3 NY Islanders players who MUST bring their A-Game for the second half of 2024-25

While the NY Islanders find themselves in the Metropolitan Division’s basement as of Wednesday, their season isn’t even close to being over. Yeah, it’s been a trying first half for sure, but you can argue that the Isles have found themselves in similar predicaments in recent seasons. 

Last year remains a prime example, as the Islanders looked like they were heading for the exit ramp as the 2023-24 season neared the 82-game mark. But they somehow became one of the better teams in hockey during that down-the-stretch period in late March and early April and snagged a postseason berth. 

The same thing can happen this time around, but it will take a heroic effort from a few players. Each name you’re about to cross below are arguably the most valuable players on Long Island. And if they bring their respective A-Games, the rest of this team will follow. 

Noah Dobson

Even through a so-so campaign, Noah Dobson is still pacing the Islanders blueliners in points with 20. But that’s not enough in Noah Dobson standards, and it’s something everyone in the hockey world would admit. 

Though he’s shown flashes of snapping out of this season-long slump he seems to be in (just one point in the last five contests), the near-point-per-game player he was last year must emerge from the woodwork now if the Isles want a player at the blue line for opponents to respect on a game-by-game basis. 

That means Dobson needs to start making things happen again. It’s something he did when he logged 60 assists last season compared to the measly 15 we’ve seen from him at the halfway point. 

Ilya Sorokin

It’s looking like another up-and-down season, at least by Ilya Sorokin standards, and that can’t happen should the Isles and their fans want another playoff berth in 2025. So far, Sorokin still hasn’t looked like the goalie everyone on Long Island expects him to be, considering his 0.898 save percentage and 2.92 GAA. 

Still, he’s posted a shutout, and his 0.586 quality starts percentage hasn’t been awful. While Sorokin’s showing us more than a few flashes that his elite play is still in there somewhere, that doesn’t mean the consistency’s been present lately, something that hasn’t been the case since 2022-23.

For the Isles to embark on the comeback trail, there’s no question that Sorokin must bring more than just his A-Game. Should that occur once mid-April arrives, then it must remain the case for the postseason. 

Bo Horvat

While everything told me to put Brock Nelson here, if he’s in high demand, then there’s a chance he won’t even be on Long Island within the next couple of months. This would be even truer if the Isles could get a player of value for Nelson and strengthen their own units. 

Yeah, I know that’s wishful thinking, especially if the Islanders keep playing so-so hockey at best. That said, I’m turning my attention to Bo Horvat. Horvat’s knocked down 30-plus goals consistently for years, but through 39 games, he’s logged just 12.

That said, Horvat made his presence known in that 5-4 thriller over the Boston Bruins when he sent two pucks into the net. So maybe he’s once again starting to rediscover that high-octane game that made him such a great player in this league.