New York Islanders: 25 Bold Predictions For 2018-2019 Season

13 of 26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 20: Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Barclays Center on September 20, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

14: Devon Toews ends up in the top-four before the end of the year

If Devon Toews didn’t get hurt last year he likely would’ve made his NHL debut over Sebastian Aho. Not that Aho was bad, it’s just Toews is more NHL ready and he will show that this year, likely by the halfway point of the season.

When he was healthy in the AHL last year, he thrived, putting up 22 points in 30 games. He’s still with the New York Islanders but he might not have a starting role to kick off the season.

Knowing the Islanders, Luca Sbisa will see more action to kick things off. Luca Sbisa is very bad at hockey, so by the time November rolls around it will be Sbisa that’s the healthy scratch and Toews that’s playing.

Third pair minutes to start seems like fair expectations for Toews but don’t be surprised to see Toews and Pulock together on the second pair before the season’s end.

The Islanders see Toews as a top-four kind of defenseman, and at age 24 years old, he’ll show it in his first season at the NHL level. His deal will become even more of a bargain than Ryan Pulock’s contract, and that’s saying something.