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New York Islanders Roundtable: It’s Time for the Difficult Talk

Nov 25, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; New York Islanders celebrate after scoring a goal to tie the game in the third period of the game against San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. The San Jose Sharks defeated the New York Islanders with a score of 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; New York Islanders celebrate after scoring a goal to tie the game in the third period of the game against San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. The San Jose Sharks defeated the New York Islanders with a score of 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Islanders right wing Josh Ho-Sang (66) carries the puck past Philadelphia Flyers center Chris VandeVelde (76) during the second period during a preseason hockey game at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Islanders right wing Josh Ho-Sang (66) carries the puck past Philadelphia Flyers center Chris VandeVelde (76) during the second period during a preseason hockey game at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Chris Lizza

Is it time to retool or rebuild?

The answer to that question is a resounding none of the above. First off, the Islanders have a very deep farm system with a number of top prospects knocking on the door. They include Ilya Sorokin, Devon Toews, Mitchell Vande Sompel, Mathew Barzal, Michael Dal Colle and Kiefer Bellows to name a few. If the Islanders don’t make the playoffs they will at the very least add one more top prospect to this bunch.

Must Read: Down on the Isles Farm

So, there is plenty in the cupboard. If the right trade is out there for a Matt Duchene type forward then Garth Snow should pull the trigger. That should have been done this past summer. That should have been done yesterday, and it’s still on the table until such a time as it’s done.

At the end of the day, it’s up to this group, coaching staff and management to turn this thing around. If they don’t then pending unrestricted free agents Cal Clutterbuck and Thomas Greiss will be moved at the trade deadline for the best package the Isles can get and ownership will be looking for a new GM and head coach come April.

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