What the New York Islanders are thankful for in 2022

A healthy team and a stable home

Last season was a very, very public meltdown for the Islanders. A team that entered the season with top-10 odds to win the Stanley Cup had to scratch and claw just to finish above .500.

The biggest reason why? Perhaps it was the team’s 13-game road trip to start the season, which ended amid an 11-game losing streak throughout November and December. Injuries and COVID also took an extreme toll on the team around the same time.

This time around, it’s a different story. 10 players have played in all 30 games so far. Only one Islander — Zach Parise — played in all 82 games last season. They’ve also got a full season at UBS Arena, and their 9-6-0 home record is third in the Metropolitan Division behind New Jersey and Pittsburgh.

What would the Islanders be even more thankful for?

Stronger defense from depth players

The Islanders have had a gigantic offensive resurgence, but some less structured play post-coaching change has limited them from rocketing back to contender status. 

While their actual goals against remain near the league’s top, their expected goals share at all situations (MoneyPuck) is at the opposite end of the spectrum (23rd in the league). 

Their more traditional possession numbers haven’t been anything outstanding either, and their bottom-six forward group is getting caved in at times.

Solving this problem likely lies on general manager Lou Lamoriello to alter the makeup of the team’s depth forwards. 

Their heralded fourth line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck has been their best defensively, but the opposite is true for the unit of Jean-Gabriel Pageau, flanked by Parise and Kyle Palmieri. 

While Parise remains a valuable depth scorer, especially for his six-digit cap hit, Palmieri’s managed just nine points in 20 games and continues to battle injuries.

What should be on the Islanders’ holiday wishlist?

A true sniper for Barzal’s line

Barzal’s playmaking has been at its most dynamic this season, notching 27 assists in just 30 games. But neither of his regular linemates, Josh Bailey nor Oliver Wahlstrom, are close to double-digit goal totals on the year.

The Islanders do have a deep attack, but it lacks any chemistry between a pair of true stars. A slam-dunk 30-goal scorer on Barzal’s wing could absolutely give New York’s offense the firepower necessary to approach the top 10 in league scoring. 

Lamoriello has hesitated to give up the assets required recently, though, whether on-ice or financial, to make such a move come to fruition.