Islanders look to hit lottery after lost season

Either one would fit nicely into a core of youngsters the Islanders hope will return them to glory. It might be necessary soon, as the club is trying to get approval for a refurbished home arena and developmental project that has gotten bogged down in politics.

If team owner Charles Wang's Lighthouse Project doesn't pass, the club could be sold and moved, or it could be relocated by Wang.

As if there wasn't enough to worry about for the Islanders. They endured losing streaks of 10 and eight games and were outscored 24-5 in dropping their final four games of the season.

"We definitely grew as a team, for sure," the 19-year-old Bailey said. "We went through stretches where we showed a lot of good things, and even if we were losing games, we were still in them for the most part. There's a lot of good things to be taken out of it.

"We didn't want to end the year with the losses we had, but all in all you can't focus on the past week."

The best thing to come out of the season was the play of defenseman Mark Streit, who was the Islanders' clear-cut MVP with a team-leading 56 points - including 40 assists - after signing a big free-agent deal last summer.

Okposo surged in the second half and finished with 18 goals and 39 points. At 38, Weight was limited to 53 games but managed 38 points. He already agreed to a one-year deal for next season and is the likely choice to take over as captain for Bill Guerin, who was dealt to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline.

"You can't say anything great can come out of it when you come in 30th place, but there is reasons and there is a different feeling here than maybe someone from the outside looking in," Weight said. "I feel relatively good that we can be in position to fight for a playoff spot next year. Hopefully it happens.

"There is sun around the mountain. There is something good being built here and hopefully it's sooner than later. Believe me, you're talking to the guy who wants it sooner than later."