It’s unlikely that the New York Islanders will win the Stanley Cup this season. They’re a middling crew, and their odds mirror that – at +4000 or +5000, in accordance with most oddsmakers, they’re in the identical group because the Detroit Purple Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Nonetheless, if just a few issues go their means this season, they might win all of it towards the chances.
1. Islanders Purchase Into Roy’s System
Head coach Patrick Roy can have his crew taking part in disciplined and structured hockey at each ends of the ice. When he took over the bench midway by final season, he turned the Islanders right into a playoff crew, and with a full offseason to organize, this group ought to hit the bottom operating. The veteran-heavy group purchased into his fashion final season, and the hope is that they’ll have one other nice season.
2. Islanders Ahead Unit Should Discover Depth
The Islanders have a top-heavy offense. After Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, Brock Nelson, and Kyle Palmieri, the manufacturing drops, and the depth is non-existent. This season, the Islanders want manufacturing from their backside six and, particularly, from their third line, which was a weak hyperlink all through final season.
All eyes are on Anders Lee, Pierre Engvall, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, three veterans who can generate offense however mixed for under 41 targets and 57 assists final season. Lee is a finisher, whereas Pageau is a passer, and collectively, the 2 can create loads of scoring possibilities. With Engvall discovering open pictures from the wing, the third line must be potent this season if all three skaters step up.
3. Dobson & Romanov Carry The Protection
Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov are the 2 defensemen anticipated to hold the unit. Dobson can do it as a two-way participant – he’s scored 36 targets and 134 assists prior to now three seasons whereas rounding out his sport within the defensive zone. Romanov, in the meantime, can take over video games as a stay-at-home defenseman who creates turnovers, blocks pictures, and delivers large hits.
The 2 will type the highest pair, or if Roy chooses to separate them up, they’ll take a lot of the ice time amongst defensemen. With their nice play, the protection will enhance and appear like top-of-the-line within the league. It’s going to additionally assist each skaters subject large contracts within the 2025 offseason after they grow to be restricted free brokers (RFAs).
4. Lamoriello Should Add Elite Expertise
If the Islanders are within the playoff image and taking part in effectively midway by the season, they have to make a splash. It’s one thing that common supervisor (GM) Lou Lamoriello tends to keep away from. That mentioned, he should get his crew over the hump by including an elite ahead to the highest six who can assist them defeat the highest groups within the Jap Convention and make a deep playoff run.
5. The Protection Should Enhance
The protection struggled final season and was a shell of those from earlier seasons. They improved beneath Roy, however they have been nonetheless the Islanders’ weak hyperlink. Enchancment begins on the prime with Dobson and Romanov, however Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock have to be accessible for the complete season, whereas Scott Mayfield and Mike Reilly should spherical out the unit on the third pair.
6. Sorokin Rebounds & Varlamov Receives Regular Workload
If there’s one thing the Islanders have discovered in latest seasons, it’s that Ilya Sorokin is nice, and when he’s taking part in at a excessive stage, he is without doubt one of the finest within the NHL. In 2022-23, he willed the crew to the playoffs and completed as a Vezina Trophy finalist due to it. The opposite lesson is that whereas Sorokin is nice, he can’t do all of it himself, and overworking him will backfire.
It’s why the Islanders should use Semyon Varlamov for a good variety of begins. He proved final season that even within the twilight of his profession, he’s nonetheless able to being a dependable backup. The Islanders will lean on Sorokin, however Varlamov should begin a minimum of 30 video games to maintain each well-rested for the complete 82-game season.
7. Barzal & Horvat Proceed Sturdy Connection
The connection that led the offense final season should return this season. Barzal rounded out his sport final season to grow to be an All-Star caliber participant, and he can proceed to create scoring possibilities along with his pace and passing and in addition discover the again of the online along with his fast shot. Horvat, in the meantime, should stay an awesome shooter but in addition take his sport one step additional. He should create scoring possibilities from the top-line heart place. Collectively, they may give the Islanders a potent prime line and make the offense a troublesome one to cease.
8. Duclair Steps Up As a Scorer
Anthony Duclair was the crew’s large offseason signing. Lamoriello made a splash and signed the veteran winger to a four-year deal so as to add a spark to the offense. Duclair will seemingly play alongside Barzal and Horvat on the highest line, and he should rating to take the offense to the following stage. He’s bounced round in latest seasons however is a superb scorer who can have loads of open appears on the highest line to benefit from.
9. Roy Finds a Regular Position For Tsyplakov
The opposite large addition within the offseason was signing Maxim Tsyplakov from the KHL with the hopes that the younger ahead would deliver a brand new look to the offense. The query is the place he’ll play within the ahead unit. Proper now, all of the indicators level to him taking part in on the Nelson line, and his capability to supply a scoring presence on the wing might make the Islanders’ offense top-of-the-line within the league. Tsyplakov is the X-Issue upfront, and it’s why Roy should discover the fitting skaters to play with him this season.
10. Particular Groups Should Enhance
Whether or not it’s the facility play wanting hapless or the penalty kill permitting straightforward scoring possibilities for the opposition, the Islanders’ particular groups have been a weak point in latest campaigns. Final season, the penalty kill, particularly, was terrible, and it will possibly’t be if the crew has their eyes on the Stanley Cup. The ability play would enhance with Dobson taking over a extra energetic position from the purpose, whereas the penalty kill requires Roy to educate up the unit and discover the fitting skaters to step up and forestall opponents from simply discovering the again of the online.
11. Nelson Continues To Carry Second Line
Centering the second line, Nelson should step up as a scorer and a playmaker. He’s completed so in latest seasons with 30 targets or extra in every of the previous three seasons, and even at 33 years previous, he’s proven no indicators of slowing down. Nelson will head into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent (UFA), however the Islanders ought to attempt to maintain the face of their franchise in any respect prices.
A giant season from Nelson can have the Islanders within the playoff image. He not solely can continually discover the again of the online but in addition create scoring possibilities for the opposite skaters on his line. In contrast to Barzal and Horvat, Nelson has to hold the road with out a lot assist, and it makes him an integral a part of the crew’s success.
12. Islanders Adapt For The Playoffs
When the Islanders play a crew just like the Carolina Hurricanes, they have to be capable to pivot. When groups drive them to win low-scoring, sluggish video games or fast-paced ones, the Islanders should adapt. Likewise, when the opponents drive skaters to win in a number of methods, they have to achieve this. The Islanders have been eradicated within the First Spherical by the Hurricanes in 2023 and 2024 due to their incapability to pivot. Within the playoffs, skaters like Horvat should step up as a playmaker, and Barzal should take over video games as a shooter. It’s a tall job, however it’s what is going to make the crew a Cup contender.
Different Keys for Islanders to Win The Cup
The underside line is that the Islanders should overachieve. Some getting older veterans should flip again the clock, and the star gamers should appear like superstars able to taking up video games by themselves. Having outdoors assist may also profit the Islanders. Particularly, the Metropolitan Division isn’t a juggernaut in comparison with earlier seasons. Enjoying in a weaker division ought to permit the Islanders to pile up the wins and put collectively an awesome season.
The Islanders could make a splash, however including a two-way defenseman on the commerce deadline would additionally assist the trigger. They’ve struggled on the level within the playoffs, and having a defenseman who can elevate the offense might be pivotal whatever the matchup.
So much should go proper for any crew to win the Cup, and the Islanders want a handful of issues to go their means. Nonetheless, they’ve a path if every little thing falls into place.