New York Islanders: Three reasons why the Isles can make the playoffs this year
More complete team
The New York Islanders might have missed the playoffs last season by what ended up being a large margin. However, that does not mean that the Isles were terrible all year.
In fact, the Isles spent a good portion of the season as one of the better teams in the East. It took a few months for everything to catch up to them.
But, this team is still similar to the one that Doug Weight put on the ice last year. Minus the former captain, the Isles will see some similar faces, but with a new twist.
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The Isles will play a different style of hockey, it might even end up being more balanced.
Mathew Barzal will have a different role on the team as the team’s leading point scorer last year and due to being passed the torch.
Anders Lee might have a slight fall off but will still be able to clean up a lot of pucks and put them in the back of the net.
New additions like Matt Martin, Leo Komarov, and Robin Lehner will all help change things up.Those moves already seem significant but will give the team a slightly new identity based on the way they play.
Granted, the front office and coaching staff will be coming off massive changes that impacts the style of hockey more than anything, but the Isles still have potential talent there.
The Isles rolled out of the gates last year with a similar team. It was no fluke. They were scoring goals at a wicked pace.
Now, the team will be more balanced under Barry Trotz who we will get to next.
More consist hockey throughout, with this roster, minus the defensive liabilities that haunted them last year (*cough cough 91*), the Isles have a better chance at taking this roster to the playoffs now.