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Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Islanders Are Closer To Top Draft Pick Than a Playoff Spot

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Mike Fink | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 2:30 PM ET

The New York Islanders have nine games left in the 2024-25 season. They remain on the outside of the playoff picture, but despite their struggles, they still have a chance of sneaking in, which has been their story all season long.

With a 32-31-10 record, the Islanders are in the murky middle of the Eastern Conference. They can make a playoff push but could also bottom out and end up in a draft lottery position. Between the two options, making the playoffs is a possibility, but not as likely as ending in the draft lottery, given their recent play.

How the Islanders Can Stumble Down the Stretch

The Islanders are playing awful hockey. They’ve lost five in a row, including the last three in regulation. They scored four goals in their March 30 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, but the offense hasn’t played well, and the Islanders don’t look like they will improve.

It doesn’t help that the schedule isn’t forgiving either. The Islanders face the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that beat them 5-3 on March 29, and then they face the Minnesota Wild. To make things more difficult, the Islanders play the Washington Capitals twice in their final seven games. They could go 3-6 down the stretch and end up at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.

It wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen. A lot of teams have worse records than the Islanders, and they won’t have a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but they could end up in the top 10. If that happens, the Islanders have a chance at selecting an elite talent in the first round to rebuild their prospect pool and retool on the fly.

Why Islanders Making a Playoff Push Is Possible

Ilya Sorokin has had some bad starts lately. He allowed four goals against the Lightning in his most recent start and allowed four goals on March 26 in a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks before that. That said, Sorokin is an elite goaltender who is one of the few bright spots on the team this season.

His .904 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.79 goals-against average (GAA) on 1532 shots with 6.1 goals saved above average (GSAA) is a reminder that he’s still capable of taking over games. He could will the Islanders into the playoffs with a strong finish to the season.

The Islanders can also win with defense. Sure, the unit has fallen apart lately, but it’s their strength compared to an offense that averages only 2.74 goals per game. They can turn things around with Ryan Pulock, Alexander Romanov, and Noah Dobson leading the way to make a push for the playoffs.

The Islanders will have to leap over four teams to sneak in as a wild card, but they are only three points out. All it would take is a few big wins and a strong finish, and the Islanders can secure a final spot in the playoffs.

The Islanders’ Most Likely Outcome

The Islanders have been stuck in the middle, on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, all season. It would be fitting if they end up there as well. Ideally, they will put themselves in a position to land a top draft pick or move up a few spots in the lottery to select an elite talent, but they are more likely to end up in the 10-15 pick range. Likewise, a playoff berth would be great, but considering how the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Columbus Blue Jackets are also in the hunt, they’ll probably end up a few points out.

This is the price of staying put or making only one big trade at the deadline. The Islanders had a chance to tear it down but only traded Brock Nelson when they could have moved Nelson and upgraded their roster for a playoff push. The Boston Bruins have fallen apart since the trade deadline, with only two wins in their last 10 games, and they have the second-worst record in the Atlantic Division. At the same time, they are set up for long-term success not only because they’ll likely land a top prospect in the draft but also because they made a handful of trades and suddenly have a lot of future assets to work with. The Islanders, meanwhile, stayed in neutral, leaving them in a tough spot as the season comes to a close.