1998-99 record: 24-48-10, 58 points, 5th Atlantic Division
Coach: Butch Goring (first-year Islanders coach)
New faces: RW Chris Ferraro, LW Dmitri Nabokov, D Mathieu Biron, D Aris Brimanis, D Dallas Eakins, G Roberto Luongo, D Jamie Heward, D Dean Malkoc, LW Josh Green, LW Brad Isbister, LW Daniel Lacroix, C Tony Hrkac, C Olli Jokinen, LW Jorgen Jonsson, LW Niklas Andersson
Losses: C Trevor Linden, C Bryan Smolinski, RW Zigmund Palffy, G Marcel Cousineau, D David Harlock, RW Warren Luhning, C Jiri Dopita
Strengths: Give us a minute. ... Low expectations? After trading Linden, Smolinski and Palffy in an attempt to dump salary, the Islanders have few bona fide NHL players on the roster. So fans – those hearty enough to travel to the Nassau Coliseum – will not be expecting much from this team. Whatever talent New York has is behind the blue line. Kenny Jonsson is a stellar defenseman and Eric Brewer showed promise as a rookie. G Felix Potvin can be a top-flight netminder. The Islanders have a promising long-term future after owning four picks in the first round of the 1999 draft, including three among the top 10. Also waiting in the wings is G Roberto Luongo, who is expected to be a franchise goaltender. C Claude Lapointe is one of the NHL's most underrated players. He was fifth on the team in scoring, killed penalties, was a solid defensive player and a key faceoff man.
Weaknesses: Until the franchise is sold – again – it remains directionless. GM Mike Milbury has been unable to add anyone who can help this team immediately, so the Islanders are looking at a dismal season. Things are so bad that the Isles may have trouble matching the 12 wins they recorded as an expansion team in 1972-73. First-year coach Butch Goring deserves better after playing on all four of New York's Stanley Cup championship teams in the 1980s. Usually, when a team signs players like Ds Aris Brimanis and Dallas Eakins, C Chris Ferraro and RW Scott Pearson, it's to fill out their minor league roster. All four have a shot at playing in the NHL on opening night.
Goring says: "I tell the players not to listen to the naysayers, everyone saying we're going to finish last. We have nine good forwards, it's just that many of them are around 21. It's not ideal, but we're going with young players and we're going to find out who can play."