We had expected the New York Islanders to take the next step in their development and qualify for the playoffs. Without their star center John Tavares-lost to an injury suffered at 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the team actually went 12-7-3 but it wasn't enough to overcome a poor start to the season. With the emergence of Kyle Okposo and the new additions in goaltending, there will be some improvement before the Isles move to Brooklyn for next season. The Vanek-Moulson trade proved to be a non-event so Vanek was later shipped off to Montreal, where he was criticized for his poor playoff performance.  There were quite a few new additions via free agency which will give the team stability in net and a more balanced offensive attack. GOALIES Out with the old in Evgeni Nabokov and in with the not-so-old with Jaroslav Halak and Chad Johnson signing via free agency to backstop the upstart Islanders. After grabbing everyone's attention back in the 2009-2010 playoffs with Montreal, Halak signed with the St. Louis Blues via free agency on the heels of his playoff excellence but could never take the Blues to the next step during his tenure.  Now with the improving Islanders, Halak will get another chance to prove his past playoff performance was not a one-off type of deal.  Also brought in was Johnson who had success as the backup to Boston's Tuukka Rask last season with a 17-4-3 record, a 2.10 GAA and .925 SP. Things will be different on the Island as the Isles are far from the same type of team as the Bruins.  The team felt that Kevin Poulin would benefit from a regular workload at Bridgeport rather than spot starts in the NHL. Expect Halak to get the majority of the starts, 55-60. DEFENSE The makeup of the Islanders' defense is pretty interesting. They have the experience with two 38-year olds in Lubomir Visnovsky and Radek Martinek, one for offense and to play the power play point and the other in a more defensive role. Then there are few support defensemen in Tom Hickey, Travis Hamonic, and Brian Strait who are in their mid-20's but don't offer much in terms of offense. Then there is the young stable of up-and-comers in Matt Donovan and Calvin de Haan, both saw limited action in the NHL last season. There are more on the way but we will take a look at those in the PROSPECTS section below. Lubomir may not be the force he once was, but he is more than capable of putting up decent numbers with JT and the rest of the young Islanders rounding into form. ...

Donovan, 24, was the 96th overall pick in 2008, but 2013-14 was his first full NHL season. He recorded 16 points (2G / 14A) with a minus-9 rating in 52 games with the Isles. Donovan will enter camp and fight for a regular role on a fairly young blueline.

Donovan has one goal and six assists in 36 games with the Islanders this season. He deserved to be recalled after playing very well in the AHL. Donovan had 21 points (7G / 14A) in 27 games on the Sound Tigers blueline.

His assignment suggests that Travis Hamonic (concussion) will in fact return on Saturday. Donovan has split time between the Islanders and the Sound Tigers this season. He has seven points (1G / 6A) in 36 games with the Isles and 14 points (3G / 11A) in 17 games with Bridgeport.

With Lubomir Visnovsky being activated from IR on Monday, Donovan had to be sent down, but this morning they placed Travis Hamonic (concussion) on IR so Donovan is back. He will serve as the team's eighth defenseman, but will likely see some action as Matt Carkner and Radek Martinek typically shuffle in and out of the lineup.

Donovan had one goal and five assists with a minus-10 rating in 32 games with the Islanders.

Donovan has a goal and assist in four games. He was averaging 16:29 TOI per game.

Donovan had no points and a minus-3 rating in his first three NHL games.

Look for Donovan to make his NHL debut on the third pairing tonight.

Donovan scored 10 goals and 42 points in 69 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.