Islanders Good Enough to Make Playoffs, But Fall in First Round Again 

As long as Sorokin (28) and Varlamov (36) are there, the Islanders can’t retool and have to keep going for it. Kind of like when the Devils had Brodeur in the 2006-2014 era.

They're in a similar spot to where the sharks were back in 2020...lot of long term, expensive contracts, shallow prospect pool. Patrick Roy's a good coach so at least there's that going for them

I really want Carolina to pick up Sebastian Aho as a UFA, just to see how they'll differentiate their jerseys.

The Isles are gonna be stuck in mediocrity for a few years, they are good enough to squeeze into the play offs but not to win a round.

Burns: _"Mattingly! I thought I told u to shave those sideburns! Ur fired! Ur off the team!!"_ Mattingly (walking away): _"Still like him better than Steinbrenner."_ 🤣🤣🤣

Always the 4th Bridesmaid from the left, but never closer than two steps from the Bride. Not since bread was sold unsliced, etc.

Didn’t they make it to the final four both those years? I’m getting confused with the semifinal/conference final point

if i rooted for a second team this would be it.because of the rivalry that might ensue

It doesn't look like they would have to do too much as alot of the players have contracts for next year really. If they wanted they could trade palmeri this year he's coming off a good year should get a fair return.

They should flip Brock Nelson and retooling, this core screams 2nd round ceiling.

Interesting that you put up the video today when...Lou went back to an oldie from his worn out bag of tricks. Maxim Tsyplakov was signed today, with a 1m signing bonus no less, as Lou searches the KHL for the next Ilya Kovalchuk, "he's out there...somewhere, I believe". God help the Islanders!😊

They were pretty good

There´s an error on the board....well at least we know Bettman hasn´t replaced Shannon with an imposter yet. 😂

Something interesting I think is worth looking at is in the Barry trotz got fired in 2021-22, and while the isles made it to the playoffs both seasons afterwards, they haven’t done anything in them. Meanwhile, trotz was the coach for those first three years on the board and Nashville was an empty netter post away from moving on to the second round this year

The window is long closed unfortunately. 2021 was the year when Pelech was an elite defensive D man and Lee and Pageau were reasonable offensive contributors. Now, a somewhat decent core of Barzal, Horvat, Nelson, Dobson, and Sorokin is slowly watching the team decay around them with no easy way out. Lou would have to be highly aggressive to avoid the iceburg at this point and I don't think he has the mentality to look at potential moves like a Lee buyout or Nelson trade to retool on the fly.

Holmstrom will eat up a lot of that cap space, cant see Buttercup and Martin fitting in under the cap

They need to retool. I would start with the defense.

THG can fix errors: "After review . . . "

Lou doubters never think about the fact that he has a boss. Everywhere he goes, he does exactly what his boss wants him to do. He gets it done.

The Islanders have $44.3 million in contracts for the 2028-29 season, which seems quite high. There can't be many other teams with as much money committed 5 years from now. Is there a way on CapFriendly to tabulate this?

mayfield broke his foot game 1, and played through it when pelech and pulock were out. 3.5 isnt an overpay, hes bouncing back next season

Lou went out and stole Horvat from the Canucks. You have to wonder how bad a coach Lambert was. People forget Varlamov was out what 5-6 weeks with Sorokin playing every gams (another negative). it was Lambert that shelved Bailey and Ross Johnston, I think those 2 where bigger part of the team then people realized. You have to wonder how much of an influence Lambert had on the roster. The off season isn't in full swing and the Isles have added a young forward and another goalie. Noah Dobson has great stats but the guy is a defensive liability and not physical enough to me that's the guy you use to add a young BIG PHYSICAL sniper on the LW on the top line.

I bet Bo horvat is sad that he left Vancouver to go to the Islanders now

I think you're talking about the wrong team on this video, Shannon. Lou, older roater, John.Tavares, first round exits... You're talking about the Leafs, right? 😅

The Islanders are a frustrating team and with the people who are in the hot seat aren’t going to do anything. It’s going to be a quite summer.

Old slow and mediocre, need top talent with goal scoring, and they have to lose some of these terrible contracts

Sorokin has been a wall for years he was due at least one bad year every goalie has one. So I think he'll bounce back next season? He's a winner and winners don't settle for GOOD ENOUGH! SOROKIN IS KENOUGH

This team needs new management. Lou has locked this team into mediocrity, with practically no cap space (they need to save money for Dobson), no prospects, and several bad long term contracts, adding up to an aging core and no superstars that have the ability to carry the team or play an up-tempo style that Patrick Roy wants them to play. A retool will not be enough. They need to tear this team down over the next 3 seasons, see exactly were Barzal and Horvat are then, and revaluate. Lou must not be allowed to trade anymore draft picks.

The only reason the tortoise won the race was because the hare threw the race by slacking

When this team clicks it’s beautiful hockey. No one is selfish and thats their biggest strength. But also their weakness. I think Lane Lambert burnt sorokin out and overplayed him. I want martin, clutter, pageau, bertuzzo, aho, engvall and mayfield all fucking gone. We have some decent youth that I believe can thrive under Roy. Maclean was a beast this season.

Like most of the older teams hanging around the playoff line, the question is what's the plan for getting a lot better?

Fans will be bamboozled again, as usual, overvaluing the talent level and the team will finish mid-pack again...squeak into the playoffs and get bounced in the first round. Sadly, the game has passed Lou by....

As an NYR i hate em & their fans the most BUT you’d be an idiot not to admit that in 2020 & or ‘21 they would of won the cup if they got past TB. Losing Trotz was the reason they declined. Theyre too old & slow. This isnt 2016ish when that 4th line was scary & effective all around. Lou gotta go, Roy is the right coach for em. But ppl gotta realize if it wasnt for the 2-0-1pts they’d be far out of playoffs.

I bet the Isles go after Necas

Islanders should have parted ways with Lou after season. This team will be on decline as long as he is GM.

How are Islanders that much up against the cap? It seem in the playoffs lately they are toothless against whoever they are going against. 🧡💛🧡

The only thing the NYI needs to do is to get younger, give the younger guys a chance and have them develop. They'll be stuck in the mid forever if they keep prioritizing the identity line or vets over developing their younger players.

Most of the islanders BIGGEST issues lay on a poor PK and a terrible defense ravaged by injury. I think they’ll fix their bottom 6 (they just signed Tsyplakov to be organizational depth), and they do seem inclined to moving on from players like Pageau or Pelech possibly. They’re not in a bad spot, they just have no way of beating Carolina now

I do not why some people thought the Islanders would be a tough out in the playoffs. Teams with 71.5 % PK usually do not make the playoffs. Never mind being a tough out. And that 'tough out' thing was stated by more than one person. I wanted to sell at deadline. But Lou believes in this group. I liked Lou at first, but he is being very stubborn about admitting that this team needs a retool. They should do it now so that the Barzal, Horvat, Dobson and a couple of others will still be good players when the new young players make an impact. I would try to get something for Nelson or Palmieri. Maybe try to unload Pageau. Unfortunately, I do not see Lou changing his mind. And Ownership listens to him. PS - Getting that Russian player will help but they will still struggle to make playoffs.

I feel a little bad for the Isles because as long as Lou is their GM, nothing will get done. He's the definition of someone who sits in an office and gets paid to do nothing. Bad GM = team that can't reach its potential

Love my middle of the pack Islanders

Pelech needs to go

The Bo Horvat effect.

another team that pulled off daylight robbery by making the playoffs. they robbed the penguins of a playoff spot

they could make some moves if they deal sorokin or varlomov. goalies are quite valuable right now

Why does lou sign players to long contracts? Tavares. I believe thats the reason

Marner at 50% retained, Robertson, the rights to Samsonov, and two 5ths for Dobson and Varlamov. The isles would gain cap space while adding a 99pt player who was on pace for 102pts this year if not for his high ankle sprain limiting him to 85pts in just 69 games.

Remember when Isles fans said Sorokin was better than Shesterkin? Pepperidge farm remembers

Lou did what he was brought in to do, and that was give the organization creditability and respect in the NHL. Since the 2019 loss to Carolina both he and Barry Trotz said they need a scorer, yes Lou has tried to get one but never got one, he only has a plan A, and never a plan B,C or D. He keeps running the same team back year after year, and never adapts to the modern style of the NHL which is youth and speed. Time for Lou to go and get a young GM in.

Hopefully my Leafs will ship Marner to NYI for Dobson straight up! lol.

That Horvat contract will be one of the worst contracts in the league in 3 years

on their way down now. Horvat sucks