The Jeff Tambellini Problem

At the 2005-2006 trade deadline the New York Islanders acquired left winger, and former first round pick, Jeff Tambellini, along with defense man Denis Grebeshkov, from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for winger Mark Parrish and Brent Sopel.

Tambellini was in his rookie season at the time, as he decided to forgo his senior season at Michigan to turn pro. Since he was traded to the Islanders at the trade deadline that year, he has spent his Islanders career bouncing back and forth between the big club and their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

While at Bridgeport, Tambellini set the Sound Tigers single-season scoring record with 76 points in 57 games. When GM Garth Snow announced that he was going to rebuild his team through the draft and his current young players, Tambellini was made a part of those plans and the big question was what would Tambellini be able to do with significant playing time?

Last season Tambellini was given that opportunity and was unable to make the most of it, scoring only seven goals while tacking on 15 points in 65 games. Many people began to doubt his ability and started to think maybe it was time to head in a different direction.

However, Tambellini was given another opportunity this season, and has flourished in the little amount of playing time he has received. In only 24 games he has equaled his goals total from last season with seven and has added six assists as well. Now the question seems to be, why is Tambellini being left out of the line-up so much?

He has produced when he has been given the chance, and recorded his first career hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres on October 31, yet game after game Tambellini has been listed as a healthy scratch. For a while I could not understand how Coach Scott Gordon could justify playing the awful and consistently terrible Nate Thompson over Tambellini, but when the Islanders waived Thompson last month, Tambellini remained out of the line-up much to the chagrin of many people. I mean I am a Blake Comeau fan, but he has done nothing to warrant more playing time than Tambellini.

I guess the good thing Tambellini has going for him with his good play is that he remains significant to the organizations future plans, but he is not going to get any better from the press box and you can only improve so much just by practicing. I think Tambellini has earned the right to play and has showed just that during his few games on the ice. Maybe Scott Gordon will smarten up and give him the chance because we all know the Isles aren't making the playoffs this year anyway.

UPDATE: 2/4/2010: 7:06pm: I guess Coach Scott Gordon heard what I had to say because, guess what fans, tonight Jeff Tambellini is in the line-up!