The New York Islanders have a 23% chance of making playoffs

Is it time for New York Islanders to punt on this season?

This question is tough to answer. While we may cling to hope for this season, reality will eventually set in. That reality means potentially punting on the season.

So, what would that look like?

In the short run, it would mean trading away impending free agents like Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. There are plenty of contending teams who could use either player to bolster their top six. The key would be to get a significant enough return to help the club next season.

Also, punting on the season would mean focusing on the Draft. With the Islanders’ prospect pool gradually improving, there’s hope that an infusion of young talent could keep the team competitive for the next few seasons.

The biggest question hanging in the balance at the moment could be when the New York Islanders might decide to punt on this season.

In this business, timing is everything. The Isles will need to decide between now and the 4 Nations Face-Off what they intend to do.

If anything, next week could like decide the Islanders’ fate. The Isles play the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Let’s assume for a moment the Isles come away with two points, there.

That leaves three do-or-die matchups against the Blue Jackets on Monday, the Flyers on Friday, and the Hurricanes on Saturday.

If the Isles can sweep all four games, the club could make a substantial jump in the standings. Winning one or two of those games would effectively dash all playoff hopes.

Losing three or four of those games would basically be the death blow to the Islanders for this season. So, stay tuned because the New York Islanders will need to play like a desperate team over the next seven to ten days just to stay in the playoff race.