The Isles struggle in the regular season because they go on a tear for 10 to 15 games, then they take their foot of the gas and suck for 10 to 15 games. If they stayed consistent the entire season they'd likely be a threat for top spot in the division and clinch a play off birth early and not making fans hold their breath until the last week or two of the season.

Tbf though and im not trying to make excuses, just trying to understand why theyre so good in the playoffs and so meh in the regular season, they had key injuries. In 19-20 pelech was out for a major stretch of the regular season and when he was healthy they were dominant. Then he came back bc of the covid pause and they once againwere a top 5 team.

Same in 20-21. When lee was healthy they lead the division. Then he got injured and they were at best ok even after getting palmieri who scored 2 goals in 17 games. Once the playoffs came and palms found his game, they were once again a great team. I think if this year we avoid injuries to key players, we will dominate in both regular season and the playoffs.

I know what you're saying. They play great in bursts then they just collapse and lose all that momentum. Squeak in to the playoffs and dominate. It's wierd.

The isles fell off a cliff after the palmieri/Zajac trade. Trotz made Zajac the 1st line center and things went downhill from there. They were doing well before the trade.

No my point is in the playoffs theyve been healthy so theyve been great. And the same in the regular season when they were healthy they were dominant but lee and pelech getting injured really hurt.

They werent doing as great as before the injury to lee. They were dominant then. But yeah you saw it in the playoffs with zajac scratched they did better. (And imo if its not leo as LW1 but anyone with a more offensive game maybe bellows they beat tampa).

They weren’t doing as good, but it was close. Before the trade, the isles had won 6 of their previous 8 games. After the trade they had some pretty ugly losses, including 3 straight losses against the caps with no Oliver Wahlstrom in the lineup and Zajac on the top line. The isles falling off at the end of the season was due to personnel decisions 100%

I'd switch a few things here: Palmieri goes with Barzal, Wahlstrom goes with Pageau and Bailey goes with Nelson. And I'd pair Big Z with Mayfield while reuniting Dobson with Greene.

Chara and mayfield would spend 95% of their ice time scrambling in the Dzone