Why the New York Islanders Are Always Overlooked
It should be no surprise to fans of the New York Islanders that they are one of the most overlooked teams in the NHL. It is evident from the numerous times the team is marketed as underdogs in playoff series. Potential causes of this phenomenon could be that the Islanders play a “boring” style of hockey or the lack of a true superstar player on their roster. Despite these truths, the Islanders have continued to impress and prove why they should be considered a juggernaut in the NHL.
Defensive-minded hockey teams are not anomalies in the NHL. This type of style defined the NHL during the nineties, highlighted by the Martin Brodeur led New Jersey Devils. Following the 2004-05 season, NHL scoring seemed to go up again and has been high over the past few years. It is now a standard for there to be at least one fifty-goal scorer per season. The Islanders do not play into how modern-day gameplay is structured, and it works to their benefit. Continued success has followed since Barry Trotz became head coach of the Islanders, implementing his defensive style of play. This type of hockey may not draw viewers and make them overlooked due to their not so flashy play.
John Tavares left the Islanders for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018. This fact has been well-documented over the past three seasons. At the time, Tavares was a franchise-altering superstar. Without this player, national attention naturally dropped the following season. Since then, the Islanders have focused on a team-centric approach as it started to produce wins. Looking forward, Mathew Barzal will emerge as an eventual superstar worthy of national attention. As it sits right now, the Islanders’ lack of a superstar may hurt their overall status in terms of branding and predictions.
A reason why the Islanders may be overlooked is the illogical argument that the New York Islanders are playing second-fiddle in New York to the New York Rangers. The Rangers, an Original-six team in the NHL with rich roots in hockey history, but so do the Islanders. The Islanders were the last team to win four consecutive Stanley Cups and are currently the best organization in New York. It is simply reputation and NHL lore that holds the Islanders back, and as unfair as it is, sometimes it is better to be the underdogs looking to strike at any moment.
Over the past few seasons, the New York Islanders have quietly become a standard of success in the NHL, earning consecutive Conference Finals appearances with aspirations of going farther, operating under one of the best front offices in the league, and exhibiting an outstanding team work ethic. As ESPN enters media coverage for next year, one could only hope an entertaining personality such as Stephen A. Smith recognizes the Islanders for the greatness they exhibit on and off the ice.
