Six years ago, in December 2019, the world was still blissfully unaware of how much it was about to change. On Long Island, hockey felt steady, comforting, and fun again.
The New York Islanders were in the middle of a second straight strong season under Barry Trotz, looking every bit like a team built for another playoff run. More importantly, they had an identity — something that had been missing for far too long.
The fan base had fallen hard for Trotz. He took an organization that had been drifting and gave it structure, accountability, and belief.