Examining the New York Islanders defense

The Big Four

Brendan Witt anchors the defense, along with newcomer Andy Sutton. Radek Martinek, Aaron Johnson and Marc-Andre Bergeron have offensive skills to complement their defensive acumen. In training camp, Ted Nolan has been pairing youngsters Chris Campoli and Bruno Gervais, Witt and Bergeron, Sutton and Martinek and Freddy Meyer with Johnson.

Get the point

Bergeron is a bit undersized at 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds, but he moves the puck well and he has a big shot. The Islanders traded the rights to Russian defender Denis Grebeshkov to Edmonton last February to get Bergeron, who provided a boost to the power play. Tom Poti and Sean Hill both saw major power-play time last season, but they’re gone, so there are openings — and that enhances Johnson's chances. He was a big power-play scorer in juniors and the AHL, but didn't do much in parts of three seasons in Columbus. Meyer also played the point well in the AHL, and Martinek can be used on the power play. Bryan Berard, who came to camp without a contract after back problems spoiled his season with Columbus, is an experienced power-play quarterback who could win a job. Berard won the Calder Trophy with the Isles a decade ago.

In the Wings

Matthew Spiller -- The 6-foot-5, 233-pound defender was the first pick of the second round of the 2001 Entry Draft. The Phoenix Coyotes watched him have two more big junior seasons, then used him in 51 games as a rookie when he went minus-11 with no points. Since then, Spiller, now 24, has bounced around between the AHL and NHL, with very few points and lots of penalty minutes. The Islanders signed him this summer as a project.

Martin Frechette -- The 21-year-old wasn't even a blip on the radar in 2004, his draft year, but he blossomed for Gatineau in the QMJHL. He had 23 goals and 50 assists for 73 points and was plus-3 last year. In 234 QMJHL games, Frechette had 38 goals and 96 assists for 134 points with 387 PIMs and a plus-42 rating. He projects as another power-play quarterback.

Dustin Kohn -- Kohn, 20, finished ninth among WHL defensemen with 50 points and fifth with 45 assists and for the second-straight year led his team in plus-minus. He was plus-23. Kohn is still filling out his 6-foot-2, 192-pound frame. He has good vision and hockey sense and appears on track to follow Campoli and Gervais as homegrown blueliners.

Radek Martinek -- He was having the best of his four NHL seasons when he broke his foot on Dec. 30. He returned to the lineup, but broke his ankle on Feb. 3 and was out for the season. Martinek was second among Islanders' defensemen in scoring and second on the team with a plus-15 rating. Martinek seemed to have settled into a secure, steady role for the Islanders. They'll benefit from his presence over a full season.