12 Keys to New York Islanders Winning the 2025 Stanley Cup – Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

It is unlikely that the New York Islanders will win the Stanley Cup this season. They're a middling team, and their odds reflect that – at +4000 or +5000, according to many pundits, they're in the same league as the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins. However, if a few things go their way this season, they can win it all against the odds.

1. Islanders Buy into Roy's System

Head coach Patrick Roy will have his team playing organized and disciplined hockey on both ends of the ice. When he came off the bench midway through last season, he turned the Islanders into a playoff team, and with a full offseason to go, this team should hit the ground running. This tough team bought into his style last season, and the hope is that he will have another good season.

2. Islanders Forward Unit Needs To Get Depth

The Islanders have a very tough offense. After Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, Brock Nelson, and Kyle Palmieri, the production is down, and the depth is non-existent. This season, the Islanders need production from the bottom six and, in particular, from their third line, which was the weakest link throughout last season.

All eyes are on Anders Lee, Pierre Engvall, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a trio of veterans who can't be offensive but combined for just 41 goals and 57 assists last season. Lee is more of a finisher, while Pageau is more of a passer, and together, the two can create plenty of scoring opportunities. With Engvall getting open shots from the wing, the third line should be strong this season if all three skaters step up.

3. Dobson & Romanov Handle Defense

Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov are the two defenders expected to lead this unit. Dobson can do it as a two-way player – he has scored 36 goals and 134 assists over the past three seasons while combining his game in the defensive position. Romanov, on the other hand, can take over games as a stay-at-home defenseman who creates turnovers, blocks shots, and delivers big hits.

These two will form a top pair, or if Roy chooses to split them up, they will take up a lot of ice time between defensemen. With their good play, the defense will improve and look like one of the best in the league. It will also help both skaters get big contracts in the 2025 offseason when they become restricted free agents (RFAs).

4. Lamoriello Must Add Elite Skill

If the Islanders are in the playoff picture and play well during the season, they should make a spectacle. It's something general manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello tends to avoid. That said, he needs to get his team over the hump by adding an elite front six that can help them beat the top teams in the Eastern Conference and make deep playoffs.

5. Defense Must Improve

The defense struggled last season and has been an ax in previous seasons. They improved under Roy, but were still poor friends of the Islanders. Development starts at the top with Dobson and Romanov, but Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock should be around for a full season, while Scott Mayfield and Mike Reilly should round out the third-string unit.

6. Sorokin Rebounds & Varlamov Finds Steady Work

If there's one thing the Islanders have learned in recent seasons, it's that Ilya Sorokin is good, and when he's playing at his best, he's one of the best in the NHL. In 2022-23, he led the team to the playoffs and finished as a Vezina Trophy finalist as a result. Another lesson is that even though Sorokin is great, he can't do it all by himself, and overwork will backfire on him.

That's why the Islanders must use Semyon Varlamov at the right starting price. Last season he proved that even in the dark, he can still be a reliable backup. The Islanders will lean on Sorokin, but Varlamov should start at least 30 games to stay well rested for a full 82-game season.

7. Barzal and Horvat Continue Strong Connection

The connection that led the offense last season must return this season. Barzal finished his game last season to become an All-Star caliber player, and he can continue to create scoring opportunities with his speed and passing and rebounds with his quick shot. Horvat, on the other hand, must continue to be a good shooter but also take his game forward. He has to create scoring opportunities in the midfield and the top. Together, they can give the Islanders a powerful top line and make the offense hard to stop.

8. Duclair Rises as Scorer

Anthony Duclair was the team's biggest offseason signing. Lamoriello made a splash and signed the veteran player to a four-year contract to put a bullet in the case. Duclair will likely play alongside Barzal and Horvat on the top line, and should score to take the offense to the next level. He has scored a lot of goals in recent seasons but is a top scorer and will have open looks in the top line to take advantage.

9. Roy Gets a Steady Role in Tsyplakov

Another big addition in the offseason was the signing of Maxim Tsyplakov from the KHL in hopes that the young player would bring a fresh look to the offense. The question is where will he play in the team moving forward. Right now, all signs point to him playing on Nelson's line, and his ability to score on the wing could make the Islanders offense one of the best in the league. Tsyplakov is the X-Factor up front, which is why Roy needs to find the right skaters to play with him this season.

10. Special Teams Must Improve

Whether it's the seemingly harmless power play or the penalty kill that allows easy scoring opportunities for the opposition, the Islanders' special teams have been a weakness in recent campaigns. Last season, the penalty kill, in particular, was terrible, and it won't be if the team is headed for the Stanley Cup. The power play could improve with Dobson taking on a more active role from the point, while the penalty kill requires Roy to train the unit and find the right skaters to step up and prevent opponents from easily finding the back of the net.

11. Nelson Continues to Carry the Second Line

Centering the second line, Nelson must step up as a scorer and playmaker. He's done it in recent seasons with 30 or more goals in the past three seasons, and even at 33 years old, he's shown no signs of slowing down. Nelson will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent (UFA), but the Islanders should try to keep the face of their franchise at all costs.

A big season from Nelson will have the Islanders in the playoff picture. Not only does he keep scoring but he also creates opportunities to beat other bowlers in his lane. Unlike Barzal and Horvat, Nelson has to carry the line without much help, and it makes him a vital part of the team's success.

12. Islanders Adjust to Playoffs

When the Islanders play a team like the Carolina Hurricanes, they should be able to hang around. When teams force them to win low-scoring, slow-paced or fast-paced games, the Islanders must adapt. Likewise, when opponents force skaters to win in multiple ways, they should. The Islanders were eliminated in the First Round by the Hurricanes in 2023 and 2024 due to their inability to rotate. In the playoffs, skaters like Horvat have to step up their game, and Barzal has to take over games as a shooter. It's a tall order, but it's one that will make the team a Cup contender.

Some Keys to Winning for the Islanders

The important thing is that the Islanders must be very successful. Some aging veterans have to turn back the clock, and star players have to look like stars who can take games on their own. Foreign aid will also benefit the Islanders. Specifically, the Metropolitan Division is not a juggernaut compared to previous seasons. Playing in a weak division should allow the Islanders to rack up wins and put together a great season.

The Islanders could make a spectacle, but adding a dual defenseman at the trade deadline would also help the cause. They've struggled for a playoff spot, and having a defense that can carry the offense will be crucial no matter the matchup.

A lot has to go right for any team to win the Cup, and the Islanders need a few things to go their way. However, they have a way if everything goes well.