What Islanders rebuild might look like when the can contend again

After the trade deadline deal that sent Brock Nelson to Colorado, it looks clear that the Islanders’ roster will be significantly different the next time they contend for a Stanley Cup.

While there’s still a playoff race to be run this season, the Isles are only hanging onto the fringe of contention and don’t look like a threat to make it past the first round if they do get in. General manager Lou Lamoriello even reluctantly allowed the term “retool” to cross his lips at his post-deadline press conference.

So, what better time to try to project the Islanders’ lineup five years into the future?

Surely, to be clear, everyone in the front office is planning to return to contention a lot sooner than that. But five years is a nice round number when pretty much every prospect in the organization who’s going to make the NHL will have done so. That mainly is the focus of this exercise.