I think Islanders are the dark horse of the East this season.

[Rehabguy]

Honestly I can’t think of any team in the East the past 3 seasons that the Isles didn’t fair well against. Maybe the Bolts in the playoffs but from what remember they did well against all the Eastern teams so I don’t know who exactly the isles are looking up at.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Honestly I can’t think of any team in the East the past 3 seasons that the Isles didn’t fair well against. Maybe the Bolts in the playoffs but from what remember they did well against all the Eastern teams so I don’t know who exactly the isles are looking up at.

Guess you missed last season.

 

[Pure Slaughter Value]

Which of the teams are they knocking off while also keeping away the up and coming teams like Ottawa/Detroit?

I don't see Detroit or Ottawa being a threat to a playoff spot even if they improve. From the net out, D and G both teams are weak.

Isles will be like they have been the past three or four years. They're a tweener for a 5-8 spot but if they get in they can beat anyone in 7 games.

Top 5 goalie and Top 5-10D means they're not an easy team to play.

 

[Rehabguy]

Think they’re a bubble team but in no way close to a contender. Losing Trotz was a big mistake.

Can be. That remains the question mark. I would like to see what an unhinged Islander squad can do against other teams. They’re going to be tough as nails.

Guess you missed last season.

Actually I did. But when most teams get to actually play for half a season only they usually don’t fair very well.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Can be. That remains the question mark. I would like to see what an unhinged Islander squad can do against other teams. They’re going to be tough as nails.

I agree that they played hard especially for Trotz. He got the most out of the team.
In the end though I just don’t think they have enough offensive talent to hang with the contenders. But they will definitely be a tough out if they sneak into the playoffs.

 

[Rehabguy]

That if a team plays a certain style, they can simultaneously be a threat in the playoffs while being in a fight just to make them.

I respect what they’re capable of when it matters. Getting there will be a challenge in this era. It’s not as if they were competing for President’s Trophies in those non-fluke years. In 19-20, the Isles were 7th in East points percentage. Among Eastern teams that made the playoffs across 3 divisions in 20-21, they were 8 out of 9 in points.

Well that is true. The isles are built as a playoff team from goaltender out and they’ve improved on paper under Lou- as a playoff team not one of those flashy teams that do well in the regular season but then completely fold in the playoffs. The Isles just have to make the playoffs and they are automatically a contender BECAUSE of the way they are built.

I agree that they played hard especially for Trotz. He got the most out of the team.
In the end though I just don’t think they have enough offensive talent to hang with the contenders. But they will definitely be a tough out if they sneak into the playoffs.

I agree.

 

[Rehabguy]

Well that is true. The isles are built as a playoff team from goaltender out and they’ve improved on paper under Lou- as a playoff team not one of those flashy teams that do well in the regular season but then completely fold in the playoffs. The Isles just have to make the playoffs and they are automatically a contender BECAUSE of the way they are built.


I agree.

IF the Isles scored that winning goal in game 7 against the Bolts 2 seasons ago they would have won the Cup without a doubt.

IF the Isles scored that winning goal in game 7 against the Bolts 2 seasons ago they would have won the Cup without a doubt. They are still a huge threat come playoff time.

 

[Pure Slaughter Value]

I agree that they played hard especially for Trotz. He got the most out of the team.
In the end though I just don’t think they have enough offensive talent to hang with the contenders. But they will definitely be a tough out if they sneak into the playoffs.

Yeah, that's definitely a valid point. Can't beat everyone 2-1...

It'll be interesting to see the kind of leash Lambert has with the lines. 4th line is pretty much set to play the way they do til they pull a Spinal Tap drummer death.

Would like to see Beauvillier-Barzal-Wahlstron
Lee-Nelson-Palmieri
Parise-Pageau-Bailey
Martin-Czikas-Clutterbuck

Still not intimidating in the slightest but balanced.

 

[TGWL]

When most talk about the offseason moves, I don't think they're addressing it to the point where they expect Islanders to stay in the same spot as last season, but rather did they do enough to improve where they probably should have finished last season? The east is getting better, so the knock on the offseason moves is about continuing to put yourself in a better spot.

 

[Pure Slaughter Value]

When most talk about the offseason moves, I don't think they're addressing it to the point where they expect Islanders to stay in the same spot as last season, but rather did they do enough to improve where they probably should have finished last season? The east is getting better, so the knock on the offseason moves is about continuing to put yourself in a better spot.

Yeah, Lou's definitely betting on Romanov and Salo as the 2nd and 3rd pairing LD's being better than Greene and Chara. That really should be an obvious improvement but the offense...meh.

Our transition game from our D-men was simply atrocious last year.

Regarding improving the offense from bounce-back years from players...I sorta get it. Beauvillier was awful all season and Pageau, Parise and Palmieri all blew goats the first 40 games and then averaged their career ppg the last 40. Wahlstrom was shuffled all over the lineup and never really developed chemistry with anyone. Bailey is as vanilla as you get even if he's a "200 foot player". He may be but by the time he's gone the full 200 feet he's been lapped by opponent's forwards and defensemen.

We'll see. I just hope by the trade deadline we're either in solid position to make or way out of the race and sellers. Really don't want to see a 23 1st traded in order to get us in an 8 spot or to try and move us from round 1 to round 2 of the po's. That's pointless both short and long-term.

 

[Mikeshane]

Because of Sorokin I have them as a playoff team but I don't see them as a dark horse cup contender though unless they have some breakout rookie or signing or something.

 

[3074326]

Just go off the playoff threads. Everything was a fluke. The cross town rivals won with similar circumstances (key player and opposing goalies out from injuries) yet that magically makes the real deal.

What, exactly, have they done to make anyone believe in them? Nothing as far as I can tell. They’re in a very competitive division with more talented teams.

So dramatic.

The Rangers got to the finals. Remind me again what the Islanders have done.

On paper, they are not contenders. Didn’t look like contenders on the ice last year either, and they didn’t add the pieces to make them look like contenders this season. Sometimes, the truth hurts. I’ll save you the trouble and just say I don’t think the Pens are going to contend either.

 

[Rehabguy]

When most talk about the offseason moves, I don't think they're addressing it to the point where they expect Islanders to stay in the same spot as last season, but rather did they do enough to improve where they probably should have finished last season? The east is getting better, so the knock on the offseason moves is about continuing to put yourself in a better spot.

I think teams have to view themselves as a sum of all their parts. The Isles are an experienced team now. Well taught under the best defensive coach in hockey. Strong down the middle with excellent 2 way centers who were all taught how to play a 200 foot game. They have snipers at the wings. They have big mobile defenseman some of whom such as Pulock and Dobson who may join the offensive rush this upcoming season. They have few young fairly untested goal scorers who might become dominant scorers in more relaxed system. They have one of the best goaltenders in the game today.

They don’t have 1 superstar player on the team, (though Barzal might have something to say about that this year) but because of that they are well balanced and a threat on every line. There’s no weakness at any position as far as I can tell.

That’s what the other teams have to measure up against. I don’t remember any of the so called superstar lines being a problem for the Isles. They shut them down.

 

[Rehabguy]

What, exactly, have they done to make anyone believe in them? Nothing as far as I can tell. They’re in a very competitive division with more talented teams.

So dramatic.

The Rangers got to the finals. Remind me again what the Islanders have done.

On paper, they are not contenders. Didn’t look like contenders on the ice last year either, and they didn’t add the pieces to make them look like contenders this season. Sometimes, the truth hurts.

You keep focusing only on last year man. Do you know what happened last year or is Ray Whitney the only person that watches the Isles other than their fans? Sad thing is maybe the style Trotz had then playing that might have been true. I’m looking forward to this season with Barzal leading the offense and Sorokin doing his best Brodeur or Roy impression. The rest of the team is just going to be tough as nails to play against and dependable as heck.

 

[Hoek]

I have a lot of respect for the Isles from those two ECF bouts but I'm still concerned that losing Trotz and them aging but not adding offensive depth is too much of an anchor at this point.

 

[Chips]

Just go off the playoff threads. Everything was a fluke. The cross town rivals won with similar circumstances (key player and opposing goalies out from injuries) yet that magically makes the real deal.

People call the Bolts wins flukes too

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Have to see how they do without Trotz. They were the worst defensive team in the league the season before he arrived. Not to mention even with Trotz they performed poorly last year.

 

[Chips]

Yeah, Lou's definitely betting on Romanov and Salo as the 2nd and 3rd pairing LD's being better than Greene and Chara. That really should be an obvious improvement but the offense...meh.

Our transition game from our D-men was simply atrocious last year.

Regarding improving the offense from bounce-back years from players...I sorta get it. Beauvillier was awful all season and Pageau, Parise and Palmieri all blew goats the first 40 games and then averaged their career ppg the last 40. Wahlstrom was shuffled all over the lineup and never really developed chemistry with anyone. Bailey is as vanilla as you get even if he's a "200 foot player". He may be but by the time he's gone the full 200 feet he's been lapped by opponent's forwards and defensemen.

We'll see. I just hope by the trade deadline we're either in solid position to make or way out of the race and sellers. Really don't want to see a 23 1st traded in order to get us in an 8 spot or to try and move us from round 1 to round 2 of the po's. That's pointless both short and long-term.

Transition has generally been a flaw in Trotz system. Carlson’s points in Washington jumped in 2017-18 when the team lost depth and Trotz let them loosen up, but before that they played super chippy/grinding north game like the isles.


Transition and rush offense suffers for defense


Curious how the isles D might improve offensively if the system opens up for more built in transition. Also curious about young players because Trotz is really bad at developing young players. Doesn’t even try.

Again, Vrana and Burakovsky, Nate Schmidt; chandler Stephenson

 

[wintersej]

Just go off the playoff threads. Everything was a fluke. The cross town rivals won with similar circumstances (key player and opposing goalies out from injuries) yet that magically makes the real deal.

I don't think that makes it the real deal for them, either.

 

[M2Beezy]

If they are fortunate enough to land JT Miller it is possible

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

 

[HisIceness]

Trotz got a lot out of them, last year obviously wasn't good but I wasn't expecting a coaching change. Who knows but the East is a bloodbath.

I will say this, I'm a fan of Raty and I'll be watching him closely when he eventually gets the call for the big show. I think a lot of teams are going to second-guessing themselves for not drafting him.

 

[PhysicalGraffiti]

I hope you're right.

I think a big season from Barzal and hopefully continued success from Brock can propel the team. The defense is stellar as is the goaltending. Just need the goals.

We're only one season removed from a game away from the Cup. The window isn't closed yet.

LGI!

 

[Strait2thecup]

Which of the teams are they knocking off while also keeping away the up and coming teams like Ottawa/Detroit?

Detroit?? Hahahahaha

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

They’ll deffo be in the mix for the playoffs