How Lou Lamoriello’s Islanders went from title contenders to NHL afterthoughts — and what comes next

Triumph was in the air as Jon Ledecky addressed a news conference two days before UBS Arena was set to open.

After years of failed attempts, relocation threats and a disastrous move to Brooklyn, the Islanders were finally going to have a new building — a $1.1 billion jewel, with a Long Island address and a Stanley Cup contender to play in it.

Everything appeared to be falling into place.

The Islanders had come within a Game 7 shorthanded goal of their first Stanley Cup Final since 1984 less than six months prior, and brought back largely the same group for the 2021-22 season.