3 expectations for the NY Islanders this season

We made it. It's been 163 days since the NY Islanders played a meaningful hockey game, but that all returns tonight when they host the Utah Hockey Club in the 2024 season opener.

While many of the faces are the same, this is a very different team from this time last season. Patrick Roy has worked his way through his first training camp with the Islanders and added two top-6 forwards in Maxim Tsyplakov and Anthony Duclair.

Last season was a roller coaster of emotions, but they reached their goal of making the playoffs. This season, they'll have that same goal, but aim to push further into the postseason.

Here are three expectations for the Islanders this season.

Ilya Sorokin will return to form

While it wasn't an awful season as far as NHL standards go, it was the worst season of Ilya Sorokin's professional career as he's set the bar incredibly high. The lasting image of Sorokin from last season will be him sitting in the tunnel with his head down after being pulled in Game 3.

After suffering an off-season back injury that required surgery, Sorokin is ready to start the season but will be on the bench tonight, with there being a good chance he's in the lineup when the Isles travel to Dallas Saturday night.

It's hard to imagine Sorokin having another down season. Roy will make sure to give him less of a workload, rotating Semyon Varlamov often, keeping his star netminder fresh heading into the later months.

The top line will be among the leagues best

Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat have developed something special very quickly without having a consistent third linemate. With the signing of Duclair, they now have that other winger who can keep up with the play and provide another element of skill.

Through camp and preseason, Duclair has integrated seamlessly with his new linemates, as the Isles are set to have their best top line in some time. Barzal should become a point-per-game player with Horvat pushing towards 40 goals and Duclair upwards of 30.

The Islanders will make the playoffs

The Metropolitan Division is nowhere near as strong as years past. The Capitals and Penguins are aging, the Flyers may still not have the horses, and the Blue Jackets are nowhere near ready to compete for a playoff spot. The Rangers and Hurricanes are still among the division's best, but neither team really improved this off-season.

The Islanders should finish in a similar place as last season, but could potentially push to finish higher up the standings.