The NY Islanders make special teams a point of emphasis on day 3 of training camp

The NY Islanders finished the 2024-25 season with 82 points, nine points out of playoff position. While they missed the postseason by a significant amount, with a competent special teams, there's a chance the Isles could have stolen a spot.

The Islanders' power play and penalty kill weren't just bad; they were downright atrocious, finishing 31st in both categories.

The Islanders get to work on special teams

Heading into training camp, Head Coach Patrick said that special teams would be a point of emphasis early on, and today, on day three, both units took the ice under the guidance of new assistant coaches Bob Boughner and Ray Bennett.

"I was very impressed," Patrick Roy said today after camp. "Obviously, we have new coaches. Bob Boughner and Ray Bennett have been doing a really nice job today with them. So it's nice to see how receptive the guys were and how excited the guys were. And we are all (excited). It's nice to go through it early on and make sure that if there's an adjustment along the way to be made, we'll do it."

One player brought in this offseason who can specifically help the power play is Jonathan Drouin. Spending the last two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, Drouin worked alongside Bennett on what has been one of the league's top power play units.

"Ray's a very smart guy," Drouin said. "Very knowledgeable. Especially, having him in Colorado, he's really good pre-scout. He kind of knows what the other teams' weaknesses are or where they're going to try to exploit you."

With a bit more luck in the health department and even an average special teams, the Islanders should be able to make a strong push for postseason play in 2025-26.