The New York Islanders have a core to construct round. It’s Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and Brock Nelson main the forwards whereas Noah Dobson is the anchor on protection (Ilya Sorokin could be thrown in because the goaltender). They’re the 5 gamers who will carry the Islanders all through the season and shall be requested to raise the roster when instances are tough.

Associated: Sorokin’s Harm a Reminder That Islanders Want Sturdy Goalie Duo

There are two issues with this core. The primary is that it’s good however not nice. These 4 skaters can get the Islanders to the playoffs however not a lot additional and if the aim is to win the Stanley Cup, that’s a big-picture subject. The opposite drawback is that these gamers lack the required qualities to steer a group to a championship.

Barzal & Nelson Gained’t Forecheck

The nice groups have star skaters who can rating and create offense whereas additionally stepping up and successful video games on the defensive finish and with the forecheck. The Florida Panthers are a fantastic living proof. That they had Aleksander Barkov, who received the Selke Trophy, as their top-line heart whereas Matthew Tkachuk added a defensive and hard-hitting presence on the wing, permitting the group to impose its will on the best way to a Cup.

The Islanders as a group can defend and the core isn’t any exception. The query is that if they’ll forecheck and ship arduous hits. The reply isn’t any, no less than not based mostly on how Barzal, Horvat, and Nelson play. Horvat is the perfect defensive ahead on the Islanders, main the group with 1.7 defensive level shares final season however he creates turnovers by patrolling the middle of the ice and eliminating passing lanes, not by forechecking.

Versatility Isn’t There

The underlying subject with the Islanders as a complete is that they lack versatility. Anders Lee is a finisher who can generate scoring possibilities. Kyle Palmieri is a shooter on the wing however not a playmaker. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a passer however not a scorer. When groups drive the Islanders to adapt, particularly on the offensive finish of the ice, they will’t do it. It’s been on full show within the playoffs in every of the previous two seasons because the Carolina Hurricanes defeated them within the first spherical in six video games in 2023 after which in 5 video games within the first spherical in 2024.

Barzal proved final season he can pivot. He began capturing the puck extra and it made him an All-Star-caliber participant. Nelson has additionally displayed his versatility as he usually units up his linemates for scoring possibilities. That mentioned, each Barzal and Nelson, together with the remainder of the core, naturally lean in direction of one skillset and it makes them predictable come playoff time.

Barzal is a passer first, then a scorer. Nelson and Horvat are shooters first, and passers second. Dobson appears to be like to search out the open skater from the purpose earlier than firing the puck to the online. It’s why the Islanders’ prime defenseman had 60 assists however solely 10 objectives when he has a shot that may make him a 15-goal scorer. The Islanders have star gamers which might be simple to restrict within the playoffs and it’s why this group retains hitting a roadblock within the first spherical.

Can the Core Sluggish Video games Down?

It’s unclear if the Islanders’ star gamers can sluggish video games down and win with out counting on pace. The remainder of the roster has no drawback taking part in a slower sport however the 4 skaters usually depend on pace and area to take over video games. Barzal is the prime instance as he tries to gash opponents on the frenzy and when the group has the puck within the offensive zone, he’s looking for open ice to make an enormous play.

The celebrities should thrive when they’re pressured to create offense throughout the offensive zone they usually’ve struggled to take action in current seasons. It’s one of many the explanation why the facility play has struggled because the group has to generate offense with much less area and tighter areas. The core has the expertise to win with possession and by slowing the sport down, the query is that if they will achieve this this season and within the playoffs.

The place the Islanders’ Core Can Carry Them

The intense spot is that the Islanders can rating and generate offense from their core gamers. Satirically, it’s the place a lot of the offense comes from. Moreover, Dobson is a two-way participant who could make a distinction in a playoff sequence. Cup-caliber groups have a defenseman who can open up the offense, whether or not it’s Cale Makar for the Colorado Avalanche or Victor Hedman for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dobson is taking part in at that stage to be that defenseman for the Islanders.

The opposite bonus is that whereas the roster is older, the core is in its prime. Nelson is the oldest as he’ll be 33 years outdated when the season begins. In any other case, Horvat is 29, Barzal is 27, and Dobson is 24 (plus Sorokin is 29 which in goaltending years means his greatest hockey continues to be forward of him). This provides the Islanders a bunch to construct round for years to return.

Sorokin can be the large distinction within the web. If he’s wholesome, he can lead the Islanders on a deep playoff run. He struggled final season however the expectation is that he’ll return to the elite type from the earlier seasons when he regarded like a Vezina Trophy-caliber goaltender.

The Islanders have a very good however not nice core. It’s going to get them to the playoffs however until the gamers change or there’s an enormous transfer in some unspecified time in the future this season, count on them to stay solely a playoff group and never a contender for the Stanley Cup.