Working on some really big rumors today, and I will have more to post on all of that some point soon, but first I wanted to address something I am seeing out there on the "internets and webs..."
People are going after the Islanders hard today....It is fascinating to watch fanbases, many of whose teams fell WAY below expectations, going after an Islanders team most left for dead on July 1 when John Tavares went to greener pastures....a team that only saw one round of the playoffs...
The Islanders had a bad second round of the playoffs...they ran into a buzzsaw with Carolina and while they were swept out last night....the first several games of this series were turned on bounces and posts hit...a second round sweep, at the time, is always a disappointment...because we always want more...but in this NHL we write too many stories about teams "choking" and not enough time is spent singing the praises of a team like this year's Islanders.
Cinderella teams shouldn't have to "win it all" to be recognized...
Going into this season this a team we all wrote needed defense and goaltending...all they did was become the BEST defensive team in hockey...they didn't miss Tavares at all in their own end.....They got great goaltending from two castaway goalies... And without Tavares in the lineup we saw some of their younger talent find themselves and they became very much "a team."
And they did this all despite the craziness of the Barclay Center and losing JT..
Did anyone have them close to winning the Jennings? No Did anyone have them close to making the playoffs? No Did anyone have them close to sweeping the mighty Penguins..Holding Crosby without a point? No Did any have them close to out-performing Tavares' new team in Toronto? Absolutely Not...
I know there are some serious contracts they have to get done this summer, but they have Lamoriello...and ANYONE who covered all those Devils teams who won Cups already knows that the Islanders summer of 2019 won't even be in the top 5 of the hardest free agent summers Lou has had to deal with. And anyone who thinks Lou doesn't already know 95% of how he will get it all done is clueless.
Barry Trotz worked magic this year and he will continue to work magic and help this team over perform...Anyone who remembers the growth of the Nashville Predators has seen this all before...
So hats off the Islanders...It was a great season and perhap the level this team played has made people already expect them to be a serious contender..So bring it on haters.