It’s no secret, the New York Islanders need help up top. Their top six is an incredible weakness. At the end of the 2018-19 season, Trotz pointedly stated that the Islanders needed more “pop” up top.
Through the offseason, they didn’t pick up that top-six forward. Instead, the Islanders started the season with Michael Dal Colle on line two with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. And when that didn’t work, the Islanders brought in Tom Kuhnhackl to fill the role.
Neither are quality top-six options.