New York Islanders Three Answered Questions During This Offseason

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 16: Assistant coach Jim Hiller and head coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs watch from the bench during the third period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 16, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Maple Leafs 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Question: Will They Address the Power Play?

The Islanders power play was one of the worst in the NHL last season. With a 14.5 percent efficiency on the power play, the New York Islanders needed to do something to fix their power play going into 2019-20.

Whether it was a new zone entry strategy, maybe get a player who’s good on the power play, or maybe even get a coach who can run a power play. If they could do any of those they might have a chance to fix an awful power play.

Answer: Yeah, they’ve tried to address the power play.

By bringing in Jim Hiller they’re trying to address the power play.

The Islanders brought in former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Jim Hiller to be their power play guy. In the four years, Hiller was with the Leafs, they averaged a 21.3 efficiency on the power play.

Before the Leafs, Hiller coached the Detroit Red Wings power play. He was able to lift it up from a 17 percent efficiency in 2013-14 to 23.8 percent efficient in 2014-15. The man knows how to get a power play going, and he’s behind the bench for the Islanders now.

The team also brought in Derick Brassard in the offseason. Say what you will, but Brassard is a better option on the power play than Cal Clutterbuck.

In the seven seasons between 2012 and 2016, Brassard put up double-digit point on the man advantage. That last season, 2015-16, Brassard scored a career-high 22 points on the power play. Admittedly, 2016 was a few years ago, but it’s not so far removed to think that the 30-year-old can’t be a positive addition to the power play.

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Will the Islanders now have a top-ranked power play? I wouldn’t put money on it, but it’s not impossible. But it will certainly be better than 14.5 percent efficient.