Heading into final season, it might have been daring to foretell that Mathew Barzal would rating at a point-per-game tempo. But it surely occurred, with 23 targets and 57 assists in 80 video games. It was additionally daring, albeit not as a lot, to foretell Ilya Sorokin to win the Vezina Trophy, however that prediction aged poorly.
Associated: Islanders’ Offseason Strikes: Lamoriello Pivoted However Didn’t Change
The New York Islanders head into the season with principally the identical roster. That mentioned, loads of variables will decide how the season performs out. It leaves us with the chance to make a couple of daring predictions, beginning with a skater everybody expects to have an ideal marketing campaign, however the query is how nice will it’s?
Dobson Scores 20 Objectives
There are two attainable daring predictions for Noah Dobson. Both he wins the Norris Trophy, or he scores a ton of targets. The trophy is a stretch, however scoring 20 targets is inside purpose – even when his profession excessive is 13. Because the Islanders’ prime defenseman, he’s set as much as have a career-best season.
Dobson is a superb playmaker, however he should tackle a extra energetic taking pictures position in 2024-25. He will get loads of open appears to be like from the purpose however tends to search for the open skater close to the web fairly than firing the puck. This season, he should use the wrister that can make him a dynamic scorer.
After scoring 13 targets in 2021-22 and 2022-23, Dobson solely scored 10 final season (with a career-high 60 assists). He’s a restricted free agent (RFA) on the finish of the season and in search of a long-term cope with a excessive common annual worth (AAV) and he has the chance to guess massive on himself. He can proceed to be an ideal passer, however he should discover the again of the web extra usually to develop into a 20-goal scorer, and he’ll do it.
Islanders Permit Below 2.60 Objectives Per Sport
If the Islanders had allowed underneath 2.60 targets per sport final season, they might have been a top-five protection. Heading into this season, the Islanders can have the most effective defenses within the NHL, particularly with Patrick Roy behind the bench and the brand new system he’s carried out. The final time they allowed underneath 2.60 targets per sport for a full season was in 2020-21, so it’s been some time for the reason that blue line was dominant. But, all of the items are in place to achieve that mark this season.
The defensive unit should bounce again after a forgettable 2023-24. If it does, the Islanders will likely be a stronger group in their very own finish. Below Roy, they’ll restrict photographs and simple scoring probabilities from the opposition. Dobson, Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech, and Ryan Pulock have the expertise to stifle any offense, and underneath Roy’s system, their goalies ought to simply shut out video games.
Meaning, for the Islanders’ protection to achieve success, quite a bit will depend upon the Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov duo. Final season proved that Sorokin, whereas gifted, can’t be overworked and desires Varlamov to start out a major variety of video games to maintain each goaltenders recent. If Roy deploys the 2 appropriately, the Islanders could have the most effective defenses within the league, and so they common lower than 2.60 targets in opposition to per sport.
Patrick Roy Wins the Jack Adams Award
It’s exhausting to name this a daring prediction since it might probably simply occur if all of the items fall into place. Roy profitable the Jack Adams Award could be a testomony to how nicely he coached the Islanders but in addition to how the award is handed out. The award isn’t given to the most effective coach per se as a lot because it’s awarded to a coach that takes a group that isn’t anticipated to do nicely and overachieves. The Islanders are projected to be a superb not nice group and if they’re nice, that’s the place Roy comes into play.
He was employed in the course of final season and was requested to shortly flip the group round (which he did). Now, Roy has a full offseason and coaching camp with the Islanders. They will purchase into his type and kick off the bottom working to develop into one of many prime groups within the Japanese Convention. If that occurs, Roy will likely be on the shortlist for the award.
The query is what Roy brings to the desk that can make him a favourite to win the Jack Adams? How will he improve the Islanders to a degree the place it will likely be his award for the taking? He could have the group taking part in balanced and structured hockey with disciplined play in all three zones. The Islanders may not blow out loads of opponents all through the season however they’ll appear like an ideal group throughout the board and the credit score will likely be given to Roy.
Horvat Leads The Islanders in Objectives & Scores 40+
Bo Horvat was near main the group with 33 targets final season, whereas Brock Nelson led the group with 34. So, this prediction isn’t too daring. Nevertheless, I predict Horvat, who has by no means scored 40 in a season, will eclipse that mark and lead the group in targets.
Horvat had a giant bounce-back marketing campaign in 2023-24. He discovered open appears to be like and took benefit, usually by discovering taking pictures lanes in the course of the offensive zone. He’ll be on the highest line once more and have loads of alternatives to search out the again of the web. Horvat has an ideal shot and is especially robust scoring off of fast passes. A 40-goal season is inside attain for an elite scorer in his prime.
Barzal & Duclair Mix For 50 Objectives
Anthony Duclair was acquired this offseason to spherical out the highest line. He’s bounced round, however at 28 years previous, he’s poised for a giant season and proved he may be each an ideal playmaker and finisher. With Barzal on the opposite wing, this duo could have a particular season collectively.
Fifty targets from the 2 isn’t loopy. Barzal is a stable passer however proved final season that he generally is a nice scorer as nicely, scoring 23 targets with a extra aggressive strategy within the offensive zone. Barzal can rating 25 or 30 by himself. The one query is that if Duclair can make the most of the open appears to be like on the wing that will likely be offered to him. If he does, the duo will rating 50 targets and lead the most effective offenses within the NHL.
Different Daring Islanders Predictions
At this level, the Islanders are used to a quiet commerce deadline. It’s why Common Supervisor (GM) Lou Lamoriello making a splash could be a shock. It’s unlikely he’ll purchase Mitch Marner or Mikko Rantanen, however Nikolaj Ehlers or defenseman Jakob Chychrun are each affordable targets.
The Islanders even have the gamers in place to have a top-10 offense and a top-10 protection. Final season, they ranked within the backside half in each classes, but when Roy balances out the group and the depth steps up, each items will stand out.
The opposite daring prediction is the one followers have been hoping for since 1983. That’s to see the Islanders win the Stanley Cup title. It’s been 4 many years since their final championship, and far of the fanbase doesn’t keep in mind the dynasty years. It’s a protracted shot, however the hope is that this group can convey the Cup again to Lengthy Island in 2024-25.
