What is Happening to the Islanders?

Last season the New York Islanders seemed to have reached a breakthrough. Speared by their main man John Tavares, they made the playoffs for the first time in over five years by finishing 8th in the Eastern Conference and they pushed Pittsburgh to six games in the playoffs first round!

But so far this season it seems normal lousy service has resumed!  Currently the Islanders lie 15th in the Eastern and so far have a low 9 wins and a high 121 goals against! So what had caused this sudden drop in form? Well lack of goals hasn't been the cause, it's the lack of players scoring them! Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Frans Neilsen have been the Islanders' only really consistent players and their high points scores reflect their efforts, but the nearest player to them is Tomas Vanek with 13 points.

Ah yes, that one, recently GM Garth Snow made the utterly bizarre decision to trade star winger Matt Moulson to the Buffalo Sabres for Tomas Vanek. While the hockey world sat in shock, the Islander fans were secretly seething at this choice! Vanek is a great player but his injury problems have prevented him for contributing significantly.

Evgeni Nabokov's loss of confidence also hasn't helped and currently he only has five wins to his name and a GAA of 3.30, but backup Kevin Poulin hasn't fared any better with only four wins and a massive 12 losses compared to Nabokov's five.

After their glorious early 1980s period which included 4 Stanley Cups, the Isles are fast fading into nothing and with their up coming move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, you have to wonder if this new start will bring something resembling the old days?