NHL Rumors: Islanders Waving The White Flag On Their Season?

5 hours ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors  /  Read Time: 1 minute 41 seconds

Arthur Staple of The Athletic has waved the white flag on the New York Islanders' season, calling their playoff hopes dead after a recent humiliating 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers. The defeat marked their fourth straight, during which they allowed 19 goals while showing little sign of turning things around. The Islanders bounced back on Thursday night with a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins, despite being outshot a whopping 39-20.With 25 games left, the Islanders sit seven points out of a playoff spot and just six from the bottom of the Eastern Conference. “They’ve been playing not just for their playoff lives these last few weeks but for the continued existence of this long-standing core,” Staple wrote. Even Ilya Sorokin, usually the team’s safety net, was pulled after surrendering five goals on 11 shots. Head coach Patrick Roy didn’t sugarcoat it: “If I tell you he had a good game, you’d tell me I’m full of —-.” That being said, Sorokin bounced back in a big way in their most recent game against the Bruins, as previously mentioned, stopping 38 of 39 shots.Pageau seems to always hit his odd-man rush partner on the tape. #Isles https://t.co/EAVNcRKsAz— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) February 28, 2025 With the season slipping away, GM Lou Lamoriello faces some huge decisions ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. Brock Nelson, a pending free agent and the top name on The Athletic’s trade board, has given no indication he will sign an extension, making it essential to move him while his value is at its highest. Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau could also bring in assets, while long-time core pieces like Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, and Adam Pelech might be worth shopping. Staple suggests that the team should even consider buying out Pierre Engvall and Mayfield, calling their contracts costly mistakes. The roster, built on continuity and long-term deals, has run its course, and it’s clear this group is no longer good enough to compete.Patrick Roy on Ilya Sorokin's bounce-back game tonight vs. Boston:"I had some tough games. It's how you bounce back. I was confident he would" pic.twitter.com/LoAoEZNOg0— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) February 28, 2025 Reaching the playoffs would likely require at least 92 points, meaning a nearly improbable 17-7-1 run. The Islanders have struggled with injuries, poor special teams, and a lack of scoring, and there’s no realistic reason to believe they can suddenly change course. “If you’ve watched this team … and thought the Islanders just need a few more games to get it together, well, you are a true optimist,” Staple wrote. Lamoriello has long believed in patience, but the results speak for themselves. The trade deadline is the last chance to reset, and if the Islanders don’t act now, they risk falling further into mediocrity.Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images...

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