Up next in 10
Host Matthew Zator welcomes New York Islanders writers Mike Fink and Michael Ostrower to The Hockey Writers Roundtable to preview the upcoming 2024-25 NHL season.
0:00 Intro
1:51 Forwards - Storylines/Burning Questions
7:09 Islanders' Defense
10:34 Goaltending - Ilya Sorokin & Semyon Varlamov
13:29 How do the Islanders stack up in the Metropolitan Division?
Quick Fire
17:34 Biggest Storyline/Question Mark Going Into the Season
17:57 Breakout Stars
18:38 One Player That Needs to Bounce Back
19:12 Potential X-Factors
20:05 Rookie/Prospect That Could Surprise & Make the Team
21:27 Prospects to Watch
23:14 Who will lead the team in scoring (forwards & defense)?
24:23 Bold Prediction/Hot Take
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0:00
Hello, everybody, and welcome to another preview video here at the Hockey Writers YouTube channel
0:06
And we are up to the New York Islanders. I've got a couple of writers from the Islanders writing team here, Michael Ostrower and Mike
0:12
Fink, two Michaels. As we're going through our our season previews here, Michael, how's it going? Good
0:22
How are you? I'm doing great. Season, depending on when everyone's watching this, the season could be tomorrow
0:29
Hopefully, everything goes, starts really quick because we're recording this in the
0:35
offseason and it's starting to get really annoying with hockey not on
0:40
But Mike, how's it going? Yeah, I'm doing great. It's August. So we're right now as we're recording
0:47
So chugging along for content ideas. But yeah, season's kind of around the corner now with the offseason and all the big moves
0:56
in the rearview mirror. So it's time to look forward a bit to what we got in store. Yeah
1:02
Well, speaking of the Islanders, last season made the playoffs when it didn't look like
1:07
they were going to at times during the season, it looked like they were going to miss it
1:11
But they still made some big changes throughout the season. They fired their head coach, replacement Patrick Waugh, who's going to get his first training
1:18
camp with the team and first season, hopefully. I don't think he's getting fired
1:23
I would assume he won't be. It's always big for a new coach getting a full training camp and getting his systems
1:30
in place right from day one. So that's going to be a big thing going forward here for the Islanders
1:35
Part of the draft, they got a first round pick for the first time in a long time
1:39
They actually drafted someone and got a pretty good guy in Cole Iserman
1:44
So overall, the season was pretty good. Draft got some promising player
1:50
So let's just dive in to our forward group to start. Not many changes
1:55
Anthony Duclair is the only big name being added. But you got pretty much the core coming back with Beau Horvat, Matt Barzell, and guys that
2:07
had a pretty good season last season. Beau Horvat, really good first full season with the team
2:14
And Duclair could add something. So I'll start with you, Michael. What do you think about this forward group
2:20
Is it good enough right now? What do you think about the group overall
2:24
Yeah, I mean, I think it's interesting. It really depends how you look at the team. Because under Waugh, the Islanders were a 100-point pace in the standings group
2:33
And Horvat and Barzell obviously had a lot of chemistry together. Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri played really well alongside one another
2:39
But outside of that, left wing, first two lines, lots of question marks. Bottom six, lots of question marks
2:44
And I think Duclair definitely helps aid some of the questions. He has speed
2:49
He has a good shot. He has that 25-goal upside, 50-point upside, especially if he's on that first line
2:55
So I think that the top six is in a pretty good spot
2:59
I'd say probably above league average, and will suit the Islanders well
3:03
But we really have no idea what the bottom six will look like. And I think that'll be a big difference in where the team ends up in the standings
3:11
You could have countless different line combinations. I mean, you have probably seven or eight guys who could be playing in the bottom six
3:17
You have a few AHLers who are hoping to earn spots in the bottom six. So really, it'll be interesting to see how Law deploys his depth pieces early on, especially
3:26
preseason training camp to start the season. And you have a lot of guys who would have great seasons, Wallstrom, Holmstrom, both
3:34
Pacheco, all three could have 20-plus goal campaigns, or both of them could be in their last seasons on Long Island
3:39
So it'll be interesting to see what happens there. Yeah, I mean, they still got a pretty good first line when you look at it
3:47
That had a really good season, and it seemed like Barzel and Horvat really connected together
3:53
and could potentially do even more this season. You'd hope so, because Horvat's still in that really long-term deal
4:00
You're hoping he can still do what he's been doing. But yeah, it is a group that's going to be interesting to watch, because I think the
4:07
top, like I say, the top six is probably pretty good. But when you're looking at the other guys, I'm not really sure
4:15
They were really good with Waa, so maybe a full season, we'll see. Mike, what do you think about the forward group
4:20
Is there anything you want to kind of add, concerns maybe about the group going into
4:25
the season? It is crazy to think about how it's flip-flopped from a few years ago
4:31
A few years ago, when Barry Trotz was running the team, the story was they don't have a
4:35
great top end of their roster, and it was all depth. Now it's the opposite, where you have Barzel, Horvat, Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri
4:44
They're basically contributing most, if not all, the offense, and the rest of the offense
4:48
falls off. And there's two layers to, I think, their problems. One is obviously depth, where after those top two lines, after those top four skaters
5:00
where is the offense coming from? Where are the goals coming from? And you have skaters who can maybe squint and see, let's say Anders Lee, if he can turn
5:10
back the clock a bit, even though all the signs are pointing against that
5:14
Or if Simon Holmstrom keeps getting, well really, if he just keeps playing on the penalty
5:20
kill, because that's where all his goals are coming from, but it's the funniest oddity
5:25
But anyway, that's the first issue, that they don't have, there's no depth, you don't know
5:30
where it's coming from. And then the other part, which is kind of a bigger issue, is they don't have a lot of
5:36
skaters that can beat you in multiple ways, which I think really shows its ugly head
5:42
when the playoffs are all around. When they play a team like the Hurricanes, which they've done two years in a row, really
5:47
when they play the good teams, which half the Eastern Conference is now, where once
5:51
they force Horvat, hey Horvat, you can't just be a shooter, you gotta create offense as
5:56
a passer, or you need Barzel to really start shooting, which he did last year, and that
6:00
made him an all-star. Once you ask those skaters to adapt and become more versatile, they don't have that, which
6:07
also is why you want them to make a move at the deadline. You want them to add a versatile winger who can do all these things, but that's the second
6:15
layer to it. I mean, you could also kind of dive into the power play, which has just been awful for
6:19
years, but that goes without saying. We just are like, yeah, might as well decline the penalty, but we can't do that in hockey
6:26
If they could, they would. It's been that bad. Yeah, it's sometimes you don't want to watch a power play
6:35
It's like, no, no, no, please, no, I don't want it. We'll just, we'll play five on five
6:40
I think there was one time in which Goring said that on a broadcast, he was like, they
6:44
should just decline this penalty, because they were like 0 for 4, and I think they allowed
6:49
a goal, and it's one of those, there are teams like that, the Islanders have become that
6:53
but hopefully this year, actually, if Dobson's just playing that power play point man number
7:00
one, that it does change a bit, but yeah, that's the other layer, I guess, of the offense
7:06
All right, well, you mentioned Noah Dobson, a move to the defense, and he's leading the way
7:12
He's probably, well, not probably, he is their best defenseman, top pairing, and really came
7:18
into his own this past season, and looking to take a next step this season
7:24
So I'll start with you, I'll keep, stay with you, Mike, on the defense, what do you think
7:29
about it? I mean, they didn't add, I don't think they added anyone on the T group, it's still the same
7:37
They kind of, they re-signed Riley. Riley, well, he was re-signed, he did play towards the end, right
7:41
So I mean, overall, they're pretty much the same group. What do you think
7:45
Is this group good enough for this season, or do they need something else
7:53
It's one of those glass half full, glass half empties. If you think that Scott Mayfield really was hurt last year, and really could not play
8:01
on that, had a leg, I think it was an ankle issue, or a lower body injury that just held
8:08
him back, if you think that that really was the reason why he was not playing well the
8:12
entire season, and he was a liability, he had to miss the second half, and you see him
8:17
coming back, and you see Pelican Pollock not turning back the clock, but returning to what
8:22
we've seen them in the past few years, this defense is a lot better
8:26
And part two of that is, when Patrick Waugh came in, the defense was structured, they
8:31
played disciplined, and really just a complete reversal of what they looked like under Lambert
8:37
If you say, if you could say, that's what happened, and this is what you're gonna see
8:41
you could look at this defense as being one of the better defensive units in the NHL
8:46
not a top five unit, but a top ten unit, but the reality is right now, is Mayfield is on
8:53
the decline, he hasn't really played, he really hasn't been playing as well as he was a few
8:59
years ago, you could even go back to when Barry Trotz was their coach, he's I think
9:05
now 31, and that contract looks real bad, just signed a seven year deal, and you might
9:11
have to buy it out sooner rather than later, which is not what you want, and Pelican Pollock
9:17
each of the last two seasons, they've battled injuries, and they have not looked the same
9:22
they've not been that top pairing, it's really been Alexander Romanov and Noah Dobson
9:27
So right now, I'd say the unit isn't good enough, Mike Riley's being asked to basically
9:32
be a top four defenseman with the injuries and the decline of some of the other skaters
9:39
and it is gonna be an issue, because unless those players are available, you might have
9:43
to either A, look at the prospect pool, or B, maybe make a move, but the other part of
9:50
it is it's hard to move on from some of these guys, because all these long-term contracts
9:54
with no movement clauses attached to them, so it is harder to move back
10:00
I would bet on Pelican Pollock returning to form, Mayfield though, I don't know, I
10:05
don't see it as much, but the good news is you have Dobson and Romanov playing more nice
10:09
times, that does help. That's true. Mayfield's gonna, yeah, I agree, I think he's the biggest question mark coming in, he signed
10:17
that massive deal that I didn't understand at the time, and I still don't understand
10:23
and he hasn't, of course, his first season in it, he's hurt
10:27
So we'll see if he can be a guy that can do something this season
10:33
Michael, moving to the goaltending, Ilya Sorokin, I mean, arguably he still didn't have a really
10:41
good season this past season, he kind of was taken over, Romanov kind of took his spot
10:46
at the end of the season there. Is that a big thing, does Sorokin have to be the number one again, that star goaltender
10:54
that he was a Benz and Trophy caliber, not last season, the season before, is that the
11:01
biggest thing? Romanov is good, but I don't think he's the answer, Sorokin, I think Sorokin should be
11:07
the guy. Yeah, I mean, examining Sorokin's season last year and projecting him for this year, it's
11:13
you know, my opinion, so interesting, because I feel like he really didn't have too bad
11:18
of a year, he just gave up a lot of really easy goals, you know, shots from the point
11:22
where he was screened and deflection got past him or just a mental lapse
11:27
And he was still pretty good on the high danger opportunities, breakaways, you know, stuff
11:31
like that, that most goaltenders aren't saving, he still made those saves. I think a lot of it will come down to having a healthier defense
11:38
And that'll really help him a lot in the penalty kill, because I feel like that's really where he struggled
11:43
And the numbers kind of support that where he was just, you know, he couldn't save anything
11:47
on the penalty kill. And it was rough. How can Puluak hopefully back fully healthy, even Mayfield, who, you know, who's been a
11:54
staple on the penalty kill for a while and getting Dobson off the unit, not that Dobson
11:58
was bad, but just he was always fatigued and letting him rest. I think, I think Sorokin's due for a better year on the score sheet, his numbers will
12:07
look better. And I'm really not concerned. Like I think he, he seems still at 28 or 29, he's still pretty young
12:14
He's, he's still obviously he has the ability to be the best goaltender in the NHL or top
12:20
three at the very least. So I'm not too concerned there. And like you said, with Varlamov, he's, he's a good starter
12:26
I don't think he's good enough to take the Islanders to where they want to be
12:30
But I feel confident that if, you know, on the second night of back to backs or whatever
12:35
Varlamov can still steal wins. And he's, I feel like we know what we're going to get from him
12:40
He's a staple goaltender, you know, stable. He saves the obvious ones
12:44
He doesn't always make the flashy saves, but he'll give you a shot to win every night
12:48
So yeah, I think the goaltending is in a good spot and Sorokin's just going to make the
12:53
easy saves and the defense has got to do their job too
12:58
I mean, I still think he's a top, I want to say he's still like a top five goaltender
13:03
in the league, even though he didn't have the best season last year. But the thing is, yeah, I agree
13:09
makes a big difference for a goaltender and those high danger chances that he's saving them
13:15
That's a big thing. If you can reduce those amount and he makes the saves that of course he should
13:22
That's that's again, a top five goaltender. So we'll see. We'll see if he can he can do that
13:28
All right, talking about the division, the Metro is probably one of the tougher divisions
13:33
and some interesting teams in it. I mean, you're looking at the top two are definitely the Hurricanes and the Rangers
13:41
still and the Islanders were third this past season. Then you got all the weird teams below them that you're not even sure of
13:48
The Penguins, not sure where they're going to be this year. Capitals, same thing
13:51
The Devils should take a big boost so they could be in that mix
13:55
Now challenging for the third spot. Michael, what do you think about this Metro division
14:02
Are the Islanders still that third team or are they going to drop
14:06
They could be. They could be a third team. I think it depends a lot more how other teams perform than they do
14:12
I think I know we're going to get from the Islanders and I think if any of the five teams
14:17
below them takes the jump, like you said, it's going to be the Devils. New coaching, a few new additions on the defense and everyone should be healthy there
14:25
So I'd imagine they take the jump potentially into the top two in the division
14:30
From there, I'm not really too concerned about the Blue Jackets or Flyers
14:34
Pretty safe. Penguins I don't think are there. I like some of the moves the Capitals made, but we'll see if they can build on last season
14:42
and what OV does and how Pierre-Luc Dubois does. I feel pretty good about the Islanders being the top half of the division
14:49
I'd be more so concerned about the Atlantic division for the wildcard spots
14:53
If those spots are going to be attainable with 93 or 94 points like they were last season
14:57
or if it's going to take 97 or 98 points. So that's where my attention will be the whole year, that wildcard race
15:04
Yeah, the Atlantic is, talk about tough. They're probably one of the tougher divisions and interesting ones again, that bottom half
15:14
with the Sabres and Senators and Red Wings all supposed to take steps forward, yet they
15:21
can't seem to. So one of these years they will, and they can have it really interesting
15:28
Mike do you agree? Is that where the Islanders are? Are they the third
15:31
Yeah, and the more Michael talked about it, the more I agree that the Metro isn't that
15:37
strong as I think people, when they usually look at it, usually I think it's really good
15:42
You have the Blue Jackets who have really been a mess the past year. The Flyers are going to be an interesting team just because they looked good the first
15:48
half but fell apart in the second half. And you could say they're still rebuilding, so we'll see what happens there
15:56
The Islanders are in that mix with, I mean if the Devils have the ceiling floor type
16:03
of team where they could be the second or third, or even the best team in that division
16:08
or they could also struggle again if the same issues happen for them this year
16:13
The Islanders are in the middle of that group. Last year I said I think the Rangers are taking a step back and they took a step forward
16:19
So with that in mind, I think the Rangers are going to easily walk away with the President's
16:23
Trophy, no struggles at all, no issues with their roster. They're going to easily..
16:29
So the Islanders have no chance of catching up to them, obviously, but they're going to be..
16:34
The Rangers, Hurricanes, then you have the Islanders and Devils in that mix, and then
16:40
you really have to worry about the other... Well you have the Atlantic Division, the wild card race, which last year was Elliott Freeman
16:48
called it a crab race because no one was moving forward, everyone was moving sideways
16:53
So I think this year it's going to be a lot more competitive, obviously
16:56
So that's really where your attention is, is if they are the fourth best team, is that
17:02
enough to get them into the playoffs? And bigger picture, is that even enough to make a cup run, which I don't think it is
17:08
So if that's your goal, then you really got to rethink things
17:13
Yeah, the Atlantic, I think, is going to be the deciding factor with the Islanders, too
17:20
I agree with that, too. All right, let's talk, let's do some quick fire
17:26
And these are quick questions that, first thing that comes to mind, I can have a little
17:30
bit of explanation, but let's start here. And biggest storyline or question mark going into 2024-25
17:37
And I'll start with you, Michael, on this one. I go Sirocco
17:42
If he can really return to form, and we already talked about it, but yeah, if he can bounce
17:48
back to that best of conversation. What about you, Mike? Depth, where is it coming from
17:53
Where's the scoring? Where's the offense? All right, a breakout star. Mike, I'll start with you
18:01
Breakout star, I don't think, I think breakout player will go with Kyle McClain
18:05
I think if he can be that fourth line center, great. All right, Michael, what about you
18:12
I'd say maybe breakout. Someone that can breakout doesn't necessarily have to become a star
18:17
I mean, I don't really think there are too many candidates. I think DeClaire, first time in his career, he really feels comfortable on the team
18:25
Yeah, I can see that. And hopefully for his sake, too, because he has bounced around a bit and he has a lot
18:31
of talent. He just can't seem to completely do it consistently over a few seasons
18:37
All right, bounce back. And I'll stay with you, Michael. Who needs to bounce back this season
18:44
I mean, I think like we've talked about Sorokin, obviously, but I'll go Mayfield as the other option. Agreed
18:54
He definitely needs to. He has to stay healthy. I think that's his thing. If he stays healthy, I think that's a big enough bounce back for him
19:00
Mike, what about you? You know what's funny is I said if Michael says Sorokin, I'm going to say Mayfield
19:06
He said Mayfield, I'm thinking Sorokin. There you go. An X factor this season
19:14
And I'll stay with you, Mike, on that. Brock Nelson, either A, he's close to a 40 goal score, a key player on the second line
19:22
or B, he's the guy who's getting traded. He's one of the guys who gets traded
19:26
So he's really the X factor. Go either way. On the trade note, maybe Kyle Palmieri also, because he's also a free agent
19:33
So same story out to a lesser degree. All right, Michael, what do you think
19:37
I was going to say the same exact thing, I think. I think Brock Nelson needs to keep scoring
19:44
If he only scores 25 goals, which there's no reason to believe that'll happen, but if it does, the Islanders are toast
19:49
And if he can still score 40 goals, the Islanders will be in the playoff race until the very end
19:55
For sure. I think they're, well, we said their top six is pretty good
19:59
And he can definitely do that. That's a big thing. All right, let's shift to prospects and rookies
20:05
A couple questions here. Michael, I'll start with you. Is there a rookie or a prospect that could surprise and make the roster out to count? No. No
20:17
I think someone who I watched a lot last year was Alex Jeffries, and he really impressed me
20:24
But I mean, there's just no room for him to risk in the lineup, and especially no defensive
20:30
prospects either. So, you know, maybe if a few injuries occurred down the line or if that bottom six really
20:36
struggled, he could earn a call-up. But if a new face earned an opening night roster spot out of the preseason, I would
20:43
be shocked. I would be absolutely shocked. Yeah, there's not a lot of space for these guys
20:47
They have to be really impressive to force a trade or something. You need them on the team
20:52
Mike, do you agree with that? Is there not really? Yeah. I mean, the other part is the farm system isn't that great
20:59
Bridgeport wasn't that great last year. Jeffries had a cup of coffee with Bridgeport last year, so after a full season there, he
21:06
might make it next year or maybe in an April call-up. But yeah, if I have to pick one, if I have to, it would be Dufour
21:15
If they're like, all right, he's ready. He's a good shooter on the wing, they'll call him up
21:20
It's him or Maggio or the top two prospects after that kind of falls off. So we'll go with Dufour
21:25
All right. Now away from surprises. Just prospects in general that everyone should be watching
21:33
There's an obvious one. We mentioned him at the top of the show. But Michael, who do you got that everyone should be watching this season
21:39
I mean, like we said, the obvious ones, Eisenman. I mean, how can you not watch him
21:44
And he's just such a lethal shooter. And then another one, a lesser known prospect, Quinn Finley of Wisconsin
21:51
He is such a good wrist shot, I think. As left wing playing NCAA, he's accessible for most outlanders to watch, even on TV
22:00
He's someone that has a lot to work on. But if he can really take that next step for a Wisconsin team that lost a few players in
22:07
their four-court, it'll be interesting to see how he can really capitalize on this opportunity
22:11
and if he can make a serious run for a three-tridential gig
22:15
All right, Mike, you got anyone else that everyone should be watching here
22:20
Yeah, I said Dufour, I said Maggio. There are some defensemen that are coming into Bridgeport
22:26
I think Isaiah George, Cali O'Dellia. So you can monitor what they're going to look like
22:32
Last year, for a few starts, Henrikh Tikkinen was their goaltender. And I'm like, with watching him, I'm like, you get really excited when you see like a
22:41
6'7'' goaltender who has flexibility like that. But it's such a random position
22:47
I'm like, you know what? We're not making any predictions on him yet
22:51
He's still like 23, I think. But he's fun to watch, I'll say that
22:57
So Bridgeport hopefully has some exciting games with him. Yeah. Let's hope the 8th Bridgeport have a better team or play better this coming season
23:10
Much more exciting to watch a team that's winning. All right, predictions
23:15
Michael, who's going to lead the team in scoring? There's some, again, two guys that are probably going to be..
23:21
Actually, I guess there'd be a few guys, but who's going to lead the team? Oh, Michael, yeah
23:29
Did I say who's going to lead the team? I don't know
23:33
I could have stopped you. I think... Yeah, so I mean, for forwards, I think goals will be Brock Nelson with the bohor of that
23:40
being right there. And then points, gotta go Barzal. I mean, I'd be pretty surprised if it was someone else, at least on a per-game basis
23:47
Defense, all Dobson, goals and points. Yeah, I think defense is pretty obvious
23:55
And then the forward core has Horvat, Barzal, Nelson. It could be any of those three
23:59
Mike, I'm sure you agree with that. Yeah, Dobson, Barzal, those are your two
24:06
The one I would say is Horvat leads them in goals this year. He was close last year to leading them in goals
24:12
So we'll go with him to lead, even though it really could be him or Nelson who do it
24:18
I'll pick Horvat this year to lead them in goals. All right
24:22
Mike, a bold prediction or a hot take for this season? Bold prediction
24:28
I don't know how bold this is, but this one could be pretty good just because we're circling it
24:33
Patrick Waugh wins the Jack Adams. I hope I got the award right
24:38
I know there's a GM award. He wins the Jack Adams, a full training camp of the team
24:44
It's kind of similar. You get the similar vibes too. If everything goes right. We had Rick talk with Vancouver where after he got, you know, we had that half way, you
24:52
know, the abbreviated stint with them halfway through the season, but then a full training
24:58
camp gets that team ready from the beginning of the season and they're just playing great
25:03
across the board. So that's the that's a bold one, although it's not really so bold because they don't
25:08
give it to Rod Brinton already. No, every year. True. Michael, what about you
25:15
You got a bold prediction. Yeah, I'll go Barzal 100 points and or 30 goals
25:22
I think I think he could be really, really good alongside DeClaris if they really can
25:27
click alongside one another. Barzal, he hasn't had the same season as he had in his rookie season since then. Right
25:37
He hasn't had that. Last year was close. Last year was pretty good. He beat me in points-dated games
25:41
So yeah, I think the rookie season was 85 points. Last year he set a career high in goals, I think 23 by one
25:48
Yeah, by one goal from his rookie season. So yeah, because he had 85, 80 this
25:52
Yeah, I think so. He's a point a game this past season. So I think one other bold one would be to say Dobson actually scores 20 goals because
26:00
he's had 13, 13. And then this last year he had 10. But if he just starts shooting on shooting the puck on that, getting that puck on that
26:08
then he'll get more goals there. So I feel like this season, the last season, he had like eight goals in the first 30 or
26:14
so games. And then he kind of slowed down. Yeah. But he started on fire
26:18
Yeah, I think might have been last. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we'll see
26:24
I think Barzell definitely can push 100 points. I mean, especially if he shoots a lot more
26:30
I mean, he had a career high in shots this past season. So 240
26:34
So I mean, that that's something I think he's gonna he's gonna need to do because he has
26:40
a really good shot, but he seems to always pass the puck. Last year it in
26:45
That's the big catch. Yeah, there you go. All right. Final thing
26:49
Now, where are they finishing? We've kind of danced around it being third in the division
26:55
Where are they going to finish in the overall standing? So I guess in the in the east, Michael, where are they finishing
27:04
I would be very surprised if they finish with something other than 87 to 95 points
27:09
I think I think we'll go 43 or 44 wins and five or six overtime losses gets 92 or so points
27:18
I think I think that's a pretty safe area. Plus or minus three points in the standings
27:22
And anything outside of that range, I'd be shocked. Five or five or six overtime losses
27:28
That's the boldest prediction you've said so far. They had like 20 overtime losses last year
27:34
So crazy number. So that is one of the things. They were the reason that people wanted the rule change
27:41
Yeah, because that was a reason why they made the playoffs. Yeah
27:46
No, it's also the Bruins. That was a big I think the Bruins had like the most in the NHL
27:53
Something like that. The owners definitely were up there. It's like it shouldn't have made like they should know where they were under why they
28:00
were a bit better. I think I just want to check this because I was just shocked at how many they had
28:06
OK, so they had their big thing was blowing leads under Lambert to lose games in overtime
28:12
But even under was just a lot. OK, so the Islanders had 16
28:16
So they had more than the Bruins. Bruins had 15 overtime losses
28:22
You take that away. They are now into the wildcard race rather than second in the division
28:28
So yeah, I don't like that rule. I think if you lose, you lose
28:32
You have no points. Nothing. OK, I mean, does does those does do the Islanders make the playoffs with that, though
28:45
I mean, I think if they I mean, I'll put them at fourth in their division
28:50
That's my that's where I would put them right now. And the question really is, is who in the Atlantic is better than them
28:58
I mean, I think you have your big three or four. I mean, the question is, is Tampa take a step back or forward
29:04
I think they're kind of the question mark because their depth is also non-existent
29:10
So they I mean, they have Gensel, so that helps them. But they're they're in that like fourth place range, which then you got to hope that there
29:20
are four teams, not five, that make it in the Atlantic. That's kind of where I would see them
29:28
They're going to be a wild card or third in the division, just like pretty much what they
29:32
were doing this past last season where they were kind of bouncing around
29:36
So, yeah, it's going to be interesting to watch. I think all the other teams around them is what's going to make make or break what what's
29:44
going to happen. But thanks, Michael. Thanks, Mike, for coming on the show, talking Islanders season coming up
29:49
Make sure checking out all of our stuff at the hockey writers dot com, the sub stack
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