The New York Islanders came into the 2021-22 NHL season as Stanley Cup favorites. Just four games in, it seems like they have work to do if they want to achieve the ultimate goal. And perhaps the biggest reason the Islanders are struggling is their team defense.

With defenseman Nick Leddy gone, the Islanders replaced him with 44-year-old Zdeno Chara. Out went a puck-moving, speedy defenseman and in came an older, slower veteran.

Chara was a -4 in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. After the Islanders decided against signing Erik Gustafsson, Chara and Andy Greene have played in all four games this season, while Sebastian Aho waits in the press box for his opportunity.

As a team, the Islanders have struggled to adapt to their faster opponents, allowing 15 goals in four games, including 11 in their first two games. The group is now notably slower and more prone to turnovers. Opposing players are easily skating the puck into the offensive zone with little resistance from the Islanders’ backend.

It will take time for this group to adapt. Islanders’ head coach Barry Trotz is already shaking up the pairings, separating the elite duo of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock.

“For me, it doesn’t change anything,” Pelech said of the shake-up. “We’re all pretty comfortable playing with one another. It’s been the same group together here for a few years now.”

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However, there is some room for optimism. Captain Anders Lee missed Tuesday’s game with an illness and center Jean-Gabriel Pageau missed Thursday’s game with an illness, as well. Maybe the team is battling a bug, which mixed with a grueling road trip, is a reason why they have been so sluggish.

But nonetheless, the Islanders will need to improve their team defense if they want to compete for the Stanley Cup this season.

David Lazar