"When Mark Parrish went down, for instance, it was only going to be a couple of days and Mike Milbury didn't want to risk it," Baseggio explained. Kevin Colley got the game instead. We'll see who gets the next opportunity with Papineau out of the picture. Already adjusting, Baseggio is using Wyatt Smith between Travis Brigley and Rob Collins on the top power play unit.

The injury also comes at a time when the Sound Tigers were just getting their legs back, literally. After back-to-back lopsided losses, Baseggio went to a week's worth of NFL style two-a-days. Instead of resorting to a slightly prehistoric "bag skate because I'm annoyed" practice, Baseggio pinpointed exactly what he wanted to accomplish and mapped out for his players exactly how much effort was required. Even though it took some time, the team has turned things around. Not coincidentally, Baseggio's team has found more success playing a more conservative style on the ice.

Baseggio said, "The Islanders' decision after their up and down October start to go back to a more defensive oriented 1-2-2 at times made my job a lot easier" as the Sound Tigers needed to follow suit. The coach says his guys are "just much more comfortable this way. and it shows."

Justin Papineau will not be able to help the Isles or Sound Tigers anytime soon. (AP)

Even though the Islanders love what Sergei Nemchinov has brought this year -- evidenced by the fact he has found a place on Steve Stirling's bench -- Nemchinov finds his way to Connecticut all the time and has been a real presence for the Islanders' prospects throughout, especially fellow countryman Evgeny Tunik, who has benefited much already from Sergei's mentoring.

With the blessing of GM Mike Milbury, prospect Cole Jarrett has ended his experiment with converting to the forward position, and is back to his natural position of defense. He made a highlight reel play in Bridegeport's recent win against Binghamton, the Senators' affiliate, denying a breakaway, and in the same motion, executing a pass up ice to Islanders prospect Jeremy Colliton who scored.

MESSAGE TO MICHAEL

New Edmonton Oiler Michael Peca ended up missing four games and was out of action for almost 10 days after taking a vicious, but legal, hit from Columbus' young superstar forward Rick Nash in a game against the Blue Jackets Nov 1st.

Suffering the second concussion of his 10-year career, Peca later didn't remember anything from two hours before the hit until well after the game as he recovered at home. Nash is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds and caught Peca admiring a dump-in, of all things, and leveled the former Islander with his head down.

Barely a month into the season, the locals in Edmonton have called Peca everything from "a major disappointment" to the "best shutdown player" on the team. Good thing they stay on such an even keel out there, never getting too high or too low.

Ironically, Peca made his return Friday night against the Blue Jackets, but Nash didn't play. After missing the first three weeks of the season with a high ankle sprain, Nash is out indefinitely with a sprained knee suffered two nights after his big hit on Peca.