NHL Postseason Dissection: Islanders and Golden Knights Major Disappointments

The NHL postseason is upon us unless you’re the New York Islanders and Vegas Golden Knights. What went wrong with this pair?

With the National Hockey League regular season in the rear-view mirror, it is a good time to look at a couple of clubs that did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and see exactly why they ended up on the outside looking in. Today we look at two of this season’s biggest disappointments, which many prognosticators predicted would go deep into the postseason.

New York Islanders

What went wrong?

Where do we begin? The Islanders came off consecutive final four finishes in COVID-shortened seasons and believed that they could bring back pretty much the same team and make a run for the Cup. The long road trip to start the season (due to the UBS Arena being completed) was not what killed their playoff aspirations, it was their lack of success in a large block of home games afterward and losing a number of players to COVID for a long stretch.

New York finished in the top 10 defensively this season, but 24th in goals scored, due in part to losing Jordan Eberle in the expansion draft, but more because they lacked blueliners who could carry the puck up the ice after dealing Devon Toews and Nick Leddy for cap reasons.

What went right?

The progress shown by youngster Noah Dobson (who finished third on the club in scoring with 51 points) and goalie Ilya Sorokin (2.40 GAA and .925 save percentage) gives the Isles hope that if some of their core players bounce back from disappointing seasons or if GM Lou Lamoriello makes some roster moves, that they could reenter the playoff picture in 2023.

What will they do?

New York made the first move on Monday with the surprising dismissal of head coach Barry Trotz. It is unknown at this point which direction the Isles will go for a new bench boss. Assistant Lane Lambert has been mentioned as a possible option, but names such as Claude Julien and Kirk Muller could be in the mix based on his prior connection to Lamoriello from his days in New Jersey.

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Vegas Golden Knights

What went wrong?

The Golden Knights do not resemble the club that made a magical run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 as an expansion franchise. Vegas has exhausted most of its draft capital and prospects in mad pursuit of a Cup and are now an organization with high-priced free agents and players acquired in massive trades. GM Kelly McCrimmon went all-in for what was thought to be the final piece of the puzzle in center Jack Eichel, but injuries to key players (Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Robin Lehner) and cap issues crippled the club throughout the season.

What went right?

Eichel did not have any issues after undergoing the surgical procedure on his neck that Buffalo would not approve of, scoring 14 goals in 34 games. Chandler Stephenson had a career year with 64 points and could give Vegas an effective one-two punch up the middle with Eichel. The Golden Knights may by accident have found themselves a goaltender in Logan Thompson, who was valiant late in the season replacing the injured Lehner.

What will they do?

Owner Bill Foley confirmed early this week that McCrimmon will return as GM, but to this point, there is no confirmation on the status of head coach Peter DeBoer. The relationship breakdown between Lehner and the club may lead to the veteran goalie being traded over the summer, but McCrimmon will have to make a move or two to shed salary. Vegas may revisit trying to trade winger Evgenii Dadonov and possibly Pacioretty with one year remaining on his deal to make the NHL Postseason again.