The New York Islanders surprised everyone with a 103 point season in 2018-19. The Isles were supposed to sit in the basement of the Metropolitan Division, the Eastern Conference, and for the NHL in general. They were supposed to be bad, like really bad.
Instead, they finished second in the Metropolitan Division, a single point behind division leaders Washington Capitals with 103 points. They finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the NHL.
And shy of Valtteri Filppula and Robin Lehner leaving in free agency, the New York Islanders are bringing back virtually the same team in 2019-20.