A SUMMER OF RECKONING
A lot of Isles made steady gains this season, but that won’t mean a lick if Tavares packs up
ONE THING IS for sure: the draft is never boring thanks to the Islanders. From the year they only picked defensemen (2012) to the NHL’s first China-raised selection Andong Song (2015), expect the unexpected from GM Garth Snow. That unorthodoxy can sometimes pay off, with defenseman Sebastian Aho (who had been passed over twice) being the latest example. A willingness to ignore the ‘Russian Factor’ has yet to pay dividends, though Ilya Sorokin looks like a score. IMMEDIATE NEEDS: The Islanders were sunk by poor goaltending again, and with Sorokin under contract for two more seasons in the KHL, he won’t be the solution until 2020. Thomas Greiss is the only NHL stopper who’s signed for next season, so there’ll be some activity on that front as he was far from a world-beater. LONG-TERM NEEDS: Thanks to Mathew Barzal and a solid core of established players, New York has a nice high-end for the future, but depth is an issue. The Isles are top-heavy, and the defense could use an infusion of dynamism. Aho can help the blueline, while Kieffer Bellows looks like a potent weapon up front. CAP SITUATION: Cover your ears, Isles fans, but the team’s cap situation is intensely linked to whether or not John Tavares re-signs. New York has about $30 million to play with, so Tavares can get a boatload of cash – if he wants it. Elsewhere, the Isles need to get RFA Brock Nelson re-signed, while defensemen Calvin de Haan and Thomas Hickey are poised to hit the open market. IN THE SYSTEM 2018-19: New York has two young defensemen in the pipeline who will vie for regular roles next season in Aho and Devon Toews. Aho has already made his NHL debut, while Toews was derailed by a shoulder injury. Both blueliners skate well and can chip in on offense from the back end. DID YOU KNOW: Aho had the Internet in stitches when he took a penalty in March for hooking Carolina center Sebastian Aho. Despite their same names, the Ahos hail from different countries: New York’s is from Sweden, Carolina’s is from Finland.