Reviewing the New York Islanders 2016-17 Season

Despite ending the year with a six-game winning streak, the New York Islanders fell short of a post-season berth. The team finished 41-29-12 with 94 points, but trailed the cross-town Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division.

The Islanders finished eighth in the Eastern Conference 

Rather than focus on the New York's shortcomings, the majority of fans have remained content with how the season shook out. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Islanders whirlwind of a 2016-17 season.

New York lost several key players in the summer of 2016, including Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin. The team appeared to head toward a quasi-rebuild stage as they prepared to develop younger talents such as Ryan Strome and Anders Lee while bringing in free agent veterans like Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera. Therefore, the Islanders faithful tempered their expectations for the 2016-17 season.

Ladd (left) and Chimera (right) celebrate after an Islanders goal

Weight (pictured) hopes to return next year

The team posted a 17-17-8 record through the first 42 games and let go of long-time head coach Jack Capuano. In addition, the franchise had placed goaltender Jaroslav Halak on waivers and eventually sent him down to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. The Islanders replaced Capuano with Assistant General Manager Doug Weight, and Halak with the duo of Thomas Greiss and J.F. Berube.

Most fans would agree that Weight exceeded expectations, leading the club to a 24-12-4 record while attaining 52 points. As an interim head coach, his future remains unclear, but he hopes to remain with the organization in some capacity. 

Weight's Islanders were given a second-half boost by the likes of prospects Joshua Ho-Sang and Adam Pelech, who both finished with 10 points each. In particular, Ho-Sang proved to the Islanders that he was the real-deal, and the 21-year old figures to play a tremendous role in the team's future. Aside from the rookies, New York also received late-season contributions from Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera, who ended with 31 and 33 points, respectively.

Ho-Sang (pictured) finished with four goals and six assists in 21 games

By and large, the largest bright spot was Anders Lee, whose 34 goals led him to win the Bob Nystrom Award. Lee's 52 total points represented a career high, and at age-26, the center projects to play a big part in the coming years. It is also important to recognize the performance of Josh Bailey, who posted a career-high 56 points with 42 assists. 

As a result of a late-season resurgence by Jaroslav Halak, the Islanders may have a strong goaltender corps next year. However, with the upcoming expansion draft for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Halak may be on the bubble to be selected. If that were to happen, the Islanders would lose the hefty contract obligation and be given the opportunity to hand the keys to both Greiss and Berube on a full-time basis.

Halak (pictured) redeemed his value with a second-half rejuvenation

Despite some dazzling performances, the Islanders player personnel state remains at a cross-roads. Team captain John Tavares set to hit free agency after the 2017-18 season, and New York must decide whether to gear up for one more deep-playoff run or commit to a rebuild phase. With talent such as Ho-Sang, Pelech, Anthony Beauvillier, Parker Wortherspoon, J.F. Berube, Ilya Sorokin, Ryan Pulock, Kieffer Bellows, and Matthew Barzal on board for the long-term, the team figures to remain competitive for the foreseeable future.