New York Islanders Jordan Eberle Free Agency Think/Want/Need

2 of 4

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 16: Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders is congratulated by teammae Mathew Barzal #13 after Eberle scored the game winning goal in overtime against the Los Angeles Kings on December 16, 2017 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The New York Islanders defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

What I Think Will Happen With Jordan Eberle?

Barry Trotz has the New York Islanders playing some unbelievable hockey at the moment. It’s not like the New York Islanders are blowing the doors off of everyone they play against. But they’re winning. And they weren’t supposed to be winning.

Going into the 2018-19 seasons the Islanders were a sure thing for the bottom of the Eastern Conference next to the New York Rangers. And now a quarter of the way through the season Barry Trotz has the New York Islanders are knocking on the door of the post-season.

The team still has flaws and it’s lost two big games by big scores. But that’s going to happen to a team riding a 105.44 PDO before that game against Dallas. They’re going to return to the mean. And they did (a little). They now have a 102.8 PDO (before playing the Devils).

But the point still stands, Barry Trotz seems to be able to get these guys to play the way he wants. And when they do, they win. That’s going to continue through the remaining 60 games of the regular season.

By February the New York Islanders will find themselves in a wild-card spot. Meaning they’ll likely keep Jordan Eberle around to push for the post-season and show that this team, while unfancied to go anywhere in September, made it in April.

Jordan Eberle will be allowed to leave in free agency for nothing on July 1st. It isn’t ideal, but if he can help prove that Lou and Barry can win, then maybe, maybe it was worth it?