The Islanders missed the playoffs by one point in 2016-17, falling short despite a strong finish under interim head coach Doug Weight. This summer the team removed the interim tag from Weight's title and will move forward with their popular former captain as its bench boss. This certainly is good news for franchise superstar John Tavares, a good friend of Weight's; and making JT happy is a smart move by the Islanders, who have yet been able to sign him to a contract extension despite his UFA status looming July 1.
The Tavares story will dominate the Isles narrative all season, unless he does sign an extension at some point.
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Also this summer, the Islanders picked up Jordan Eberle from the Oilers to ride shotgun with Tavares, acquiring him at the expense of disappointing young forward Ryan Strome. They also traded a key member of their defense corps, Travis Hamonic, to stock up on future draft picks. The hope is the Isles now have a slew of intriguing assets — pick and young players — to swing a major trade, perhaps for Colorado's Matt Duchene.
A trade of that nature would help the team return to the playoffs, while also making Tavares feel good about the on-ice future and commitment of the organization. That's what you'd call a win-win for the Isles.
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New York Islanders schedule 2017-18
The Islanders open the regular season playing on consecutive nights, skating against the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Friday, Oct. 6 before hosting the Sabres the next night in their home opener at Barclays Center. It's a busy first month for the Isles, who play 12 games in October including the first of four contests this season against their arch-rival Rangers on the 19th at Madison Square Garden. Also included in October is the California road trip from the 11th through the 15th.
November features a tasty home and home set with the Flyers which bookends Thanksgiving. The Isles host their division rivals on Nov. 22 and then play a 4:00 PM rematch in Philadelphia on the 24th.
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The month of December begins with 12 games in a 23-day span for the Islanders, including a four-game road trip to south Florida, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Boston from the 4th through the 9th. There's also a five-game homestand -- equaling the longest string of consecutive games at Barclays this season -- later in the month from the 16th through the 27th.
The second five-game homestand runs from March 18-26. Preceding that homestand the Islanders play an intriguing later-season home and home with another division rival, hosting the Capitals on the 15th before playing down in D.C. the following night.
New York Islanders key offseason additions
Jordan Eberle (trade), Kristers Gudlevskis (trade)
New York Islanders key offseason departures
Travis Hamonic (trade), Ryan Strome (trade), Mikhail Grabovski (trade), J.F. Berube (expansion draft)
New York Islanders projected lineup
Forwards
Anders Lee-John Tavares-Jordan Eberle
Andrew Ladd-Brock Nelson-Josh Bailey
Jason Chimera-Anthony Beauvillier-Josh Ho-Sang
Nikolay Kulemin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Defense
Nick Leddy-Johnny Boychuk
Calvin de Haan-Ryan Pulock
Thomas Hickey-Dennis Seidenberg
Goalies
Jaroslav Halak
Thomas Greiss
New York Islanders best-case scenario
There are so many variables at play here that arguments can be made for the Islanders returning to the playoffs this season or for the team to finish near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings, just ahead of the Devils.
It is vital the Islanders avoid the same terrible start that sabotaged their season a year ago. Should Doug Weight have similar success as when he replaced Jack Capuano as coach last January, the Islanders will be in a good spot to contend this season.
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Either Jaroslav Halak or Thomas Greiss needs to emerge as a consistent No. 1 goalie, though, and the pair must prove to be a strength as a tandem this season as opposed to the often-confusing mess it was recently, when J.F. Berube was also in the mix creating a bizarre three-goalie approach in goal.
Anders Lee took off with 34 goals last year and must continue to be that scoring power forward, while youngsters like Anthony Beauvillier, Josh Ho-Sang, Matt Barzal and Michael Dal Colle need to take the next step and be regular contributors --assuming at least the first two, if not all four, play in the NHL at some point this season.
The Isles also need Jordan Eberle to have chemistry with John Tavares and be the finisher JT has long-sought on his wing. And a positive resolution to Tavares' contract situation, of course, is the most important thing on GM Garth Snow's to-do list this season.