NHL releases NY Islanders quarter-century team

Second Team

Mat Barzal- Frans Nielsen - Anders Lee
Ryan Pulock - Kenny Jonsson
Semyon Varlamov

Mat Barzal’s arrival on Long Island quickly made the fan base move on from Tavares. An elite skater who won the Calder Trophy his rookie season, Barzal has become the face of the franchise and a player the organization hopes to build around.

Frans Nielsen was the ultimate two-way forward for the Islanders. Whether it be on the second or third line, he was a player who could be turned to in all situations. When it came to the shootout, few could do it better, whether it be his patented backhand into the toy department or a surprise five-hole shot.

Not the fastest or most talented player, nobody works harder than Anders Lee. The Islanders' first 40-goal scorer since Jason Blake, Lee has been a deserving captain and is in the midst of one of his best seasons at 34 years old.

When Ryan Pulock entered the NHL he was known more for his offense and his booming slap shot. Over his career, he’s developed more into a stay-at-home defenseman who adds stability to the back end.

The only Islanders from the early 2000s on this list Kenny Jonsson is one of the most successful and loved Islanders of all time. Inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame in 2012, Jonsson was the ultimate defenseman in blue and orange during his nine seasons wearing the Islanders sweater.

People were upset to see Robin Lehner depart from the Islanders, but the play of Semyon Varlamov quickly made fans fall in love with their new netminder. Though Sorokin had taken control of the crease, Varly was between the pipes for the Semi/Conference Finals runs.