One of the things the New Yorkers clearly struggled with all season was a lack of goals. They are a team that has to scratch and mess up every target. The last six had a few pieces that contributed, but overall, it just wasn’t enough. Fitting into the third line, Hudson Fasching was a nice upset, and veteran Zach Parise had a solid year. Fourth line played for their identity when they were healthy, but Cal Clutterbuck missed a good chunk of time again due to injury. It might be time for General Manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello to consider breaking up the identity line.
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The biggest problem with this set was the lack of depth. When Jean Gabriel Bagot Fell injuryThey had a revolving door of players in the lineup. Simon Holmström has made 50 appearances for the team this season and has shown that he is a responsible two-way player who can attack offensively. As his confidence continues to build, he’ll only get better and he could be a solid bottom six forward in this league for a long time. Other than that, they don’t have much depth. Let’s take a closer look at this front hexagonal group.
Zack Paris
The 38-year-old winger is having a solid season for the Islanders. He finished with 21 goals, which was third on the team. He is a workhorse, as he does not take a shift and is always the first to check. He is a versatile and dependable player as well. Parisi is the only Islander player to have played all 82 matches in the past two seasons. He is extremely trustworthy, and his seasoned presence fits in perfectly with the tight-knit group of islanders. Parise is a pending Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA), and his return is not guaranteed.
If he decides to return for another season, he will not be with another team. “It’s here or anywhereParise said when asked about his future. If it’s really him, it’s been an amazing career for the veteran. He played 18 years in this league, with 429 goals and 879 points. The unfortunate part is Parise never won a Stanley Cup and most likely never will. On another chance. For the Islanders, it would be great if he came back. He’d be on a team friendly deal, similar to the one he signed last season for a single-season average annual value (AAV) of $750,000. He can provide tons for the underrated six players on the Island and no He can still play at a high level.
Jean Gabriel Bagou
Pageau is known as an intelligent and dependable third line center. He can play in every situation, including penalty kick and power second unit. He’s missed 12 games this season with an upper body infection That affected the depth of the population center of the island. The 30-year-old did not have the offensive production the team had hoped for. He contributed 13 goals and only 40 points. Bago knows he can improve his offensive production. “I think as a player I’m someone who’s always trying to improve in some areas of my game. I’m very competitive in everything I do. Personally, when I come back in the summer, I try to get stronger, see where I can be better.” (From “NY Islanders JG Pageau Wants to Be More Explosive Next Season,” Eyes on the Islands, 5/7/23)
There is no doubt that the Islanders need Pageau to produce more. He is so important in so many areas to this team that his offense is often overlooked. He hasn’t hit the 20-goal mark since his final season with the Ottawa Senators in the 2019-20 season. He then signed a six-year extension with the Islanders. He’s what you might call an “islander-type player”. He plays smart, doesn’t take too many risks, and is very dependable. If Bago can get back to the 20-goal mark, it will be a huge boost for a team that has struggled offensively.
Hudson Mardi Gras
Perhaps the best story of the entire Islanders season is Fasching. He was called up in early December and became a regular member of the line-up. Fashing finished the season with 10 goals and 19 points in 49 games. He found a comfortable spot on the third line with Pageau and Parise. The day after the season ended, the Islanders wasted no time in prolonging it. They signed Fasching to a two-year, $1.55 million contract. The 27-year-old has proven that he belongs playing at the NHL level and took every opportunity he had. It turned out to be a perfect fit for both sides.
“This organization seems like a really, really good fit for me, because it’s so family-oriented — it’s so big here and it’s big for me too — and it’s obviously on the ice, it seems, just two hours before the deal was announced (from The Comeback),” Fasching said. Hudson Fasching to the Islanders, But Josh Bailey’s Tenure Looks To Be Over,” athlete, 5/1/23).
After jumping around teams like the Buffalo Sabers and Arizona Coyotes; Fasching has finally found a home on the island. The Islanders are hopeful that Fashing’s confidence will continue to grow, and that his game will improve. He has been a pleasant surprise for the Islanders this year, and it was the right move to keep him here beyond this season.
Cal Clutterbuck
Cal Clutterbuck is a soldier in the Islanders. He’s been here for the past 10 seasons and he’s been a huge part of that core. His identity line, Casey Cyzikas, and Matt Martin were a staple. He’s the all-time NHL hitting leader, but now he’s reached a point where we might see the end of the identity streak. Clutterbuck signed a two-year extension last season, but injuries have piled on him over the past few seasons. The Welland, Ontario native played just 49 regular season games this year and just 59 last year. He struggled to keep up with today’s match pace. Advanced stats show he’s been on the ice more goals-for-goals for the season, and he’s had 39.96 goals expected, per normal stat-trick. (From “Islanders Will Count on Identity Line for Another Playoff Run: ‘Leave Our Mark’, New York Post4/16/23)
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If a new GM comes along and replaces Lamoriello, they may decide to break the fourth line. Based on the past few seasons of injuries Clutterbuck has suffered, it’s going to be hard for him to keep up with another 82-game season. On the contrary, Clutterbuck believes he still has more to offer.
“I’m sure I’ll be the first to know when I miss an event,” said Clutterbuck. during his exit interview.. “I shall be well aware of that before you [the media]. “
Clutterbuck’s season overall was similar to last season. A major injury keeps him out of the squad for much of the year, and he contributes little in attack. Although he was a loyal and dependable player; It would be beneficial for the islanders to start thinking about moving forward.
Matt Martin
Martin has been with the Islanders organization since the 2009-10 season. He has played in over 750 games for the team, including a series of 79 consecutive playoff appearances. This season, Martin scored his highest goal total since the 2015-16 season, with seven goals in 81 matches. Again, like Clutterbuck, Martin showed signs of slowing down and being unable to keep up with the pace of the day’s game. He has been a staple in the tackle for the Islanders and is beloved in the locker room by his teammates for his loud personality.
The 33-year-old has another season ahead of his $6 million, four-year deal which he signed in January 2021. This will lead to some wondering if his tenure is over. Martin contributed one goal in the playoffs in Game 3, but took some costly penalties that really hurt the Islanders during the series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The ideal situation would be for Martin/Clutterbuck to be an extra for the Islanders next season, and they could move Fasching up to the fourth line.
Casey Cyzikas
Cyzikas is one of the most beloved islanders of the last decade. It’s an invigorating bunny that doesn’t take a shift. He is one of the most hardworking players in the team and is a great penalty killer. Chizikas hasn’t contributed much this year, scoring just six goals and 21 points in 81 games. Although he is not known for his offensive productions, he netted 20 goals in the 2018-19 season. He plays many roles for this team and is a very important player. It is difficult to find his tenacity and energy in the guys. He signed a six-year contract with the Islanders and does not plan to play anywhere else in his career. “Long Island is my home and always will be my home,” said Cizikas. “There was no other place I wanted to be, and me They want an islander to retire. “
There’s not much the islanders could ask of Jezikas. He plays his regular fourth line position very well and has even been moved up to the lineup this year with a few injuries they’ve had. He is at the head of the mass killing unit and plays his role to the fullest. Overall, it’s been a solid year for the 32-year-old center, and we can even expect more offensive production next year. As mentioned earlier, the fourth line is not getting younger. It would be good for Jezikas’ career if he had two younger wingers on the line at his side who could contribute more.
Josh Bailey
It’s crazy to think that this could really be the end of Josh Billy Islander’s career. The 33-year-old has spent the last 15 seasons with the club. This year was the first when Billy could not be a regular in the line-up. Scratched by head coach Len Lambert several times throughout the season, Bailey did not play a single game in the series against the Hurricanes. It’s been a tough year for Bailey on the ice and mentally off the ice, dealing with sitting in the press box.
“There’s a lot to take in. I’ve always thought about it I myself am an islander And I wanted to play my last game as an Islander, and who knows what that holds now,” said Bailey. “I think it takes a lot for me and my family, but it’s part of the job, and I understand that. I don’t play any poor cards by any means. It’s just a lot.”
The Islanders will likely be looking to trade Bailey, but the team’s best approach may be acquisition. If they cannot find a taker by trade, this will allow the islanders to free up some cap space, and Billy can look for a new home. According to CapFriendly, the acquisition will save them $1.6 million. Bailey made it clear during exit interviews that he did not want to sit in the press box, and that he had a lot to offer. Unfortunately for Billy, there is no place on the list of candidates for him. It’s bittersweet to know that the longest-tenured islander is likely to move elsewhere, but it has to happen. It is best for both sides to move in opposite directions.
The front hexadecimal group can generally use improvement. They need to get younger and faster. It would also be beneficial for them to pick up offensive production to take pressure off their top six forwards. There are many questions surrounding them in this off season. It could be a very different set up next year if the Islanders decide to part ways with some long-term veterans like Billy and Clutterbuck. It would also be nice to see Fasching play a full season with the team next year. Hopefully, Lamoriello or the new GM will see that it is time to move on from some of these current players.