The NY Islanders will likely miss out on the playoffs and selecting at the top of the draft

It’s been a disappointing season for the NY Islanders to say the least. Ravaged by injury to key players, most of the roster has had to step into unfamiliar roles assuming more responsibility and it hasn’t worked out. Fighting for their playoff lives, the Isles can’t seem to put together another streak to make another late-season push.

With 65 points through 64 games, the Isles are five points out of the second Wild Card position but must leap five teams in the standings. Losing the last two games on their California road trip against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, the schedule doesn’t get any easier as next they’ll host the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, two teams considered favorites to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

The NY Islanders are in no-man’s land

Last year the Islanders were in a similar position, but on this date in 2024, they’d accumulated 72 points, sitting in the second Wild Card spot, before going on a winning streak to end the season, finishing with 94 points and securing third place in the Metro Division.

Now, seven points behind last year's pace, it’ll take another streak to even have a chance at sneaking into the playoffs.

According to MoneyPuck, the Isles have a 16.2% chance of making the playoffs this season. The major difference this year is that they are without Mat Barzal, who will likely miss the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury, and Brock Nelson who was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline.

Many people are turning towards the draft, where the Islanders currently hold the ninth overall pick. In this year's draft, four players appear to sit above the rest, Matthew Schaeffer, Michael Miss, James Hagens, and Porter Martone.

The Nashville Predators currently sit 57 points, holding that fourth overall pick. The Isles will need a lengthy losing streak to even sniff that fourth overall pick and also need the teams in between to do some winning.

According to Thankathon a 5% chance at winning the lottery for both the first and second overall pick, the odds again aren’t in their favor.

There’s a good chance this organization can once again find themselves in that middling ground where they’ll miss out on postseason play, and fail to land a top pick where they can draft a player capable of turning around the franchise.