The New York Islanders have won just five of their first 13 games, one of their best defensemen (Travis Hamonic) is out for a while due to injury, and their prized free agent (Andrew Ladd) is not producing at all.
In this edition of the hotstove we discuss whether it's time for the Islanders, and their fans, to panic.
Todd Cordell I think the Islanders should definitely be worrying about their season.
As it stands they have won just five games in 13 outings and only one of those wins came against a team currently in a playoff spot (Minnesota).
Andrew Ladd signed a big money contract and has two points. Travis Hamonic, one of the team's better defensemen, is out for a while with an injury, Cal Clutterbuck has spent time on the top line, Dennis Seidenberg is the 3rd leading scorer on the team and their three-goalie system is causing drama. Even their ice is a problem right now.
I had the Isles pegged as a wild card team but I just don't see it right now. I don't like to advocate people losing their jobs but it might be time to change things up behind the bench in effort to saving the season.
Adam French Of course it's time to panic. They got older (though not necessarily slower since that's pretty much the only strength Chimera has) in the off season and none of their young players other than Brock Nelson look like they're worth a damn. Pardon, Pulock was looking good...the one game he played before he got injured and Beauvillier is proving what a diverse skill set he has at such a young age. The guys I'm talking about are Strome, Lee and I guess Quine (even though he isn't that great to begin with). Grabovski is a potato and not likely to ever come back. Barzal isn't ready for the big leagues yet. Ho Sang also needs seasoning. This team is an anomaly.
They are considered to be built to contend now and added age and experience to the roster. Yet they let go two huge pieces of their depth in Nielsen and Okposo. I understand Ladd was expected to replace Okposo, but expecting 19 year old rookies to replace Nielsen is ludicrous. Especially knowing the aforementioned Potatoed Grabovski.
The Islanders strength as they have grown from joke to dark horse has been their offensive depth and quality goaltending. The evolution of the team coming with the defense being keelhauled into a strength. That gave them everything they needed to be a threat in the playoffs. They needed minor tweaks and they could be that much closer. What they have done is destroyed their greatest strength in their offensive depth and hoped, prayed and gambled this season on rookies and young players stepping into bigger roles. Is Bailey really the answer at 19 minutes a night?
Their centre depth at one point was one of the more enviable in the league (Tavares-Nielsen-Grabovski/Nelson-Cizikas), let alone their overall forward depth. Now, not so much. In 3 years this group might be dangerous, emphasis on "might." But by then, a lot of the older players they acquired to compete now will be run down and the hope will be again on young defensemen stepping up.
I don't get the construction of the team going into the season and I think Snow misjudged his situation. Is there a quick fix? Probably not. We know Halak is seemingly gone, but goalies rarely bring a great return. It might be time to package a young forward (Barzal/Ho Sang/Beauvillier) with Halak for a top-6 forward because Bailey doesn't hold much value...and hope Pelech is ready with Hamonic out.
Also...fire Cappy. James Tanner I don't know if it's time to start panicking. The Islanders are pretty much always at least kind of bad and even with no injuries the best they'd be able to hope for in their division is a Wildcard and a first round exit.
Tavares is good and they have some decent lower-end guys, but no one really worthy of playing with him. The D is good but not good enough to make them a contender.
If the slow start and injury to Hamonic changed my opinion at all, it's to suggest bottoming out this year and drafting a guy who can play with Tavares.
Peter Tessier There's something fundamentally wrong with Islanders and some would say it's coaching. They added Andrew Ladd who has a buyout proof contract and he's done nothing. They are paying/playing three goalies and no have lost Hamonic. There is talent on this team, they should be better but they aren't and after all the moves, effort to shore up the team with personnel the results are brutal.
To me this goes on coaching and the hottest seat in the NHL might be the one under Jack Capuano...if it isn't it should be soon. Yes it's time to start panicking and asking some tough questions.
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