The Islanders are struggling. At a record of 5-8-2, the Islanders are dead last in the Metropolitan Division. That’s surprising to me given how much leadership the Islanders have in the locker room. Andy Greene, Zach Parise, Anders Lee, and Zdeno Chara are all current or former NHL captains. Can that leadership dig the Islanders out of the hole that they are in, despite their COVID-19 challenges?

Sure, Greene, Lee and Chara are all trying to get over COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t leadership in the Islanders’ locker room. That’s despite the inexperience on the ice for the Islanders, given all their injuries and illnesses.

The Islanders are horrendous right now, and mounting problems are putting enormous challenges on the team. The Islanders’ have one of the tightest groups in the NHL. Their locker room has defied challenge after challenge in the past, but this current challenge is unlike anything the team has ever faced.

The Islanders’ record after their 13 game road trip, the second-longest in NHL history, was 5-6-2. After spending seven weeks on the road, the team finally came home for the inaugural opening of their brand new state-of-the-art arena: UBS Arena. However, right before playing their last game on the road trip, Josh Bailey tested positive for COVID-19.

Since then, it appears as if three out of the four wheels have fallen off the bus, and with one wheel left, the bus is heading for a ditch. Josh Bailey’s COIVD-19 case spread like wildfire, infecting Anders Lee, Adam Pelech, Andy Greene, Ross Johnston, Kieffer Bellows and Zdeno Chara, too. On top of all these COVID-19 cases, Ryan Pulock and Brock Nelson are dealing with injuries. Hopefully, the Islanders’ luck will turn; otherwise, what could’ve been a promising season could be all but over.

The Islanders need whatever veterans are left, or even the young players with solid NHL experience, to step up more than ever. Even if the Islanders’ locker room is thinning out as COVID-19 spreads, somebody needs to step up with so many leaders on the team.

Islanders General Manager Lou Lamoriello stacked the Islanders with veterans and leadership for times like this. Now more than ever, the Islanders need the veterans that are still left in the room to step up. The team needs a former captain like Zach Parise and veterans to take charge and step up more than ever because their season is indeed on the line.

Ethan Halle

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.