Re-Tool Is the Best Course Of Action For The Islanders

The New York Islanders were very fortunate to move up 10 spots in the draft lottery and be able to select first overall in the 2025 draft. This will get them a very good talent that is more of a sure fire thing than someone drafted a little bit later in the first round. This also helps speed up any plans that the team may have had as their first overall pick will be able to step right into the NHL.

I didn't think that the Islanders were going to dive into a rebuild, especially not with Mat Barzal, Bo Horvat, and Ilya Sorokin signed through 2031. The new GM will have a key role in changing the Islanders for the better. The team also has a strong defense core that is either signed for multiple more years or needs a contract as an RFA this summer like Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov. A core like that isn't too bad, but more has to be added in the way or stars and depth.

A player like Brock Nelson was already moved on from and the return was great. Kyle Palmieri may be next. I don't expect the Islanders to come back next season and be a force to be reckoned with, but I do think it is the start of something much better than we've seen since the Conference Final runs against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

There is some great talent arriving very soon and the base to build around is intact as well. It's not going to be the same type of re-tooling that the Washington Capitals did, but in order to get to a similar place, the young players have to step up. This includes Dobson rebounding, Callum Ritchie and Cole Eiserman being able to come in, and Maxim Tsyplakov and Simon Holmstrom improving from this season.

A rebuild means having a tough time moving off of big contracts that are key to turning things around on Long Island quickly and giving up on some players that have been and will be important to a successful turnaround. Rebuilds have to be done at a specific time or else it takes far too long. The Islanders aren't in that place. They have many of the tools and have a better chance at being competitive very soon rather than falling to the bottom for too long and dealing with the contracts that remain.