The NHL season approaches rapidly, and the New York Islanders have a similar team entering camp from last season. Not only is the team like last season, but the core of this team has also been unchanged for quite some time.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau was the last Lou Lamoriello acquisition that truly made a significant impact on this team. Pageau was dealt from the Ottawa Senators at the 2020 Trade Deadline and immediately signed a six-year contract extension with the Islanders.
No one will argue that the Islanders have had success under Lamoriello, but will this truly be a successful tenure for Lamoriello if the team does not win a Stanley Cup? The Islanders have arguably reached their ceiling together. The team has some veterans quickly entering the twilight of their respective careers. The youth on this team has either graduated from prospects or have not produced enough to make an impact.
Noah Dobson is the cream of the crop of young players on this roster. At age 22, Dobson is certainly expected to grow after a breakout season where he recorded 51 points. Who else can bring a drastic change to this veteran group to get them to not only the playoffs but over the hump of the Eastern Conference Final?
Aatu Raty Could Be a Game Changer for the Islanders
Raty was drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, 52nd overall. He was seen as a top 10 draft pick by many experts at the beginning of the 2020 hockey season, but a below-average second half of the season led to a substantial drop to the second round The Islanders were not loaded with draft picks but certainly had received some strong value with this second-round selection.
Raty immediately had the Islanders thankful for making the pick. He went on an offensive tear in the Liiga, recording 40 points in just 41 games after an early-season trade to Jukurit. The talent that made him a potential top 10 draft pick re-surfaced. Raty has been racking up points wherever he has played, including the World Juniors. He was able to make it to the Bridgeport Islanders for a couple of games and the playoffs. Surely this was essential to his growth by playing in North America.
With that said, Raty is expected to be at the Islanders camp and ultimately begin the season in Bridgeport.
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Raty’s Important Camp
What if Raty has a good camp? Does he remain with the big club?
This team needs a spark and especially on the offensive side. Since Lamoriello was unable to improve the squad offensively, maybe it is a chance for the youngsters, including Raty, to shine. Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows will need to step up their games or this team will continue to be a “blah” group of forwards. The ceiling for Wahlstrom and Bellows is lowering at a fast pace.
Out of the young forwards, Raty could make the biggest impact and surprise the new coaching staff in camp. It could be a risk to rush the Finnish teenager, but the NHL is now a young man’s game, and the Islanders could use a spark like the one Mathew Barzal brought upon entering the NHL.
Raty’s skill level is the missing piece to this struggling offence. The vision and play-making ability would bring value to any of the lines. Because of the vast amount of abilities, Raty could bring what each line lacks, whether it be scoring, play-making or speed.
Head coach Lane Lambert could give the youngster a chance at the beginning of camp. It would be a bold and interesting move out of the gates for his first camp as head coach.
The Islanders have the potential to make the playoffs. Anything beyond that will depend on the emergence of young forwards like Raty.
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