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New York Islanders 3 Things Learned in First Half of 2018-19

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 01: Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders handles bench duties against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on December 01, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders were playing in their first regular season game since April of 2015 when the team moved their home games to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Islanders defeated the Blue Jackets 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 01: Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders handles bench duties against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on December 01, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders were playing in their first regular season game since April of 2015 when the team moved their home games to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Islanders defeated the Blue Jackets 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 26: Head Coach Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders instructs his team against the Washington Capitals during their game at the Barclays Center on November 26, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

With 49 games played in the 2018-19 NHL season what have we learned about the New York Islanders?

There’s still plenty of hockey remaining in the New York Islanders 2018-19 season, but with 49 games already played we can already draw some lessons from what we’ve seen.

It’s remarkable to think of the turnaround they’ve had since last season. They ended the 2017-18 in the lowest possible manner. A full 17 points out of the playoffs and both the GM and head coach looking as smug as can be while the media tried to make sense of what happened.

It didn’t seem like change was coming. The future looked about as bleak as possible. We figured Garth Snow had been in the job for years, had the backing of the previous owner, and would likely continue to be in the job for years.

But just a few weeks after the end of the season owners John Ledecky and Scott Malkin fired Garth Snow and Doug Weight.

They replaced Snow with three-time Stanley Cup GM Lou Lamoriello, and eventually replaced Doug Weight with recent Stanley Cup winner Barry Trotz. Since being hired the two have powered the New York Islanders to the top of the Metropolitan Division, surprising everyone in the process.

With 49 games played in the 2018-19 season, what have we learned about this team so far? What few things has this team taught us since the puck dropped at the start of the season?

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