The Islanders’ 2017-18 season was the kind of year that sticks with a fan base, even when everyone involved would probably rather move on.
Doug Weight entered the year after finishing the previous season as interim head coach, then earning the full-time job on April 12, 2017 after going 24-12-4 to close out 2016-17. Once the new season got rolling, the style was clear: fast, loose, and at times completely abandoned on the defensive end.
That approach made for plenty of offense. The Islanders ranked eighth in goals scored per game at 3.18, but the tradeoff was brutal. They finished 31st out of 31 teams in goals allowed, giving up 3.57 per game.
Mat Barzal was one of the biggest bright spots in the chaos. After not making the team in his first season following the draft, he exploded in his rookie year with 85 points, including 22 goals and 63 assists. That total remains his career high, and he capped it with three 5-point games on the way to the Calder Trophy.
Even with 80 points, the Islanders were still 17 points out of playoff position, and the offseason only deepened the shakeup. On June 5, 2018, both Weight and general manager Garth Snow were dismissed. Soon after, the organization brought in Lou Lamoriello as GM and Barry Trotz as head coach, just weeks after Trotz guided the Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup title.
The biggest move, though, was still waiting. John Tavares had said repeatedly that his heart was set on staying with the Islanders, but on July 1, 2018, he signed a 7-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and left Long Island as captain to return to his hometown team.
For Islanders fans, 2017-18 was memorable. It just wasn’t memorable for the reasons they wanted.
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Islanders Have One PTO Gamble Fans Will Instantly Recognize
Professional tryouts have become one of those late-summer NHL devices teams lean on when they want a closer look without making a real commitment, and the Islanders are no stranger to the idea after recently bringing in Matt Martin on a PTO. For a club still sorting through its depth and trying to find the right mix for training camp, the format at least keeps an experienced name in the conversation without tying the front office to a guaranteed deal.
One especially familiar option has surfaced in the background: Patrik Laine, whose shot and scoring touch still carry obvious appeal even as injury concerns continue to shape his market. The fit is not simple, though, because his game has long come with defensive questions that can be tough to square with Pete DeBoers system, which is why the Islanders could be left weighing upside against structure if his free-agent path keeps drifting toward a tryout rather than a contract. [Read more 🡒]
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Josh Kotai adds a different kind of intrigue because goaltending can change quickly, and the Islanders will be paying close attention to how he handles a chance to fight for ice time in the AHL. None of these paths is finished yet, which is exactly why the year ahead matters so much, with each player carrying a different kind of pressure and a different kind of upside as the organization tries to see who can turn promise into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders May Still Be Stuck In The Same Frustrating Spot
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A recent Daily Faceoff projection only added to that feeling, slotting the Islanders 18th in the league in 2030 and leaving them just outside the playoff picture. There is real reason for optimism in Schaefer and the rest of the prospect group, but the team also has a roster built around a number of long-term commitments that could keep the ceiling from rising quickly, which makes the next few years pivotal for whether this group finally climbs out of that familiar spot. [Read more 🡒]