In the third year of the Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz regime, the Islanders are a team on everybody’s radar. After proving to be one of the toughest squads to play against during their longest playoff run since 1993 last season, in which they came two wins away from the Stanley Cup finals, the Islanders have their sights set on going the distance this year.
With nearly the same group as last season, Trotz has been able to further implement his systems that are known to wear down opponents. He knows who he’s working with, despite the loss of Devon Toews in a trade with Colorado and Johnny Boychuk to a career-ending eye injury. Trotz said he’ll have flashes of losing to the Lightning in Game 6 on his deathbed, and lord help any team that tries to get in the way of his redemption campaign.
Goaltending prodigy Ilya Sorokin is finally on the scene. Dynamic center Jean-Gabriel Pageau will get his first full season with the team. Noah Dobson is primed for a breakout season. Members of the “Identity Line” are signed, healthy and ready. But just how far will they be able to go?
Offense
The Islanders are returning their top seven scorers, including team leader Mathew Barzal, who signed a three-year deal over the weekend. Brock Nelson has emerged as one of the team’s most consistent scorers after a 50-plus-point season last year, and he continues to flourish under Trotz. It’ll be key for Anthony Beauvillier to remain consistent after a handful of streaky seasons, but after an impressive playoff performance he seems poised to take that next step.
The typical first line of Barzal, captain Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle will need to continue to assume a bulk of the team’s offensive production. There has been a major drop-off in scoring from the second line of Beauvillier, Nelson and Josh Bailey; Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been tasked with anchoring the third line and closing that gap. It’s looking as if 22-year-old Kieffer Bellows could earn a spot on the wing next to Pageau, and if he can contribute, the Isles will be in a good spot offensively.
Defense
Without Toews and Boychuk, it’s time for Noah Dobson to take on a bigger role and solidify himself as part of the defensive core. Everything Trotz did with the 21-year-old defenseman last season was to prepare him for this one. Partnered with veteran Andy Greene, the Islanders could have a dynamic pairing on their hands.
The Islanders defense fell apart last season without Adam Pelech, but he says he is 100 percent healthy and ready to start the season alongside Ryan Pulock. The two have been the team’s top defensive pairing for a few seasons and will need to continue to anchor the back end.
Goaltending
Trotz may have named Semyon Varlamov the opening night starter, but Sorokin wasn’t handed a $2 million extension to start in the AHL or spend ample time on the bench. The Islanders have been waiting for Sorokin to be NHL ready for years, and now that he’s here, the 25-year-old Russian will certainly get his fair share of looks in net. Varlamov emerged as the team’s No. 1 goalie in the playoffs after splitting regular-season time with Thomas Greiss, who signed with the Red Wings in free agency. The veteran netminder has earned his time in net, but Sorokin will just be getting comfortable in the NHL.
Coaching
Trotz has made it clear the Islanders are looking to build on what they accomplished last season. And the third-year Isles coach is working with the same talent he led to the conference finals last season. With shiny new additions like Sorokin in nets and a full season to work with Pageau, Trotz is in a good position to “climb the top of the mountain,” as he likes to say, with this team.
Most important offensive player
Jean-Gabriel Pageau. After immediately signing a massive six-year extension upon his arrival on Long Island, Pageau played in just six regular-season games and chipped in two goals before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season. Now with a full season in front of him, he’ll have to play to his contract.
Most important defensive player
Noah Dobson. There is pressure on Dobson to fill the offensive void left by Devon Toews. With 34 games of NHL experience in a minor role on the team last season, in which he also squeaked in one playoff game, Dobson has a much larger workload ahead of him.
Top Rookie
Ilya Sorokin. It won’t be easy for Sorokin to block out all the noise of the hype that’s surrounded him since he was drafted 78th-overall in 2014. But if he can rise to the occasion, Sorokin just may be the team’s X factor.
Key coaching decision
Trotz will have to decide how he wants his third line to look with the first, second and fourth lines all remaining relatively the same as last year. Will he take a risk with youth or stick with safer veteran options?
Prediction
The Islanders are built to go the distance and should finish among the top four in the East, but won’t make it out of the competitive intradivision playoff rounds.