Isles Excited for the Road Ahead

The wait is over.

After four long months without hockey and only two weeks of Training Camp to tighten systems up and hit the ice as a team, the NHL will officially resume play this week. Today, the New York Islanders arrived in Toronto where they'll be residing in the NHL's Eastern conference "bubble" and face the Florida Panthers in a Qualifying Round beginning on Saturday.

The Islanders final Qualifier and Playoff roster includes; 17 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goalies.

"We've gone over multiple scenarios and situations, we've weighed the pros and cons," Head Coach Barry Trotz explained over Zoom to reporters on Saturday afternoon. "Obviously, our focus is trying to get by the Florida Panthers and then have a really long run to win a Stanley Cup like the 24 other teams. We've put all of the factors in; position, experiences and all of that. We felt that this would be the strongest roster and give us all of the flexibility."

Tweet from @NYIslanders: Bubble life HERE WE COME! pic.twitter.com/Aks11TF3C8

The circumstances are far from the norm; jumping into playoff hockey following an extended layoff is unheard of for most, but that's been the narrative of the COVID-19 outbreak that has uprooted daily routines on an international scale.

Once inside the bubble, the Isles and the other Eastern Conference teams that will also be in attendance, will be limited to staying within the hub grounds. The setup, while unusual, is not something the Isles will dwell on. Instead, they are centering their focus on the bigger task at hand despite the novel situation.

"It is a great opportunity, it's a special time, its special circumstances," Trotz said. "As players, when they retire, they remember and what they miss the most is spending time with their teammates. I think the bubble is an opportunity to try and embrace that part of it. Our team is really close and I don't see any problems at all. I think it's going to be fantastic for us."

During the last four months, the Islanders have gone from traveling and competing together on the ice, to being distanced across the continent and even overseas just waiting for an outcome outside of their control.

Through all of the highs and lows that the Isles have faced during the pause, they've had one constant driving them; their support for one another. It's that very dynamic they'll rely on as they hope to successfully combat the extenuating circumstances and make a lengthy run at the Stanley Cup.

"They not only get along, but they adjust," President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello said via Zoom on Saturday. "Through the whole process, there wasn't one bump along the way. The communication between the coaches and players, the players amongst themselves stayed on a consistent basis. The experience that they've had through this process and then coming back during this training camp and the way they've interacted there, they've had to come together because most of their families aren't here. The players are going to handle each and every situation that they have to do to the highest level. This is a special group with maturity."

The Isles have had their fix of just playing against themselves. They're ready for a challenge and eager to take the ice and compete. The only waiting that remains is when the puck will officially drop.