The New York Islanders were one of the oldest teams entering the 2021-22 NHL season. There were a lot of expectations for the Islanders this season as they were coming off back-to-back trips to the NHL semifinals. In both instances, losing to the eventual Stanely Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. However, there was a belief in the room and amongst the coaching staff and management that this team could get back there again and ultimately win a Stanley Cup. But in order for them the New York Islanders to get there they need to ride the youth movement instead of holding onto the past.
The New York Islanders are starting to climb out of the basement in the Metro Division. And as they gain just a little bit of momentum they have another break in the action due to COVID-19 going around the league. A big reason why has been the injection of youth into the lineup. There is more energy and a more lively forecheck to their game. This was definitely missing earlier in the season when the Islanders were struggling. The difference is night and day.
-
Ep 37: NHL Free Agency Recapby Full Press Coverage on July 20, 2022 at 12:42 am
In this episode of Full Press Hockey Weekly, Mike Straw goes solo as he […]
On the backend especially with Noah Dobson, who continues to raise his level of play. Not to mention the addition of Robin Salo as well has helped the Islanders tremendously. Though the season did not start of the greatness, Dobson has picked up his game throughout the month of December. In his past 11 games, Dobson has registered five goals (including the winner in overtime to beat Edmonton on New Year’s Day), five assists, four of which came on the power play.
Around FPC
NHL: NHL Rumors: Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames
NHL: The Ottawa Senators Return to Practice With No Games in Sight
NHL: New Jersey Devils Best Players Are Making The Difference
NFL: Nitpicks & Nitwits: Is The Patriots’ Party Over Before It Starts?
Wrestling: NXT Black and Gold Shine In Loss To NXT 2.0 in War Games Match
PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 15: COVID Shutdown; Olympic Withdrawal; Contest Winner Announced
But it is not just on the backend where the Islanders are seeing the influx of youth it is offensively as well. Entering the season, many people wondered if Barry Trotz’s system could generate the offence it needed to in order to go back to the playoffs and make a run. If the team was healthy on paper it sure looked like it. However, once the puck dropped, it was a different story.
Players like Kyle Palmieri, who signed a four-year extension worth $5 million a season have not produced. Palmieri has just one goal in 25 games this season with the Islanders. Granted he was not productive in the regular season last year for the Islanders either, however, he did explode in the playoffs. But the team has to get there first. Even a player like Anthony Beauvillier, who is only 23 years old, has not lived up to his three-year contract extension. Beauvillier only has five goals in 25 games this season.
Head coach Barry Trotz was relying on Beauvillier, who was part of that Killer B’s line during the playoffs that was so successful. Even veteran Zach Parise has not done much this year, but he is on a one-year deal and that was a depth move. So when veteran players were out of the lineup for various reasons, the Islanders were able to insert Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows into the lineup to play alongside the more skilled forwards like Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee.
These moves have paid two-fold for the Islanders. Wahlstrom looks like he belongs in the NHL. He was having a good season and was playing well in the playoffs for the Islanders before he got hurt. This season Wahlstrom has recorded 15 points(eight goals and seven assists) in 26 games for the Islanders. He is second in the team scoring behind Barzal. Bellows has seven points in his last seven games (three goals and four assists).
Both Bellows and Wahlstrom have seen time on the top line and have shown they have belonged there. In order for the Islanders to be successful, they have to trust in the core of this team which is relatively young. The team has already made the switch between the pipes from Semyon Varlamov to Ilya Sorokin (26). Now the Islanders must allow the youth movement the core consisting of Beauvillier (24), Barzal (24), Wahlstrom (21), and Bellow (23) to flourish. Not to mention guys like Jean-Gabriel Pageau (29), who has been a good third-line centre, the not-so-old Brock Nelson (30), and captain Anders Lee (30). That is a good nucleus.
Then there is the defence that has the best shutdown pair in the league in Adam Pelech (27) and Ryan Pulock (27) to go along with Scott Mayfield (29), Dobson (21), and Salo (23). And when healthy this is a very good defence as they decided to go with youth over aging veterans.
The New York Islanders have a youth movement happening on their team, but Barry Trotz has to trust it enough or else it will not succeed. Granted in his offence you earn your playing time, and if he sees you are not playing well, he will bench you, but the New York Islanders have to stick with the youth movement as it is the only way for them to get back to the playoffs this season.
-
Ep 37: NHL Free Agency Recapby Full Press Coverage on July 20, 2022 at 12:42 am
In this episode of Full Press Hockey Weekly, Mike Straw goes solo as he […]
-
Ep 36: NHL Draft; NHL Free Agency Previewby Full Press Coverage on July 13, 2022 at 11:45 am
In this episode, Mike Straw and Chris Wassel dive into NHL Free Agency and […]
-
Ep 35: Avalanche Win Stanley Cup; Hockey Hall of Fame; NHL Offseason Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on June 29, 2022 at 2:06 pm
Jim and Chris react to the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup, the 2022 […]
-
Ep 34: NHL Coaching Retreads; Stanley Cup Final Talkby Full Press Coverage on June 22, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Mike, Jim, and Chris discuss the never-ending NHL coaching retreads and […]
-
NHL Offseason: Matthew Tkachuk Traded To Florida, Patrik Laine Staying in Columbus and Moreby Full Press Coverage on July 24, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Jim is back once again joined by C.C. Hawkley of Full Press Hockey to […]
-
NHL Free Agency Frenzy Reviewby Full Press Coverage on July 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back once again to discuss NHL Free Agent Frenzy and where some of […]
-
Ep 76: They're Back! David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron Return To The Bruinsby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 8:51 pm
Ian and Chris discuss and react to the re-signing of captain Patrice […]
-
Ep 75: Bergeron Undecided? David Krejci and NHL Free Agency Primerby Full Press Coverage on July 13, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the latest on Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and […]
-
S3Ep35 - NHL Offseason Editionby Jim Biringer on July 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is joined by Marc Weiss and Coach Jay as they discuss the NHL […]
-
S3E34 - Colorado Avalanche Win Stanley Cupby Jim Biringer on July 4, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Jim is back once again to discuss the Colorado Avalanche winning the […]
-
Episode #389 - The Finaleby Full Press Coverage on July 26, 2022 at 2:27 am
It's time for us to wrap up another 4th Line show. This week we take one […]
-
Episode #388 - The 2022 NHL Free Agency Roadtripby Full Press Coverage on July 19, 2022 at 2:08 am
NHL teams got busy this week as they tried to sign all of the free agents! […]
-
Episode #387 - The 2022 NHL Draftby Full Press Coverage on July 8, 2022 at 2:10 am
It's draft night! We look back on the news of the week, as well as the […]
-
Episode #107: A Fine Championshipby Full Press Coverage on June 30, 2022 at 4:38 am
For the first time since 2019, a new Calder Cup champion has been crowned! […]
-
Episode #106: If You Can't Beat Them, Become Themby Full Press Coverage on June 18, 2022 at 5:55 am
23 playoff teams are now down to just two. It's the 2022 Calder Cup Finals […]
-
Episode #107: A Fine Championshipby Full Press Coverage on June 30, 2022 at 4:38 am
For the first time since 2019, a new Calder Cup champion has been crowned! […]
-
Episode #106: If You Can't Beat Them, Become Themby Full Press Coverage on June 18, 2022 at 5:55 am
23 playoff teams are now down to just two. It's the 2022 Calder Cup Finals […]
-
Ep 60: #KrejciForever and Raised Expectationsby Full Press Coverage on May 4, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Ian and Chris talk about the Bruins post trade deadline turnaround and […]
-
Ep 59: Bruins Swing Big At Trade Deadlineby Full Press Coverage on April 12, 2021 at 9:48 pm
Ian and Chris welcome in Mike Cratty to discuss the trade acquisitions of […]
-
8/19 - Deshaun Watson Suspension; Concern About Tom Brady's Absenceby Full Press Coverage on August 19, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Ian and John discuss the Deshaun Watson suspension and whether or not […]
-
Aaron Rodgers Addresses Early Camp Struggles for WRsby Full Press Coverage on August 18, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Ian and John discuss some bumps in the road at Packers camp as Aaron […]
-
8/17 - Packers Camp Struggles, Top 10 QB/Pass Catching Combos, Malcolm Go... To Injured Reserveby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Ian and John discuss Aaron Rodgers comments about the young wide receiver […]
-
8/15 - Zach Wilson, Deshaun Watson, NFL Top 100 Listby Full Press Coverage on August 15, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Ian and John discuss the Zach Wilson injury scare, Deshaun Watson's debut […]
Comments 5