Islanders Summer Report Card : Marty Reasoner

May 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center

(71) and New York Islanders center

(16) battle to control a face-off during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM OF LEARNING

Student Data

• Name: Marty Reasoner
• Evaluation Year: 2013
• Age: 36
• Undergraduate : 1996
• Days Absent: 17
• Scholarship: None, unrestricted free agent
• Achievements: 31 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 PTS, -3, 34 SOG, 11:14 TOI, 69:36 PROD

Class List and Grade History

• Skating: D
• Shooting: D-
• Passing: D
• Defense: C
• Leadership: B

Professors Comments: 

Let’s for a second talk about some statistics I think you might find interesting from the college and American Hockey League ranks….

• 1997-98 Boston College 33-40-73 in 42 games
• 1999-00 Worchester Ice Cats 23-28-51 in 44 games
• 2000-01 Worchester Ice Cats 17-18-35 in 34 games

Reasoner did have some offensive potential leading into his NHL career, which earned him a first round draft selection in 1996 by the St.Louis Blues (14th overall). Whoever was the director of scouting at that time I would assume is not around anymore.

Through stints in St.Louis, Edmonton, Boston, Florida and finally New York those college and minor league totals never translated into anything at the pro level. Marty is a hard-working player and being one of only 800 at any given time that has the talent, work ethic and drive to play this wonderful game does say something about his character.

He is also a true professional in the locker room and good mentor to the younger players. Signed as a free agent with the thoughts he would be a defensive specialist and faceoff maven by Garth Snow, it never panned out for Reasoner in the blue and orange. Coming off a 1 goal and 5 assist season in 2011 with a horrendous -25 rating, he only averaged little over 11 minutes in ice time, making the numbers look a tad better than they actually were.

He followed up this lockout shortened season with 0 goals in 31 games and actually made it into the lineup for one playoff game in the six game elimination at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The biggest knock against Reasoner for me? The things he was brought into do for the Islanders he could not get done. Defensively as mentioned previously, -25 and -3 over two seasons playing 11 minutes per game. Faceoffs? 52.8% in his career, he was actually EXACTLY at that mark over his two years on the Island.

Never a great skater, Reasoner really struggled to keep up to the pace of the new NHL. Lazy penalties often occurred when caught in his defensive zone as a result of his poor agility.

Shooting and passing were non-existent. There were times I would actually think that if he scored a goal, there was no way the Islanders could lose that hockey game as the gods would never be that merciless.

Where he did provide any value was being a responsible leader on the ice and in the locker room, never complaining about anything and being ready to attempt to play whenever called upon by the coaching staff.

Professor Recommendation:

As much as it has to do with his talent and age at this point in his career, the Islanders have a lot of new blood ready to rush in and be transfused into the lineup over the course of the next two seasons.

There just is no room for Reasoner on the Islanders roster and the organization would be best served to thank him for his service and allow him to sign elsewhere where he can attempt to grab a bottom three spot, provide 8-10 minutes per night and maybe even stand a chance at again being in the playoffs, albeit wearing a different sweater.

This is kind of a silly question (given a number of hockey factors – not personal)  but what should the faculty do with Marty? Promote him or expel him from the university?

-AG