Casey Cizikas #53 of the New York Islanders skates in the first period against the Boston Bruins at NYCB Live on Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac
Poor preseason predictions made by those outside the dressing room are received in one of two ways by the players inside. Either they are ridiculed, then promptly ignored, or they are ridiculed and fuel an us-against-the-world motivation.
Suffice to say, the Islanders greatly exceeded expectations last season, their first under president and general manager Lou Lamoriello and coach Barry Trotz. And the players weren’t shy about reminding others they had.