Isles & Habs Are Potential Trade Partners & 3 Predictions for Islanders/Rangers Stadium Series Game
Plus, Sorokin and Varlamov should split starts and more.
Welcome to the THW New York Islanders Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Islanders writers.
In today’s edition, we discuss some potential trades including the Islanders and Oilers exchanging former top prospects. Also, why should the Islanders should split starts between Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov? Plus, we make a few predictions regarding the Islanders’ big outdoor game against the New York Rangers on Sunday and more.
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Now, on to the good stuff…
Canadiens & Islanders Emerging as Potential Trade Partners
February 13, 2024 by Michael Ostrower
The 2023-24 season has been underwhelming for the New York Islanders, while the Montreal Canadiens have overachieved. Injuries and poor coaching have hurt the Islanders, placing them in a tough playoff race. For the Canadiens, goaltender Sam Montembeault has emerged as a starter, boasting a 12-8-4 record on the presumed bottom-feeders. Thanks to his play, the Canadiens will be less likely to finish with a top-five pick in the draft.
However, general manager Kent Hughes is expected to stick with his preseason plan and sell at this year’s trade deadline, and Mike Matheson could be the biggest asset on the move.
Islanders Shouldn’t Split Starts Between Sorokin & Varlamov
February 14, 2024 by Mike Fink
Lane Lambert overworked Ilya Sorokin when he was the head coach of the New York Islanders. He started the elite goaltender in 60 of the 82 regular season games in the 2022-23 season and in 33 of the 45 games he coached this season. The workload helped the Islanders make the playoff last season, but it backfired and was one of the many reasons Lambert was fired halfway through the season.
Enter Patrick Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender who also brings a fire and passion behind the bench that this team needs. So far, he’s split the starts between Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov, and his background helps shape that decision. He understands Sorokin and what world-class goaltenders can handle more than most coaches and knows how to start him properly. When it comes to Varlamov, it helps that Roy was his head coach on the Colorado Avalanche from 2013 until 2016.
Oilers & Islanders Should Swap Former Top Prospects
February 14, 2024 by Michael Ostrower
From the start of the season, the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers have had their fair share of struggles. For the Islanders, a constant battle with losing streaks and blown leads have led them out of a playoff spot. The Oilers had an embarrassing start to the season before hiring Kris Knoblauch to be their head coach. Since then, the team has catapulted up the standings, sitting third in the Pacific Division as one of the hottest teams in hockey. Despite the recent success, some players are still struggling to find their footing.
Patrick Roy Unable to Fix Middling Islanders
February 14, 2024 by Mike Fink
Patrick Roy was hired as head coach with the hope that he would turn the New York Islanders’ season around. However, the team’s Feb. 13 game against the Seattle Kraken was further proof that he can’t do it – a 2-1 loss in a shootout. Roy has brought new energy to the Islanders, but his presence behind the bench won’t improve things, at least not this season.
Eight games into Roy’s tenure, the Islanders have a 3-3-2 record to move to 22-18-13 on the season. Even with a different system and style of play, the fact remains that the isn’t good and changes might be necessary.
3 Predictions for Rangers vs. Islanders Stadium Series Game
February 16, 2024 by Michael Ostrower
The 2024 NHL Stadium Series matchup on Feb. 18 between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders is bound to be a fun one. The two teams will face off the day after the New Jersey Devils take on the Philadelphia Flyers on the same rink, marking an exciting weekend for hockey fans. Since the Islanders and Rangers have yet to face off this season, predicting this matchup is difficult, but not impossible.