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RALEIGH, N.C. – The success story under Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz has been put in place. The foundations of accountability and work ethic are now written in the logo made famous by the teams of the dynasty.
But even though there are so many things they can be proud of, the Islanders have not only lost a streak after being swept out of the second round in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Rock Candy Canes, but they have also lost a huge opportunity to, you know, currently competing for the Stanley Cup in this year where it is possible that four wild cards qualify for the finals of the conference.
Scenarios like this do not necessarily happen every year.
"When you work so hard to get to that position and it ends up that way, it's difficult," said Anders Lee, moved, who did not have a particularly successful series. "There were a lot of things that nobody expected us to do, but you go so far, expectations change."
This is no longer a laughing stock. No longer the sinking franchise of the NHL. Islanders will be taken seriously. All this represents a quantum leap in credibility. But if their progress has been as irrefutable as it is dramatic and unexpected, it's not like the team can count on his return to the same place next year.
If not for any other reason – and there are other reasons, which manifest themselves in a lack of offensive talent beyond the upper echelons beyond Mat Barzal – it is impossible to predict what the training will look like. next season.
This is a Lamoriello team, so a little smoke has surrounded the free agency waiting for the core of the team. Lee, the captain, can go to the market on July 1st. Robin Lehner, the goalkeeper who has reversed his life and career, can be released. Brock Nelson, the Island's main player, is a stand-alone player on hold, just like Jordan Eberle, the elite shooter who is essentially at the door.
The Islanders have tons of free space, perhaps as much as $ 34 million, but the money available has never been known to burn a hole in the pockets of this general manager. How much will he bet to prevent a respected captain from defecting for a second season in a row? How much will he put in the pot to keep Lehner, shot without fail from him at 3:17 of the second period, after Carolina scored twice in 66 seconds to take a 3-1 lead and essentially put away Series. Will the general manager go to Nelson, who has had little in this series after an impressive performance against Pittsburgh?
And how will the team add more elite skills and additional polish to the mass? Will Lamoriello engage in a bidding war for future Blue Jackets freestyle winger Artemi Panarin, who will surely include the Rangers and Panthers?
Could he, did he pull a toilet and offer a tender sheet to Mitch Marner of Toronto?
Another question: will the players, who are so willing to sacrifice for the greater good as a result of the defensive follies of the previous season, also be enthusiastic about earning a lot of money when the big guys players will be able to place figures on the board?
Resuming where they were left may not be so simple given the volatility of the list. This too, of course, with the newly established respectability, is a burden. The Islanders will not sneak up on anyone next time.
It's the circle of life in the NHL.
The Islanders were beaten at their own game and more and more decisive as the series moved from Brooklyn to ACC. Their best men were outclassed by Justin Williams, Jordan Staal and Sebastian Aho of the Hurricanes, an outstanding talent in the making. The Islanders have never been able to put more than modest pressure on Curtis McElhinney, the reserve mate who was pushed into action when Petr Mrazek fell at 6:27 of the second period of the second game.
The fact is that the Islanders scored both goals at five against five (the second recorded by Nelson with 1:09 remaining in the series) of the series while he scored three in numerical superiority. They ran after the fastest Canes when Staal scored in overtime to win the match 1-0.
"I think these are the decisive moments," said Barzal, who created a bit of time and space throughout the first half of it. "If we score, they will score. Carolina did what we did in Pittsburgh. We simply have not been able to get one.
The season has been a great success. It is foolish to frame it otherwise.
"I am disappointed not to go any further," said Trotz, who has done wonders. "But you have to start somewhere."
And when the next season starts, the Islanders will have to start all over again. But with whom, no one can know.
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