Last week, we published a 10-question poll to gauge the opinions of New York Islanders fans during the dog days of summer.
Last week, we published a 10-question poll to gauge the opinions of New York Islanders fans during the dog days of summer.
So, let's go over the results.
1. Are The Islanders Good Enough To Make The Playoffs?
In what was a chaotic season, with ups and downs and a coaching change, the Islanders did find a way to qualify for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Yes, it took until the last week of the season for a second straight season, but the team went 8-0-1 in their last nine games.
91% of fans who took our poll believe the Islanders will make the playoffs, while 9% of fans think they'll miss for the first time since Barry Trotz was fired after missing in 2021-22.
Some repeat comments included that the team is "good enough" to make it, with optimism that the team will find more consistency than we have seen over the last two seasons under Patrick Roy.
2. Where Will The Islanders Finish?
Sure, the majority — by a landslide — believes that the Islanders will get in, but where will they finish?
35% believe that they will finish third in the Metropolitan Division.
24% of fans believe they will finish as the top wild-card team.
20% believe they will finish second in the Metro, while only one percent think they can win the division.
12% believe they'll sneak in as the second wild card, while 8% percent think they won't qualify for the playoffs.
Given that the Carolina Hurricanes got weaker, the Philadelphia Flyers got weaker, and the New York Rangers didn't improve — we have no idea what the Washington Capitals are doing — the Islanders should be playoff-bound in 2025.
The New Jersey Devils improved, but the Islanders should find a way in.
Many comments discussed the Hurricane's weak offseason and how the Islanders can finish ahead of them this season.
We think they will likely finish as the top wild-card team.
3. Does Anthony Duclair Move The Needle?
The Islanders made one North American free-agent acquisition this summer, bringing in the speedy Anthony Duclair on a four-year deal worth $3.5 million annually.
Although not the top-line elite sniper the organization has longed for, Duclair's wheels finishing ability and understanding of how Roy operates for their time together in juniors should provide a stable linemate for Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal.
But does Duclair move the needle?
77% of you believe he does, while 23% do not.
A few comments believe that Duclair, who has been on eight teams over his 10-year career, is more of a fit on the Islanders' second line, while others said that he fixes the "revolving door" issue, which is what Horvat discussed at his end of the seaosn press conference.
Duclair will help the top line, especially off the rush, and if he stays healthy, that line should have a successful season.
However, secondary and tertiary scoring will be the key to consistency, which brings us to our next question.
4. Will Maxim Tsyplakov Score 20 Goals?
Outside of bringing aboard Duclair, the Islanders convinced Maxim Tsyplakov, the top European free agent, to come to Long Island.
The 25-year-old had a breakout season in the KHL, scoring 31 goals with 16 assists for 47 points in 65 games.
However, the KHL is not the NHL, so how do you guys feel about him potting 20 goals this upcoming season?
72% believe he will reach the 20-goal plateau, while 28% believe he will not.
Many fans commented that he is a complete wild card but that if he plays on the second line with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, 20 goals are undoubtedly possible.
Others believe that 20 goals is a steep mark, with Tsyplakov likely to score between 10 and 15.
Tsyplakov is a complete wild card, but unlike the past Russian forwards who signed with the team and fell flat on their faces, many teams were interested in acquiring Him. If he can bolster the offense at a $950,000 cap hit, it's a clear win for New York.
5. Will Ilya Sorokin Bounce Back This Season?
Islanders starting netminder Ilya Sorokin was a Vezina finalist in 2022-23, but he struggled mightily this past season.
Posting career worsts with a 3.01 GAA and a .908 SV%, he struggled behind the Islanders' shaky difference.
When Roy came in, Sorokin's struggles continued despite facing fewer shots, which forced the new bench boss to ride backup Semony Varlamov down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Will Sorokin, who enters the first season of an eight-year deal, play more like he did in 2022-23 or 2023-24?
97% believe Sorokin will get back to playing an elite brand of hockey, while 3% believe he's more likely to struggle yet again.
The hopeful optimism is more about the defense in front of him, being healthier, and doing more to help Sorokin out on a nightly basis rather than leaving him out to dry.
6. Will Brock Nelson Score 30 Goals For A Fourth Straight Season?
Over the last three seasons, Brock Nelson has been ultra-consistent in the goal-scoring department.
He scored 37 goals in 2021-22, 36 in 2022-23, and 34 in 2023-24.
Entering his age-33 seasons, 77% of Islanders fans believe he'll reach the 30-goal mark yet again, while 23% believe a dip in offensive production is coming.
For the fans who think he gets 30, they look at how he didn't score a goal in the final 14 games of the regular season and probably should have had a 40-goal season for the first time in his career.
Others add that his production will depend on his linemates. We expect Maxim Tsyplakov to skate on his wing over players like Simon Holmstrom and Hudson Fasching, who found themselves with Nelson at times last season.
One comment said he'll score his 30th in another jersey, which is possible if the Islanders are out of it at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.
7. Who Is A Better Fit On The Islanders Fourth Line?
When training camp opens up, the Islanders will have a handful of players gunning for the final fourth-line job alongside Kyle MacLean and Casey Cizikas.
Although Oliver Wahlstrom is on the roster, he's likely to be waived before the start of the season so that the team can become cap-compliant.
Players like Liam Foudy and Erik Karlstrom will be in the mix, but the two likely players fighting it out for a starting job are Hudson Fasching and Simon Holmstrom.
This question was one of the closer poll results, with 51% believing Fasching is the better fourth-line option and Holmstrom at 49%.
The Fasching crowd believes he's the grittier player, which bodes well in a bottom-six role, while others think Holmstrom has second/third-line talent and has more potential.
8. Did The Islanders Make The Right Choice By Not Trading Their Picks At 2024 NHL Draft?
For the first time since 2019, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello did not trade his first-round pick.
He also didn't trade a single pick, which included an additional second-rounder that many believed could be used to help their cap situation.
The fans overwhelmingly believe — and this is a shock — that Lamoriello did the right thing by bolstering the prospect pool, getting 96% of the votes.
Only 4% believe he should have traded picks.
Many comments read, "It's about time" and "They needed to improve the prospect pool."
9. Do You Think Cole Eiserman At No. 20 Was A Steal?
With the 20th pick at the 2024 NHL Draft, the Islanders landed Cole Eiserman, the most gifted goal scorer in the draft class.
It was a shock that he fell as far as he did, with many citing that he was a steal at No. 20.
Islanders fans believe in the hype, with 87% agreeing, while 13% aren't ready to give Eiserman the "steal" title just yet.
As always with prospects, it's "too early to say" and "time will tell."
Others look back to 1977 when Bill Torrey drafted Mike Bossy at No. 15 and what he became.
10. Is Ilya Sorokin More Like The Goalie We Saw In 2022-23?
Earlier, we asked if you believe Ilya Sorokin will bounce back, with 97% of you saying yes.
But do you think he can get back to what we saw during his Vezina-caliber season?
93% of you believe he can get back to that point, while 7% believe Sorokin is a strong goaltender but not as good as in his best season.
Many comments pointed to the team in front of him, which negatively impacted his performance a year ago, and that if improved, Sorokin could be a Vezina winner.
Many also believe that last year was a one-off.