Trouble, Yes. But Not In River City

(Get) A Sporting Life is not the usual stop for the latest in New York Islander's news, but today is an exception.

Top-prospect Okposo assigned by Islanders to Bridgeport of AHL

Top prospect Kyle Okposo will begin his career in the New York Islanders organization with Bridgeport of the AHL.

Fresh off a solid run in the world junior tournament, Okposo was assigned Sunday by the Islanders to their top minor league affiliate. He will practice with the Sound Tigers on Thursday and make his debut at Binghamton on Friday.

Okposo's first AHL home game will be Saturday against Springfield.

The right winger, chosen by the Islanders with the No. 7 pick in the 2006 draft, had a goal and five assists in seven games for the United States. The Americans finished fourth at the world juniors tournament that wrapped up Saturday in the Czech Republic.

Okposo, a 19-year-old player from St. Paul, Minn., signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders last month, shortly after he left the University of Minnesota.

I've seen Okposo play for his 1 1/2 seasons with the Gophers and I have to say, if he is the Isles "Top Prospect" then they are in trouble. It isn't that Okposo won't be a useful pro, he should grow into that, but he will never be a top level guy...which is what you should be when you are drafted #7 overall.

Okposo can thrive in a complimentary role (like he did last season in Minnesota) but he cannot be a main cog in your attack. Okposo had a decent run in the just completed World U20's but, once again, he was more along for the ride. It was his linemates who really did the important work. Hell, Okposo didn't even show he could finish easy setups.

I hope the Isles fans don't get their hopes up too high that Okposo will be a force in the NHL because it is never going to happen.

Which may be why Garth Snow felt the need to do this:

With people searching for answers for why Kyle Okposo left Minnesota for the NHL in mid-season, New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow provided some incendiary reasons.

In a phone interview conducted by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Snow, a former four-year goaltender for the University of Maine, placed the blame entirely upon the coaching ability of the Gophers' Don Lucia.

"Quite frankly, we weren't happy with the program there," Snow told the paper. "They have a responsibility to coach, to make Kyle a better player, and they were not doing that."

He continued, "[Okposo] just wasn't getting better — bottom line. And to me, that's the frustrating part. We entrusted the coach there to turn him into a better hockey player, and it wasn't happening. We feel more comfortable in him developing right under our watch."

Lucia, in his ninth season as Minnesota coach, won national championships in 2002 and 2003. He has taken the high road, choosing not to directly respond. Instead, in a statement sent through the school's publicity office, Lucia said he is proud of what the program has accomplished.

Okposo was the seventh overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft after a 40-point freshman season. After a torrid start, he cooled down following the World Junior tournament. This year, he started off slowly, with just one goal in his first nine games, before scoring six in his last nine. He recently left for the Czech Republic where he will again play for Team USA at the World Juniors.

When pushed, Snow continued to criticize Lucia.

"Whether it was Kyle or another player, until things change in that program we'd probably make the same decision," Snow told the Star-Tribune. "There should be a coach there that looks in the mirror. ... I don't think we'd be at this point if he was being coached properly."

Basically, Snow showed all the class of a $10 whore in a desperate attempt to cover his own ass. It is Snow's fault that the Isles wasted a #7 pick on a guy who has "Third Rounder" written all over him. But, hey, you can blame the college coach so it isn't really Snow's fault...right?

Way to "man up" there, Garth.