How Low Can the Islanders Go? Cole Eiserman, Quinn Finley Check-Ups

The New York Islanders (29-28-7) ship continues to sink. Last night in Los Angeles, the trip to California ended with a 4-1 loss to the Kings. Ironically, the effort represented the Islanders’ best road performance of the trip. However, they had two goals wiped away for goaltender interference, both with a power play, and could not score more than once outside of those.

Meanwhile, the Kings took what the Islanders gave them and ground them out of the game. The lowlight came midway through the second, just after Anders Lee equalized the game at 1-1. Maxim Tsyplakov fumbled with the puck twice before the turnover wound up in the back of the Islanders’ net just 37 seconds after Lee’s goal.

After the game, Head Coach Patrick Roy blasted Tsyplakov’s play and said, “he has to be better.” It would not surprise me to see Tsyplakov scratched on Friday and someone brought up from Bridgeport or Matt Martin playing his first game in almost two months.

Or, on a night where nothing went the Islanders’ way, Anthony DeAngelo’s stick exploded at the blue line, and Quinton Byfield had a free shorthanded breakaway where he made it 3-1 LA. It just wasn’t New York’s night.

Then again, luck is one thing. The Islanders had eight power plays, including 1:01 of 5-on-3 time in the third period, and failed to score. Sure, the two goalie interference calls may have gone against them, but they still had six other power plays that resulted in gooseeggs.

Just How Bad is it Right Now?

The loss brings the Islanders’ record to 4-7-0 in their last 11 games. The next two teams they face both played for the Stanley Cup last summer, so the sledding only gets tougher. With a lack of a scoring punch and good teams on the way, it all begs the question.

Just how low can this team fall? If, instead of going on a seven-game win streak in January, the Islanders went just 4-2-1, they would sit last in the Metropolitan Division, 15th in the Eastern Conference, and 27th in the NHL. That feels more like where they’ve been all season. Before that win streak, the Islanders were in the basement. In the world after, it feels like they’re heading back as low as possible.

The Draft Lottery and an Eiserman/Bednarik Update:

Well, if the Islanders keep on losing, it sure seems like the Islanders are headed to owning their first top-10 pick since the 2014 NHL Draft. If the season ended today, the Islanders would hold the 9th overall pick with a 5% chance of landing the first overall pick via the Draft Lottery.

The pick will add to the Islanders’ growing retooling and youth movement. Calum Ritchie is expected to be in the lineup next season, and Cole Eiserman is continuing to ferment at Boston University.

Here’s a note on Eiserman courtesy of BU Hockey Stats on X: “Cole Eiserman is the fourth Terrier freshman since 1990 to score 20+ goals in a season, joining Jack Eichel, Clayton Keller, and Macklin Celebrini.”

Well, that’s some pretty elite company! All three of those players are stars in the NHL, and if that’s who his dominance compares to, it sure looks like the Islanders landed a stud with their 2024 first-round pick.

Eiserman has 20 goals and 29 points in 33 games with BU this season. BU plays in the Hockey East Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon in Agganis Arena. Their opponent is TBD.

How About Quinn Finley?

Quinn Finley, New York’s 2022 third-round pick, broke out in a big way for Wisconsin this season. Finley, 20, recorded 20 goals and 40 points over his 37 games with the Badgers.

He’s not the flashiest prospect in terms of skating speed. Additionally, the defensive side of his game needs to be cleaned up. The strong season certainly shows the upside he possesses, likely as a future top-nine winger in the NHL.

Wisconsin’s season ended this past weekend when the Ohio State Buckeyes eliminated the Badgers from the Big Ten tournament. Wisconsin will not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. His teammate, Daniel Laatsch, just signed an entry-level deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It’s not yet known what Finley’s fate will be. He has two more years of college eligibility and could very well return for another season. If not, he will likely sign an ATO with the Bridgeport Islanders, just like Alex Jefferies did last season.

It likely makes more sense for Finley to spend another year in college. His skating and defensive play is not there yet, and one more year of college will do him well. We’ll see what happens in the coming days.