In A Word : New York Islanders

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

We can sit here and easily (well, it’s really not that easy) break down the New York Islanders in terms of team play, concepts and dynamics that drive wins or losses on the ice. Of course, not being professional general managers or coaches, it would be purely based on our own opinions that we have formed over the various years watching, studying and playing the game.

But what if your constitutional right to free speech and the ability to have that aforementioned opinion was stripped from you? If you had to go the rest of your days on Earth only being able to use one word to describe the various things you see and interact with each moment, do you think you would be able to?

Let’s test my theory out below as we stroll down the Islanders lineup and use one word to describe each and every player on the roster. Duplicates are not allowed. You can judge for yourself and let me know how well or poorly I did in the comments section.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Forwards

• Josh Bailey : Improving
• Pierre-Marc Bouchard : Shifty
• Eric Boulton : Tiger (as in Sound)
• Casey Cizikas : Sparkplug
• Cal Clutterbuck : Boulder
• Michael Grabner : Lightning
• Anders Lee : Spooked
• Matt Martin : Train
• Colin McDonald : Role-play
• Matt Moulson : Sniper
• Brock Nelson : Mature
• Frans Nielsen : Back-check
• Kyle Okposo : Moose
• Peter Regin : Unlucky
• Ryan Strome : Valedictorian
• John Tavares : Franchise

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Defensemen

• Matt Carkner : Pugilist
• Matt Donovan : Potential
• Joe Finley : Cone
• Travis Hamonic : Rock
• Thomas Hickey : Unheralded
• Andrew MacDonald : Blocks
• Brian Strait : Lumberjack
• Lubomir Visnovsky : Transition

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Goaltenders

• Evgeni Nabokov : Entertaining
• Kevin Poulin : Doubters
• Anders Nilsson : Future

Well, how did I do? At the end of the day to know me personally is to know I would NEVER be able to do this!! I like to talk and ramble too much, especially about the game and team I love. haha ?

-AG (@tazman19)