ESPN’s latest top-100 NHL player rankings gave the Islanders a notable showing, with four names landing on the list and one especially eye-catching placement at the top of the group.
That player was Matthew Schaefer, who came in at No. 16.
For a 19-year-old defenseman who wasn’t ranked at all a year ago, that’s a massive rise, and ESPN’s placement says plenty about how quickly his stock has surged after a rookie season that brought him the Calder Trophy. Greg Wyshynski noted that putting a second-year player that high could raise eyebrows, but tied the ranking to Schaefer’s offensive production and the upside still ahead of him.
Ilya Sorokin was the next Islander to appear, slotting in at No. 27 after being ranked No. 66 last season. The goaltender’s value has only grown, and his seven shutouts last season led the league. He remains the Islanders’ most dependable player and one of the NHL’s top goalies.
Captain Bo Horvat also climbed the board, moving from No. 100 to No. 85. It’s a modest jump, but his impact on the Islanders goes far beyond the numbers attached to his scoring.
The final Islander on the list was Mathew Barzal, who dropped from No. 71 to No. 91. His slide makes sense given the injuries that have interrupted his recent seasons, but his playmaking and creativity are still central to the team’s attack.
Taken together, the rankings paint a pretty clear picture of where the Islanders stand. Schaefer is already being viewed like a rising star, Sorokin made one of the bigger leaps, Horvat edged upward, and Barzal slipped 20 spots. For a team trying to get back to the playoffs, four players in ESPN’s top 100 is a solid sign.
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