For decades, the Islanders have struggled to consistently have a top line that instills fear in their opponents.

This might be the season it all finally changes. Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair and Bo Horvat won’t just be a formidable trio this year — they should be one of the best lines in hockey for years to come.

It all starts with Horvat, who tallied 33 goals, 35 assists and 68 points last season. The 29-year-old is improving every year, solidifying himself as one of the better two-way centers in the league.

Barzal is the superstar, providing the line with elite skating, precise passing and a great shot. He came just five points shy of tying his career-best last season, recording 23 goals, 57 assists and 80 points. The 27-year-old can play center if needed, but he played on the wing last year and likely will for the foreseeable future.

Duclair is the X factor, the final piece of the puzzle, the reason this line could be a special one. In 73 games split between the Sharks and Lighting last season, Duclair deposited 24 goals and added 18 assists, showcasing game-changing speed that will surely be welcomed on Long Island.

“I think Duclair will be perfect for Barzal and Horvat,” Patrick Roy said Tuesday. “I think we saw something very special against the Rangers. And I’m sure they’re going to have a lot of good nights like that. All I want is to see them connecting together, playing together and backing up each other.”

In two games against the Rangers in the preseason, the top line combined for seven goals, eight assists and 15 points. In the preseason finale, Barzal tallied one goal and five points, assisting on two goals by Horvat and one by Barzal. The line was simply spectacular.

“We’re always talking to each other, so I’m not too surprised about the chemistry building,” Duclair said. “It’s only going to get better, and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Islanders struggled to find consistency on their top line last year, but interestingly, whoever played with Horvat and Barzal usually excelled.

In 23.8 minutes of ice time, the line of Horvat, Barzal and Pierre Engvall had an expected goals percentage of 75%, 1.8 expected goals for and 0.6 expected goals against, according to MoneyPuck.

Horvat, Barzal and Anders Lee also played well together in just over 482 minutes, logging a 57.7 expected goals percentage, 28 expected goals and 20.5 goals against.

When Casey Cizikas was promoted to the top line toward the end of the season, the trio was superb, delivering great advanced statistics (56.4 expected goals percentage, 5.3 expected goals for and 4.1 expected goals against) and some physicality, as well.

If Engvall, who is now in Bridgeport, Lee, an aging, slower forward, and Cizikas, a career fourth-liner, could all thrive on the top line last year, imagine how good the line will be with Duclair, an actual top-six player.

And if the line lives up to its expectations, it could be the difference between the Islanders barely making the playoffs and them being legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Featured image courtesy of Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers