RALEIGH, N.C. — To a man, the Islanders were proud of what they did this season, how they overcame a coaching change and a standings deficit to make the playoffs and the way they battled throughout a five-game loss in the first round to the Hurricanes.
Whether or not that will be seen by management as enough to run things back for another year is impossible to say with certainty at this point, but this does feel like a junction at which bringing the band back together would be a hard sell for the fan base, at least.
Eight regulars, including longtime core members Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, are on expiring deals.
None of those eight are in the top-six forward group or top-four defense, but that alone makes it likely that this team will look different next season.
The question is how much — and the answer depends on whether owner Scott Malkin and general manager Lou Lamoriello feel the same way about this season as the players in the dressing room.
“Every year has its ups and downs,” Kyle Palmieri said after a 6-3 loss to the Hurricanes ended the season. “This one felt as high and low as it’s ever been. For a lot of guys in this room, it was a bumpy ride. But realistically, really proud of everyone in here. We battled our asses off. We made our way into the playoffs and had a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.”
Given where the Islanders were a month ago, it’s impressive that they got this far. But given that the expectation has been to contend at a much higher level, a third straight season without winning a playoff series isn’t acceptable.
The Islanders have too many long-term contracts on their books to tear it all down. But there is a clear opportunity this offseason to make the most significant changes this team has seen in a long time.
It doesn’t take much to figure out what the players would pick if they had a chance.
“I’m proud of every single player in here,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. “Everyone played with their heart and competed and gave us a chance to win almost every single night. Just hockey. Didn’t go our way.”
But it’s not their decision to make.
The spotlight is now on Lamoriello, Malkin and coach Patrick Roy, who had three months to work with this roster and develop an informed opinion on all 23 players.
A year ago, there were no real consequences for losing to Carolina in the first round. It’s hard to see that being the same.