Could New York Islanders Become the San Jose Sharks?
The San Jose Sharks are an interesting case study. Their window has now closed, and they are no longer the same team they used to be. As the Islanders have made the playoffs for three seasons straight and have been to back to back Stanley Cup Semifinals, the question arises: are the Islanders on the verge of following in the Sharks footsteps?
Throughout the last decade, the Sharks won 11 playoff series. Throughout the decade, the Sharks went to three Western Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup Final. Two of those three Western Conference Finals appearances in the decade came in 2010 and 2011, with the Sharks going to back to back Western Conference Finals.
In 2013 and 2014, the Sharks lost to the Los Angeles Kings in back-to-back seasons in Game 7. In 2014, the Sharks held a 3-0 series lead over the Kings but eventually fell in Game 7. In 2014, the Kings went on to win the Stanley Cup. The entire decade for the Sharks was filled with exciting playoff wins, but ultimately the feeling of disappointment.
To be a Stanley Cup contender in the NHL, make it to multiple Conference Finals, and even clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Final and not find a way to win is disappointing. It maybe even hurts more than missing the playoffs because that opportunity may not present itself again for a long time. Opportunities to win are rare, and teams that have the chance must make the most of them.
Obviously, the Islanders have not had nearly as many opportunities in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Sharks. However, as of recently, the Islanders have had their fair share of chances. In the past three seasons, the Islanders have advanced past the first round and advanced to the Stanley Cup Semifinals in the last two. The Islanders were the only team last postseason to push the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Game 7.
Moreover, in the Islanders previous three seasons, the team has only lost a total of three games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Those three losses would not even be enough to eliminate them if they occurred in a single series. No team in the Metropolitan Division has fewer losses in the first round over the past three seasons than the Islanders.
However, the Islanders’ window to win a Stanley Cup will not last forever. They have to make the most of their opportunities while they have this current core. The Islanders entered the 2020 postseason with the oldest roster in the NHL with an average age of 28.9 years old.
As the Islanders core ages, their window to win will only become smaller and smaller. The Islanders must find a way to get the job done, as they are a true Stanley Cup Contender.
It would be a shame if people looked back at the Islanders and saw the Sharks from a decade ago – to avoid this, the Islanders must win a Stanley Cup.
Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.
