Eyes On Isles
Fansided

Islanders five players who could be gone next season

ByMichel Anderson|
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 03: Tom Kuhnhackl #14 of the New York Islanders lays on the ice after being hit by a teammates stick against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 03, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-2 and won the series, 4-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 03: Tom Kuhnhackl #14 of the New York Islanders lays on the ice after being hit by a teammates stick against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 03, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-2 and won the series, 4-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
3 of 6
new york islanders
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 10: Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders looks on against the Washington Capitals during the second period at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Thomas Greiss

This is going to be the final year for Thomas Greiss with the New York Islanders sadly. With his contract set to expire and with Ilya Sorokin waiting to step in, there’s just no room to keep Thomas Greiss on the roster.

He hasn’t been great this year. He’s averaging a 2.74GAA and a 0.913SV% in 28 starts. But that’s something of an anomaly for Greiss who’s typically been rock solid for the New York Islanders ever since Garth Snow signed him as a free agent in 2015.

Yes, there’s that 3.82GAA and 0.892SV% season under Doug Weight. But there are also three other years where Greiss was excellent. Even Vezina worthy.

In his first year with the Isles, 2015-16, Greiss held and average 2.35GAA and 0.925SV% in 38 starts for the Islanders. Thanks to his play in nets the Islanders made it to the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 2003-04.

The heroics didn’t stop there. Thanks to an incredible 2.16GAA and 0.944SV% in six games against the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the 2016 playoffs, the Islanders were able to win their first playoff series in 23 years.

Two years later, he and Robin Lehner formed the best goalie tandem in the league and won the NHL’s Jennings Trophy for the fewest number of goals scored against. That season, Greiss held a 2.28GAA and a 0.927SV% in 39 starts.

Again, Greiss has been great for the Islanders. It’s going to be tough to see him go. But with Sorokin ready for the NHL and Varlamov under contract for another three years, Greiss is the odd man out.

I’m sure he won’t have any issues finding a new team, he’s an excellent goalie. But he won’t be here in 2020-21.

Home/Editorials

Schedule