The New York Islanders Have Finally Come Back to the NHL

Browsing the Islanders' stat sheet this season will not induce any dumbfounded looks of disbelief on how a season can go by, and no player on the entire team has reached a certain seemingly easy-to-reach milestone.

The past three seasons, the Islanders' player stats were if not embarrassing, they were shameful.

Over the past three years, only three players  have scored 50-points or more, and none more than 56.

These players include, Mark Streit with 56 in 2008-09, John Tavares 54 in 2009-10 and Kyle Okposo 52 in 2009-10.

In 2008-09, the Islanders (granted, injury plagued as always) didn't have a forward with 40-points, but managed to have defenseman Streit with 56-points, leading the team.

That's just embarrassing.

What about goal totals?

In the same previous three season, the Islanders only had four players top the 20-goal mark: Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin back in 2007-08 with 21 and 23-goals respectively and Moulson and Tavares last season with 30 and 24-goals a piece.

The last time the Islanders had a respectable stat sheet was in 2006-07, when they had six players with 20-plus goals. Including two with 30-plus, in Ryan Smyth's 36-goals (only five with the Isles) and Jason Blake's 40.

Alexei Yashin also managed to scored 18 in just 58 games.

After that season, Ryan Smyth left the Islanders and took less money to sign with the Avalanche because he thought they had a better chance to win. Jason Blake demanded a five-year contract, which he managed to get from the Maple Leafs.

The Isles tried to retool that offseason, but it didn't work out. A new direction was cast out of necessity to try to rebuild a winner through the draft. 

The Islanders' three-year period of horrid offensive numbers appears to be over.

With four 20-goal scorers in, Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson with 30 each, Tavares (26) and Blake Comeau (20). PA Parenteau is also just two away from 20. The Islanders have managed to put a team on the ice that is capable of beating anyone in the NHL.

Sure, they had that awful winless streak that torpedoed any real chance of the playoffs.

That being said, the Islanders have come back to the NHL.

Garth Snow deserves a lot of credit for what he has put together:

Moulson has netted back-to-back 30-goal seasons.

Michael Grabner has become an offensive force with his lightning speed and his 30-goals. He has a real shot at the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

If you would have told me that Parenteau would put up the season he has, 18-goals and 30-assists, I would have laughed at you.

Tavares' evolution continues as his offensive skills continue to shine through a. JT has a shot at his first 30-goal season with 26-goals so far.

This is the first time the Islanders have had two consistent lines playing together full time in at least three years.

Frans Nielsen has turned into a two-way center that compliments the offensive first line of Tavares-Moulson-Parenteau, while playing with Grabner and Okposo.

There's no more shuffling lines to find what works, because the chemistry is already there.

Next season, the Islanders' top six forwards will return intact for a full season of playing together.  Which can only spell out improvement for the young Islanders.

In addition, a healthy Streit will be back to quarterback the power play.

Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic have become defensive partners that can play against the top players of the opposition.

Chemistry: This team has it.

Finally!