Schremp comes home to Island

September 29, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Finally, Rob Schremp is coming home. It became reality earlier today when the Islanders officially claimed the former Edmonton 2004 first round pick.

At 23, the Syracuse native who only played in five NHL games for the Oilers netting three assists last season, is hoping the scenery change will help turn a career around best known for a fancy lacrosse style shootout goal he scored in a Wilkes Barre/Scranton Skill Competition that wowed everyone. There’s no doubting the kid’s talent but is it too much of a circus act to have NHL success?

It’s hard not to chuckle at what Schremp can do with the puck even if it’s during a fun filled skill comp. While that’s great, it’s time for him to prove he can hack it in the majors. You might say that the Oilers never gave him a fair shake. In his second AHL season with Springfield, he put up 23 goals and 53 assists totaling 76 points in 78 games a couple of years back, earning a two-game recall with the big club where he went scoreless. That followed a serious injury where ironically enough he tore the MCL in the 2007 AHL All-Star Game while representing the Baby Pens.

In four games with Edmonton last season, he tallied three assists recording his first NHL point at Minnesota on Dec.3, 2008. However, Schremp played mostly with Springfield where he struggled to finish scoring only seven goals in 69 games. He did add 35 helpers but perhaps the disappointment had something to do with the Oilers giving up on him, assigning him again Sunday only to have the Islanders put in a claim bringing him to the Island.

“It’s exciting,” Schremp told Newsday’s Katie Strang in an Islanders’ Independent story. “It’s a new situation and I’m ready to get back on the ice.”

Assessed second-year Islander coach Scott Gordon:

“He’s got incredible skill. … He has the opportunity of a second chance. What he does with it is in his hands.“

So, Schremp has a new lease on NHL life. And perhaps a great opportunity to play with No.1 overall pick John Tavares. Who wouldn’t be excited over that? If Kyle Okposo returns healthy and doesn’t rush back though he’s targeting the season opener versus the Pens, the Isles become more interesting. Josh Bailey has looked good thus far and should improve leaps and bounds in Year Two.

It’ll be interesting to see how Gordon’s club performs. Their final preseason game is less than half an hour away versus the Devils at The Rock. Stay tuned.