The New York Islanders walked into the 2020-2021 season more motivated than ever. Having just fallen two wins short of a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, they were eager to go back. With the addition of returning fans and this being the final season at the Nassau Coliseum, motivation was even higher. While the team did have a fantastic follow up season, it ended again in bitter defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the semifinals. This season showed there is a bright future for this team, but also much to be improved upon. Here are four takeaways from the New York Islanders 2020-2021 season.
Sorokin is the Real Deal
The fanbase and franchise have been excited about Russian phenom Ilya Sorokin for years. He shows an ability to make spectacular saves and owns a career 1.62 GAA in the KHL. With all of that in mind, there was a lot of hype when he finally defected to the NHL and signed with the Islanders. He started in 22 games this season and finished with a 2.17 GAA and a .918 save percentage. He also was the surprise primary starter in the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff series after saving 39 shots in the opener. Overall, Sorokin proved that he could adapt to the NHL style fairly quickly. The prospect of him actually improving is incredible given how solid his play was for a rookie in the NHL. It’s clear the Islanders have found themselves a quality starting goaltender for years to come.Â
Wahlstrom Also Had an Impressive Year
Oliver Wahlstrom was one of the best surprises for the Islanders over this season. He wasn’t very efficient in the games he played in the 2019-2020 season, but he improved immensely this season. Wahlstrom went on a tear in February, scoring six goals and even had a five game point streak in the month. He finished the season with a total of 12 goals and 9 assists on the season. The Islanders got exactly the kind of player they were looking for when they drafted Wahlstrom 11th overall in 2019. He’s great at creating offense all around and most importantly, he’s eager to shoot the puck. Being too passive on offense is one of the team’s biggest problems, so having a guy like Wahlstrom who isn’t afraid to put it on net is a big deal for this team. Not to mention, he also finished second in power play points on the team, another area of difficulty for the Islanders. Wahlstrom is going to be a very valuable asset for the Islanders going forward and is in store for a much bigger role next season.Â
This Team is Built For the Playoffs
Just like last season, the Islanders were playing relatively poor hockey heading into the playoffs. But also like last season, they got it together in the postseason and made it to the conference semifinals. This shows that the team is very capable when it comes to playoff hockey. Part of it is the coaching of Barry Trotz, but the commitment of the players is also important. They’re committed to their defensive, physical style of play and they play it extremely well. This style is quickly gaining them a reputation of being a nightmare matchup for the opposition in the postseason. They’re relentless, have a lot of heart and don’t take the opportunity for granted. The real impressive part of this two year run is that they never had home ice advantage in any of the series. This further emphasizes the quality of their play in the postseason, having to grind out tough games against their opponent on the road.Â
The Islanders Are Still a Piece or Two Away
It’s haunting to think about what could’ve been if the Islanders had captain Anders Lee with them for the playoffs. With all due respect to Leo Komarov, the first line is a lot more creative and productive on offense with Lee there instead. But despite his injury, the team still found themselves within one game for the Stanley Cup Finals. This shows how important a guy like Kyle Palmieri is to have for this team even with Lee healthy. If the addition of Palmieri was enough to propel the team to the semifinals without Lee, having both of them next season could be what’s missing for the Islanders. The combination of leadership, experience and goal scoring prowess is exactly what this team needs to take the next step. The Islanders have a lot of work to do this offseason, but finding a way to bring Palmieri back should be one of their priorities.
Featured image courtesy of Getty Images
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