Islanders beat reporter Andrew Gross breaks down five things to keep an eye on this season:
1. THE POST-JOHN TAVERAS ERA: Have the Islanders really moved on? They better have. President/GM Lou Lamoriello, coach Barry Trotz and the players have all said that there’s no looking back on their former captain’s free agency departure to Toronto. But actions will prove louder than words and multiple players need to improve their game to fill the void.
2. MATHEW BARZAL'S SECOND SEASON: No player is being looked at more to compensate for Tavares’ loss than last season’s Calder Trophy winner.