Unexpected Position but Staying the Course

Playoffs...Don't talk about Playoffs. We just hoped we could win a game!

Quite simply, the New York Islanders did not expect to be in this position.  Since taking over the team when the “best” forward on the roster was Casey Czikas and there was a ridiculous discrepancy between the have rosters and have not rosters, GM Thornton felt that it would take a while before the team was competitive.  He stated, “It became apparent that solid drafting with especially ensuring that the early round picks all hit was the best path to success no matter how long it might take.”

Lucas Raymond

Wyatt Johnston

Logan Stankoven

Gabe Perreault

Isaac Howard

Emil Heineman

Teddy Stiga

Trevor Connolly

Lukas Cormier

Sean Farrell

These are the players that the Islanders have drafted since Thornton and his scouting staff took over the team.  One aspect that stands out is that the higher upside players are all forwards and it is safe to say that the Islanders will likely be looking at defencemen or goalies with their early picks this year.

Speaking of goalies, the play of Ilya Sorokin can be considered the main reason that the Islanders are 14 games over .500.  His 2.40 GAA is second in the league amongst starting goaltenders, trailing only Logan Thompson.  His .917 save percentage has him third amongst the starting goaltenders and this has translated into a 25-17-6 record.  Not to be outdone, when Cam Talbot is asked to take the net, he has a 2.43 GAA and an impressive .924 save percentage.  He is 12-6 and has taken on a slightly bigger role than anyone expected.  “Both goalies are epitomizing their nicknames…Ilya truly has played like he is ‘The Wall’ and when he is not starting, Calm Talbot is exactly what we get from him game in and game out,” said GM Thornton.  If you look at the individual goalie stats, only the Kraken logo stands alongside the Isles logo as having both goalies near the top of the league in goalie metrics and the Islanders sit second in the league for team save percentage, only 0.01% out of first.  “I don’t know what Marty Biron might be saying about our goalies if he was asked and yelled his answer at the cameras, but I say they have been the catalyst that has us firmly entrenched in the third playoff spot in the Metro conference.”  Thornton added with a smile, “some fans have even gone as far and said that the current goaltender tandem has allowed them to almost forget about the Rick DiPietro contract…almost.”

Dobson – Theodore

Petterson – Kulak

Lyubushkin - Alexeyev

These have been the defence pairings that the Islanders have stayed consistent with all year.  Each of the top 4 defencemen have at least 33 points with Dobson leading the way with 40 points as he has truly taken his game to a new level this year.  Kulak and Pettersson are both in the top 10 in the league in +/- with Kulak a +34 and Pettersson a +32.  “Dobber and Theo get all the limelight that they deserve and rightfully so, but it has been great to watch Dragon and Kully this season.  They have played together for 3 years now and that chemistry has been incredibly evident and important for us this season.  They play a shut-down role yet, like last season, are also under the radar contributing greatly to the offence,” said GM Thornton.  “5 of our 6 d-men are under contract next year and we are working very hard behind the scenes to get Kully under contract again to return to the Island as well.”

In looking at the forward group, Val Nichushkin has been easily the most valuable.  He has put up 31 goals and has 21 more points than the next closest player.  GM Thornton added, “We are thrilled with the improvements we have seen in our young forwards like JoNo, Razor and Johnny.  It was hard to take the slow road given we were so bereft of talent which was a risk and myself, Trotz and the rest of the coaching staff could not be more elated.  Granny has served as a strong leadership presence and is still producing like he has for years and that has been desperately needed for us as well.  But Nuke.  Wow.  It is almost like he has been on something all year and we hope that there is not a nasty hangover coming.  I am punch drunk watching him be our best skater on the ice night after night.”

Before wrapping up the interview, GM Thornton was asked if he wanted to mention anything else.  “I need to give props to the PK guys.  Vesey, Poehling, Kulak, Lyubushkin and of course, Sorokin have been absolute animals this year and it is too often a thankless job.”  The Isles currently sit with the second-best PK in the league, killing off an impressive 85.35% of the team’s penalties thus far this year.  On the flip side, the powerplay is tied for fourth worst in the league.  Besides the Islanders, Buffalo is the only other team to be in the bottom 10 for power-play yet currently occupy a playoff position.  “Somebody just needs to be selfish and shoot it in the net.  That is usually successful,” said Thornton.

There are lots of things to be happy for in the Island but in reality, the long rebuild is still chugging along slowly.  They remained inactive at the trade deadline deciding that anything worth trading was not worth the type of player they could get back and could not let their current playoff position change the course of the rebuild.  “If we want to get the Islanders back to the glory days of Smith, Tonelli, Nystrom, Trottier, Bossy, Merrick, Goring, Gillies, Potvin and all that they had at Nassau Coliseum, we cannot rush it.” Even Al Arbour did not build that Rome in a day and GM Thornton is aiming to build a new dynasty to Belmont Park.