There’s not much positive to discuss when discussing the 2024-25 Bridgeport Islanders. I’ve discussed the terrible on-ice product in Connecticut ad nauseum. After a 9-2 defeat, it doesn’t feel fair to dunk on the players for the poor record. Instead, I’ve decided to be optimistic.

There’s a really popular John Mayer song off his album Continuum titled “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”. The song, supposedly, is about the declining relationship between lovers as they metaphorically dance in a dire situation. Because I love John Mayer, I was listening to him as I fell asleep last night. And that’s when I started to think…

The Bridgeport Islanders could be interpreted as a burning room in many ways. They’re on pace for one of the worst records in franchise history, attendance has fallen to new lows and many fans (including the author) call for the termination of GM Chris Lamoriello and Head Coach Rick Kowalsky regularly.

But within the ashes and flames of Bridgeport, a few players continue to “dance” even as the structure collapses around them. Among the dancers and soot stands forward Liam Foudy.

Foudy, 24, is a former first-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets. At his draft day, talent evaluators like Jokke Nevalainen described Foudy as a “fantastic skater who can control the play at high speeds”

When Foudy arrived in the minor leagues, he quickly proved that he knew how to score. He was over a point per game in his first season with the AHL Cleveland Monsters.

Unfortunately for both Foudy and Columbus, he never found his footing in the NHL. He has played in a bit over 100 NHL games now, and he has yet to nail a spot down. Through those 104  games, he has seven goals and 22 points.

Notably, Foudy struggled defensively. He only managed a positive +/- once, and that was during a brief two-game run on the 2019-2020 Columbus Blue Jackets. His worst season came in 2022-23, when he was a -26.

Foudy joined the Islanders by way of free agency this past offseason. Though the young forward has not found the NHL regular spot he craves, Foudy has dominated with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders this season.

It’s fitting that we discuss Foudy whilst mentioning John Mayer because Foudy plays with “Gravity” every single night. He demands the attention of opposing defensemen on every single shift. The puck seems to always find Foudy’s stick, and he always seems to generate something with it.

Offensively, there’s nothing Foudy can’t do. He’s shown tremendous playmaking, shooting and skating ability during his 40-game sting with Bridgeport in 2024-25. He currently has 16 goals and 29 points on the season.

He’s in the midst of a six-game point streak where he’s accumulated ten points, stepping up huge whilst all-star forward Brian Pinho sits on the sidelines with injury. Even when he’s not scoring, Foudy continues to generate on the ice.

Like Mayer, Foudy is a technician. His hands don’t necessarily jump off of the screen, but his hands are sure. I can’t recall a time when Foudy deked and lost the puck in the corner.

MIND BLOWN! 🤯

LIAM FOUDY SHORTHANDED AND FROM AN IMPOSSIBLE ANGLE!!#GoneFishin | @FloHockey pic.twitter.com/AG56E9TJua

— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) January 20, 2025

Early in the season, Foudy generated two to three scoring chances a night but he would never score. Because of that, his statistics were a tad misleading. Foudy was playing well, but not getting rewarded for it. Now, it feels like he can’t miss.

The defensive lapses are still present, but Foudy (for now) seems to be outscoring his mistakes.

Another positive for Foudy: he’s been very healthy this year. He has played in 40 of a possible 42 games for Bridgeport, and the only two he missed were due to an NHL call-up. For a team that has seen key players like Fredrick Karlstrom, Alex Jefferies, Seth Helgeson and others miss significant time, Foudy’s durability proves valuable.

Despite the chaos surrounding the Bridgeport Islanders, Liam Foudy continues to shine through the wreckage. His offensive production, play-driving ability, and durability have made him one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal season. While his NHL future remains uncertain, Foudy has established himself as a force at the AHL level, consistently creating chances and elevating his team’s play. In a season that has felt like “slow dancing in a burning room”, one can only hope the Islanders manage to “keep him where the light is”.

featured image courtesy of Bridgeport Islanders

Joey McAuliffe

Joey McAuliffe is a passionate Islander fan pursuing a Masters of Accounting in Buffalo, NY. His favorite player of all time is Jordan Eberle. He has followed the team closely since 2014, but he began regularly attending games during the 2006 season. Outside of hockey, Joey loves music and the Buffalo Bills.