Why are the Bridgeport Islanders so bad?

The New York Islanders AHL affiliate has had another terrible season. Currently the Bridgeport Islanders sit dead last in the AHL with a record of 15-50-4-3. This gives the squad a points percentage of .257%. 

They have had so many problems that there’s almost too many to point out. Here are my three main reasons why Bridgeport is so bad. 

1. Coaching 

Rick Kowalsky just isn’t a good coach when it comes to winning in the AHL. The question that is usually asked is does that matter? I’d say to a certain extent yes but the point of the AHL is to develop players which he has done well so far. 

When the NHL club has needed call-ups the players have been ready. Isaiah George, Marc Gatcomb, and Marcus Hogberg are all examples of that. George looked solid in his 33 game sample, Gatcomb has been a regular in the lineup, and Hogberg has secured the backup role with Semyon Varlamov being injured. 

In his two seasons as head coach with the team he has a record of 40-88-11-5. I don’t think Kowalsky will get fired but his record over the last two seasons is concerning. 

2. Injuries/ Player Depth 

Before I dive into this I don’t think injuries are why Bridgeport is terrible but it doesn’t help when they have the worst team in the league and have had a ton of injuries this season. 

Bridgeport has had a carousel of players that have been called-up and sent back down whether that’s to the New York Islanders or its the ECHL affiliate Worcester Railers. Some key names that have been out are Julien Gauthier, Fredrik Karlstrom, and Wyatt Newpower. Some of the key players who have been called-up are Hogberg, Jakub Skarek, Gatcomb, and George. 

That’s both their goaltenders, key goal scorers, and defenseman that all have missed time with the squad. While this is expected these minor league teams need to have depth to fill these spots and Bridgeport doesn’t. 

The squad has had weaker players in the league play in most of their games but they have also been able to give other players who are considered prospects opportunities instead of those weaker players. Fifth-round pick Justin Gill started the season in the ECHL and has played a large chunk of games in the AHL this season, as well as goaltender Tristan Lennox who got some action in the AHL after opening the season on the injured list. 

With so many injuries happening to both the NHL and AHL squads, Bridgeport wasn’t able to keep up and it really made them suffer this season. 

3. Lack of Draft Picks

As a fan of an NHL team you would expect most of your AHL affiliate to have a good amount of drafted prospects by the NHL team. For the Bridgeport Islanders that isn’t the case. There are 13 drafted players if you include Jesse Pulkkinen and Cameron Berg who joined earlier this month after their LIIGA and college seasons ended and Gill who hasn’t signed with the squad but was on an AHL deal this season.  

The best prospects for the blue and orange are mostly in the NCAA. Cole Eiserman, Kamil Bednarik, Quinn Finley, and Danny Nelson are all playing in college and some of them are the Isles best prospects. 

Newly acquired Calum Ritchie is dominating in the OHL and wasn’t AHL eligible this season. 

The best prospects that are actually on Bridgeport would be Alex Jeffries, Matt Maggio, Calle Odelius and George who has already seen NHL time and could make the team next season. Jeffries was a fourth-round pick and Maggio was a fifth-round pick while Odelius was the last pick of the second-round in 2022. 

Bridgeport overall is terrible but this has played a big part as to why the team is historically bad.