The Islanders ended 2018 on the right note and will look to kick the new year off the same way on Thursday. But before the Islanders hit the ice for the first time in 2019, there are plenty of storylines to watch for this year.
The Islanders have five players that will be unrestricted free agents after this season, which includes Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle. The continued development Mathew Barzal will be something along with the development of the Islanders planned arena at Belmont Park.
Below are five things to watch for in 2019:
The Belmont Arena
Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky said he expects to break ground on the team’s new home arena at Belmont Park in May. Now we’ll see if that’s the case.
The project is currently in the public comment phase after the Empire State Development Corporation, the state agency overseeing the development, approved the environmental impact study last month. Public hearings will be held beginning January 8 and take place over a three-day span.
While opposition to the planned development at Belmont Park, which includes a new arena for the Islanders, a shopping district, hotel and community area, has been minimal it is expected to pick up during the hearings. Among those opposed to the current plan is the Belmont Park Community Coalition which could decide to try to use legal measures to halt the development.
In October, Ledecky told Newsday that he the Islanders and their development partners were taking the community’s concerns seriously. It’s a comment that opposition groups have contested.
Players that need to be re-signed
The Islanders will be faced with some questions when it comes to players who will be back after this season. The Islanders have five players that need to be re-signed or they will become unrestricted free agents, as well as three restricted free agents that will need contracts after this season.
It’s hard to imagine that Anders Lee, who was named captain before the start of the season and has been a major impact player, would be allowed to walk away in free agency. Brock Nelson’s success this season — he has 25 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 38 games — and head coach Barry Trotz’s affinity for him make it hard for it to believe that Nelson will not be re-signed.
That leaves Jordan Eberle as a question mark, especially considering the up and down year that he is having this season for New York. Valtteri Filppula and Tom Kuhnhakl also will need new deals after this season.
[lawrence-related id=868828]Will the Islanders make a move at the trade deadline?
In years past, the Islanders have remained quiet at the NHL trade deadline, but this year could be different if the team is in a playoff spot or within striking distance of one. As of this writing, the Islanders are a point out of a wild-card spot and two points back of third place in the Metropolitan Division.
If the team is in a playoff spot it Lou Lamoriello in the position where if the right move is out there a deal could be made. Also with several players that may not be re-signed, Lamoriello could look to deal them so that the team can get some value instead of walking away with nothing.
Mathew Barzal’s continued development
Mathew Barzal ended 2018 on a five-game point streak and with six goals in his last five games. To say he’s been good would be an understatement and Barzal sure helped the Islanders make a statement of their own in a dominating 4-0 shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 29.
What to watch for now is where he goes with the grind of the season in full force. His scoring has clearly picked up and now leads the Islanders in points with 36, which is six more than Josh Bailey. Barzal’s 10 goals are fourth on the team.
It’s become undeniably clear how important Barzal’s scoring touch is becoming to the Islanders success. In an eight-game span where the Islanders went 7-1-0 Barzal had 11 points and seven goals.
The Islanders and the postseason
It had been hard to imagine anyone would be talking about the Islanders being playoff contenders at the start of the year, but they’ve certainly proved the doubters wrong. As previously mentioned, the Islanders are playing very good hockey and are right there in the mix. Now, if they can sustain that success in the new year is the big question.
The Islanders start the year off by facing two struggling western opponents before facing three division foes in the Carolina Hurricanes, the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. They’ll also see the Tampa Bay Lightning to begin 2019.
If the Islanders continue to play the way they have to end 2018, then playoff hockey is a very real possibility in the spring.
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