After 71 games in the books, Noah Pedrazzoli checks in on the vibe around Islanders Country as the team looks to make a run for the playoffs.
An Introduction
New York Islanders hockey has been turbulent since the last edition. They are currently one point behind the second wild card spot, went on a eight-game winning streak in February, acquired three defenseman, and traded Brock Nelson. Let’s break it down and weigh the pros and cons.
Good Vibes
The Islanders went on an 8-game win streak where they took down a variety of teams that included playoff and Stanley Cup contenders. The Islanders were winning with the absence of Noah Dobson, Ryan Pulock, and Mike Reilly.
At the trade deadline, management made the difficult decision to trade away a franchise player in Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche. The team received a massive package, an appropriate return for Nelson’s importance to the franchise which included a top-tier prospect in Calum Ritchie alongside a first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027.
Islanders’ fans can rejoice because Lou Lamoriello acquired a fantastic prospect to contribute to the future of the franchise and a pick that could provide a potential top-tier prospect or be flipped to acquire an NHL-ready player.
WHAT A ROCKET 🚀 pic.twitter.com/zpiFXPrUTa
— NHL (@NHL) March 21, 2025
Simon Holmstrom rifles a goal against the Canadiens!
“Islanders’ fans can rejoice because Lou Lamoriello acquired a fantastic prospect to contribute to the future of the franchise. ” –Regarding the acquisition of Calum Ritchie
Bad Vibes
Wednesday night’s overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks indicates the Islanders are still figuring out their lineup. Brock Nelson’s departure along with numerous injuries have caused complications with their production on both sides of the ice. The Islanders were without a substantial portion of their defensive corps, which subsequently led to the additions of Tony DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich, and Adam Boqvist. The team will also be without Mat Barzal for the foreseeable future.
While players like Simon Holmstrom and Maxim Tsyplakov have stepped up their game, the Islanders are continuing to struggle on special teams. They currently have a 30th ranked penalty kill with a 71.9% success rate, and rank 32nd on the power play at 12.4%. The Islanders need to find an answer to their special teams if they want to have a chance to compete for a playoff spot and then in the playoffs themselves.
The franchise lost a key piece when Nelson was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on March 6th on the night before the trade deadline. While Nelson will be reunited with another former Islander in Devon Toews, the Avalanche gave up a substantial amount of their future assets for a deep playoff run. Nevertheless, the Islanders lost a franchise cornerstone, but will still have resources to attempt a key retool this offseason. For now, JG Pageau will hold down the fort on the second line, but the second-line center position will be another question the Islanders will need to address in the offseason.
Overall Vibe
General manager Lou Lamoriello didn’t necessarily pull the plug by dealing Nelson. The center was traded due to contract reasons, while Kyle Palmieri and JG Pageau were still kept around despite what they might have garnered at the deadline.
Pageau is currently taking over the second-line center role with Kyle Palmieri working out an extension with the team. While it is understandable for fans to be frustrated that Lamoriello refused to take further advantage of the deadline, it’s clear he didn’t deal out these older contacts because he was dissatisfied with the potential returns.
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While it is tempting to give them them a 3 for climbing back into the playoff race, the vibe meter sticks at 2 given their inability to seize that last wild card spot despite getting help from the rest of the league. The level of uncertainty surrounding the franchise leading into the offseason does not help either.
The Islanders received a top-20 prospect in Calum Ritchie and a first round pick in either 2026 or 2027 which is a haul for a player like Brock Nelson. While the Islanders may not reach the post-season, fans could still consider this a win-win scenario.
If the Islanders do make the playoffs, it will be a testament to their tenacity and a deserving reward for battling through a tough schedule to end the season. If they miss the playoffs, Lamoriello will have an opportunity to make significant changes this offseason with the potential arrival of a top-10, or even top-5 prospect, to join Calum Ritchie and Cole Eiserman in the pipeline.
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