Of the much needed islanders to watch this offseason this tough, here is what’s flying a bit under the radar: the condition of their AHL team.
The Bridgeport Islanders have not yet officially finished the season, but two games were played and held a 15-48-4-3 record on Friday. Not only is it the final place in the Atlantic Division, but it’s 30 points behind seventh place Hartford.
The third straight season in which Bridgeport last finished in the AHL and missed the AHL playoffs was the second straight season in which six of the eight teams in the Atlantic Division won it.
The 4-28-1-3 record at home was the least home victory in AHL history, with an astonishing minus 70 goals difference on home ice, according to AHL’s Patrick Wiliams.
Winning is not always a top priority in the AHL, but the islanders have not developed much of the outlook in recent years.
Kyle McLean and Mark Gatcom are both stuck on line 4 after being called, but otherwise the outlook is largely stagnant in the AHL.
It also raises eyebrows when Bridgeport regularly plays veterans who have little chance of creating the NHL instead, with little chance of creating the NHL.
Isles GM Lou Lamoriello said in February that the AHL team records were not related to him.
“We ask the coach to put players in a situation where players can come here and play,” Lamorielo said. “In all fairness, goaltending has a huge concern at Bridgeport. …The only thing to worry about is people want in their winning attitude, their environment, but they understand what is going on and what it is.
“When you see Gatcom coming in, you realize what those people’s roles are and I think what you’re doing can put them in situations they’re not used to.
The AHL moved Bridgeport from 10 games to 8 games. Beckman was stopped due to physical abuse of an official.
