Yahoo Sports Ten Bold Predictions From Islanders Fans Ahead Of The 2024-25 NHL Season
The New York Islanders aren't running things back in 2023-24.
They've added two new forwards this offseason, with Anthony Duclair and Maxim Tsyplakov coming aboard while retaining defenseman Mike Reilly.
Also, as of now, the Islanders will not be bringing back Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, two longtime Islanders.
Ahead of the Islanders' first full season under Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy, fans shared their bold predictions for the upcoming 2024-25 season:
Give me a bold prediction for the New York Islanders 2024-25 season. #Isles
— Isles Territory (@IslesTerritory) August 16, 2024
Let's dive into 10 of them:
Bo Horvat to score 40 goals
The 29-year-old had a strong first full season with the Islanders, scoring 33 goals with 35 assists for 68 points in 81 games. But can he reach the 40-goal mark in year two?
His career high was 38, which he scored in 2022-23 — 31 goals with the Vancouver Canucks before seven after being dealt to the Islanders. That season with Vancouver, he was on pace for 51, so 40 is certainly possible, especially in Roy's more aggressive system.
Islanders miss playoffs, and general manager Lou Lamoriello moves on
Since Lamoriello came to Long Island ahead of the 2018-19 season, the Islanders have missed the playoffs just once. Sure, it hasn't been smooth sailing, needing the last week of the regular season in back-to-back campaigns to qualify for the playoffs, something they hope doesn't happen for a third straight year.
The Metropolitan Division is a wild card entering 2024-25, with many question marks for many teams. Regardless, the Islanders should qualify, but if they don't — especially with them hosting the 2026 All-Star Game — it might be tough to keep upper management the way it is.
Related: Matt Martin On Islanders General Manager Lou Lamoriello's Rules: 'It's All About The Team'
Noah Dobson's next contract is the most expensive on the team
The Islanders' 24-year-old defenseman is entering the final year of his deal and will be getting a raise from his $4 million AAV. The question is, how high of an annual cap hit is he looking for?
While it is certainly possible that he will get an eight-year deal worth $8 million or more annually, could he demand the highest value on the team?
It's unlikely, given his defensive struggles and offensive inconsistencies at times, but offensive defensemen are hard to come by.
If Dobson is to be the team's highest-paid player, his long-term deal would carry a cap hit of over $9.15 million, which is Barzal's hit.
It would be a shock if that happened.
Related: How Do Latest Defense Contracts Impact Noah Dobson's Next Deal With Islanders?
Sorokin wins the Vezina
What a turn of events this would be for the 28-year-old netminder.
After being a Vezina Finalist in 2022-23 with a 2.34 GAA, a .924 SV%, and a league-leading six shutouts, Sorokin followed that up with the worst season of his career, posting a 3.01 GAA with a .908 SV%, losing the starting job to Semyon Varlamov down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Given that he's entering the first of an eight-year deal worth $8.25 million annually, the team would love to see him bounce back, and if he's a Vezina finalist, that likely means his team is playoff-bound because of him.
Lee will score 25 goals, 10 on the power play
Islanders captain Anders Lee got off to an extremely slow start in 2023-24, but a hot stretch at the end of the season allowed him to reach the 20-goal mark for the third straight season and the eighth time in his 12-year NHL career.
So, seeing Lee score 25 goals isn't out of the realm of possibilities, with an improved power play playing a vital part in that potentially happening. But 10 goals with the man advantage, that's a bold statement.
Twice in his career, Lee has scored 10 or more goals on the power play, scoring 14 during his 40-goal 2017-18 campaign, before 10 in 2018-19. He scored five power-play goals this past season, reaching nine in 2021-22.
Related: Islanders Captain & 2024 King Clancy Winner Anders Lee To Host Annual Kancer Jam
Tsyplakov scores 30 goals in his first NHL season
New York's biggest wild card is Tysplakov, the 25-year-old Russian free agent who scored 31 goals in a breakout season in the KHL.
It was his sixth KHL season, with his previous high being 10 goals, which he scored the year prior.
Tsyplakov was brought in to score goals, and we project him to be on the Islanders' second line alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, a duo that knows how to put the puck in the back of the net.
If the Islanders got 30 goals at $950,000, that would be tremendous for New York. Tysplakov will be a restricted free agent following the 2024-25 season, so even if he pops off, the Islanders still have leverage.
It's still a win for the Islanders if Tsyplakov scores 20 goals this season.
Related: Islanders Newcomer Maxim Tsyplakov Not Coming To North America Alone
Bolduc scores six goals
Samuel Bolduc is not likely to be a starter this year for the Islanders, who get Scott Mayfield back healthy and also bringing back Mike Reilly on a one-year deal.
If he wins the job, the 24-year-old will likely serve as the seventh defenseman this upcoming season, a role he struggled with last season.
But Bolduc would likely go in if there's an injury to anyone on the blue line.
Bolduc scored twice in 34 games last season. So, for him to score six goals would mean that he either increased his shooting percentage exponentially or got a long leash because someone missed a significant amount of time.
Related: How Sebastian Aho's Departure Affects Samuel Bolduc's Role With Islanders
The Islanders will have five 30-goal scorers: Nelson, Palmieri, Horvat, Lee & Duclair
In 2023-24, the Islanders had three 30-goal scorers, with Brock Nelson scoring 34, Bo Horvat tallying 33, and Kyle Palmieri potting an even 30.
Having five would mean things went right for the Islanders regarding line combinations and chemistry.
It's not impossible for it to happen, though.
Nelson and Horvat have surpassed the 30-goal mark in each of the last three seasons.
In his first healthy season on Long Island, Palmieri showed how much of a weapon he can be, especially playing in Patrick Roy's system.
Just once in his 10-year career has Duclair scored 30 goals, scoring 31 in 2021-22.
Although his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning only lasted 17 games, his eight goals put him on pace for 38.5 if he played all 82 games with them — scoring 24 total last season after 16 in 56 games with San Jose.
Lining up alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal should allow Duclair ample scoring opportunities, but 30 seems a tad high.
Anders Lee shook off a slow start in 2023-24, ending his season with 20 goals, a mark he's hit in seven of the last eight seasons.
He hasn't scored 30 since scoring 40 in 2017-18.
Although a hopefully improved power play should help Lee's production, his role as a full-time bottom-six forward instead of getting opportunities in the top-six won't provide the same goal-scoring opportunities.
Ultimately, the Islanders having five 30-goal scorers come season's end would mean things went right. Having five 20-goal scorers would also be music to Islanders fans' ears, something they accomplished this past season.
Related: A Healthy Palmieri Living Up to Islanders' Expectations
Holmstrom will score 20 goals
Simon Holmstrom's offensive production in 2023-24 was better than his rookie campaign, scoring 15 goals compared to six.
The 23-year-old had shorthanded success early on, scoring five shorthanded goals before the calendar switched to 2024.
But, the finishing dissipated.
There's no question that Holmstrom has an elite shot — he's shown it —but usage inconsistencies have limited his production.
If Roy can get Holmstrom to trust his shot more and Holmstrom is a starter for this team — there will be heavy competition — then reaching the 20-goal mark should certainly be possible.
Related: Islanders Simon Holmstrom & Battle Mentality: A Needed Improvement Heading Into 2024-25
Dobson wins the Norris Trophy
For most of the 2023-24 season, Noah Dobson had himself in the Norris Trophy conversation.
However, he got ice cold offensively, scoring one goal in 24 games from Feb. 10 to Apr. 2, effectively ending his Norris Trophy aspirations.
Dobson still had a heck of a season, with 10 goals, 60 assists, and 70 points, the latter two career highs.
His 70 points were seventh-most among defensemen.
Could 2024-25 be the season for Dobson?
Ultimately, the power play will be crucial if Dobson is to quarterback the first unit. Their struggles certainly impacted his production.
Because of his offensive abilities, Dobson will likely have his name thrown around the Norris Trophy conversation year in and year out.
However, with so much talent in the NHL, with the likes of Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, and Evan Bouchard going nowhere, not to mention the ageless Roman Josi, it will be difficult for Dobson to beat them out since those teams' offenses still rank ahead of New York's.
Related: What Islanders Noah Dobson & Legend Denis Potvin Have In Common
