Islanders, Without John Tavares, Are a Top 10 Stanley Cup Contender
- The Islanders have emerged with +1600 odds to win the 2019 Stanley Cup
- How is New York flying up the odds board?
- Are the Islanders worth a wager?
Without John Tavares, they don’t stand a chance! This was the thinking around the NHL and within the heads of the eight season tickets holders in Brooklyn this past summer when number 91 signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, over the past few months the New York Islanders have found their footing. Led by their reigning Stanley Cup winning coach Barry Trotz, New York has found themselves on a path to success despite losing their best player in free agency last July.
Fact: Tavares never smiled when he was a member of the New York Islanders pic.twitter.com/ooThCSqtkY
— adam (@AdamLeafs_) January 28, 2019
Tavares took off to the Leafs and in-turn opened up $6 million dollars in cap space for the Islanders. The team then took little time to piece together something a little more concrete and well-rounded.
They added Valteri Filppula, Leo Komarov, Tom Kuhnhackl, Luca Sbisa, and goaltender Robin Lehner. As of January 28th, Robin Lehner has the best Goals Against and save percentage of any goalie in the NHL, Filppula is fifth in team scoring, and Kuhnhackl (in 19 games) has the second best shooting percentage on the roster.
2019 Stanley Cup Odds
| Team | Odds to Win the 2019 Stanley Cup |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +260 |
| Calgary Flames | +500 |
| San Jose Sharks | +750 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +800 |
| Nashville Predators | +1400 |
| New York Islanders | +1600 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +1600 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1600 |
| Boston Bruins | +2200 |
The Long Shots from Long Island
For a team that had +8800 odds to win the 2019 Stanley Cup back on October 22nd, the New York Islanders have come flying up the board quick. Their average odds coming out of the All-Star Break are now +1900, tied for the eighth-best in the league.
The team went 8-2 through their first ten games to start the new year, while only allowing 1.7 goals per game through that stretch. The play of Robin Lehner easily deserves the majority of the credit for the overachieving Isles success.
Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders took a chance on Robin Lehner, and it’s been paying off https://t.co/qmIfRRTmDf
— SI NHL (@SI_NHL) January 28, 2019
While the former Sabre has been great, the mid-season accolades don’t end there. The team is also eighth in times shorthanded this season, meaning Barry Trotz has done a strong job at keeping his team playing smart and disciplined hockey.
Are the New York Islanders Worth a Wager?
So, now that we’re done patting them on the back, the big question comes out. The answer here is as easy as it is painless – yes!
If the playoffs started today, the Isles would play Pittsburgh, a team that they are 2-1-1 against this season. Also, given the Penguins’ struggles, this could be a no-brainer. Just like that, your odds get a heck of a lot shorter. So, while some may sit on the side of caution, others know not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
If the playoffs started today, the Isles would play Pittsburgh, a team that they are 2-1-1 against this season.
Take advantage now, because with Thomas Hickey and Andrew Ladd nearing returns, the New York Islanders are not showing any signs of slowing down.
Ryan is what you call a seasoned vet. It's been nearly 13 years and he has hosted three sports radio talk shows, two football television shows, two sports podcasts, released his first book in 2012, had his own ESPN E:60 documentary shot, and was the first inductee to ESPN's Hall of Fans.
