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2017 has been a memorable year, on and off the ice, for the New York Islanders. These are the five biggest storylines of the past 12 months.
5 - Hit the road, Jack
There were a lot of expectations coming into the 2016-17 season. The team was coming off their first playoff series win in 23 years. Unfortunately, the team stumbled out of the gate and was dead last in the Eastern Conference when general manager Garth Snow decided to fire head coach Jack Capuano, who was the fourth-longest tenured coach at the time. There were a number of times Snow could’ve pulled the trigger, but ironically waited until after the team played their best game of the season on January 16, a 4-0 win in Boston.
Enter assistant coach and assistant general manager Doug Weight, who had zero head coaching experience, replacing Capuano on an interim basis. The move paid off, as Weight led the team to a 24-12-4 record, missing the playoffs by a point. Weight’s postgame conferences were must-see TV. His honesty and candor were a breathe of fresh air. He also connected with players that Capuano could not, namely Josh Bailey and Anders Lee.
The talk was that Weight didn’t not want the job full time. “I wasn’t lying when I said I was taking it a game at a time and that I was really focused on that playoff race, trying to get the team there,” Weight said during a conference call on April 12. “I had a good feeling coming out of the year, talked about it a lot with friends, my family, people in the organization. We worked hard at it for two days and I felt it was important to meet with all of my bosses face to face — I believe in that communication, that clarity. By the time we wrapped up (the team) dinner last night I was feeling really good about it, as were they.”
The Isles have earned 100 standings points in calendar year 2017. It is the first time that the Isles have earned 100 points in a calendar year in the Post-Cup era. The Isles last earned 100 points in a calendar year in 1983, when they tallied 105, per Eric Hornick.
4 - Josh Bailey, elite winger
It seems like no matter what Josh Bailey does it’s not good enough for some Isles fans. The guy could cure cancer, defeat ISIS, change the tax law, find life on Mars and some fans still wouldn’t be satisfied. But Bailey had an unbelievable calendar year. He was nearly a point per game player (81 points in 84 games). He will smash the career highs in assists (43) and points (56) he set last season. He’s currently tied for the league lead in assists and tied with John Tavares with 49 points, which is second in the league.
Bailey has already been named a “Star of the Week” twice this season. Bailey, along with Tavares and Anders Lee, have been one of the most productive first lines in hockey.
Bailey is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the season. It will be interesting to see if he takes a hometown discount to stay with the Islanders or cashes in on the open market.
3- Second-line center found!
The Islanders pursuit of Matt Duchene was well known. Snow never came close to Avs general manager Joe Sakic’s asking price. The trade deadline and NHL draft came and went and Duchene remained in Denver. The Islanders decided to stay in house with their choice, boy has it paid off. Mat Barzal gave the Islanders no reason for the team to have him start the season in Bridgeport. The 16th overall pick in 2015 has been dynamic all season, leading all rookies in scoring with 36 points. He’s a highlight reel each time he touches the puck.
In his 38 games this season, he has accomplished the following, a five-assist game, a hat trick and a OT winning goal. 2018 could likely bring a Calder Trophy.
Oh, and Matt Duchene? He went from a team who is struggling more than the Avalanche in the Ottawa Senators.
2- The John Tavares contract saga
It seemed like a forgone conclusion in the middle of last season that Tavares would re-sign as soon as the calendar hit July. Then the news broke the last week of June that Tavares was willing to wait on an extension, sending Islanders fans into a panic, exciting Maple Leafs fans and all of the Canadian media in a frenzy.
Money and term was never going to be an issue with the Islanders, who can offer eight years. The 2009 first overall pick wanted to know, and still wants to know, the direction that the team is headed. The other issue, the ongoing arena drama, was finally settled.
Going into the season, it was assumed, by everyone, not in the isles organization, that the contract situation would become a distraction. The captain wasn’t going to let that happens as he’s second in the league in scoring and on pace for his first 100-point season.
Tavares has not once said that he wanted to leave the only organization that he has known. The captain in hockey first and his contract extension, which will be signed following the season, will be a major storyline in 2018.
1- Belmont, baby!
Islanders owners Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin did what no one thought possible, get a brand-new, world-class arena built in Nassau County. They found a loophole in that the Belmont land is New York State owned.
The Islanders’ partners in the development include Sterling Project Development, a real estate firm run by the Mets’ Wilpon family, and Oak View Group, an arena development company partially funded by Madison Square Garden.
The Islanders’ bid includes an 18,000-seat, year-round arena that would host 150 events annually as well as 435,000 square feet of space for retail, a hotel with 200 to 250 rooms, and a 10,000-square-foot “innovation center” that would be developed with resident input.
If a shovel is in the ground by Spring, the arena will likely be ready for the 2020-21 season. The team has already committed to Barclays Center for next season. That currently leaves the Islanders homeless for the 2019-20 season. Where they end up will be a storyline for 2018.
The team closes out 2017 in Denver tonight against the Avalanche. The Pepsi Center has been flat lately for the Isles as they are 0-2-1 in their last three trips.
New York has been rockin on New Year’s Eve. They are 10-0-1 in their last 11 New Year’s Eve games.
Defenseman Sebastian Aho will make his NHL debut. Dennis Seidenberg will sit.
A big shakeup on the third line as Shane Prince and Steve Bernier will sit for Anthony Beauvillier and Alan Quine. Weight hope that Brock Nelson will show up tonight.
A very healthy and happy New Year to all!
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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