Islanders' nightmare season might end up becoming the best situation in the NHL

The New York Islanders seem to be in one of the worst situations right now in the NHL, as they are unfortunately the only team other than the Buffalo Sabres to sit at zero points so far in this young season.

Yikes.

That could be a harbinger for a long year, and if the Isles don't improve fast, there could be a fire sale before the Olympic Break, let alone the trade deadline. That's all pretty grim, but there's a flip side to that coin, in which things aren't as bad as they seem.

Here's the good news: If the Isles hang around the bottom of the league's standings long enough, they could finish with the worst points total in hockey. And for as bleak as it sounds, it could be a win for the Isles since they would land the best odds of earning back-to-back No. 1 overall picks.

Ironically, their cross-state rival could give them a run for their money, given the Sabres' awful start that has seen them outscored 10-2 to open the season. But right now, things don't look much better on Long Island, with the Isles having just seven goals for and 13 against, seemingly unable to stop anyone while their scoring woes continue. 

New York Islanders situation looks hopeless until you consider otherwise

If the Isles can bottom out and finish with the best odds to win the top pick, then they could see Gavin McKenna taking the ice along with Matthew Schaefer, setting up a potential Nathan MacKinnon-Cale Makar scenario on the East Coast. 

While a McKenna-Schaefer duo wouldn't be miracle workers immediately, as the Isles would probably be at least a year away from the playoffs, the optimism on Long Island would be at its highest since the 1980s. And we all know how that decade turned out for Isles fans.

Still, with such a rich, deep draft class, the Isles could still find themselves in one of the most desirable positions out there. So, while the games might be hard to watch right now, early returns from Schaefer, three points and a goal in three games, and a high draft pick for 2026, regardless of whether they get the top pick again, this time increasing their odds to land it with the worst points total in hockey. 

Either way, it's not as bad a situation as you might think. And the best advice out there? Just enjoy watching Schaefer develop. The kid has franchise player written all over him, and he's just the first of many high-potential youngsters you're going to see wearing that blue and orange sweater. The wins may not be there, but it doesn't mean you won't have nothing to cheer for.