Reasons For Future Optimism
Michel Anderson, Eyes on Isles:
It’s only four games into the season. It’s really just that simple. The New York Islanders are better than what they have shown over this very very short season so far.
Like I’ve said already, the likes of Andrew Ladd and John Tavares have yet to really click. Or even produce. Both are too good to go a full 82 games on this current scoring pace.
Since being in the league Tavares hasn’t scored less than 54 points or at a pace of .65 points per game. (That was his rookie year). This current funk he’s in won’t last. And when it breaks the Islanders will be a team to fear.
But until that happens, it looks fairly grim for the New York Islanders. Going 1-3-0 to start the season isn’t great, but it’s way too early to write them off just yet.
But just you wait Isles fans, Johnny isn’t “here” yet.
Jason Harrison, Howlin’ Hockey:
This is an easy one. The plethora of highly touted kids making their way to Glendale.
Coyotes fans have faced a long dry period since that Western Conference Finals berth in 2011-12. We’ve had a ton of high draft picks enter our system as well as a few others via trade.
Those kids are finally making their way to the NHL roster and fans are excited for the future.
Dylan Strome, Christian Dvorak, and Jakob Chychrun are all explosive talents and made the team out of training camp. Lawson Crouse is another first rounder who made the roster this year. With them joining the likes of Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, along with OEL who is still just 25-years-old, the future is very bright.
There are still more potential stars waiting in the system as well, including the one who may be the brightest of them all, 7th overall pick Clayton Keller.
Next: Jakob Chychrun Not Content With Nine Games
Keller is an absolute wizard with the puck and probably would’ve been off the board if he didn’t face the same kind of undersized concerns that plagued players like Johnny Gaudreau.
He’s spending the year at Boston University, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he dominates and is then on the team in Glendale next fall.