New York Islanders: 3 Reasons They Have Success in 2018-19

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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 05: Shane Prince #11 of the New York Islanders heads onto the ice before the game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Barclays Center on November 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

The New York Islanders enter the 2018-19 season with little respect around the league. There are three reasons that they prove everyone wrong.

Ask anyone, they doubt that the New York Islanders can actually make the playoffs this season. Heck, even we have them finishing seventh out of eight in the Metropolitan Division this season.

With the loss of John Tavares and the additions of Valtteri Filppula, Leo Komarov, Tom Kuhnhackl and Robin Lehner in free agency there’s little hope the Isles could do anything this season.

Why should there be? The Islanders lost a point-per-game player and brought in players that scored a combined 60 points.

But if we, the broader NHL viewing public, have learned anything its that anything is possible.

We all saw the Vegas Golden Knights go from not existing last season to picking up anything with a pulse, to winning their division, and then to the Stanley Cup finals. Any doubt in the New York Islanders can be simply countered with: “Yeah, but, the Vegas Golden Knights were a thing.”

True, the Vegas Golden Knights were in a unique situation what with being an expansion franchise and all. But the New York Islanders are also in a unique situation going into 2018-19.

They lost their superstar player in free agency for nothing. They have new management for the first time in twelve years. They have proper coaching for the first time since Al Arbour left. And they’ll play in two different home arenas.

The New York Islanders situation in 2018-19 is absolutely unique.

With that being said, success is possible next season. Here are three reasons why they might be successful in 2018-19.