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SHOW STOPPERS - TIM JACKMAN

Jun 26, 2008

Tim Jackman BST Toughness and heart were two key factors that the Sound Tigers lacked in previous years but when Garth Snow signed Tim Jackman prior to last season, all of that changed. It was evident that the team needed a player who was not afraid to take or give a big hit, drop the gloves to send a message, or score a goal by paying the price in front of the net. Last season, the Sound Tigers opened the year against the Hartford Wolf Pack and Jackman made an immediate impact, scoring a goal and an assist in the team’s 3-2 victory. Jackman tied his American Hockey League career mark for points in a season with 36 in only 44 games, almost half the number it took him to reach the mark his rookie year with the Syracuse Crunch.

Since his draft year in 2001, Jackman has pulled on the sweater of four different organizations. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected him in the second round, 38th overall while the Minot, ND native was playing for Minnesota State University – Mankato. Jackman spent the next three seasons splitting time with the Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate in Syracuse. During that span, Jackman scored his first NHL goal with Columbus. The following two years, Jackman spent time with both the Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings organizations playing for both the big clubs and their minor league affiliates.

Jackman has compiled the majority of his career numbers in the AHL but last season skated about half the year in Bridgeport and the other half on Long Island, where he set individual career NHL marks for games (36), assists (3), points (4), and penalty minutes (57) in a season.

You’ve played in the NHL before with Columbus, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. What was this experience like playing in the NHL with the Islanders?

There was a difference between playing with the Islanders organization and the others. It is exciting to see the tradition the organization has right when you step into the dressing room from all of the Stanley Cup pictures on the walls. When I played with the Islanders this season, I felt like I belonged up there. When I was called up I really wanted to be there and I expected to be there.

You played in 36 games for the Islanders this season, which is the most you’ve played in a season for one team. What was your role with the team and did you see it change when you went from Bridgeport to the Islanders?

In Long Island I was a fourth line guy who played about six to eight minutes a game. My role was to bang bodies to create some energy, get pucks in deep, and giving the top three lines a break. With Bridgeport, I was playing 20 minutes a game. I received power-play and penalty-killing minutes to go along with my even strength ice time. I tried to make things happen whether that was scoring goals or setting up plays for my teammates.

Going from the NHL to the AHL there is an adjustment. In the NHL, I really worked on my confidence in handling the puck. From that experience, when I came back to Bridgeport, I felt like I had more time to create plays. Knowing that I could play in the NHL and having the success I did helped me to become a better player at both levels.

Jackman Isles goal Tell me about your goal against the Colorado Avalanche this season.

Well Colorado was going for a line-change while the puck was chipped up the right wall. I came up the wing and picked it up at the blue-line and came in on a half breakaway. I fired it and when I saw it was in, put a big smile on my face.

From your experience, what is the difference between the AHL and the NHL?

There is a lot more depth at every position. Every player in the NHL belongs there because they are smarter, faster, bigger, and stronger. This is why only a certain number of players get to go up there because they are the best in the world. The way guys make and handle passes is amazing. If you make a bad pass in the skates guys are still handling it and the play continues up ice. Off the ice, everything is so professional at the NHL level and obviously the travel (chartered planes) and meals are a bit nicer as well.

You were up and down at the end of the season for the positive reason that both the Sound Tigers and Islanders needed your services. What was that experience like?

It was a great experience to go up and down. I traveled to cool cities like Montreal and Florida. When I was sent down it wasn’t disappointing at all because each game we were playing in Bridgeport was the most important of the year. It was a lot of fun to compete at both spots because either I’m in the NHL or I’m playing a do or die game to get the Sound Tigers into the playoffs.

What have you been doing the off-season to take your mind off of hockey?

First thing I did was go up to the lake. My father and I set the boat and dock up and started fishing. I’ve also been playing a little golf.

Now that Training Camp is a couple of months away, what have you been concentrating on in your training to come into shape in the best possible shape?

I’ve been working on improving my foot speed with lots of sprints and band resistance exercises. I recently go back on the ice and have been working on my balance and trying to become a better skater as well.

You signed a new contract this off-season guaranteeing you’d be back with the Islanders next season. How happy are you to know where you’ll be playing next season and was the decision easy?

It is awesome. I was excited. I’ve bounced around and it really feels good to come back and be a part of an organization that has such history. I want to stay around and be an influence on some of the younger guys and be a part of the development of the Islanders’ organization.