Welcome to the fourth version of the New York Islanders Inventory Market, a sequence devoted to analyzing the latest efficiency of all issues associated to the Islanders, together with gamers, coaches, administration, prospects, and extra. Whereas a single recreation can drastically influence a participant’s outlook, this sequence will depend on extra significant pattern sizes to type well-rounded evaluations.
The Islanders have gone 3-4-2 over their previous 9 video games, as soon as once more providing followers a combined bag of hope, defeat, and uncertainty. On this span, the group has hung out on the backside of the Metropolitan Division, a recreation out of a playoff spot, and in all places in between. With blown leads and a four-goal interval, there’s been loads of motion — so whose inventory has risen or fallen probably the most?
Up – Anders Lee
Over his final 9 video games, Islanders captain Anders Lee has tallied six targets and 11 factors, main the group in each classes. This stretch features a three-point outing in opposition to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 29, which sparked a three-game objective streak. Constructing on his robust early-season efficiency, Lee has been one of many Islanders’ most constant skaters at each ends of the ice.
After a disappointing 20-goal season final yr, Lee has rebounded to reestablish himself as one of many NHL’s premier objective scorers. In line with MoneyPuck, he ranks seventh within the league in anticipated targets per 60 minutes, forward of prolific scorers like Sam Reinhart, Leon Draisaitl, Brayden Level, and Cole Caufield. Whereas analytics don’t inform the entire story, these metrics counsel that Lee’s manufacturing is each spectacular and sustainable.
Down – Particular Groups
Regardless of changing on each energy play alternatives in opposition to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 8, the Islanders’ particular groups have been abysmal total. Their struggles had been on full show within the Dec. 10 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, the place they failed to determine offensive zone possession throughout three energy play alternatives and got here away empty-handed. Since Nov. 25, the items have simply three whole targets on 28 alternatives, good for a ten.7% success price. The Islanders presently sit lifeless final within the NHL for energy play success, with a league-worst 11 targets on the season and simply 5.47 anticipated targets per 60 minutes, rating seventh worst within the league.
Associated: New York Islanders’ 6 Commerce Targets From the Pittsburgh Penguins
As poor as their energy play has been, the penalty kill has been even worse. The Islanders personal a league-worst 65.62% success price and permit 8.63 anticipated targets in opposition to per 60 minutes, the fourth-worst mark within the NHL. Whereas their goaltending on the penalty kill has been underwhelming, the defensive scheme itself has didn’t ship. If the Islanders hope to contend for a playoff spot, they have to elevate each particular groups items to at the least league-average efficiency.
Up – Noah Dobson
After a gradual begin to the season, Noah Dobson has discovered his stride, recording a objective and 5 factors in his final 5 video games and tallying seven factors in his final 9. Logging over 22:30 of ice time per recreation on the highest defensive pairing, Dobson has additionally performed a key position in serving to ease rookie Isaiah George into the lineup. Whereas there’s nonetheless room for enchancment in his defensive recreation, Dobson’s latest surge has earned him renewed reward from Islanders followers.
Down – Bednarik, Schulz
Crew USA’s camp roster for the 2025 World Junior Championship (WJC) was introduced, and the Islanders noticed two of their prospects get the nod. Cole Eiserman, the group’s first-round decide from the 2024 NHL Draft, will look to take part in his first profession WJC, whereas Danny Nelson, a 2023 second-round decide, will return following his robust efficiency that helped the USA win the match in 2024. Regardless of this, two American Islanders prospects, Kamil Bednarik and Zachary Schulz, weren’t invited.
Bednarik was extra of a shock than Schulz. The 18-year-old is a teammate of Eiserman at Boston College and is as much as 9 factors (one objective and eight assists) in 15 video games with the Terriers. He is a good two-way heart, main the varsity’s penalty-killing items, and could be very bodily. He was not at all a shoo-in to make the roster, however to not even earn an invitation to the camp was a little bit of a shock.
Schulz was at all times an extended shot, however the USA lacked defensive depth outdoors their prime 4, so Schulz was a candidate to earn a depth spot. Nevertheless, he didn’t, and the 19-year-old, defensive defenseman will now look to construct on his latest success with the College of Wisconsin Badgers through the use of his absence as motivation.
