Humiliation in Elmont: Surrender Flag Waved, Time to Sell

ELMONT, N.Y. — As the final horn sounded, with it came the end of any notion that this New York Islanders (25-25-7) team could possibly contend this season. The New York Rangers (29-25-4) bullied the Islanders in UBS Arena. The score finished 5-1. Jonny Brodzinski scored twice and recorded three points. Three points led the team, joined by defenseman Urho Vaakanainen.

The game itself is not the story. It’s what comes as a result.

To sum up the game, the Islanders technically played a good game analytically. Through two periods, they outshot the Rangers 23-11. To try to sell that would be blasphemous. The Rangers scored at will. Ilya Sorokin played his worst game of the season by far.

Sorokin didn’t receive much help. On social media, people blamed Sorokin. Scott Perunovich and Ryan Pulock both went -4 in the first two periods. Two goals deflected in off of Perunovich. Pulock let Matt Rempe stand in front of Sorokin unopposed, and Rempe deflected in the fifth goal.

Rangers fans took over. After the goal, the crowd rained down “Rempe, Rempe” chants—total humiliation.

The lack of effort after it became 4-1 felt palpable. The Islanders bench looked defeated. They played that way, too. The Islanders now sit 14th in the Eastern Conference and seven points outside a playoff spot. It’s over for the 2024-25 Islanders. I’m ringing the bell.

Time to Sell:

It’s enough. The discourse surrounding whether or not to extend the likes of Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri should end tonight. The team desperately needs to retool and get out of this comfort zone they’ve been in since the 2021-22 season.

The last four seasons are proof positive. The core no longer works. It’s a sad reality, as the group has been together for a long time and clearly gets along. But this is about winning and losing, and this team is now a loser.

Nelson will bring back a first-round pick and more. The Minnesota Wild just lost Joel Eriksson Ek for an indefinite period. It’s well-documented that Bill Guerin loves Nelson. After all, he just selected him to play for Team USA. If not Minnesota, call Winnipeg. Call Dallas. Heck, call New Jersey. Start a bidding war and get assets you can either keep to restock the cupboard of prospects or flip it for new talent.

Ditto for Palmieri. The Tampa Bay Lightning are begging for a scoring winger for their middle six. So are the Devils and the Lois Angeles Kings. You don’t have a 2026 second-round pick, so that should be the aim.

Quite frankly, with a Long Island talent and a documented love for this franchise at the top of the draft board (James Hagens), the Islanders should let this bottom out.

Explore the market on Jean-Gabriel Pageau. A team will give you a draft pick for Anthony DeAngelo. Try to get one of Scott Mayfield, Ryan Pulock, or Adam Pelech to waive their NTC. I no longer think just moving Nelson and Palmieri is enough.

After an inspiring but ultimately damaging seven-game win streak, this version of the team is finished. The time for half-measures is done. It’s time to turn the page.