Fansided

5 teams that didn’t do enough at the NHL Trade Deadline

By Griffin Youngs

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 5: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers listens to the national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 5: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers listens to the national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Islanders
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: President of Hockey Operations Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders (L) talks with Garth Snow during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

New York Islanders

What a flip from where the Islanders stood when the season began. Poised to be one of the biggest sellers on the market with several expiring contracts on the team, here we are disappointed that the Islanders were not actually buyers at the trade deadline.

The Islanders are this season’s magic team, and have defied all expectations heading into the season en route to leading the Metropolitan Division in February. As it stands right now, the Islanders have 79 points in 62 games, and are tied with the Capitals with two games in hand. If you told anyone, including even the most diehard Islanders fans, that they were even in a wildcard spot during the home stretch to the playoffs, you’d have been called crazy.

The Islanders are as good as they are for two reasons ( and no it’s not because John Tavares was holding them back, and to suggest that to be so is not based in reality). The Islanders are good because of their dynamic duo of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss, plus new head coach Barry Trotz instilling proper defensive systems and a sense of stability to the entire organization. They’re scoring goals, but their offensive depth still leaves a bit to be desired.

Rumors persisted leading up to the deadline that the Islanders were in on Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, Artemi Panarin and basically all the known names that were on the market this year. They had plenty of assets to burn if need be, and didn’t have to go all-in on the big names. A Marcus Johansson, Ryan Dzingel or Wayne Simmonds would have fit them just fine, but instead Lou Lamoriello decided to go big or go home, and he came home empty-handed. The Islanders made no trades not only during the deadline period, but nothing since July 3.

If the Islanders regress even a little bit, meaning Robin Lehner and Thomas Griess don’t share the league lead in save percentage, then Islanders might be out of luck. Things have not gone well recently, either, with the Islanders having lost three of their last four.

With the Columbus Blue Jackets loading up as they did, the Islanders are no longer the top threats in the metropolitan division. Even if things continue the way they’ve gone all season and the Islanders continue with their incredible shooting and save percentages, it can only carry the team so far. There is no magic in the playoffs, only luck. Good teams need depth to go deep, and the Islanders still don’t have that.

The Golden Knights were last year’s magic team and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, but when push came to shove, the Capitals had them beat in terms of depth, costing Vegas a Cup. The Islanders would’ve been wise to heed that lesson, but instead they feel content with the roster they have.

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