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

[saintunspecified]

Because they beat a couple of tanking teams???

Agree that NYI fans shouldn't take away much from lopsided victories against bad teams.

On the other hand, I think other teams fans (and some other teams) sell some NYI high-talent palyers short. Dobson is becoming a monster out there, and NYI's defense has to be a legitimately scary group to go up against. Maybe not as good as the Hurricanes, but more physically imposing.

I think these points go together - the Ducks and Sharks both lost because they didn't show the Isles D nearly enough respect. I think the Rangers, Penguins, Hurricanes, Capitals, etc. know better & will take a more cautious approach to NYI.

 

[Rehabguy]

Agree that NYI fans shouldn't take away much from lopsided victories against bad teams.

On the other hand, I think other teams fans (and some other teams) sell some NYI high-talent palyers short. Dobson is becoming a monster out there, and NYI's defense has to be a legitimately scary group to go up against. Maybe not as good as the Hurricanes, but scarier.

I think these points go together - the Ducks and Sharks both lost because they didn't show the Isles D nearly enough respect. I think the Rangers, Penguins, Hurricanes, Capitals, etc. know better & will take a more cautious approach to NYI.

Yes it won’t be easy. That would be disrespectful of other good teams as well. At the very least I wanted to indicate the Islanders have constructed a very competitive team that will dominate against teams it should dominate and give any elite team in this league a hard fight which they can and to be expected to beat on any given night. This Islander squad is very strong. Somewhere from when the Isles made their second Eastern Conference Final to today the Isles- in some fans minds- suddenly became a bubble team which to me at least was so absurd. Only a fool would think like that imo.

I also think it would be wrong to underestimate what damage the Isles offense can do when unhinged. For 3 years the Islanders were told to go against their offensive instincts and focus on defense or at least try to force offense through a heavy forecheck rather than to CREATE offense off the rush. With a player like Barzal and I believe a top 5 offense prior to Trotz that rolled 4 lines and scored by committee it would be foolish to underestimate the Isles offensive capabilities as well. This team’s offensive capabilities are stronger than when John Tavares was here. Very well balanced and also physically imposing. Look at what Lou added to an already good offense since JT left: Pageau, Palmieri, Wahlstrom, and Parise. He also reunited the 4th line by bringing back Martin. These type of players exemplify the team as a whole. High character. High energy. The things you need to win playoffs.

 

[saintunspecified]

Yes it won’t be easy. That would be disrespectful of other good teams as well. At the very least I wanted to indicate the Islanders have constructed a very competitive team that will dominate against teams it should dominate and give any elite team in this league a hard fight which they can and to be expected to beat on any given night. This Islander squad is very strong.

No. NYI will dominate against teams who think that a 3 v 3 line rush is a good bet. A less talented team that plays a safer/smarter game is still going to give NYI trouble because NYI lacks dynamic scoring. I mean, Severson never seems to learn to make safe plays, so NYI do have that advantage against the Devils, but it doesn't have to be that way.

 

[Pure Slaughter Value]

I don't know how we're going to finish but I can say this, the Islanders under Lambert play a much different offensive style of hockey and the "OMG THEY AER SO BORRRING!!!11" comments should go away.

It's a lot more enjoyable to watch them this year. Defense is totally up in the play and is strong on the rush. Forwards could still use a little work but if Wahlstrom has a 25 goal season it helps address a need for more scoring punch. Guy's got an excellent shot. Only problem is we've been saying that the last couple of years so hopefully there's more consistency from him.

 

[Rehabguy]

No. NYI will dominate against teams who think that a 3 v 3 line rush is a good bet. A less talented team that plays a safer/smarter game is still going to give NYI trouble because NYI lacks dynamic scoring. I mean, Severson never seems to learn to make safe plays, so NYI do have that advantage against the Devils, but it doesn't have to be that way.

I don’t know if I agree with this. The 3 years under Lou and still under his protege Lambert won’t allow the Isles to go from a top defensive team to a sieve over night. Those 3 years under Trotz were extremely important in the development of this team. All it needed was a tweak to balance offense with defense. So far so very good. We will see, but I’m pretty sure these guys haven’t forgot how to protect a lead and it already shows.

 

[Pantokrator]

Last year was a fluke. NYI will be in the playoffs this year. Washington won't make it.

 

[Rehabguy]

I don't know how we're going to finish but I can say this, the Islanders under Lambert play a much different offensive style of hockey and the "OMG THEY AER SO BORRRING!!!11" comments should go away.

It's a lot more enjoyable to watch them this year. Defense is totally up in the play and is strong on the rush. Forwards could still use a little work but if Wahlstrom has a 25 goal season it helps address a need for more scoring punch. Guy's got an excellent shot. Only problem is we've been saying that the last couple of years so hopefully there's more consistency from him.

That’s the main difference. The Isles are being allowed to play creatively again and not a system that asked the players to play a highly restrictive conservative system that kept them in good defensive posture by forcing turnovers off a heavy forecheck. This old system is boring to watch and exhausting for the players. The revised system does open some defensive holes but that’s why we have the Sorokin/Varlamov tandem. Its creative and fun to watch- and fun for players as well. They look like their old selves but with the defensive smarts that will win them many games. No spectators here. They are all working hard and still back checking. Thank you Trotz! It’s a risk well worth the reward. Isles fans are in for a treat this season.

 

[saintunspecified]

That’s the main difference. The Isles are being allowed to play creatively again and not a system that asked the players to play a highly restrictive conservative system that kept them in good defensive posture by forcing turnovers off a heavy forecheck.

The only difference in their play is they are more aggressive defensively. Both are functions of Lambert, and replacing Chara/Greene with Romanov/Salo. But NYI are still not built to dominate any team that properly approaches them. Coaching doesn't create offensive dynamos. NYI don't have them. They'll win games against smart opponents bc of their D corps + goaltending advantage. Lots of 1-goal games until late in the third. But no dominance.

 

[nbwingsfan]

What has Detroit done in the past 5 years to even be in this conversation at all? This is exactly what I’m talking about. I’m not talking about 3 games I’m talking about the last 4-5 years. These 3 games are further evidence that the Isles are still in it. Yet you seem to so self assured that one blip of a season on the radar and all has fallen apart on Long Island. That’s absurd. You go by the body of evidence and not one season that EVERYONE says was just an outlier and easily explained.

What a team did three years ago is completely irrelevant.

 

[Rehabguy]

What a team did three years ago is completely irrelevant.

or apparently 1 year ago.

 

[Rehabguy]

The only difference in their play is they are more aggressive defensively. Both are functions of Lambert, and replacing Chara/Greene with Romanov/Salo. But NYI are still not built to dominate any team that properly approaches them. Coaching doesn't create offensive dynamos. NYI don't have them. They'll win games against smart opponents bc of their D corps + goaltending advantage. Lots of 1-goal games until late in the third. But no dominance.

You didn't watch the Isles pre Trotz. Scoring goals was not the problem. Stopping goals was. This team is better balanced now. Same players as before plus a handful of more proven scorers as well as the coming of age of young goalscorers like Wahlstrom who will rise to become an all star in time. The idea STILL is not to score the most goals, just to score 1 more goal than the opposition. I don't expect the Isles to be the leading goal scoring team in the league, just to score enough to win the majority of their games. The Isles should be able to win many games this season by 2 or more goals unlike last season where 1 seemed to be the magic number and hold onto the lead. It's very difficult to approach a team that 1) can play offense and defense equally well, 2) physically dominate you, and 3) has a goaltender of Sorokin's caliber. That's what I see happening this year. There are not many teams that can match that.

 

[boredmale]

Last year was a fluke. NYI will be in the playoffs this year. Washington won't make it.

Not sure it was a fluke, when you have half your team out for like 10+ games, that sort of hurts

 

[2014nyr]

Trotz purportedly- according to many of you guys took a weak team and made it perform better than it should have. Yet prior to Trotz/Lou they were already making it to the playoffs and past the first round with a weaker team. The Leafs have not made it past the first round- does that make them a bottom dweller? So much illogical nonsense to go around it’s ridiculous!


Yes so far so good. I’m betting it will be a great year. We’ll see how it goes. If they don’t I guess I will have some explaining to do. Lol. But I believe in this team. LGI!!!

i never said sht about trotz either way im just going off whats said by isles fans when they were obsessed with the trotz way...speaking of logic what in the cinnamon toast fk are you on about with the leafs and first round and bottom dweller?

i just wanted to know who the isles played in their 3rd semifinals i didnt know they made it to. i've conceded your point the isles are just too good for the rest of the league with all of that high level talent no free from the shackles of trotz system that kept them from being talented

 

[Rehabguy]

i never said sht about trotz either way im just going off whats said by isles fans when they were obsessed with the trotz way...speaking of logic what in the cinnamon toast fk are you on about with the leafs and first round and bottom dweller?

i just wanted to know who the isles played in their 3rd semifinals i didnt know they made it to. i've conceded your point the isles are just too good for the rest of the league with all of that high level talent no free from the shackles of trotz system that kept them from being talented

Oh so by your logic a team must make it to the semifinals 3 years in a row to be considered legit. That's absurd. 2 out of 3 for most would suffice. Just about anyone in the know understood that last year was a fluke. This is the absurdity we are dealing with here. It's so illogical. Ex NHL hockey players are saying the same thing, I don't see why it's so difficult to understand.

"I'm telling you right now, you can talk all you want about the goaltender for the New York Rangers, but (explicit) Sorokin is sick on Long Island. I'm telling you the Islanders are going to be a team to be reckoned with this season. They're gonna be a (explicit) good team, man. Their whole season was the biggest collaboration of bad luck I've ever seen a team have. They had to start the whole season on the road, they all got Covid, no canceled games, and then all of a sudden they started canceling every team's games when guys got Covid. There was no chance they (could) come back (after all that). The roster the year before had gone to the Eastern Conference Final, actually both years before. The Islanders are very good and will be very good this year."- Ryan Whitney

This guy knows what's coming.

 

[mm11]

What a team did three years ago is completely irrelevant.

Cautiously optimistic about the Isles this year, but to be fair, it's basically the same core that had multiple playoff series wins for 3 out of the last 4 years. Beating multiple Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup winning squads along the way, so one can make an argument it is relevant

 

[Rehabguy]

Cautiously optimistic about the Isles this year, but to be fair, it's basically the same core that had multiple playoff series wins for 3 out of the last 4 years. Beating multiple Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup winning squads along the way, so one can make an argument it is relevant.

As you can see fans like mm11 are more representative of Islander fans as a whole- a bit more reserved. I'm kind of the odd ball (even when I'm right as I am here). So please don't think that I represent all Islander fans. I figure I'lll be the Yang to their Yin.

But I must say I am a bit old school. What happened to the swagger?

 

[GlassesManbad]

Last year was a fluke. NYI will be in the playoffs this year. Washington won't make it.

Or maybe the shortened COVID years were the fluke and not the one 82 game season?

Cautiously optimistic about the Isles this year, but to be fair, it's basically the same core that had multiple playoff series wins for 3 out of the last 4 years. Beating multiple Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup winning squads along the way, so one can make an argument it is relevant

Does that even matter in 2022? I don't get going back to rounds won from multiple years earlier. Especially with a team lacking an elite core. Many of those players are older and Trotz is now gone.

 

[mm11]

i never said sht about trotz either way im just going off whats said by isles fans when they were obsessed with the trotz way...speaking of logic what in the cinnamon toast fk are you on about with the leafs and first round and bottom dweller?

i just wanted to know who the isles played in their 3rd semifinals i didnt know they made it to. i've conceded your point the isles are just too good for the rest of the league with all of that high level talent no free from the shackles of trotz system that kept them from being talented

As you can see fans like mm11 are more representative of Islander fans as a whole- a bit more reserved. I'm kind of the odd ball (even when I'm right as I am here). So please don't think that I represent all Islander fans. I figure I'lll be the Yang to their Yin.

love the passion hope your right my friend. Been a NYI fan since 78 so have seen just about everything

 

[Rehabguy]

love the passion hope your right my friend. Been a NYI fan since 78 so have seen just about everything

Hey same here buddy! I served Bryan Trottier drinks at the North Hills Country club in my teenage years right after their Cup runs. I remember a team that was expected to win the Cup every year. When Jiggs and Eddy were the TV commentators and Stan the Mavin would have his regular between period shows. Though living in Florida now, still a diehard fan after all these years.

 

[mm11]

Or maybe the shortened COVID years were the fluke and not the one 82 game season?


Does that even matter in 2022? I don't get going back to rounds won from multiple years earlier. Especially with a team lacking an elite core. Many of those players are older and Trotz is now gone.

Ofcourse it matters, they have experienced long runs together for years. They didn't have an elite core then, and now we can agree on. I would like to think the young guys during those runs have gotten better and better. time will tell, enjoy the season mate

 

[wetcoast]

There's enough parity in the NHL and they have enough talent where it's not impossible, but a lot of things need to go right and there's some stiff competition even among the non-playoff teams. Some good teams are going to miss the cut.

Dark horse for regular season play sure but they are boring to watch and lack the difference makers to be a legit year in year out SC favorite IMO.

 

[Rehabguy]

Or maybe the shortened COVID years were the fluke and not the one 82 game season?


Does that even matter in 2022? I don't get going back to rounds won from multiple years earlier. Especially with a team lacking an elite core. Many of those players are older and Trotz is now gone.

There are so so many teams with purported "elite cores" that got no where in the history of the NHL. There are fans of teams right now that can't get past the first round where 4 years ago it was not "if" they would win the cup but "how many". Now they are wondering if they will even get the finals. Defense wins Cups. Character wins Cups. Skill spread across multiple lines wins Cups. The teams that have this eventually will be said have had a true "elite" core of players.

 

[mm11]

You see just to consider the Isles a Cup Contender apparently is trolling.


Hey same here buddy! I served Bryan Trottier drinks at the North Hills Country club in my teenage years right after their Cup runs. I remember a team that was expected to win the Cup every year. When Jiggs and Eddy were the TV commentators and Stan the Mavin would have his regular between period shows. Though living in Florida now, still a diehard fan after all these years.

ya, transplanted Ny'er living in Florida too. I was an 8-11 year old rug rat back then, thought the Isles would never lose. Rabbit ears watching black and white on channel 9 LGI!

 

[GlassesManbad]

There are so so many teams with purported "elite cores" that got no where in the history of the NHL. Defense wins Cups. Character wins Cups. Skill spread across multiple lines wins Cups. The teams that have this eventually will be said have had an "elite" core of players.

There's also so many teams that "Win rounds" then do nothing. 2021 playoffs-3 of 4 conf. finalists went on to miss the playoffs the next year. The 1 team that was fine? They had the elite core (Colorado)

From the cup winners, it appears the most talented teams win cups. The 2 most talented teams met in the finals last year.

Blues were more of an outlier, but Pens, Caps, Bolts, Avs, all elite cores.

 

[Rehabguy]

ya, transplanted Ny'er living in Florida too. I was an 8-11 year old rug rat back then, thought the Isles would never lose. Rabbit ears watching black and white on channel 9 LGI!

I guess we followed Al and Bill.