Islanders Look Woeful; But There Is A Lucky Eastern Silver Lining
I get it. On mornings like this, it’s really tough to read anything about the Islanders.
By: David Kolb
I get it.
On mornings like this, it’s really tough to read anything about the Islanders.
And yes, I also sometimes fantasize about blowing it all up and starting from scratch.
But the Islanders aren’t here because they chose to be here. The Islanders are here because, once again, they’ve been dealt a wicked hand, leaving them without a chunk of the core of the roster, including Matthew, Barzal, Adam Pelech, and, of course, newcomer Anthony Duclair.
What we are watching is a skeleton of our wishful version of the Islanders, filled with some hardly known defensemen like Dennis Cholowski and Grant Hutton instead of Pelech and Mike Reilly. Bo Horvat is the lone first-liner still standing, and he is struggling mightily without steady, skilled linemates.
Not to mince words, the season so far has been a disaster.
But that doesn’t mean this season is over.
Far from it.
Pelech is on the ice with the team again, and hopefully sometime soon both Barzal and Duclair can rejoin the team again at Northwell Health practice facility.
The miracle in all this is that the Eastern Conference is having a rotten time running away from the Islanders, leaving the Isles only two points behind the idle, slumping Rangers for the last wild card slot.
Further, Tampa, who holds down the top wild card position is only three points ahead of or favorite team from Elmont.
So, making a desperate trade now is probably the worst thing the Islanders can do.
The player’s individual values are most likely at their lowest, and trade partners would know the Islanders are somewhat desperate and would have to pay above market price for whatever the returns are.
Islanders Dominated By Seattle Kraken, Fall 5-2
ELMONT, NY -- The Seattle Kraken dismantled the New York Islanders tonight with a 5-2 win at UBS Arena. Seattle controlled the play nearly from start to finish.
Vince Dunn scored a goal that held as the game-winner and tallied two assists.
Ilya Sorokin started the game for the Islanders and was pulled to begin the third period after allowing four goals on 13 shots. Sorokin did not have much of a chance for success in this game.
Read more at The Hockey News.
Islanders Brock Nelson Excited To Share USA 4 Nations Face-Off Experience With Son, Grandfather
EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson will hit the ice with Team USA at the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament coming in February.
“Yeah, it means a lot,” Nelson said. “I didn't really know how things would shake out, but, I mean, it's super exciting. It means a lot. Anytime you can represent your country in any tournament, it means a lot. So in something like this, that's a little bit different…first time in this form of this tournament here, it'll be exciting.
"I think the setup looks pretty awesome, considering the cities that it'll be in. So the roster looks awesome, and I’m just soaking it in right now, and I am happy to be a part of it.”
While Nelson is incredibly honored, getting selected means a lot to his family, specifically his grandfather and his son.
Read more at The Hockey News
More Islanders Stories
Islanders Brock Nelson Excited To Share USA 4 Nations Face-Off Experience With Son, Grandfather - THN
Adam Pelech Returns To Islanders Practice After Suffering Jaw Injury - THN
Key Improvement Roy Wants From Islanders' Dobson In Crunch Time - THN
Patrick Laine To Make Canadiens Debut Against Islanders - THN
Islanders Casey Cizikas & Jean-Gabriel Pageau Are Game-Time Decision Against Canadiens - THN
Islanders Prospect Cole Eiserman Makes USA National Junior Team Roster - THN
Semyon Varlamov Day-To-Day With Lower-Body Injury; Marcus Hogberg Recalled On Emergency Basis - THN
Skate before a game at The Park at UBS Arena (click image for details):
Complimentary Parking!
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Please click the BMW | Islanders image below for parking registration information,
Agreed after that debacle last night it’s hard to be positive. Last night was the first time they looked like they were completely non-competitive, of course it happened to be at HOME! The team didn’t look all that good with everyone healthy at the start of the season, if we want to be honest. We have to ask ourselves is this team capable of more than competing for the eighth spot and a first round Gentleman’s Sweep. That answer is unfortunately NO, based on the last three plus seasons. So where do we go from here? No one is coming out to UBS to see this team, we are officially on Buy one Get one free time.
Lou was wrong about the team. I wish things were different, but they are not! Wishing isn’t going to change the fundamental problems that plague this team. Utterly pathetic Special Teams, lack of a QB on the PP Dobson has been a huge disappointment and SOFT! Speed and lack of young fresh legs make this a historically bad PK. Too many passengers on this team not producing Walhstrom Engvall etc. It’s time the Islanders rebuilt this team. Fortunately a lot of vets are playing well and could really help contenders. Players with great value Pulock, Nelson. Players still with some decent value and more importantly clear cap space JG, Plams, Lee, Mayfield. We are very fortunate all four of these players are playing well. Players that just need to be showcased in case of a miracle can be moved Walhstrom Engvall for cap relief, if a contender suffers catastrophic injuries lol. Even if this team makes another 11th hour run we aren’t going anywhere! There are a ton of young players in other organizations that can help this team. The Islanders trades can literally factor into a team or two becoming legitimate Cup threats. It’s time for Patrick and Lou to come together with Pro scouting and try to make Romanov type deals. Top teams are desperate to join the Arms Race for the Cup and immortality. Let’s take advantage by getting young talent that has potential to skate extremely well and finish,both on the front and
backend. The other bonus is clearing cap space and getting draft capital (doesn’t have to be first rounders only) No we shouldn’t panic in make and vet for vet trades to bolster this roster! This roster cannot be bolstered! However we should get out of the gate early and lay all the groundwork with other organizations and our players regarding trades that yield young talent, prospects, and draft capital. Let Patrick build a team, he is the right coach 100% especially for a young team. Time to look at 2025 and beyond. Stefen it would be great to get your take on this. Let’s build around Dobson Romanov George Sorokin Barzel Tsyplakov Holmstrom Horvat Pelech Eiserman Danny Nelson etc. It’s not a total tear down it’s a strategic rebuild that will pay huge dividends in a couple of years if done correctly.