The New York Islanders will need to choose between Patrick Roy and Lou Lamoriello

The New York Islanders sit in last place in the Metro Division, three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the seventh spot in the division.

Needless to say, this was not the spot we expected the Isles to be in when the season began. The expectation was that the Islanders would be in the hunt for a playoff spot throughout the season.

Now, the Isles aren’t entirely out of a playoff spot. They are seven points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wildcard spot. That gap, however, is becoming more and more difficult to close with each passing game.

Unfortunately for the Islanders, the margin for error has become razor-thin. All those blown leads at the start of the season have now truly come back to haunt the team. The situation is at a point now where the team must decide if they want to make a run or punt on the season.

The Isles could, optimistically still make a run for a playoff spot. But that would take a significant winning streak just to get back into the hunt. But if the Isles continue to fall out of the race, the lost 2024-25 season could lead to a dilemma: Should the Isles keep Patrick Roy or Lou Lamoriello?

There’s something clearly not working with the team. Therefore, the Isles’ brass must decide if it’s on the coach, the GM, or both.

It will be a tough decision to make, but it will be one that the club has to make this offseason, regardless of the outcome.

New York Islanders must decide whether to rebuild or not

The biggest question surrounding the New York Islanders at the moment is a potential rebuild. Frankly, the team has too many good pieces to kick into a rebuild. Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Ilya Sorokin, and Noah Dobson are all great players a team can easily build around.

So, a retool, much like the Washington Capitals did, could be the best way to go. If that’s the path forward, the team would most likely need to find a GM who can leverage current assets to bring back significant pieces. Those pieces should include picks and prospects to revitalize the roster.

A retool should also involve keeping Patrick Roy at the helm. Roy has shown that he can get the most out of the team. Roy has kept a level head in what has otherwise been one of the toughest seasons in Isles’ recent history.

But if the club is prepared to get into a rebuild, both Roy and Lamoriello need to go. Lamoriello isn’t suitable for a rebuild, while Roy isn’t the type of coach who can sit by three or four seasons of last-place finishes.

Ultimately, the New York Islanders are headed toward a crossroads. The trade deadline will determine what direction the club will take for the next half-decade or so.