New York Islanders: 5 Reasons to be Excited for the Upcoming Season

The New York Islanders offseason has been an up-and-down one. The team managed to extend contracts to important players like Micheal Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Matt Moulson and most recently John Tavares.

Along with that though, there are a few negatives. The team failed to sign defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. The biggest blow to the team was the failed arena vote on August 1st.

But, the Isles have put all that negative energy behind them and are now focused on the upcoming season. The team is very exciting and should have a much better season then they've had in the past.

There are few reasons why Isles fans are excited about this season, and here are a few of those reasons.

1. The Core

John Tavares is the face of this franchise. He represents the entire team and possibly the end of the rebuild for the Isles.

Tavares, who signed a six-year, $33 million contract this offseason, has shown that he is committed to the team. His skill and play is very exciting to watch every night. Every time he's on the ice there's always a chance of something good happening. He is the heart of the team.

Another player that surprised many is Micheal Grabner. The rookie and Calder Award candidate scored 34 goals in his first season. He too signed an extension with the Islanders. To have him for another year is huge. He is the most exciting part of the team.

Kyle Okposo had a down year last season. He was injured and is looking to come back strong and make a big impact. Just like Tavares and Grabner, Okposo also signed an extension with the Isles. He is a great leader for this young Islander team. He has great skill and is part of the future for this team.

The final player I'll mention is Matt Moulson. He too signed an extension with the Islanders. After going from a potential minor league player to a two-time 30 goal scorer, Moulson is looking for another repeat of what is quickly becoming a great story. He's a fan favorite and is defiantly a great guy in the locker room.

The biggest thing I'm trying to point out here is that all four of these players have committed to the Islanders. Tavares signed for six years, both Okposo and Grabner for five and Moulson for three.

The most important thing for a young team is to keep the core together. To have the four players that jump started the rebuild stay here for a few years is huge. In a time when free agents tend to stay away form the Isles, it's great to see a group of committed players.

2. Coaching

After the Islanders fired former head coach, Scott Gordan, early last season, Jack Capuano took over and was named interim coach. By the end of the season, he was named the head coach of the Islanders.

The players loved playing for this guy, their play on the ice showed it after a very good second half of the season. Micheal Grabner stepped up and was almost named rookie of the year.

Capuano has had a huge impact for the team. He know's how to teach players the game and he knows how to play it right. He may be the perfect coach for this team.

Also joining in behind the bench is Doug Weight, who announced his retirement after last season. Weight was a big part of the young players' success. He's one of those guys that when he talks, you listen.

To have a coach that the players love to play for is key. If the coaching from last season had as big of an impact as it looked, we can only imagine what could happen this year.

3. Dangerous Offense

The Islanders had a very good offense last season. Five players had over 20 goals and two of those five had over 30.

Rookie of the Year candidate, Michael Grabner, scored 34 goals and proved to be a big threat on offense. He is a very exciting player as he is one of the fastest players in the NHL. There is no reason to doubt he can't repeat this success.

Another key player on offense is John Tavares. The Islander center, who is entering his third season, is looking to become one of the premier players in the league. There is no reason to think he can't breakout this season.

The player the Isles missed the most last season on offense, Kyle Okposo, is looking to bounce-back from an injury that cost him most of last year. Getting him back is huge for this team. He plays a very good defensive game (something the team was lacking last season) and also plays strong on the offensive side.

Matt Moulson, who has scored 30+ goals in each of his first two seasons of the Island, will try to make it three years in a row. Moulson can defiantly repeat has a 30 goal scorer, especially with Tavares as his line mate.

The Isles have the potential to be a very high scoring offense. Getting Okposo back is huge because he can score upwards of 20-25 goals. The offense this season should be explosive.

4. The Youth Movement

The youth movement has begun on the Island. Many young players will start to get larger roles with the team. The most notable player is Nino Niederreiter.

Niederreiter played in nine games last season before he was sent back to the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. He'll get a good look this season, as the Isles try to bring some of their top prospects up into the NHL.

Another player to look at is Travis Hamonic. Hamonic looked very good last season, especially toward the end of the year. He'll get top four minutes on defense for the Isles. He will probably be a future top pairing for the Islanders as they try to get their defense sorted out.

In the 2011 draft, the Islanders selected Ryan Strome with the fifth overall pick. To many people's surprise, the Islanders have chosen to let Strome start the season in the NHL.

Strome could very well be sent back to Juniors once Nino Niederreiter comes off the IR, but he has apparently shown enough to let the Isles give him a shot. He is part of the future for this team, so Isles fans should get a quick look at him while he is still here.

The Start of a Possible Contender

The words in the title could not have been spoken a few years ago. Isles GM, Garth Snow, has worked very hard to improve this team. Great drafting in free agent signings have given this team a chance to be great in the future.

The biggest question is when will this team start to contend?

Well, we could see a glimpse of the future this year. Many players that have been here for a few years are poised to have big seasons. Players like John Tavares, Kyle Oposos and Josh Bailey are ready to have breakout years, while players like Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson, players who have had success, will look to continue this.

Adding younger players to the mix just adds to the potential of this team. Nino Niederreiter will start the year, and maybe even end it with the Isles. Ryan Strome will get a look also. Even a player like Calvin de Haan could get a call up before the season is over.

All these players have something in common. They all are in the future plans for the Islanders.

All the forwards mentioned in the second paragraph could very well be top six forwards for this team in the future. The three rookies listed are also waiting to be a part of the team. Those are eight players that have great potential. Having them on the same team would be great.

6. Conclusion

New York Islander fans should be excited.

The team is filled with players that want to win. The team has the tools and potential to have a great year. All the things mentioned in the article play a huge part in making a successful team, and the Isles have it.

It's not a matter of if the team will good, it's a matter of when, and that's why fans should be excited.