With the season only days away, Elite Sports NY brings to you the official New York Islanders 2016-17 season preview and predictions.
The New York Islanders are coming off of the organization’s most important offseason in nearly two decades.For the first time in 23 years, the franchise made the jump and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
The question remains: After three key departures and three signings to replace them, are the Islanders ready to make that jump from a regular playoff team to a Stanley Cup Contender?
With the season starting this Thursday against the New York Rangers at MSG, there’s reason to have hope in Brooklyn and on Long Island.
Join us as we preview the 2016-17 New York Islanders season:
Additions & Subtractions
Ladd vs. Okposo
The first and most notable signing was that of free agent Andrew Ladd. Ladd was brought in from the get-go to replace the departing Kyle Okposo, whom management decided to not re-sign in 2015.
Despite Okposo tallying more points than Ladd, the veteran winger has a plethora of experience, including two Stanley Cups, that Okposo cannot match. Ladd’s point totals are also expected to rise now that he is playing on John Tavares’ wing. During most of the preseason, Ladd has been wearing an “A” and it’s expected he will start the year with the patch.
This has to be expected as an overall slight upgrade. At the very worst it’s an identical player with far more experience.
Chimera vs. Martin
Jason Chimera enters as much older Matt Martin but one who is much faster, much more defensively liable, and with significantly softer hands, having scored 20 goals and 40 points last season (Martin set a career high in points last season with 19) all while retaining about three-quarters of Martin’s grit.
Whereas the Ladd to Okposo comparison can be an arguable toss up, Chimera will be a significant and notable upgrade over Martin. It should be noted that during the preseason Chimera has skated on the fourth, third and even first lines as Capuano is experimenting with his skill set. He is a very underappreciated versatile forward who will kill penalties and agitate his opponents all while potting a respectable number of goals.
Nielsen’s Hole
One big question facing the Islanders this season will surround replacing Frans Nielsen.
The center was the longest tenured Islander on the team (10 years), a locker room leader (the second of the two “A”s), a shootout specialist (top five percentage in the league), integral part of the league’s 4th best PK, as the list can go on and on. Frans Nielsen’s presence on the Islanders was invaluable to the team and replacing him will be by far the organization’s toughest task. Garth Snow has made it clear he expects a rookie to step forward and fill the slot the veteran center.
During the first few weeks of camp, Barzal was the popular candidate to graduate from training camp, and during the preseason it appears that Beauvillier is a more favored candidate. Not to say Barzal has fallen out of favor, both forwards are locked into the Islanders opening night roster. It’s only to say it appears Beauvillier is progressing faster than his draft partner.
Additionally, the Islanders current roster already boasts several natural centers that have been shifting around the wings such as Brock Nelson, Ryan Strome, Josh Bailey and Mikhail Grabovski. It is expected that Nelson will take the reigns of the second line while Strome centers the third, should Barzal not make the team.
This adjustment will do both players well. It will help Nelson establish some level of consistency playing in his natural position and it will help Ryan Strome overcome last season’s sophomore slump.
Defense
The Islanders added a late piece to the defense, signing Dennis Seidenberg prior to the World Cup of Hockey final. Seidenberg is expected to be a depth signing similar to what Zidlicky was and Visnovsky before him.
However, as noted in a previous article, Seidenberg is going to be far more versatile than his predecessors. At age 35 he can still be a reliable defender should an injury occur or should a defender fall out of favor.
With both Barzal and Beauvillier making the team’s opening night roster, we will not see either Ryan Pulock or Adam Pelech. This is most definitely a temporary move to allow Barzal and Beauvillier to play their nine games in the NHL before going back to their respective junior clubs.
Whether they will stay will most likely depend on the impression they make while they’re with the club. It is expected that Beauvillier will stick around at this point and Barzal will go back down so that Pulock can come back and stay with the club. Time will tell, but that is the most likely scenario at this point.
The Goalie Situation
The stickiest situation on the team has been rotating a three-man goaltending tandem. After getting injured and only playing 36 games for the Islanders a season ago, starter Jaroslav Halak has expressed his displeasure with the Isles goalie situation.
Honestly, who can blame him?
He was the odd man out in St. Louis for the exact same reason. Therefore, this is understandable. Despite losing most of his season to injury, Halak still put up better numbers last season than the season before (.914% vs .919%, 2.30 vs. 2.43). A fully healed and rested Halak can surpass last year’s totals if he stays healthy, and he proved that in the World Cup of Hockey this past fall. Halak is coming into the season having earned his starting position back with the team.
Thomas Greiss is coming off a career year for New York boasting high’s in save percentage (.925), games played (41), and wins (23), including a .923 save percentage and 2.46 GAA in 11 playoff games for the Isles. This would be an incredible tandem heading into next season and I don’t think there would be any complaints.
But then comes J.F. Berube.
Berube was acquired off of waivers before the beginning of the season opener in Brooklyn due to an injury to Halak. After the organization gauged his ability, they did not want to release the prospect who put up respectable numbers in five games started (3 wins and a .914%). After signing the young goalie to a 1 year, 1-way deal, it was suspected that management will attempt to move one of it’s two potential starters. After Halak’s resurgence, it is expected that either Berube or Greiss will be traded.
With that being said, it is up to some key factors if they Islanders want to take the next step in their journey towards Lord Stanley’s silver.
Overcoming The Sophomore Slumps
One of the largest factors that hit the Islanders the hardest last season was the regression of forwards Anders Lee, Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson.
Yes, I include Brock Nelson here because despite scoring 26 goals last season, he is weak on his feet, gets pushed around too often, and has failed to make any significant improvements from last season. He was streaky again, this time just putting a few more goals while he was on a streaky offensive tear.
Ryan Strome needs to forget completely about what happened last season. He needs to find the fire to build off of what he had in his first season as an NHL player. Strome has had a notable fire lit under him in the preseason, scrapping with a lot of players and displaying the chip on his shoulder in full. This will only motivate him more for this coming season and it is expected the young forward will rebound this season whether he’s centering the third line or moving to the right side of the ice.
Anders Lee actually showed a lot of promise, rebounding nicely after the NHL All-Star game during the second half of the season. Had it not been for an abysmal first half of the season, he probably would have gotten much closer to last year’s totals. His issue is identical to Nelson’s and it’s consistency. However Lee plays the body and parks himself in front of the net, a skill set that is invaluable to any line he plays on, especially the powerplay.
His issue is identical to Nelson’s, and it’s consistency. However, Lee plays the body and parks himself in front of the net, a skill set that is invaluable to any line he plays on, especially the powerplay.
Keys To The Season
Finding Consistency For Tavares
Since arriving on Long Island, John Tavares has had a revolving door of different wingers. From PA Parenteau, to Matt Moulson and Kyle Okposo, there has been little to no consistency on either of Tavares’ sides.
The Islanders are hoping that, with Andrew Ladd locked in for the rest of his career, they can find partners suitable of playing alongside him. With an answer to that problem on the left side, it is up to management to find a solution for the right. Whether that’s through trade or free agency, I’d expect to find a more permanent solution to Tavares’ right side this season.
Halak Maintaining Himself
Starter Jaroslav Halak lost his starting goaltending position after being injured most of last season. Since resurging in the World Cup of Hockey, fans are ready to see the elite level goaltender they signed in the 2014 offseason. Halak’s career has been mired by injury and inconsistency, when he’s healthy he’s great and when he’s not he isn’t.
Halak needs to use the momentum from the World Cup of Hockey and put this past behind him. Now that he’s fully healed, he needs to be ready to go and be in it for the long haul. If Halak can cement himself as the starter and Greiss can maintain the career stats he set last season, this team has a goaltending tandem that is established and ready for the long haul.
These factors are very plausible and if everything falls in line the Islanders will have themselves a fantastic year. The lineup is getting more and more consistent with each passing year and this could be a big year where all the pieces start to gel.
Predictions
Metropolitan Predictions:
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Islanders
- Washington Capitals
- New York Rangers
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New Jersey Devils
- Columbus Blue Jackets
Opening Night Lineup Predictions:
Ladd – Tavares – Barzal
Lee – Nelson – Bailey
Chimera – Beauvillier– Strome
Kulemin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck
Leddy – Hamonic
Hickey – Boychuk
deHaan – Seidenberg
Halak
Greiss
Berube