Islanders' Lack of Talent & Retiring Josh Bailey's Number
Plus, an update on Conner Twarynski and Henrik Tikkanen in Bridgeport and post-All-Star Break moves that need to be made
Welcome to the THW New York Islanders Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Islanders writers.
In today’s edition, we argue why the team’s coaching hasn’t been the problem; it’s a lack of talent. Plus, why should the Islanders retire Josh Bailey’s jersey someday, updates on two players in the AHL, roster moves that need to be made after the All-Star Break, and a revisit of the Bo Horvat trade one year later.
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Now, on to the good stuff…
Josh Bailey’s No. 12 Needs to Be Retired by the Islanders
February 1, 2024 by Michael Ostrower
Josh Bailey’s contributions often go unnoticed due to his unfortunate ending in New York. His trade to the Chicago Blackhawks was a sour departure, as he got traded as part of a salary cap dump before getting bought out. Despite this, he has a case to see his jersey raised to the rafters. After he recently attended the Islanders’ Alumni Weekend events, Bailey’s name has resurfaced in the media. So, now is the perfect time to make his case.
Islanders’ Twarynski Adds Spark & Veteran Presence to AHL Roster
February 1, 2024 by Mike Fink
The Bridgeport Islanders needed a win desperately heading into their Jan. 31 game as they’d lost four in a row and only had 11 wins on the season. After struggling to score in two periods against the Springfield Thunderbirds, they finally got the puck to the net. Jeff Kubiak got the Islanders on the board and Carsen Twarynski scored the go-ahead goal on the power play to fuel a 3-1 victory.
Twarynski was acquired earlier in the season and until recently, has struggled to find a role. He’s only played in five games and his goal against the Thunderbirds was his first point this season. Despite his struggles, he still provides a lot to the Islanders’ forward unit and can help them turn a corner on a rough season.
“He’s been a great help for us. He provides a lot of energy, a lot of grit, and physicality,” Jeff Kubiak noted after the victory. Kubiak’s been a journeyman himself and a veteran in the American Hockey League (AHL) and along with knowing the league, he knows the roster can use another veteran presence. Twarynski adds another layer to the forward unit and notably his career path helps this Islanders roster.
Islanders’ Coaching Isn’t the Problem; A Lack of Talent Is
February 1, 2024 by Anthony Russo
The New York Islanders have continued to lose games at the beginning of the Patrick Roy era, but the biggest flaw in the organization cannot be ignored. The lack of star talent and difference-makers is obvious throughout the lineup.
When at the top of their games, Mathew Barzal and Ilya Sorokin are superstars without question. Bo Horvat, who the Islanders acquired ahead of last year’s trade deadline, and Brock Nelson have been two steady top-six centers for the team. Noah Dobson, who leads the team in ice time this season, has had a breakout season on the score sheet. And when healthy, Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech have shown they can be dependable first-pairing defensemen. But the rest of the lineup has its flaws.
Islanders Must Make Some Roster Moves After All-Star Break
January 31, 2024 by Mike Fink
The 2023-24 NHL season has felt like three or even four seasons for the New York Islanders. There were promising stretches and two months that could have easily ended their season. A 5-5-4 November set them back and a 3-7-3 record in January looked like the tipping point. Yet somehow with a 20-17-12 record, they are alive in the playoff picture and right in the middle of the Metropolitan Division.
The Islanders replaced Lane Lambert with Patrick Roy hoping the fiery new head coach would provide the spark that this team needed. So far, he hasn’t. They won their first game with Roy behind the bench, a Jan. 21 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars, and then lost the next three games. They head into the All-Star Break with a new coach but the same team and that team isn’t good. It’s not the same team that made those deep playoff runs in 2020 and 2021 nor is it the team that snuck into the playoffs last season.
General manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello wants to keep the Islanders a contender, even with signs that this roster requires a retool. They are aging at key positions and starting to decline yet Lamoriello will avoid tearing things down at all costs. With that in mind, a lot must happen before the trade deadline.
Islanders Prospect Henrik Tikkanen Taking Big Strides in AHL
January 28, 2024 by Mike Fink
The Bridgeport Islanders lost 3-1 on Jan. 27 to the Providence Bruins in what has been a theme all season. It was their third loss in a row to the Bruins, and the tough defeats keep adding up as they have an 11-24-5 record and are in last place in the Atlantic Division.
A 3-1 final doesn’t tell the whole story, as the game itself was scoreless through the 52 minutes of action, with both goaltenders putting on a show. On top of that, the final score hides the story of the game, which was the performance of Islanders goaltender Henrik Tikkanen, who was the best player on the ice. He made 33 saves and halted numerous scoring chances from the Bruins that typically would find the back of the net, from breakaway chances to quick blasts that were easily covered up.
Tikkanen was promoted to the American Hockey League (AHL) on Dec. 28 and hasn’t looked back. The 23-year-old goaltender has a .914 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.66 goals-against average (GAA) in seven starts and not only has emerged as a reliable starter but is proving he has a high ceiling that can make him a strong presence in the net. The high ceiling, in particular, goes hand-in-hand with his intangibles and what he provides in the net as a unique goaltender.
Revisiting the Islanders and Canucks Bo Horvat Trade 1 Year Later
January 26, 2024 by Michael Ostrower
As we approach the Jan. 30 anniversary of the Vancouver Canucks sending Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, and a protected 2023 first-round draft pick, it’s a good time to evaluate how the deal worked out. The Islanders extended Horvat in the days that followed, and the first-round selection was flipped a month later to the Detroit Red Wings in a package deal for defenseman Filip Hronek. Opinions were mixed at the time, so one year later, who won the trade?