Nov 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic (3) reacts as Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Boyle (11) changes direction during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
There isn’t much going well for the New York Islanders at the moment. They’re last in the Eastern Conference and without much hope of breaking the cycle. Picking our winners and losers isn’t going to be easy.
The New York Islanders are in last place in the Eastern Conference. After last night the Isles could have been in a three-way tie for last with the Arizona Coyotes.
That’s how rough it’s been so far. We’re looking at the bottom of the league again. Most of us thought that the days of us dwelling in the basement of the league were over.
The team just can’t score, the Islanders third leading scorer is Denis Seidenberg. A man brought in after playing well in the World Cup and a year removed from being bought out by the Boston Bruins. Oh, and he’s out with a broken jaw.
The power play is a pile of garbage sitting out in the sun, just stinking up the place at a 10.4% efficiency rating and ranked 27th in the league.
The penalty kill isn’t any better. Once a strength is now a significant weakness. Last season, it was ranked 4th best in the NHL. Now it sits at 24th with a 79.7% efficiency.
The goaltending that bailed us out of so many situations last season hasn’t really been there this season. Halak’s .904 SV% and 3.09 GAA just isn’t keeping the Isles in the games they used to turn into wins last season.
But here we are. It’s going to be hard to find a winner in all of this losing.
Nov 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) and defenseman Victor Hedman (77) block a shot by New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) in front of Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Winner: Brock Nelson
It’s great to see that Brock Nelson is scoring. It’s unfortunate that he’s the only one. Brock being a winner is more a reflection on the team than on him. He’s a winner just because there are so many losers.
His two points in the last four games (1G,1A) puts him right behind John Tavares for second in team scoring with 11 points. After that the scoring depth drops off with the aforementioned Denis Seidenberg at eight points.
And it’s not like Nelson has been some sort of revelation this year. Brock’s just being Brock.
He’s shooting around his 12.4% shooting percentage, and scoring at the same rate that he generally scores at. So again, it’s not that Nelson is this standout player for the Isles.
It’s just that, Tavares aside, he’s the only player that’s shown ay sort of consistency even in this ridiculously turbulent times.
So, Nelson gets a winners vote. Congrats Brock. You’re a winner because your teammates have set the bar so depressingly low.
Oct 30, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and New York Islanders center Ryan Strome (18) fight for the puck during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Loser: Ryan Strome
What is going on with Ryan Strome? Five points in 16 games is not what the Islanders thought they were getting when they drafted him fifth overall in the 2011 NHL draft.
He had that one great year where he scored 50 points, but since then it’s been the sum of a lemming and a cliff. In case you aren’t familiar with mountain rodents, the analogy I’m going for is: “falling off a cliff”.
He’s got fire . He’s being physical. He’s made. He’s frustrated. That’s great and all, but he’s taking a ton of penalties for it. He’s already sitting on 12 penalty minutes, just under half of what he earned all of last season.
Ill-discipline isn’t something the Isles can deal with right now. Remember, their penalty kill is 27th in the league in terms of efficiency.
How much of Strome’s woes can be internalized can be debated. The Islanders keep trying him on the wing and it seems that Strome just isn’t suited for that type of assignment. Although to be fair, the team’s played him at center, and it hasn’t gone much better.
So what’s the cure for Strome. Who knows, but he and the organization need to figure it out. Maybe it’s a change of scenery. Maybe a trade to a new city, a new surrounding can get the best out of Strome.
For that to happen Strome needs to start showing he has vaue, because right now he just isn’t worth much.
Sep 27, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) battle for a loose puck during the first period during a preseason hockey game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Winner: Mathew Barzal
Mathew Barzal got just 2 NHL games under his belt before the Islanders shipped him back to Seattle. They were left with no choice, as there were just too many forwards and not enough empty slots.
Now, why does this classify Barzal as a winner? Well, now he is actually getting playing time on the ice instead of sitting in the press box eating popcorn.
The only way Mathew Barzal will get better is by playing. If you aren’t going to play him send him back to Seattle. The Islanders made the right choice with him and his team seemed to be happy he returned.
#13 pic.twitter.com/x91JaKYoSB
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) November 9, 2016
Barzal had no points in his first two NHL games. His stint will be best known for his well-documented mistake in the penalty box. He played the puck while in the box and took a penalty, a very rookie mistake.
Since returning to Seattle he has 3 assists in two games.
This does not mean the Barzal is a bust because he couldn’t make it on this team. He will get his chance eventually. The Islanders were actually smart to send him back when they realized there would be no room for him anyway.
I would’ve liked to pick someone actually playing as a winner, but the Islanders have played so poorly that nobody sticks out to me.
Nov 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center Anders Lee (27) plays the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Loser: Anders Lee
What the hell happened to Anders Lee? He has been a nonfactor, like most of the offense this year. He’s got just one goal and one assist through 16 games.
Here’s a guy who in his rookie year scored 25 goals and looked like he would be a problem for opposing teams as he regularly wreaked havoc in front of goalies.
He’s a shell of his former self, or his 2014 self that is. He dropped off last year but this year he’s basically a traffic cone on skates. He doesn’t skate well, he doesn’t shoot well, he’s not a great defender, his job is to be in the right place at the right time.
He’s just not drawing any scoring opportunities. At least it looks like Anders figured out that he should go back to the front of the net but he is not picking up the rebounds like he did a few years ago.
He’s a player who looks to have clearly regressed and virtually serves no purpose to this team. I don’t think anyone would cry if he got moved in a trade for a piece. Then again does Anders Lee even have value or is he just a 6’3” 225 pounder who can’t skate, shoot or play physical.
He’s kind of just there, and he’s an expensive accessory at that along with the laundry list of other expensive decorations the Isles have.
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