The route to a profitable retool for the Islanders feels much more clear than it did a yr in the past. The downside is that if there’s going to be a tough patch alongside the means, this season might be it.
That doesn’t imply the Islanders are tanking — far from it. But in setting themselves up to have a mixture of cap area and NHL-ready prospects next summer time, the Islanders made few enhancements to a roster that missed the playoffs last season, and that overperformed in getting as shut to the minimize line as it did.
As lengthy as Ilya Sorokin and Matthew Schaefer are half of the image, you can squint and see a path to competitiveness. A full season of Pete DeBoer behind the bench is another purpose to believe. Training camp and the preseason, though, didn’t paint an inspiring image.
Offense
It’s been a very long time since the Islanders went into a season with a roster that had a lot of offensive firepower, and it’s going to be at least another yr longer.
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