News Article: NY Islanders Emergence From the Dark Has Some Talking About Dynasty Days

[The Underboss]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/n...the-dark-has-some-talking-about-dynasty-days/

Is there anyone who really expected this kind of resurgence for the New York Islanders?
Through 25 games, the Isles sit tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins atop the Metropolitan Division, they’ve got the seventh best goal differential in the NHL, and they’ve got young, explosive talents that have been cause for some to start comparing these teams to those of the Islanders dynasty of the 1980s.

Simply put, these aren’t even close to the Islanders we’re used to seeing.

It was a busy off-season in New York, and it was a shocking one. While often thought of as one of the worst managed teams in the league, the Islanders and GM Garth Snow quickly became the talk of the NHL. With the signing of Jaroslav Halak, the team solidified their goaltending. Then, as reports were circulating that the Islanders were about to acquire defenseman Johnny Boychuk from the Boston Bruins, the team scooped up Chicago’s young defenseman Nick Leddy before shocking everyone and also picking up Boychuk.

 

[peter021]

After so many years of being a laughing stock, and deservedly so, I'm enjoying this turn of positive press. The guys on NHL Tonight have also been great with some nice praise and insight on the team's resurgence.

It's still only 25 games, but this year feels different from years' past when they'd go on small runs, or play really well after being eliminated from playoff contention. Amazing what some depth can do for your fortunes.

 

[tommyhendo15]

Love how Potvin says, "Yep, they look just like us, ready to be great in the regular season and lose in the playoffs for 5 years..." (more or less)

Denis Potvin, once the captain of the Islanders and one of the team’s greatest stars during their dynasty years, may have put it best when talking to New York media. Potvin said this team is on the first step towards greatness, but they’ll only achieve that by feeling the sting of defeat in the playoffs, much like his Islanders had to back before Stanley Cups became commonplace for those teams.

 

[Islesfans1978*]

It is weird, the Isles have to be elite in order to get some good praise from the scribes, but the second they start winning a little they bring up the dynasty era which we are nowhere near close to.

 

[BillD]

I think Denis overstated the situation.

This team, which is not complete yet, is nowhere near the finished product that was the Dynasty era teams.
In fact, just prior to becoming the powerhouse Cup winners that they were, the Dynasty team had much better players than what are on the present day team. The team was founded in 1972 and by 1978 already had 3 Calder Trophy winners including 5 future Hall of Famers, along with several established high quality players.

The 2014 Islanders do not have any organic Calder Trophy winners and may have only one potential Hall of Famer (TBD). The quality of the parts is just not equal or even close to equal.

But times change and while this team is not finished being assembled it does have a chance to compete for Cups in the age of parity.
An 8 seed that just barely makes the playoffs can go all the way to the Finals, and even win them.