For the first time in well over a decade, the New York Islanders’ exemplary play makes them a serious buyer at this 2019 trade deadline.
From October onward, the Islanders have exceeded almost everyone’s expectations.
Within the same calendar year, the team has owned the league-worst and league-best defense, largely due to the changes in the front office and the personnel behind the bench.
There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about the Islanders — the goaltending has been Vezina worthy, the defense is at the top of the league, and any concerns about the offense have been quelled from a top-down contribution throughout the lineup (eight Islanders forwards have at least 10 goals).