New York Islanders Roundtable: Back to the Future

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Dec 1, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; New York Islanders center Shane Prince (11) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the third period at Verizon Center. The Islanders won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Andy Hicks

“In any team sport, the best teams have consistency and chemistry.”

~ Roger Staubach

The New York Islanders are on a slippery slope to nowhere right now. They cannot score goals and are giving up late goals due to……..lack of the three big Cs.

They need confidence and consistency which will bring chemistry. The win against the Calgary Flames will have helped this and, in many ways doing it in the way they did may actually enhance that confidence. They need to build on this confidence and go into the Penguins game knowing they can win.

Confidence goes hand in hand with consistency and chemistry.

The chemistry isn’t there with the forwards right now. Can you blame them? John Tavares and Josh Bailey are they only two players to have had any type of chance to get something going on a line together. The constant changing of lines cannot help the players confidence or consistency.

The Islanders management needs to sit down and work out which 12 forwards give them the best shot at winning the next 6 games and in which combination. Andrew Ladd is being paid top 6 money and has appeared on all 4 lines in the last month. Ladd will come good, so play him where you are paying him to play and get him along side our best player.

Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas play their best hockey when they have a consistent linemate. Brock Nelson is the 2nd top point scorer and this has been done, with a revolving door on either wing. Give him a chance to grow with consistent line mates.

Finally Ryan Strome, not 2 months ago, The New York Islanders announced Strome as the third line center. Why now is he a healthy scratch? It’s because he has again being bunted to the wing. A position, management last season accepted was not his best.

If the management team starts to give consistency to the lines, the chemistry will follow. If and this is a huge if at this point. The Islanders can get 11 points on the board between the Calgary game and the Blue Jackets next Saturday then the League and the confidence, as well as the NHL standings will look and feel very different to right now.