Islanders finally have pieces to be Stanley Cup contenders

As far as captain John Tavares is concerned, it was a covert operation that allowed the New York Islanders to acquire the final assets needed to be a true Stanley Cup contender.

Negotiations must have been on a strict need-to-know basis, because the Islanders' top player was as surprised as everyone else when general manager Garth Snow announced in October that he had traded for defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy.

"It was out of the blue for me," Tavares said. "Garth is a kind of guy who holds things tight to his chest. I think to pull something like that off you have to be under the radar."

Eighteen weeks later, the trades seem like a completing-the-jigsaw-puzzle moment, like the addition of GPS to automobiles or bacon to anything.

"That really solidified our team," Tavares said. "You look at all of the pieces that we have added, and then you add those two guys, proven players, great guys in the locker room, tremendous skill set, different in their own way, but what we needed."

Boychuk is a gritty, two-way performer, owner of a booming shot but, more important, a highly competitive spirit. As soon as he stepped into the lineup, the Islanders were instantly harder to play against.

Leddy added sparkle to the back end. A brilliant skater, he can distribute the puck and create magic. His acquisition is like mixing an additive into high-octane fuel.

Slowly, the Islanders had built a dangerous offense, thanks to solid drafting. But these two players gave the Islanders' engine more pep and a greater roar. These moves came on top of the offseason acquisition and signing of Jaroslav Halak, who has given the team its most intriguing goaltending since Rick DiPietro was healthy and performing at a high level.

The Nashville Predators might be the NHL's biggest surprise, but what they have accomplished isn't a shock.

Given general manager David Poile's long history of keeping his teams competitive, it seemed plausible the Predators could make a quick fix and get back in the hunt after missing the playoffs for a couple of seasons.

The Islanders' rise has had more of a wow factor. People around the NHL are talking about the Islanders because they have the league's second-best offense, an improving defense and a goaltender who has the potential to steal a game now and then.

The Islanders, who lead the Metropolitan Division by three points, are 16-4-0 at home in their final season on Long Island. They move to Brooklyn next season.

Halak said the Islanders' fan support had impressed him.

"Every single game, they have been like our sixth skater on the ice," he said. "Hopefully they will find a way to bring us luck the rest of the way. They have been a big part of our success at home."

While the Islanders aren't a Stanley Cup favorite, they are the NHL's most intriguing contender.

Monday's announcement that forward Kyle Okposo would be sidelined for six to eight weeks with an upper body injury is hurtful but not catastrophic. That's how far this team has come.

Tavares saw this coming, and that's why he locked himself in with the Islanders long term. He wanted to be the one leading the ascent when the flag was planted on the top of the mountain.

"I really thought it's been a long time since the Islanders have had any Stanley Cup success or playoff success and I can be a part of something like that. I thought it could be pretty special," he said. "Certainly there is a long way to go and we are still trying to get there, but I've certainly enjoyed every bit of it."

Tavares' presence as the Islanders' leader is another reason the NHL community is fascinated by the potential of this team. He has that Steve Yzerman/Jonathan Toews/Sidney Crosby aura about him. People think he knows the way to get you where you need to go. Plus, he's in the prime of his career.

Although Snow doesn't fill in his captain before making big trades, Tavares believes in Snow.

"I know Garth is very passionate and adamant about what we are trying to accomplish here, and that message has been very strong and very clear," he said.

The only real concern about the Islanders at this point is that they have no history together in the postseason. The franchise has missed the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons.

Playoff experience matters. One thought is that the Islanders have to lose together in the playoffs before they can figure out how to win together.

But they understand their strengths and weaknesses, and that is the first step to success this season. Right now the Boychuk and Leddy trades are viewed as missing-piece acquisitions.

If the Islanders have the kind of success their fans hope they will, those trades will go down as two of the more important trades in NHL history, just below the 1979 one that brought Butch Goring to the Islanders before their run of four consecutive Cups.

Other under-the-radar contenders:

-Montreal Canadiens: No one seems to take them seriously, even though they have been consistent performers this season. Goalie Carey Price can win a series by himself.

-Boston Bruins: After a slow start, they are starting to get back to their old winning ways. With Claude Julien behind the bench, they are always a threat in the postseason.

-Winnipeg Jets: They have two fewer points than the Chicago Blackhawks. Since Paul Maurice took over last season, they've been a team on the rise.