For the last 18 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 19th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what I take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

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Gone – Jordan Eberle, Andrew Ladd, Nick Leddy, Travis Zajac, Michael Dal Colle

Incoming – Richard Panik

Impact of Changes – The Islanders' offseason had been in a holding pattern until September 1, when the team finally announced the signings of RFAs Anthony Beauvillier and Ilya Sorokin, along with trade deadline acquisition Kyle Palmieri and longtime Islander Casey Cizikas. The Islanders may not be done, as they are believed to have signed (but not officially announced) Zach Parise, whose lucrative contract with Minnesota was bought out this offseason. There may also be plans to sign trade deadline acquisition Zajac as well as former first-round pick Dal Colle, but we've listed them as departures in case they will not return.

There were a few transactions that occurred earlier in the offseason, mainly related to Seattle expansion. Top-6 forward Jordan Eberle was lost in the Seattle draft, with Palmieri his most likely replacement. 2018 first-round pick Oliver Wahlstrom could also be given a look in that spot, as could Panik, who was acquired in the trade for Leddy. Lamoriello could also still think bigger and swing a deal for Vladimir Tarasenko. As for Leddy, the Isles have not found a replacement for him outside the organization, so one of Thomas Hickey or Sebastian Aho could be in line for more minutes.

Ready for Full Time – Kieffer Bellows was mainly a taxi-squad player for the Islanders in 2020-21, only getting into 14 games. But when he has gotten into the lineup, it's been on the top 6. Bellows was given a look there when Anders Lee suffered a season-ending injury, but Bellows might be on the outside looking in with captain Lee returning and the Isles possibly signing Parise. He plays a power-forward style of game with lots of hits and penalty minutes, which makes him more of a bangers league keeper option at this point.

Otto Koivula will need to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL, so there's a chance he's on the Islanders roster to start the season. That's not a guarantee though, especially now that Cizikas has re-signed. He doesn't have huge scoring upside (just two goals in 20 AHL games) but he has size (6-4, 220 lbs.) and could fill a role with the Islanders.

With Leddy leaving, Robin Salo could also move into a full-time role with the Islanders. He led Liiga in 2019-20 in icetime (23:28), and he scored 30 points in 51 games in the SHL in 2020-21. If he does make the team, expect him to be brought along slowly on an Islanders defensive system that is one of the strongest in the league.  

Fantasy Outlook: Mathew Barzal has led the Islanders in scoring for four consecutive seasons, so he deserves to be at the top of the list. He hasn't reached a point-per-game pace since his rookie season and may need to be surrounded by more offensive talent to push him over that mark. Having Lee back from injury should help with that. Beauvillier might be their next-best scoring option, looking like a world beater at times (seven goals and 13 points in his last 11 games). However, Beauvillier got off to a slow start in the first half (six points in 19 games) and was also injured during that time.

Lee, Brock Nelson, and Josh Bailey should also be back on the top 6 with similar scoring totals compared to recent seasons. There are plenty of decent forwards, but this probably isn't one of the league's stronger teams when it comes to offensive firepower. On top of that, the forwards' even-strength and power-play time should be evenly spread out, further limiting any potential breakouts.   

Leddy led Islanders blueliners in scoring and power-play time. The defenseman most likely to fill that void will be Ryan Pulock, who was way down in scoring (just two goals and 17 points in 56 games) after his three previous seasons with 9-10 goals and a 37–42-point pace. With four goals in the playoffs, Pulock showed signs of a potential bounce-back. 2018 first-round pick Dobson will likely also be counted on for more power-play time and could be a good late-round sleeper in many fantasy drafts.

The highest fantasy value among the Islanders is in net. Semyon Varlamov was nearly a Vezina Trophy nominee, finishing with the league's best GSAA (goals saved above average) of 21.84. Between Varlamov (69.4 QS%) and Ilya Sorokin (68.2 QS%), the Islanders were assured of a quality start in net at least two-thirds of the time. The question will be who starts more: likely Varlamov, but this could also become a timeshare. That's not a slight against either goalie, each of whom will be worth rostering in fantasy anyway.

Fantasy Grade: C+ (last year was C)

2021 Offseason Fantasy Grades

Anaheim

Arizona

Boston

Buffalo

Calgary

Carolina

Chicago

Colorado

Columbus

Dallas

Detroit

Edmonton

Florida

Los Angeles

Minnesota

Montreal

Nashville

New Jersey