2022-23 NHL team preview: New York Islanders

The Daily Faceoff is a daily newspaper with NHL team previews.

The New York Islanders finished the season in ninth place, 16 points behind the eighth-place Washington Capitals. They lost their first seven games at UBS Arena and were in the basement of the Metropolitan Division. General manager Lou Lamoriello fired head coach Barry Trotz and replaced him with Lane Lambert. The team is known for surprising its critics. It is not clear if it will make up the 16-point difference and get the team back in playoffs.

The New York Islanders have a very low offense. They scored 2.79 goals per game last season, which was slightly better than the previous season. Their only bright spot was their power play, but it was ineffective. The team is going to be the same as last year's team with the exception of Noah Dobson. They have good defensive options, like Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech. New coach Lambert will try to improve the team's offense, especially with a new system. He might also improve their young players.

The New York Islanders were tied for seventh in the league with a 2.82 goals against per game last season. They were 24th in 5-on-5 shot attempts per 60 minutes against with 58.95 and 25th with 2-to-2 expected goals per minute with. The team was overwhelmed defensively, but Pulock, Pelech, and Scott Mayfield are reliable defensive options. Their forwards are more like Jekyll and Hyde, with the fourth line leading the team in expected goal-scoring chances per sixty minutes.

The Islanders had the third-best save percentage at .9255 last season. Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov are the team's top two goalkeepers. Varlamov will probably be the backup to Robin Lehner after he leaves in 2019. Sorokin broke out in 2021-22 and led the league in goals saved above expected with 21.85.

The New York Islanders have replaced Barry Trotz with one of his assistants, Lambert. Lambert has no NHL head coaching experience. He has worked with Trott since 2011. He won a Jack Adams Award with the Islanders. The Islanders lost the room with Troy. Lamoriello is either desperate or he's using Trotts as a scapegoat.

The New York Islanders have a very limited prospect pool. William Dufour is coming off a great season in the QMJHL and won MVP of the league and the Memorial Cup. Aatu Raty is another interesting prospect, but he's unlikely to make the team this season. New Islanders will probably opt for veteran options throughout the season, even when they need replacements with injury.

The New York Islanders lost John Tavares in 2018. Lamoriello made no moves in the offseason.

Lane Lambert will take over the New York Islanders. Barry Trotz was the coach of the team during his time there.

Ilya Sorokin has had a great season in his first two NHL seasons. He is getting better each year.

The Islanders are going to start the season with a long road trip. They are 16 points behind the New York Rangers. The Metropolitan Division is strong, with four teams likely to be in the playoffs. The New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets made big offseason additions. There is a stacked top four in Atlantic Division. It's hard to see a wildcard spot opening up for the Islanders.