Three Reasons for Optimism for the Rest of the Islanders’ Season

The New York Islanders season has gone far from ideal for the team and its players. During this 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Islanders are sixth in the Metropolitan Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference.

The Islanders are 25-23-7 through the first 55 games. They are just four points outside of a playoff spot and currently hold zero games in hand on the Detroit Red Wings, who currently hold the second wild card position.

Despite the bleak outlook, there are some reasons to be positive about the season’s overall direction.

Reason #1: The Record since January 1, 2025

Since the calendar flipped to 2025, the Islanders completely flipped the switch. They’ve gone 11-6-0 with a seven-game win streak baked in. Their structure has rapidly improved, a big part of which has been the penalty kill.

The Islanders hold the NHL’s best penalty kill since January 1, with an 87.9% success rate. Behind that strong kill, the Islanders dominate games at even strength and capitalize on rush opportunities.

It’s been almost a Barry Trotz-style team, winning behind strong defense and goaltending. The Islanders needed to win to survive and get out of the basement of the standings, and they’ve done just that.

How can you not be optimistic about how well the team’s been playing? Even in the losses, the Islanders played very well. Against the Florida Panthers, the Islanders fought hard but fell, largely due to sub-par goaltending from their fourth-string goaltender, Jakub Skarek. That game was also the second half of a back-to-back.

Then, the losses to the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild have left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. Against Winnipeg, the Islanders fell apart in the second period and could not dig out of a hole despite a 19-shot onslaught in the third period. In Minnesota, the Islanders built a 3-1 lead but collapsed thanks to two Anthony DeAngelo own-goals, costing New York the game.

Bad bounces and exhaustion, but the Islanders fought hard in both. That’s been their hallmark since the calendar flipped. Everyone can get behind hard workers.

Reason #2: Ilya Sorokin’s Back in Vezina Form:

Ilya Sorokin suffered a back injury during last season. He played through it but clearly wasn’t himself. Then, coach Patrick Roy said he underwent back surgery to address the issue and would miss most of training camp.

After returning, Sorokin played ok but felt far from his best. It didn’t help when Semyon Varlamov suffered what seems to be a season-ending injury in November. Initially, Roy did not trust Marcus Hogberg and rode Sorokin heavily, who, self-admittedly, did not play his best.

Then, the calendar flipped. Since January 1, Sorokin recorded a 9-4-0 record with a .926 save percentage and a 2.17 goals-against average. He’s been fantastic and the biggest reason for the Islanders’ resurgence.

With his Vezina-caliber play, he can carry the Islanders far. The 4 Nations Face-Off break hit at a perfect time, as Hogberg is expected to be close to returning as soon as the break ends. The schedule is loaded when it returns, with the Islanders playing three games in five days to open up their slate. Games await with the Dallas Stars, the Winnipeg Jets, and a pair of games with the Rangers in the first six games out of the break.

It’s a heavy slate, but all those games occur before the NHL Trade Deadline. Decisions will be made based on those first six games, which also include a trip to Boston and a matinee with the Nashville Predators.

Reason #3: There Will Be a Direction for the Franchise by March 7:

With everything that’s happened this season, an unmistakable cloud of uncertainty is hanging over the Islanders. Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri are pending unrestricted free agents, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a highly sought-after trade asset.

There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind the Islanders are not currently good enough to win the Stanley Cup. They’re good enough to compete hard and maybe sneak into the playoffs. With their goaltending, they may even win a round or two. But with this current roster construction, that’s the absolute limit.

Brock Nelson’s decision will trigger a chain of events that will chart the course for the Islanders now and in the future. If Nelson signs the dotted line on an extension, Lamoriello will continue big-game hunting. Elliotte Friedman confirmed the Islanders hold a heavy interest in Elias Pettersson.

Last summer, the Islanders wanted Nikolaj Ehlers, but Winnipeg opted to hold onto the winger. Come July 1, when Ehlers is expected to shake loose, the Islanders will have interest. Ditto that for any bonafide stars hitting the market, like Mikko Rantanen or Mitch Marner.

It all starts before March 7. Nelson will either sign or be traded. If he’s moved, expect Kyle Palmieri to follow him out the door. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is valued by other teams, but if Nelson is moved, Pageau won’t be moved. If Nelson stays, I think that greatly increases the chance of a Pageau trade.

Once the deadline hits, there’s a map ahead. For now, we’re all in the fog.