New York Islanders’ Possible 2013-14 Lineups

Feb 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; New York Islanders head coach

on the bench during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at the First Niagara Center. Islanders beat the Sabres 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

There are many uncertainties and exciting possibilities when it comes to the 2013 – 14 season for the New York Islanders. This has been one of my favorite seasons to look at the potential lineups for opening night. Below will be eight potential lineups, four offensive and four defensive, along with two polls for you to vote on which lineup you would most like to see to start the season.

The decision on who will make the team out of training camp has not been made yet and there is still the possibility of GM Garth Snow making another splash through free agency or a trade, but that makes this even more exciting with so many possibilities. And of course this post will be revisited once these decisions or moves are made.

Without any further ado here are the four potential offensive lineups for the 2013 – 14 season:

1.)
Matt Moulson – John Tavares – Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Josh Bailey – Frans Nielsen – Kyle Okposo
Cal Clutterbuck – Brock Nelson – Michael Grabner
Colin McDonald – Casey Cizikas – Matt Martin

2.)
Moulson – Tavares – Ryan Strome
Bailey – Bouchard – Okposo
Clutterbuck – Nielsen – Grabner
McDonald – Cizikas – Martin

3.)
Moulson – Tavares – Bailey
Bouchard – Strome – Okposo
Grabner – Nielsen – Clutterbuck
McDonald – Cizikas – Martin

4.)
Moulson – Tavares – Bailey
Nelson – Bouchard – Okposo
Clutterbuck – Nielsen – Grabner
McDonald – Cizikas – Martin

Now for the potential defensive lineups:

Mar. 9, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders center

(91), left wing

(26) and defenseman

(3) and defenseman

(47) and right wing

(40) skate on to the ice against the Washington Capitals during the second period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

1.)
Travis Hamonic – Andrew MacDonald
Lubomir Visnovsky – Thomas Hickey
Matt Donovan – Brian Strait

2.)
Hamonic – MacDonald
Visnovsky – Strait
Matt Carkner – Donovan

3.)
Hamonic – MacDonald
Visnovsky – Calvin de Haan
Strait – Hickey

4.)
Hamonic – MacDonald
Visnovsky – de Haan
Strait – Donovan

I am going to leave the goaltending potential and uncertainty for another day. For today Islander fans, remain excited about these potential lineups and what each of these lineups can do in the Islanders’ newly formed division.

Is this the year the Islanders become a true force to be reckoned with?

-SB (@ShaneB_WSIA)