Boychuk: Projecting Islanders as cellar dwellers is 'slap in the face'

It's not all doom and gloom for the New York Islanders, according to one New York Islander.

Despite proclamations of the team's inevitable decline following John Tavares' departure in free agency, defenseman Johnny Boychuk says there is still a lot to like.

"I've already seen some people pegging us as being in the bottom. That's just a slap in the face when I see it," Boychuk told Arthur Staple of The Athletic. "Our team is really good. I think we're going to show them we are a good team."

It's been an offseason of major moves for the Islanders, beginning in the front office, where legendary executive Lou Lamoriello succeeded longtime general manager Garth Snow and veteran bench boss and Stanley Cup champion Barry Trotz was recruited to take the coaching reins from Doug Weight.

When Tavares left for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, Lamoriello used the cap space to ink Leo Komarov, Valtteri Filppula, and Jan Kovar in free agency, and re-acquired tough customer Matt Martin. The team also signed Robin Lehner in hopes of solving its goaltending woes.

On Monday, New York re-signed restricted free agent Brock Nelson to a one-year deal. The veteran center is expected to be a top-six pivot for the Islanders this season alongside reigning Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal.

That group has Boychuk confident that New York will prove its doubters wrong as the team aims for its third playoff appearance in the past five seasons.

"People shouldn't be worrying about one person. In hockey, one person does not make a team. At all," Boychuk added. "One guy can't carry a whole team, be the whole team. It was an important player for us but there's 23 players on a team and you have to hold 23 players accountable to win a season, a championship.

"If you play bad as a team, one player can play good all year but you're still gonna lose. That's why it's a team sport."