Good Morning, Islanders Country.
The first Isles-related article I read in 2025 came from Arthur Staple in The Athletic. The headline read, “Islanders hobble into 2025 headed toward a reckoning.” Happy New Year, indeed.
The word ‘reckoning’ carries different but similar meanings, and multiple currently apply to the Islanders. It can mean the process of deciding something, a personal view or opinion, or, maybe this is the one most relatable to the Isles, the avenging of past mistakes.
“Whether it’s Lamoriello calling the shots or someone else who owner Scott Malkin deems Lamoriello’s successor, this Isles group has run its course. It’s a good group of good players at its core, many of whom played key roles in the delightful run from 2018-21, but it is so very over.” - Arthur Staple
It feels like we’re inching toward something inevitable this time around.
For years, many in the fanbase have preferred a sell-off, rebuild, retool, etc., but the problem has been that things didn’t quite align with that timeline. There were too many core players with multiple years left on their contracts, and the memories of the group making deep playoff runs were too fresh in minds.
It’s been over three years since Game 7 in Tampa Bay. A season without the playoffs and losing a Hall-of-Fame coach was followed by two seasons and two coaches ending in matter-of-fact first-round exits to a superior team.
