Faceoff Factor

For Islanders, Big Things Could Come In Small Packages

Jesse Marshall | NHL Entry Draft

Jul 10, 12:08 PM | Hype this story!

The Islanders were a very busy team at this year’s NHL entry draft.

One could argue that they made more selections in 2008 than the Penguins might in the next two years.

They acquired obvious top-flight talents with their first two picks: Joshua Bailey and Corey Trivino .

But there are two players that the Islanders selected afterward that Atlantic Division fans need to become keenly aware of. These are two smaller players that might have more potential to explode than many of the players taken before them.

The first of these selections came in the second round at #40 overall.

Defenseman Aaron Ness is “Mr. Minnesota”. His hometown of Roseau was so in love with his game that they dedicated an entire week to him. Ness responded by leading his high school team, the Roseau Rams, to a perfect 25-0 record in the regular season and his performances there lead to the prestigious “Mr. Hockey” award that is annually presented to the best player in the Minnesota high school system.

Aaron Ness plays the game of hockey like liquid lightning. Everything this young defenseman does is fast. His hands are quick, his skating is like silk, and his heads-up style of play is one in a million among youngsters his age.

The only problem Aaron Ness has, and it may be what dropped him into the second round, is the fact that he is 5’10 – 157lbs.

Don’t let that small stature deceive you, though. Ness is perfectly capable of stepping into bigger forwards and making solid hits.

Acquiring Ness at #40 was a no-brainer and a verifiable steal for the Islanders. It’s almost certain that he’ll gain a few pounds and maybe an inch or two. He’s heading to Minnesota this fall to play for the Golden Gophers, and a year early, nonetheless. Ness took a double load of classes last fall to graduate a year ahead of time and propel himself onto the collegiate hockey scene.

But wait a second, there’s more where that came from. Fast forward to the third round and pick number 66. The Islanders stepped to the table again.

This time they took 5’10 – 175lb Shattuck St.-Mary’s product in David Toews.

David, the younger brother of Chicago’s Jonathan Toews, was another small player that slipped a bit past where most expected him to fall. Again, the Islanders were there to nab him.

Toews has excellent hands and is cognizant of his abilities in every stage of the game. He’s gone on record saying that statistics like +/- and general defensive play are important to him, and it shows.

Toews has explosive offensive capability and is a natural talent with the puck. His shot is fast and accurate and his playmaking ability is just as good.

Toews loves to have control of the puck. He is the type of offensive player who will get open and call for it. Sometimes he over-possesses the puck and runs into trouble, but that should even out as he heads to the Fighting Sioux next season.

Quite a tandem, no?

Between these two players alone, the Islanders have a solid foundation to build on as they start from scratch. Fans of the Penguins and other Atlantic division teams need to keep an eye out for these two youngsters, the Penguins will be facing off against them for many years to come.