FanPost

Roundup of Media Predictions for New York Islanders 2011-12

Mainly because I'm crazy, I compiled the 2011-12 projections for the Islanders by every mainstream media outlet I could find. So here it is:

 

 

Playoffs?

Conference

Division

Chris Botta (NYTimes)

No.

10

 

Jeff Z. Klein (NYTimes)

No.

10/11

 

Larry Brooks (NYPost)

No.

 

 

Brett Cyrgalis (NYPost)

Yes.

8

 

Mark Everson (NYPost)

No.

 

5

The Hockey News

No.

12

 

Kevin Allen (USA Today)

Yes.

 

4

Wyshynski (Puck Daddy)

No.

 

5

Sean Leahy (Puck Daddy)

No.

 

4

Harrison Mooney (Puck Daddy)

No.

 

4

Dmitry Chesnokov (Puck Daddy)

No.

 

5

Ryan Lambert (Puck Daddy)

No.

 

5

Dobber (Puck Daddy)

No.

 

5

Stan Fischler (MSG)

Yes.

7

 

John Buccigross (ESPN)

No.

 

5

ESPN TEH Magazine

No.

11

 

Dave Lozo (NHL.com)

No.

11

5

Justin Bourne (The Score)

No.

11

3

Arthur Staple (Newsday)

No.

9

4

TSN

No.

13

5

Barnaby (ESPN)

No.

 

 

Melrose (ESPN)

No.

 

 

Compton (NHL)

No.

9

 

EJ Hradek (NHL)

No.

 

 

 

So three out of a whole bunch of folks predict playoffs for the Islanders. 

A couple of general observations:

I was conflicted about including a couple of these because of the utter ignorance regarding the team being made by the person making the projection. When all an "analyst" can talk about is Tavares being a first round pick and DiPietro's contract, his opinion means nothing. However, I find this exercise more useful as a way to see how the Islanders are viewed by the hockey media than actually determining how the team will in fact finish. 

Second, there really is not much difference between predicting an 10th or 11th place finish or an 8th place finish. The mealy middle tier of the Eastern Conference are full of teams of similar quality and not much will separate them from each other. 

So, to the extent any of these projections are meaningful, the fact that most on the list who provide a place finish are in the same range of 8-11th is heartening.

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