Islanders Anxiety – Episode 372 – Reminded of Something

Mike and Dan go PTI-style across a few Islanders topics before discussing how a recent playoff elimination made them reflect on the past, present and future of the franchise.

The last few weeks have seen a couple of departures – of an assistant coach and a third string goalie, respectively – and a couple of guys being celebrated for the great seasons they had. But even there, we can feel disappointment and tempered enthusiasm where we really should be rejoicing. A few Islanders will be attending the World Championships, while one notable guy is staying home, for good reason. Finally, we listen to the new coach talk about his hiring and philosophies, which right now are the biggest reasons to be excited for next season.

In the second half, we look at how yet another Oilers ouster took on a different feel now that the Islanders have a generational star of their own. Connor McDavid going home empty-handed used to be funny, but now we see him as a cautionary tale of how putting too much pressure on one or two players can be a huge mistake. The Islanders are one of the few NHL teams to not have made a Stanley Cup final this century, and it’s high time the organization fixes that and produces some actual results. The right time is right now, not later. Just look at the Oilers.

REFERENCES:

• Here’s the 100% Hockey podcast appearance by Pete DeBoer that’s worth checking out.
• Ilya Sorokin is a Vezina finalist.
• And congrats to Kashawn Aitcheson on being named OHL Defenseman of the Year.