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This is the latest file in THN.com’s ongoing offseason analysis of every NHL team. In today’s file, we’re breaking down New York Islanders.
2021-22 record: 27-46-9
Finish In The Metropolitan Division: 5th
Available salary cap space (per CapFriendly.com): $11.1 million
Restricted free agents: Kiefer Bellows, F; Noah Dobson, D; Alex Romanov, D.
What the islanders have: A couple of defensemen in their prime in Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, and a promising young blueliner in Noah Dobson; a new D-man in former Canadiens disc player Alex Romanov; enough cap space to make a major addition either before the regular season starts or during the 2022-23 campaign; solid if unspectacular scoring depth in their front three front rows; a new head coach in Lane Lambert; proven veteran scorers at center Matt Barzal, Captain Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey
What the islanders need: More elite attacking talent up front and more goals overall; a great year for Barzal; better luck in terms of health; improvement on his 2-6 shooting record in 2021-22; a good start out of the gate; at least as good a season from his goalkeeping tandem of Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin, and Varlamov in particular.
What’s realistic for The Islanders next season: No team had higher aspirations and a harder crater last season than the Isles, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also in terms of just plain bad luck. Winger Zach Parise, 37, was the only Islanders regular skater not to miss two or more games in 2021-22, with only three of his forwards finishing the year with 18-plus goals scored. Even with now-former head coach Barry Trotz’s trademark strong defense structure, the Isles simply couldn’t generate enough offense as they needed to earn a playoff spot in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division.
That combination of misfortunes on the health front and below-average scoring totals from its veterans and stars could be behind general manager Lou Lamoriello’s decision to stick with basically the same lineup to start the 2022-23 campaign, with the acquisition of the former Montreal defenseman. Alex Romanov is the only exception. And, as noted, Lamoriello fired Trotz and replaced him with veteran assistant Lane Lambert, but he can expect them to maintain their strong defensive game and seek more success with the puck.
Now, it’s true that no team should make a move just to make a move, the reality is that the Islanders will have skeptics that they’ve done enough to keep pace in the Metro, especially with the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey. Devils making notable additions to their rosters. The Isles are going to have to unseat one or both of the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins to get back to the postseason, and that’s no small feat.
Lamoriello was on the hunt to sign star winger Johnny Gaudreau, but the former Calgary Flame chose the Blue Jackets, significantly improving that franchise’s chances of making the playoffs. He didn’t win, but he has enough cap space to make a remarkable deal during the regular season. Would he take a chance on Chicago Blackhawks superstar winger Patrick Kane, even as a strict rent that might be too costly for them when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer? This writer says “yes”. Lamoriello has a very old group of strikers, only six of whom are in their twenties, and he needs big results right away.
For a brief time, the Islanders looked poised to be consistent contenders for first place in the Subway and the Stanley Cup. But circumstances can change very quickly, and the islands now seem to be struggling just to make the playoffs. Lamoriello and Lambert know they need to start the schedule strong and not be forced to catch up the rest of the way. As the hockey gods painfully showed them last season, that’s one game teams usually don’t end up winning.