After four straight losses, Stefen Rosner answers questions and comments in the latest New York Islanders mailbag.

The New York Islanders were swept during their weekend back-to-back and have now lost four straight games, two to teams on the outside looking in.

There are 15 games to play, and a playoff spot is in sight for now, but New York's schedule gets tougher.

Due to their recent failures, they are no longer in control of their own destiny.

Let's get to your questions and comments in the latest Islanders mailbag ahead of Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Has the league figured out Sorokin, and which version should we expect moving forward? @JPDSalazar'

Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin, who inked an eight-year extension this past summer worth $8.25 million annually -- which kicks in next season -- has not been as good as he was a season ago.

Forget the advanced analytics and the abundance of chaos surrounding his crease on a game-to-game basis. He was a Vezina finalist last season because he bailed his team out left and right and this season, he hasn't done it nearly to the same level.

That's not to say the reason the Islanders are not safely in a playoff spot is on him, but he's been part of the issue because the Islanders are built from the goalie on out, and if the goalie isn't their best player, they will have a hard time winning. 

The league has figured out that Sorokin, like most goalies, struggles to fight through screens. Given the defense in front of him, just throwing pucks on the net is ultra-beneficial. Since he broke into the NHL, the far-side shot of the rush has been his kryptonite.

But the elite goaltenders are able to adapt and rise above, and with 15 games to go, the Islanders will need Sorokin to be Captain Clutch or a playoff spot will not be theirs. 

I am genuinely curious what their record is for matinee games and when their last win was @TayhanDenk33

This season, the Islanders are 0-3-2 in matinee games after dropping back-to-back matinees this past weekend.

But it actually hasn't been as long as you think since New York has secured two points with the sun out.

The Islanders had just one matinee game last season against the Detroit Red Wings at UBS Arena.

Backed by a two-goal performance from Anders Lee, the Islanders defeated the Red Wings 4-1. 

Are there potential lineup changes for Tuesday? Wahlstrom, Bortuzzo, Bolduc, AHL call up? @D_Kurt_Green

With the way Roy has changed up his lines the last two games, I could see lineup changes for Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, who was activated off long-term injured reserve late Friday night, could replace Sebastian Aho and play alongside Mike Reilly. 

With the magnitude of the situation, I would be shocked to see Samuel Bolduc or Oliver Wahlstrom in the lineup. 

The only way I see any prospects called up from the AHL is if the Islanders are eliminated before Apr. 17.

If there's an injury, they have Wahlstrom, but they also have Julien Gauthier waiting in the minors. 

With Roy moving around top 6 & bottom 6 not adding much & switching D pairs, it seems as if he feels he doesn’t have the pieces. How much influence will he have in shaping the roster this offseason?@226Patriot

Roy has had to learn this team on the fly since walking in the door on Jan. 20.

He's tried to do things that we never saw under former head coach Lane Lambert, like moving Nelson to Horvat's wing alongside Barzal or elevating players like Pageau and Cizikas.

But, to your point, he's had to move so many pieces around because the pieces he needs may not be on this current roster.

Barry Trotz, when he was on the island, didn't have a say in management after building a system to fit the roster when he came aboard in 2018.

But Roy is different, which is why I think he'll have a say in the roster construction this summer.

Lamoriello knew he was hiring Roy, who had a specific way he wanted to play the game. 

So, it's up to Lamoriello to get the pieces that fit Roy's game plan, or there was really no point in hiring the Hockey Hall of Famer. 

Do you think there’s a possibility of Lou trading someone or a few players during the off-season? @caroIinaskies

Depending on how this season ends, Lamoriello may have no choice but to trade players this offseason. 

While the Islanders aren't cap-strapped like they were last summer -- moving Josh Bailey and his $5 million cap hit just to retain their pending unrestricted free agents -- they will need more space if they want to bring in top talent. 

But it's not as simple as just trading players.

For example, a player like Pageau, who carries a cap hit of $5 million and is under contract through 2026, has a modified no-trade clause that limits where he can be dealt to. 

Roy's system needs specific types of players, and it will be up to Lamoriello to put his new head coach in the best position to succeed in 2024-25. 

When do Iskhakov and Maggio get an opportunity? @johnlpc

Prospect Ruslan Iskhakov has 16 goals and 26 assists in 59 games this season and was an AHL All-Star for a second straight season. Matthew Maggio, who is in the midst of his first professional season, has found his game lately and has 13 goals and eight assists in 50 games. 

Both have likely done enough to get a look, but with the Islanders fighting for a playoff spot, there's no reason to call these prospects up right now unless they think it will be a seamless transition to the NHL level, which is rather uncommon.

There's no room for error, and one can argue that these youngsters could inject energy into an energy-lacking lineup, but if Roy's energy isn't being felt throughout the entire lineup, a prospect call-up won't change much. 

In your opinion, what’s been the main reason why the Islanders have gone into a slide with less than 20 games to go? @MrEd315

To be honest, the Islanders have been on a slide all season.

Sometimes the slide has defied gravity, but more often than not, the Islanders have ended up at the bottom.

This current slide -- losers of four straight after winning six straight --  is all about a lack of commitment to Roy's system. Whether it's fatigue or laziness at times, the lack of energy or the failure to match the other team's energy is why they are out of a playoff spot.

It's clearly not talent because we've seen this current group excel. It's the will to win that's lacking, and that's a major problem.

How do athletes at any level, let alone professional, seemingly lack the desire to compete for long stretches at a time? @alexanderjguy 

You never want to knock an athlete or a team for a lack of effort because to get to the NHL and stay in the NHL, or any professional league for that matter, you have to have a ridiculous battle level and desire. 

But when you see the losses pile up, and the head coach is talking about a lack of energy, and the players are agreeing, it's certainly mind-boggling.

Now, it may be a collective issue, but throughout this losing streak, you can see which players are giving it their all and trying to make a difference and which players are leaving gas in the tank.

There's certainly accountability in the room, but it's clear that the team is playing tug-of-war, with players moving in different directions. 

If a player has no movement clause, can a team put that player on waivers? @kear20

A player that has a full no-movement clause cannot be placed on waivers unless they approve of the move.

But a player with a no-trade clause or a modified no-trade clause can be waived without approval. 

The Islanders have six players with full no-trade clauses right now: Bo Horvat, Anders Lee, Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, and Semyon Varlamov.

Here are the Islanders who have modified no-trade clauses: Brock Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, and Pierre Engvall.

Most full no-trade clause contracts become modified no-trade clauses after a few seasons, with some players having a list of 16 teams they would be unwilling to go to and others having a list of 10. 

If the Islanders fail to make the playoffs for the 2nd time in 3 years in the new arena, does ownership have a meaningful discussion on Lou’s future? @coachjeff_24

Making the playoffs is critical for the Islanders organization. Not only does it add more revenue, but it also changes the Islanders' view of unrestricted free agents, which is a major key to bettering a team. 

Newsday's Laura Albanese wrote a strong piece on the Islanders' fan experience, with numbers dropping due to a variety of reasons.  

We'll never know if Lamoriello and ownership have had conversations unless news is announced regarding a contract extension or the cliche "mutually parting ways" statement. 

And when anyone mentions ownership, it comes down to one person and that's majority owner Scott Malkin.

Malkin has the utmost faith in Lamoriello, which is why Malkin is focusing on real estate and allowing the Hockey Hall of Fame general manager to run the team.

But if the Islanders fail to make the playoffs for a second time in three seasons, developing the surrounding area of UBS will not matter if fans don't come.

Any word on a potential Alex Jefferies signing? @BFakler

The Islander's fourth-round selection in 2020 has been a menace with Merrimack College. After a 41-point campaign (14 goals, 27 assists) in just junior season, 2022-23, the Islanders offered him an entry-level contract per Merrimack beat writer Mike McMahon.

Jefferies decided to return for his senior year, scoring 13 goals with 10 assists in 22 games.

The Islanders now have until Aug. 15 to lock up the gifted winger before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The question is, does Jefferies think that another team offers him a quicker, clearer path to being an NHL player than the Islanders, whose contract situation and lack of prospect development are concerns?