The NHL playoffs are here! And after a one-year hiatus, the Islanders are back.
In terms of periods of time where the Isles making the playoffs was special but not shocking, this current era of 2019-2023, feels so so different than that 2002-2007 era, and different still from the 2013-16 era. Each were rebounds from periods of futility. Each offered some close series that could have gone either way as well as series where the Isles looked thoroughly outmatched.
Maybe it’s the recency bias of having won series and gone on conference finals runs under BarryTrotz, or maybe it’s the atmosphere of having ownership able and willing to spend, but the current period feels like the team belongs here.