Stan Makes His SCF Prediction It may have taken the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/3-pending-ufa-goaltenders-islanders-can-target-if-varlamov-walks-this-summer] all 82 games to qualify for the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but as we are witnessing during this postseason, if you get to the dance, anything is possible if you bring your dancing shoes. The eighth-seed Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/matthew-tkachuk-will-be-a-headache-for-vegas-to-defend-during-stanley-cup-final-and-they-know-it] are in the Stanley Cup Finals after knocking off the greatest regular season team in the first round, beating the Boston Bruins in seven games. Then in the second round, they took down the curse-free Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-president-brendan-shanahan-fine-with-timing-of-kyle-dubas-announcement-with-penguins] in five games before sweeping the Hurricanes to advance to the Finals. But outside Florida, who is on the verge of doing something for just the second time in NHL history -- winning a Cup as an eighth seed (Los Angeles Kings 2012)-- we saw just one first-round series go shorter than six games, with three going seven. Two of the four second-round series went six-plus. Superstar dominant teams, like the Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/featured/colorado-fans-rooting-for-avs-roomies-to-win-nba-title] and Bruins, were out after Round One. After Round Two, the Leafs and Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers packed their things. With how much parity there is in today's NHL, are the Islanders closer than we all think? Looking at their playoffs and the Islanders' roster, there's no question that New York has holes that need to be filled and, if possible, upgraded this summer. There's a monumental need for the Islanders to bring in a legitimate puck-moving defenseman, while they could also use a top-six forward. Salary-cap issues likely allow Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-lou-lamoriello-lane-lambert-silence-static-2023-offseason] to get just one of those players, depending on which unrestricted free agents he decides to retain. There's no question that the Islanders' regular season and postseason could be viewed as a failure. Yes, New York dealt with injuries to critical players, none bigger than Adam Pelech [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/scott-mayfield-new-york-islanders-adam-pelech-ryan-pulock] for 21 games and Mathew Barzal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/mathew-barzal-new-york-islanders-bo-horvat-lou-lamoriello-lane-lambert] for 23. Despite having those two back for the playoffs, defenseman Alexander Romanov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/alexander-romanov-scott-mayfield-new-york-islanders-free-agency-trade] missed the first two games and played hurt throughout, limiting his ability to play his physical brand. While injuries are always an excuse -- and sometimes very good ones -- the Islanders did struggle to prepare for games during the regular season, too often playing down to competition, leaving valuable points on the table. The latter may not have changed even with a healthy roster, but is it likely that the Islanders would have been safer if Barzal or Pelech had not missed the time or as much time as they did? Are we talking about a team that locks in a playoff spot at the end of March in Game 70 if they are healthy? If the Islanders power play came through at 19 percent, rather than finishing third-worst in the NHL at 15.5 percent, do the Islanders get in sooner? Then in the playoffs, does a 100-percent healthy Barzal, who, in this hypothetical situation, build strong enough chemistry in 30 games with Bo Horvat [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/bo-horvat-new-york-islanders-vancouver-canucks-trade-lamoriello] (rather than just six) to be a dynamic duo in the postseason, rather than New York having to rely just on Brock Nelson and his linemates? Suppose Vezina finalist Ilya Sorokin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/ilya-sorokin-new-york-islanders-vezina-trophy-finalist-2022-23] played the way he played in the regular season in the playoffs. Are the Islanders back in the semi-finals for the third time in four seasons? If you answer yes to any of these questions, doesn't that mean the Islanders are much closer to getting to a Stanley Cup Final than we think? While getting an elite forward to play alongside Horvat and Barzal makes the Islanders much more of an offensive threat, is there a need for a superstar? Yes, the Panthers made an enormous splash when they sent their franchise leader Jonathan Huberdeau and other pieces to the Calgary Flames for 2022-23 Hart Finalist Matthew Tkachuk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-lou-lamoriello-matthew-tkachuk-florida-panthers-bo-horvat] last summer. He's been unreal during their run to the Finals and is neck and neck with Sergei Bobrovsky [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/ilya-sorokin-new-york-islanders-lou-lamoriello-long-term-extension] for the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Panthers win it all. But, on the other side of things, the Vegas Golden Knights, despite finishing with the most points out west, are mostly made up of middle-six forwards and have relied on third-string goaltender Hill. Yes, Jack Eichel came to play in his first taste of postseason hockey, and Mark Stone is elite. That's not to say that Horvat and Barzal are at the same level as those two players, but there's undoubtedly comparables to Vegas' roster and the Islanders in terms of depth. Flashing back to Round One and Two, the Kraken are a perfect example of a team that lacks a superstar. Rookie and Calder-cup favorite Matty Beniers may very well become a superstar. Still, that team under David Hakstol is similar to the Islanders when they went on their elongated postseason runs. With cap space being a significant issue for New York, getting the right players in here, given what we have seen in these playoffs, is more important than dropping the bag of money to get a superstar who may not fit. Case in point, the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/things-trending-in-a-positive-direction-between-rangers-and-john-hynes]. General manager Chris Drury did not give up much to acquire Patrick Kane [https://thehockeynews.com/news/rangers-acquire-patrick-kane-from-blackhawks] from the Chicago Blackhawks, but it was evident that he did not fit the team, and there were likely better options out there. This is not to say that the Islanders should run things back entirely because, although this roster could find themselves in the playoffs next season, as mentioned, some areas need improving -- from the coaching staff on down. But rather than being four-plus moves away from being true contenders, are the Islanders just one or two moves away from finding themselves in the Finals in the near future?
