It’s unlikely that the New York Islanders will win the Stanley Cup this season. They’re a middling staff, and their odds replicate that – at +4000 or +5000, in accordance with most oddsmakers, they’re in the identical group because the Detroit Crimson Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Nevertheless, if just a few issues go their method this season, they might win all of it towards the percentages.

1. Islanders Purchase Into Roy’s System

Head coach Patrick Roy may have his staff 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 staff, and with a full offseason to arrange, this group ought to hit the bottom operating. The veteran-heavy group purchased into his fashion final season, and the hope is that they may 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 less than 41 objectives 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 photographs 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 objectives and 134 assists up to now three seasons whereas rounding out his recreation within the defensive zone. Romanov, in the meantime, can take over video games as a stay-at-home defenseman who creates turnovers, blocks photographs, and delivers huge hits.

The 2 will type the highest pair, or if Roy chooses to separate them up, they may take a lot of the ice time amongst defensemen. With their nice play, the protection will enhance and appear like among the best within the league. It should additionally assist each skaters discipline huge contracts within the 2025 offseason once they develop into restricted free brokers (RFAs).

4. Lamoriello Should Add Elite Expertise

If the Islanders are within the playoff image and taking part in nicely midway by the season, they have to make a splash. It’s one thing that basic supervisor (GM) Lou Lamoriello tends to keep away from. That mentioned, he should get his staff over the hump by including an elite ahead to the highest six who may also help 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 below Roy, however they have been nonetheless the Islanders’ weak hyperlink. Enchancment begins on the high with Dobson and Romanov, however Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock should be obtainable 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 realized in latest seasons, it’s that Ilya Sorokin is nice, and when he’s taking part in at a excessive degree, he is without doubt one of the greatest within the NHL. In 2022-23, he willed the staff 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 at the very least 30 video games to maintain each well-rested for the complete 82-game season.

7. Barzal & Horvat Proceed Robust Connection

The connection that led the offense final season should return this season. Barzal rounded out his recreation final season to develop into an All-Star caliber participant, and he can proceed to create scoring possibilities along with his velocity and passing and likewise discover the again of the online along with his fast shot. Horvat, in the meantime, should stay an awesome shooter but additionally take his recreation one step additional. He should create scoring possibilities from the top-line middle place. Collectively, they can provide the Islanders a potent high line and make the offense a troublesome one to cease.

8. Duclair Steps Up As a Scorer

Anthony Duclair was the staff’s huge 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 probably play alongside Barzal and Horvat on the highest line, and he should rating to take the offense to the subsequent degree. He’s bounced round in latest seasons however is a superb scorer who may have loads of open seems on the highest line to make the most of.

9. Roy Finds a Regular Position For Tsyplakov

The opposite huge addition within the offseason was signing Maxim Tsyplakov from the KHL with the hopes that the younger ahead would convey 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 means to offer a scoring presence on the wing may make the Islanders’ offense among the best 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 ability play trying hapless or the penalty kill permitting simple 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 could possibly’t be if the staff has their eyes on the Stanley Cup. The facility play would enhance with Dobson taking up a extra energetic position from the purpose, whereas the penalty kill requires Roy to teach 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 carried out so in latest seasons with 30 objectives 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 may have the Islanders within the playoff image. He not solely can consistently discover the again of the online but additionally 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 staff’s success.

12. Islanders Adapt For The Playoffs

When the Islanders play a staff just like the Carolina Hurricanes, they have to be capable to pivot. When groups power them to win low-scoring, gradual video games or fast-paced ones, the Islanders should adapt. Likewise, when the opponents power skaters to win in a number of methods, they have to accomplish that. The Islanders have been eradicated within the First Spherical by the Hurricanes in 2023 and 2024 due to their lack of ability 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, but it surely’s what’s going to make the staff a Cup contender.

Different Keys for Islanders to Win The Cup

The underside line is that the Islanders should overachieve. Some ageing veterans should flip again the clock, and the star gamers should appear like superstars able to taking on 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.

Quite a bit should go proper for any staff to win the Cup, and the Islanders want a handful of issues to go their method. Nevertheless, they’ve a path if the whole lot falls into place.