The New York Islanders re-signed most of their free agents, but they could need a big move on offense to boost their ranking in the Metro Division, writes Adam Proteau.
You’re reading the newest file in THN.com’s “off-season outlook” series, in which we take a look at each NHL team’s latest season, as well as its strengths and weaknesses moving into the 2023-24 season. In our alphabetical order of publication, we’re breaking down the New York Islanders.
2022-23 Grade: B
Biggest Positive Heading Into the Off-Season
If you’re looking for a team that doubled down on their 2022-23 season, look no further than the Islanders, who have been brought back, virtually completely intact, by GM Lou Lamoriello. The Isles went on a spending burst in the opening days of free agency, but, rather than bringing in new faces, Lamoriello chose to lock up veterans left and right with lengthy contract extensions. He’s clearly counting on the injury bug leaving the Islanders’ roster alone, unlike last year, when four of their top 12 forwards, in addition to defenseman Adam Pelech, each missed at least 21 games.
The Isles also can put some of its faith in the fact they were the Metropolitan Division’s second-best team in their own arena in 2022-23, posting a 25-13-3 record. The flip side to that was their road record, which at 17-18-6 was fourth-best in the Metro and tied for eighth overall in the Eastern Conference. That inconsistency on the road almost cost them a playoff berth, but the stellar play of star goalie Ilya Sorokin carried them into the post-season. The Islanders ultimately fell to Carolina in six games in the first round – two of which were overtime losses – but the Isles are banking on a healthier group having the entire season to work together and peak at the ideal time of the year next spring.
After Lamoriello’s spree of re-signing their players at the start of July, PuckPedia has the Islanders at about $475,000 over the salary cap with RFA winger Oliver Wahlstrom still to sign. All things considered, you have to respect Lamoriello for believing in his team. We don’t believe the Isles have kept up with the Joneses on the trade or free agent fronts, but perhaps Lamoriello is doing the right thing by showing more patience with the team.
Biggest Need Heading Into the Off-Season
Scoring is the Islanders’ chief concern until further notice, as they had only two players last season who posted 70 points or more. Those meager results are in part attributable to their slew of injuries, and certainly, last season’s big acquisition of center Bo Horvat now has his first full year as an Islander at hand. He and star forward Mat Barzal showed some promising character in the few games they had on the same line, but after that – and second-line center Brock Nelson – the scoring totals drop off precipitously. Veteran forward Pierre Engvall had 17 goals in 76 games this past year, while winger Kyle Palmieri had 16 in 55 games. They’ll need to be at least as productive in 2023-24, as they can’t rely so heavily on Sorokin to steal games.
So, forward depth is primarily what the Isles are in need of this coming season. Their goaltending and defense corps are staffed adequately, and that leaves Lamoriello to keep an eye on who becomes available on the trade market once the season begins. The Islanders are also an older team up front – seven of their top 12 forwards are 30 years old or older, and defenseman Scott Mayfield and No. 2 goalie Semyon Varlamov are also at least 30 – so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Isles try to get younger along the way this season. Lamoriello clearly thinks his veterans will hold up, but we have our concerns to that end.
Bottom Line for the Islanders This Off-Season
Listen, it is indeed an accomplishment to be proud of to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Isles deserve credit for hanging on and giving the Hurricanes a decent battle in the first round. However – and even if they had a better shootout result than the 1-5 record they posted in 2022-23 – the Isles finished 14 standings points behind the New York Rangers for third position in the Metro.
That is a lot of ground to make up this season – to say nothing of trying to fend off the Eastern Conference teams below them who have improved this summer – which is why we have to temper our expectations for the Islanders. They may be better than the patchwork group of players who finished the season against Carolina. But “how much better?” is the real question, and the answer may not be to Isles fans’ liking.