Islanders fans need something to root for during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and we’ve got you covered.

Tonight, 16 teams will be entering the four-round, best-of-seven tournament to determine who will be the season’s champion. Unfortunately for Islanders’ fans, the team will not be heading to the postseason, as they will miss the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

However, despite the team being missing from the field this year, the Islanders have their fair share of influence in this year’s postseason. With several former Islanders scattered throughout the playoff picture, Islanders fans have a lot to root for in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers

First let’s address the elephants in the room, the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.

The John Tavares saga still haunts some Islanders fans to this day. Since he left, he earned the captaincy in Toronto and has been a strong piece for their top six. Although Toronto hasn’t been able to get out of the first round since 2004, this could be a chance for him to put his city on his back and carry them to heights not seen in years. For those that are willing to forgive, it could be a great story for him to deliver his hometown team a long-awaited championship.

As for the Rangers, they have one former Islander on their roster: Ryan Strome.

An Islander from 2013-14 to 2016-17, Strome broke into the league on Long Island. In his four years with the club, Strome notched 45 goals and 81 assists for 126 points and had several great moments alongside Tavares. After a brief stint in Edmonton, Strome has found a consistent home on Broadway and become a top-six option for their offense. Also, Jericho, New York, native Adam Fox is turning into one of the league’s best defensemen, so the Rangers have a little Long Island flare to them.

Florida Panthers: Carter Verhaeghe

One of the Panthers’ star forwards is Carter Verhaeghe. He got his start in the Islanders organization, playing in the team’s farm system for two seasons. After bouncing between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Kansas City Monarchs, the team traded him in 2017 to Tampa Bay for goaltender Kristers Gudļevskis. Since his departure, Verhaeghe broke out on the Lightning.

He continued his success with the Panthers. With Tampa, he managed to capture a championship in a depth role, and in Florida, he has become an NHL mainstay. In 76 games this season, Verhaeghe notched 22 goals and 31 points, and he could be a key reason why the Panthers make some serious noise this postseason.

Carolina Hurricanes: Nino Niederreiter

While the Hurricanes don’t have their share of Islanders on their roster, they do have a player that spent a fairly short time on Long Island. Nino Niederreiter was drafted 5th overall by the Islanders in 2010, and he was a prospect that the Islanders failed to develop.

After being rushed to an NHL-level role, he only scored two goals in 64 games with the team before spending the 2012-13 season in Bridgeport. He was traded to the Minnesota Wild in the 2013 offseason for Cal Clutterbuck and a third round pick, and since then he has become a quality player. After a trade from Carolina to Minnesota in 2019, he has become a mainstay to their middle six and a key to their success. Similar to Verhaeghe, Niederreiter could be another Bridgeport alum who could hoist the Stanley Cup, and it’s a testament to how his career got back on track.

Edmonton Oilers: Mikko Koskinen

For the Oilers’ entry to this list, it’s another name that harkens back to the early 2010s. Mikko Koskinen played between the pipes for the Islanders’ organization for three seasons, from 2009-10 to 2011-12. Although he was selected in the second round, he didn’t really pan out and struggled in Bridgeport.

He appeared in four games with the Islanders in 2010-11. He was 2-1-0, but had a lowly 4.33 goals against average and .873 save percentage. One of those games, however, was the infamous “Fight Night” against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders won that game 9-3.

After departing Long Island, he went to the Kontinental Hockey League and cleaned up his game before returning to North America with the Oilers. Since his return, Koskinen has a 152-89-53 record with a .903 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average. A championship could be a testament to hard work paying off.

St. Louis Blues: Nick Leddy

One of the more notable names on this list is a longtime face of the Islanders’ blue line. Nick Leddy was a member of the Islanders for seven seasons from 2014-14 to 2020-21, and he was a key piece to the Islanders’ resurgence. He and Johnny Boychuk made up the top pair of their defense for a few years, and Leddy was a key piece of their identity. His quick skating and power play quarterbacking helped the Islanders to five playoff appearances and several deep playoff runs.

This past offseason, the Islanders traded him to the Red Wings for a second round pick and Richard Panik in a salary dump. The Red Wings flipped him to the Blues at the trade deadline. With St. Louis looking to go deep once again, Leddy’s experience with the Islanders and skill will be valuable for their defense as they look to go deep in the 2022 playoffs.

Colorado Avalanche: Devon Toews

The last name on this list is one of the more discussed topics in Islanders’ circles today.

A highly touted prospect, Toews quickly became a mainstay on the Islanders’ defense in the 2018-19 season. He was a decent skater, solid power play quarterback, and sound defender. After the 2019-20 season, fans hoped he could be the face of their defense. However, due to the Islanders’ cap crunch that offseason, the Avalanche acquired him for only two second round draft picks.

Since then, Toews has become a star on that blue line, becoming one of the best defensemen in hockey and making the trade look like a steal for Colorado. Toews can very much help lead the Avalanche to a long-anticipated Stanley Cup win.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.