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

By Matt O'Leary

Oct 3, 2018

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view of the arena during the game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Ryan Lomberg /

8: Ross Johnston will lead the team in penalty minutes

Yes, I know Ross Johnston will not play every day but he is still going to lead the team in penalty minutes. Take last year for example, Ross Johnston had 62 penalty minutes in 24 games. That’s an average of approximately 2:40 of penalty minutes per game.

Ross will likely be the 13th forward, and play somewhere between 20-25 games in 2018-2019, possibly more if there’s an injury to any of the bottom six forwards. In that time he should by far lead the team again.

Johnston is a dying breed, he’s a fighter. He’ll probably drop the gloves close to 5 times, which is 25 minutes right there. Toss in a game misconduct or two and we’re right back to the front of the pack.

It’s kind of crazy that someone playing a quarter of the games this year will lead the team in penalty minutes, but he did it last year.

Even Matt Martin, who is a known fighter and played double the games Johnston did last year only had 50 penalty minutes. Johnston and the guy who stands in the penalty box with the players are going to get real friendly this year.