On a team in search of star power, Brad Isbister is ready for his close-up

By Pete McEntegart

Brad Isbister.  Lou Capozzola SI Fast Fact Chris Osgood's 2.50 goals-against average last season was the best for an Islanders netminder (minimum 20 games) since Chico Resch's 2.28 GAA in 1976-77. SI Insider Rankings Offense: 12 A consistent Isbister can pop 30 goals Defense: 15 Top-heavy unit led by Aucoin, Hamrlik and Jonsson Goaltending: 13 Osgood gives up too many rebounds Special Teams: 18 Peca's injury badly hampers penalty killing Management: 16 After pratfalls G.M. Milbury has made right moves

Like Kevin Costner in The Big Chill, Brad Isbister had a role in a surprise hit, but his part wound up on the cutting-room floor. The Islanders finished fifth in the East and made the playoffs for the first time in eight years, losing a riveting seven-game series to Toronto in the first round. Yet the 6'4", 230-pound winger scored just 17 regular-season goals, was hustled off the No. 1 line after several brief auditions and missed four playoff games with a back injury. "Last year was a great one for our team," Isbister says. "But I wasn't happy with my play. I expect more from myself."

So does his team. New York needs him to become the power-and-speed force he appeared to be when he scored 22 goals in 64 games three years ago. General manager Mike Milbury elected not to go after free-agent wingers such as Bill Guerin and Tony Amonte over the summer, placing his faith in holdovers such as Isbister and 6'5", 230-pound Oleg Kvasha, 24. With Selke Award winner Michael Peca out until December with a knee injury, Isbister's performance will be even more vital. "Brad got a little lost in the shuffle last year," says second-year coach Peter Laviolette. "I think he has more to contribute."

During the off-season Isbister worked with a personal trainer in Calgary, cutting back on heavy weight training and focusing on resistance-based skating drills in an effort to increase his explosiveness. He's five pounds lighter and, Laviolette says, has shown more jump. Though neither Milbury nor Laviolette have told Isbister how many goals they want from him -- 30 is a good guess -- the message has nonetheless gotten through. "I don't need them to tell me they want more," Isbister says. "I know what's expected."

The franchise has high expectations of its own. As Laviolette puts it, "A lot of good things happened last year. This year we need great things to happen." The Islanders have a solid goaltending duo in Chris Osgood and Garth Snow plus three fine defensemen in Adrian Aucoin, Roman Hamrlik and Kenny Jonsson. The question is whether they have enough firepower; last season only center Alexei Yashin surpassed 60 points. That's where the Islanders hope Isbister can emerge as a true leading man.

Issue date: October 14, 2002