• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • NFL
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • NBA
  • Pro Wrestling
  • MMA
New York Islanders Have Three Priority Needs to Achieve Stanley Cup Success

New York Islanders Have Three Priority Needs to Achieve Stanley Cup Success

December 9, 2020
Will Young Upstart QBs Overcome Their Veteran Rivals This NFL Season?

NFL Championship Games: Don’t Want No Rematch? Well, We Got Two

January 21, 2021
ESPN’s McFarland: A loss in Green Bay will make Bucs’ season “a failure”

ESPN’s McFarland: A loss in Green Bay will make Bucs’ season “a failure”

January 21, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT
"Stan"- Fans gone foolish.

Opinion: Fans Need Common Sense Approach

January 21, 2021
Tyreek Hill vs Casey Hayward: Chiefs Matchup

AFC Championship Game: Three Key Matchups

January 21, 2021
Understanding What the Deshaun Watson Rumors Mean for Houston, Miami, the NFL

Understanding What the Deshaun Watson Rumors Mean for Houston, Miami, the NFL

January 21, 2021
NFC Championship Game: The Greatest Career vs. the Greatest Year?

NFC Championship Game: The Greatest Career vs. the Greatest Year?

January 21, 2021
Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr

Raiders Opinion: Keeping Carr Only Realistic Option

January 21, 2021
WWE NXT Results, Grades & Opinion: January 20, 2021

WWE NXT Results, Grades & Opinion: January 20, 2021

January 21, 2021
Backup Brian Elliott Gets Flyers Back On Track With Shutout Win Over Sabres

Backup Brian Elliott Gets Flyers Back On Track With Shutout Win Over Sabres

January 21, 2021
Afc West/LA Chargers QB Philip Rivers

Charge Complete: Philip Rivers Calls it a Career After 17 Seasons

January 21, 2021
AL Notes – Blue Jays snag Springer and Yates, lose out on Brantley, Happ finds a home

AL Notes – Blue Jays snag Springer and Yates, lose out on Brantley, Happ finds a home

January 20, 2021

Chiefs vs Bills: Thrilling Headlines

January 20, 2021
  • Apply to Write
  • Contact Us
  • FullPressRadio.com
  • SHOP FPC
  • FullPressHockey.com
  • FullPressWrestling.com


Thursday, January 21, 2021
Full Press Coverage
  • Latest
    • Full Press Radio Network
    • Apply to Write
    • Feedback
    • Privacy Policy
  • NFL
    • AFC
      • Baltimore Ravens
      • Buffalo Bills
      • Cincinnati Bengals
      • Cleveland Browns
      • Denver Broncos
      • Houston Texans
      • Indianapolis Colts
      • Jacksonville Jaguars
      • Kansas City Chiefs
      • Las Vegas Raiders
      • Los Angeles Chargers
      • Miami Dolphins
      • New England Patriots
      • New York Jets
      • Pittsburgh Steelers
      • Tennessee Titans
    • NFC
      • Arizona Cardinals
      • Atlanta Falcons
      • Carolina Panthers
      • Chicago Bears
      • Dallas Cowboys
      • Detroit Lions
      • Green Bay Packers
      • Los Angeles Rams
      • Minnesota Vikings
      • New Orleans Saints
      • New York Giants
      • Philadelphia Eagles
      • San Francisco 49ers
      • Seattle Seahawks
      • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
      • Washington Football Club
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Fantasy Sports
  • Pro Wrestling
  • Other Sports
    • College Sports
    • MMA
    • XFL
    • Futbol
    • AAF
  • Podcasts
    • FPC Radio LIVE
    • Dylan and Ross Save Sports
    • The Eye Test for Two
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Black Tuesday
    • Get Off My Lawn
    • The Sap and Kat Show
    • Talkamania
    • Crossbody of Work
    • The Salvaggio and Cratty Sports Podcast
    • All Shows
No Result
View All Result
Full Press Coverage
No Result
View All Result
Home NHL Metropolitan Division New York Islanders

New York Islanders Have Three Priority Needs to Achieve Stanley Cup Success

Curtis Rush by Curtis Rush
December 9, 2020
in Featured, New York Islanders, NHL, NHL Featured
Reading Time: 4min read
0
New York Islanders Have Three Priority Needs to Achieve Stanley Cup Success
1.6k
SHARES
3.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The New York Islanders have to meet three big needs if they are going to take it to the next level and win the Stanley Cup.

  1. They need more scoring
  2. They need to get younger
  3. They need better playoff production from Mathew Barzal, who remains unsigned; Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle.

Few expected the Islanders to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals last season because they were barely a .500 team in the regular season. Yet with a tight defensive structure and a strong work ethic, the Islanders took a superior Tampa Bay Lightning team to six games.

More FromFPC

ESPN’s McFarland: A loss in Green Bay will make Bucs’ season “a failure”

ESPN’s McFarland: A loss in Green Bay will make Bucs’ season “a failure”

January 21, 2021

Opinion: Fans Need Common Sense Approach

January 21, 2021

Understanding What the Deshaun Watson Rumors Mean for Houston, Miami, the NFL

January 21, 2021

NFC Championship Game: The Greatest Career vs. the Greatest Year?

January 21, 2021

It shouldn’t have been that close. The Islanders didn’t have the firepower to compete with the Lightning, who could count on Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point for offense up front and defenseman Victor Hedman for both defense and offense on the back end.

Look at the scoring differential between the Lightning and Islanders during the regular season and you will get a sense of how lacking the Islanders were in scoring.

The Lightning had a +50 in goal differential, while the Islanders were -1, having scored 192 goals and given up 193 in the regular season. That’s not going to get it done if you want to win a Stanley Cup, no matter how much you turn it on in the playoffs.

No team in recent memory has won a Stanley Cup without a sizeable goal differential on the plus side. And few teams have won a championship without some elite scoring up front. The names Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Patrick Kane come to mind.

The Islanders might go deep in the playoffs again in 2020-21, but to get to the Stanley Cup, they need a pure sniper, either someone who can emerge from their current roster or someone acquired via a trade or free agency. Or by clever drafting, although that method takes time and luck.

It’s too early to tell how the most recent draft picks will pan out. The Islanders have had only one first-round draft pick in the last two seasons, and it’s a fool’s errand to project superstar success for first-round selections like Oliver Wahlstrom (first round, 2018) and Kieffer Bellows (first round, 2016), although they seem to have promise.

Welcome to the Show, Kieffer Bellows (@BellowsKieffer)!

NHL x @MGMResortsIntl pic.twitter.com/Muhvtbk1pH

— NHL (@NHL) February 7, 2020

Wahlstrom scored his fourth goal of the season for AIK in Sweden’s Hockey Allsvenskan league on Dec. 5. He has four goals and three assists through nine games after returning from an injury.

Last season, Bellows scored two goals in eight games for the Islanders after coming up from the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Like the Islanders dynasty of the 1980s, the club needs to build through the draft, and GM Lou Lamoriello understands that. In October, he traded defenseman Devon Toews to Colorado for second-round picks in 2021 and 2022. And the Islanders own first-round picks in 2021 and 2022.

In the short term, the Islanders need to clear up some salary-cap room and sign a free agent (Mike Hoffman is still available) or work a trade that will bring them a scorer who can collect 30 or 40 goals a season. Finding an elite scorer would be the most difficult job because superstar scorers don’t grow on trees.

Barzal skates like the wind and has superstar potential, but can he develop into a consistent 30-goal or 40-goal scorer? The jury is out on that one.

The team also needs to get younger.

They were the oldest team in the playoffs, averaging almost 30 years. While Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier are both 23 and represent the future, there are too many forwards who are 30 and over or pushing 30, such as Josh Bailey, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle.

The problem with this aging lineup is that most of the older group are locked up contractually for years to come.

  • Bailey, who is 30, is signed up to 2024.
  • Eberle, who is 29, is signed through the 2023-24 season.
  • Lee, who is 29, is signed through the 2025-26 season.
  • Brock Nelson, who is 28, is signed through the 2024-25 season.

The third need is to have Eberle, Lee, and Barzal maintain their regular-season production levels through the playoffs.

Although Eberle was the double-overtime hero to force a Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Final, he struggled with only two goals the whole series, while Lee and Barzal did not score a single goal in the Lightning series.

If all three players bounce back, the Islanders have a chance to make a deep run again, especially if the rest of the defensive structure holds up.

But until all three needs are met, the Islanders are unlikely to win a Stanley Cup anytime soon.

The post New York Islanders Have Three Priority Needs to Achieve Stanley Cup Success appeared first on Full Press Hockey.

Tags: Anders LeeJordan EberleMathew Barzal
Share621Tweet388
Previous Post

Titans In a Tight Race For AFC South Crown

Next Post

Opinion: Dolphins Will Test Chiefs More Than Saints Will

Curtis Rush

Curtis Rush

Next Post

Opinion: Dolphins Will Test Chiefs More Than Saints Will

Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings

Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chicago Bears: Predictions For Week 6 Matchup against Carolina Panthers

October 14, 2020
Love

Cavs-Warriors Discussed Kevin Love Trade

November 14, 2020
Chicago Bears vs Los Angeles Rams

Chicago Bears: Predictions For Week 7 Matchup Vs. Los Angeles Rams

October 21, 2020
Nov 17, 2018; Athens, GA, USA; Massachusetts Minutemen wide receiver Andy Isabella (5) runs past Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Christopher Smith (29) to score a touchdown after catching a pass during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings Mock Draft 3.0: Post-Combine Edition

8
Chicago White Sox: MLB’s Most Overrated Team Going Into 2020

Chicago White Sox: MLB’s Most Overrated Team Going Into 2020

7
LeBron

LeBron, not Michael, is the Greatest of All Time

5
ESPN’s McFarland: A loss in Green Bay will make Bucs’ season “a failure”

ESPN’s McFarland: A loss in Green Bay will make Bucs’ season “a failure”

January 21, 2021
"Stan"- Fans gone foolish.

Opinion: Fans Need Common Sense Approach

January 21, 2021
Tyreek Hill vs Casey Hayward: Chiefs Matchup

AFC Championship Game: Three Key Matchups

January 21, 2021

A Twitter List by iglen31

FPC Podcasts

  • Ep 52: Bruins Early Season Struggles
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 9:38 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV4775422577.mp3
  • Ep.173: End of An Error/Start of An Era
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV6539295850.mp3
  • Ep 18: Conference Championship Weekend w/ Booger McFarland
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 7:00 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43049333/eyetest_18.mp3
  • Ep.59: 2021 Selma City Vikings Preview
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 7:00 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV3657536205.mp3
  • Ep. 58: Alabama Wolfpack Preview
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV7565063983.mp3
  • Ep.50: Free Agent Preview
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV8328937753.mp3
  • Ep 59: 2020 Championship Sunday Preview
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 12:18 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV2119491149.mp3
  • The Pick and Roll NBA Podcast W/ Jet and Sap - EP 02- Early Returns on New Look Nets; Biggest Season Surprises So Far?
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 5:11 am

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43038021/pick_and_roll_1_20_21.mp3
  • Ep 17: Philip Rivers Retires; Ron Borges Joins to Discuss Hall of Fame Vote
    by Full Press Coverage on January 20, 2021 at 5:34 pm

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43029361/20210120_1125_recording.mp3
  • Ep.57: Gillette Steps Up
    by Full Press Coverage on January 20, 2021 at 3:08 am

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV3437730019.mp3

  • WWE NXT Results, Grades & Opinion: January 20, 2021
    by Evan Gomes on January 21, 2021 at 5:21 am

    WWE NXT Results: January 20, 2021 A.K.A. Fight Pit 2: Electric Boogaloo Results: Leon Ruff & […]

  • AEW Dynamite Results, Grades & Opinion: January 20, 2021
    by Evan Gomes on January 21, 2021 at 3:53 am

    AEW Dynamite Results: January 20, 2021 A.K.A. The One With -1’s Birthday Results: “Hangman” […]

  • Royal Rumble 2021: Making the Case For Big E
    by Evan Gomes on January 19, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    It is time for Big E to get his own Wrestlemania moment. After striking out on his own brand away […]

  • WWE Raw Results, Grades & Opinion: January 18, 2021
    by Evan Gomes on January 19, 2021 at 4:50 am

    WWE Raw Results, Grades & Analysis: January 18, 2021 A.K.A. The One Where Alexa Goes Full Fiend […]

  • WWE: 3 Potential Surprise Entrants for the 2021 Men’s Royal Rumble Match
    by Evan Gomes on January 18, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    Who should be a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble? One of the most fun questions heading into […]

More Wrestling News

  • Jack Hughes Already A Different Player For The Devils
    by Jim Biringer on January 21, 2021 at 3:29 pm

    The New Jersey Devils are off to fast start to begin the 2020-21 NHL Season and big reason why is […]

  • Sidney Crosby’s OT Heroics Lead Penguins Over Capitals
    by Luke Talotta on January 21, 2021 at 2:35 am

    The Penguins picked up their second victory over the Capitals in three nights and improved to 2-2 […]

  • Backup Brian Elliott Gets Flyers Back On Track With Shutout Win Over Sabres
    by Carol Schram on January 21, 2021 at 2:13 am

    After an unexpected relief appearance against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night, backup goaltender […]

  • Devils Upgrade A Position Of Need By Claiming Aaron Dell
    by Jim Biringer on January 20, 2021 at 9:44 pm

    The New Jersey Devils needed to upgrade their backup goalie position after Corey Crawford's […]

  • Senators Couldn’t Close Out the Jets – Lose in OT
    by Murray Pam on January 20, 2021 at 5:49 am

    The Ottawa Senators squandered a pair of two-goal leads in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg […]

More Hockey News

  • Ep 52: Bruins Early Season Struggles
    by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2021 at 10:51 pm

    Ian and Chris react to the first few games of the season and wonder what […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://anchor.fm/s/cc094d0/podcast/play/25536904/sponsor/amsj67/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2021-01-21%2F3056b20d5e95c23e9c23b40f379c9029.m4a
  • Ep 51: Bergeron Dons The "C", Picking Up the Chara/Krug Slack; Season Expectations
    by Full Press Coverage on January 13, 2021 at 10:20 pm

    Mike Cratty of the Sal and Cratty Show and BlackNGoldHockey.com joins Ian […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://anchor.fm/s/cc094d0/podcast/play/25157918/sponsor/amsj67/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2021-01-13%2F4542c465ec7a3234f146bea647ede57e.m4a
  • Ep 50: Mr. Chara Goes to Washinton
    by Full Press Coverage on December 31, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    Ian and Chris react to the Capitals signing of Bruins longtime captain, […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://anchor.fm/s/cc094d0/podcast/play/24623669/sponsor/amsj67/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2020-12-31%2F26d5b85c06ec2255c2f6cfc78b24cf94.m4a
  • Ep 49: Bruins New Division; Chara's Future in Boston
    by Full Press Coverage on December 23, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    Ian and Chris return to discuss the NHL's 56-game season, the Bruins new […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://anchor.fm/s/cc094d0/podcast/play/24356084/sponsor/amsj67/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2020-12-23%2F5755949a0115f50df8582cc32916323a.m4a
  • Ep 48: Jake DeBrusk Signs; Reverse Retro Jerseys; Thanksgiving Food Draft
    by Full Press Coverage on November 26, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    On this Thanksgiving episode of the Big Bad Bruins Podcast, Ian and Chris […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://anchor.fm/s/cc094d0/podcast/play/23142833/sponsor/amsj67/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2020-11-26%2F52d6fc857b1cd37d19b4fe24752398f6.m4a
  • Ep 47: Recapping the Bruins Offseason to this Point
    by Full Press Coverage on October 21, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    Ian and Chris the free agent moves the Bruins have and haven't made as […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://anchor.fm/s/cc094d0/podcast/play/21440275/sponsor/amsj67/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2020-11-26%2F5e55ff65a935458b843f84f596268c6e.m4a
  • Ep 46: NHL Free Agency Wishlist; Krug and Chara's Future; Rask to Stay
    by Full Press Coverage on October 9, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    Ian and Chris recap the Bruins draft and take a look ahead to the start of […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://anchor.fm/s/cc094d0/podcast/play/20863092/sponsor/amsj67/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2020-11-26%2F02c7a7b0f8c9979d30155fe48c48dfba.m4a
Full Press Coverage

© 2020 Full Press Coverage

Navigate Site

  • Staff Portal
  • Apply to Write
  • Contact Us
  • Have a news tip?
  • Privacy Policy
  • FPC Radio Network
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • FullPressHockey.com

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
    • Full Press Radio Network
    • Apply to Write
    • Feedback
    • Privacy Policy
  • NFL
    • AFC
      • Baltimore Ravens
      • Buffalo Bills
      • Cincinnati Bengals
      • Cleveland Browns
      • Denver Broncos
      • Houston Texans
      • Indianapolis Colts
      • Jacksonville Jaguars
      • Kansas City Chiefs
      • Las Vegas Raiders
      • Los Angeles Chargers
      • Miami Dolphins
      • New England Patriots
      • New York Jets
      • Pittsburgh Steelers
      • Tennessee Titans
    • NFC
      • Arizona Cardinals
      • Atlanta Falcons
      • Carolina Panthers
      • Chicago Bears
      • Dallas Cowboys
      • Detroit Lions
      • Green Bay Packers
      • Los Angeles Rams
      • Minnesota Vikings
      • New Orleans Saints
      • New York Giants
      • Philadelphia Eagles
      • San Francisco 49ers
      • Seattle Seahawks
      • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
      • Washington Football Club
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Fantasy Sports
  • Pro Wrestling
  • Other Sports
    • College Sports
    • MMA
    • XFL
    • Futbol
    • AAF
  • Podcasts
    • FPC Radio LIVE
    • Dylan and Ross Save Sports
    • The Eye Test for Two
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Black Tuesday
    • Get Off My Lawn
    • The Sap and Kat Show
    • Talkamania
    • Crossbody of Work
    • The Salvaggio and Cratty Sports Podcast
    • All Shows

© 2020 Full Press Coverage