Josef Vasicek

Happy Birthday Vasicek!




The final scheduled "New Islander" review. Josef Vasicek. Take it away, Josef. Oh, right, I have to do this.


Josef Vasicek was acquired by the Islanders on 8/15/07, our last signing of the offseason.


Vasicek is entering his 7th season as an NHL player. He has spent most of his career in a Hurricanes uniform,(00-06),(06-07). In his first, 5 season tour of duty in Carolina, he scored 55 goals and 71 assists in 316 games. In the 2006 offseason, he was dealt to the Nashville Predators for Scott Walker. In his short 35 games with the Predators, he scored 4 goals and 9 assists. He was then dealt back to the Hurricanes, where he would play the remainder of the season. In those 28 games, he scored 2 goals and 7 assists.

In Josef's post season career, he has played 37 games, scoring 5 goals and 2 assists. He fell short in the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 to the Detroit Red Wings. But in 2006, in the first playoffs of the "New NHL", the Hurricanes went on to defeat the Edmonton Oilers in 7 games. I remember watching that game. In Carolina, the crowd was just hectic. It's always enjoyable watching the cup come out. Although I don't recall seeing Vasicek with the cup, he still has that great experience of having Lord Stanley's Cup in his hands.


Vasicek has struggled with injury trouble the past couple years. It is highly important for him to stay healthy this year. He is the 3rd line center, without question. I think he will get 15 goals and 20-er, I'll give him an extra birthday assist. 21. That is, of course, if he stays healthy.


Vasicek's Player Page: http://islanders.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8467416&service=page



Once again, I would like to wish Vasicek a very happy birthday. I hope you like my little picture of Vasicek at the beginning of this post. I felt like I should do something like that, for the hell of it.


And this marks the end of the NIR's. For now.



Let's Go Islanders!!!