KEY ADDITIONS				KEY LOSSES
Name Olli Jokinen Josh Green Chris Ferraro Tony Hrkac Daniel Lacroix Niklas Anderson Jamie Heward Dallas Eakins	Pos. F F F F F F D D	From Kings Kings Oilers Stars Oilers Sharks Predators Maple Leafs		Name Zigmund Palffy Bryan Smolinski Trevor Linden Marcel Cousineau Barry Richter	Pos. F F F G D	To Kings Kings Canadiens Kings Canadiens

Outlook
The last franchise to win four Stanley Cups in succession is having a difficult time staying afloat.

		Who will end up owning the team and will they stay on Long Island? Not only that, but does anyone really care at this point? Such a proud organization is now an embarrassment to the league on and off the ice. The situation isn't so much unsettling to the players on the ice; they just don't have any players. The Islanders have an expansion-like roster. I'm wondering if they can finish with more points than they had their first year in the league (30 points in '72-73). I think the Islanders will be dead last by a mile.

The New York Islanders are in constant change; the franchise seems to change ownership on a yearly basis. When you have that kind of inconsistency at the top, it is hard to build a winner.

New York will have problems scoring goals this season with the departure of Zigmund Palffy and Bryan Smolinski to Los Angeles, and Trevor Linden to Montreal. The Isles will rely on Mariusz Czerkawski, Olli Jokinen (obtained in the Palffy deal) and Mark Lawrence, which is a bit scary because those three players combined for 44 goals last season.

New coach Butch Goring has the unenviable task of trying to put together a decent second line. Look for those shoes to be filled by Mats Lindgren, Long Island native Chris Ferraro, Claude Lapointe or Jason Krog.

The Isles are hoping veteran netminder Felix Potvin can bounce back from a dismal 1998-99 campaign. Potvin will get the bulk of the playing time early on. However, 1997 first-round pick (fourth overall) Roberto Luongo will get a chance to play.

The lone bright spot for the Isles comes on defense. Eric Brewer, Zdeno Chara and 1999 first-round pick Branislav Mezei are young but talented. Veterans Kenny Jonsson and Rich Pilon will help, and the Isles should improve upon last season's No. 23 ranking in goals-against average.

The Islanders have the distinction of owning the longest current streak for missing the postseason in the NHL. That streak will continue at six seasons and counting by the end of this coming season.

'98-99 ATLANTIC STANDINGS
TEAM	W	L	T	Pts.
New Jersey	47	24	11	105
Philadelphia	37	26	19	93
Pittsburgh	38	30	14	90
N.Y. Rangers	33	38	11	77
N.Y. Islanders	24	48	10	58

The bottom line
Better or not: Not
By how much: 4-5 fewer wins
Most improved: Olli Jokinen
Most valuable: Mariusz Czerkawski
Biggest disappointment: Felix Potvin

Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher for ESPN.