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1999-2000 Stat Leaders Stat  Leader  No.  Goals  Mariusz Czerkawski  35  Assists  Mariusz Czerkawski  35  Points  Mariusz Czerkawski  70  +/-  Ian Herbers  6  Shots  Mariusz Czerkawski  276  Ice Time (F)  Claude LaPointe  19:38  Ice Time (D)  Kenny Jonsson  24:29  Faceoff Pct.  Dave Scatchard  55.77  Hits  Zdeno Chara  309  PP Pts  Mariusz Czerkawski  29  SH Pts  Jorgen Jonsson  3

The last-place Thrashers beat the Islanders three times in four games last season, but Mike Milbury -- thanks to some help from the luck of the draw -- gained a measure of revenge over the summer. With an eight percent chance of winning the entry draft lottery, the Isles did just that. What's this, good luck on Long Island?

And it doesn't stop there. The spring of good luck soon became the spring of great fortune. Billionaire owners Charles Wang and Sanjar Kumar purchased the team on April 26, 2000. (The very next day, the club picked up 35-goal scorer Mariusz Czerkawski's $1.5 million option for 2000-01.) So there's money out on the island. And, after the initial head-scratching, there's hope, too. A dizzying draft led to the departures of Kevin Weeks, Kristian Kudroc, Roberto Luongo, Olli Jokinen, Eric Brewer and Josh Green. After taking Rick DiPietro No. 1 overall, Milbury's trades led to the arrivals of Oleg Kvasha, Mark Parish and Roman Hamrlik. In return for a fourth-round draft choice, New York acquired John Vanbiesbrouck to tend goal until DiPietro is ready.

Yes, over this spring and summer the Islanders have gained a ton of money (and high salaries to pay) some experienced players, a veteran-rookie goaltending duo and, along the way, a moderate amount of expectation.

For more on the Islanders, bookmark this page and check back Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
In a pleasant departure from the recent past, the owners seem to have some interest in fielding a legitimate NHL team. Roman Hamrlik should help the NHL's 25th-ranked power play. The Isles played well against a number of good teams last season: Dallas (1-1-0), Colorado (2-0-0), New Jersey (2-3-0), Ottawa (1-1-2). The Young Ones of 1999-2000 gained, with the acquisitions, three years in average age (from a shade over 24 to a shade over 27). Vanbiesbrouck gives the team a veteran presence who can still perform between the pipes.		"Mad" Mike Milbury admits that if things don't work out this season, he'll be voted off the island. Czerkawski only scored 33 goals in two seasons prior to his All-Star 1999-2000. Which Mariusz will show up in 2000-01? Islanders tradition took a beating in the mid- to late-'90. How much excitement can this team generate when a number of AHL and a couple ECHL teams draw bigger crowds? Recently signed Kenny Jonsson, the team's captain, was minus-16 with one goal last season. Rick DiPietro hurt his groin early in camp and will begin the season in the IHL (Chicago Wolves).

Comings
Player	Pos.	From	Via
Jesse Belanger	C	Montreal	Free agent
Aris Brimanis	D	N.Y. Islanders	Re-signed
Kevin Haller	D	Anaheim	Free agent
Kenny Jonsson	D	N.Y. Islanders	Free agent
Oleg Kvasha	LW	Florida	Trade
Mark Parrish	RW	Florida	Trade
Robert Petrovicky	LW	Tampa Bay	Free agent
Ray Schultz	D	N.Y. Islanders	Re-signed
Mike Stapleton	C	Atlanta	Free agent
Dan Trebil	D	Pittsburgh	Free agent
Jeff Toms	LW	Washington	Free agent

Goings
Player	Pos.	To	Via
Niklas Anderson	LW	Calgary	Free agent
Ted Drury	C	Columbus	Expansion
Dallas Eakins	D	Calgary	Free agent
Chris Ferraro	C	New Jersey	Free agent
Ian Herbers	D	Minnesota	Expansion
Roberto Luongo	G	Florida	Trade
Olli Jokinen	C	Florida	Trade

Prospect Watch
Tylor Pyatt, LW, 6' 3", 220
Born: Aug. 19, 1981 in Thunder Bay, Ontario
Acquired: 1999 entry draft (No. 8 overall)
Pyatt, whose father played seven NHL seasons, is considered the top prospect among what might be the most talented group of prospects in hockey. Obviously, he's got size, but he's also very quick. The big left winger scored 40 goals and 89 points last season for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. When he signed with the Islanders a couple weeks before his 19th birthday, Pyatt said, with nothing left to prove in junior hockey, "I look forward to training camp and earning a spot on the team." In the Isles' final preseason game (in which they were winless), Pyatt scored his first goal.

Get the Highlighter
Friday, Oct. 6 at Tampa Bay. New York opened there last year, too. This time the Islanders return with Roman Hamrlik, who was a combined minus-124 in five-plus seasons with the Lightning.
Wednesday, Nov. 22 vs. New York Rangers. The only way to guarantee a full house in The Mausoleum, invite the crosstown rivals for their first meeting of the season.
Down the stretch. If the Islanders are on the verge of making the playoffs, they're looking at four games in six days in April (vs. Pittsburgh 4/2, at Toronto 4/4, vs. Ottawa 4/6 and at Boston 4/7) to end the season.

Quoteworthy
"We've been promising the future for a long time, and the future is close to arriving."
— Mike Milbury

Team-by-team previews compiled by CNNSI.com's Ken Klavon, Jamie MacDonald and Jimmy Traina.

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